Hey everyone! I'm back with chapter 8. Hope that last chapter was good enough for you. I'll try making this one longer but we'll see how it turns out!
Chapter 8-Encounter With Old Faces
"Juvia, Levy, are you girls alright?" asked Jellal as he paused and looked behind him. Both girls soon showed up panting and sweating.
"Ju-Juvia is alright," Juvia panted as she reached Jellal and placed her hands on her thighs and began sucking in breath.
Levy's legs were trembling as she struggled to stand and breathe. "I'm...alright...too," she breathed. Jellal sighed and shook his head at the two.
"If you're tired then say something," he told them sternly.
"Juvia doesn't want to waste time. Juvia wants to hurry and finish this mission," Juvia said as she suddenly straightened. Levy quickly agreed.
Jellal glared at them causing them to shrink back in fear. "I don't care about the mission if your sanity and safety is in jeperdy. If you two aren't well enough to continue the mission, then wants the point of trying to complete it? Sure we'll have to move fast but we also have to watch ourselves," he scolded them causing them to flinch every time he finished a sentence.
"I chose you two not only because you know Lucy best but because you know how to work together with me and know how to stay level headed. So if you are start ignoring the important stuff such as your health, then might as well go back and tell someone who will think more about their health than the mission to come with me," he added.
They glanced down at their feet with guilt washing over them. "We're sorry," Levy mumbled. Jellal sighed then walked to them and placed a hand on each of their heads.
"Hey it's alright. Just...let me know if you need a break. Don't be afraid to tell me. You two are only maids so you're not used to all this movement like I am," he told them softly as he ruffled their blue heads.
They smiled a little and nodded. "Okay Jellal. We're sorry again. Next time we'll let you know," Levy told him with Juvia nodding. He gave them a smile of his own the straightened.
"Alright then. Let's go to the nearest inn and rest there for the night. It's getting pretty late anyway," he then said as he began leading them. They followed behind him with Levy stumbling a bit.
Erza kept glancing at the two boys behind her. "Move your feet Gray and Gajeel. It's embarrassing seeing the two of you stumbling," she growled as she waited for them yet again.
"Well sor-ry we aren't as in shape as you," Gray mumbled sarcastically but Erza gave him a death glare since she heard it.
"What was that Fullbuster?" she demanded icily. Gray shuddered and jumped back a few paces as Gajeel smirked. Then Erza sighed and rubbed the spot between her eyes and nose. "You know what? We need to rest for the day. We have been traveling for almost three days with little rest. Let's stop by an inn and rest for the remainder of the day, hm?" she told them with a raised brow. Trying not to give out sighs of relief they kept their face impassive and just shrugged.
"Whatever you say captain," they both answered. Erza stared at them then sighed.
"Honestly you two are such idiots," she muttered under her breath. Then she took the lead again and led them to the nearest in which happened to be Stargazing Inn.
She walked in with them and looked around. This place was pretty packed. Well it was to be expected since this inn happened the only inn in the area to get a real good glance at the stars that dotted all around them.
As she continued glancing around however, her eyes landed on a specfic person. Her breath hitched and her eyes went wide as her jaw dropped low. Gray and Gajeel noticed her sudden stop and glanced at her with confusion. She seemed frozen in place. They then looked at where she was looking and both of them copied her. Their jaws hit the floor and their eyes went wide. They couldn't believe who was in the same room with them.
As they continued staring, the trio of blue heads turned around and locked eyes with them. They reeled back in shock at them. All six just stood there while several people gave them weird glances.
Finally the blue haired male shook his head and frowned slightly. "Er...za?" he asked tentatively as he took a step towards them. She shook out of her shock as well and closed her mouth suddenly feeling very nervous and shy.
"H-hi Je-Jellal," she stammered as she stared at the ground feeling heat rise up to her cheeks. She never thought she'd see him again. But he looked much more mature and dare she say it...oh condemn it all. He looked hot!
"I...can't believe it's you. Gray and Gajeel! Is that you?" he then asked facing the dark haired boys. They looked away from the two girls and faced the male.
"Uh, yeah," Gajeel said as he rubbed his head and stole some glances at the petite blue head who stared at him like he was some alien.
"Wow. Who knew we'd run into each other here?" he asked. Then he looked at the desk and saw he was soon next. "Ah well, I guess I'll see you guys later?" he asked as he stared at Erza. She quickly glanced up, gave a slight nod, then looked back at the floor. He gave a small smile then began walking back. "Well, then see you guys," he added before going back in line.
Erza, Gray, and Gajeel watched the three of them walk up next in line and pay for their stay there at the inn.
After Jellal and the girls got their two rooms, they made their way on their floor. Suddenly, Juvia broke the silence. "Why is Gray-sama with Gajeel-kun and Erza-san here?!" she exclaimed.
Levy only nodded in agreement while Jellal frowned slightly. "I have no idea. This may be coincidence or even fate, but that doesn't matter. I want to catch up up with them. Who knows when we'll see them again considering the fact we're on our mission," he said. Levy nodded again. She was still in shock after seeing Gajeel again. His hair was longer and he got some more piercings since the last time she saw him. But...he was still as attractive as ever. She blushed at the thought and shook her head while mentally scolding herself.
"Levy-san. We're here," Juvia whispered as to not bother the other guests. Levy looked up and indeed they were. Jellal was in the room right across from theirs so it was easy to find one another.
"Juvia, Levy. I'll let you two get washed up and settled in but afterwards I'll come so we can discuss our next plan," he told them as he unlocked his room. They nodded and did the same and entered.
It was a simple room with two beds seen right as they walked in. They were at least five feet apart. A stand with a lamp was at the side of each bed while a large window with a spacious looking terrace resided to the left of the room. On the right of the beds were two doors. One was probably the closet while the other must be the bathroom.
Levy then sighed as she closed the door and walked to one of the beds and placed her luggage on it. "Alright Juvia. Would you like the shower first?" she asked.
Juvia shook her head after she placed her luggage down on her bed. "No. Juvia will let Levy-san go first because Levy has shorter hair. Juvia with her long hair will take forever," she answered.
Levy nodded then smiled. "Alright then. It makes sense. And please drop the honorific. You don't have to call me Levy-san," she told her as she opened her black bag with a Gemini constellation on it. She pulled out a set of orange and white pajama's and other toiletries then marched to the bathroom.
After she finished, Juvia got in and after almost an hour the girls were on their beds with Jellal standing by them.
"Alright, so putting aside the fact that we ran into some old comrades, we must keep in mind that we still have to find Princess Lucy," he began as he eyed them. They nodded their heads.
"So, tomorrow morning at the break of dawn, we will leave even if we don't get to see Erza, Gray, and Gajeel again. So be sure to get plenty of rest tonight and remember, tell me if you need to take a break," he finished. They glanced at their hands and nodded.
"We will Jellal," they mumbled. He smiled and nodded then patted their heads. He stood up and stretched and made his way to the door.
"Goodnight girls. If you want, you can stargaze a bit. I heard tonight will be extra nice," he added before he left. Juvia and Levy looked at each other then scrambled off their beds.
"Juvia will go and grab pillows and some spare blankets!" Juvia exclaimed as she rushed to do just that.
"Great and I'll go and find some snacks!" Levy said back as she began rummaging through their packs.
After they got their stuff, they walked out on the terrace and seated themselves. Together they began watching the heavens for the extra special thing Jellal mentioned.
Alright minna! Sorry I have to end it there. I don't want to make this chapter too long so maybe next chapter I'll pick up from here. After all, we still have to see them catch up with each other ne? ;) Anyway, leave me feedbacks, comments, etc., and stay tuned for next chapter! Arigato minna! Till next time! -Emojimojo