You guys are so sweet. I feel silly for being bummed out about something so irrelevant. Here's the next chapter!

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Chapter 9: Memoria

When Juvia arrived to work that morning, she decided to play something new. She wasn't sure how she was going to do that when she couldn't even figure out how she knew to play to begin with. But for the past few days, a tune had been playing in the back of her mind, so she was determined to figure out how to play it. She sat down in front of the piano and before she knew it, she was playing the exact tune. How, she wondered. How was she able to do this? As if knowing one strange song wasn't enough, now she knew two.

"Juvia. It's you."

She turned at the mention of her name and saw a scary looking man with long black hair and about twenty piercings towering over her. She should have felt afraid but for some reason, he felt… familiar.

"Who are you?"

"You don't remember me, Raindrop? It's me Gajeel." She felt her brain tingling at the nickname but she couldn't grasp the memories. "Gajeel?" She remembered the name. Wasn't he one of Gray's friends? "Have you become so full of your fame that you can't even remember your best friend? Fine, will you respond to Ameonna?" Although his voice was rough, Juvia was able to catch the joking tone. Why was he being so friendly to her?

Ameonna? Why was he calling her Ameonna?

"So you're not dead." He sighed in relief. "But I see you lost your memories." Juvia shook her head. This man was insane. He didn't even know her and he was comparing her to a dead singer. She needed to get away from him, but she could barely keep her eyes open due to the now pounding headache. Where did this come from? The more she tried to understand his words, the louder the pounding got.

"Get away from me." Juvia muttered, not able to raise her voice any louder. She tried to walk away but she stumbled and fell on the floor. She felt his hands on her, trying to steady her. A part of her wanted to push him away but there was another part, a part she didn't understand, that wanted to run into his arms.

"I got you little sis. Trust me."

And then she saw black.

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Juvia paced back and forth. She was backstage, waiting to be announced. The anxiety ate at her and knowing all those eyes would be on her made her want to throw up. What if she stuttered? What if she forgot the lyrics? What if she was booed off stage?

"I can't. I have to go."

Her best friend and the man she saw as her only family placed his hands on her shoulders, "It's your song. Your first song. There's no way you would forget it. These people are here to see you. It's YOUR concert. They won't boo you and you know you'll sing amazing. You're not autotuned, it's your voice and your lyrics. You're going to fine. You're going to kill it."

"Let's give a huge applause for our girl, Ameonna!"

Juvia looked at Gajeel with fear.
He shook his head, "Get out there and breathe. Take a deep breath and just sing. Focus on me being back here, cheering you on. You're going to be great."

Juvia nodded. Focus on Gajeel. Even with a thousand eyes on her, all she had to do was focus on Gajeel. She went out there and took a deep breath. Hearing the cheers, the chanting of her name, and all these people in front of her, she breathed. Suddenly her nervousness melted away. They were here to see her, to hear her because she was good. Her song was good. It was all her. Juvia grinned and began to sing. She believed in herself. Gajeel believed in her.

She was going to kill it.

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Gray sat at the beach, overlooking the ocean as he waited for Cana to arrive. He had hated the ocean for what it had done to him, was weary of Juvia for a while for what she had done to him, but now he couldn't have been more grateful. Because of Juvia's arrival in his life, he felt stronger than ever, like the way he used to be. He had grown to rely on her, her being a crucial presence in his life. He thought of Ur, remembering the promise he made to himself of never relying on anyone again. She weaved her way into his life, becoming his strength. He didn't realize how much his breakup had weakened him until she opened his eyes to Cana's true intentions. Sure, nothing was proven yet, but he was sure now.

And he wouldn't let himself be fooled by her again.

"Hey babe!" Gray heard Cana call out. He wanted to throw up. How dare she play this façade with him? How dare she try to make him believe in her again?

"Loki."

That one word, one name, was enough to make Cana freeze. The guilt in her eyes was all Gray needed as confirmation. "It was all for Loki, wasn't it?"

"Let me explain." She looked at him, waiting for Gray to cut her off and not let her. Realizing he wasn't about to, she fell silent. She had no explanation, only excuses. None of which Gray would believe in. She knew it too well, so she let her head hang in defeat. "You're right."

"Tell me everything. The truth. I deserve that, don't you think?" Cana nodded. "I always liked Loki, even back in high school. I always wanted to be with him, but he had a girlfriend and he was so in love with her. Aries? I could never even dream of competing with her. Then I found out you were one of his best friends and you were single, so I- ". She stopped. Gray could see why from her eyes. Saying her actions aloud made her realize just what a monster she was. "I'm such a manipulative bitch." Gray silently agreed, but didn't care much for her self-pity party. "Go on."

"When I found out we were going to the same universities, I was so excited. I knew him and Aries wouldn't last long, with them going to be so far away. And I was right. By the end of the year, they broke up. I knew if I played my cards right, he would be mine within the summer. But to do that, I had to break up with you."

"You sound so guilty. You must've been ecstatic at the time. And I was the fool who believed you were breaking up with me because of the distance. So then what? You and Loki aren't together now so clearly something went wrong."

"We had a purely physical relationship. He had no interest in getting in dating at the time and I wasn't going to force him. I didn't care. But then, by the start of the second year, I went to his dorm room to surprise him, and guess who I saw in his bed?"

It was so hard for Gray not to laugh, "Aries. I know. He called me the next day and I could hear how excited he was that they were together again." Cana nodded, "Yeah. He told me that they were together now and even without him saying it aloud, his eyes screamed 'Get out of my room. We're done now.'".

"I'm sure the only reason Loki agreed to your 'relationship' was because he was heartbroken." Cana flinched but said nothing. That was the truth, even she knew it from the beginning. "Fucked up because it's my ex, but I can look past that." Cana glared at him, "So you can forgive him, not me?" Gray shrugged, "You probably played the heartbroken card too. I don't blame him because he really was heartbroken. He wanted to get over Aries. You were just desperate for his dick." Cana looked away, confirming Gray's theory.

"I regret it now. Trust me, I do. You were the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Which you realized once Loki got back together with Aries? Wow, I feel honored. Listen, we both know you only came back here because Loki broke your heart. No matter what, you used me. And I have no interest in being with you anymore. Find someone else."

"Gray!" Cana exclaimed, "I love you!" Gray turned back to her. He couldn't believe he felt nothing. He was proud. "I don't love you. Now do me a favor and stay out of my life."

"It's her, isn't it? You love her now."

"Even if I did, that has nothing to do with you, so get lost." He stared her down, his eyes speaking louder than his words. Cana sighed and walked away. "That girl played a part in this. There was no way you would have said all that before you met her." Even his friends hated her, and he still fought for her. Gray wished he realized all this sooner. "I told you to get lost. And stay the fuck away from Juvia." Cana knew Juvia had something to do with it. She turned and stomped away, preparing to pay her back tenfold.

Gray waited until she was gone before he turned back to face the water. Cana was right. All of this was because of Juvia. Because of Juvia, he found out Cana still had a broken heart. Because of Juvia, he felt stronger and happier in his life. He didn't realize how closed off he had become until she had come into his life. Sure, it may have been for the wrong reasons, but everything happens for a reason. He had been in denial this whole time, but he was sure now.

He liked her just as much as she liked him.

His thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing, "Hello?"

"Is this Gray Fullbuster?"

"Yeah."

"You're listed as the emergency contact for Juvia Lockser. She has been admitted into Magnolia Hospital. Please come-" Gray didn't wait for the guy to finish as he hung up and ran off. She had to be okay. She just had to be. He couldn't lose her now.

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"Juvia sat on her bed crying. She felt used. Her heart was broken. How could she have been so naïve to believe everyone who was a part in her life could be trusted? She should have seen his intentions. Gajeel saw it and tried to convince her many times, but each time she believed in love.

"Tell me you told me so." Juvia said blankly as she looked up at Gajeel. Her eyes were empty. They mirrored how she felt. "I won't do that." He sighed. Seeing her like this was hard enough for him. Gloating would bring them both down even more.

"I trusted him. I gave him everything. Everything I had to offer." Gajeel already knew what she was trying to say and held her hand. She didn't have to say it. He didn't want her to say it. His blood boiled at the thought. "He used me for my fame. I'm a fool."

"Juvia, listen-"

"I'll never fall in love again."

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Gray rushed in, thankful to see Juvia awake. There were no scratches or bruises and she was in no sign of pain. That was all Gray needed to know to feel relief. "I was expecting the worst when I got that call. What happened?"

"I don't know. I just fainted at the café. But I'm okay, thankfully. Maybe I've been too stressed?" Gray nodded, "Yeah, you work a job as a pianist, but don't actually remember how to play. You're going off memories you don't even have. That must be taking a toll on your body."

Juvia nodded, even though she knew that wasn't the full truth. Her body was starting to remember her old life. Her life before she became a siren.

Her life as Ameonna.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

No, but how could she tell Gray the truth? A truth she herself didn't even understand. She had to seek out Gajeel. He would know everything she needed to know. Once she was sure of her past life, once she had her memories back, she would tell Gray everything.

Juvia smiled at him and she prayed he couldn't tell it was fake, "I'm fine."

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The italic writing were memories, in case you didn't catch it. She's finally beginning to remember her old life. The second one was short and vague, but that one is going to be explained later, when she fully remembers and explains everything. I did that on purpose.

Also, I'm about to get started on writing the last chapter! It's almost ending. Isn't that crazy? I can't wait to show some love to The World Ends with You. I've left that story untouched for too long.

Hope you guys enjoyed and see you in the next one!