Title: The Rhythm of Love

By: Mari Kia Aishiteru

Date start: June 4, 2017

Fanfiction Anime of: Fairy Tail

Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Adventure, Action, Angst, Friendship

Pairing: GrayxJuvia, NatsuxLucy

Theme song/s: Catch the Moment by LiSa and Trust You by Itou Yuna

Summary: Juvia's past has caught up to her and she had decided to face it by leaving Fairy Tail. Gray had come to terms of what he really felt for the water mage. Is it friendship? If it is, is it possible for these feelings of his to blossom into love? GrayxJuvia

DISCLAIMER: Anime characters and setting © Hiro Mashima; Fanfiction story © Mari Kia Aishiteru

...

The moment my voice rang out,

My heart started counting the limits of this life

A wish that will never end, no matter how many times it comes true!

The second hand of this world, running with sweat upon its brow will someday leave me stranded here, unmoving.

How many more times will I be able to smile with you?

I'm testing my own limits: Catch the moment!

...

∞ THE RHYTHM OF LOVE ∞

Rhythm 01 – The Letter

...

A man with messy dark blue hair and blue eyes stared at the figure on the bed. The figure squirmed and there was a painful look in their features. The man from before stood sadly. He shook his head and turned towards the window of the room, moon shining brightly, illuminating his sad-filled eyes.

"Juvia..." he muttered and sighed. He heard of the blue haired mage. He was happy that she was alive but...

He needed her. Right now.

Decided of what to do, he walked to the study table in the room and opened the drawers, found a pen and paper and sat down.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds, thinking of what to write. After that, he let his fingers express what he wanted the woman to know.

...

The sun shone brightly as its rays lightened here room from the window. Her face twitched and eyes slowly opened, pressing her right arm on her face to avoid the light. She turned to her left, away from the sun and stretched. She sat up and yawned. She gazed at the stuff toy next to her and smiled brightly like the sun outside her room.

"Good morning, Gray-sama!" she greeted and hugged the stuff toy tightly to herself, imagining it to be her real and in-the-flesh Gray-sama. She continued within five minutes before she decided to stand up and wash herself. Taking care of her body was one of Juvia's favourite thing to do since her Gray-sama was so hot, she wanted to be like him as well.

Turning off the shower, she wrapped her Gray-sama designed towel around her body and another towel dried her hair. Humming to herself, she dressed up in her usual blue dress with the Fairy Tail insignia brooch just above her chest. She combed her hair and smiled in front of the mirror.

"I'm going now, see you later, Gray-sama!" she said to her Gray-sama stuff toy, giving it a kiss before she went out of her room.

Juvia greeted her guildmates as she passed by them on her way out of Fairy Hills. Since Erza, Wendy and Carla were on their way to the guild as well, she joined them.

Erza noticed Juvia's merriness as they walked towards the guild. She stared at her and smiled.

"Juvia, you look so happy. Is today special?" the titania asked. Wendy and Carla glanced at the blue haired girl. "Is it your anniversary, Juvia-san?" Wendy inquired, remembering the 413th day anniversary of the two, as Juvia claimed before.

The blue haired water mage grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It is our 467th anniversary today! Aside from that, I am also excited to see Gray-sama. He is coming back from a solo mission today." She stated, smile wavering. "Juvia missed Gray-sama so much." Erza nodded with a smile.

"No worries Juvia. You're going to see him soon."

"I think right now." Carla commented.

The girls followed the white cat's gaze and sure enough, Gray Fullbuster was coming towards them much to Juvia's happiness. She ran towards him and unable to control herself, jumped in his arms, much to the surprise of the ice mage.

"Juvia..."

"Gray-sama! Juvia missed you so much!" she said, savouring the body of the ice mage against her.

"Wait Juvia... will you please get off me?" he tried to be polite.

"Juvia will not let go of Gray-sama!" she exclaimed, shaking her head.

"Ah, mou! Get off!"

"Iya desuuuuu!"

Erza and Carla shook their heads and Wendy giggled.

After Gray managed, almost, to make Juvia let him go, they all walked towards the guild that was right in front of them. They opened the doors and the guild greeted them with a smile, even though it was very noisy.

They all walked straight to Mira, who was by the bar, and Gray reported the success of his mission.

"As expected from Gray-sama!" Juvia praised with heart-filled eyes.

"Good work, Gray." Mira said, giving him a glass of water with ice. The ice mage took it and sat down next to Lucy, who was eating. "Thanks Mira."

Juvia sat on his other side, glaring at Lucy every now and then which made the celestial maiden sweatdropped.

Natsu walked towards them and put an arm on Lucy's shoulder, causing the girl to cough in surprise.

"Natsu! What do you think you are doing!"

The dragon slayer laughed. "You're so weird Lucy!"

"Idiot! You surprised me!"

"I~diot." Gray muttered from next to her but the fire dragon slayer heard him. He turned to the ice mage. "What was that, ice stripper?"

Gray snickered. "I said, i~diot!"

"You're the idiot!"

"WHAT?"

"You want to fight?"

"Hell yeah! I won't lose!"

"Oh yeah? You're going down!"

"No, YOU are going down!"

Before they can even bump fists, someone bonked their heads. They both slumped on the ground, nursing their heads with Erza standing in between them with a deadliest glare they had ever seen.

The bickering stopped and Natsu grinned. "Oh yeah! Guys, let's go on a mission!"

"Oh yeah, I want to go since my rent's due soon." Lucy said thoughtfully.

"I think it will be a good training for Lucy and Wendy." Erza said with a nod of her head.

"I'll go too since I still need some jewels." Gray said, crossing his arms against his chest.

"Let's choose a mission then!"

As team Natsu was excited to go on another mission, Juvia stared at them with a smile. Even though she wasn't a part of her Gray-sama's team, seeing him so happy with his teammates was enough for her and she was happy. Not only because of her love but also because Fairy Tail is the best family she could ever have. And it wasn't a dream.

Team Natsu went on the mission and Juvia decided to stalk her Gray-sama. She was so happy just looking and staring at him, blushing when he stripped unconsciously and feeling jealousy when he interact with other girls especially Lucy. Though, Juvia loves the celestial mage. She was her first female friend but sometimes it was just irritating to see her beloved so close to Lucy. She had some matchmaking to do with the celestial mage and fire dragon slayer. She smiled deviously at that thought.

Team Natsu finished the mission before sunset and Juvia continued to stalk her Gray-sama to his house. After making sure he was home, Juvia walked to her own home to Fairy Hills.

...

The blue haired water mage was smiling as she went inside Fairy Hills. She saw Laki, who was checking mails.

"Laki, good evening." She greeted.

The girl faced her and smiled. "Hey Juvia! How's your day?"

"It was a great day!" Juvia replied enthusiastically.

Laki smiled. "I see. Oh, you have a mail."

The mage looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, here." Laki gave her the letter and she scanned it.

"Who could it be?" she muttered to herself until she saw her name written below the envelope.

She froze. She knew this handwriting.

Laki was confused on Juvia's silence. She was staring at the letter intensely, like she wasn't breathing. Worried, she called out, "Juvia?"

The water mage seemed to get out of her frozen state. She looked at her friend, who asked, "You okay?"

Juvia tried to smile. Tried. "Yes, Juvia's fine. Just a bit tired. Thank you, Laki. Juvia will go now."

"Okay, good night Juvia."

"Good night." Juvia replied, walking fast towards her room. Laki eyed her weird actions suspiciously but did not say anything.

...

In Juvia's room, she hurriedly sat on her bed and slowly opened the letter. She was trembling, afraid of what this means but she knew. She had to know if it was really him who wrote this letter for her.

Scanning the content of the letter, she bit her lip and her eyes moist with unshed tears. She didn't know what to do after reading the letter. She had to decide. However, this decision may lead her to leave Fairy Tail for good. She didn't want to leave. She loves all of her friends. She loves Gray-sama. But... did he?

Juvia gasped. That was right. Did he love her? She always heard him telling her that she was annoying. It hurts but she didn't want to give up.

But in this case, that she had to leave the guild... did she even want to?

NO!

But...

Argh!

Juvia shook her head fast, making her dizzy. She sighed deeply.

Inhale... exhale... inhale... exhale...

Okay. She calmed down.

She had to think. Weigh her options.

If she left, she would see them again. She could make amends. But, she wouldn't be able to see her beloved friends and Gray-sama again.

If she stay, she wouldn't be able to make amends but she will be with Fairy Tail and Gray always.

She hugged her stuff toy of Gray tightly. It calmed her nerves even for a little bit. Eyes closed, she focused on her Gray-sama. She loves him. However, she thought that it will be useless to stay if Gray-sama wasn't going to reciprocate her feelings and didn't he say that he was going to reject her coldly from now on?

Then, everything that she was doing would be for naught.

"What to do..." she muttered to herself; tears streaming on her cheeks.

She looked at the sky. The moon was shining brightly. Staring at it, she realized something. She sighed.

Yeah, she could do that. She was going to ask for Gray's feelings for her so that she could decide of her next action. "It will depend on Gray-sama's answer." She told herself.

That's why... if he refused Juvia... then she will... her thoughts stopped.

She wanted to be optimistic.

She just hoped it will turn out fine.

She hoped.

...

To be continued...