Gray reeked of Japanese Cherry Blossom that first night when he stumbled into their home drunk and shirtless, holding a half-empty bottle of beer in hand.
Juvia hadn't thought much of it then, believing the fragrance to have been something that had lingered onto him from perhaps Lucy or Erza or Cana or Levy, the girls from his high school gang. She had instead, supported him by his shoulder as she thanked his best friends, Natsu and Loke for having dropped him off safely and saw them out.
The second time he reeked of Japanese Cherry Blossom was not after a night out with his gang; it was on a regular work day evening when he came home perfectly sober and kissed her on her lips.
She still didn't think much of it. After all, Lucy and he did work together.
The third time he reeked of Japanese Cherry Blossom, she asked him why he smelt of them. He'd kissed her on her cheek before telling her that he had borrowed Lucy's perfume because he had been sweaty at work.
She believed him.
The next Monday when she met Lucy at Walmart, she asked her which brand of Japanese Cherry Blossom she used.
Lucy laughed and then told her that she didn't use Japanese Cherry Blossom but used Juicy Couture.
She was suddenly doubtful.
That night she almost asked him about it, but lost her courage when he kissed her on her forehead.
Three weeks later, she met someone else who reeked of Japanese Cherry Blossom. The culprit was a beautiful Russian girl, with glistening dark orbs and flowing black hair. She had shook Juvia's hands with a sense of pride as she introduced herself as Ultear Milkovich.
Two minutes later, she was feeling suffocated as she watched her boyfriend interact with the beauty. She wondered how she had missed the signs of his growing indifference to her. She saw the way he looked at his new companion and how he let himself be touched by her fluttering fingers.
A touch on the shoulder.
A clasp on the wrist.
A hand cupping his cheek.
A grin across his face.
And a minute later, a red mark left on his cheek from the girl that was now his ex-girlfriend and storming away as he and the Russian beauty stood paralysed.
And to haunt Juvia forever, the smell of Japanese Cherry Blossom.