Chapter Seventeen: Comrades
The next morning, I woke early in the morning. The birthday hype was over and I had to wait another year. I stretched and yawned, checking the weather outside. It looked foggy and cool. I wore a miniskirt nevertheless and a one-shoulder light blue top. I took along a jacket just in case and did the usual morning routine before walking to the guild.
When I entered the guild, everyone was still in their usual clothes despite the cold. I went and sat down next to Cana who was already drinking a barrel full of alcohol, "Aren't you cold?" I eyed her bikini top and pants.
"Why do you ask?" she said, stopping drinking for a minute.
"Just curious," I said, looking over to where Juvia was. Juvia noticed me looking and looked up, but quickly cast her eyes downward again. I blinked, confused.
"What's up with you and Juvia now, anyway?" said Cana, setting down her now empty barrel next to a couple other empty ones. Just how much can she drink and not get drunk?
"I have no idea," I lied. I was pretty sure Juvia wouldn't want me spreading our little problems around the guild. Although I was confused myself. Why had she looked so sad? The usual Juvia would have flashed me a death glare or, if it was a good day, maybe a smile. But she had never looked sad before. I thought we were over the whole Gray issue…?
"I mean, why doesn't Juvia flash you death glares anymore? Or even a smile?" said Cana.
"You noticed the death glares?" I said.
"Everyone notices," said Cana, "Mira! More booze!" Then back to me, "Did you guys have a fight or something? But I guess if you did, she'd be flashing you even more death glares…"
"I don't know myself…" I said. Suddenly, an iron kunai type thing thunked into the table in front of me. I jumped and saw a note attached to the kunai. I looked around. No one seemed to notice the kunai nearly killing me. I took off the note and read the brief message.
L,
Upstairs, now.
G
"It's probably Gajeel," said Cana, pulling out the iron weapon, "Maybe you should bring this upstairs."
"He's not going to kill me," I said, rolling my eyes, "Besides, even if I did use this, he'd probably eat it first." I left the note and kunai on the table and walked up the stairs without attracting anyone's attention. I saw a small room with the door left ajar. I pushed it open silently and slipped inside. Gajeel was already sitting there, glaring like he usually does.
I sat down, "OK, what?"
"You really have no idea why Juvia's so upset, do you?" said Gajeel emotionlessly.
"Should I?" I said.
"You could have noticed the only blue-haired person in the audience."
"What?" I said, putting the pieces together, "She was at the play?"
"So was I, for that matter."
"Mmph…" I laughed, snickering, covering it up with a cough. Then, seeing it wasn't fooling anyone, I burst out laughing, "Sorry. I just can't imagine you at a play including princesses and princes. Ha, ha, ha!" I hit the floor, laughing.
Gajeel rolled his eyes, "OK, shut up. I fell asleep mid-through. Anyway, you realise you had a kiss scene with Gray, right?"
I swallowed a lump in my throat, "Oh… SHIT!" I yelled, immediately panicking, "She knew it was because we had to because it was in the script, right?"
"She knew that. It was just that you seemed to be getting into the kiss with Gray more than with Salamander. Now she expects you two do love each other."
"Oh, great," I said, my head hitting my knees.
"So you guys need to explain to her. At first she was mad, I swear she laughed when your character died in the play, but then she was really sad and started moping the whole way home. Then she left early to Fairy Hills when we got back."
"Oh, she was upset the whole time," I groaned.
"You have to cheer her up," said Gajeel, still glaring, "I hate seeing her like that."
"Aw…." I said.
"Geez," said Gajeel, "I feel sorry for her, all right? Her whole life, she's been depressed, continually being avoided by everyone. When she joined this guild, she was happy and I was happy for her and now she's depressed again. Is it so surprising I feel sorry for her when we were comrades for so long?"
"I never said it was surprising, I just thought it was sweet," I said.
"Yeah, well, I don't love her," said Gajeel honestly, "I just want you to cheer her up. You are her first real friend since that Tower of Heaven thing."
"OK," I said, "Thanks, Gajeel."
"Whatever," he said, looking away.
"Oh," I said, pausing at the door and turning around, "You better get Levy now before Jet and Droy take her away."
Gajeel flinched and his head expanded at me, "SHUT UP, CHEERLEADER GIRL!" He turned a light pink though when I looked closer and laughed. Then I walked out and made way to Juvia. Suddenly, I noticed the blank spot next to Lisanna. Juvia must have left again.
I went to Lisanna instead who looked up and said politely, "Lucy san!"
"Hey, Lisanna," I said, "Hey, do you know where Juvia went?"
"Oh, she took a mission," said Lisanna, "She went on a mission with the Raijinshuu team."
"Oh," I said, looking around. Evergreen, Freed and Bickslow were missing. I never thought that Juvia was actually that close to them, but I guess I was wrong, "For how long?"
"A couple of days," said Lisanna, "They're saving a town or something like that so they won't be back for a couple of days. Or maybe even longer. It's an S-ranked mission, after all…"
"OK," I said, frustrated I had to wait a couple of days to talk with her. I wonder if she was purposefully avoiding me. Then I had an idea. I turned away, "I have something to do. See you, Lisanna!"
"Bye!" waved Lisanna.
Fairy Hills was a beautiful place where most of the women of Fairy Tail stayed. It had rooms for rent and a pool and beach. Like a hotel resort except with wooden weapons of torture inside it and weird naked statues. I walked through the lobby and up to Erza's room. She was in there with the door unlocked. Well, why bother lock it? Anyone would be good as dead if they tried to rob Erza's stuff. She was in there, sharpening her swords and polishing her armour.
"Hey, Lucy!" said Erza, sliding the armour helmet back in place on the stand, "What are you doing here?"
"I actually have a message for Juvia," I said.
"Oh, OK, I'll pass it on," said Erza.
"It's a note," I said, "Juvia's on a mission so when she comes back, I want her to find this message. Is there any way I can put this note in her room so she can see it as soon as she gets back?"
"Hmm…" said Erza, thinking, "There are some spare keys of everyone's room keys in the lobby. I'm not supposed to touch them so don't tell anyone, OK?"
"Yeah, sure," I said.
We went into the lobby and Erza went behind the desk, finding a blank part of wood and punched it. I hissed, "What are you doing, Erza? Are you crazy?"
Suddenly, a magic seal appeared along with some ancient symbols. Erza tapped a few symbols and suddenly a small, vault-like door appeared. Erza slid it open and fetched out a tiny key with a J engraved on it, putting it in my hand, "There you go." She closed the door and reactivated the magic seal. The door slowly disappeared again.
"Wow," I said, "Erza, that's amazing! Where did you learn to do that?"
"The owner taught some of us how to use it once we learn the ancient symbols. Levy picked it up straight away because she already knew the symbols."
"Oh," I said, walking towards Juvia's room, "Thanks, Erza!"
"Yeah, it's all right," said Erza, suddenly dragging me back by my collar, "But you tell anyone I just did that and I swear I will…" she didn't have to finish her threat for me to understand the danger.
"I-I won't," I stammered.
"Good," said Erza, letting me go, acting all friendly again, "Bye! Have a nice day!"
C-Creepy… I thought as I turned the key in the lock of Juvia's room. It clicked open and I was able to push the door open. I went in and found a Gray doll.
"Aw…" I said aloud, putting the doll back down with a squeak. Then I opened my note and placed it on her bed, weighing it down with the doll of Gray in case a breeze came in and blew it away.
I read over the note again to make sure it made sense and when it did, I walked out:
Juvia,
I'm really sorry about the 'incident'. I want to talk to you about it though so we can continue to be friends.
If you want, you can meet me at the waterfall cave when you return from your mission. I'll be there from about 6:30 to 8pm. Please meet me, Juvia, we really have to talk.
Lucy.