All Rights to Hiro Mashima

Belly Dancer Pt. 4

Gray had stayed watch for over an hour. The plan had started and he had been stuck behind a giant crate pillars stored behind the moving stage. He was irritated with Juvia. He was angry at her. Why would she not give him a bigger part in the plan? The whole reason they were there was to save her. Now, she was saying she chose to not escape? Gray hoped that whoever Juvia had set herself out to save was someone very important.

Almost immediately as the thought ran through his head, Gray regretted it. Every life was worth saving. He felt even worse. It was as is Juvia was punishing him for everything. It was like rubbing sat on his wounded pride. Once again, he wasn't an asset to the mission.

As he kicked an empty soda can to the side, he realized he was more angry at himself. He deserved Juvia's glares and mistrust. He had treated her very badly and had insulted her in a way never imaginable. Gray felt his heart ache. Had he ever told Juvia how he felt? She had always been by his side, and yet, he was so close to losing her. Many times. Especially, then. He hated that he wasn't able to beat those bastards, specifically Troy, after everything he had done to Juvia.

"Gray!" Gray whipper his head towards the side only to notice Lucy running towards him full speed, with around ten girls behind her. He realized that the twins were following them close behind.

"Lucy!" Gray ran towards her, and as soon as he passed her, he made a hammer out of ice and brought it down on the twins, only for the two of them to dodge it.

"Fuck," he cursed. He made another long object in his hand. It was a giant batt. "Lucy! Where are Juvia and Natsu?"

Gray managed to hit one of the twins. He felt Lucy stand back to back with him.

"Natsu stayed behind to fight Troy. J-juvia…" Gray didn't like how Lucy hesitated.

"Where is Juvia, Lucy?" Gray brought down his batt on one of the twins, making them go unconscious. From the corner of his eye, he saw the other brother try to make his way towards the ten girls. He realized they were all belly dancers, some were from the stage where he had seen them earlier. He called out and made a hand that grasped the other twin.

"I'm not sure. She ran into some underground compartment. She said there was someone else she had to save." Lucy called out on scorpion and with Gray's ice, the finished the other brother.

"What?" Gray was gasping for air, and at some point, he had lost his shirt. He was more angry than tired. Desperately, worried. Nothing could happen to Juvia under his watch.

Lucy Calle back Scorpion. Only then, did Gray realize how tattered she was. Her shirt was gone, and a piece of cloth covered her chest. Her hair was loose and all over the place. Her skirt was ripped and had traces of blood. The look in her face told him better than to try and help her.

"We have two minutes to wait for them, if they don't come, then we have to meet them at the assigned place." Gray was about to protest, but Lucy shook her head and from the corner of his eye he saw the girls all curled together. They looked frightened to death. "We have to go along with Juvia's plan, if not, we would've done this for nothing."

Gray had never felt so powerless. He couldn't do anything. He knew it wouldn't take long for the twins to wake from their slumber and the girls were in danger.

"Ok," he said. "Let's go."

As they ran from the stage, Gray couldn't help but to glance back. If anything happened to Juvia, he would blame it all on himself. At the same time, he knew Natsu was somewhere close around and he would protect her. No matter the cost.

…

"I'm going back to look for them," Gray growled for the hundredth time, and like each time, Lucy stopped him.

"Gray, let's give them another hour. We can't just jump in. We could ruin the whole mission because of our impatience." Lucy grabbed him by the arm, trying to calm him down.

"You said that three hours ago Lucy! They could be in danger. Juvia could be…" Gray swallowed hard and punched a nearby tree. They had camped out a good amount of distance from the town. The place Juvia had picked out. They had started a fire and had given the girls food and water. They all looked very tired and bad nourished.

One of the girls, stood up. He remembered her as one of the stage dancers. She still wore her outfit. "If I know anything about Juvia from these past two weeks, is that she isn't weak. She'll be fine. She has a promise she has to keep. I know she'll be back."

Gray only nodded. He knew Juvia was strong, but they had always been a team. He was always with her and she was always with him. Since their fight, he slowly started realizing how much he needed her and the big difference she brought to him in his daily life.

"She's right, Gray. We should—"

"Ah, man! That guy was such a pain in the ass!" It was as if a pin was dropped as Gray heard a very familiar—yet, annoying—voice.

"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed as the very beaten pinked hair guy walked through the bushes, making himself visible. Lucy rushed to him.

All Gray could do, was stare at Juvia and the person that hung to her. It was another girl. Juvia seemed to be supporting more than all her weight. He could see it in her face how much she was struggling. Her hair was a wild mess, her dress was in shreds, and her face was full of cuts and bruises. Gray had never thought she was as beautiful as she was then.

"Gray-sama, help Juvia." It was like a command that unfroze him. Almost immediately, he ran to her other side and helped carry the person over to one of the sleeping bags and laid her down.

Only when he laid her down, did he see her well. She looked no older than 15. She had long brown hair and wore a long white dress. She look very frail and thin. Yet, again, Gray wish he could beat Troy himself. But he knew Natsu and Juvia had taken care of it.

"Juvia needs to take care of her wounds," Juvia cake over and kneeled by the girl. Her had been tied up in a ponytail, but her face and clothes were still a mess.

Gray was tempted to ask her to get treatment herself first, but he knew that was a selfish request and Juvia might've hate him more for it.

….

It was almost three days before they were able to speak. Having the girls being injured, and the girl who Juvia save, Selle, be slow, it would take them a few days to make it back to Magnolia and the Fairy Tail guild.

Juvia had explained the night before they had set out that Selle was able to control time every time she drank a blue liquid. It would use part of her life though. She had told them that Selle had transformed some of her power to her in order to give Gray and the others a warning that time in the stage to not attack. They would ruin her plan. Juvia also explained how they had destroyed the liquid and Selle was able to get all her years in life take away, back.

Ever since, Juvia hadn't spoken a word to Gray. She made sure to avoid him every time he tried to go near her. A tension had started building up. He was sure everyone could notice it. He was sure everyone deciding to go to "sleep" early was only an excuse to leave them two on guard duty that night.

The flames shadows from the fire danced across Juvia's face. Made her look haunted a bit. Everyone else was a few feet away, far enough that Gray was sure they wouldn't hear them speak.

Gray had sat as close as possible to Juvia surrounding the fire. Close enough, but far enough so she wouldn't move away.

"Juvia…" Gray started.

"I'm sorry…" Gray wasn't expecting that answer from Juvia. She wasn't making eye contact with him and kept staring at the fire with intensity. She kept clutching the sides of her new dress. He had been glad when she had been back to her normal get up.

"What?" Gray was perplexed.

Juvia shook her head in shame. "Juvia knows Gray-sama hates being out of the action and being to help. But Juvia knew how Gray-sama is. He likes helping and carrying everything on his own. Juvia never meant to hurt Gray-sama's feelings when she told him she didn't trust him. She just didn't trust him for that mission. She knew Gray-sama would jump in and it scared Juvia that Gray-sama might've been severely hurt. She knew how strong Troy was. She also knew he had a thing against ice and water mages. That's why Juvia took Natsu-san. Juvia apologizes."

Gray felt relief and then guilt. He felt relieved that Juvia did trust him, but felt guilty that he felt happy over what she had said. She didn't hate him, but he knew she should've. He was an asshole to her. He deserved a bad punishment.

"Juvia was scared...that if Gray-sama wasn't able to do anything during the mission because he was beaten by the enemy, he would once more be hurt. So, Juvia decided she would be the one to stop you from getting hurt." Juvia gave him a small apologetic smile.

Gray felt his heart melt with warmth. He fisted his hands. Even then, Juvia was protecting him and caring about his feelings before her.

"I—"

Juvia cut in. "Juvia understands if Gray-sama is angry with her." He saw her get up and dust herself. Was she leaving?

"Wait! Juvia!" Gray panicked and did the first thing that came to mind, he reached out and grabbed on to her arm. Juvia looked at him confused. Gray felt his cheeks go warm. He cursed himself for being such an idiot.

"Come with me." He started pulling her towards the inside part of the woods. He had gone to a nice opening earlier before they set out to camp out.

"We can't, Gray-sama." Juvia objected as she looked back at their sleeping friends. "We need to keep watch!"

"Trust me," Gray glared at the sleeping figures. He already knew. "They aren't sleeping."

"What?" Juvia seemed very confused. Gray didn't stop to elaborate. It felt good holding her hand, even if it was just pulling her. He had missed her. Her voice, her touch, her crazy ideas. Everything about her. He was just too much of an idiot before to appreciate it and show her he cared.

When he saw a dim light reflecting across the trees, he knew they had made it.

"Oh! Is so beautiful!" Juvia exclaimed as they both made it into the clearing. Gray could only stare at her smile.

"How did Gray-sama find this place?" Juvia started out into the small creek. Gray had to admit it was very beautiful. It had made him think of Juvia when he found it. It lasted tranquil in an open area with tulips and water Lilies surrounding it. It also had a perfect reflection of the moon on it. Gray couldn't stop watching it as it danced across Juvia's eyes.

"Earlier, when I came to find forewood." He answered.

Juvia nodded and admired the scenery. Gray made sure to take a good look at her. He walked towards her and turned her around. Making her gasp.

"Gray-...?" But Gray cut her off as he softly caressed her face. It was still slightly bruised and beaten up, but he found it beautiful. Juvia began to squirm. He knew she must've been confused. Before he could overthink, he leaned in and softly kissed her. Juvia froze. He felt her soft plump lips against his. They were warm and sweet against his.

"I'm sorry," he brought her into his body and hugged her. Help Juvia hesitate for a second, but then she easily melted in his arms.

"It's okay—"

Gray shook his head, making her stop. "No it isn't. I hurt you. I said things in regards towards your feelings. I was an asshole. I'm sorry."

Gray wanted nothing more than for her to forgive him. He would understand if she didn't though.

"Juvia won't say this because she wants Gray-sama to feel bad, but Juvia has known how Gray-sama is. She knows when he means things and we he doesn't means things. Yes, at first Juvia was shocked, but she quickly realized she had made a mistake of taken it to heart. She felt so ashamed she wouldn't look at him. That's why she took so many missions. There is nothing to apologize for Gray-sama."

Gray felt as is someone was grabbing his heart in their hand and was crushing it. Juvia was always looking out for him. He hugged her tighter and lowered his head down to her ear. "Stay with me."

Gray didn't know who leaned in first. But all he remembered was Juvia's beautiful smile and nod. "Always." He hadn't kissed her like that ever. He put in what he couldn't say in words. He hugged her, and caressed her. She was almost like a happy drug. Soft, yet needed. He needed large quantities of her in order to stay high.

When they pulled away, they were both flushed, and Juvia's lips probably mirrored his. They were puffy and red. She had tear streaks down her cheeks, but she was smiling.

"We should head back," Gray was very embarrassed, but he didn't regret anything.

"Oh, yes." Juvia looked very red and he could already see her head running with crazy imaginations. He grabbed her hand and gave her a smile. Juvia smiles back at him and squeezed his hand.

"Okay, let's go back. We need to go scare those peeping toms." Gray loved the sound of Juvia's laughter.

He vowed to himself that he would always protect her. He would never make her go through something like that again.

A/N: That's a wrap! The end!

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