Chapter 4:
(( Concerns .. ))
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On their way to the guild hall, Lucy started talking to her , then asked her about Gray, if there was something going on between them? ..
Juvia stopped and cautiously asked her
: "Why are Lucy san asking about this matter? Does she feel threatened by Juvia?"
Lucy tensed and laughed, raising her hands in defense: "No, no.. I just.. hmmm, I noticed.. I mean, we all noticed.. "
Lucy was trying to pick the right words , Juvia see :"We figured that Gray is not himself.. He has become distracted since the end of the war . As if he is still nervous of its residual and withdrawn into himself."
Juvia's expressions changed and she dropped the mask of immobility as she supported her, eagerly saying..
: "Oh yes, Lucy-san... Juvia thought she was hallucinating about it... but as long as you noticed that... it means Gray is suffering because of something and does not want to tell anyone about it.."
She held Lucy's hand anxiously as she sniffled: "Oh my God, Lucy...he is suffering alone!"
Lucy asked worriedly: "You mean he didn't tell you anything? I thought maybe he become more open up to you since you.." She suddenly fell silent, her face turning pink...
Juvia looked at her carefully: "Since Juvia what...Lucy-san?"
She laughed nervously: "Ah, haha, I mean maybe.. You have lived with Gray for a while.. Hmm, maybe you are the closest person who can tell her his secrets.. I think that goes without saying.. Haha, isn't it?"
Juvia furrowed her brow in doubt and nodded slowly: "Maybe Lucy is right... but unfortunately Gray doesn't tell her anything."
Then she lowered her head sadly, leaving Lucy behind and continuing her walk forward. Lucy patted her shoulder, stopping her: "Juvia, listen.. I don't know.. None of us knows what's going on in Gray's mind.. but we are absolutely certain.. that you are all he thinks about."
Juvia stopped and turned to her with thoughtful eyes..: "Really?"
She smiled at her sincerely: "Yes, really.. You are important to him."
A warm fist embraced Juvia's heart, and for a moment she felt tears come to her eyes.
She smiled at Lucy and found herself hugging her with gratitude.
She whispered gratefully: "Thank you, Lucy-san. You are very kind."
The other woman was happy about this rare compliment from Juvia and patted her on the back with a smile: "Come on, lets go. Gray is waiting for you there."
In a second, Lucy almost fell facing the ground due to her loss of balance, as Juvia, was screaming, ranning into the hall, leaving her hugging the air.
She laughed, rolling her eyes with amusement: "Oh my God... lovers these days?!!".
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His eyes searched for her around the hall, nervous and impatient.
He sat looking down at the cup of coffee, its steam rising before his eyes, embodying Juvia's face in his mind.
He wasted 4 hours this morning at his front door debating whether to come and meet her or postpone the matter for another day? ..
He had not arranged in his mind what he would say to her or how to start a conversation with her...
How would he explain to her the reason for his sudden departure and his failure to leave her any note ? ..
The last time he saw her, she was as lost as he was. He had never forgotten the look of her eyes that had been haunting him for the past two weeks. Her eyes were questioning, confused, and filled with fear and incomprehension!!
Her gaze held many questions...that he was afraid to answer...and how would he answer them?!
How can he reassure her...or make her understand...if he tells her everything that is on his mind, then she will find no way to rest after that...
Perhaps his tension controls his body movements without him noticing, because Mira's voice pulled him from his thoughts.. "Gray... Did you burn your hands ?"
He rise his head up and notice that his hands were tight around the cup, trembling, and some of the coffee had spilled on his hands.
Gray did'nt feel its heat while he was immersed in his thoughts.
He muttered strangely: "Oh, no... Mira, I'm fine."
He took the tissue from her and dryed his hands nervously. Mira stood looking at him carefully: "How was the mission?"
He answered her absent-mindedly: "Successful. Didn't the master tell you about the report?"
She nodded, answering: "Yes, told me.. but I did'nt mean this mission.. I am asking about the mission you shared with Juvia before."
A lump stuck in Gray's throat and he muttered, "I don't know what mission you have in mind. There are many of them."
Mira sighed and leaned forward, her eyes narrowed, fixating him in place..
: "I mean the one that Juvia titled..." fighting the sorcerer of Green Falls Village?!".. has your memory been refreshed?"
Gray froze in place and sweat began to drip from his temple, so he avoided looking at Mira directly and pretended to be cold.
He mumbled: "I don't know what you're talking about!!"
Mira hummed and start wiping the table in front of him, pretend indifference..
: "well... Do you know, Gray, how many years have passed since I met you for the first time?..."
She was'nt waiting for his answer. And when he looked at her, he knew very well where the conversation was going ..
Mira continued calmly: "During these years... I've seen you , at your hard times , become withdrawn into yourself... every anniversary of Ur's death... and after we thought Natsu was gone forever... and that time when you met your father to lose him again..." Her hands stopped wiping and something changed in her voice as she whispered..
"But this time things are completely different. You are falling apart."
Gray saw the worry in her eyes, and the trembling in her voice betrayed the indifference she was showing.
Mira asked him: "What are you hiding, Gray?"
The lump in his throat began to grow and he knew if he spoke now he will truly fall a part ..
Mira is the older sister to everyone in the guild.. She is closer to the mother figure for the rest because of her concern and fear for everyone..
Gray was thankful for this feeling she leaves in himself..
That there is a chest he can return and cry to, and that there is a compassionate heart cares about his fears. As much as he cares about it...
With a slight twitch next to his lip he whispered : "Nothing important."
She tried to convince him: "Gray, you are not alone. We are your family."
He smiled and reassured her, sighing: "I know that, Mira."
She opened her lips to ask him, perhaps she could persuade him to tell her what was worrying him... but suddenly a voice caught their attension ..
:" GRAY-SAMAAAA !" Juvia shouted excitedly.
She was running briskly from the hall door, heading towards them.
Gray turned to her and muttered: "Everything is fine, Mira. Really, don't worry."
He turned around completely, giving her his back, and Mira noticed that the tension he was wearing began to disappear as his shoulder relaxed and his features is calming as he heading to meet Juvia.
She smiled, wishing them the best, muttering: "I hope so, Gray." . . .
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In a moment, Juvia couldn't control herself as she threw herself into his arms, forgetting all the tension and despair she had been through.
She wrapped her arms around his body possessively as she shouted:
: "Graaaay-Samaa... Juvia has missed you... You have been gone for a long time without any news."
He smiled, feeling relief enveloping him and calming his soul. As if her embrace was all he needed to drive away his nightmares and fears.
As if her proximity were his soothing pills that took away his anxiety and tension, and throw them in the farthest corner of his subconscious mind.
He felt the muscles in his shoulders relaxed and the pain in his cramping body ease.
HER effect on him is unbelievable. SHE is his comfort and his serenity .
Until now ..
He muttered with ghost of a smile: "Juvia... you are squeezing me... will you leave me now?"
She was hiding her face in his chest, afraid that if she left him, he would disappear like in her nightmares.
He heard her muffled voice from his chest: "But Juvia was worried about you, Gray-sama. I expected the worst."
He grabbed her shoulders with his hands, pulling her lightly away from him, but her hands froze around his waist, not wanting to let go, so there was a small distance between them that enabled him to see her.
He couldn't see her expression because her head was down and her bangs hid her blue eyes from him.
He called her softly to look at him: "Juvia..."
She felt her heart melt at the way he called her name in that calm tone.
She had never heard her name as beautiful before. When Gray says it in that tone, she feels that her name has a special symphony belongs only to her.
She didn't look and whispered to him: "Yes, Gray-sama."
He called in the same tone: "Juvia, will you look at me?"
She raised her head hesitantly, wondering if he was going to treat her coldly and keep her away from him like the last time.
She suddenly felt tension that made her let go of his waist and take a step back.
Finally, their blue eyes met, and time stopped around them.
Whoever was watching them would see the same old scene that was repeated often when they meet and Juvia throws on him and Gray tries to rid himself of her..
But whoever feels them will know the shift that occurred in their relationship after the end of the Zeref battle... and that this usual scene carries within it buried feelings that are trying to emerge to the surface...
There was a private conversation going on between their eyes...
A silent conversation that is not understood by words... but rather felt by emotions...
Her gaze was complain to him... the nightmares, the longing and the fear lays in her heart ...
While his looks were begging her...to understand, to forgive, to accept.
He muttered, interrupting their eye contact..: "I'm fine, Juvia.. Don't worry."
She fluttered her eyelashes and her clenshed hand eased, "Ju... Juvia is relieved that you're okay, Gray-sama."
Gray exhaled, trying to calm his beating heart..
looking around while scratching the back of his neck..: "Mmm Juvia.. I was wondering..?" She waited for him to continue and she nodded mumbling :" yes?. "
He continued, swallowing hardly: "Mmm, I wanted to express my apologies for the way I treated you the last time."
She waved her hands in front of him: "No need.. Juvia is..."
He interrupted her firmly: "I wanted to apologize by inviting you. I thought you might like to eat caramelized franks with me tonight?" Her eyes began to flutter silently, her lips parted... dose what she is hearing for real?!!! Is Gray-sama asking her out?!!
He shouted as he saw her expression: "It's just an expression of my apology... It's not what you're thinking!!!"
She whispered groggily: "Didn't Gray-sama just invite her on a date?"
He sighed nervously, "Oh, Juvia, forget it."
She saw him turning away, so she panicked and ran to his side..
: "Anooo, Gray-sama.. It's okay, Juvia likes to ..."
He glimse at her from the corner of his eye with his hands in his coat pocket: "It's not a date."
She tilted her head to the side, smiling: "Isn't it?"
He growled, rolling his eyes. She shouted apologetically, "Hay, Gray-sama, it's not a date. Juvia promises."
He sighed and exhaled, looking away from her..: "We will meet later, then.. You know the restaurant famous for its caramelized franks.. right?"
She nodded and said, "Hay... Juvia will meet you there."
He smiled, waving to her as he left: "Then be there at eight o'clock.. I will reserve a table for us."
She waved at him, looking at him dreamily, even though he had his back to her.
She sighed loudly, "Okay, Gray-sama."
Cana came behind her and startled her, whispering in her ear: "Didn't I tell you that he would surprise you?"
Juvia jumped up and looked at her: "Oh, Cana-san, you scared Juvia.. Oh, her soul escaped for a moment."
Cana smirked at her and narrowed her eyes, whispering, "You have an important date tonight, girl. We have to get you ready right now."
Juvia pouted her lips, "It's not a date, Cana-san... Gray-sama made that point perfectly clear."
Cana snorted, pulling Juvia with after her: "Huh, this idiot wants you to think that.. but he wants to surprise you.. I think he will propose to you tonight."
Her cheeks turned red and she hugged her face tightly: "Oh Cana, is that possible?"
They were now in front of a table that included Lisanna and Mira. Cana replied, "Yes, I'm sure. Now, girls, we have work to do. Juvia must be quite tempting tonight."
Juvia shouted in embarrassment, while Cana and Lisanna laughed.
As for Mira, she sighed, confused about Gray and Juvia's situation. But she stood up and went following them to the girls' dormitory then to Juvia's room.
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It was a quarter past eight and he was taking a slow inhale, waiting for Juvia to arrive.
He sat at an isolated table in the farthest corner of the full restaurant.
He was careful not to be in the middle of the place and attract attention. He wanted to preserve their privacy while they are here.
His thoughts were conflicting, pulling him to the right and to the left at times .
Should he proceed with implementing his plan or withdraw from it?!
His fear for her safety outweighs the plan morelikely ...and his fear of what he should do to her makes him hesitate a thousand times...
how can he do that to her... He does not think that he has the ability to seduce her and then leave her..It is more than he can bear..
Then his train of thought was interrupted when he saw her standing at the entrance of the restaurant, her eyes wandering around the place searching for him .
His breath was cought for a moment at the sight of her..
Why only after he decided to keep her away from him every time he sees her he feels that she is stunner than before ..
She takes his breath away and steals his heart more and more..
She was always beautiful, he admitted. Damn, she was beautiful even on that roof when he saw her for the first time. When She was his enemy.
She was always attractive. With every new appearance, she catch his attention. Every time she had a fresh haircut or every time her fashion sense and her clothing style changed, she always attracted his attention, unlike other girls.
Gray know what beauty is ... and fortunately for him, he is surrounded in his guild by the most beautiful and wonderful girls of Mongolia...
But even though he was aware of the beautiful women of the guild, he never once felt a tremor shake his heart or shake his world when he saw them in there best .
Until Juvia arrived ..
The effect of her apperanceon him goes beyond admiration...
because her beauty goes beyond being superficiall... her beauty is polished by the shyness that distinguishes her from the rest ..
And because she was not conscious of the extent of her charm and distinction, while her low self-esteem makes her hide the attractiveness she possesses and view herself as inferior to the rest of the girls that make her beaty even more pure and innocent .
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What she does not know is that, in his eyes, she is the most beautiful person he has ever seen!
And now, at this moment, she is like an indescribable angel. He just has no choice but to fall in love with her over and over again and curse himself because she chose him out of everyone and he doesn't deserve her one bit .
She find him and wave smiling shyly .. he gulp and wave back .. she then walked toward his table ..
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To be continued ..
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Star197
.. thanks 4 ur review .. glad to see it ..
hope u enjoy this chapter ..
the story will contain 7 chapters maximum .. so we already reached half of the marathon : D