Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Chapter 2: Bad Idea
The night before, Juvia wondered where she would let the cat sleep. Where else would she, a first time cat owner, put a cute cat when it's time to sleep? Of course, beside her.
Juvia, of all people! Damn it Erza!
The water mage clearly struggled with Neko Gray as she tried to put him to bed with her but strangely, the cat jumps out the second his paws hit the soft mattress. Juvia tried a few more times but it seems that Neko Gray preferred the rug more or maybe he's still adjusting to the room. She let him be, it's just the first day and there are many more to come. The sapphire haired mage turned out the lights, patted Neko Gray as he stretched his body before curling up in the rug, laid on her bed and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, sleep took her and she ventured into the unknown.
Neko Gray lay there as if hugging himself. He looked around the house and marveled at how his cat eyes easily adjusted to the darkness. The moonlight was filtered through blue curtains. The lack of movement suggested that the windows were closed, no night adventures then. He felt tired anyway. Taking one last look around, he soundly slept and dreamed about catnip and other cat stuff.
Juvia knows that she can't just leave the poor cat alone in the dorm so that's why she decided to take him to the spa! Nope; Change of plans, the guild. The guilds infamous trio were either on a mission, missing, or physically and mentally traumatized which referred to Erza, Gray, and Natsu, respectively. Meaning: the guild is as peaceful, quiet and gloomy as it may get ever since the trio's incorporation. Or so Juvia thought.
As a loyal member he is, Natsu was present although he was currently lying in the corner, body straight due to his bandages. White flowers surrounded his body and there were some members who were sitting beside him, heads down as if mourning. Hushed voices came from their direction and Macao appeared to be trying his best not to cry. The water mage approached towards them slowly with Neko Gray in her arms, ears folded indicating his worry. The body of Macao trembled and his hands were on either side of him as if holding it in place together with his grief. Juvia put her hands on Macao's shoulder, pressed lightly and took a closer look at Natsu. An unintelligible sound escaped from the old man's lips at her actions.
The Salamander looked troubled, his brows furrowed and there were cotton balls on either of his nostrils. As Juvia turned to ask them what had happened, why Natsu has a doodle on his forehead, and was about to lecture them that the dead aren't supposed to be played with, Macao burst out laughing.
His contained feelings were now shooting all over the room and were joined by those around him. Before Juvia could even react, Macao clasp his hand on her shoulder and said something about finally getting his sweet revenge. Juvia felt Neko perk up at that and suddenly jumped from Juvia's arms to the mummy-looking body of Natsu.
"AAAARGH!" A strangled cry came from the fire mage as he sat up, cotton balls flying; the cat walking around in his stomach, tails up and looking as if it's taking pleasure from Natsu's pain.
Natsu looked around and saw Juvia beside him just as shocked as he is.
"Juvia, get it off-," his last words were weak as and was cut off as Gray delivered another blow to Natsus's stomach. The salamander's head rolled back and hit the table as he drifted into unconsciousness. Neko Gray radiated of satisfied air as he purred and got carried by Juvia from Natsu's stomach but not without a punishment.
"Bad Neko Gray-sama!" she sounded a little disappointed as she lightly tapped the cat's head.
The fairy waitress, Mirajane Strauss, then appeared at Juvia's side and looked at the cute cat.
"Aww. So cute. Won't you forgive him?" Apparently, Mira has been watching them from the bar and was curious about the creature Juvia brought.
"Maybe Juvia will, but this shouldn't happen a second time." Juvia looked down at the cat in her arms, emphasizing the sentence with a look that can only be described as intimidating and terrifying.
"So, does he have a name?" Mira asked just so Juvia can break the look she's giving the poor cat. He looked so scared. Her expression changed as she looked at Mira. Her sinister scowl turned into a pleasant smile in less than a second.
"It's Neko Gray-sama." Juvia replied rather proudly.
"Gray-sama? Like Gray the uh, stripper?" Mira finished, unsuccessful in finding a better description of the ice mage.
The cat hissed at the waitress for her question. She could have just said Fullbuster or 'the mage cooler than Natsu' but no. Stripper.
"Hai! Just like stripper Gray-sama!" Juvia agreed.
Neko Gray hissed at Juvia too and jumped down from her arms once more to Natsu's table, missing his head just a few centimeters. Juvia let him, just as long as he doesn't disturb Natsu's sleep.
Both female mages looked at him and he looked like he wanted to be consoled. Mira reached for Neko Gray's chin and scratched. Within moments, Gray was purring at her hands, glad that he got what he wanted. But really, he's just too cute to be refuse. Mira's attention turned back to Juvia though her hand is still on Gray.
"So how did you come up with the cat's name? Is it because you use it for some fantasy of your own?" Mira teased. Juvia turned a bright red as her mind processed the words and her thoughts did all the work.
"That's not- You're wrong!" she denied. To her defense, that never really did came to mind although the part about her having some fantasies of her own cannot really be dismissed.
"Hmm? Then why?" The white-haired mage seemed a bit curious at the cat's peculiar name. Any name could do but it really just had to be Gray. Mira knows how Juvia really like (or love) Gray but she didn't think that Juvia'll go as far as naming a cat by his name. Oh yea, her spell at the Grand Magic Games…
With that train of thoughts she cut Juvia's attempt to explain to Mira.
"I think I understand, Juvia-chan." The fairy waitress said warmly. Of course, this is just one of Juvia's ways to show Gray how much Juvia loves him and that she can see him in almost everything. That Juvia would rather name everything she owns 'Gray-sama' just so she could call his name with such passionate feelings. Juvia doesn't have to explain it anymore since Mira can really tell from the water mage's pleading eyes and desperate actions.
"Hush Juvia-chan. No need to pour out your feelings any longer." Mira tenderly placed a hand of Juvia's shoulder and pat Neko Gray-sama on the head and left them.
Juvia was at loss for words at Mira's actions. She appreciates Mira-chan in understanding how she feels but she should have tried to listen to what Juvia has to say.
"Juvia think that she's misunderstood." She complained to Neko Gray, frowning.
The cat meowed at her. Well, I don't really get you.
"Neko Gray-sama! You've only been with Juvia for a day but you already understand Juvia!" The water mage celebrated while lifting and tossing the cat in the air.
That got her a loud meow. PUT ME DOWN!
"Juvia-chan! Have you seen-Oh." Lucy asked and abruptly stopped at the sight beside Juvia. Seeing Natsu asleep, she turned to Juvia.
"Who's that you're holding? Isn't he cute?" The stellar mage held out a hand to pat the cat's head but Juvia handed the cat over.
"Here. Lucy can hold him." The blonde took the opportunity and hugged Neko Gray. Her cheeks sliding with his and her breast and arms holding him in place. That was too much for Gray. The repeated contact of his body with her chest was a delightful agony. His mind can't decide which so it just shut down. Unknowingly, Leo had appeared just behind Lucy and looking envious.
"Man, I wish I was that cat." The celestial spirit dreamed and sighed loud enough that Lucy broke away from adoring the cute animal.
"Really? Maybe you could transform into a miniature lion and be this cute." Lucy rallied. She appeared quite unsurprised by his sudden apparition giving Juvia the impression that she's used to it. Lucy said something about borrowing Gray for a second and Juvia think she saw fear in the cat's eyes just as Lucy called, "Hey Levy! Look at Juvia's cat!"
"Please be gentle on him." Juvia weakly called but it was unsure whether Lucy heard her or not.
A minute later, all of the fairy girls are gathered around Lucy and fawning and squealing over the creature. Gray was passed around from body to body like a stuffed toy, his soft fur in disarray and his puffy cheeks were pinched in all directions.
Neko Gray fought his instincts about scratching and biting them all, deciding to be a tame, obedient, cute cat. He tried to catch Juvia's eyes but it seems that she's occupied talking to Mira.
"Ne Mira-san, have you seen Gray-sama?" The water mage asked as she sat down on a stool.
"Gray? I haven't seen him since the day before yesterday. Drink?" The waitress offered as she moved around the bar, serving other members.
"Chocolate shake. Do you know any place where Gray-sama would go?"
"Let's see. Have you tried his home?" Mira suggested as she gave the drink to Juvia.
"Well, Juvia has considered it but it's Gray-sama's house and maybe there's this and that…" Juvia's looked at her lap and fiddled with her fingers as some indecent thoughts ran through her mind, giving her cheeks a bright color.
Noticing this, Mira laughed at Juvia's behavior. "I'm sure that's not happening there. Well….maybe. But you know what? You should try going there. Maybe he's just sick or something."
Juvia raised her head with a clearly surprised expression. "If Gray-sama is sick then Juvia can take care of him and then…," Her words trailed off. Anyone looking at her might have seen her looked up hopefully, two hands entwined with a big grin plastered in her face.
Just then, Happy, Charle, Pantherlily, Wendy, and Gajeel entered the guild. The group went directly in Natsu's direction but not without noticing the commotion. After poking Natsu a few times to check if he's still unconscious, the group joined Juvia in the bar.
"Hey Juvia. What's happening there?" Gajeel inquired as he sat beside her, motioning his head in the girl's direction.
"Juvia brought a cat and they liked the cat." She simplified, having no other simpler explanations in mind.
"Aye! Does it talk?" Happy asked happily.
"Juvia thinks not. It meows a lot though."
"Aye! Does it eat fish?"
"Juvia hasn't tried."
"We shall know!" The exceed flew behind the bar and towards the ruckus with a fish in hand. The group by the bar eyed Happy, curious to see if he can finally find someone who shares the same feeling about fish. Exactly 7 seconds later, he was send flying towards the group, his fish following him just a second later. Happy crashed in front of them, his right cheek bruised.
"He doesn't like fish. Aye!"
"Yeah, we all got that impression." Gajeel said nonchalantly. "But how did you get that?" he pointed at Happy's cheek.
"Aye? This?" Happy started to feel his cheek with his hand and winced a little when it touched. "I don't know how but he punched me!" He said still as happy as ever.
"Punch you? How could a cat punch you? What did you do?" The iron dragon slayer asked impatiently, curious about the incident.
"I stuffed the fish into his mouth!" The blue exceed said as-a-matter-of-factly.
Gajeel searched his mind for a good reply but came up with nothing. The exceed's idiocy really exceeded beyond words. Since no words can be of use that moment, Gajeel only did the only thing that could sum up his feelings. Facepalm. It was soon followed by Charle.
Seeing that the matter has come to an end, Juvia asked something that's been tugging at the back of her mind.
"Ne, call anyone tell Juvia why Natsu is in the corner instead of the infirmary?"
"Mira shot him and we left him there." Gajeel replied indifferently.
"EH?!" The answer left Juvia's mouth hanging, looking at Mira for an answer. Mira just smiled. Wendy felt that everyone is unconsciously giving Juvia the wrong idea. So she spoke up.
"What Gajeel meant to say is that…uh, surely you remember the tragic incident of the box? And fortunately, only Natsu and Lyon were sent to the infirmary. In there, they had somehow become friends. And just this morning, someone from Lamia Scale, I think her name is Sherry, was sent here to get Lyon. When Natsu heard about it, he insisted on seeing Lyon off so we carried him here. When Lyon was out of sight and Natsu was going back to the infirmary, someone teased Natsu about being defeated by Erza, again. He then started challenging some members and luckily, Mira has a tranquilizer in the bar and shot Natsu with it. We were too tired to carry him back to the infirmary and just decided to leave him there." Wendy pointed at the corner and everyone's eyes followed. For a second, the group squinted to see the figure of Natsu but only saw the white flowers that once outlined his body, now scattered all over the table.
The girl's squeals of delight were replaced by grunts of annoyance. The high pitched sound of the salamander's name caught the group's attention and they turned their heads. From the group's perspective, Natsu stood just outside the girl's circle holding the cute cat and was looking at it menancingly.
"You're the cat with the body of bread, spread with some pink thing and flies with a rainbow coming out of your body. That's you right?" Natsu demanded as he shook the cat in his hand. "Answer me!"
"Natsu, I think that's not actually real." Lucy tried to put some sense into the dragon slayer as Natsu keep shaking the now looking angry creature.
"But it put me on its back and we flew and flew and flew. It was a nightmare!" Natsu exclaimed at Lucy and positioned the cat in front of his face. "That's you isn't it?"
As much as Gray tried to avoid hurting Natsu, his annoyance just grew and then next thing he knows is that he's biting Natsu's nose, hard.
"ARGGGGGGGGGGGH!" The fire mage let go to the cat but it stubbornly stayed in his nose. Trying to get the cat off, he grabbed the first thing he saw and poured it into the cat.
"Hey!" Cana's half-empty barrel which was, a while ago, left on the floor so that she can join the other girls was now currently being held by Natsu, its contents spilling all over his face the cat's entire body.
"Ah! Neko Gray-sama!" Juvia called as she rushed towards the two, hands in front of her to get the cat.
After a minute of tug of war, Gray let go of Natsu's nose. Both reeked of beer. Some of the girls were still surprised at the tame cat's sudden aggression and Cana is still mourning over her loss (half-barrel is still plenty of beer).
Juvia said sorry to everyone and that she'd be going home to clean the cat. Natsu replied that it's okay but demanded a rematch where they would fight fair and square. To everyone's surprise, the cat meowed at Natsu as if accepting his challenge. Once again, Juvia apologized and went home. The sun can be seen beyond the horizon, its last rays pouring at them both.
The door opened and Juvia entered, filthy Gray on her arms.
"Now Neko Gray-sama, Juvia shall clean you." The water mage announced as she closed the door behind her. Gray was too tired to process what she just said and just meowed weakly.
There's the sound of sliding, and another slide and click and Gray was put down on the floor.
Cold.
The noise of the water weakly hitting the porcelain was echoing all over the room and then silence. Suddenly, as if absorbing this all, Gray's ear perked up and looked sideways. No sign of Juvia.
What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
In his mind raced many thoughts about how to get away with bathing.
I don't want to take a bath! I can just lick all of these off. That's kinda gross but I can do that!
The thought of taking a bath and Juvia touching his body pestered his mind. Little did he know that there's something he forgot to think about.
Juvia once again entered the bathroom; Neko Gray looked frantic as he went in circles. Abruptly, he stopped as he noticed her presence and looked at her.
What? Why is she only wearing a towel? She's gonna clean me like that? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
Gray tried to run for the door but was easily caught by Juvia's firm hands. Her clothes were splattered and splotched with some beer from the earlier incident so she decided to take a bath while cleaning Gray. Hitting two birds with one stone!
"No running Neko Gray-sama. It's Neko Gray-sama's fault that he's dirty." She held him tight but enough so he can breathe. She decided that she should get rid of the beer that clung on his fur first. So, shower. Both of them entered the tub and Juvia turned the shower handle. Lukewarm water gushed out, hitting them both. For a more accurate description: Gray tried to escape from Juvia's clutches without much success and then suddenly, a rush of water hit him squarely in the face. The unexpected event made him inhale a little water, causing him to cough. Juvia didn't seem to notice his distress but was contently humming to herself as she scrubbed his body. Gray shivered at the thought of Juvia running her soft, fine hands through his body.
"Done! Juvia just needs scrub Neko Gray-sama with soap! Wait there and don't move." Juvia informed Gray as she let the water drain. She proceeded to plug the drain and open the tub faucet. She let Neko Gray down in the tub and the water started to hit his paws. He made no more attempt to escape since he's already wet and all, his previous thoughts why he wanted to escape in the first place forgotten.
Another unexpected thing came, Juvia started to remove her towel and let the water run through her bare body. Gray was facing the other direction so he didn't notice what just happened. Impatient to finish and annoyed at Juvia for making him wait, he turned around. What he saw made his mouth drop, eyes bulge, and if he can blush, he already is. He immediately averted his eyes and jumped out of the tub and made way for the door. Juvia's head darted at the sudden movement of the cat and she got out of the tub to follow it, forgetting her towel in the process.
Gray scratched at the door wildly and upon hearing her rapid steps, he grew more intent in doing so. Never had he wished so much for something, to be human again and just break this door and get out there. Unluckily, that moment isn't the right time and from the corner of his eye, he saw the figure of Juvia. He turned his head and regretted it a second later. There's Juvia in front of him, completely naked, bending over to reach for him and get him back to the tub. Luckily, he isn't human since if he was in this moment, the light pink hue in his cheek would have been a fiery red. His scratches and bites were futile as she held him in between her chest into the now nearly full tub.
Their wet bodies were now soaked in the tub and Juvia reached for the liquid soap and spilled it all over Gray. The gallant man he is, he kept his eyes closed in the entire time but since the sense of touch cannot be just turned off, he still felt her soft skin brushing against his from time to time. Once done, Juvia rinsed him and let him go, forgetting that the door won't open itself.
Gray was still somewhat out of it as Juvia finished giving him a bath. He felt weird with the water clinging in his fur so he shook it off and felt a lot better. The cat made way to the door and was frustrated that it's still closed.
"Neko Gray-sama! Just wait for Juvia and she'll dry you with a towel~" she called.
If a cat could sigh, he would have. After a few moments, Juvia came to view and fortunately, she had a towel on and on her hand is another towel albeit smaller. She wrapped the towel around Gray and began to dry him. Once he's dry, Juvia let him down and let him stroll on the cold floor. And to add up to all his misery, she unwrapped the towel from her slender body and dressed right in front of him. Gray abruptly faced the other way, face burning as if all embarrassment from a while ago wasn't enough.
Juvia dressed quickly, and picked up the unmoving cat. She put him in the bed, trying to let him sleep there again, and he complied. Gray felt the burden of his fatigue upon him and he can't resist the soft mattress that was offered to him. As soon as his head hit the covers, his eyes closed and he was soon asleep. Juvia smiled at Neko Gray-sama and turned off the lights. Sitting at the edge of the bed slowly so she'll not disturb his peaceful sleep, Juvia lay down and curled up beside Gray. Her hands stroked his white fur one last time before she too drifted to sleep and reminded herself to visit Gray's house the next day.
A/N: The last part seemed a little rush to me. . But I hoped to enjoyed it. Please review. :) And I'm really sorry for the long wait! I was suffering from the infamous writer's block. xD And this is dedicated to KnightScales, who gave me the title since my brain wasn't functioning back then, and Matryoshka475, who requested the bathroom scene and I hope that it lives up to your expectation. And a big thanks to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. :D