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It had been a week since they had set sail from Galuna Island and were still on their way to the continent of Alvarez. By the request of the King, they had taken a detour to a group of islands to the South. There have been rumors about raiding pirates terrorizing the people living there. As soon as the island had come in sight, the captains guided their ships into the harbor. They docked their ships and went into town with their crews.
It was clear that the atmosphere was tense among the citizens of the island. The streets were deserted, and behind the window of every home, scared pairs of eyes would follow them and occasionally duck down.
''These folks are afraid, aren't they?'' Gray said.
Erza looked around, only to find a group of children running away. ''Can you blame them if they're afraid of pirates?''
''It's true that these islands are being raided by pirates,'' a man coming out of an alley suddenly said. He uneasily scuffled towards them and signed them to come closer while eyeing to the left and right, making sure the wrong set of ears didn't overhear him.
''They're said to have their base at an island nearby,'' he said in a raspy voice, 'an island with a huge tree on top, that can be seen from miles away.''
Erza and Gray exchanged looks. Erza stepped forward to shake the old man's hand. ''Thank you, sir, please stay safe.''
''That was such a sweet old man,'' Mirajane chimed as they all made their way back to the ships, ''he has helped us a lot.''
''I know I might sound dumb saying this,'' Natsu said, ''but I think that old man smelled like a young woman.''
''That sounds indeed dumb,'' Laxus said without any hesitation.
A little girl with dark purple hair timidly stepped forward. ''Excuse me for interrupting, but I smelled the same.'' Gray had heard Erza talk about the petite mage. She was supposed to have powers similar to Natsu's and apparently had the same extreme sense of smell too.
''Something else isn't right either,'' Gray said, lost in thought, ''the island he mentioned has to be Tenrou. Tenrou Island is sacred land and can only be found by people bearing a magic tattoo.'' He pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing a black tattoo on his chest in a shape that reminded Juvia of a mythical creature with wings.
''Are you the only one with it?'' she curiously asked.
''No,'' Erza said as she pulled up her left sleeve to reveal a marine blue tattoo on her upper arm, ''every pirate who has pledged to live a good life and is part of an alliance that is in service of the King has one.''
Juvia's eyes widened. ''Does that mean I can get one too?''
''Absolutely! You're part of the crew now!'' Erza said. She leaned in closer to whisper in Juvia's ear,
''it's Gray who is in charge of setting them.''
Erza winked at him, and he looked back as if his stare could kill. Would nobody ever get tired of teasing him about Juvia?
Juvia nervously fidgeted on the fabric of her dress as she watched Gray search through his cabinet. She watched the blue horizon rise up and down through the portholes. They all had left for Tenrou island about an hour ago and weren't expecting to reach it before sundown.
''Found it,'' Gray said in relief as he took out a wooden box and placed it on his desk, ''it's not often that a new tattoo is set.''
''They were originally set with magic ink, that would vanish if someone wished to leave, but now they're being set with maker magic to be permanent.''
''Will it hurt?'' she asked, digging her fingers into the duvet she was sitting on.
Gray could feel his heart sink in his chest. It was hard to see her that vulnerable again after all the mental strength she had gained lately. ''They can either be burned or frozen into your skin. Either way, you will definitely feel a sting.''
''So only you and Natsu are capable of doing so?''
''No way in hell I'd let that flame-ass burn you,'' he blurted out faster than intended.
She chuckled. ''I would vaporize.''
Gray immediately turned away his face. She had taken it well, but he really had to take control of his words before they were being misinterpreted. He could not get too close to her.
He stalled out the flasks with different sorts of ink. ''Is there a certain color you want it to be?''
Her eyes glistered in anticipation. ''Blue.''
Of course. He should have known.
''And where-'' his mouth turned almost dry, thinking about having to ask the question, ''where on your body would you like to have it?''
''I was thinking about here,'' she said as she stood up and lifted the hem of her dress.
''W-what are you doing?'' he stammered, ''don't just start undressing here!''
''I-I'm not!'' she said as she lifted her dress up to her hips to reveal her left leg, ''I just want it on my thigh.''
Gray gulped. Of all places.
He grabbed the blue bottle of ink and a brush and kneeled down next to her.
''Could you tell me about Tenrou island?'' she said, trying to control the nerves that were nearly making her knees shake, ''you mentioned something about it being sacred grounds?''
''Tenrou island is where one of the first mages is supposed to have been buried.'' He started to draw the first lines of the tattoo with elegant and steady strokes of the brush. ''It's terribly hard to find, you'll first need to have a magical tattoo to even navigate to it.''
Juvia only heard his words as if they floated around far away. All that occupied her mind right now was how tenderly he was painting on her skin. His rough hands delicately drew line after line, causing her to have goosebumps all over.
''Legend says the spirit of the first wizard is still wandering the island. Protecting those who have followed her footsteps.''
Juvia tried to ignore the fact that she unwillingly shivered every time the brush touched her skin.
''Then why do not all pirates have their base there if they are sure of being protected by her?''
''There are legends about a dark creature circling the island, far beneath the ocean's surface,'' Gray continued as he dipped his brush in new ink, ''many ships are told to have sunk at its relentlessness. The creature is said to have been created to cause havoc and bring terror to all who encounter it.''
Juvia gasped. ''Isn't that the legend of the sea monster Acno-''
''Don't!'' Gray suddenly said and coldly stared into her eyes. It was clear he was serious.
''Please don't mention his name,'' he said in a calmer tone, ''it causes bad luck.''
She was startled by his reaction but nodded in agreement.
''It's done,'' he said and put the brush down, ''do you want to see it before I freeze it into your skin?''
''Yes,'' she said as she walked towards the wardrobe to take a look in its door's mirror. She turned around to view it from every angle. Its color rivaled her eyes in the deepness of blue. It was as if a water nymph adorned her thigh. ''It's beautiful,'' she let out breathlessly.
Juvia turned around, still holding up the dress. Her ocean deep eyes seemed to pierce him to his very soul as she came closer. ''Would you please make it permanent?'' she asked, almost desperately.
He had seen it when they first met, and now he had seen it too — the erased tattoo on her collar bone. Even when a tattoo is removed, its shadow would always remain. He also understood that she had finally found her new purpose in life and that this new tattoo was the seal of a new start.
He took a step closer, too, and let his hand hover above the painting. ''This one can't be removed, you know that, right?'' he said, trying not to make any eye-contact to make this moment even tenser.
She grabbed his hand with her only free hand. A tear streamed down her face and met her smile. ''I know.''
That was his cue. He closed his eyes and concentrated all his magic energy into the palm of his hand. He heard her whimper as the paint froze, freeze-drying itself into her skin like a thousand needles, and felt her hand clench his. He was trapped against her body, feeling his blood rush to his face. If someone would walk in on them now...
Suddenly he felt her relax again, and she took a deep breath. She let go of his hand, only to notice she had left nail impressions in his palm. ''I'm so sorry!'' she let out.
''I'm fine,'' he said as he rubbed his hands together and turned around to put the brushes and ink back into the wooden box, ''make sure you don't wear tight clothes on it for the next few weeks to let it heal properly.''
''Thank you, darling,'' he heard her say from behind him.
He sighed. ''How many times do I have to say not to call me-'' His sentence was broken by a peck on the cheek.
Juvia twirled around before leaving his room. ''I can't wait to show it to Erza, she will be so proud!''
He didn't even hear it anymore. Did she just kiss him on the cheek?
He traced his face with his cold hand to the place she had planted her lips. He could still feel their warmth linger. If this was already enough to stun him, what on earth was she doing to him?