Note:
Flashbacks and thoughts in italics
I do not condone or encourage any behaviors in this story. It is simply a fictional story.
"Butterfly Effect"
CHAPTER 12
Lush Life
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Silver is not as precious as gold, yet it is a valuable article to own. So on the last week of her stay in Chinatsu Village, when Totomaru's mother decides to lock silver anklets on her ankles, Juvia is stuck between a rock and a hard place. In the Chinatsu culture, gifts come with deeper importance. She had heard from her former guildmate, that among them, nobody gives meaningless gifts. "It's the thought that counts." He had explained. Regardless of the size or the prize, every single gift is meaningful and of equal value. Also, it is considered extremely rude to reject heartfelt gifts. The village people have a custom of exchanging gifts at the end of every four months.
What's more? These gifts are wrapped or tied with long or short ribbons, and the colour of the ribbon is what gives shade to these meanings. Yellow ribbons are mostly seen around the gifts exchanged between friends; orange ribbons may be among the enthusiasm and excitement in carefree competitions; blue is for both the scholars and the rookies; red is the ribbon of blossoming romances; and so on. Therefore, the beaded silver anklet that was given to her in a small box brought tears to her eyes because of the meaning it was wrapped with.
Green. Totomaru had mentioned to her the intricacies of Green. It was the shade of beginnings and familial love. The newlyweds would receive gifts wrapped in green from each other's families; newborns are gifted with boxes tied to different shades of green; adopted kids are showered with gifts of green. Chinatsu's people were plainspoken, straightforward, and open-hearted enough to treat an outsider like her as one of their own. No one gave second thoughts when pulling her into their festivities; hence, Juvia had experienced a few of these ceremonies firsthand, forever -indebted for the kindness she had received.
She is being accepted as part of Catori's family. Now, she's Catori's daughter, as well as Totomaru's family. Does Maru approve of this? Who is she now? His friend? His sibling? Any lingering concerns are dispelled as two arms embrace her from behind. "You may rest, Water Witch; don't worry about it too much; what matters is that we are now a family, and besides, a family is what it means to you." Totomaru's face glowed when he put a hand on top of her head, his soothing digits sliding through her curls. "What does this mean to you?"
Juvia's brows were pulled together, teardrops trickling down her face and neck. She blinked them away. What does "family" mean to her? She had envisioned having a family with Gray. But as time changes people, the meanings of the things they thought of as relevant would also undergo change. Now, she can see the term in a new light. The bluenette took a few sharp breaths before turning to face the man. "A family is somewhere I belong."
"Then you will always belong with us, no matter where you are." He cooed, stroking her head.
Her hands clutched his loose ivory overshirt, pulling herself close. "Catori." The creases on her forehead smoothed out.
Juvia pressed her puffy face into him, crying the rest of her tears into his strong, compassionate chest. The mother patted her back while Maru pecked her forehead and held her close. When she had been cold, she used to catch butterflies. They weren't warm enough for her, but they were free, and she loved "free." Sometimes, when it was dark, Juvia used to dream about bringing sunshine into her life. Sometimes, when she's alone, she wants to fly away like butterflies into the sunshine.
Now, she feels like she's living that dream because she found something: life and love. Moreover, when Juvia feels love, she likes to make sure that nothing is left unsaid. "I love you guys. Mom. Maru."
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Over the trunks of coconut trees bending a U over the pristine river streams, shirtless children sat behind one another in a line, playing a game in the water. Several of them seemed to know the shallows and depths like the backs of their hands and swam about the stretch of waters like gleeful, rugged mermaids. Juvia still recalls the river. A few years ago it was dying, but now look at it, sparkling with virility. She felt like a proud mother as she marvelled at the bubbling richness.
Maru threw his head back and laughed when he saw his cousin across the river, over one of the bamboo boats, getting roped into a bunfight with an elderly woman. The woman had shoved him out of the boat when she noticed the shifting balance on one side and a fuming redhead emerged from the water, ready to wage war. "Why not use some glasses? It may help. I'm not overweight! And certainly not a Neanderthal!" Can't she see that he's jacked? Suzaku had soon equipped himself with a basket boat, and the ensuing slanging match had a rainbow's worth of colours.
Totomaru, her travelling companion and chum; her family, pierced a hole in the tender coconut. He had trimmed his two-colored hair. Parted in the middle, his straight, wispy mane looked divine in the Eboy haircut. He holds the hard nut in both hands, tilts it over his mouth, and slurps down the succulent juice voraciously.
"Have you tasted palm wine?" Maru nudged her.
Clay roofs were the standard for all homes in Chinatsu. The sparsely populated hinterland was primarily covered in corn-yellow and maya-blue structures and had more resources than it needed. Totomaru's is corn-painted with moss-clambered bricks. At night, an spectrum of orange bulbs and lamps lights up the huts and hamlets, mimicking Halloween pumpkins.
"I wanna." All the village folk were appropriately clad for the summery weeks. She herself had put on a front tie-up crop top that accentuated her breasts and left her sun-kissed midriff exposed—a bright and beautiful outfit that made her feel confident about herself. Dressing up for herself in the clothes she loved and in the way she liked had Juvia Lockser feeling lovely and loved.
Canoeing and recreational fishing were popular sports activities here. But the glass bangle and flower vendors took up more than half of the river's watercraft. Flowers were sold in cups made of damp, smooth banana leaves, which were plentiful in the village. The bells on her anklets chimed and slippers slapped when her feet moved towards the banks to help Suzaku—who had, once again, been chucked out of his own boat—up. "Uncivilized." He groans, looking at the sceptical woman, now armed with a sickle. Even when looking like a beach bum in his shorts and unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, Suzaku was a Tarzan. There's no way she wasn't intimidated by his size.
Author's Note:
Lush Life is one of the happiest songs ever. i LOVE it
