Brace yourselves, as it's another long chapter...

CHAPTER 6

It had been two weeks since the successful mission in Dolle Harbour.

There was a heavy and ominous cloud hanging above Natsu. Well, not literally. He was just feeling so restless for the past two weeks. He had no will for minor guild fights, although his sarcasm was top-notch. When he snapped at Erza, even the scarlet beauty was shocked. Lucy and Happy were the victim of his mood swings, most especially the blonde mage because the fire mage just refused to go on a mission.

Eventually, Gray and Lucy ended up taking Happy on a three-day job, so that she can earn her rent money. The gossipmongers in the guild couldn't help but spread the rumour of a lovers' spat between Na-Lu — an amalgamation the infamous Salamander didn't take kindly. Why should his name be combined with the celestial mage's? He couldn't figure it out.

Instead of punches, he threw his guildmates deadly glares. Most decided to stay out of his way.

Also, there was someone in particular who had been missing. For the past two weeks, since their last mission together, it seemed Natsu had only taken a glimpse of silky, wavy blue tresses twice. Twice! She came in and out of the guild. Both times she appeared, waving energetically at her fellow Fairy Tailers, gave Gray a beaming smile, and then left just like that.

That certainly added to the growing vexation inside Natsu.

Presently, Natsu rested his left cheek on the wooden table, arms spread eagle to occupy the whole space. Lucy and Happy arrived earlier during the morning, and now just lounging around the guild. They decided that the Natsu today was just 'bored-Natsu'; so, it was safe to be around him. Lucy sat across the unmoving pink-haired boy, eating her lunch quietly, while Happy heartily munched on a piece of fish.

Natsu had a whiff of something enticing, but couldn't put a finger on it, so he ignored it. He heard the guild doors open, but didn't bother to look up. All he could think about was when will this stupid funk end?!

"Oi, Rain-woman, why didn't you report back here yesterday?"

The screeching voice of a brawny iron dragon slayer grated Natsu's eardrums. However, Gajeel's words alone made the fire boy sit right up. Immediately, he scanned the area.

And there she was! Blue hair, refreshing smile, curvaceous figure, cheerful demeanour... and like always lively eyes that go all googly for a particular ice-dick.

Natsu grunted something incoherent, making Happy cower a bit. He could see the blue exceed eyeing the blonde mage.

Typical annoying fangirl.

"Who is?" asked Lucy, arching a brow.

Well, so much for keeping his thoughts to himself. Natsu shrugged his shoulders as a response, not really caring when Lucy muttered a "he's so weird!" comment about him.

Not wanting to be so blatant in observing her, Natsu resumed his bored countenance. He rested his right cheek this time at the back of his hand, propping an elbow on the table. That gave him the opportunity to let his eyes wander around, without being too obvious.

Juvia, not conscious of a pair of eyes was on her, approached Gajeel and Levy, carrying wicker basket. That reminded Natsu that he needed to return the basket she left at his house. Juvia wasn't wearing her typical mission clothes, but she was still quite covered. She wore a long flowing light blue dress with pink floral prints — the colour comically matched Natsu's head. A light creamy cardigan covered her upper body, and a straw sun hat crowned her head. She was a vision of sunny disposition. One look at her, no one would suspect the lady could conjure the gloomiest weather!

She handed a small package to Gajeel, and then to Levy who clapped in excitement. The water mage then walked around the guild, giving the other members a similar bag. The curiosity was killing the fire dragon slayer. Happy noticed it as well, and he flew immediately to Juvia's side. When Juvia handed Happy the same package, the blue cat shouted in glee.

Happy became the bearer of good (?) news, as he showed Natsu the mysterious package.

"Juvia-chan baked cookies," Happy's paw went inside the small bag and produced a fish-shaped cookie. "Wow! She customized it too for me!"

"That's so sweet of Juvia," Lucy commented, her eyes trailing the water mage who continued handing out goodies. "I wonder what's up."

"Maybe Gray finally asked her out," Happy nonchalantly supplied. "This is the first non-fishy fish that I like!"

"Wonder where Gray is? I bet Juvia made something more special for him," Lucy hooted, not exactly noticing the scowling Natsu.

"Lucy-chan~" Juvia's voice made the fire user hyper-conscious. Lucy waved at her, and the bluenette waved back with ardour. The excitement on Juvia's face was just too obvious. As soon as she reached their table, she delightfully greeted everyone. "How are you doing, Lucy-chan?" Her eyes then landed on a bored-looking pink-haired mage. "How are you, Natsu-san?" she inquired with a hint of shyness by tucking blue strands behind her right ear. She clutched tightly on the basket's handle.

"Fine," was the short, brash reply Juvia got from him.

"Juvia already gave Happy-kun his share, but this one's for you, Lucy-chan," she handed the same bag of cookies to the celestial key holder. Lucy promptly opened the bag, and took out a key-shaped cookie in awe. The blonde mage took a bite, raising a thumbs-up. "This is for you, Natsu-san." Juvia took his hand and placed the cookie bag on it. "J-Juvia hopes you like it."

Natsu stared at the bag, unsure of how to react, especially after her soft fingers gently gripped his. Her touch left him an indescribable sensation he wished he didn't feel. The fire boy was about to say something when an annoying brown-haired drunkard stole Juvia's attention. The bluenette bid them goodbye and made her way to Cana's side. Natsu simply pursed his lips together.

"What you got?" Happy snatched the bag from Natsu before he could react. "Oh, we've the same," Happy held out a fish-shaped cookie.

That didn't really sit well with Natsu. "I hate cookies," he muttered under his breath, not meaning to say it aloud.

"Aye, then I'll have it!" Happy proclaimed and began eating the one in his paw.

Natsu snatched the bag from the exceed and probed Happy's mouth, nearly choking the cat. "Give it back, you fish-stick!"

"What the hell is this commotion?" Gray's voice halted Natsu strangling his blue exceed.

"None of your business, frozen jerk," Natsu bellowed, enough to hush momentarily the whole guild.

Gray put up a middle finger, further grating the fire mage's nerves. He was about to say something when a tug on his shirt caught his attention. The water mage stood beside him with a smile. "Yeah?" he asked casually. It was his usual tone, and Juvia didn't mind.

Yet, a particular observer, who let go of a crying blue exceed, seethed silently. Happy ran to Lucy, who stood from her seat and left fuming. She didn't want to be around Natsu at the moment.

"Juvia made something for you, Gray-sama."

"Are they the ones you were giving away?"

Juvia shook her head. "It's actually a Gray-bread, version two-point-oh."

"Huh?"

Juvia opened the basket wide, without taking out the pastry, and showed Gray the second type of the Gray-based pastry she baked. "Juvia wasn't particularly happy with the artwork, but you can tell it is Gray-sama," she laughed, albeit with uncertainty. "There's cheese inside, Gray-sama."

Gray gulped, not really wanting to reject the kind gesture. But with unsettled feelings for the water mage, he must take actions regarding her very cautiously. If he accepted it, who knows where her illusions would take her?

"Really appreciate the gesture, Juvia. I'm not exactly fond of eating cheese," he reasoned weakly, but the bluenette accepted it graciously.

"Understood, Gray-sama. Juvia will create a third version," she chirped cheerfully but the disappointment lingered in her eyes.

Gray opened his mouth to discourage her from doing so, but got taken aback by a powerful punch. "What the fuck was that for, flame brain?" he rubbed the right side of his cheek where the painful contact was made.

Since it was a regular occurrence, none of the guild members stopped to watch. Most were just anticipating the fight to spill out all over the guild. Juvia was the only one who reacted, covering her mouth with her hands. She stood unmoving, apprehensive to step in between the fighting mages.

"I was just itching to land a punch on a douchebag," retorted Natsu. He actually didn't anticipate the impact to be that strong, and his fist actually hurt. He rubbed his hand on his shirt to ease the stinging, but pretended to just wipe dirt. "Yuck, my hand landed on a pile of doo with a face!"

"You fuckin' asshole," snarled Gray, who didn't take the insult kindly. Gray delivered an equally hard blow onto Natsu's face, and of course the latter retaliated.

The brawl between the two became heated, but no one paid heed. Just Juvia. When blood trickled down the side of Natsu's left brow, Juvia couldn't help but rush to him — surprising both Natsu and Gray. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and began dabbing the wound. She, herself, didn't realize of this somewhat peculiar behaviour, which shockingly had gone unnoticed by the other Fairy Tail members.

"Get away from him, Juvia," growled Gray, "you don't want to be infected with a brain disease."

"You're just envious she's not fawning over you!"

"Juvia thinks you both should sto-,"

She was cut off by Gray, who pulled her away from the fire dragon slayer. "And you're just jealous that you don't have anyone caring for you!"

Natsu's reply to that was a deadly uppercut, which managed to knock Gray down. He didn't wait for any more retribution from Gray. He knew that if he stayed, this fight would escalate into unforgivable territory. With a huff and puff, the fire dragon slayer walked out of the guild without a glance to anyone.

There was always something noteworthy happening in Fairy Tail. Other than the exceptional skills that make up the guild, the unique characters magnified Fairy Tail's existence.

Today was no different. Juvia arrived at the guild, bearing gifts for everybody. When asked why, she happily replied that she was in the mood for baking. It was partially the truth. Random as it seemed, Juvia just wanted to show her appreciation for everyone. It also gave her the excuse to bake her Gray-bread 2.0!

Though she was slightly hurt that the said man didn't even take a bite, she was glad he was at least grateful. She saw the sincerity in his eyes, and that was enough for her.

She was on her way back to Fairy Hills when she caught a sight of something pink as she passed by the small park. She sighed, thinking back to what happened an hour earlier. When the fire mage walked out of the guild, no one bothered to follow after him. To the rest of the members, nothing was out of the ordinary. But Juvia had front seats during this fight with Gray. There was a nagging concern in her indicating it was more than a regular argument between rivals. The punches thrown seemed to carry a serious weight.

Juvia slowly made her way to the figure seated on the grassy ground. He had one leg propped up where he rested his arm, while the other leg was stretched vertically. His eyes were fixed on the flowing creek ahead. His head moved a bit, as if showing he knew she was around. With a smile, the bluenette sat beside him, carefully tucking her skirt underneath her thighs. She stretched her legs out, and took off her hat to place it on the ground beside her.

"Are you moping, Natsu-san?" she asked teasingly, hoping her tone wouldn't offend him.

His head jerked to her direction, eyes nearly bulging. "What the fuck, Juvia! Don't scare me," he yelped, putting a hand to his chest.

Juvia frowned. "Juvia thought you sensed her presence," she commented with furrowed brows. Natsu's awareness in his surroundings was top class. "Shouldn't you have smelled my scent?" she asked this in all seriousness.

Natsu gaped at the bluenette. She was quite straightforward. Did it mean she was already comfortable around him? "There are a lot of strong scents around here. Plus, there's water in front of me. It's the one thing that usually clouds my senses." It was the truth. The smell of water — sea, ocean, river, lake, etc. — tend to overpower other scents for him. And she's water...

"I did get a whiff of something familiar, but didn't realize 'twas you!" he snootily added.

Juvia giggled, covering her lips with a hand. She leaned closer to his side. "Maybe Natsu-san should sniff Juvia to be more familiar with her scent." Her tone was full of jest, but it only made the fire mage gawk.

"You should be careful with things you say," he warned, but his flushed face defeated any seriousness he intended to make. Attempting to change the subject, Natsu asked instead, "How'd you know where to find me?"

"Actually..." Juvia started, "Juvia's on her way back to Fairy Hills when your pink hair was peeking out of the bushes," she confessed.

Scowling, the fire dragon slayer pointed an accusing finger at her. "It's not pink!"

"Umm? Your hair colour? Juvia knows pink when she sees pink."

He contorted his face into a sneer. "Pink is too girly-sounding."

"Then what would Natsu-san call his hair colour?"

He mulled it over, bewildered why they were having this conversation. He didn't mind though. "I prefer to describe it as 'salmon-coloured'."

In his peripheral vision, Juvia sat rigid, her gaze fixed at one point — his face. Gradually, a smile appeared on her face. Eventually, the whole area was filled with her laughter. She was in a fit, even snorting. She hugged her stomach, and tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't just stop. When she tried, the moment her eyes landed on Natsu, she'd start the giggles again. It was as if invisible hands continuously tickled her sides.

As soon as the laughter subsided, Juvia wiped her eyes, and then apologized. "Sorry, so sorry. That was the funniest thing Juvia's ever heard. No wonder you and Happy-kun get along so well." Juvia snorted once again. "You even describe your hair as a fish!"

"I'm glad I made you laugh," Natsu rolled his eyes. Should he be offended? Nah! Instead, a small grin tugged the corner of his lips.

"Pink is girly. Salmon colour is manly," Juvia declared, imitating Elfman with a deep voice.

They were at ease with each other. No tinge of awkwardness between the two mages least expect to hang out. A cool breeze passed by, and this reminded the fire mage of a nagging thought he had for days.

Natsu voice it out loud, determined to change the topic of discussion once more. "You know when I fought the air pollution bastard at Dolle Harbour?" Juvia nodded, understanding the special nickname for the enemy. "I really had a hard time defeating him. I fought a wind mage before, but this one was tougher. I do wonder though..." he trailed off, uncertain how to say the proper words.

"Go on," encouraged Juvia.

"I was just thinking, that maybe, if we combined our abilities together," he paused once more to take a peek at her. He cleared his throat, "I think we could've easily overpowered that wind-dude."

"If Natsu-san did unison raid with Juvia, right?" she clarified. "Our abilities aren't similar in nature, though. Would fire and water trump wind?"

That mere fact escaped Natsu. But, he was motivated to try out. It nagged him for days with speculation. "Do you want to, kinda, like, you know... test it?"

Unison Raid with Natsu? She never really thought about it. In fact, it never really crossed her mind whether her abilities would mesh well with his. Their elements were just too different. She worked well with Totomaru as an Element 4 though. Perhaps...

"It won't hurt to try," Juvia agreed. She stood up, dusting the dirt from her dress. Natsu followed, stretching his arms behind his back.

"So, um, how do we do it?"

Juvia positioned herself in front of the fire mage. She bit her lip, slowly being much too aware of the boy in front of him. "Well, we need to press our bodies together," she hesitated, but decided to move forward with the action. She stepped in closer, her bosom softly pressed on his chest. Juvia gulped when she felt the hardness of his upper body. She had the pleasure(?) of seeing him bare-chested some weeks ago. But to actually place herself in his open embrace, it was eliciting an unwanted sensation. She dared not raise her head to look at him.

"W-w-we have to clasp our hands together, Natsu-san." The words came out as a whisper. There was no reaction from him, other than simply obeying her instructions.

She took his right hand and intertwined her fingers with his. He was taken aback with this action, and seemingly became extremely aware of their closeness.

"Oi! Oi! Stop pressing your bre... chest on mine!" he squawked. A peculiar kind of heat enveloped him, quite unlike the one generated by his body. His reflexes told him to move away, and so he did. Juvia's grip on his fingers was quite firm, and bewilderment appeared on her face when Natsu tried to entangle his body from her.

"Wha- what are you doing, Natsu-san?" she whined.

Natsu lost his footing, which resulted in Juvia losing her balance. It was quite a spectacle as the two mages tumbled on the ground. Juvia landed with a thud on top of the fire mage's body. Instinctively, Natsu placed his free hand on Juvia's head, as if to protect her from impact. When his back hit the ground, the boy winced in pain.

"Juvia, are you—," BAM! Forehead bumping on forehead! Both mages cried out, rubbing the reddening skin.

"Oh my! Natsu-san, are you okay?" Juvia asked in panic, examining his head without notice.

"Ju-Juvia, get off me!" he screeched, and only then the bluenette realized the position they were in.

She crouched on all fours, her lower body straddling his abdomen. A little lower and she'd feel the straining of his trousers.

"O-okay," she stammered. Her long dress made it harder for her to move, so she had no choice but to crawl backwards. To a bystander, the scene painted an almost-erotic image, as if the woman was going down on her lover. This mental picture, Natsu dispelled from his thoughts.

As soon as the two were upright and stable on the ground, they managed to examine everything around them, except each other.

"I, uh, guess Unison Raid doesn't work for us," spoke Natsu, breaking the silence.

"But we didn't even try it," whined Juvia. Truthfully, she was curious what kind of magic their unified abilities would produce. If only Natsu-san acted maturely...

"Well, sorry to be so immature!" Natsu retorted.

Juvia clamped her mouth shut, surprise the words made it out of her mouth.

"So did the ice-douche take it?"

Juvia arched a brow, not following what Natsu said. When he explained that the certain ice-douche was none other than her Gray-sama, comprehension finally dawned on her. Natsu was talking about Gray-bread 2.0. She shook her head but smiled.

"Juvia understands. It seems it's a little bit embarrassing for Gray-sama to eat a Gray-bread. Plus, Gray-sama dislikes cheese."

"He's just finding an excuse to turn you down," he stated bluntly. Then again, he actually had never seen the ice-douche eat cheese. Gray must really dislike the dairy product, but Juvia didn't need to know that. Juvia stared down at the ground. "Here, let me taste it and see if it's up to standard," he offered, also as a way to console her. She happily obliged.

The bluenette twirled on her heels and quickly got the wicker basket. She excitedly pinched a piece of the bread and offered it to the fire dragon slayer. "Here, Natsu-san, say 'aah'!" She had her mouth open, as if demonstrating him how to do it. Natsu hesitated but didn't want to turn her down. She fed him a piece of bread, and he was careful not to bite her fingers. "How do you like it?"

Natsu chewed and savoured the taste. He liked it. "Hmm, it's actually yummy. There's a certain saltiness to it that blended well with the sweetness." Natsu might be a glutton, but he knew how to appreciate food more than anyone else in the guild (with the exception of Erza — then again, that bully only knows strawberry cakes!). He was rewarded with a charming smile.

And then fits of laughter. Again.

Natsu eyed the water maiden in front of him, who's bending forward from the ache in her stomach. When was the last time she actually saw Juvia this...ecstatic?

Juvia waved her hand in the air, as if telling him to stop. "N-Na-Natsu-san..." giggle "just de-described..." giggle "Gray-sa-sama's lips..." giggle "as yummy!"

Natsu blinked nonstop, trying to figure out for the life of him where the hell Juvia got that foolish idea. He knew she can be crazy, but he didn't realize she's almost like a lunatic. He stared, and waited for her to calm down, and continued to stare, and just stood unmoving. Normally, he'd probably scream in exasperation. Truth be told, it was intoxicating to watch her so amuse — over-amused!

Juvia felt ridiculous at her outburst, but she couldn't help it. She knew Natsu can be quite comical. But even if he's not trying, he can be so funny. He managed to locate her funny bone, and his words knew how to tickle it! She showed Natsu the 'yummy' Gray-bread. It was actually hideous, and Natsu didn't hide his disgust. (The taste wasn't bad though, he admitted reluctantly.) The pastry was formed into a face-shape. The cheese was used as a topping, but also to illustrate the supposed face of Gray. Juvia had pinched the lip part and fed it to Natsu.

Straightening up, she unconsciously wiped off the dirt from his face. Chuckles still came out of her lips. When her thumb accidentally brushed his chapped lips, Juvia's visage turned serious. There was something alluring about it, and without realizing, she licked her own lips. Natsu caught this act, and he gazed down at her through half-lidded eyes.

There was a voice mumbling muddled words, but her witty brains formed the basic idea. Tact wasn't employed when Juvia stood on her tiptoes, placing her lips onto Natsu's. To say it took Natsu by surprise was an understatement. He was stupefied. When he felt the lusciousness of hers lifting off from his, he crashed them roughly, pulling her back. He wanted more of it, and he's not going to stop.

Soon, Natsu's mouth devoured hers, while he placed a hand on the curve of her back. All his senses were clouded by the sweet taste Juvia's mouth provided him. He attacked and slurped, and just couldn't get enough.

Similarly, the water bluenette seemed to have forgotten all logic. Nothing mattered at the moment, except for the euphoric actions the fire mage exhibited. She didn't even realize he leaned too forward, bending her backwards. His other free hand took advantage of its roaming privileges — traveling from her cheeks, down to her neck, sliding down her arm, and then rubbed the hardening bead of her breast.

A moan sounded like a whimper made Natsu stop, abruptly pulling Juvia out of this unintended bliss.

They pulled away from each other, lips parted, breathing heavily. Both completely in shock of what just transpired.

Juvia brought her hands to cover her flaming cheeks. Natsu stared at her wide-eyed, unable to squeak out a word from his swollen lips.

"S-s-so-sorry N-N-Na-Natsu-san!" screeched Juvia, bowing her head in apology, picking up the basket, and quickly running away from him.

Like raging waterfalls hitting the riverbed, Juvia dashed through the streets leading to Fairy Hills. To passersby, she looked like a madwoman whose butt was on fire.

Well... her whole body felt like it was engulfed in flames.

The dorm halls were pretty quiet, as the other girls were probably still at the guild. Good, at least no one would question why her face was the same shade as Erza's hair. She closed the door with a bang, leaned on it, and tried to catch her breath.

Her favourite floral aroma welcomed her, and her room offered a calming and soothing atmosphere. And then her eyes fell on the Gray-plushies on top of her bed. With a look of horror, Juvia ran to her bedside, and knelt down.

"Forgive Juvia, Gray-sama. Juvia doesn't know why she kissed another man," she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Juvia is horrible, Gray-sama..." she sniffed, her head collapsing on top of her mattress. Muffling her words, not wanting to acknowledge it, Juvia admitted, "But Juvia can't forget how good it felt."

She raised her head and stared at the ceiling, trying to envision Gray's face. Instead, she visualized boyish features with pink, errr, salmon-coloured hair, slanted eyes that shows mischief, a toothy grin, and lips that could shatter a woman's innocence. Juvia brought a finger to touch her lower lip. The sensation lingered, and a craving for a second serving arose.

Gasping, Juvia chastised her mental state. She stood up, ran to her kitchen to grab a garbage bag. With it, she frantically tossed any Gray-related items inside the bag. She went in and out of the washroom to the bedroom, ensuring anything with Gray's face was safely inside the bag. Finally, she stood in front of the framed portrait of her beloved. Putting her hands together, as if praying to a deity, Juvia bent her head low.

"Forgive me, Gray-sama. Until all these unwanted thoughts and feelings of guilt are purged, Juvia cannot look at you." With that, the bluenette took the frame down. She stuffed the garbage bag inside her closet, and then wrapped the portrait with a cloth. This she put underneath her bed. Her room suddenly became bare. The guilt feeling dissipated a bit, since the prying eyes of the inanimate Gray-samas were removed.

What remained was a memory from moments ago of a boy who suddenly transformed into a man.

There was a rapping sound on her window that grabbed her attention. Juvia turned, and her window slid open. Perched on the window sill was none other than the salmon-haired man who had imprinted a mark on her lips. Juvia stared agape at Natsu, while he had this apprehensive glaze in his eyes.

"Wha—," she barely spoke the words when he cut her off.

"Y-y-your hat," he extended his hand to show her.

Confusion clouded her. How did he manage to climb up her window? How did he know what room she was in?

"You could've returned it at the guild?" Juvia murmured.

He leapt and landed softly on her carpeted floor. He scratched the back of his head and shrugged. 'Yeah, I know. But if I did that..." he strode towards her, took her hand, and handed her the head gear. "I wouldn't be able to do this," he finished his statement, before dipping his head down and planted another long smooch on her lips.

The mind screamed for them to stop, but with the loud thumping inside their chest, and the warmth enveloping their bodies, they gave in to their craving. Who knew how long the kiss went. They pulled away from each other multiple times to catch their breaths, and then proceeded to ravage each other's lips once again.

When they heard muffled chattering from outside Juvia's room, Natsu abruptly let go of her, wiped her lips, and jumped off the window. But before doing so, he craned his neck to look at her, leaving her with his signature grin.

The thwacking of her heart got louder as she was left to reflect on what just transpired...again!

So an unspecified affair began.

The two acted normal around their fellow guilders. But, when they find the opportunity to be alone, whether at that quite secluded area where they had their first kiss, or whenever Natsu snuck in her dorm room, the two were all over each other.

Yet this unspecified relationship never escalated except from their lips touching. Yes, Natsu's hand stroked wherever he was allowed to. Juvia freely caressed his body as well. Still, they were always fully clothed. Neither had the confidence to take anything further. Neither asked to clarify what they were doing. Neither wanted to confront this whirlwind romance — if one could call it that.

Carnal desires were always hard to control. Like a lidded pot with boiling water, the contents would eventually spill out. It happened a month after their first kiss.

Returning from a solo mission, Juvia arrived at the guild with her bright smile. All the males present hitched their breaths as soon as she walked by. Her typical work outfit was quite tattered, showing more of her milky white skin than she'd normally show. The females surrounded her in worry, checking whether there were injuries. The bluenette laughed it off, said that there were no physical cuts or wounds. She had the misfortune of battling another water mage maiden (with weaker abilities than her, Juvia added!), but the fight had left her clothes quite ripped. Juvia proudly announced that her rival was arrested with no clothes on!

Though Fairy Tail men were used to the female mages exposing their bodies, it was still hard not to ogle Juvia. This was a woman with seductive curves and flawless skin who covered them with thick layer of clothing. It didn't help that the multiple slashes on the chest part gave onlookers a glimpse of the bra underneath.

Gray approached the bluenette, placed his short-sleeved dress shirt around her shoulders, and instructed her to wear it. With a blush, the water mage gladly accepted it, and put it on. The shirt hung loosely on her, as if she was wearing a dress. That only accentuated the sexiness an oblivious Juvia exuded.

That interaction, which garnered hoots and badgering from the guild members, was intently noted by a fuming fire mage. How dare ice-dick act like a gentleman when ignoring is what he does best!

Juvia excused herself to report her successful mission to Makarov. As she made her way to the master's office, Natsu caught her shooting a glimpse towards his direction. A ghost of a smile played on her lips, but she quickly snatched her gaze from him, and walked away. Once she finished the report, Juvia informed her friends she needed to go home to change. When she stepped outside the guild (thankfully the streets were empty at the moment), Juvia was hoisted off the ground by strong arms. She didn't even need to look who was her 'attacker'.

"N-Natsu-san?" her voice was questioning. He was carrying here in an unromantic manner, in fact quite uncivilized in style. Natsu hauled her by grabbing her waist and tucking her on his side. It was unsightly, and Juvia felt like a sack being transported roughly. It really showcased his unfathomable strength as he kept her legs off the ground and maintained his quick pace, without breaking a sweat. "I-if people see us..." she tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't hear of it.

It didn't take long before Juvia saw familiar scenery. She only took this road once, but she knew exactly where he was taking her. But just to be sure, she verified, "Are you taking Juvia to your house?" No response. "Y-you haven't even..." she trailed off, not sure if she should voice out her concern, but decided she must. "You haven't even kissed Juvia a 'hello'."

Natsu chuckled and then set her down. "You missed me that much, Juv?"

Juvia shook her head. "Not at all," she smiled when he pouted, "just your kisses."

Chapped lips met pink, soft ones. Gentle in the beginning, and then advancing to a heightened intensity. Juvia wrapped her arms around his neck, while Natsu cupped her behind. "Put your legs around me," he commanded and she obliged.

They reached his house in no time, without breaking physical contact. If his lips weren't on hers, it'd be on her neck, or her earlobes, or her cheeks. Once they stepped inside the house, he kicked the front door closed. "Happy won't be coming home tonight," he whispered huskily in her ears.

Alarm bells rang in Juvia's head. She could tell where he's planning to go from there. She could tell his growing desire. After all, that's what she was feeling.

Natsu pulled away from her, but not letting go. His stare was deep and full of passion. He couldn't say the words to seek permission, afraid she would reject. It was amazing how this was communicated to her somewhat. She brought a hand to stroke Natsu's cheek. She brushed the few strands of hair resting on his forehead.

"Take Juvia to your room."

She was ready to give a part of herself to him. The fire mage led her slowly, their eyes locked at each other. Then, he halted. Juvia tilted her head to the side, questioning, assuming he didn't want to progress. Instead, Natsu ripped the shirt Gray lent her. He produced fire in his hand and charred the poor, innocent garment. Juvia gasped and protested. With lethal gaze, he growled, "You don't need that!"

Natsu's room was surprisingly much cleaner than the living room. Some of his clothes were strewn around, but not as messy as the outside. His bed wasn't big, but could pretty much house two people. Natsu immediately pictured Juvia sprawled across his bed. The image made his member to throb, silently pleading to feel the warm insides of the bluenette.

Juvia, for her part, never really understood of what it's like to be literally wet. She's water, and being drenched from water or rain was never a thing. Yet, now, her lower body was soaked. The discomfort could only be relieved by the man standing in front of her, she's sure of it. Her body lustfully begged to be united with him.

Foreplay be damned, Natsu thought. He wanted to take her as soon as possible. However, he wanted their first time to be at least slow and magical. He tugged the tattered clothes off the water mage. With shaky fingers, she shaved off whatever's covering her. She stood naked in front of him, except for the piece of black garment covering her most private treasure. Natsu's piercing stare made her quite red. His large hands surround her round, ample bosom. His thumbs synchronically flicked the protruding beads. It elicited a mewl from her lips. Natsu carried her bridal style, and then laid her down on his bed. Hovering above her, he was given a full view of her beautiful features with her hair splayed on the mattress in a fan formation.

His left hand fondled her right breast, while his tongue glided from her lips, to her neck, all the way to her nipple. He couldn't get enough of the softness underneath him, so he kissed the valley between her breasts. His tongue stroked downwards, circling her bellybutton. All this time, Juvia had her eyes closed, absorbing the raging pleasure. When she felt his finger tugging down her lacy undies, she stiffened but didn't repel him. Natsu spread her legs wide and kissed her inner thighs. She felt his hot breath on her sensitive area, and shyness overpowered her lust. She nearly clamp her legs shut but Natsu held onto it tightly.

"Let me taste you, Juvia."

Juvia craned her neck to take a glimpse at him. She was situated at the edge of the bed, so naturally Natsu was kneeling down on the floor. He wore an erotic smirk on his face. Juvia bit her lower lip but nodded. Without wasting a second, Natsu attacked the delicate folds. Her scent was stimulating. He licked and lapped with Juvia's resonant moans serving as background music. He outstretched his arms and reached out to knead her bouncing mounds. They melted in his hands. She arched her back as she felt his extreme feasting on her. For the very first time in her life, Juvia could finally comprehend the word 'orgasm'.

Natsu stood up, simply watching as the bluenette tried to calm her breathing. Her eyes were still closed. He licked his lip and wiped off the excess liquid around his mouth. He completely stripped off his clothing, now matching the gorgeous goddess's nudity. He climbed on the bed and hovered above her once again.

"You're my favourite meal, Juvia," he stated with a boorish hint to it.

Juvia shyly gazed at him under her long eyelashes. "Juvia wants to taste Natsu-san, too."

"Next time," he commanded. "Right now, I want to feel myself in you."

She nodded and reached out to place her palms against his bare chest. She caressed his pecks, encouraging him to fulfill his desires. Positioning in front of her, Natsu eyed her with contemplation.

"Slow or mind-shattering?" Juvia was confused. So he explained, "When I enter you? Do you want me to do it in one go or be gentle?"

"Umm, s-surprise Juvia," she boldly decided.

With that, knowing her entryway was completely lubricated, Natsu invaded her private chamber in one swift mood. The water mage cried out loud as the pain seared through her inside. The pain stung and throbbed, and she couldn't control the tears.

Wide-eyed, Natsu gawked at her. "Juvia, it's your first time..." he trailed off, now unsure how to proceed. He didn't know if he should pull out. He had taken something valuable from her, and he can never return it. He wiped the tears that welled in her eyes. "Should I sto-," he was cut off.

"Give Juvia a few more seconds, and then you can move, Natsu-san."

Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was ragged. Slowly, it got steadier. When she opened her eyes, though her vision was a little misty, she was treated to the concerned face of Natsu. Juvia was innocent, but not ignorant. She was aware that the fire mage was also in pain. He needed his release, and Juvia was willing to give it to him. She craned her neck and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Though the ache was still sharp, it was bearable. Juvia moved her hips, an indication she was ready.

Natsu attacked her lips as he began to thrust, gradually and gently. The original plan was to bring her to new heights with fast and deep piercing; it now changed. Natsu decided that for Juvia's first time, it would be tender and breathtaking. She was the priority; his needs were secondary.

Their bodies met in a unified rhythm soon, their groans and moans harmonized. Her tightness clamped around his length, and the fire mage knew he was on the edge of climax. He waited until he felt her contract, and a loud wail escaped her lips. Natsu followed her right after. His strength suddenly evaporated, and he collapsed on top of her. He didn't know whose heart was beating loudly, or perhaps it was a duet from both. He stayed inside her for a little while, but Juvia didn't complain. In fact, she even brought her hand to caress his back up and down. When he pulled out, a mixture of blood and juice flowed out of Juvia's, and guilt consumed the dragon slayer.

He sat on the edge of his bed, head bent low. Juvia sat up and pulled a pillow to cover her upper body.

"Was Juvia… not good?"

His head jerked to face her. He pulled her closer to him and licked her lips. "You were amazing, but I took your virginity," he said this with remorse. He just didn't want her to regret what he'd probably consider his best experience.

"Juvia wanted to give it to Natsu-san," she stated as a matter-of-factly. "Juvia's only sorry that she couldn't provide Natsu-san," she paused and gulped, "pleasure."

Natsu gaped at her, and then chuckled. "Are you kidding me? It was a pleasure to see you in orgasm."

Juvia pouted and then pinched his cheek. She fiddled with the pillow. "S-should Juvia taste Natsu-san now?"

Natsu groaned. How can she just ask such a question with a straight face? He would love that, but he knew both were completely spent. He was also aware the soreness she's feeling. He had a glimpse of the droplets of blood on his sheets. Natsu stood up and put on his boxers, confusing Juvia. He grabbed a towel from his closet and crawled to Juvia when he reached his bed.

"Lie down, Juv," he commanded. Though unsure, the water mage obeyed. Natsu parted Juvia's legs and began wiping away the liquid. Just looking at her already made him semi-hard, but he'd like to think this wouldn't be their last time. He picked her up bridal style, slid down the covers, and placed Juvia on the bed once again. Natsu then lay beside her, covered her with a blanket, and then brought her closer for an embrace. "Let's sleep for now, Raindrop," he murmured with a kiss on her forehead.

Touched with his sentiment, Juvia nuzzled her face onto his bare chest, inhaling his addicting scent. She felt sore all over, but being in his arms made her feel safe. Soon, her eyes closed and her breathing became stable. The two slept until the sun rose the next day.

Passionate nights and intimate tryst became a regular occurrence. Yet, the affair remained unclassified.

A/N: I thought about putting a warning above regarding the intimate scenes. But that would just give away the intended surprise I'm aiming for. I'm just hoping that all of you reading this are very much aware of the rating, thus not bothered with intimate moments.

Lastly, made a minor revision in chapter 3 (i think) regarding the present season. It was set in Spring, but now decided that the present time is beginning of Fall (around late September). So this flashback would be around Spring.

Once again, thank you for the reviews/followers/favouriters. I'd really appreciate if you all can leave a comment or two, just so I know how I'm handling the progress of the story. :)