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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN; UNDERWATER! JUVIA'S UNSTOPPABLE RAIN!
JUVIA'S POV;
"Juvia, honey wake up."
The blue haired girl shut her eyes tighter, ignoring her mothers calls. Grabbing the edge of her blanket she pressed her face harder into her pillow, trying to remain in her comfortable sleep.
"Juvia it's time for school."
She groaned inwardly, not ready to face the days challenges. She hated school so much it almost made her sick. Her parents didn't understand, no one did. Everyday she would walk to school, clutching and umbrella and praying no one would notice her presence. Every one of her classmates knew that she was cause of the constant rain and also the cause of their never ending torment. People would complain to her parents about the rain and random strangers would whisper as the Lockser family passed by at the market place. Due to the years of rain, Juvia's small villages agricultural community was almost nonexistent. They blamed her for their lack of prosperity and in all honesty Juvia couldn't disagree with her neighbors whispered gossip. Since the day she was born the rain stayed by her side, like a friend she never wanted and her parents suffered the consequences.
She knew that her parents weren't welcome among the masses, even their fellow wizards turned their backs on them. It wasn't long after she was born that the three of them were shunned and turned away from the townspeople. Despite that however, neither of her parents treated her with anything but love and kindness. So for twelve short years, Juvia Lockser was happy.
"Juvia I know that you're awake. You need to get up and eat breakfast." Her mothers tone sharpened a bit, growing agitated with her daughters stubbornness. Juvia quickly opened her eyes, shooting up from bed and running to the bathroom.
"Sorry Mama! I'll get ready right now!" She shouted, reaching for her toothbrush.
Her mother followed her into the small bathroom, a dress neatly folded over her forearm. Juvia groaned inwardly, wondering why her mother insisted on her wearing dresses. Her mother always told her that being a wizard was a dangerous and merciless profession, and women were no exception. Her mother hardly ever wore a skirt or a dress, choosing a pair of jeans, blue crop top and leather jacket instead. She would always sigh with contentment when Juvia adorned a frilly dress, saying that she wished she could dress up every once in a while. Juvia still hated wearing them, dresses were so inconvenient.
Of course, the blue haired girl put the dress on anyway, but it didn't mean she had to like wearing it.
Her mother went to work on her hair, brushing through her azure locks and tightening them into low curls.
"You're so beautiful Juvia, my beautiful little raindrop." Her mother cooed, pulling the little girl into a tight hug. Juvia groaned in protest, pushing her mothers arms away.
"Don't call me that! I'm not a kid anymore!" She cried, running out of the bathroom and bumping into the hard body of her father. The blonde didn't move an inch from the impact, his daughter however was not so lucky. She flew back, landing on her butt with a loud thump. Kiran stood dumbfounded at the girls sudden appearance. He was wearing blue and white striped pajama's along with bright pink bunny slippers. In one hand steamed a mug of hot coffee and in the other a Sorcerer Weekly magazine. When the wizard realized what had transpired he immediately dropped the magazine and bent to pick the girl up, scooping her into the crook of his arm and dragging her into the kitchen. Juvia kicked at open air, demanding to be put down.
"Let me go! LET ME GO!" She screamed.
Kiran chuckled at his daughters anger.
"Calm down, you need to eat quickly if you want to get to school on time. Or do you want me to run you to school like last time?"
The girl shrieked, wiggling her way out of her fathers arms and flying into her seat at the breakfast table. She began shoveling food into her mouth, barely chewing. Smiling Kiran sat down along side his daughter and started eating. After a few minutes his daughter reached for some toast, but he quickly smacked her hand away.
"Don't eat those! Your mom insisted on making the toast today."
Juvia grimaced. Her mother was many things. An unbelievable water mage, a loving wife and mother, she could even build a house from scratch but in no way could Mia Lockser cook. Juvia flipped over the bread to reveal blackened char underneath.
"Thanks dad, I don't know what I would do without you."
Her mother walked in a few moments later, looking angry and a bit exasperated. Kiran's expression went from playfully amused to dangerously serious in 0.002 seconds.
"What's wrong Mia?" He asked.
"I just got a letter from my mom, and she's coming over. Tonight."
Juvia and her father both dropped their utensils, a look of utter panic painting their faces.
"What are we going to do?" Juvia cried, her entire body shaking. "Grandmother's coming! Mama, Dad what do we do?!"
"First things first we don't panic and you need to get to school."
"You think I can concentrate at school when grandmother's coming? Mama I can't!"
"Get to school young lady. Now." Her mother ordered, grabbing her daughters book bag and shoving it into the girls chest. She grabbed a piece of her burnt toast, handing it to her daughter before pushing the still muttering girl out the front door.
"Your father and I will handle your grandmother. Have a nice day at school, I love you!"
Juvia managed a small wave, whispering what sounded like 'I love you'. She opened her umbrella, beginning the long walk to school. She shook her head, clearing her mind of all negative thoughts. Her parents would handle her grandmother, they were her parents after all.
The tiny water mage trudged to school in pouring rain, unknowing to the fact she would never again share another meal with her parents.
GRAY'S POV;
Gray sat at his desk, twirling his pencil between two fingers. Imagine his surprise when he woke up a child, heading to school to get his education. To be perfectly honest it didn't exactly faze him. First he was Juvia's dad and now he was classmate. It was pretty simple, he just needed to figure out what she was afraid of. The teacher entered the class room and started to call attendance right away. Gray was surprised to discover that Juvia was absent, was he not supposed to be at school? If that was the case then he might as well cut class as soon as possible.
He was just about to raise his hand to ask to use the restroom when the door swung open, sending a moist breeze through the class room. He turned in his seat, craning his neck to see blue curls bouncing to the front of the classroom. Gray's mouth almost dropped open. She was just so adorable! She was wearing a deep purple dress, the frills reaching just above her knees and poofing out. She wore purple and white striped knee socks along with shiny black shoes. Accompanying her tight blue curls was a purple lace headband. She looked just like a doll!
She glanced nervously around the room, clutching her book bag to her chest like it was her shield.
"I'm sorry I'm late." She whispered, large eyes staring apologetically at her fellow classmates. Gray could hear a few of them snicker.
"I bet she thinks she's cute, dressing like that." He heard a girl whisper behind him.
"Awe, don't be mean! I mean, she looks cute...for a monster!" Another girl laughed, setting Gray's teeth on edge. How dare they talk about Juvia like that.
"She's just a witch! It hasn't stopped raining since she was born!"
"What was it they used to do with witches back in the old days? Oh yeah, they burned them!" A boy smiled. "Why don't we burn the Rain Witch!"
"No, we don't want her to cast a curse on us!" A girl screamed in mock horror.
Juvia walked slowly down the rows of desks, her eyes to the ground. Gray couldn't take much more of this. It was just too cruel.
"Hey Rain Witch! How about you just save us all the trouble and just end it already!" A girl shouted, sticking her foot out and tripping the unsuspecting young mage. Juvia let out a squeak of surprise, landing unceremoniously on her face. Her dress flew up, revealing her panties to the entire class room. Gray looked to the teacher to intervene but she sitting at her desk, pretending she wasn't seeing anything. He could have sworn he saw the instructor start to laugh along with the gang of students, but it was only for an instant.
All the kids surrounded her, laughing at her fall. One girl actually stomped her foot on top of Juvia's hand, causing the young Juvia to cry out in pain.
"Come on Rain Witch! Curse me! Show me that awesome mage power you have! You're nothing but a filthy witch!" The girl spat, causing all the all the other children to fall to the floor in stitches. They stopped laughing when Juvia grabbed the girls ankle, glaring up at her with murderous eyes. The girl went rigid, but soon began to cry. Through her sobs Gray managed to make out words like 'witch' and 'cursed me' but she was borderline hysterical. It was at this time that the teacher called the classroom to order, saying that the girl who had just a few moments before been beating on Juvia, could be excused from class. Gray was burning with rage, these children, this teacher...they were evil. He helped Juvia up, he expected her to be a mess of tears but to his surprise she was smiling.
"Are...are you alright?" He asked, taking her bruised hand in his own. A few kids gasped but no one said anything. Juvia stared at the boy in confusion, but soon smiled.
"You're new here, Micheal right?"
Gray felt himself nod.
"Thank you for being concerned about me Micheal." She smiled. He felt his heart involuntarily skip a beat. Whoever this Micheal kid was, he had a crush on Juvia. But, the kid was too much of a coward to do anything about her torment.
"Do they always do stuff like this?" He asked, walking her back to her seat, sitting on the floor next to her desk. Juvia stared at him quizzically.
"Not always, but I deserve it. What are you doing?" She inquired, staring down at the boy beside her.
"I'm sitting next to you. I mean there's no open desks so the floor will have to do. What do you mean you deserve it?" Gray asked, angry boiling in his gut.
"Since you moved here it hasn't stopped raining has it Micheal?" Juvia asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Now that I think about it, no it hasn't, but what does that have to do with you Juvia?"
"Well it's all my fault, I cause the rain. It has never stopped raining, not once since I was born."
Gray stared at the girl in shock.
"Never? Wow, that's a lot of rain." He mused.
"Exactly, and everyone is right about me, I'm a witch and I deserve to be punished. So it's better if you just stay away from me Micheal, or else you'll be cursed."
Gray looked up at the lonely girl, reaching up a grabbing her hand. He could feel his face growing hot.
"I-I'm not going anywhere Juvia, I-I really want to be your friend. So I won't move, I'll sit here everyday if I have to. I-I like the rain so I don't mind." He was blushing so much and he was sure he was completely screwing everything up. He heard Juvia sniffle and glanced up to see her to start sobbing onto her desk, a giant grin plastered on her face. Oh no! He must have said something to make her sad!
"M-Micheal?" She croaked.
"Y-yes!?" He stammered
"Thank you."
GAJEEL'S POV;
"...M-Micheal..."
Gajeel's head snapped up, his eyes wide. He shot from his place at the wall, making a B-line for his sleeping guild mate. Lucy, Levy, Natsu stared at the iron dragon slayer in confusion.
"What's wrong Gajeel?" Levy asked, following behind the dark haired man.
"Juvia just said Micheal." He informed them, worry etched on his pierced face.
"So? What's that got to do with anything?" Natsu questioned, heading to Juvia's other side. Lucy went over to Gray, checking his condition.
"Micheal is the name of Juvia's first love." Gajeel told them, still looking worried.
"And?" Lucy prompted.
"Juvia lived in a small town, a town of mean sonsofbitches who treated her like dirt. Her only solace in that hell was her parents and Micheal."
"Doesn't that make Micheal a good guy?" Natsu pointed out.
"It's not that...it's just that after Juvia met Micheal...her life turned upside down."
JUVIA'S POV;
When school finally ended Juvia was practically over the moon, she and Micheal walked home together, holding hands underneath his umbrella. She had a giant grin on her face and she felt something she hadn't felt since she was small; hope. Juvia actually hoped for the future. She smiled at her new friend, who was grinning back with gusto.
"Do you want to come to my house Micheal? My dads making beef stew for dinner." She suggested, a little nervous about her new friend meeting her parents. Micheal thought for a second, pondering her offer. Suddenly Juvia was a big pile of nerves. Of course he didn't want to come.
"Sure, but I can't stay for dinner. My mom will kill me if I'm out too late."
She nodded happily, glad he didn't reject her offer. They headed to her place at the edge of town, splashing in puddles and laughing the entire way. When they approached her house Juvia could hear the sound of glass breaking and she couldn't help but flinch. Micheal stared at her with concerned eyes.
"Do your parents fight a lot?" He questioned softly, giving her hand a squeeze.
"No! It's not like that! It's just...things get a little tense when my grandmother comes to visit."
"I should go home." He suggested, his eyes darting around in fear.
"No! Don't go home...we'll just go through the back!" She stated, pulling him across her yard and through her back door into the house. She motioned him forward, signaling him to remain quiet. She could hear her mother yelling from the kitchen.
"IT IS NOT YOUR DECISION TO MAKE YOU OLD SERPENT!" She screamed, throwing what Juvia thought to be a plate.
"Mind your tongue Mia, you may be married to a brute but I will not have you acting like one in my presence." A decrepit old voice croaked. Her voice was like venom, seeping its way into Juvia's bloodstream and freezing it like ice.
"I'm guessing your mom and grandma don't get along."
Juvia nodded.
"YOU ARE NOT HER MOTHER! I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE MY BABY AWAY FROM ME!"
"You don't have a choice in the matter Mia. The child has still not mastered her powers correct?" She asked condescendingly, letting out a wet cough.
"That may be true Gertrude, but she doesn't need to be uprooted from her home at such a young age. Mia's training didn't begin until she was at least sixteen. Juvia is only twelve." Her father pointed out calmly. The Yin to her emotional mothers Yang.
"That may be the case with my daughter Kiran Lockser, but my daughter does not have Beserker blood running through her veins, making her magic unstable and dangerous. It hasn't stopped raining since the child was born. Don't you think it's time she learned to control her powers? Water magic can be destructive and she needs guidance."
"WHAT SHE NEEDS IS A NURTURING AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT! JUVIA IS NOT READY FOR YOUR TRAINING!"
"Juvia will have to be ready, I've talked to the Magic Council." Juvia could hear a paper being slid across the table.
"In light of the agricultural decline due to your daughters uncontrolled magic power, the council has decided to completely strip you of your parental rights. Juvia has been adopted by me."
Juvia's breath caught and tears started to form in her eyes. Micheal wrapped his arms around her, crying himself. Her mother fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. She heard the table break into splinters as her fathers fists came into contact. She could feel his magic power burning through the entire house.
"Juvia is our child."
"Not anymore, I'll come for Juvia in the morning. Goodnight."
And with that, her grandmother left, closing the door softly behind her. Holding onto Micheal's hand she opened the kitchen door, taking in a deep breath. Her parents stared at her with grief stricken faces. Juvia was shaking in fear, her entire body shivering uncontrollably. Juvia's mom crawled to her daughter, pulling her into her arms.
"Shhhhhh baby, no one's going to take you from us. We won't let that happen." She stated, crying softly. Her father joined them on the floor and it was then that he noticed the little boy holding onto his daughter's hand. He was crying, but he stood tall and determined.
"Sir, how can I help?" He asked in a small voice.
Kiran shook his head.
"Go home son."
"Bu-but! I can't just leave Juvia!"
Kiran grabbed the boys shoulders looking deep into the boys eyes, praying he listened to what he had to say.
"Go home, and for Juvia's sake...forget about her, forget about us. Please son, this is the only way you can help Juvia. If care about her in the slightest...you'll forget about her. Now go home!" He yelled, eyes glowing red for emphasis. The boy nodded, running from the house.
"Go pack a bag Juvia, we're leaving." Mia ordered, sniffling a bit.
"Mom..." Juvia cried.
"We'll go away, run away where the council can't find us. Don't worry baby, no one's going to take you away from us. We'll keep you safe."
Juvia wiped her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
"Mom I'm going with grandmother." She stated.
"What? No you're not young lady. You're staying with us!"
Juvia gently removed her mothers hands from her shoulder, taking a few steps away from her parents. This was the only way she could keep them safe from the council. She didn't want her parents to be wanted for the rest of their lives.
"Mom, I'm going with grandmother. She's the only one who can help me control my magic. You can't help...you've never helped me." This was the only way. She had to make them hate her, or else they'd never be able to let go. Her mother blinked in confusion.
"What? What do you mean Raindrop?" She asked, reaching for her daughter. But Juvia smacked her hand away.
"I-If...IF I HAD NEVER BEEN BORN THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS HELL EVERYDAY! DO YOU SEE THIS?" She cried, raising up her bruised hand.
"THIS HAPPENED FOR YEARS, EVERYDAY! AND YOU JUST THOUGHT I WAS CLUMSY?! YOU...I HATE YOU!" Shes screamed at the top of her lungs, running out the front door and into the rain and out of her parents lives forever.
Second fear...complete...
GAJEEL'S POV;
"And she never saw her parents again?" Lucy asked, tears falling freely from her eyes. She held onto a sleeping Happy, leaning into Natsu for support.
"No. Juvia left home but...she never reached her grandmother's."
"What do you mean?" Levy asked, wiping her misty eyes.
"I mean she someone else found her before she reached her destination. Someone who promised her happiness, promised her life back."
"Who was it?" They all asked, gulping in anticipation.
"Jose."
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