Pitter Patter of the Heart
Chapter 10: A very un-clichéd abduction?
Juvia woke up that morning, and snuggled blissfully underneath the warmth of the blanket. She cracked an eye open, and it seemed like it was near mid-day; the sun was in the middle of the sky. Juvia stretched her arms, and yawned sleepily. The water mage turned around, and then her face was soon confronting Gray Fullbuster's sleeping one. Juvia's eyes widened, and her face lit up with embarrassment—she jumped at least 20 meters from him, and covered her mouth to keep in a scream. Her back smacked into a tree trunk and she continued to stare at his peaceful form.
W-w-what is Gray-sama doing sleeping with Juvia like that? Juvia rethought her sentence and realised that it sounded extremely dirty, and in an instant, her face was coloured in a darker shade of red. She tilted her and sighed, slowly siding down the tree she had her back against. Ah right, the mission, and the star gazing. The blue haired mage continued to stare at the ever so peaceful Gray, just for a little while longer, and then she decided that she would try and wake him up. The sooner they got over this mission, the better. She wasn't so sure anymore.
Gray slowly opened his eyes to sunlight, and spied Juvia against a tree. He sent her a questioning look, and she returned his glance with him a sheepish smile. Such a weird girl.
"Well no use lingering here! Let's get on with this mission!"
Gray gave her a playful look as she turned around and dashed into the tree she had her back against earlier.
"You going already? Aren't you forgetting something?"
Juvia turned around and sent Gray a questioning look. Her eyes involuntarily travelled down and scan his now shirtless body and he rewarded her with a smug grin.
"No, not me," he boldly said.
Juvia shook her head to clear her thoughts. "N-n-no! Juvia wasn't staring at Gray! No why would Juvia do that!"
He chuckled. She was clearly in denial, and then he pointed to their belongings, stacked up in a messy mound. Their suit cases were opened and their belongings all over the floor. "I meant our stuff."
Juvia looked down, ridiculously embarrassed and gave him a brief nod.
"But were you going to leave without me?" He asked, suddenly curious.
Juvia blushed, and ignored his question and in a faintly unsightly manner, shoved her clothes in her suit case and then commenced walking off. Gray crossed his arms, slightly sulking at being left behind and then began to gather up his own possessions. His eyes caught something and a smirk found its way on his face.
"Hey, you forgot something."
Juvia turned around again, for the third time that day. He was making her head all frazzled and swimming with confusion. Gray picked up a polka-dot patterned bra and waved it about. His large grin told her he was clearly enjoying this harassment.
Juvia's face burned red and let out a yelp. She quickly swiped back her belonging in horror and then ran towards who knew where. Gray's eyes widened and quickly shoved his belongings in his bag; he lifted himself up and sprinted after the amble water mage. She was going to get them lost for sure.
Alright, so it was his fault in the first place. But who could resist?
He froze a large icy wall in front of her, to stop her running, and she screeched to a halting stop, just before hitting the barrier put in front of her. Juvia gave him a small pout and held her arms in front of her.
"Water slicer!"
Juvia broke through the thin wall of ice, and continued running—she was too embarrassed to face him. Gray frowned and bolted after her. Her clear eyes widened as they broke through a couple of trees, and ran into a clearing. The water mage promptly stopped and Gray ran into her.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
When she didn't reply the ice mage looked up and his mouth hung open in surprise.
"Is this..."
"Seems like it is"
Gray gave a loud cheer and jumped up with happiness, and Juvia smiled with relief.
"WE'VE FINALLY FOUND IT!"
The villagers turned around at the sound of the intruders and began sending the strangers subtle looks of suspicion. The two mages slowly walked past their simple hay huts and their apprehensive glares, until they reached what seemed like the largest shelter in the small village. They went through the large banana tree door, slowly anticipating what was behind. Sitting in the middle of the floor was a bearded old man, with more wrinkles than their master and narrow charcoal eyes. His thinning head was barely covered with a large feathered crown, made up with reds and blues. The chief looked unsure at the two teenagers in front of him and began stroking his long beard in contemplation; he invited them to sit in front of him.
"You're telling me you're from Fairy Tail?"
Juvia and Gray nodded with absolute, but the chief didn't look like he believed them. Gray sighed, and then he grabbed the end of his shirt, and began to take his shirt off. Juvia's eyes widened.
"WHAT IS GRAY DOING!"
He sent her a smug look. "I'm showing him my Fairy Tail mark"
"B-BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF YOUR SHIRT!" She tried to cover her burning face with trembling hands.
"Well I was feeling hot too," he shrugged rather unperturbedly.
Juvia sighed—she just couldn't win. She stole a glance at the now shirtless Gray, and twiddled nervously. Hot was an understatement, he was stunning as well.
"You too, little girl," The old man's eyes gleamed, wondering whether her Fairy Tail mark was on her chest as well. Juvia blushed, and then grabbed the hem of her blue skirt and lifted it up slowly, gaining Gray Fullbuster's total attention. Whether she knew it or not, it was done in a rather flirtatious manner…or that could just be him. Her legs were in full view for the both of them to see, and she squeezed her eyes closed in embarrassment.
The Chief coughed out loud, and a faint blush was on his wrinkly cheeks. "T-t-that will be fine, it seems you two are the real deal" Gray glared at the old man. Stupid perverted old man.
Juvia quickly pushed her skirt down, face burning and tried to ignore the glances of her partner.
"So what do you want us to deal with?"
"The Laremus"
"The what?"
"The Laremus are these creatures that come to ravage our village every night of the full moon and grab one of the villagers for their monthly sacrifice. We never see the sacrifices ever again..."
The chief's eyes reflected his distress and Juvia and Gray exchanged glances. Tonight there would be a full moon.
"You want Juvia and Gray to go and fight them, right?"
"Yes, but they are only weak to water, which is why they gather in the middle of the island away from the coast, you'll barely see them wandering around near the salty waters" His eyes grew wary. "Makarov did send me water mages yes?"
Juvia pointed her fingers, shaped like a gun, towards a random wooden totem, hanging in the small room they were in. She closed her left eye, steadily armed her 'gun' and then shot water out from her finger like a bullet.
"Bang!"
The spray of water shot through the timber totem, like it was cardboard and drilled a hole between the middle of its small stature.
Gray sent her a teasing look. "Show off..."
She gave him a shy grin, and Gray slammed his palm and fists together. He slowly lifted his fist up slowly, and an ice crystal Fairy Tail symbol appeared in his hands. The chief was convinced, his face now showing that he trusted them and then finally welcomed them into the village.
"If they're so weak against water, what happens to them when it rains?"
"It hasn't rained on this island for decades"
Juvia felt as if there was a strong magic cloaking the island; she looked up at Gray, as she noticed how his eyes were narrowed in suspicion. "That's strange..."
Juvia and Gray waved the villagers their thanks as they pointed the way to the middle of the island. With determined faces the two mages trudged on forward to what they thought was an easy mission.
"We've been wandering for who knows how long! Do you think we're there yet?"
Juvia looked at him, thoughtful and opened up her mouth to answer, but then was suddenly flung to the floor, and tackled to the floor. The attack missed them by a few centimetres, but the poor ground that was hit, began sizzling and the grass disintegrating away.
"What was that?" Gray looked around to find absolute silence.
Juvia began stammering at how close he was that she could feel his calm breathing on her face, and how he was practically on top of her, hands around her, his body shielding her from danger.
"G-g-gray can get off Juvia now."
Gray looked back at the blue haired mage he was on top off, and then quickly let go of her and jumped away, slightly embarrassed.
"Let's continue then..." he said awkwardly and plodded a head of her. Juvia watched him walk forward and rested a hand over her beating heart. She soon followed after him; both were silent for a while.
Further along the track, the two reached a craggy clearing tress were spotted in; everything was silent, but the two mages knew better than that.
"You've noticed, haven't you?"
"Juvia has noticed."
"We're being followed."
She backed into him, as the trees behind them began rustling and the green leaves swayed. She was sure there was no wind. The water mage held out her hand ready for an attack, with Gray also in a defensive stance back to back with her. Juvia's eyes narrowed, as the rustling stopped and eyes widened in surprise as...
...A flock of birds flew out from the tree. Juvia sighed with relief and relaxed her hands, only slightly. Gray crossed his arms annoyed. It was too soon to relax, and as soon as he thought that a small number of shadowy figures shot out from the tree and launched themselves at them. Gray pushed Juvia out of the way, and she found herself knocked away, as the unidentified creatures began attacking Gray. They were a sickening green colour, and their forms, slightly demented. The must be the Laremus the chief was telling them about earlier.
Juvia's eyes widened and swiped a hand to let out some water blades at the foe who dared laid a hand on Gray. The offending creatures hissed in pain, and one of them opened their mouth and let a gunk of green slime out of its mouth. Juvia dodged it and the slimy substance missed her and landed in the ground. The grass began dissolving, blistering. The water mage narrowed her eyes at the substance.
Acid...
She somersaulted away from another attack, and then she noticed that that the rest of the creatures were carrying the now unconscious Gray away. Juvia's eyes darkened and she went to attack them when the one she was fighting appeared in front of her.
"You'd better no interfere human, that male over there has been chosen to be our sacrifice this full moon"
Juvia's eyes widened surprised that they could speak and said nothing. "If you don't want to get yourself killed by meeting our leader, then you'd better stay away."
The water mage bunched up her fists right hand, and swished at the Laremus with her left, and watched it screech in pain from her water blade. The clear substance began sizzling at its skin until it fell to the ground and moved no more. Juvia watched the creature without much empathy and then began walking towards the area where they took him.
At first Juvia felt a jolt, and before she knew it, she felt herself summoning the rain. Even though it was unconsciously, it felt like something was trying to stop the rain from falling. It rained hesitantly at first, but more rain clouds began rolling in as her rage began building up, and before long the rain began pouring all over the island. She held out her hands and summoned a tidal wave; her eyes dark and filled with murderous rage, hair and clothes drenched from the rain as she dragged herself forward.
No one sacrificed her Gray while she was around. No one...
Hahahhaha! Oh I love Juvia soooo much! Especially after the last few chapters of her being awesome! She's sooo cool! As you can see the last part was like the last page of chapter 228, with her being a zombie! AHHH BEST CHAPTER EVER! Hope you guys liked this chapter, and write to you all next time :D
Marina-chan~