Hi there, me again. I never really know what to say in these, but I like having the little introduction. There are something like 20 days of school left, and I'm so psyched. Next year is high school, which is kinda scary (I'm not good with new places) and I'll probably get lost a lot. As in, daily. I'm hoping to finish this over the summer since I'll have a lot to do next year. We'll see – it's pretty early to be making predictions.
So anyway, about the chapter. There's some secrets hidden in here, little stuff you have to look for. Review and leave your ideas as to what it is below! I'm a sucker for reviews.
Without further ado, chapter four!
They say abandonment is a wound that never heals. I say only that an abandoned child never forgets. - Mario Balotelli
The next morning, Juvia's body was heavy. She didn't want to expend the energy necessary to drag herself out of bed. Her eyes were sore from the previous day's tears, too.
Gray's rare gentle smile flashed into her head, and she reluctantly rolled out of bed, landing on the floor with a thump.
In the shower, she stared at her skin. She had once been told she had pretty skin – it was smooth, and pale, almost pure white. But now it was sort of transparent, a thin film stretched too tightly over her muscles and bones. Her fingertips were beginning to fade and blur around the edges.
Juvia wondered how long it would take for her whole hand to disappear. Would she remember what it had looked like after it was gone?
Gray walked into the guild to see Juvia sitting at her favorite table, laughing and talking with Gajeel and Levy. She spotted him immediately and rushed over. "Good morning, Gray-sama! Thank you for walking Juvia home last night!" He nodded.
"Yeah, no problem." He joined the table of three, sliding onto the bench next to Gajeel. "What's up with you guys?"
Levy launched into an animated description of a strange text in an ancient language that she'd discovered on her latest job. Gajeel, surprisingly, listened intently, leaning forward on his elbows. "So what's it about?" he asked. "You translate it yet?" Levy shook her head.
"Maybe. I have a vague idea of a few lines, but it's tough. I'm not even sure if I got it right."
"Well, what d'you think it's about?" Gajeel pressed.
"Some sort of ritualistic, tribal magic ceremony. But I don't know what it's for yet." She sighed. "It's so frustrating." Gajeel grinned at her, baring sharp ivory canines.
"You'll figure it out, shrimp."
"Don't call me shrimp!" Levy huffed, pouting and crossing her arms. He reached across the table to pat her unruly blue head.
"Yeah, yeah."
Juvia watched the two wistfully, stifling a sigh as it attempted to make its escape. "How nice," she murmured wistfully. "Juvia wishes Gray-sama would flirt with her." Gajeel threw his head back laughing, while Levy blushed fierily and Gray looked away, uncomfortable.
Suddenly Juvia's eyes widened and she stared intently at something over Gray's shoulder. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was perched on the edge of her seat, straining for a better look. "What–" he started, but she was already rocketing out of her seat with a gasp and darting towards the open guild doors. "Juvia?" Gray called after her, utterly bewildered.
She wasn't listening. The world narrowed to a single point as she skidded haphazardly into the street and threw herself forward into the arms of a tall guy standing near the guild. "I missed you," she breathed into his collarbone, closing her eyes contentedly.
He chuckled, his chest vibrating against her cheek. "I missed you too, Juvia. Have you been okay?" The air left her lungs in one huge sigh, her body going limp against his. His warmth soaked through her skin, heating the hidden corners of her body that couldn't seem to get warm lately.
"Mm," she mumbled in assent. "I'm glad you came."
"Let's go inside," he said. He tugged her by the hand into the guild, where the entire current population of the room gaped at the pair. Gray approached them, frowning.
"Jace?" he said, raising an eyebrow and glancing between him and Juvia. The way she leaned into his side made his jaw clench. "You know each other?" Jace seemed to find this amusing.
"You could say that." He turned to Juvia and smiled. "You feel better now that we're inside? You didn't look so good out there."
She nodded, her gaze flicking to Gray and back. "Juvia was feeling a bit hot outside," she said. "Jace, come with Juvia to get something to drink, okay?" She dragged him away to the bar before he could protest. "Juvia will tell you later," she whispered in Jace's ear. " And she hasn't told anyone in the guild except the master. She doesn't want to make them worry for nothing."
Jace looked into her face, searching it for a trace of something, anything. Juvia had changed, somehow. It felt different, in the way she smiled, or the cool brush of her hand against his. "You're sure you don't want to say anything?" he asked finally. She nodded firmly.
"Juvia is positive. Anyway, what about Mama and Papa? Are they coming?" A cloud passed over Jace's face.
"Mom's not…doing so great, lately. Dad wanted to come, but taking care of Mom…came first." Juvia looked down at her feet. It wasn't like she hadn't known. Her mother had been sickly since Juvia was little, and it became a common practice that they her father would miss some event of Juvia's because her mother wasn't feeling well.
It wasn't like Juvia had expected any different, just because this time the 'event' was her pending death.
After all, who would abandon someone who could be saved in favor of someone who could not?
"Juvia."
"Juvia doesn't mind, Jace. Mama is more important."
"No one is more important than you, Juvia," Jace said quietly. "You are precious."
"Juvia knew you would say that," the young woman said, tapping a finger against the back of his hand. Just then, Mira came over to them, smiling widely.
"Juvia, why didn't you ever tell me you had such a wonderful younger brother?" she demanded cheerfully. "He's so sweet, coming all this way to visit you." Jace grinned.
"Yeah, Juvia, I hope you're grateful. I was really busy at home, you know."
Juvia pouted. "Too busy for poor lonely Juvia?" He broke out into laughter and patted the top of her head, pulling her close.
"Never."
"Aw," Mira cooed, covering her mouth with her hands. "You two are so cute together. I'd be jealous if I didn't have my own adorable siblings."
On the other side of the guild, something crashed and Elfman bellowed, "Like a man!" Mira's smile didn't waver in the slightest.
"Thanks for helping me out yesterday," Jace said to Mira. "I don't know what I would have done without you." He glanced down at Juvia. "She told me how to find you, since you weren't here when I came yesterday." Juvia nodded.
"Do you want a tour?" Mira offered. "Since you're here and all."
"Juvia and I have some stuff to catch up on, so I think we're going to find somewhere to talk," Jace said. "But thanks for the offer." Mira smiled.
"Anytime."
As they walked toward the doors, Juvia's gaze fell on Gray, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed. "Hey," he said casually. Jace nodded at him even though he couldn't see. Juvia tugged her arm out of Jace's grasp and approached Gray cautiously. His eyes snapped open when she stood next to him.
"Gray-sama?" Juvia said softly, leaning around to meet his gaze. He seemed a little off. It showed through in the tightness of his shoulders, and the bones in his hand that pressed against the skin, trying to get out. And he was wearing a shirt. That was rare. Gray looked at her without blinking.
"What?"
"Will you go on a job with Juvia tomorrow?"
Gray jerked his chin at Jace, who was waiting patiently in the doorway. "What about him?"
"Jace has something to do while he's here, so Juvia will be by herself tomorrow." It was only a tiny lie. Jace liked to explore new towns and get the feeling of a place. It was the perfect excuse to separate for a day.
Gray heaved a long sigh. "Yeah, whatever. I'll pick one out, so meet me here at 8 tomorrow morning." He slouched away before Juvia could reply, leaving her to beam at his retreating back.
"You guys close?" Jace asked when she returned to his side. Juvia smiled.
"Not at all. Gray-sama is always bothered by Juvia." Jace frowned.
"Really? That's weird."
Juvia nodded and continued, "He thinks Juvia is too clingy. Gray-sama always gets upset when Juvia hugs him."
Jace laughed. "Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?" he teased. "I've never seen you being friendly with anyone outside our family."
"To Juvia, everyone in Fairy Tail is family," she said simply.
Jace stared at his older sister for a long time. "Oh yeah?" he said finally. "I'm glad." Juvia smiled again, but then she was distracted by a long strip of shade along the side of the street where the buildings blocked the sun and dragged Jace into it with her. "Juvia, are you okay?" he asked, searching her face. His eyebrows were furrowed in concern. "Your cheeks are red."
"Jace," she said, staring straight ahead and pulling him along with her. "Juvia is starting to disappear."
"You mean…" Jace abruptly yanked Juvia off the main road, into a narrow alley. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Juvia didn't want anyone to overhear."
"No, that's not– I mean, why didn't you write it in the letter?" Juvia sighed and stared at the uneven cobblestones beneath her feet.
"What good would that have done? Juvia would have just made you worry more. Juvia doesn't want to see you sad." She reached up and touched his cheek in a sisterly caress. "This is better."
"Dad would have come if we had known," Jace muttered. He wrapped her in a sudden, jerky hug and squeezed her tightly. "He should have come. You're his only daughter, Goddamn it. He told me it was nothing, that I shouldn't worry. That stupid bastard…"
Juvia didn't recognize the trembling in Jace's chest. She had never seen him like this before, not even when their mother almost died. But she knew the taste of tears on her lips, and she remembered the jolting pain of a trapped sob. She held Jace tightly, eyes jammed shut. He buried his face in her neck, and she could feel him biting his lip to keep from making a sound.
"Papa loves Mama a lot," she whispered. "Sometimes Juvia thinks they would have been happier without children." Jace's grip on Juvia's back tightened. "But Juvia loves Mama and Papa a lot, and she knows they love Juvia and Jace too. You can't know what might have been – you can only know what is, and remember to be grateful what you have. No matter what, you have Juvia, and Juvia has you, and that is more than enough."
"But you're going to be gone soon," Jace whispered. His voice cracked on the word gone. "What am I supposed to do then?"
"You're going to remember," she breathed. "Remember Juvia. Remember that Juvia loves you. Juvia will never leave you, Jace."
"Stupid," he laughed, choking on his tears. "What are you getting all embarrassing on me for?" He pulled back, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry for freaking out all of a sudden." Juvia laced her arm through his and pressed herself into his body, absorbing his warmth. Jace was her other half, the piece that kept her breathing when there was nothing to live for. No matter how many years passed, no matter who she fell in love with, that would never change.
"Just don't cry, okay? Or Juvia will have to send you home to Mama and Papa." Jace rolled his eyes, but Juvia could see the anxiety that lurked behind the flippant gesture.
"We should go somewhere indoors," he said, squinting up and the brightness showing past the buildings that kept them in the dark. "How about your apartment?"
"Juvia doesn't know if you'll be allowed in," she said doubtfully. "Juvia lives in the girl's dorm for Fairy Tail guild members."
"Well, let's try," Jace said, leading her back to the main street. "I don't really want to hang out in a public place right now." Juvia agreed wholeheartedly. Jace's eyes and cheeks were flushed red and there was a damp patch on her shoulder where his cheek had rested. They would attract attention no matter where they went.
As it turned out, Jace easily bypassed Fairy Hills' security as soon as they were assured that he was Juvia's brother. She led him by the hand to her room, and together they collapsed on the bed. "So tired," Jace moaned. "Even though I didn't do anything today."
"Crying takes a lot out of you," Juvia murmured absently, playing with a strand of his bluish hair.
"Could you stop talking about that?" Jace asked, his cheeks going pink. "It's crazy embarrassing." Juvia giggled and rolled onto her stomach, poking Jace's forehead.
"Isn't it Juvia's job to embarrass you, as the older sister?"
He grabbed her hand and held it in front of his face, keeping her from reaching him. "No, you're supposed to be nice to me." Juvia splayed her fingers as she struggled to break Jace's grip. He stared at the slender digits, his eyes darkening. "Your hands…"
"Hm?" Juvia realized with a start what he was talking about, and her playful spirit left her with a whoosh. "Oh. You mean how Juvia's fingers have started turning see-through." During the day, her whole hand had turned fuzzy. She could almost see Jace's face through her fingers.
"Damn it," Jace cursed under his breath. "Damn it!"
"Juvia should start wearing gloves," his sister mused, staring regretfully at her hand. "Or else Gray-sama might notice."
No school for me tomorrow :) Memorial Day is a wonderful thing. I'm thinking I'll do an extra update tomorrow just cuz. Sound good? Remember to review, favorite and follow! I love hearing from all of you. Oh, almost forgot – did anyone see it? There was something sort of obvious and something else not so obvious. Let me know in a review!