Chapter 7: The Second Day: Denial
"Gray-sama..." whispered Juvia in his ear. She snuggled closer on his side of their booth. "I love you. Juvia always has."
Gray felt himself melt, then turned to face her. "I love you too, Juvia."
They leaned forward to kiss, then-
Gray awoke with a start in his bed. Sweat drenched his clothing, and he was panting as if he'd just ran a 100km marathon.
"What in the-" He remembered his dream, and felt a tingle of unwanted pleasure up his body.
No, Gray. You're not gonna fall for someone as love-sick as that! She's freaky, they both are.
Then why'd ya step in when Juvia was with Lyon? hissed a second voice in his mind.
I just did! That doesn't mean anything. You know Lyon is my rival!
Then why at that particular time, dummy? Why'd you choose to butt in while they were talking? Right after their kiss?
Hey, I like to fight with Natsu at random times too, y'know. And don't talk about the-the kiss.
Okay, then how about-
Gray zoned out the voices in his head, and got up from his bed. Grabbing his newly-bought cloak, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hat, he put them on while walking out the door.
"Gray! There you are," cooed Edo-Juvia.
"Y-you've been waiting on my doorstep?" Gray yelled.
"Mm-hmm. Don't think you could just run out on me last night. You're the only one for me, you lucky duck. I've had millions of proposals, so aren't you thankful I saved them for you?" Juvia said, grabbing his arms and whipping off his cloak. He gulped. The only top on had been his cloak.
"...Personally, I'd like it better if you didn't save them for me," muttered Gray. Juvia's hand flew to her hip.
"So you like that wimpy counterfeit of mine more than you like me? How is that possible?" she burst. "Look, Gray, I'm doing so many things for you! Getting a new hairdo, new outfits, everything with money I plan on paying back to Lucy, even going so far as to buy our house. Can't you appreciate me a little more?"
"H-house?"
"Yes, a mansion on the edge of town, farthest from the guild. You do want to spend more time with me than your guild members when we get married, don't you?"
"Married? Wait a second. No one said anything about getting married!" Gray screamed in a hoarse voice.
"Don't you want to?"
"No way! I'd rather kiss a slug three times a day than marry you!" Gray said .
"Oh, Gray," said Edo-Juvia softly, sliding up on her toes so her nose was equal with Gray's. He could even feel her heartbeat right up against his.
"Um, Juvia...?" He was starting to sweat. She ignored him.
"Gray, I've been waiting for this all my life! A cool Gray who adores me, will do whatever I want, loves me for being me..." She gave a cute sigh. "Please? Just try for me, okay?" Gray couldn't take it anymore.
"No way!" he yelled, and dashed away, leaving Juvia clutching his cloak, gazing after him.
"Tsk, tsk. Having problems?"
"Yeah, like you'd know what t do, Natsu," Gray grumbled as he slid into the alley where Natsu's pink hair had been poking out.
"Hey, I already told you I'm on your side, okay, freezeball?" Natsu shot back.
"I'll be on your side if you give me a fish!" Happy said. Gray ignored him.
"Yeah, yeah. So got any ideas? 'Escaping With Mira' sure didn't work."
"Well you know what they say. When plan A doesn't work..."
"You fall into a ditch and die."
"No, you use plan B," said Natsu, rolling his eyes.
Gray paused. "What exactly is plan B?"
Natsu grinned, and his white teeth gleamed in the dark alleyway.
"...Then he ran away." Edo-Juvia sighed. "I can't believe it. I'm giving up so much for that bi-" she paused as Lucy raised an eyeborow. "-and anyway, he's giving it all away with a brush of his hand? Ugh!"
"Calm down," Lucy said, leaning over their table in the guild. "I know you feel this way. I mean, proposing and then being turned down flat? Pitiful." In truth, she was itching to do the victory dance. Two points for Gray. Now Juvia can have a go!
"Pitiful? Yeah, I almost forgot. What will happen to my ego?" Edo-Juvia moaned. "Being turned down by the very guy who has a counterpart that would fall at my feet? Not pitiful. It's pathetic. It's despicable. I'll never be able to go in public again!"
"I'm pretty sure he was just shocked, that's all," Lucy assured her, straining not to laugh.
"You're probably right. He'll come back," Edo-Juvia agreed. Her eyes lit up, and she jumped from her seat.
"Where are you going?"
"To find Gray, of course!" Juvia said excitedly. Lucy rolled her eyes.
"You know... I think it'd be better if you let him come to you. That way you'll know for sure when he's over his shock, okay?" Lucy said hastily.
"Well... alright." Edo-Juvia pouted, but didn't take it too harshly.
"Hi Lucy!" said Juvia, walking over.
"Water mage," hissed Edo-Juvia. Juvia ignored her.
"What're you doing?" she asked.
Lucy shrugged. "Nothing much. I'm talking to Edo-Juvia right now," she added pointedly.
"Oh... Do you want Juvia to go away?" Juvia asked politely.
"Nah, that's alright," soothed Edo-Juvia, much to their surprise. I want to talk with her...
Juvia and Lucy were caught off guard. Edo-Juvia grinned and relished their awed, wondering expressions.
"But it would be nice to have a little time alone, to chat between contestants," Edo-Juvia continued.
"A-Alright, if you want to," agreed Juvia. Lucy turned to leave, and Edo-Juvia made no move to stop her.
"Now let's talk." Edo-Juvia patted the chair beside her and Juvia cautiously sat down, thinking, Could she be wanting to apologize? Maybe she wants to be friends with Juvia! Or, she reminded herself. It could be a trap of some sort. Juvia must be careful.
"So how much do you like Gray?" demanded Edo-Juvia the moment Lucy was out of earshot. Juvia was surprised.
"Um... Juvia loves him as a very good friend," Juvia said, trying to stay in Edo-Juvia's good graces..
"I see," Edo-Juvia said, as if that explained something. But Juvia must have been mistaken, because the very next thing she said was, "How good of a friend?"
"I... I don't know."
"What part does he play in your life?" She sounded almost angry.
"An important part in Juvia's life! What-why are you asking me this?" Juvia asked, her heart pounding.
"An important part? Hmph! You'll see how much he truly treasures you when we-" She stopped. Juvia looked at her with questioning eyes.
Shouldn't I keep this a secret? Edo-Juvia thought. She'll try to stop us! She'll wail and everything, that annoying brat of a counterpart.
"When we, um..." she stammered. Juvia was puzzled; clearly the blue-haired Edolas Juvia was at some kind of loss for words, but wasn't she usually cool and on-top-of-things?
"When we...?" Juvia didn't like to pry, but she wanted to help out somehow.
"... Hey, is that Gray over there?" Edo-Juvia said, pointing beyond Juvia's shoulder.
"Huh? Gray-sama?" Juvia turned and looked... and gasped.
"Hey, Juvia!" waved Lyon with a wide grin. Juvia glanced back at Edo-Juvia only to find that her blue-haired counterpart was gone, leaving her with this frightening male.
Sort of like Beauty and the Beast, only Juvia does not like him and also he is a beast with a handsome prince on top, Juvia thought.
"You remember me, right?"
"Y-yes." How would any girl be able to forget the person who'd just kissed her the day before?
Lyon breathed a sigh of relief, and gave her one of his smiles. He was the kind of guy who stared right into your eyes, in a way that made you lose your breath for a moment.
"Good. I'm glad. I sure remember you," he added softly. Juvia gulped.
"Please don't do it again," she whispered.
"Do what? I just came to ask you for dinner," Lyon said, raising his arms in surrender.
"Oh." They stood in awkward silence for a moment.
"You know," Lyon finally prodded. "At the new place on Main Street. Do you recognize the name Tsurai Udon?"
"Spicy Udon?" Juvia echoed. She ran a hand through her new, light hair.
"You aren't saying no. I take it you'll come?"
"But-"
"Good! I'll pick you up at your house at... 6 o'clock, okay?" Lyon gave another grin, and Juvia felt her legs turn to jelly as he spoke.
"I..."
"See ya later!" he waved, and walked out of the guild. Juvia sighed.
"'Steal their underwear'? Seriously?" Gray stared at Natsu in disbelief.
"Sure! They'd be embarrassed out of their lives. See, we sneak in as nin-nins and steal them. Then we get out and hang them on the flagpole in front of the guild. The next morning they'll be so embarrassed to even be able to face their one true love," Natsu smirked. "And the best part is, they'll never even find out who the ninjas were."
"Riiight." Gray had to admit, the idea was pretty tempting.
"So? You're in?" Natsu said, grinning. Gray paused.
"Okay. I've got some black clothes at home."
"Won't they be able to recognize your smell?" Happy asked.
"Nah, they don't have sensitive noses like Mister Flamin' Dragon Slayer here. But you're right. Just in case, I think we should ask Freed and Bixlow to lend us some black clothes," Gray said thoughtfully.
"Okay, me and Happy will talk to them while you're busy with the Juvias," Natsu teased.
"Whatever. See you tonight at 4:40, okay? Just between meals so I won't have any teatime set-ups with the Juvias, or dinner dates either."
"Sure. We've got to arrive at different times at the guild so it'll look like we weren't with each other," Natsu added.
"Yeah." The two parted ways, Happy swooping after Natsu, and Gray grinning as he thought of what to come.
Whoa, Natsu sure comes up with the strangest ideas! Typical boys... no offence.
"Hang it on the flagpole"? Youch. Keep the reviews coming, you guys.
So far the votes point to Earthland Juvia... I think I'll get some juicy stuff for her, and Edo-Juvia might go along with Lyon? Or Edo-Gray...? How about Laxus?
Tell me who you want, and I'll pick the favourite from your votes!