Ugh, I was actually losing my motivation to write due to the latest chapter of Fairy Tail. I kinda hated how it turned out to be a major fanservice, with Natsu and Erza ended up in a sex position or whatever it is. But well, I got over it and enough with the rantings. Hiro really loves to bring Gray and Erza down lower and lower in my ranks, seriously. He need to start being serious. -.-

Chapter 2

Gray drummed his fingers on the bar, eyes scrunching heavily as if he was doing a huge thinking. Yeah, he had promised to make himself clear with Juvia. But how? He can't simply go and walk up to Juvia saying "hi, I only like you as a friend, so stop liking me". If anything, that would make him sounds like a very inconsiderate guy. Juvia is his nakama. By any means, he didn't want to ruin their friendship. He growled.

Okay, calm down, Gray. You have at least two weeks to think of an approach. For all the times knowing Juvia, Gray had learnt that there are three types of missions Juvia usually take. There are missions she takes with Gray, one that she will take with Gajeel and Lily, and one that she goes by herself. Her solo missions, Gray noticed, are usually taking the longest time of all three. At least two weeks away from the guild.

The ones that she took with Gray, though, are usually the easy ones, lasting for at most three days tops. Why? Gray wasn't sure himself. Juvia rarely talks about her mission with him. All she talks about was him. Gray-sama this, Gray-sama that. It had always been Gray-sama. It was never Juvia. It frustrates him to no end. It's not that he dislikes Juvia, oh no, he actually likes her quite a lot. But he really wished Juvia would stop being a fan, and start becoming a friend.

He was deep in his thought when he saw Erza walking towards the bar, slamming ever so gently the pile of papers in her hand. Her eyes shot Mira's menacingly.

"Done!" Erza announced to the bartender. "If the Magic Council had anything more to complain with these, I'm going to shove a sword down their throats."

Mira was stunned for a few seconds, before flipping a few papers then smiled. She couldn't help but to notice the bags under Erza's eyes. "You've worked hard. It's far before deadline, you're being too serious about it."

Erza sat on the stool, a couple away from Gray. Gray stole a glance occasionally, seeing how her hair a bit messier than usual. Her face was a bit pale, and she looked tired.

"I've got nothing better to do," Erza shrugged. She didn't want to admit that she needed something to occupy her mind. It's not like she didn't notice Gray's presence, but she wanted to ignore.

"You owe me one night of explanation, Erza. I'll claim it once I make things clear with Juvia," Gray's words at the cake shop was still as clear as water to Erza. Oh shit, can't he just forget about that one night? They are used to see each other naked for god damn sake! It was just one night!

As if things could get any better, the blunette in question suddenly made her way in. "I'm back!" Juvia announced herself happily as she skipped in.

Gray almost choked in his drink. What? She wasn't supposed to be there! She was just away for a week. Did she pick a short mission this time?

Gray's curiosity proved wrong though as Mirajane looked at Juvia questioningly. "What are you doing here, Juvia? How was your mission?"

Gray swore he saw Juvia's cheerful smile dropped a bit – just a bit though that he wouldn't have noticed if he wasn't around her too much. "Ah, sorry, Mira-san. Juvia failed the mission."

Mirajane's questioning look turned into one of worry. "Oh gosh, are you okay?" she gasped.

"Juvia is as good as new!" the water mage pumped a fist into the air as if trying to prove her point. Seconds later she smiled slyly. "But, Juvia wants to take a break from doing this kind of mission for a while, Mira-san. Can Juvia take a few light ones with Gajeel-kun instead?"

Gray's attention shifted towards Erza as the girls conversation went on. He saw Erza smirking at him. Smirking! Yeah, she didn't think he could do it. Feeling challenged, Gray downed the rest of his drink and marched towards Juvia. He gave Erza a 'watch-me' look as he passed by her seat. "Juvia," he called.

"Gray-sama!" Juvia squealed. "Juvia is so glad to see you! We haven't seen each other for so long!"

"Actually, it had only been a weak, but..."

"Does Gray-sama wants some drink with Juvia? Or we can go on a dinner date together! Juvia doesn't mind which ever Gray-sama wants!" she kept babbling and Gray sweatdropped.

"Juvia, listen to me!" he cut her off.

"Yes! Gray-sama!"

Silence.

"So, you see," he cleared his throat. Juvia's eyes were shining, smiling a little too bright for her own good, patiently waiting for Gray's words. And he felt the rejection stuck in his throat. Damn, why is this so hard?

"What kind of mission did you take?"

Gray swore he saw Erza snickering. Damn, he felt like a coward.

"Aww, Gray-sama cares about Juvia. Juvia is so happy!" Juvia was clinging on his arm.

Gray was facepalming. Not to anyone, but himself. He let Juvia dive into her own world, not bothering to push her away. He glanced at Erza who nonchalantly sipping her drink, the smirk still on her lips.

"Oh, Gray-sama, how about we take mission together? Since Gajeel-kun isn't around," Juvia pulled Gray to the request board, scanning a good one for them both.

Gray sighed. Okay, maybe he wasn't mentally ready. And he wasn't going to lie to himself that he does enjoy working with her. Right, he can do this. He just need to accustom himself more to idea of rejecting her. Maybe this mission will be a good start. "Fine. Fine!" he gave up. "Which one are we taking?"

Juvia tore a paper and hold it with both her hands, picking it up at the level of her face as she showed to Gray. "How about this one? Gray-sama can take two-third of the reward, Juvia doesn't need the money anyway."

Gray frowned. "Why would you take a mission if you don't want the money?"

"Because Juvia wants to be with Gray-sama!" she cheered.

"Right," he blanched. "Why did I even bother to ask?"

Erza yawned. Looking around, she realized the guild was almost empty. Mirajane was cleaning the bar, ready to end the day. Did she just fell asleep? She groaned as she picked herself up. She was so damn tired, she wasn't even sure when she slept. Mirajane smiled at her, noticing the Titania finally awake.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to sleep," Erza mumbled.

"It's okay. You looked so tired, you didn't even wake up when Natsu trashed the whole guild," Mirajane chuckled softly.

"Figured," Erza rolled her eyes looking back at the broken tables. Then she carefully asked, hoping not to sound suspicious at all. "Did Gray and Juvia went to their mission already?"

Mirajane's face lit up. "They'll depart tomorrow. Oh, it's an easy mission. Do you want to tag along?"

"No!" she promptly answered. "I mean, why should I disturb their date?" there was a tug in her stomach.

Mirajane nodded understandingly, as if agreeing to all of her statement, churning more of her insides. What the hell? Whatever they do, that doesn't concern me. She must have been too tired, that's why. Bidding goodbye to Mirajane, Erza made her way towards Fairy Hill.

"I hope you remember your promise, Erza-san,"

Her steps halted. She looked back at Gray, leaning casually by the nearby wall, waiting for her. He stood up and matched his steps with her.

"Don't talk if all you can do is ask a mission," Erza walked faster, trying to lose him, but he was trailing along without fail.

"I'm getting there, though. Once I'm at it, I'll be coming to your room," Gray grinned.

"No man allowed in Fairy Hills."

"Not unless the Titania wants me on her bed."

Erza blushed. It's just Gray. It's just a damn Gray! They took baths together, beds do nothing between them! She didn't notice her pace getting faster. Gray had to run a bit to match her steps.

"Well, have fun with your date tomorrow," she tried to change the topic.

"That wasn't a date," Gray corrected.

"It was to everyone," she argued.

"It wasn't to me and that's all that matters."

Erza stopped abruptly and turned to face him. Gray was taken aback, screeching himself to a stop as well.

"Look, I don't remember you being such a jerk for playing with girl's heart. Concentrate on your girl or I'll cut off the very thing that makes you a man if you ever break her heart," the cold dangerous tone woven in Erza's threat sent chills down Gray's spine. She's serious.

"Yes, ma'am!" Gray instinctively covered his hands in front of his crotch.

"Good," Erza nodded firmly before she left him dumbfounded.

Once Erza was out of sight, Gray slapped his forehead. That wasn't the answer he planned to say. He should have said that Juvia wasn't his girl. But damn, Erza can be really scary when she wants to. Who was he kidding? It's Erza. There are still part of her he wouldn't fathom with.

He need to work on that.

It was early in the morning, Gray was yawning loudly as he walked towards the guild. He wished he could sleep more, but a promise is a promise. He saw Juvia sitting on the bench in front of the guild, staring up blankly. Crap, was he late? He looked at his watch. Nope, he was actually ten minutes early.

"Why are you so early?" Gray asked before he could stop himself. He should make a mental note not to ask Juvia anything at all. He prepared himself with a shit load of answers about how she wants to see her Gray-sama earlier or anything around that – because her mind is crazy like that.

Strangely though, she blinked at him before smiling, the morning sun glowed on her naturally pale skin. "Juvia wants to greet the sun!"

Gray's jaw dropped. What?

She chuckled when she saw Gray's look. "Watching the sun had still been like a dream to Juvia. It had been a few months that Gray-sama helped Juvia see the sun, but sometimes, Juvia wonders if this is all a dream, and Juvia will wake up with the rain again," there was a distant look on her face. "Juvia was scared the sun won't rise for her again, so she wanted to always greet the sun."

There was a comfortable silence between them before Juvia smiled again. "Thank you for everything, Gray-sama!"

Gray swallowed the lump in his throat. Why does she have to make things more difficult for him?

A/N: Argh, I wanna get over this chapter quickly and get to the next chappie already. *grabby hands* LOL. This chapter is probably some kind of explanation why Gray had been holding back for so long, I was thinking he might be afraid to break Juvia. But well, he have to someday if he really doesnt love her. Anyway, I wanna say thanks for all the reviews; bella-romeo, TheShipWeirdo, grayzadportgas and somedude. Seriously, I didn't expect people to read this. It was just a random thing I came up in mind. I feel happy that you guys even read it. Now I really want to finish this quickly, if I could, LOL. Oh, don't worry, this won't be too long actually. See you next chappie! :D