As much as Gray wants to talk about what happened between them, he feels like something is blocking his way. Every time he thinks that it's time to bring up the conversation, words starting to leave his brain and by the time he knows it, his mind is in a blank stage.
Juvia knows this, she understands how comfortable it can be to talk about it, which is why she silently let it slides away. They return back to the normal routine, eating together, doing homework together, watching movies together and never once, mention the obvious elephant in the room.
Although the bluenette wishes to talk about it, she understands that it's not the right time, despite how many days have passed by. Sweet Juvia has a heart of gold, always forgiving, always telling herself to not making anyone uncomfortable and this frustrated Gray. The raven head wants to apologize for taking advantage of the situation, for doing something that she's not comfortable with, but what can he say to her…?
"Gray-sama, are you okay?"
He snaps out of his thought, turning his attention back to Juvia, who looks at him with worries in her blue eyes.
"A-ah, I'm okay. I'm just…having some thoughts…that's all…"
The bluenette looks at him, observing. She knows what Gray was thinking about, the blush on his face is the answer to her question. She admires how he is willing to figure out how to talk to her about this, it warms her heart to know that he's very careful with his words and how he doesn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Such a caring man…
But Juvia has to admit, she does not hate the moment they shared. In fact, she loves it, she loves every second of it. The way he kissed her with such fierce and yet, gently held onto her like he's afraid of hurting the vulnerable girl, like she's the most beautiful gem that needs to be protected.
"Gray-sama, can Juvia ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"S-she wants to visit her mother this weekend, w-will you accompany Juvia?"
Juvia's mother, she said…
"J-Jellal-nii will come with her but she hopes that you can come as well…" the bluenette slowly averts her eyes "I-if that's okay to you, of course…"
Gray looks at her, the way she's poking her fingers together, squirming uncomfortably in her seat with the thought that he might reject her request. The sight is just simply adorable. Oh Juvia, why asking him that when she knows that he will comply with every request that she has.
"Sure, I will go with you."
The way her face lit up really makes his day. Blue orbs shine brightly, a cute blush on the cheeks, pink lips curl into a big smile. Gray feels his heart is beating faster than ever, everything about Juvia Lockser is simply adorable.
Jellal stops his car in the apartment building parking lot, waiting for his sister and Gray to come down. Today is their mother's death anniversary and it's Jellal's first time after many years, visiting their mother's grave with Juvia.
He has to admit, he has a mixed feeling about this. The older bluenette is feeling blue but at the same time, he is happy because he has finally had a chance to go with Juvia. However, despite how pleased Jellal is with it, he has a weird feeling that something bad will happen. Call it his intuition but Jellal knows his suspicion is not wrong…
"Are you okay?" Erza turns to him, worries fill her eyes as she touches his tensed shoulder.
"Y-yeah…"
It's a lie…
Green eyes turn his attention to the smartphone on the stand, his mind wanders back to the event that happened last night, when he received a text message from 'that person'. The man demanded to know his whereabouts, telling him that if he refuses to answer then he will regret it. Jellal tries to ignore the message, thinking that there's no way that man will know where he is, but something about this makes him squirms uncomfortably in his seat.
Juvia…
What if 'that man' changes his target to his beloved sister? That can't be…
Juvia confirms that their father has never once called her after she left the house, so the thought of 'that man' hunts her down is impossible…Right…?
"Jellal-nii!" Juvia calls him "Jellal-nii!"
"H-huh?" he turns to her, smiles warmly at his bubbly little sister "Juvia, you're 5 minutes late, young lady."
"She is not! She is perfectly on time, your clock runs 5 minutes faster than hers." she pouts.
The bluenette sits at the back of the car with Gray right next to her, the raven head nods his head as a greeting to his seniors. In his hand is a stack of lunch boxes that Juvia prepared last night. The young girl smiles fondly at her brother, scooping herself towards Erza's seat to gives the red hair woman a warm hug as she gladly accepts.
On Juvia's thigh is her violin case, the thing that she always keeps by her side whenever she visits her mother's grave. To the bluenette, it has been a ritual, to play her mother's favorite piece every time she visits.
Jellal takes a look at his beloved sister through the mirror, smiling fondly. The young bluenette is excited, not only because she has her brother with her but also because of the presence of Gray Fullbuster. He has made the right decision to put Juvia's happiness in the raven head's hand, knowing that the young man will do everything to make her happy.
When they arrive at the cemetery, Juvia immediately walks toward her mother's last resting place, following her are Gray, Erza and Jellal with a bouquet of white calla lilies, the woman's favorite flower. As they're walking, Jellal and Juvia stop when they see another bouquet of white calla lilies, resting near the headstone.
These flowers…
Juvia crouches down, touching the delicate petal and feeling the softness against her fingers. She knows the person who left these flowers here, the one who understands her mother more than anyone else in this world, the man that her mother loved dearly…
"So he still remembers this day…"
"Yes, he does." she softly responds "He always visits her early morning, leaving a bouquet of calla lilies and this…"
Juvia picks up the note and opens it to read the content.
"To my lovely Elly…"
Jellal sighs as he hears the familiar nickname. William's love for Elizabeth is admirable, but at the same time, the loss of his beloved wife takes a toll on him and it affects everyone around him, especially his two children. While Jellal is spared from his wrath, Juvia isn't. She continues her life, listening to those harsh words that her father has for her and hoping that one day, someone will come and save her from the cruel reality.
But that savior never comes…
"Well, it's not the time for us to make such miserable face, is it?"
The young bluenette claps her hands together before turning her attention to the violin resting on the grass. She picks it up, smiling at how her friends are looking at her, eagerly waiting to see her performance.
Every time she visits her mother, she would always play this piece, the song that her mother taught her when she was still a little girl. Johannes Brahms's Violin Sonata No.1, also known as the Rain Sonata, a song about the rain and how each raindrop is a step closer to a magical world.
A soft violin tune flows into the air, capturing the attention of many people nearby. Juvia gently pulls the bow, creating such a beautiful sound that is calm, light and pleasant to the ears. As she continues the lovely piece of music, the soft cool breeze blows against her skin. Ocean blue hair dances with the wind, creating such a breathtaking sight.
"The Rain Sonata…" Jellal whispers.
"Is that the name of the song?" Gray looks at him.
"Well, it's commonly known as The Rain Sonata." the older bluenette nods his head "Also, do you know the meaning behind Juvia's name?"
Gray shakes his head, he can do math and other science-related subjects but asking him about the meaning of names? He can't answer that.
"Since she was born on a rainy day, mother named her Juvia, which also means the rain."
The raven head stares at him for a bit, in awe at all the information he received from the older bluenette. The meaning behind her name explains a lot about her personality, soft and soothing and kind, like a gentle stream flowing through the creeks and into the ocean.
When Juvia finishes the piece, she stays still, there is a moment of silence to pay respect for her late mother. Jellal takes the opportunity and pushes the young man towards her, almost making him crash into the girl. Gray turns to look at the older bluenette, confused at his actions, but when he meets Juvia's beautiful sapphire eyes, his whole body freezes.
"Mother, Juvia wants to introduce this person to you. His name is Gray Fullbuster, her neighbor and…" she stops for a second before continues "…and the one who chases her sorrow away…"
Gray stays silent, listening to her confession. Her voice, though soft and gentle, is firm and full of confidence, like what she is stating a fact.
"Juvia is happy, she no longer a little girl who cries out for help. She is grateful to have him by her side, to have him as a friend and a person that she can rely on."
The bluenette smiles, a warm smile that melts his heart. Her sapphire eyes shine bright like the star, her expression is soft and delightful, full of love and affection. Her voice is gentle, like a soft lullaby that is pleasant to his ears. Gray looks at the young girl and studies her for a moment, his mind runs through her words before a realization strikes him.
What she just said…
Why did it sound awfully like a love confession…?
His body heat rises as Gray blushes a heavy shade of red. He is embarrassed but at the same time, his heart swells with joy. There's a swarm of butterflies in his stomach as the raven head feels like he is walking on cloud nine.
But he doesn't want to make any assumption, maybe Juvia is only referring to him as a friend and nothing more, maybe he's the one who makes a mountain out of a molehill for thinking that what she said is a confession, maybe Juvia doesn't even into him…
When Gray is frustrated with his own thoughts, he doesn't realize that he has unconsciously held her hand, that Jellal and Erza are looking at him with, amused at how flustered he is. Juvia blinks at the way his calloused hand covers her small one as she lets out a small giggle. The raven head turns to her, startled at first before a warm smile appears on his face.
"Well…How should I say this…?" he stops for a brief moment before continues "I know that I'm still young and inexperienced, that I haven't reached my full potential, but…I promise that I will always by her side, that I will always be the person she can rely on, that I will always protect Juvia and never let her go."
The bluenette stares at him, blinking away the tears that are threatened to fall. The way Juvia looks at him, so peaceful and content. Her face is painted with a faded blush, her eyes shine with tenderness and adoration. Gray's heart beats even faster, swelling so hard that it is starting to hurt. The young girl in front of him is simply beautiful…
Jellal and Erza smile at the young couple, pleased with the gentle words they have for one another. The man looks up in the sky, his forest green eyes shine a ray of hope as he silently prays that this time, happiness will stay by Juvia's side.
After their visit, the group decides to eat lunch at a local park near the cemetery. Erza, as always, is eager to eat Juvia's homemade bento. The red hair woman has fallen in love with her junior's cooking after the breakfast they shared a couple of weeks ago. Erza keeps asking the bluenette to share some of her recipes while Jellal and Gray freeze in their seat, scared at the thought that they have to be the ones who taste Erza's cooking. The thought of it is indeed scary because the woman is famously known as someone who can't cook.
As they're enjoying the food, Jellal startles and turns around to look for something or someone. He has this odd feeling that they're being watched, which caused the older bluenette to be alerted all the time. But Erza has reassured him that no one is following them, that he's a bit stressed out, that he needs to be relaxed and enjoyed the moment. Jellal, although still skeptical about this, reluctantly agreed.
When Jellal drops the young pair at their apartment building, he casts Gray a look and warns the young man about his suspicion while Juvia is still talking to Erza. He doesn't want to make his sister worried.
The raven head nods his head, understanding what the other man is trying to say. He too has felt like they're being watched but can't think of anyone who would do such a thing. Jellal's words are still ringing in his head when they walk upstairs, beside him is Juvia who is quite concerned about how quiet he is.
"Gray-sama?" she asks him "Are you okay?"
"I'm good. I'm just thinking about stuff, that's all…"
Like Jellal, he doesn't want Juvia to be worried. But Gray forgets who is standing in front of him, the one who can see through a person's mind, Juvia Lockser. She looks at him, knowing how well the young man is trying to hide his concerns but she stays silent. Not because she doesn't want to bother him with her words but because she feels it too, that weird feeling of being watched.
The bluenette stays silent but worries grow inside her, her own intuition warns her of an upcoming storm that is threatened to disturb her peaceful life.
But what is it?
Juvia doesn't need a long time to search for an answer. The moment she steps foot on the second floor of the apartment building, her heart stops. Sapphire eyes open wide in fear as she freezes in her spot.
N-no…
A man is standing in front of her apartment door, dressed in a fine suit as he leans onto the balcony, waiting for her return. He turns around to look at the young pair, his eyes become darker as they bore right into her soul, threatening to break every bit of her peaceful life.
"Well…Long time no see…Juvia…"
She flinches at his words, unconsciously grabbing onto Gray's arm to shield herself away from his eyes, her body shivers at the fierce gaze.
"F-Father…"
