Let the Rain Fall

A Fairy Tail One-Shot

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

Summary- In which Haru makes a new friend during a summer rain shower. Takes place before Loke Arc.

WARNING: This drabble contains hints of the Gruvia ship. I know how much how that particular pairing is looked down upon, so if you don't like it, don't read it.

"Ugh... another one of these stupid summer showers?" Natsu groaned as he sat underneath the tarps with the other guild members. The guild was still undergoing construction, but right now, that had actually halted when it started to rain out of nowhere.

"It's no fun when it rains," Happy pouted as he sat on Natsu's shoulder. "It makes everything so wet and slippery."

"At first, it was kinda nice," Lucy began as she sat with Erza and Gray, "but now, it's getting a little annoying."

"It's been raining off and on, all day," Gray said. "Summer showers usually don't last this long."

"And because of these conditions, we can't rebuild the guild," Erza added. "It'd be too dangerous to carry wood and other supplies in these conditions."

"I'm sure it'll stop soon," said Mirajane as she stood under the tarps with Elfman. "All we can do is wait it out."

"That's what a real man would do," Elfman agreed... but meanwhile, Haru was sitting with Blue Fang, glancing toward the town with a thoughtful expression on her face. She then glanced over at Blue Fang, who blinked at her in perplexity before the Beast Wizard grabbed her umbrella, opened it up, and walked out into the streets with Blue Fang soon getting up to follow after her, which Natsu noticed.

"Sis, where are ya goin'?" asked Natsu.

"I'll be right back!" Haru called as she walked away.

"Don't go off too far!" Erza added.

"I won't!" Haru replied, and meanwhile, Gray just sat quietly, staring after the younger Dragneel sister with a look of contemplation.

XXX

Haru walked down the street, looking this way and that for anything she might find out of the ordinary... and that's when she spotted her, hiding in a small alleyway.

It was Juvia Lockser, sitting underneath her umbrella with a solemn look in her eyes. She sighed softly as she leaned against the wall, eyes cast to the puddles on the ground. Haru's eyes softened as she approached the Water Wizard, who noticed her out of her peripherals but didn't really bother to face her completely for some reason.

"Hi, Juvia," said Haru.

"...Hello, Haru," Juvia answered in a small, sad voice.

"I haven't seen you since you came to bring Gray that lunchbox," said Haru. "What have you been doing?"

"Oh, I've just been... staying at an inn for a while," Juvia replied. "I... I couldn't stay there anymore, though. I couldn't afford it."

"Oh," Haru said in concern. "So... where have you been staying then?"

"...Here," Juvia answered as she gestured to what looked like a tiny shelter that was slapped together with old plywood and sheet metal...and it looked like it was barely holding together. Haru blinked at the disheveled heap of junk before she looked to Juvia, who sighed as she clutched her umbrella.

"Juvia... have you been homeless all this time?" the Beast Wizard.

"...Yes," Juvia answered. "I got kicked out of my old apartment back in Oak Town."

"Well... how come you didn't ask your friends from Phantom Lord to put you up until you found a place to stay?" asked Haru... and that's when Juvia's expression sank even more.

"...Phantom Lord disbanded, remember?" she asked. "And besides... they were never my friends." She closed her eyes and bit her trembling lip. "They... they never liked me. They called me... gloomy and depressing... because I was making it rain all the time." She sniffed as she wiped at her eyes... and the rain began to fall harder than it did before, causing Haru to look up at the sky before she looked back at her. "My old boyfriend, Bora, thinks so well..."

Haru's eyes softened while Blue Fang shook himself, trying to get dry from the sudden downpour. It was then that she walked over and put her hand on Juvia's shoulder, causing her to look up at her.

"I'm sorry, Juvia," she said. "It must be so hard that people don't ever want to take the time to get to know you because of who you are or what you look like, huh? I know that feeling all too well."

"I thought that... maybe going to see Gray would help cheer me up," Juvia said. "I... I actually wanted to show my face to him, for once... to stop hiding and start to get to know him... but then... I remember that we fought before... and it makes me scared to face him because I still don't know if he thinks of me as an enemy." She sniffled as her tears returned. "And the more I think about it... the more scared and sad it makes me... and when that happens, the rain just comes and I can't make it stop!"

"So this rain is tied with your emotions," Haru said as she noticed that it was raining harder than before. "I guess that explains why it was raining off and on, all day."

"No matter what I do... no one ever likes it when it rains..." Juvia said, sadly as she wiped her eyes.

"...I do," Haru spoke, causing Juvia to look up at her and see the Beast Wizard give her a friendly smile.

"W... what was that?" Juvia asked.

"I like the rain," Haru answered. "It's so pretty when it falls and it cools you off when you're feeling hot. Plus, it helps the flowers grow and gives the animals fresh drinking water... and at night, it sounds so pretty, you can fall asleep. It's like nature's own little song, don't you think so?"

Juvia's eyes went wide while Haru smiled at her, and even Blue Fang was smiling despite being soaked. In fact... he actually looked quite skinny due to his fur coat being weighed down by all the water the rain was bringing. At that moment... the rain began to slow into a light drizzle and the clouds parted, allowing beams of sunlight to break through. It was then that Haru's smile broadened as something else appeared across the sky: a beautiful, dazzling rainbow.

"And there's another reason why I like the rain," Haru said while Juvia stared in awe. "Juvia... you might think that rain is depressing... but it doesn't have to be." She then turned to Juvia, her eyes filled with sincerity. "Even if you think no one else likes it... I do."

Juvia stared at the Beast Wizard, who gave her a toothy grin... and then, to Haru's surprise, the Water Wizard dropped her umbrella... and wrapped her arms around her.

"J... Juvia?" Haru asked.

"...Thank you..." Juvia whispered, causing Haru to smile at her before she hugged her back, and Blue Fang walked up and licked her face, causing her to giggle.

"Feel better, now?" Haru asked.

"Yes, I do," Juvia replied. "I wish... I had a friend like you back when I was in Phantom Lord."

Haru smiled warmly at her... before she glanced back to where the guild construction site was. It was at that moment that she got an idea.

"Hey, Juvia," she said as she held her hand out to her. "Come with me."

Juvia blinked before she looked down at Haru's hand, then back at Haru, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"It's okay," she said. "Trust me."

Juvia paused... before she took a deep breath... and placed her hand in Haru's.

XXX

"Whoa, do you see that rainbow?!" Natsu asked as he and the others finally stepped out from under the tarps to admire the rainbow that had suddenly appeared.

"It's beautiful!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Aye!" Happy agreed.

"Well, it's finally nice to see the sky after all that rain," said Erza.

"Now that's a manly sight!" Elfman grinned, causing Mirajane to chuckle.

"Oh, Elfman," she said.

"Hey," Gray spoke up. "Haru and Blue Fang have been gone a while."

"Yeah, you're right," Lucy replied. "They suddenly just walked off... I wonder what's taking them."

"I'll go and look for 'em," Natsu said as he went to go search... but soon saw that there was no need, for they were soon spotted coming around the corner. "Oh! There they are!"

"Haru, where have you been?" Erza asked.

"Oh, you know," Haru answered. "Just... around."

As she drew closer, it was at that moment that the others finally noticed Juvia walking behind Haru, who had her hand around hers, causing them to gasp.

"That's the girl who kidnapped me the first time!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Uh... Haru?" Gray asked. "What are you doing, bringing her here?"

"Yeah, she's one of those Phantom Lord goons!" Natsu shouted.

"Hold it, hold it!" Haru called as she raised her hands. "I know what you guys are thinking, but... come on. Phantom Lord disbanded, remember? Juvia's not here to hurt anybody."

"Then what's she doing here?" Erza asked.

"Look," Haru began, "Juvia was never really bad. Everyone in her old guild didn't even like her... she has no friends, at all. In fact, she doesn't even have a home, anymore!"

The other Fairy Tail members glanced at each other, skeptically... particularly Gray and Lucy, the former scowling as he crossed his arms while the latter raised her brow with her hands on her hips.

"...Juvia, was it?" asked Erza, causing Juvia to look at her, nervously. "Is this true?"

"Y... yes," Juvia answered. "Please... I really am sorry. I didn't mean any harm. I never had anything against Fairy Tail... or Lucy, for that matter. I was only following orders." She then bowed her head. "Please... find it in your hearts to forgive me... if not now, then someday."

A pause... before Lucy sighed and dropped her arms to her sides.

"Well... she does look sorry," said the Celestial Spirit Wizard, "and she honestly didn't really hurt me when she captured me the first time. It was really that Gajeel guy who gave me a beating."

"And I guess she's not totally crazy," Gray added. "If nothing else, she's just a little misguided."

"I didn't just bring Juvia here to apologize, though," Haru said before she glanced at Juvia, who nervously rubbed her arm.

"I... I was wondering," Juvia began, "if... I could join you all... if you'll have me? Please?"

"You... wanna join us?" Natsu asked.

"I understand if you don't want me to," Juvia said. "I was a former enemy, after all."

"Mira, what do you think we should do?" Lucy asked.

Mirajane put a hand to her chin in thought. "Well... the Master's actually getting a checkup at Miss Porylusica's right now and Elektra went with him because she had to get her arm and leg checked."

"How about this?" Erza asked. "We'll let Master Makarov decide when he returns. In the meantime, Juvia, I know a place you can stay for the time being until you have enough money to afford a room at Fairy Hills."

"Are you sure it's no trouble?" Juvia asked.

"Hey," Natsu said. "Sometimes, people deserve a second chance."

"That's right!" Haru said. "That's what Fairy Tail is all about!" She then looked over at Gray, who had his hands down his pockets. "Don't you think, Gray?"

Gray didn't answer, at first. He just stood there, glancing back and forth between Haru and Juvia, the latter looking worried as she stared at him... but then, the Ice-Make Wizard heaved a small sigh.

"Well... I can let bygones be bygones," he said. "We may have fought, before, but that doesn't mean I hold grudges. If you really wanna join our guild, it's worth a shot."

Juvia heaved a quiet sigh of relief while Haru smiled as she walked up to Gray and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I knew you had a heart," she whispered with a wink before she walked away to join the others... and as Gray glanced back at Juvia, who was now speaking with Lucy and Erza... he couldn't help but smile just a bit as she saw her start to smile, too while the sun shone down on her, showing her brightened eyes.

'I guess she's not so bad,' Gray thought. 'Maybe Haru was right... all she needed was a second chance.'

I had this in mind for a while, but I didn't quite know how to execute it. I hope I didn't make anyone seem OOC or anything.

Review, please!