Hope you like it. Enjoy!

PS. The 4x '?' at the last passage indicate a name ^.^ and I changed the title of the story (for better understanding. (:)

Seemingly empty

He suddenly woke up at the sound of the town bell. „Oh s***". He remembered his appointment and for a moment he just wanted to stay at the river and forget his usual life, but he already was too long away. Soon they would send some guys after him. He sighed and started to jog home. The sky was already in shades of purple and dark blue painted. He always forgot the time at that place. He didn't really want to go home, it wasn't his real 'home', but Gray was more than thankful for a place to stay, that's why he usually did, what the higher-up's ordered him. If it wasn't for him, then maybe he would live on the street, robbing and dealing or he would already be dead. He put his hand in his pants pocket and felt the sharp metal from one of his favorite knives. When ever he felt insecure, he just glided his finger along the blade, it gave him some kind of strength and power. He couldn't explain it, if someone ask him.

Finally he arrived at the main building. From the outside it was pretty ordinary, but the inside was nothing like that. One day he brought someone here, someone new to this system and who seemingly never put a step in this world. He actually wanted him to stay outside from all this, but this person really wanted to be part of the family. The point is the first moment this person came into this building, he couldn't take the eyes off of it.

The furniture was very extravagant and Gray couldn't guess they're value. Another time an old guy came visiting oyabun and he whispered something like „it's just like I imagine the lion's den". At that time he didn't understand it at all, but probably he compared oyabun with the lion. Whatsoever. When Gray wanted to enter, someone opened the door before him, he almost fell on the ground, but Lyon hold him up. „Hey! You're late, didn't I tell you to be on time. What the hell don't you understand, huh? Should I speak more slowly, so that your bean-like brain can proceed it?!", he scolded him. Gray entered and yawned: „Yeah. Yeah. Where do I need to be exactly?", he asked and went on. Lyon followed him. „You don't even know, what kind of appointment you have, right?", he asked. Gray stopped and turned to him. „Do I even need to? It's enough, that you know it, so?", Gray smirked. Lyon just shook his head. „You little bastard", Lyon answered and went into the lift. This time Gray following.

In the lift Lyon explained him the details. „You need to take a bath and dress up, you will have a special guest". Gray sighed, who was it this time, some poltician, or enterpreneur. „You have 10 minutes, Oyabun is already waiting". Lyon said and left the lift at the second floor. That was when Gray gulped nervously. He ran into his room and finished in less than 7 minutes, that was a new record for sure.

He knocked at the big, dark wooden double door. It sounded deep and he suddenly felt a bit cold. Cold? Never. He corrected his tie and brushed his pants smooth and after that he started massaging his knuckles. Then he heard the voice of his Oyabun and entered slowly. He closed the door and turned to the direction of the unmistakable voice. He bowed deep. „Good evening, Deliora", he greeted him. One day in the past, Deliora told him to call him Deliora. It was a special privilege, just a handful were allowed to do that. He looked him in the eyes. „My Gray, where have you been, we all were waiting for you. Take a seat. Unfortunately you missed the cake", Deliora said, his tone pure coldness, but still a bit friendly.

„I'm sorry. It must have been great. Next time I attempt to be punctual", he explained and wanted to sat next to him, when his sight caught a girl with blue hair. First he didn't see her, because of the man beside her, probably her father. His hair also had the colour of sapphire. Gray caught himself staring and sat down. „Good evening", he said politely and looked at the girl in front of him. „You sure must be busy", the man with the grey suit and blue tie said. He studied him. Gray tried to act normal. „Sir, I'm sure I'm not busy like you, but I try to take as much responsility as necessary. My name is Gray Zero", he explained. It was the name Deliora gave him. He didn't remember his old one, maybe there wasn't even one. There was nothing in his head, before the time Deliora had taken him in. Just emptiness.

„I see", the guy smiled. He then turned to the girl and started: „This is my daughter Juvia Lockser. She has the same age as you", her father nodded to her and the girl started introducing herself. „Juvia is really pleased to meet you, Gray-sama. Is it okay, if I call you that?", she asked politely, but still staring a little bit at him. It was kind of creepy, but he just nodded. He couldn't be impolite in front of Deliora. „That is wonderful. You will see in no time, you will be a heart and a soul", Deliora exclaimed and clapped in his hand, while some butler came in to the wide room to prepare the dinner. Gray gulped, what did he mean? He cleared his throat. „It's really nice to meet you", he couldn't bring himself to say something else. Juvia, her father and Deliora looked pleased, but Gray had mixed feelings, something wasn't right.

The evening went on and two older men began to talk about some issues, which Juvia and Gray shoudn't get too much involved with. „Gray-sama, what do you think about rain?", she suddenly asked him. „Rain? Well I don't have something against it, I mean... ummm.. it is something important. Without it we can't survive, so?", he answered. He really didn't understand that girl. She was friendly, but still kinda possessive. „Juvia loves the rain and to be honest Juvia is the rain", she exclaimed shyly. He was surprised. So far he didn't meet someone, who controlled the rain. „That's interesting. I can controll ice", he smiled and started to form a small flower. „Wow..that's beautiful. Gray-sama... Juvia is really glad, she gets to marry you", Juvia whispered, while staring at his art.

Gray was happy for Juvia admiring him, but then he abruptly stopped and his ice flower shattered into thousand pieces. Even Deliora and Juvia's father turned to them from the other end of the room. Gray felt a piercing stare in his back and gulped. „Sorry..", he scratched his head. „Are you okay?", he asked her. She tried to smile, but was concerned about him. „Yeah. Juvia is okay, but Gray-sama didn't look okay some seconds ago..", she tilted her head and looked questioningly at him. Gray shook his head. „I'm okay", he tried to smile.

It was midnight, when Gray lay in his bed, his shirt somewhere beside him. He remembered the conversation between him and Deliora, after Juvia and her father left. „Gray. Explain your behavior", started Deliora piercing his eyes into his heart. It immediately froze and atched. He knew what he meant. „I'm sorry... I didn't concentrate", he replied, his eyes darting through the room. Deliora came towards him. He began to lay his hand on his shoulder, lightly squeezing him. „Are you sure? You know, you can talk to me", Deliora insisted.

Gray didn't know what to do and kept his mouth shut. Deliora deepened the pressure and once again focused on him. „Gray. Look me in the eyes and don't try to deceive me. All the years I gave you this wonderful home and I cared for you and now you can't even be true to me", Deliora icy voice sang through the building. Gray never could hide somthing behind him, he was too intimidating. He turned his eyes to him and they found two deadlooking eyes. They were deeper than any ocean. Gray was scared, that every moment he looked longer into these eyes, he would lose himself and never find back. „I-I was just surprised when Juvia told me, that we would get married", he exclaimed and Deliora loosened his grip. „Good boy",he stroked his head and moved into the direction of the lift. „It won't take long, until your engagement", Deliora smiled coldly and his eyes never left Gray's ones, until the door of the lift closed before him.

Gray shuddered at the memory. He began to create various forms with ice, just to put his head to ease. Suddenly he felt so lonely, he yearned for the place at the river and the warm memory. He closed his eyes and tried to remember.

„Hey you! What are you doing here? Do you want to play some football?", he asked and walked to the girl in front of him. She didn't turn around and he came torward her.„Hey, are you listening?", he asked her irritated. That was when she turned to him and he instantly froze. The girl had no face, just her hair was wafting. Like always. Everytime he tried to remember her, he couldn't, he just felt something warm inside him.

Then another memory hit him.

„Never leave me Gray. Please promise me, that you'll never leave me", a sad voice begged him. His heart ached and he didn't even know why, he just knew what would come next.
„? I will never leave you, I will always stay by your side", he said cheerfully and proudly. One hand gripping his necklace and the other her hand. His eyes darting from her to the quiet river and the sun setting in front of them.