CHAPTER NINE – To Encounter


Feeling numb, Juvia awaken to loud rattling of something wooden and she was leaning on something soft. Close warm breath breathe in and out before her face – blinding resplendent light forcing her eyes shut once more – a voice spoke up which jolted her eyes open.

"So you're saying that you were sent to fetch us?" a grouchy all-familiar voice spoke up.

She knows that crude tone anywhere.

"I was. The elders said it was only formal to fetch you and guide you all the way to Crocus." A foreign voice spoke. It was the soft and warm-breathed cushion she had been leaning to all this time. Juvia impetuously half-stood eyeing both people inside the carriage.

"Oh I'm glad you're awake, Countess." The previous-supposedly cushion spoke to her in a coquettish manner. He smiled warmly at her, his hands never leaving hers and to top it off, it was as if there were sparkles surrounding this young man. Juvia shot a confused look at the bruised-looking Gajeel – that was covered in bandages – and he just shrugged in reply. Another ample of collision of the wheels and the ground shook the carriage leaving Juvia imbalanced at her position.

She almost fell instantaneously on her behind when the chivalrous young man caught and pulled her straight towards into his chest. Juvia slightly blushed at his overly familiar touch that earned a snort of disgust from the iron-browed childhood friend. Juvia promptly pulls away from the young man after she had sat down, her face never confronting his coy features. "Oh, my apologies," he bowed his head slightly and rested his right hand on his left chest. "I am Loke, attendant and knight of the Duke of Crocus." He flashed a smile. Gajeel rolled his eyes, his arms intertwined.

Juvia turned to face Loke, her gaze authoritative and questioning. "May I ask how you found us?" she asked bluntly. Gajeel's eyebrows rose up – though his face seemed passive as ever. Loke cleared his throat and replied in all courteously. "Milady, I was in the area when I found you," he turned to face Gajeel, and then back to Juvia. "But before I could come to your aid, we found you knocked out cold in the snow and so was your personal guard." He gallantly gestured to Gajeel's direction. "If we weren't haste, the both of you could've been covered in snow." He added.

Loke sat upright and looked in deep contemplation, his right hand fittingly curved under his chin. "Although there is something I don't get," he looked at Juvia with puzzled eyes. "The one who attacked you – or maybe those – doesn't seem to be thieves, or random barbarians out and about in this area. Nothing was stolen from your belongings – or so your guard had informed us." Juvia studied and recalled those moments when they were against those two adversaries. Both had distinct differences – the other one was bare-faced while the other was masked. If they were indeed random barbarians, would they bother covering up? It didn't make any sense.

"There were two assailants last night; one was normally clothed while the other was masked. Do ruffians normally put on masks?" she asked, her eyes never leaving the wooden floor. "It usually depends, Milady. Some barbarians are wanted all over Fiore that maybe one would think it's better to have their faces hidden. But then again, that would only be simple-mindedly thinking." He replied, his eyes still on Gajeel. He had been a little quieter after the Countess had woken up. Was there something wrong?

"And, though they probably didn't steal anything, they wanted some... key from me. Is there some kind of fetish about keys around this part of Fiore? It's rather random to ask someone some key." Loke's eyes snapped back to Juvia's, who was in deep thought. Loke managed a laugh. "Milady, I don't think that's the case." Juvia's head turned to face him, her cheeks blushing at his apparent little amusement. Her head pivoted back into the green grasslands they were currently trailing on. It looked much more tolerating than being part of a conversation that you had just been made fun of. At least, that's how Juvia thought.

"I apologize once again, milady." He held out a stem of red rose to her – that had apparently appeared out of nowhere. Juvia wasn't amused, but she took the poor flower anyway, in means of politeness. "Loke, was it?" Juvia asked. "Yes, Milady?" Loke smiled at her. "I trust you to never mention to anyone of our attack last night, will you? Especially to your Duke." She eyed him – a wary look on her face.

Loke's eyes widened at her request, finding it hard as to why she didn't want the Duke to know. Besides, the Duke ought to know considering she was attacked during the trip to Crocus – which technically is shouldered by the Duke given that she is a guest that would be visiting – and that the Duke would be her future husband. "May I know why you would rather keep it a secret, Milady?" Loke asked; a thin smile present on his face. Juvia shifted uncomfortably on her seat. "I don't want to burden the Duke of this incident," she met Loke's eyes and gave him a warm smile. "And I would rather pursue this case on my own hands." Loke was amused at her statement. He hadn't expected the Countess to have her own backbone. She was indeed a lady who would get the help she could get; but she's as independent as she can be. She was like a damsel and a knight all in one. Loke's interest on the young Countess elevated. "So? Do we have a compromise agreement on this, Sir Loke?" she asked to be sure. Loke gave her a reassuring smile. "Yes, Milady." He bowed slightly.

Juvia slumped back into her seat, eyeing the quiet Gajeel. "Where are we now?" her gaze never leaving her best friend. Loke tried to answer, but was cut off when she shouted. "Where are we now?!" she shouted. Gajeel started to sweat drop at his mistress' apparent grouchiness which he probably had a clue he was the reason about. He felt a strong nudge at his leg. He trailed down the leg it belonged to and found Juvia menacingly looking at him – he felt his insides do a somersault. Loke found it hard to contemplate the attitude his future-mistress was showing.

One nudge. Another. It went on until something snapped.

Gajeel's patience had snapped.

"I DON'T KNOW ALRIGHT!" he shouted as he half-stood – his head colliding with the wooden roof and shot right back into his seat, crowing in pain. Juvia stopped her nudging, a feeling of relief washed upon her as she sat back – her arms intertwined and a smirk playing on her lips. That's what you get for keeping quiet all this time. She snickered inwardly.

Her head turned to face Loke, "So, where are we?" she asked, beaming a smile. Loke sweat dropped. He felt bad about the spiky haired man who suffered enough from his bruises. "W-well, we're almost at the border of Crocus and Oak Town." He replied. Juvia's eyes shot up – realization dawning up upon her. And it explains why the terrain wasn't covered in snow anymore. Though she wasn't all-too familiar with places, she had read enough to know where certain towns were located. "Wait, but isn't Oak Town the town before we comes across Crocus?" she asked. Loke's brows rose. "That's what I'm telling you, Milady." Juvia looked confused. But that's impossible. They were sure to still encounter at least 3 towns before Oak. How? "But don't we need at least three days to travel before arriving in Crocus?" she asked.

"Yes, that's right." Loke started to get confused with all of her questions. Wait, don't tell me she doesn't… well duh, she doesn't. He thought. "Impossible. I was just asleep for a night…" she muttered. "Countess Lockser," he formally addressed. "You've been asleep for three nights now." He replied. Gajeel settled down on his seat and avoided any eye contact with her.

How come? She thought.


Gray shuffled along the large corridors, impatiently running around to find a certain blond who had been avoiding him – his patience growing short. He knew how he had badly hurt Lucy, but he wasn't just going to seat there while she pamper him indirectly and act like nothing had happened. He wanted to be responsible for causing her pain, but he hadn't seen her much – and his busy schedule as Duke was making it worse.

He hadn't had any proper alone time – except when he goes to bed – mainly because he was taking part in the preparations for his upcoming wedding, and also for the arrival of his wife-to-be, whom he had never seen before. His attendants had given him fair share of descriptions and photos, but he hadn't paid any attention nor took a peek on the photo simply because he couldn't care less. This woman ruined everything he had planned. And if she is going to be his wife, then she'd better behave and try to be as impassive as possible. He doesn't need any kind of woman ordering him around for the rest of his life thank you very much.

He could care less what she would feel.

"Milord! Where in heaven's name are you going?" his governess, Evergreen called out. She was as annoying as ever, Gray had recalled. She had just gotten back from her maternity leave. And now she is back to be of use to him – which wasn't really necessary given he already had many people running around him – and to teach his future wife ways of life in Crocus, or so had Ivan pointed out. Evergreen had to leave Gray when he was 16 to give birth to her firstborn to Elfman Strauss – though she was temporarily replaced, she insisted on coming back, much to Gray's dismay. Sure he hated the woman and her teacher ways, but she was the closest mother he could have, epecially since she was the one who was by Gray when Lady Ur died. And how devastated was he back then.

"I'm going horse-back riding, Eve. I'll be back." He replied as he hurried down to the stables and took his mare, Lancelot. "Be right back as soon as possible! The Countess would be here at any moment. We wouldn't want her to wait." She eyed him suspiciously; she can obviously read what was going on around his petty little mind. Gray rolled his eyes and turned his back. "Wouldn't kill her to wait for her future-husband would it?" he smirked. "Gray Fullbuster!" Evergreen snapped. Gray raised his hand in annoyance and waved back and forth. "I was kidding." Then he scurried out of the hall, his other hand tucked tightly on his pocket.

Of course what he told Eve was partly true – he was going horse-back riding to the city then he'll leave Lancelot somewhere near his mansion. He was going around the city to clear his mind off of Lucy for he was angry at her for avoiding him at all costs. That's one thing he hated about her – she was too overly emotional that she'd avoid him instead. Typical Lucy.

He galloped down from his manor to the hustle and bustle of his ruling land – busy round and about. As usual, his duchy was as lively as ever. Lancelot was left tied on a tree branch, a few meters away from the big arc before you enter the market streets. 'Crocus Market' etched on runes on the brick-made arc, towering along with huge walls enveloping the whole marketplace. Of course this was only the market place; Crocus has far more wider lands covering almost thousands of hectares. And given that Crocus was the heart of Fiore, makes the kingdom's terrain unimaginable.

He covered his face with cloth to disguise himself so he could freely walk the streets of Crocus without anyone recognizing him. The stores were right where they were in the usual busy time of the day. Linens and silk were hanged over slender wooden mahogany that was abundant in these streets. Others sell food – from dry to wet goods and others were selling jewelries of many kind. Some were merchants travelling all over the continent that – if not settled, come over Crocus and made business with wide varieties of people.

Gray amusedly trotted along these streets, looking at the state of his duchy. Many were friendly in the least and had helped him on his ways throughout the busy streets, but some were brutally impolite. One had rudely shooed off a street beggar, a child that seemed all too skinny to even try and walk. It's as if in one step she would take, she would fall to the ground. Though as displeased as he was with the rude merchant, he realizes that he was a traveler given his store was in mobile. And those travelling merchants gave much contribution to his duchy's well-being and upsetting them might be a wrong decision. But I'm in disguise, right? Maybe I can give him a piece of my mind. He asked inwardly as he folds his forearm's cloth.

The young girl dejectedly walked away from the store – her path was crossing with Gray's. But before Gray could even gather up his guts and talk to the girl – he wasn't much of a child-person so he hesitated and pondered how he should approach – a woman in a cloak had walked toward him and handed over a huge bag of bread. The young girl smiled warmly at her, and handed over the flower head dress she had been clinging onto for the past minutes. Gray wasn't able to see the woman's face, but she was wearing a dress that looked like one would belong to a wealthy family. His eyes snapped back to the young girl, who was happily munching on her bread.

Before Gray could even look back at the mysterious woman, she was gone – gone amidst the growing crowd of people. The young girl who had previously encountered the woman looked over at Gray, an eyebrow raised. "Mister, why are you covering your face?" she asked. Gray tensed up at her question, and remembered just how Eve taught him how to handle kids. He was really never the soft-spot.

He forced a smile as he took off the cloth covering his face. He crouched down before her. "I'm in a secret mission, you see." The young girl stared at him funny; her huge chocolate brown eyes bore into his dark blue orbs. "You're lying. And stupid. No one in their right mind would cover their face if they didn't want to be spotted. You're standing out. " She taunted. He sweat dropped. This kid… he thought as a small vein popped on his forehead. He faked another smile. "I-Is that so?"

"Anyway, you looked creepy staring at Miss. You're not only stupid, you're also a creepy stalker." She said as she walked away from the irked Duke Gray Fullbuster. Her little smarty-pants answer irritated him no doubt. She said I was stupid?! This Duke of yours?! Damn kid. He grumpily thought.

Gray Fullbuster, 34th Duke of Crocus, never liked kids. Ever.


"Are you sure Lady Juvia would be fine without being escorted?" Loke asked Gajeel for the tenth time since Juvia asked them to let her explore the streets of Crocus. It was a spur-of-a-moment-thing when she suddenly asked if she could explore without any guards, Gajeel nodding and Loke hadn't had a chance to have any say on the case. She was already off when he tried to speak. And apparently, Loke wasn't much trusting on the iron-browed man beside him.

"Yeah, she'll be fine on her own." He replied nonchalantly, uncaring if it may have been the one-hundredth time he had asked that. Both of them were leaning on the carriage, arms crossed and their valet went somewhere. Only the chivalrous flirt and the grumpy were the ones left, silence enveloping them. Loke adjusted his position – he stood up, his closed arms still on his chest and shot a look at Gajeel. "Are you sure we don't need to tell her about what really happened?" Loke asked. Gajeel didn't move from his position, but his closed eyes slowly fluttered open. "She doesn't need to." He murmured.

"Why won't you tell her about the burned coarse body we found lying before her?" he elaborated. "Like I said, she doesn't need to!" he hissed, his nonchalance growing shorter by the second. Why was this guy even pushing the damned subject? It doesn't even concern him.

"Can you give me a reason why? Even I don't know why that corpse was lying before her. It seemed badly burned. Maybe a third-degree burn or worse –"he was cut off when he saw the cold metal pointed before him. He didn't wince. "Shut up." Gajeel warned. Loke closed his eyes and raised both his hands his defeat. "Alright," he gestured Gajeel's blade down his eyes opening with intense gaze and menace. "But don't you think threatening me like that is kind of overboard?" he taunted.

Gajeel sheathed his sword, his eyes avoided any contact. "I will kill you if it's necessary." He notified. Loke shrugged. "Got it." Gajeel resumed his previous position, his eyes closed again. Loke did the same, but his arms were on his sides, clenched in a fist; his eyes looking down at the busy streets. "Juvia," Gajeel started. "I'd rather not let her know that she… killed someone." His hands slumped down on both his sides, his fists clenched. Loke looked at him skeptically, absorbing the idea that this enclosed man was giving him a piece of his mind. "So in other words, you want to protect her innocence, is that it?" Loke mused.

Gajeel stiffened at Loke's suggestion, but shrugged it off. "I don't want you to put it that way," Gajeel glared at Loke, his eyes twitching. "You of all people. Innocence doesn't seem to be a word in your vocabulary." Loke smirked at Gajeel's retort. "You act like her big brother." Loke eyed Gajeel – his eyes were warm and non-judgmental. "I like that. She needs someone like you."

Gajeel looked at dubiously. Loke smiled. "You aren't going to ask me why there was a corpse before her?" Gajeel shot him a glance. Loke shrugged. "No, it's alright. I'll find out soon anyway." He smirked.


Juvia bade her goodbyes to the young girl, her flower crown still on her hand. She walked on the busy streets, trying her best to not bump into someone. Crocus was a busy city, which she knows. But she hadn't imagined how huge and massively busy people were in here. She had never been outside her county; so a market place as big as this was beyond her.

And getting lost was probably the first thing on her to-do list.

She was trying so hard to avoid probable inconvenience for others that she hadn't notice she was slowly walking away from the cramped and busy streets and into a much quieter part that signs of human beings were decreasing. The streets were also narrower. She looked for another way out of the suspicious place, but her chance was cut off. Before her was a creepy man, and oddly reminded her of opponent three nights ago – or so Loke had said.

"Missy, are you lost?" he asked as he crouched down before her – eyeing her down upwards.

"She clearly is you idiot," another spoke, this time the man was right behind Juvia. He had his hands on his pockets, casually walking towards her. He held a nasty grin that looked like the Cheshire cat's. "We can accompany you to where you're heading. Won't we now, Gwain?" he grinned back at his partner. "Just as Kageyama says. We'll accompany you, Missy!" Gwain smiled creepily. Kageyama circled Juvia and looked at her up and down. "Definitely a rich girl, aren't ya?" he rested his arm along Juvia's shoulder, to which she slapped away vigorously.

"What gives, woman?!" he yelled. His other accomplice stood up and eyed her. He was giving her the dirtiest of looks – Juvia paid no attention. "Don't address me so casually." She coldly stated. Kageyama narrowed his eyes on the girl. "Stuck-up, spoiled Princess, of all people." He grumbled. Juvia glared at the black-haired man. "Don't call me that! You of all people –"she yelled out and was cut off when fist met her stomach. She staggered down to her knees – a punch like that would no doubt send his enemies to the ground, but Juvia was stronger than that. Only, she doesn't know. Her little lashing caused some of the water in the pier to move as if it had answered to her emotional amok.

And someone in shadows, who was hiding, had witnessed it.

"And that's why I loathe stuck-up rich people like you!" Kageyama's nasty eyes changed and pure hatred and anger were present in his orbs. The air around them changed as Kageyama's anger rose. "Acting like you own the damn world, men or women, you're all the same." he stepped forward towards Juvia, and the air was going haywire. Juvia tried to stand up; her knees were still wobbly from the sudden impact. She staggered back down. She wasn't used to fist-to-fist combat – she only studied fencing for pete's sake! Now, maybe if there was something here she could use as a sword, she can easily defeat them. But something had stopped Juvia in her thoughts – something was off with the man who was now approaching her.

She remembered the awful encounter she had previously with a magic-caster. It was indeed a fight that she was ought to lose. She was no mage for heaven's sake! And if her theories were right, this man before her is a wizard. And now, he's about to give her a beating – more likely is killing her on the spot if she doesn't think of something soon.

"What's wrong? Scared of a little magic?" he snickered. Juvia's eyes weren't meeting his – much to his irritation. Kageyama looked at her, fury in his eyes. He'd always hated rich people. They were the cause of his downfall – the cause of the pain he's been suffering since he was sold and experimented on.

Kageyama stood a good feet from Juvia, a smirk forming on his lips as he lands his brute fist into her face; a force that would be enough to kill someone. His flesh was now on its way towards her face when another flesh met it halfway. A crackling noise echoed through the hidden alleyway and Kageyama's eyes widened in realization that his apparent killing had been stopped. Stopped by none other than –

"You guys, you should know better than to hit a woman." The foreign voice spoke.

Kageyama retreats his fist back to him, a smirk forming on his lips. "Well well, if it isn't –" fist meeting his face, he flew back and landed on the wall opposite his accomplice's position. "No need to tell everyone here who I am." Juvia's eyes darted from the flying man to the man before her, raven dark hair brushes against his face when a gust of wind passed, his white coat fluttered along with it. A chilly fog emanated from his hands – a magic circle had formed on both of his palms. He turned his head to face her, a small smile plastered on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He held out his hand to her.

And which she hesitated, but gladly took.


IT'S LONG OHEMGEE. Well, I did promise a Gruvia meeting, so I kinda had it at the end. At least they met! Hahahaha. Oh well. Please review. Thank you. I'd like to know about your thoughts on the story, 'ya see. :)