Mysteries of the Heart

Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail

Summary: Juvia breaks into Gray's apartment hoping to get some clue as to how she can woo him, but an unexpected discovery has the water mage doing everything in her power to get Gray with the person he truly loves.

Chapter 2

Juvia had slept on it. She'd slept on it for three days. Sure, she'd sworn she would get Gray-sama and Natsu-san together, but the more she thought about it, the more she wasn't so sure Gray-sama was in love in Natsu-san.

She liked to think she knew Gray-sama very well. Every waking moment she watched him, and Juvia was positive she would have noticed Gray-sama being in love with someone else, especially Natsu-san. That idea was what gave her pause in her mission.

So after sleeping on it, Juvia began to believe there was no way Gray-sama was in love with Natsu-san; she would have noticed. But then she slept on it again.

Then she believed that Gray-sama had to be in love with Natsu-san in order for him to write it in his journal. With that thought, she slept on it yet again.

It was after sleeping on it the third—and final—time that she didn't really know what to believe anymore, so she would just go to the guild and watch Gray-sama to pick up on any hints that he was actually in love with Natsu-san.

Her determination renewed, she headed for the guild.

Juvia peered at Gray-sama from behind a pillar in the guild. She was in luck. He was sitting at a table by himself, his back to her. Gray-sama was busy sipping on an ice cold drink while he watched Natsu-san and Love Rival—or Lucy—on the other side of the guild.

Natsu-san was busily eating a large pile of food while Love Rival seemed to be going on and on about her rent. Love Rival slammed her hands on the table and yelled at him for not listening to her, causing Natsu-san to jump and dropped his fork on the ground. He bent over to pick it up.

Juvia looked back to Gray-sama, who now had a strange look on his face. It was the look Juvia wanted him to give her while she was wearing a swimsuit, but this was directed at Natsu-san.

She glanced back at the dragon-slayer and found his rump poking up from beneath the table. Juvia place her hands on her burning cheeks. Gray-sama is so indecent! she thought. How could she not have realized those looks he gave Natsu-san before?!

But suddenly, Gray-sama's expression changed. Juvia looked back to Natsu-san and Love Rival. Love Rival was now gripping Natsu-san's arm, and it was being squished between her large breasts.

Gray-sama is glaring at Love Rival. Love Rival is also Gray-sama's Love Rival! Juvia must do something!

Gray clenched his drink in his hand a she watched Lucy shamelessly pushing Natsu's arm between her breasts. Did she really think that would make him take her on a mission?

Why the hell does she have to be so close to him like that? Gray thought sourly. He'd never like it when other people touched Natsu, especially when he realized his…feelings.

But he wouldn't say anything. He never did. Maybe if he started a fight, she would go away. Stupid Lucy. She was such a—

"Love Rival!"

Yeah, Gray agreed inside his wait before realizing what was said. He turned his head, his eyes taking in a furious Juvia. She was pointing at Lucy and glaring viciously. But why was she calling Lucy a Love Rival right now? He wasn't even anywhere near Lucy.

Lucy paused in her attempts to get Natsu to go on a mission or her rent and turned her attention to Juvia. "For the last time, I'm not your Love Rival! I'm not by Gray right now!"

Juvia stepped toward the center of the guild still pointing accusingly at Lucy. "Love Rival, stay away from Natsu-sama!"

The guild suddenly became deathly quiet, save for Gray choking on his breath. Natsu had even stopped eating to watch the exchange with hesitation and interest.

It was Lucy who broke the silence. "Natsu-sama?"

"Yes! Love Rival must stay away from Natsu-sama because—!" Juvia quickly cut herself off. She could blurt out that Gray-sama was in love with him. So what should she do?

"Because what?" Lucy inquired, her eyes widening as her thoughts whirled around her mind a mile a minute.

"Because Natsu-sama doesn't belong to Love Rival!"

"I never said he belonged to me. And besides, since when are you so interested in Natsu-sama. I thought you were head over heels for Gray."

Natsu watched Juvia and Lucy sputtering at each other in confusion. He raised his hand and looked at it. It was covered in fire. He looked across the guild and saw that Gray was down to his boxers.

Well, that ruled out suddenly being in Edolas.

But if he wasn't in Edolas, what the hell was going on? Maybe he should just ask.

"Uh, Juvia?" started Natsu.

Both Juvia and Lucy whipped their heads in his direction.

"Yes, Natsu-sama?"

He scratched the side of his head in thought. "Aren't you like…in love with ice block or something?"

Juvia sighed. "Juvia loves Gray-sama, but she can no longer love him romantically."

Natsu frowned. "Does that mean you're in love with me?"

The water mage looked surprised. "Why would Natsu-sama think that?"

"Because you keep calling me Natsu-sama, and you called Lucy your Love Rival while she was next to me, not popsicle pants."

It was then Juvia realized her mistake. She'd referred to Natsu as Natsu-sama. It had been a slip of the tongue since she was so used to saying Love Rival and Gray-sama together. Now it just kind of stuck.

Did Natsu-sama and Love Rival think she was in love with him now because she'd called him that? If Love Rival thought that, then did Gray-sama?!

She quickly glanced at Gray-sama, who seemed to be staring at her incredulously. Juvia didn't know if he wanted to strangle her or not. Juvia thinks she has accidentally made herself Gray-sama's Love Rival!

End Chapter