Chapter 1: Are we next?

AN: Very sorry for how long this chapter turned out to be. This story take place alongside the Tartaros arc. Also some chapters may be considered M do to their violent nature, I will be sure to label those chapters as such in my AN.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

"'Due to the outstanding number of missing persons, the magic council has decided to take action issuing a curfew all over Fiore, which became effective as of last week.

Despite their efforts, there has been no decline in the number of disappearances, as two more mages have disappeared since last night alone.

Citizens are fleeing the country, leaving their homes vacant in fear that they too, may be the next to go missing.

How much longer can the guilds sit by and do nothing before Fiore is nothing but a ghost town?'"

Levy finished reading the article and looked up at Lucy.

"That was in the paper this morning," she stated folding it up and tossing it aside. "Things are getting worse."

Lucy nodded. So far almost every guild in Fiore had been attacked except for Fairy Tail.

"It's just a matter of time isn't it?" Lucy turned her troubled gaze to Levy. "One of us will vanish next."

"I don't know," Levy glanced at the paper. "It's not like we can go out and defeat an enemy when we don't even know where to look."

Lucy sighed looking around the guild.

Despite the problems they were facing, Fairy Tail continued on as if it were a normal day.

Cana continued drinking, though Lucy was sure she'd past her normal limit two barrels ago. Mira smiled and served drinks, Elfman and Evergreen argued, Gray and Natsu were fighting, and Erza...was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, where's Erza?" Lucy looked around trying to catch a glimpse of the red head.

"She's talking with the Master," Levy muttered frowning as she reread the paper.

Before Lucy could respond a familiar angry voice rang out across the guild hall:

"Don't just walk away from a fight you started!" Gray yelled shaking his fists at Natsu's retreating back, "Get over here and fight me!"

"Um, Gray-sama," Juvia tapped his bare shoulder blushing.

He turned around to see her hand outstretched holding his pants and shirt.

"Y-your clothes," she mumbled turning away as her face burned brilliant scarlet, putting Erza's hair to shame.

Gray looked down wondering for the life of him if he would ever be able to keep his clothes on.

"Thanks," he grabbed his clothes and put them back on. "I've had enough of that idiot." He gestured behind him were Natsu and Gajeel continued fighting.

She smiled sweetly turning around. "Juvia was going to sit with Lucy did you want to come?"

"Sure, thanks," Gray looked towards the bar, "I'm getting a drink first though."

"Juvia will save you a seat then," she beamed before practically skipping off while Gray went to get his drink.

Juvia slid into the seat across from Lucy and Levy who were deep in discussion.

"Oh Juvia," Lucy smiled a little tensely, "are Gray and Natsu done fighting?"

"For now," Juvia sipped her drink she'd left on the table earlier, "Gray-sama went to get a drink."

"Are Gajeel and Natsu fighting now?" Levy asked in dismay.

They looked over at the ensuing commotion and flying debris.

"Geez Natsu," Lucy sighed as Levy shook her head.

"You'd think they'd have better things to do," Levy pouted.

"Oh ho! What do you mean Levy?" Lucy leaned in smirking.

"Uh!" Levy blushed, "I didn't mean anything like that!"

"What did you mean?" Juvia giggled along with Lucy.

"I-I meant that they should be more concerned about...what's happening," she muttered as their faces fell.

"The disappearances...yeah," Lucy stated sadly.

Feeling a little sick Juvia put her drink down .

She couldn't even remember how many people had disappeared over the last few months.

Hundreds perhaps.

No one knew what happened to them. No one saw anything, no one knew if they were dead or alive.

"There's still no clues yet?" Juvia asked in disbelief.

"The guild masters have met but it's been difficult," Levy answered. "No one wants to leave their guild anymore."

"Plus there's the curfew now," Lucy reminded them, "no one's allowed out after sundown unless it's in a group and even then you can't be out too late."

"Though it hasn't stopped anything..." Juvia muttered just as Gray sat down next to her.

"What hasn't?" he asked taking a sip of his drink.

"The curfew," Lucy answered.

"Oh..." he slowly lowered his drink. He didn't want to think about that. They were so useless lately it made him sick.

"Speaking of curfew Lucy..." Levy started to say as Gray tried to tune them out.

Gray remembered when a normal day in the guild consisted of taking random jobs to pay rent before coming home to drink and brawl with their guild mates.

Lately though, no sooner would they defeat an enemy before they were suddenly being attacked by another; even more powerful and dangerous than the previous one.

He had hoped for a change of pace but that didn't seem likely anytime soon. Not with all the disappearances happening.

It would be nice not to feel like were barely keeping our heads above water, he thought tossing back the rest of his drink. The ice clinked in the glass as he set it down and tuned into the conversation around him.

"...and they said he should've been back last night," Levy was saying, "only he never showed."

Another disappearance ...

"Who was it?" Gray asked cutting into the uneasy silence that had settled over them.

Juvia looked at him seriously. "Hibiki. From Blue Pegasus."

His stomach dropped. "He was part of Ichiyas tag team. The Trimens."

"Yes," Juvia looked down. "Eve disappeared over a week ago and Hibiki went to search for him."

"He went alone?" Gray asked incredulously.

"No," Lucy shook her head, "he was with Ren and Ichiya only they were separated."

"They thought he had gotten lost," Levy added sadly, "they looked for him for two days before heading back to the guild."

"They thought he would've gone home..." Juvia whispered.

"But no one's seen him since," Levy looked down at her drink. "He would've been back by now if he had gotten lost..."

A heavy silence fell over them once more as the strained partying continued around them.

Gray glared at the melting ice in his glass as if it were the cause of all their problems. He did not do well sitting idly by when people were in danger but he had no choice: They had nothing.

No leads.

No idea what was happening.

And no idea who was behind it.

Levy watched as Gajeel and Natsu started another fight not even bothering to try and get the two of them to stop. Lucy stared off in the distance worriedly until Juvia stood up, snapping them out of their thoughts.

"Juvia?" Lucy looked up at her.

"Juvia should be heading home."

"Now?" Lucy asked, "It's still early are you sure?"

"Yes." She nodded not bothering to tell them not to go out along. She knew Natsu would never let anything happen to Lucy and Gajeel never let Levy out of his sight. They'd be safe.

Just as she turned to leave Gray called out to her.

"Hang on I'll walk with you."

"G-Gray-sama?" She blushed as he came up beside her.

"See ya later!" Levy chanted snickering.

"Have a good night!" Lucy called winking, causing Juvias blush to increase as she followed Gray out of the guild.

As soon as they were outside she relaxed slightly feeling more at ease without everyone staring at them.

Glancing at Gray she could see him visibly relaxing as well.

It must make him uncomfortable, she thought staring intently at the back of his head, offering that so publicly...

She was about to say something when he stopped suddenly and she crashed into him.

"S-sorry!" she blushed moving away hastily.

He stared at her over his shoulder frowning but she could see a glint of humor in his eyes. Then he blinked and it was gone.

"You should walk beside me," he muttered gruffly walking again, "I can't make sure you're okay if I can't see you."

She blushed again and went beside him.

Juvia was unsure of what to do. Her heart was pounding and there were butterflies in her stomach making it impossible to talk.

There had been a subtle change between them but to her it was profound. She could feel it, even if she couldn't fully comprehend it yet.

Over and over she thought he was slowly reciprocating her feelings but she didn't get further than that thought before being swept up in what she imagined a future with Gray would look like.

J-Juvia cannot handle these emotions...

Though it was what she wanted more than anything, her nerves were fried from her rampant emotions, which -if possible- seemed to have intensified.

It doesn't matter, Juvia thought smiling happily, as long as Juvia's with Gray-sama-

"You shouldn't be walking home alone," Grays voice interrupted her thoughts.

She snapped out of it and looked up at him only to almost turn into a puddle at the adorable blush on his face.

"I know it's still light out but it doesn't matter," he continued oblivious to her thoughts, "until we know what's going on don't go anywhere alone especially at night alright?"

Ah Gray-sama... she sighed as the light caught his hair attractively before he turned his eyes to her and she realized she should've responded.

She shook her head in an attempt to get a grip.

"Are you listening?" he asked tiredly.

"Yes!"

"It doesn't look like it," he grumbled. "What did I just say?"

"Not to go out alone," she reiterated, "especially at night."

"Yeah. We don't know who's behind this and until we do you need to be careful..." he paused. "We all need to be careful."

"Yes, alright." Juvia sobered. She didn't have time to be fantasizing about the two of them when people were missing and more were disappearing each day.

They had made it out of town and were halfway up the hill away from everyone when a little wind rustled through the grass and for a moment she felt something eerie and unsettling. But it died down a second later and the feeling was gone.

She glanced up at Gray's tense posture, realizing she'd fallen behind him again and hurried to his side.

"You're worried aren't you?" Juvia asked quietly already knowing the answer.

He didn't say anything only continued staring straight ahead with a hard expression.

"Juvia's worried too," she admitted quietly looking towards the setting sun. Normally the sight would've calmed her but lately she was too distracted by the events happening around them to find any comfort in it.

Gray watched her out of the corner of his eye.

He hadn't meant to cause her any panic, which was why he didn't say anything. But if her expression was any indication she was already anxious and trying not to show it.

He cleared his throat before coming to a stop and turning to face her.

She stopped walking and looked at him questionably, tilting her head to the side.

"Uh well I suppose you should know," he blushed looking around to make sure they were indeed alone, "Gramps pulled us aside yesterday and said we would be teaming up with other guilds to take down these bastards."

Juvia nodded slowly having guessed as much. "Does he know whose behind this then?"

"That's the problem," Gray sighed frustrated, running a hand through his hair. "No one's seen anything. It's like these guys are ghosts or something."

Her eyes widened slightly: "Ghosts?"

"I didn't mean it literally," he corrected.

"Oh. Have you asked Levy for help finding them?"

"No. Gramps didn't want this getting out," Gray said folding his arms over his chest, "said it would make everyone panic."

"So he doesn't know any more than we do," Juvia muttered nudging a rock with her foot.

Gray shook his head. "If he does he's not telling us."

Juvia stared solemnly at the ground. There had to be some way of finding out what was happening, even one clue would help but no one had seen anything.

People don't just disappear into thin air...

She was sure Gray and the others would be able to deal whatever they were up against but until they knew what exactly that was...

They could be ambushed. And then they'll end up missing too...

The thought terrified her and her head snapped up. "Take me with you."

"What?"

"When you go after them," she explained staring at him determinedly, "take me with you."

"Juvia I don't-"

"Gray-sama please!" she cried grabbing hold of his crossed arms much to his surprise, "Juvia can help!"

"I-I know you can," he exclaimed flustered, "but it's dangerous and it's not my decision anyway."

"Then Juvia will ask the Master if-"

"No." Gray stated firmly uncrossing his arms as Juvia continued to hold onto him.

"What? Why not?!"

"Because you can't," he replied haughtily. "I only told you this so you wouldn't worry."

"All you've done is say there's even more we should be worried about!"

"No I-!" he stopped himself short.

Damn it!

That was all he'd done wasn't it?

The hands clutching him began to shake bringing his attention back to Juvia.

She was looking down so he couldn't see her expression, but that didn't stop the sudden guilt he felt.

"Look I-"

"If master doesn't know what's going on," she interrupted, her voice shaking, "you're heading into this blind. Anything could happen."

"All the more reason for you not to go!" he snapped.

Responding to the anger she could hear in his voice her head snapped up and she glared at him. "And what if you disappear too?!"

"And what if you do?!" he yelled stepping forward. "What then!"

"We're stronger together and you know it!"

They were practically nose to nose yelling at each other. Breathing deeply they both continued their glaring contest until Gray finally lost.

"I know that," he sighed looking away, "but it's safer here."

Before she could respond, footsteps sounded making them jump apart just as Lisanna and Mirajane reached them.

"Oh hello Gray, Juvia!" Mira smiled pleasantly.

"Hey!" Lisanna waved.

"Hi Mira-san, Lisanna-san," Juvia muttered.

Gray turned away haughtily, "hey."

"Oh dear are you guys fighting too?" Mira chuckled along with Lisanna.

"'Too'?" Juvia asked as she glanced at Gray who was trying to look like he wasn't listening.

"Didn't you notice?" Lisanna asked smiling. "Everyone's been on edge lately. Elfman and Evergreen won't stop fighting."

"Not that its unusual," Mira added giggling, "but it's been more intense lately. Natsu and Lucy were fighting when we left, so were Gajeel and Levy."

"And now you two are," Lisanna stifled a laugh.

Juvia and Gray glared at each other before quickly looking away.

"See?" Mira laughed. "You two I've noticed have been moodier than usual. Gray you seem to be in a bad mood," he made an annoyed noise and she smiled, "and Juvia you've been down lately."

"Oh. Have I?" she shuffled uncomfortably, "sorry."

"Mirajane smiled. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure it's just worry that's affecting everyone."

Juvia nodded thinking about the argument they'd had. "Right worry..."

"Well we should be heading home," Lisanna linked her arm through Miras, "see you both tomorrow."

"Yeah bye," Gray mumbled watching them walk off.

As soon as he was sure they were gone he turned back to Juvia thinking of how he should apologize.

"Sorry," she whispered fidgeting, "please forgive me I shouldn't have gotten angry."

"It wasn't your fault, you were right to be upset with me."

She shook her head. "Juvia should not have yelled at Gray-sama."

"Look," he placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm the one who should be sorry. I'll...talk to Gramps first thing tomorrow alright?"

"Thank you Gray-sama!" she lunged at him and pulled him into a hug, nuzzling against his chest.

His heart sped up and he hoped she wouldn't notice.

"Y-yeah," he patted her gently before she pulled away smiling. "Let's get you home."

"Okay!" Juvia sang happily grabbing hold of his hand.

He didn't protest. She was happy and he didn't want to ruin it, so he allowed the hand holding...

Just this once.