AN: HIII! It's been so long since I updated VB :3 Im sorry! But don't worry the third installment of the story is here :) An Anon from tumblr asked me if I'll be updating this anytime soon. I thought of it carefully and here is it! Also, I want to tell you guys that VB will be an independent story from now on, I mean, I will no longer depend on ORANGEbut maybe I could be inspired by a few scenes :) Enjoy!
Now with the story...
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"Calm down! Will you!" Erza shouted as soon as she and the others arrived at the hostpital. "She's going to be fine!"
Gray shook his head stubbornly, his eyes wide as tears began to roll down from it." N-no, s-she's not! She's bleeding! She hasn't done anything but bleed!"
Erza gulped nervously, for her years of existence, she had never encounter a crying Gray Fullbuster. Never in her whole life she had seen the Ice mage cried like this.
"S-she could have turned herself into her water form, b-but why?" he asked, his face in a grimace. His knees buckled and for someone who's strong like him, it was impossible to be this physically weak.
Lucy held his arms together, her brown eyes searching his. "Everything's going to be fine, right? Gray?" she half-smiled but her eyes began to tear up to.
Looking behind her, Erza stared at the large doors leading where the water mage is.
'If only…' and her thoughts continued along with Gray's grief.
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Juvia had her head bowed down as she walked side by side with Gray. The Ice mage noticed and nudged his elbow beside her.
"Oi," he snapped his fingers in front of her face. Juvia tilted her head slowly up to him, her eyes half-lidded.
"Yes?" she asked weakly, then she blinked. "W-what is it Gray-sama?"
He pursed his lips and his thick brows arched into a 'V'. "You seemed to be lost? What's the matter?"
Gulping, Juvia covered her face with a bright smile, the skin on the corner of her eyes wrinkling. "Nothing hehe…"
But for Gray, her laugh was not hearty enough for him to believe her. "We can ditch Erza you know…" he stated, and before he could process what he had said to the water mage, someone punched the back of his head.
His face darkened and Gray was about to shout curses at the culprit behind them when he saw Juvia's face inches away from him.
"Are you alright Gray-sama?" her hands traveling on the back of the Ice mage's head, massaging it lightly as if to remove the pain.
He suddenly felt hot, placing his own hand behind his head and it made contact with the blue-haired woman's small ones.
He jumped away from her, causing him to bump into someone behind them.
"Gray…" he heard a low growl and the hairs at the back of is neck stood up. He saw erza raising her clenched fist, a vein ticked on her forehead.
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"This is delicious!" Lucy cheered as she ate a spoonful of her cake.
Erza nodded, agreeing on what Lucy had said. She turned her red head to Juvia who's sitting beside her, smiling patiently as she waited for her to say something about how wonderful the cake is.
Juvia remained silent, staring at the untouched piece of cake on her plate. Erza's eyes followed her gaze and the Titania gaped. "Y-you haven't touched your cake!" he accused the water mage.
"Gimme yer cake if you don't like to eat Juvia." Natsu suggested, munching on his fifth piece.
"A-ano…" she mumbled, surprised at the sudden attention they're giving to her.
"What's wrong? You don't like cakes?" Lucy asked worriedly and at the same time planning for a great alibi for Juvia if she made the red-haired woman upset.
Everyone stared at her. "J-juvia's sorry…" she suddenly cried, her small voice cracking.
Erza blinked her eyes, her arms waving in front of her. "W-why are you crying?" she panicked, "It's okay Juvia. Y-you don't need to apologize." She patted the blue-haired woman's head gently, assuring her that she will not be upset with her.
Juvia only nodded, bowing her head deeply as her fingers fidgeted shakingly on her lap.
Gray's eyes traveled from Juvia to Erza quietly. His guts telling him that he should've read the letters first.
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Upon reaching home, the first thing that the Ice mage did was to pull out the first sheet of paper from the envelope his 27-year old self had given to him.
He exhaled loudly and prepared himself mantally.
How're you doing my 18-year-old-bastard-self,
He tch-ed at the lame greeting, remembering how he met that guy.
First of all, I want to tell you that you must read these letter's contents carefully. DON'T EVER MISS A WORD. Well today, I hope that you didn't invite Juvia into anything, and don't listen to Erza, I know that you'lle be a cry baby and still follow her, heh.
Gray frowned, it was exactly what happened today.
As I can remember, Juvia's pretty sulky today, Am I right? I want to hit my old self right now you see, I should've gave her space.
"You're referring to me, idiot." Gray commented quietly.
I actually told her that I'll be in a mess if she didn't agree on joining with us today.
Gray only stared quietly at the paper in front of him. That's it! The letter has ended.
With a grunt, he reached for the envelope once again, pulling another paper from it.
Before opening the letter, he saw some small inked numbers that was printed on it; 06.25.X874
That would be on Sunday, the letter was dated from the day it was written. He carefully opened it and started reading to himself.
She took a mission today, go and ask her if you could tag along. She'll be happy to hear it from you.
Again, it ended.
Gray thought of something he could do with the letters that he had read, he should still keep them so he could be reminded somehow.
Grabbing the envelope, he shifted his place from his bedroom to his small kitchen. His fridge gave him a good impression, some of his taken missions were posted on it, the silver, metallic appliance was now covered with brown and tore up mission posters.
He held the first two letters that he read earlier, snatching a pin from the counter beside the fridge and tucked it neatly above the piled papers.
"There," he smiled to himself as he crossed both of his arms in front of him.
After a minute of staring, he decided that it would be a day and he already need some rest.
The envelope containing all the remaining letters from 27-year old Gray was all forgotten on top of his dining table.