Have fun reading! Love you beautiful people!
"Hey, my name is Gray," the gorgeous boy smirked. Juvia blushed.
"Um, where is Juvia?" She hesitantly asked this 'Gray'. He stretched his arms before standing up walking to her side. His hand pushed back his dark bangs, Juvia glanced over his flexed arm muscles, lingering probably longer than acceptable for 'glancing'.
"Who's Juvia?" He raised a dark eyebrow, still smirking. Juvia rolled her eyes. She got this a lot. I mean she couldn't be the only person to talk in, what did that boy call it again. Oh yes, 'third person'.
"Juvia is me. Now where is Juvia?" She asked harsher than she intended, but Gray didn't seem affected by it. Juvia absentmindedly started fiddling with the top of the sheet. She was getting nervous. Gray looking away from her and shifted uneasily, not exactly easing Juvia's nerves.
"Well you are, umm, you are in the hospital," he paused, glancing at Juvia's face for her reaction. Juvia had not yet heard of a hospital and so the news didn't phase her. Encouraged Gray continued, "You were swimming and an anchor hit you… It was a good thing I was swimming that day or you would have been a goner." Suddenly Gray's face turned slightly pink and he looked anywhere but at her. Juvia was slightly confused why was he reacting this way?
Suddenly Juvia sat up straight. She started pushing the blankets off, her bare legs exposed up to her mid thigh. Gray's face erupted in color. Juvia tore the thing that was stuck in her hand. There was immense pain in her back, but her transformation pains were worse.
"Juvia sit still! You are still very much injured!" Gray frantically tried to push her back on the bed. Juvia pushed him back with strength neither of them expected from her. Juvia had expected to be stronger and Gray thought she would have been weaker. "Juvia! You have been asleep for three days you can't just jump out of bed!"
Juvia punched him in the face, "Juvia does what Juvia wants Gray-sama!" Juvia had been told to call those she admires 'sama' out of respect. Juvia admires Gray's looks so that counts, right? Gray slightly blushed at the addition to his name but got a hold of himself has she stood up.
Gray had seen a lot of things, but seeing someone stand up and fight, right after waking up from being in a coma for days, was not one he'd had the pleasure of seeing. Gray finally had enough of this 'Juvia' girl. He picked her up by her waist threw her on the hospital bed. Juvia squealed as she hit the firm mattress and tried pushing him off. Gray kind of felt bad that he was manhandling this woman who he doesn't know, but it was for her own good. Juvia's back pain was increasing so she paused fighting Gray to regain composer.
Juvia face burned. Gray had straddled her pinning her arms above her head, her legs stuck under his hips. She was completely useless. Juvia was afraid. She hadn't been this afraid since she almost drowned during her first transformation.
Transformation.
Juvia froze, much to Gray's surprise.
Gray must have seen her as a mermaid! That was against mer-law. Humans must never see you in your mermaid form.
"Juvia..?" Gray hesitantly called out. Juvia's eyes snapped back to his.
"Gray-sama…" Juvia's pain med's must have worn off because suddenly she was in a world of pain. She could barely hear Gray call out to her before she completely lost all consciousness.
"Well, good job Freezer Burn. Make this poor girl try to run away 'cause she saw your ugly face. And NOW she's knocked out!" A muffled voice yelled.
"Shut up, Flame Brain!" Gray argued back, though quietly. Juvia wasn't sure if it was because she was still half asleep or if they were whispering.
"Guys! Shut up you're going to wake up Juvia!" A female voice cut in interrupting the arguing.
"Lucy is right. You'll wake up Juvia." Another female voice chimed in.
Juvia knew she wasn't going to get anymore sleep with the group of who knows what in her room. Slowly she opened her eyes.
Gray and a pink haired boy were in a glaring match. A red haired girl with brown eyes sitting where Gray was sitting the last time she woke up. Suddenly the last person in the room, a blonde with big brown eyes, noticed her and screamed. Everyone in the room jumped into a fighting stance, searching frantically for the culprit to make Blondie scream.
Juvia pulled the sheets up to her chin. Gray caught Juvia's gaze.
"You're awake Juvia!" Gray grinned. Everyone gathered around her bed. Questions filled the air with questions of who she was and how she was. Finally the redhead told them all to be quiet, quite sternly.
The blonde smiled at Juvia. Juvia smiled shyly back.
A nurse came in with a plate of various foods. Juvia's stomach grumbled, causing the others to snicker. Glaring she thanked the nurse and looked down at the food on the tray.
"What's this?" Juvia exclaimed. She didn't know WHAT she was expecting, but fluffy white stuff with brown liquid on top and a browned chunk of meat. She was in the human world a lot but that doesn't mean she's actually tried their food.
"Uh, mashed potatoes and gravy with turkey," 'Flame Brain' stated sarcastically. Ignoring the others reactions she hesitantly took a bite. She sighed. This took her back.
A shy thirteen year old girl walked up to where her parents sat at a big table. She looked down to see mashed potatoes, her favorite. Eagerly she stuffed potatoes in her mouth. She glanced up and caught the gaze of a cute boy a year or two older than her. He cackled at her expression. She hid her burning face under her blue bangs.
Her head shot up. Her eyes were wide and her breathing quickened.
"Juvia! JUVIA! What's happening?" 'Red' had grabbed her shoulder. When had she moved? Everyone in the room had their eyes on her. Each was filled with worry.
"I NEED to get out of here!" Juvia practically screamed.
"No! Juvia you can't leave you are still injured." Gray protested. Juvia tried to push past the red head but she slammed her back down. Juvia growled and attempted to fight off 'Red'. A nurse rushed in. Her heart rate monitor had gone haywire.
The other three snapped out of their stupor and ran to hold Juvia down. A slight pain was felt in her shoulder. She suddenly got really sleepy the world became foggy then black.
Juvia had been in the hospital for three weeks before she was allowed to leave. She had learned everyone's names. Lucy was the cute blonde. Erza was the strong, strict, redhead. Natsu was the annoying pink haired idiot, though Natsu did seem really sweet. Juvia had the biggest crush on Gray and the girls knew it. They loved to tease her about it all the time. Not that Juvia cared.
Juvia had asked them if she could go to a childhood spot that she wanted to see. They agreed and were currently driving there.
Juvia dearly missed her childhood friends. Sol, Aria, Toto, and of course, Gajeel. She started tearing up. Lucy noticed and gave her a tissue. Juvia realized she cried a lot on land. Underwater no one could find evidence of her tears because tears were, you know, water.
They arrived about a mile away from the cave's entrance.
"Juvia would like to be alone now if that is okay." The others nodded, except Gray. Juvia brushed this off and started down the ever familiar path. She started running, once out of sight of the others.
Joy filled Juvia once she saw the entrance to the cave. No one was at the pool, which greatly surprised Juvia. She threw off the outfit Lucy had given her and dove into the pool. Because of the anchor, plus not transforming in a while, her transformation almost caused her to black out. Once the pain dulled she took off towards the Redfox's home. As soon as the cave opened to the ocean she rammed into a hard chest. Looking up a smile spread across her lips.
"GAJEEL-SAN!" Juvia gave Gajeel the biggest hug he'd received in a while. He brought his head down to Juvia's and hugged her as hard as he could, but Juvia didn't care she was back and Gajeel was with her.
They released and Juvia saw Gajeel smile. Not smirk, like he normally does but actually smile. Juvia was so happy. Suddenly Gajeel stiffened and pulled Juvia to his hard chest.
"You." Gajeel growled. Confused Juvia tried turning around, but Gajeel held on to her tighter, causing her heart to flutter. "You took her away from me!" All of the sudden Gajeel wasn't in front of her. She spun around and saw his crimson tail disappear into the pool area.
"JUVIA!" Chorused male voices behind her. She turned around and three bodies slammed into her. If she was on land there would be tears pouring down her face. They heard muffled shouting, people were fighting on land…? The boys flanked her, while Aria led the way into the cave. There were two dark haired males arguing. Suddenly a third person joined them, than a third and a fourth. The males circled around to a dark part of the cave transforming into their human forms. They moved toward Gajeel, pulling on boxers, as to not attract attention.
It all hit Juvia at once. The reason Gajeel went back to the pool. The tone of his voice. Why Gray didn't agree. Who the figures were above the water. They all were here.
She swam to the edge making sure to hide her long tail. She pulled her torso out of the water.
"Stop!" She yelled. Seven people stopped what they were doing to look at her.
Juvia heart stopped when Gajeel punched Gray in the gut. Natsu glared at Gajeel then wrestled him to the ground. Than one by one all her friends were in hand to hand combat.
Suddenly Toto stopped his fight with Natsu to push Juvia into the water, transforming as he jumped. He pulled Juvia toward the ocean. Juvia tried her best to pull against him, but Toto's grip was like iron. She finally punched Toto, who abruptly stopped and started at Juvia. She took this moment to swim back to the pool. Toto yelled her name but she ignored him.
She broke the surface of the water to see Gajeel gone and the rest of her human friends on the ground.
"Where is Gajeel?" Juvia questioned Toto, after he pulled her down by her tail. He looked away from her. "Wait where is Aria and Sol?" No sooner had she voiced the question than the two in question plunged into the pool. They quickly looked her over they each gave her a bone crushing hug. She was smiling like crazy.
"Let's go home 'Via," Sol suggested. They all nodded swimming into the ocean.
The boys distracted Juvia by questioning her about her whereabouts were for the past three weeks.
"Well Gray-sama said that an anchor had fallen on Juvia and Gray-sama had saved Juvia. Gray-sama put Juvia in the hospital to help Juvia. Juvia thinks Juvia loves Gray-sama." At this the boys interrupted.
"You think you what?!" Toto roared.
"Who the actual hell is 'Gray-sama'?" Sol sputtered.
"Don't let Gajeel here you say that." Aria sniggerd.
Juvia couldn't really understand who said what, or what was actually said so she just giggled and twirled around putting her hand on her pink cheeks.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open and she swam through the boys, toward their cave. The boys shared a look and chased after her.
"Juvia NO!"
"You can't go back!"
"Juvia! Stop!"
Juvia ignored their cries, pushing harder.
She made it to the cave in no time. She burst into the cool air. Her eyes searched everybody on the floor hoping to see a clue where Gajeel disappeared to. Juvia pulled herself on the ledge. Transformed. She searched for her clothing that she stripped off earlier. After she was dressed she heard her childhood friends coming out of the water. They pulled on their clothes. Juvia forced her eyes off her friends bodies and grabbed the front of Aria's black shirt.
"Where is Gajeel?" She growled.
There was movement on her left.
"Juvia! You're ok!" Gray exclaimed.
"You didn't answer Juvia's question, Where is Gajeel?" Aria gulped eyes wide. Gray pulled Juvia away from Aria by her hair. Juvia screamed, in pain or surprise they couldn't tell.
"Let go of Juvia." Toto snarled. Juvia could practically see fire flaming from his nostrils. Gray tensed up.
"How do you know Juvia?" Gray asked. Juvia turned around when she heard clothes move. Erza was awake as well as Lucy, Natsu was still unconscious.
"She has been our best friend for ten years buddy. Now hand her over." Sol answered.
Juvia was torn. She loved Gray but she also loved her friends. Gajeel was gone into the human world but Sol, Aria, and Toto were right here begging her to return with them into the ocean. She needed to make a decision and quickly. If she went back into the ocean Gajeel would return, right? Then again if she went to go find him she might see him sooner. She also doesn't know where he is right now.
Her mind was working at such a fast pace the world seemed to be going in slow motion. Her vision was in a haze. She heard Natsu yell something and charge after Toto. Erza and Gray started fighting the other two. She felt Lucy try to pull her to the human world, her body moved with Lucy. She heard Toto scream her name. She couldn't focus. Her feet moved without permission. She felt tears streaming down her face. But her hands couldn't move to wipe them away. What was she doing? It seemed that she couldn't control her body at all. She internally screamed for Toto or Gajeel or Sol or Aria to come save her. Lucy buckled her up in the back seat of the van. Had they already reached the vehicle? Soon they were moving. Juvia couldn't process what was happing fast enough. One question keeping running through her mind. Where was Gajeel?
It had been a year since Juvia had been to the ocean cave. Which meant that it had been a year since she had transformed into a mermaid. Juvia and the gang; Gray, Natsu, Erza, Lucy, Levy, and Cana: had become quite popular in the local café called "Fairy Tail". Mira was her favorite waitress. She was beautiful. She had long white hair and bright blue eyes. Juvia had found old magazines that featured Mira on the front page. She gushed over Mira for the next week.
Juvia laughed at Cana's drunken antics. Cana was a year older than herself, and drinks her weight in beer every day. Cana has brown hair that reaches her shoulders and dark eyes that could almost be considered a violet. She wore a bikini top and capris almost on a daily basis. When Juvia thought about it she hadn't seen Cana wear anything but that, hmm weird. Anyway Cana was downing way too many drinks for nine o'clock in the morning.
Juvia went from face to face admiring each and every one of her beloved friends. Gray was across the booth from her Natsu was next to him, they were predictable arguing over something dumb. Lucy sat next to Natsu, they were dating now. Super cute. Levy, Lucy's best friend, sat next to her. They were discussing the newest book Levy had read. Cana occupied the spot right next to Juvia. She was giggling over Natsu's and Gray's argument. Erza was on the other side of Cana lost in thought. Boy did Juvia love her friends but there was still an empty hole in her heart that none of them could fill.
In the past year they had taught her how to fight. The boys and Erza were in a fight club and so thy decided to teach her. She was a quick learner she could hold them off at any given fight. She had fought the guys a lot with her hands underwater but now she was on land and had to use her feet. They were impressed by her skill. When they asked her about it she blamed her four older brothers.
Juvia looked down at her hands. She wrung her hands. She really missed her squad; Sol, Aria, Toto, and especially… she didn't really think about him, it hurt way too much. Juvia thought it shouldn't hurt that much because he had ignored her for many years, she was lying to herself and she knew it.
Juvia excused herself to go to the bathroom. It didn't have stalls so she was able to lock the door. She looked in the mirror. Her eyes were filling with tears and her hair was falling out of the French braid. "Juvia is a mess," she groaned. She was wearing a blue sundress with a white bow and white sandals. Her pale hands gripped the hem of her skirt as she bent over. Tears were cascading down her face.
Knock knock. Juvia groaned into her pillow as Erza and Lucy opened her door and sat on her bed.
"Can't you see Juvia purposefully shut the door after leaving? Leave Juvia alone." She screamed into the pillow.
"Juvia please come to the ocean with us." Lucy begged from her right. Erza was rubbing small circles on her back trying to comfort her. Juvia stood up abruptly and smacked Erza across the face. Erza abruptly grabbed Juvia's hands and pinned them to Juvia's side.
"Juvia you need to calm down! You miss your friends so come with us we will take you back to the cave by the ocean." Juvia fought all the harder. There was no way she was going back. They wouldn't accept herback. She willingly left, her instincts kicked in and she left with the humans. Juvia fell against Erza's chest and cried. She cried for a while. They didn't go to the beach that day and Juvia didn't return to the ocean.
There was a knock on the bathroom door. "I will be out in a minute," Juvia responded. One thing she was thankful for is that her face cleared up fast. She straightened her dress and opened the door. Gray was on the other side. Juvia looked down instantly. "What do you want Gray-sama?" Juvia asked shyly.
"Wanna go for a car trip Juvia?" Gray asked with a smile smile on his lips.
Juvia cracked a small smile and nodded her head. Gray took her hand and led her through the café to the car. Once inside Juvia started talking with Erza in the backseat. They talked about everything that they had planned for the party next weekend. When the car stopped the piled out of the car. They were in a forest like area. Gray led the way. The girls still chattered about the party.
Juvia suddenly halted. Memories flooded her brain; Gajeel, Sol, Wendy, Mr. and Mrs. Redfox, Aria, and Toto. Instinctively she took off running. Here legs moved on their own much like the day she left. Jumping over logs and sliding down hills she pushed herself. Just a little further, just a little faster. She finally reached the entrance of the cave. As soon as she took the first corner she slowed down. She had been gone for a year. Would they still remember her?
She heard the voices of Gray and Natsu. It was now or never. She stripped off her clothing and dived into the ocean. Her instincts transformed her. The pain was almost unbearable. She blacked out.
She opened her eyes and looked down. Oh, how she missed her tail. She looked up and didn't see Natsu or Gray. With a swish of her tail Juvia swam into the ocean. She swam as fast as she could to the place she called home for ten years.
If anyone asked Juvia what her home was like before she became human the first thing they would need to know is that the Redfox's home was spotless, except for Gajeel's room. Nothing was out of place. Secondly there was always something happening, whether it was guests, her gang fighting, or Wendy's friends playing house a little too loudly.
When Juvia entered her home her heart stopped.
It was wrecked. All the resting spots were broken the shells that decorated the walls were on the sand.
It was silent. The only sound she heard was the seaweed blowing outside.
She couldn't breathe this wasn't right. She swam to her room. She saw her old chest still shut. She swam over and opened it up, hoping and praying that her treasures were still inside. Finding it empty she broke down. Her heart felt like it was weighed down by a thousand pounds. She felt like someone was stabbing her repeatedly. She couldn't breathe. Everything that she had known for ten years was gone. Frantically she swam to Mr. and Mrs. Redfox's room it too was destroyed. Wendy's room was next, nothing. Finally she entered Gajeel's room.
Juvia didn't know what was worse, the rest of the house destroyed or Gajeel's room perfectly the same as how she had left it a year ago. All of his vests were still strewn about. His sleeping shelf still had no blanket. His shell shelf still had no shells. A small smile ghosted her lips.
It disappeared as soon as it came. From the corner of her eye she saw a figure in the shadows.
"Who are you and why are you in Gajeel's room?" Juvia questioned the intruder.
"And what might your name be?" his cold voice questioned.
"Juvia's name is Juvia."
"Juvia? Oh? Well Gajeel is going to pissed I found you before he did?"
Gajeel? He was looking for me?
Juvia swam right up to the figure's face. "Take Juvia to Gajeel now!" She commanded in the bitterest tone she had ever heard herself utter.
He came out of the shadows Juvia gasped. She had never been more afraid of a person/merman before. (There had been situations which had been scary, but she was never scared of a person.) He was the epitome of an evil villain. He had dark red hair and dark green eyes. Despite the fact he was underwater he wore a dark purple cape. His tail was black. Not like Metallica, whose black tail looked warm and made one feel comfortable. No, this man's tail looked cold and he terrified her.
"Why Juvia if you would only join me."
"What is your name? Juvia must know before Juvia comes. And what will Juvia be joining?" Juvia hugged herself. She couldn't believe she was doing this.
"My Name is Jose, and you will be joining Phantom Lord" Jose sneered.
With her heart in her throat and her stomach in knots she held out her hand to grab Jose's. "Yes, Juvia will come with Jose."
"Follow me Juvia, and I will lead you to the man you love so dearly."