After months of planning their vacation, some Fairy Tail wizards eventually went for onsen. The excitement built after bathing in hot spring water because everyone knows— It's beer time!
"So Juvia tell me how's Natsu in bed?"
Cana's blunt question threw Juvia off the guard. She choked on her beer, sputtering as she glared over at Cana. Her face was all red as she raised her voice, "Cana-san, what kind of question is that?!"
Cana laughed before she gave her a teasing stare. "Come on Juvia, you will marry Natsu only after six months breaking up with Gray. How do people not assume that you're pregnant with Natsu?"
"Cana. Nobody broke up. We've never been an item," Gray cut Cana off. His words were as cold as the air outside, and Juvia couldn't hide the hurt that flashed in her eyes. Nobody broke up. We've never been an item.
"Hey Cana, you heard him. They've never been an item, and nobody is not pregnant. I proposed her because I like her." The sharpness of Natsu's tone made Cana flinched.
She then grinned, "That's funny because I've never seen you two dating at all!"
"Not everything has to be public," Erza said calmly while sipping her beer.
Ignoring Erza, Cana continued teasing Juvia. "Come on Juvia, be honest, did you even kiss Natsu?"
"Eerr.. Juvia…" Her face was glowing red and she couldn't even look at everyone in that room. Gray was hoping that she would deny it. But she didn't.
And her silence was killing him. The burn of jealousy radiated out of his chest, and it made his cheeks flushed. He then pulled the cigarette from the pocket of his robe, and got up from the floor as he lit it.
"I need fresh air," he said coldly as he left the room.
Juvia watched the anger built on his face, the frustration, and was saddened by it. Did she let him down again? Did she make him upset? She didn't even know what she did wrong, but she never wanted to upset him or disappoint him. Yet, she failed.
The atmosphere in that room suddenly became tense and serious because everyone knew that Gray only lit cigarette when he was mad, and everyone could see the look of pain mixed with sadness settled in Juvia's face face.
An awkward moment of silence passed among them before Erza offered in cheerful tone. "Everyone, I think we should call it a night."
"You're right. Let's go back to our room," Cana said as she got up from her position on the floor. But they saw Juvia didn't move at all. Instead, she kept drinking the beer. "Juvia doesn't want to go. Juvia wants to drink," she said, sobbing.
"Hey Juvia, I think you drink a little bit too much," said Natsu as he took the beer mug away from her.
"Natsu-san, please let Juvia drink. Please!" She pleaded, tears running down her cheeks.
If Natsu had a soft spot it was women's tears. He couldn't stand to see any woman cry, especially if it's her nakama. He decided to let her drink and stay by her side.
"Don't worry, I'll stay here with her," he said warmly to Cana and Erza.
"Yeah, she's your future wife. Take care of her!" Cana smirked, and so was Erza.
Then they both left, leaving Natsu and Juvia in his room.
"Thank you Natsu-san for standing up for me," she managed to say between her sobs.
"Huh?"
"That you're proposing me because you like me."
"Well, that's the truth."
"No— The truth is Juvia was proposing Natsu-san. How pathetic Juvia is. Couldn't win the heart of a man she loved that she had to propose her own nakama," she said softly with intense feeling and hopeless longing. There was a lot of truth in what she said, and he didn't know how to respond. Hence, he just stayed silent and continued drinking with her.
##
Natsu slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurred. He blinked several times and saw Juvia slept by his side. He then remembered that they were both drinking until they lost their consciousness. She looked very beautiful as she laid there with her eyes shut, and her slow breathing made her look relaxed. He then saw her robe was slipped open, showing the swell of her breast. He then realized she was nude underneath. What a sight.
Realizing that he looked her breasts longer than he should have, Natsu immediately reached to pull her robe closed and when his knuckles touched her breast, he felt the torturing temptation to touch all of her. Shook off the morbid thought, he frantically searched for a blanket to put on her body. Suddenly her soft hand grabbed Natsu's wrist. "Gray-sama, please don't leave Juvia," she whispered miserably.
"I'm not Gray, I'm Natsu," he said quietly.
This time her grip became stronger that it made Natsu groaned.
"Gray-sama, please stay by Juvia's side for tonight."
He didn't mind to sleep by her side, but he knew it was so wrong for he was not the one that she wanted.
At the same time knew she was hurting, and all that he could offer her was his companionship.
"I'm not going anywhere," he finally said as he laid down by her side. He decided to just close his eyes against the temptation to touch her. But then he froze in surprise when Juvia threw herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. He started to reach down and disengage her arms, but he stopped the motion immediately. Slowly, his tension faded and he decided to relax in embrace. When he opened his eyes and turned to see her, he saw the light of the moon touched her skin, highlighting the contour of her face, her arms, and the swell of her breast. He decided he didn't want to wake her. Not yet. He wanted to savor this moment where he could see her beauty so close. Maybe it was a mistake to open his eyes.
The next thing he saw was Juvia opened her eyes and looked straight into his eyes. He could feel his heart stopped. Maybe she realized it was not Gray, and she would slap or punch him.
"Ju—Juvia, I could explain—"
But she stopped his words with burning kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they kissed passionately that the air nearly went out of both of them. He put his arms around her thin waist. She then wrapped her legs around his waist, and dragged his mouth to her breast. His calloused hand cupped her breast and began to fondle those. His lips kissed her neck and that's when she moaned, "Gray-sama."
He stopped the moment she called his name. She was still thinking of Gray.
Natsu then gently put Juvia back on the floor.
"Gray-sama?" she asked softly. He then grinned, "I just need to use the bathroom. I'll be back."
But it was a lie. He didn't plan to go back to this room until the first sunrise. She nodded, and closed her eyes. Realizing that she was falling asleep, Natsu got up and left the room.
He didn't know why he was feeling something burning inside his chest. Wasn't this expected, he knew she still loved Gray. Juvia was his friend, and it's only right to take care of her when she needed a company. Although he knew he went too far by proposing the idea to marry his own friend when they both didn't love each other in a romantic way. So he wondered, was he jealous with Gray?
Juvia slept in his room, and as he decided he didn't want to go back until she woke up and gained her common sense, he just sat near the front desk. He wondered, where Gray could've been. He shared his room with Gray. Could it be that Gray went back to sleep in their room? Again, he felt his chest burning. It's normal to sleep with nakama. They also used to share room with Lucy on mission. But this time it was different. Juvia was his fiancée, and she had history with Gray. Couldn't stand the idea, he decided to check if Gray was with Juvia.
##
When he reached the front door of his room, he saw Gray coming out of his room with his suitcase.
"Gray, what were you doing there? You knew Juvia was sleeping there." His tone was a tone of jealousy, though he knew he shouldn't be. Gray was a friend that he trusted the most, and he knew he wouldn't do anything that could've damaged their friendship.
"Nothing. She was sleeping. I just came back to pack my stuff."
"Where are you going?"
"I have a lead about E.N.D's whereabouts. I need to find him and destroy him," he answered. His cold tone and stern gaze made Natsu realize that he would leave, regardless.
Natsu gritted his teeth against anger. "Why can't we go with you? I thought we are nakama."
"Natsu, you are going to marry Juvia. She deserves to be happy and I won't let that happiness taken away from her."
"Stop!" Natsu yelled.
Natsu then paused for a moment then took a deep breath. "She doesn't need you to decide for her happiness. She is stronger that you thought. She can decide on her own."
"No, Natsu. She underestimates how destructive E.N.D could be. She knows nothing, and I trust you the most, Natsu, and I know you would make her happy."
"Stop playing a hero, and let us help you. We are in it together, Gray!"
"I'm sorry. After what happened to Ur and Ultear, I won't take that chance again."
"What are you talking about?!" His words stopped when he realized he couldn't move his legs. His legs were all frozen in solid ice, and he couldn't move at the hips. Natsu's eyes widened. He didn't blink during the whole conversation and he didn't even see Gray casting his spell. Was he getting stronger? Natsu then smirked, he felt challenged.
"You think I couldn't burn it?! I beat your ass many times before!" As Natsu tried to release flames from his mouth, Gray punched him so hard.
"Bastard, what is that for?"
"That's for taking advantage of Juvia. You think I didn't see what you were doing in that room?"
Gray then scoffed as he turned his back. "If I were you, I would not spend so much energy on burning the ice. No matter how much you burn the ice, it will not let you go until the first sunrise."
"Gray, at least tell me where you are going!" Natsu yelled.
"Natsu," his voice suddenly became warm. Natsu thought he saw him shedding tears. "Promise me, you will take care of Juvia and make her happy. A man like me could never bring her happiness, but sorrow and pain." When he turned back to see Natsu for the last time, Natsu saw the heartbreak reflected in his best friend's eyes. "Please take care of her."
Natsu was at a loss for words, and so was the desire to fight him back.
He just let Gray go.
##
The moment Juvia woke up, she saw Natsu by her side eating breakfast.
"Juvia, you woke up," he said with a wide smile.
"Natsu-san, what happened last night?" When she remembered she was still in Natsu and Gray's room, she prompted him, "Where is Gray-sama? This was supposed to be Natsu-san's and Gray-sama's room."
Something was wrong. He looked sad. He looked defeated.
"He wouldn't be back until he destroys E.N.D."
"No, that can't be true. You're kidding, right Natsu-san?" she asked for reassurance; that she heard him wrong, that he was just joking.
Yet, he didn't say anything.
She stared at him with tears running down her rosy red cheeks.
"No, Juvia will find Gray-sama!" she whispered in a husky voice. She then stormed out of her room with bare feet. "Juvia!" Natsu yelled, but she ignored him.
##
Juvia ran with her bare feet to the train station. "Gray-sama!" She didn't know where he was heading to, but she needed to find him, and train station seemed to be the best bet.
After hours looking, she couldn't find him. Was he really gone? How could he be so cruel, leaving her without any words?
The black sky began to pour rain like a storm in the middle of the sea. The rain pelted her head and her face, but she couldn't care less. Rain used to be her company before she met Gray for the first time, and now it came back to company her, again. She glanced at the sky and her hot tears mixing with the rain pelting her cheeks. Then she felt the scarf covering her head. She breathed in the familiar smell of the scarf with Natsu's and she turned her head. Natsu was there standing right behind her. "You could've caught cold," he said softly.
She then pound her fists against his solid chest while sobbing. "Why you didn't stop him. Why… Why!"
She was powerless when he grabbed both her wrists and embraced her tightly. "I'm sorry, Juvia. I'm sorry!"
She thought she felt the heat of his tears wetting her hair. She put her head on his chest and felt his pounding heart. She held on; for the first time after long time she felt warm… and cared for.
##
After Gray saw Natsu heading to the front desk. He sneaked into his room, and he looked down at Juvia's peaceful sleeping face. So relaxed and so beautiful. He didn't want to wake her up. He just kissed her closed eyes, then her forehead. He whispered gently, "I love you, Juvia."
He then quietly packed his stuff. He knew he was a selfish, coward man. He let go a woman that he loved for the sake of revenge. But that's his promise with his father. Destroying E.N.D. was the only thing in his mind. She might be crying tomorrow. She might be hurting for the first few weeks after he's gone. But she would be alive. She would be having family with Natsu, the man that he trusted wholeheartedly. He knew he might regret it one day.
But he just wanted her to live happily, and that's more than enough for him.
##
A/N: It turns out to be different that I expected. I was thinking to make collection of one-shot with no plots. But uh I couldn't help myself. I will still be making one-shot for this fics, with some plots. My original goal is to write mostly fluff and fun stuff, but oh well, my heart is craving for more drama. I knew people were expecting read something fun, not some soap drama from this story. Hence, I do apologize for this mess. Thank you so much for the reviews: Star197, Pyinfinite, coolcat2565, EtheriosLogia, Mr. Vic88, guest, guest, glodenglowingsnowdemon, and apitatoor! Your reviews mean a lot to me!
