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Gray groaned at the mixed texture of grass and dirt beneath his muscular frame. His shoulders ached from the earth ridges, but it was dull, nothing the ice demon slayer couldn't handle. He lifted his hand above his face to shield himself from the luminous beams of light projecting from the harsh sun. He slowly tried to open his eyes, allowing them to adjust.
How did he get here? Gray wondered to himself as he attempted to sit up, but the ghost pain of a wound halted his movements. He let out a low grunt at the sharp pain as memories of previous events flooded his mind. Fear crept into his chest as he replayed the occurrence in his head.
Juvia and him were fighting against their will. Neither could hold back as they fought to destroy each other; all self-control had gone.
This isn't right! Gray remembered thinking to himself. He didn't want to hurt Juvia, and he knew she'd never want to hurt him, yet they were mindlessly attacking each other.
"You may not rest until one of you lays dead." The Ice general voice boomed, manipulating their minds, stripping them away of their free will.
As she lunged at him, Gray could see the fear in Juvia's eyes, summoning her water magic to harm him. He could almost hear her thoughts, crying to herself to stop trying to hurt him, but her body betrayed her.
He could tell because he felt the same way. She kicked her leg up, aiming to hit his head with all her weight, but Gray was quicker, and he was stronger. He quickly blocked her lower limb and grabbed her calf, pulling it up, causing her to lose balance and fall to the ground roughly. His mind begged him to stop as he attacked her mercilessly from her spot on the floor. Her cries filled his ears, but not even that seemed to stop him.
'My consciousness is...fading…'. Gray gasped for air as Juvias summoned a water slicer, hitting him in the chest and knocking him back a few feet. She used this opportunity to distance herself from his relentless attacks.
'I have to stop this - I can't control it... I can't even think…'. Gray continued to fight for control in his head, playing a losing game of tug-of-war for his free will. He knew it was only a matter of time before he completely lost and did something that could never be undone. It was no secret that Gray was stronger than Juvia, especially with his demon form itching to be released from the bounds of his human shell. 'It wasn't supposed to end like this!' He can't kill her; he'd never forgive himself. She is his friend–no! She is Juvia. The girl who followed him around with unwavering devotion and loved him unconditionally. The one who taught him how to lov–
He had to end this fast before losing himself to the 'Ice Lock.' Gray had to save Juvia from dying at his hands. So he summoned all the magic he could as he formed a blade forged out of ice. He watched as Juvia formed her own edge, undoubtedly preparing to strike him.
Noticing the pair's attacks slowed down, Invel spoke up in annoyance. "Any and all resistance is utterly futile. 'Ice Lock' is a magic which completely imprisons one's 'heart' The two of you have long lost your ability to reason, and until one of you drops dead, the chain cannot be severed."
Gray bit his lip harshly; metallic flavors filled his taste buds as he prepared. Juvia raised her water blade in the air, her eyes clenched shut as she used all her strength to speak out against the white-haired mage.
"Juvia's body is far too small for these overflowing feelings ever to be imprisoned within."
Invel stood in shock that the water mage gained control of herself; even if it was just for a moment, no one could ever break out of his heart's imprisonment.
Gray stared at Juvia in awe. This is how he would remember her; this is the last thing he would see. Juvia, the fighter she is, uses the last of her willpower to liberate her resolve.
"Words cannot express the joy Juvia has felt getting to know you, Gray-sama."
Emotions flashed through her eyes as she looked as determined as ever, he could feel the warmth of her love surrounding him, making his mindless foggy and giving him the ability to think clearly. For the first time since they were put into the 'Ice Lock,' Juvia gave him her signature warm smile.
Gray never got to tell her how he felt; now, he never would. He could only hope that his feelings reached her. So that Juvia, who knew him better than almost anyone, knew how he truly felt and her place in his heart.
Not waiting for her to lose herself in the darkness and attack him with her blade, Gray shut his eyes and impelled himself with his ice-make sword. He'd gladly lay down his life for her chance to live hers. Blood spilled from his mouth, and the pain became too much.
He heard Juvia choke loudly, finally causing him to open his eyes, gasping at the image.
In all her grace, curls fell down her frame; clothes were torn from the battle they endured, holding the end of her water blade, while the rest of it was buried deep into her abdomen and through her back.
Gray winced in pain, coughing up blood as he gaped at the blue hair mage with regret. This was not supposed to happen; this was not how she was supposed to die!
"Why...Did you go and do something stupid like that…" he could barely get his words out as every breath caused a shift in the sword lodged deep within him.
His unsteady voice finally drew Juvia's attention, and she stared back at him in horror.
"Both of them simultaneously?!" Invel, still in shock from Juvia's declaration, was floored by the two of their actions.
Gray ignored the man, knowing he didn't have much time. He knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to stab himself, he knew he had only one chance, and it had to be fatal, but he never imagined Juvia would do the same thing. That stupid girl. Too stupid to see how dull the world would become without her. "Why...How could you…."
Juvia couldn't resist the tears that escaped her eyes as she stared at the sight unfolding before her "Gray-sama...this can't be!" She cried, trying to make sense in front of her.
"I don't want to hurt a friend–"
Gray stopped himself abruptly, there wasn't a chance either of them would be walking out of this alive, and he owed it to her to finally tell her the truth. There was no more hiding because this was it; this was the end of the ride for them as they were both living in their last moments.
"-No! I don't want to hurt you… This is why–I did this. I wanted to protect...you...but I…." He was interrupted by blood spilling up from his mouth as he felt his knees buckle, his body weight becoming too much to handle. His mouth gaped open, trying to find the strength to finish his words, but nothing came out. His vision began to cloud, and the site of the floor drew nearer as he collapsed to the rocky foundation.
"You've made Juvia very happy...Gray-sama…" Juvia confessed as she, too, could no longer support the weight of her body, plunging the earth a few feet away from her love.
Returning to the setting before him, Gray panicked, disoriented by what was happening.
"Juvia!" He called desperately, ignoring the pain he felt in his abdomen. Slightly overgrown green grass and flowers covered the land. Was he in a garden?
"Juvia!" Gray yelled out again, but this time he was answered by a familiar voice that came out barely as a whisper.
"Gray-sama?" Juvia's murmured, lying in the grass with her eyes still shut. Her eyebrows scowled as she awakened.
Gray turned on his feet in the direction he heard her voice. It didn't take him long before he found the source, but seconds felt like hours as he processed the image.
He blinked several times as if she'd be gone once he opened his eyes, just a figment of his imagination, but she didn't. She was here, in front of him, in this unknown place. She was as real as he was. Her blue eyes twinkled in the soft orange light radiating from the sunset.
Gray could see the confusion on her face as she slowly stood, taking in the scenery around her.
"Juvia?" he whispered breathlessly, still trying to see if this was real.
Juvia's blue hair draped down her back while some spilled over her shoulder, resting on her chest. She was no longer wearing her battered clothing from their fight just earlier. Instead, she was clothed in a white short sleeve dress that reached down to her feet; when she moved against the light and stood near the shadows, shades of blue peeked through. Her pale skin shined as if she was covered in glitter. Her image was almost unimaginable, but in front of him was Juvia in this world of enchantment.
While his mind seemed frozen, his body had a different response. He could feel his feet moving from beneath him, striding toward the water mage. His arms reached out in front of him, and without hesitation, Juvia also reached out for his embrace, rushing just as eagerly to grasp him.
When Gray finally reached her, he slid his arm around her waist while his other hand pressed firmly into her hair, pushing her head into his chest, leaving no room between the two. Yet, even with this, the pair still seemed unsatisfied as they pressed deeper into each other.
Hot tears trickled down their faces, so they held onto each other desperately.
"Juvia is so excited to see you. Gray-sama is okay."
Gray felt his body shudder against Juvia's as he nuzzled his face into her head. "I thought you…I thought we–" Gray stumbled over his words in confusion. The images of Juvia's bleeding figure flash in his head repeatedly.
"We did," Juvia confirmed, tightening her grip as if letting him go would make them fall into a dark abyss of nothingness.
He pulled away with his hands resting on the side of her face; she leaned her cheek into the palm of his hand as his thumbs caressed her soft skin. Her eyes were closed, but he could see the tears that flooded her lashes and trailed down the sides of her face. "How did we get here?" Gray asked, looking around once more.
He looked down at himself, and that was when he realized he was no longer in his battered clothes. He wore the same dark pants he always sported, but they were cleaner than before. On his top, he wore a white shirt that was made of a similar material to Juvia's dress, in a way, they were both cohesive.
"Juvia doesn't know; the last thing she remembers is Gray-sama falling because he…because you–" the young mage couldn't finish her sentence before a sob released from the back of her throat. She quickly raised her hand to her mouth to silence the noise, not wanting Gray to see her cry. She wanted Gray to live. She needed Gray to live.
Gray held her as she cried, there were no words that could offer her comfort about these circumstances. He was equally confused and troubled but wouldn't show it; he wanted to be strong for her. He wanted to be someone she could lean on, even if it meant shouldering the weight of their situation, or so he thought he was.
After a few moments and Juvia finally calmed down, Gray finally asked the burning question in the back of his mind. "Where are we? If we died, does that mean this is the afterlife?" In all their years of living and traveling, they had never known a place with such beautiful scenery; it was something out of a storybook.
"Somewhere in-between," Juvia answered, mostly speaking to herself, but she explained once she looked up and saw Gray's confused expression.
"J-Juvia cannot speak for Gray-sama, but she does not feel dead…not that she knows what that feeling is like, but a part of her still senses like she is alive and holding on back on the field." She grabbed his hand and rested it on her chest over her heart as it continued to beat weakly. "Does Gray-sama feel it too?" He only nodded in response, but it was enough for Juvia to continue.
"Juvia thinks we are somewhere in-between, not exactly living, but not quite dead. A place to wait until we find out which path we belong."
"So that's it, huh? We just stay here and wait to die while our friends fight to save everyone's lives?" Gray asked angrily, he had never thought in a million years this was how he was going out. The great Gray Fullbuster, who never stood down to any challenges or fights, is now stuck in some sort of 'in-between' until he fully dies.
Juvia understood his anger, but she didn't want that. If part of her hadn't died, that meant a part of her still had hope, and she was going to use that hope so Gray could return and continue living. He should grow old, have a long, meaningful life full of fond memories, and maybe even start a family. These were all the things Juvia ever hoped for, even if she couldn't be the one by his side. So as long as her heart kept beating, she would do everything she could to save him.
"Gray-sama will be fine. Gray-sama will wake up, and this will be no more than a dream."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Juvia just knows it," she answered with utmost certainty booming from her voice without missing a beat.
Slightly confused by her response, Gray slowly nodded, not wanting to further the conversation.
Suddenly a strong wind blew past the two mages, and the path opened before them. Juvia clasped tightly on Gray's arms as she took the first step. He questioned whether they should leave, but as Juvia kept walking, he was forced to follow.
Continuing on the passage, the pair made their way into a clearing. The sparkling water of the lake glimmered as different sunbeams reflected from the surface. Gray peered into Juvia's eyes and enjoyed the brightness that shined within her from the image before them.
"It's so beautiful." She whispered, walking closer to the stream. Her hand dipped into the shallow waters, and Juvia played with the soft current.
"It is." He agreed, but Juvia hadn't caught his gaze was focused on her.
"What are Gray-sama's dreams?" She asked suddenly. He noticed she began softly breathing through her mouth as the airway of her nose began harder to keep up.
"I don't have any dreams." Gray rolled his shoulders as he felt the soreness from earlier slipping away.
"There's not one thing Gray-sama wishes for?"
"Is there something you dream of?" Gray countered her with another question.
"Gray-sama knows all of Juvia's desires." She blushed, her eyes fluttered shut, and Gray would have found it relatively seductive had she not looked so lethargic. He couldn't help the fluttering feeling in his stomach as his heart began to pound, much to his relief, faster and steadier than before.
"Tell me." He insisted anyway, earning a light chuckle from Juvia.
"Gray-sama is Juvia's dream and all the simple pleasures of being near you." Juvia bit her lip as she tried to fight the growing headache that flooded her senses.
Gray walked closer to the lake, crossing his arms as he hid his blush from Juvia. He watched as Juvia rose from her squat and grew fretted at her swaying form. Juvia shook her head, pushing away her dizziness and shutting her eyes tightly to keep everything from spinning.
"Let's keep going." Juvia laced her arm with Gray's and smiled when he didn't pull back. He held her arm, concerned as he felt her lean some of her body weight on him, thankful that his fatigued strength from earlier was gradually returning.
The duo trailed mindless in the area, Juvia stopped to look at different flowers and sceneries to galvanize the loveliness, but Gray knew it was really so she could catch her breath. As they walked further through, he hoped they reached an end, a way to return to Magnolia and join the others.
He was weary if Juvia was right if this were some sort of in-between, a dream they would both wake up from soon. But, unfortunately, he didn't get to ponder on this thought for too long before Juvia held her side as a fit of coughs escaped her lips. Gray rubbed her back, unsure what else to do or how to help her.
"Sorry, Juvia choked on her own breath." She admitted embarrassingly, her hands covering her red face. Gray tried to maintain his composure but couldn't keep his chuckle from slipping past his mouth.
"It's not funny." She muttered, pouting her lips, but the action only made Gray find the situation funnier, resulting in an actual laugh.
"Gray-sama!" Juvia whined, stomping her feet and crossing her arms. He held his arms up in defense and sealed his lips to keep any more chuckles from coming out.
"No, you're right. It's not that funny." He tried to say in a serious tone but failed. "I also choke while breathing; it's completely normal." He teased.
Juvia rolled her eyes but could stop herself from releasing a giggle. "Juvia guesses it is a bit ridiculous." She admits.
"A bit?"
"Yes, a bit! Gajeel-kun chokes on his own breath all the time; it's completely normal!"
"Huh, Juvia using Gajeel and normal in the same sentence does nothing to back up your argument."
Juvia tsked her lips and continued walking ahead, resulting in Gray having to jog slightly to catch up with her.
"When do you think we'll make it out of here?" Gray asked, not wanting to fall back into the silence they had walked in before.
"Juvia wishes she knew…maybe if we keep going, we will see something?"
The pair continued down the track, at this point, walking mindlessly until they could see signs of something new.
"Juvia remembers when she first joined Fairy Tail," The water mages began whispering lightly. "She wanted to join because she met Gray-sama, but seeing you all made her fall in love with everyone. The guild has become something precious to Juvia ever since."
"What Phantom Lord didn't promote the value of family?" Gray teased, causing Juvia to chuckle.
"No. Gajeel-kun has always been a friend, but Jose never cared about us. Not the way a master should."
Gray watched as layers of Juvia began to unpeel from her skin. Most people thought that Juvia was easy to read, an open book of sorts, but there were many things she kept bottled up. And her past was one of them.
"Even after joining, Juvia was scared no one would accept her. Although she wouldn't blame them, there are things that Juvia has done that still haunt her at night."
"You're different now—" Gray sputtered, but the stubborn girl shook her head.
"Different or not, our actions have consequences that can't be undone. The lives Juvia has damaged just for following orders can't be fixed with an apology. One day it will catch up to her; all her wrongdoings."
Catching her arm, Gray held her in place and gave her a perplexed glare as he analyzed her composed features. She didn't say the words with fear but instead with acceptance of what was coming.
"You wanted to know my dreams, but I don't know them. Since I was young, it was defeating Deliora, but Ur sacrificed herself for that. Then it was to grow up to be the best mage in all of Fiore, but let's be honest, my skill compared to Erza's or Laxus' is far behind. Anything past that is unknown to me? So if you ask me about my hopes for the future, I can't give you an answer because I never had those. I never saw myself growing old, having a family, and let's be honest, I'm not precisely husband and father material."
Juvia began shaking her head, ready to tell him he was wrong, but Gray continued.
"It's the truth. My goals and dreams had always been who I could beat next, and I never stopped and considered what else could be in store for me or cared about anything else. Until recently.… then, I saw hope for my future for the first time. Because of you."
"Gray-sama.…" Juvia trailed off, not knowing the exact words of comfort to give him. He had never been so open to her, and she knew this was probably the most he ever would. She didn't want to ruin his feelings by saying something stupid.
"To be a man who could protect you. That is my new dream, but like everything else, I failed."
"That's not true!" Juvia shouted, rushing to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and resting her head on his muscular back.
"You saved Juvia's life. That day Juvia first met Gray-sama, she never saw herself as anything but an unloved rain woman. She was ready to die, to end her misery and finally know rest, but you saved Juvia. Gray-sama showed Juvia what it meant to live. You gave her a family and friends who loved her unconditionally and surrounded Juvia in a warmth she never knew she could feel. You're more than just Gray Fullbuster of Fairy Tail because, to Juvia, you are her sun, her rain, her earth. Gray-sama, you are Juvia's reason for happiness."
The silence between the two was heavy as Juvia slowly let Gray go from her arms. His head hung low as he stood still, and Juvia took a few steps back and waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts from her words.
"Maybe if people saw the world like you did, we wouldn't be in this mess," Gray whispered.
Juvia opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly a rush of pain convulsed in her chest, and her lungs felt like they were on fire. More severe than the last, rough coughs tore through her mouth. They sounded like those who smoked half of their lives, but Juvia never smoked. One habit she never picked up from Gray, even during their time living together. She hated the smell but could tolerate it a bit more when he did it.
"What choke of your own breath again?" Gray tried to joke, not knowing her condition since he was still turned ahead. It wasn't until he glanced back that his face quickly morphed into one of concern as Juvia held her chest in pain. One of her hands rested on her thigh as she leaned forward, trying to calm her gasping breath.
Gray concern only inflated as Juvia tripped over her feet and almost fell had he not caught her. He was thankful his strength was back but noticed that Juvia only grew weaker by the second.
"Let's stop for some rest." Gray offered casually.
"Juvia is fine." She tried to argue, but Gray knew she needed to stop.
"I need some rest." He casually lied, knowing Juvia would be concerned for his well-being. She nodded, and he directed them to a nearby oak tree that had grown massively.
As they approached the tree, Gray reached his arm around her slender frame for support, his fingers latching onto her waist and pulling her closer to his side. He ignored the blush that heated up his cheeks at their closeness; he didn't have to look down at Juvia to see how her cheeks flushed; he could feel her warmth radiating to him. A small smile played on his lips as she relaxed in his hold, leaning back to rest her head on Gray's shoulder as his back was pressed against the tree.
It was in these moments that Gray relished in Juvia's enticing being. He never understood her blind trust in him, no matter how he treated her. She was always so confident in him, even when no one else was, even when he wasn't. He remembered how it felt when they performed their first unison raid, the way their magic fused as one due to their close bond. That was the first time Juvia told him she loved him. At the time, he hated it; he ran from her as fast as he could, not from disinterest but fear. The fear he felt when he held her hand, their bodies close together as they unleashed their powerful forces. After that, every unison raid they did felt more potent than the one before as their relationship grew more intimate. He knew it wasn't just friendship between them, but he could never admit it.
His internal battle seemed futile as he stood with Juvia's body lightly resting against his. He'd never hold back if they made it out alive and back to their world. Instead, he'd make sure he cherished her sweetly and loved her in the way she needed love. What they had was eternal, like they were cut from diamonds and made to last.
"I think–" Gray began to speak, breaking the comfortable silence they dwelled in; he was never good with his words. It wasn't exactly a secret that he wasn't the most expressive about his feelings either but in the back of his mind, he felt little whispers urging him to tell her how he felt. It was now or never, and he'd never get this chance again, so he did.
"No, I know…I–" Before he could finish his words, Juvia turned and pressed a delicate kiss on his cheek.
"Juvia knows, she has always known, and she knows how hard it is for Gray-sama to say it, but Juvia has felt it. In your actions, in our memories. Juvia knows how Gray-sama feels."
Gray started at Juvia in awe. Even in their last moments, she was always so understanding with him; he felt his stomach stir as the last bit of nervousness left his body.
"I love you, Juvia" His voice was shy, but it was certain; the confidence behind his words showed through.
A rumble roared through the sky, and the once-clear skies began to turn dark. The knot in Gray's chest tightened as he waited for Juvia's response.
Her eyes were cloudy and mournful as she stared at the ground beneath them. "Juvia, I–" Gray paused. Did his confession scare her?
Should he take it back and say he was just kidding? He felt like a fish gasping for water. Gray could never articulate himself or find the right things to say or moments – maybe he should have kept his mouth shut like she said. But instead, his declaration of love to Juvia took nearly every nerve he could muster, exposing him. This is not how he envisioned this moment to play, but once he felt the cold splash of water drip onto his cheek. The sky was crying. Juvia was crying.
"I didn't mean to…I wasn't trying to hurt you." He finally spoke, and for the first time since his confession, Juvia looked at him with a tearful smile.
"Juvia isn't hurt or sad…well, she is, but it's because Gray-sama and Juvia have run out of time." She paused, trying to catch her breath, not from nervousness but because the water mage grew frailer every second passed. "but she wouldn't take anything back because she got to know the real, Gray-sama."
The blue hair mage reached up on her toes to give herself more height and pressed her lips against the ice demon slayer. He was slow in reacting, but as he felt Juvia begin to pull away, he held on to her tight, sliding an arm across her waist. As cliche as it sounded, Gray felt something in his heart melt inside. All the time he spent fighting his feelings for Juvia, all the secrets buried deep within him became unsurfaced. All his dreams, longing, love, and everything seeping out of him morphed into their enchanted kiss.
After releasing each other, Juvia's breath grew heavier. "Juvia is so happy." The end of her words cracked as her eyes fluttered shut, her knees buckled from under her, and Gray had to react fast to keep her from crashing onto the field beneath them.
"Juvia!" Gray panicked, her body laying nearly limp in his arms.
"Juvia thinks it's almost time for Gray-sama to leave." She spoke weakly, too tired to open her eyes, and Gray wished he could see the shine in her eyes, her cerulean orbs that sparkled whenever he was near.
"No. No, we will leave together. We will both wake up like you said, we'll wake up, and it will all just be a dream." Juvia couldn't help the smile at the thought, she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, a lone tear dripped from the corner of her eye. "It's okay," Gray tried to reassure her, but as she laid in his arms, her body trembling as her breathing became shallow, the simple notion made it harder for him to believe his own words. "I'm not leaving you. I won't let you go alone."
Juvia fought to keep her eyes open as she reached up, resting her small cold hand on his face, enjoying the sight one last time. His hair was as black as winter nights, his eyes were blue but not like hers, they matched the deep waters of the sea, and his lips carried rosy tints of the dawn skies.
Gray leaned forward, pressing his lips on her once more, the taste of salt flooded his senses, but unlike the last kiss they shared, this kiss was full of fear.
"You are my dream too. You aren't going alone." His words broke up, and all he could release were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down his face, and he squeezed his eyelids shut, hoping his tears would stop; he wanted to be strong for Juvia. Suddenly Gray flinched as he felt a cold grasp on his shoulder.
He looked up and was met with a warm pair of black orbs and a long-drawn-out scar resting near his left eye. His hand rested softly over Gray's arm while his other hand respectfully clasped Juvia's hand, holding her close. On the other side of her was the violet-haired time-wielding mage, attempting to look unphased at the predicament, but the glistening in her eyes said otherwise.
Feeling movement on the other side of him, Gray peeked over and saw the short hair ice mage kneeling on the ground. Her presence alone comforted him in a way only a mother knew how.
"Did you really think we would let her go alone?" Ur's voice spoke in a low tone laced with sadness.
"You'd think he'd know his family better than that by now?" Ultear mumbled, crossing her arms but not moving from her spot next to Juvia. She tsked her tongue and looked away from Gray, with a slight blush spreading across her cheeks.
"What are you–How are you here?" Gray questioned, seeing the three mages he missed the most over the years near them.
"We never stopped watching over you, Gray. We were gone, but we were always there. We came for Juvia. For your peace of mind? We wanted you to know she wouldn't be alone." Ur answered all questions he may conjure in one go, but this didn't make Gray any less confused than before. He wanted to continue pressing the matter until he heard Juvia's voice.
"Juvia is so sorry her and Gray-sama can't go back together" Her voice cracked, and her chest tightened, but she willed herself to keep going despite her tiredness. She'd never get this chance again to tell Gray what she needed. She wouldn't let this time go to waste.
"But please know, Juvia will always be there, wherever you are, wherever you end up. So stop being afraid to get close to anyone–" Juvia took a shallow pause, not from being depleted but to ease the ache in her heart. "–Juvia knows how hard it was to be surrounded by her love, but stop fighting, and don't be surprised by the love you deserve."
Gray rested her forehead against her as a chore of convulsive gasps emerged from within him. "Ju–just let me go with you."
"Gray-sama does not belong here." She spoke through her tears. "Juvia needs to leave now so you can move on. Juvia was selfish and needed to be with you one last time."
Silver let Juvia go from his grasp and ran his hand through Gray's hair to comfort his son. However, it didn't last long before he turned back to Juvia, sighing.
"You know, Juvia, when I said to take care of Gray, this isn't exactly what I meant." The tired water mage didn't attempt to speak but gave the older man a sorrowful smile. "Mika and I always thought you both would have more time together, or that's what we hoped for, but it's not your time yet, Gray."
Turning his head toward Gray again, he gently let his hand fall into Gray's arm pulling the young mage's attention. "But don't worry, it's my turn to take care of her for you."
Gray was roughly transported from what felt like a dream with those last words.
"I'm alive?" His eyes were bright red; his body ached in tremendous pain. "No…I'm certain that I–" He should be dead, he should be with Juvia and his family, yet he was here. Why did he get a second chance? It should be Juvia, not him.
He felt his pain fading, and his body began re-energizing as a familiar feeling flowed within him. "This sensation…inside me…is Juvia's blood."
Suddenly everything made sense, the reason he grew stronger in the between while Juvia got weaker by the second. She was killing herself, for him. Her love for him ran intensely, from the bottom of her heart, so profoundly that their blood became one.
Her life force poured into him as her last attempt to keep him alive, but why? They could have moved on together. He could have been with her and his family. Why did someone he loves always sacrifice the most for him, but overall, why did Juvia think she could throw away her life as if she had no meaning at all? His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Juvia's voice flooded his mind.
"Juvia will always be alive, inside of you, so she's not sad."
His despair slowly allowed him to move closer to her beaten frame. Carefully lifting Juvia's limp form, Gray flinched at how cold she felt, but it was different from the cold he was used to from his ice mage. This cold was deleterious; it was death approaching.
"No." He whispered, hot splashes of water fell onto Juvia's face from his tears. Tears he knew Juvia would never want to see because she always wanted to make sure he was happy and loved, but at this moment, there was nothing he could do to stop them from falling. "Juvia…" Gray cried.
"Juvia isn't sad because her life is yours now, Gray-sama." These were her last words. These would be her last memories with Gray as her body went limp and her life faded into the blue sky, away from all the violence and battles around them.
Blood screeching screams filled Gray's ears as he held Juvia. His knees were bleeding from the rumble beneath them, and his stab wound still sent shots of pain through his body, but he didn't care. The screaming continued, and Gray held Juvia closer to him; thoughts of their time together filled his mind. All the times she expressed her love for him, everything she did to get him to notice her, yet all he did in return was reject her time after time. Their unison raid, her baking, the moments they lived together in that abandoned village, and him finding out it was Juvia who finally freed his dad from the hell he was in. All of it came full force into his mind, adding salt to his wound.
Gray was going to tell her. He wanted to tell Juvia his feelings after the battle, but that time never came, and all he had was that time with her in that dream. She would never know how much he truly cared for her and how, somewhere along the way of all her confessions and declarations, Gray started to feel the same. Screams continued to pierce through the air, and it wasn't until he felt his throat becoming raw that he realized the screams of agony were coming from him.
"Juvia, I promise to start thinking about you more seriously…." Gray caressed her face as he set her body down on the rubbled ground gently. "Just, please…wake up, Juvia." Time passed, and he pressed her forehead against hers, but Juvia was gone, and a piece of him died with her that day.
—-
Juvia finally felt some of her strength return as she completed her blood-make magic on Gray. Even though her heart continued to beat, she knew it was only a matter of time before she ultimately moved on. "He will never get over this," Ultear spoke sadly.
"Gray-sama will. He will continue to live for Juiva." Her voice was soft but full of certitude. With the help of Ur, Juvia rose to her feet but almost fell again, still feeling tired from earlier. Luckily Silver was close enough to catch the blue-haired mage.
Juvia followed closely behind the two girls with the help of Silver, supporting her weight to keep her from collapsing. He offered to carry her, but she politely declined; Juvia didn't want to burden anyone, even on death door steps.
"Did Silver-san mean what he said about Mika-san? Does she watch after Gray-sama and Juvia?"
A chuckle fled Silvers' mouth as he glanced at the water mage down at his side. "All these years, she never left his side."
"And she…she approved of Juvia?" She responded shyly.
"We all do."
The four mages walked across the planes of flowers until they approached a large golden door; Juvia gulped nervously as the latches turned and the massive entrance opened slowly; lustrous lights appeared from the other side. Ur, Silver, and Ultear entered, but Juvia stopped just short of the opening.
Just one more step, and she'd be gone. Juvia suddenly thought about all those she'd never get to say goodbye to; she wasn't religious but prayed that her love reached them.
Shaking her head, Juvia swiftly covered her face to hide her tears. "Juvia isn't ready to go yet; she wants to stay and grow old with Gray-sama." She admitted as sobs shuddered from her chest. "She wants to go on missions with Gajeel-kun, and spend time with her Fairy Tail family."
"It's okay to be scared, Juvia." Ur embraced Juvia, and the water mage did little to hold back her agony as she cried in the ice-make mage's chest. Juvia wanted to return to what they had before Spriggan when Gray and she lived together. When Juvia relied on Gray and Gray leaned on her for support. She wanted to return to that world, cherish those moments forever, and make new memories with him.
Clenching her fist at her sides, Juvia mustered the last bit of her courage and evened out her breath. Ur released her as she moved forward in the light; the older mage crossed the entrance, but as Juvia tried to step through, she was stopped by an invisible barrier. Fear grew in Juvia's heart as her hands pressed against the unseen wall. Was she not allowed to be with her Gray-sama's family? Was this her punishment for the years of anguish she was responsible for during her time in Phantom Lord?
"Juvia can't come?"
"Why?" Ultear asked, confused; she tried to grab Juvia's hand and pull her in, but it was useless.
"Because it's not her time." A woman's voice spoke from behind them. She had long black hair and droopy eyes, much like Gray's.
"Mika-san…" Juvia quickly realized.
Mika stared at the girl who stood by her son; even in moments, she knew he didn't deserve her. Truthfully, she wanted to go with the others to be there for Gray, but she didn't think she could handle it. Seeing him, speaking to him, not just watching him from afar, once he returned, it would have felt like she lost him all over again. She missed her son more than anything, but she wasn't rushing to see him again. In fact, she hoped he would take his time, living every day to the fullest. She expects he will grow old and live the lives she and Silver never got. Yes, she was in no rush to see her son. Take your time. She whispers to him before every challenge he faces. Walk towards us, don't run, make stops and delays; no matter how long, I will gladly wait for you.
"Thank you for being patient with our son and loving him as you do. Now return to him before whatever divine being changes their mind." Juvia shook her head, confused, but Mika gently tapped her finger against Juvia's temple, and just as Gray had, she felt as if she was transported back into space, darkness engulfing her vision.
When she finally came to herself, Juvia tried to sit up as she slowly opened her eyes and saw her 'divine savior.'
"Just hang on, don't move until I have completely healed you." Wendy focused as much of her healing magic on Juvia's wound as possible. She knew if she had arrived even a minute later, Juvia wouldn't have made it.
"Juvia survived?" She asked, still in disbelief; as Wendy finished her work, Juvia swiftly moved to her knees to give the younger girl a bow to show her gratitude. "Wendy-san saved Juvia's life."
Wendy blushed, "Please, Juvia-san, I am glad I could help you!"
Juvia was entirely grateful to the young dragon slayer, but as her eyes witnessed the debris around them, she was suddenly aware that Gray was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Gray-sama?"
"He was not here when I arrived."
"Juvia must find him!"
Wendy helped Juvia to her feet and supported her weight as the girls began to search for the ice mage. She wanted to tell Juvia she should wait and get some rest, but Wendy knew Juvia wouldn't stop until she found him. The young girl marveled at Juvia's resolve as they searched earnestly; Carla flew ahead to get a better vision, hoping to find him sooner. Wendy could see the pain that overcame Juvia with every step, but she showed no sign of slowing down, despite nearly dying just moments before. The sky dragon slayer wondered if she would ever love someone as much as Juvia cared for Gray and if anyone would ever love her the same.
"I see him; he is fighting Natsu! Just up ahead!" Carla yelled.
"Gray-sama!" Juvia gasped, uneasy. She quickened her steps, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she hastened her speed.
Once they got past the piles of destroyed buildings, Juvia could finally see him. Just like he was when they lived together, and he returned from Avatar, she could see the black mark that engulfed the left side of his body.
"Gray-sama!" She screamed desperately.
Gray's shoulders tensed as her voice clouded his senses. The sound of his name escaping from her lips felt like home. Could it be? Half of him felt like it was only in his head, but that didn't stop him from spinning on his to locate her voice. His interest no longer belonged to Erza or Natsu, who stood before him.
Juvia. He yelled internally as his eyes scanned the field. Juvia, are you real?
"Gray-sama!" Seeing the fear in his eyes from his doubt, she called out to him again. "Juvia is okay!"
"Juvia!" He gasped; he felt his body shutting down as the anger that pumped through his veins wore out, and exhaustion slowly got the best of him.
Juvia saw as his knees buckled and his body swayed; despite Erza and Natsu being the closest, Juvia rushed towards him and caught him before he could crash to the floor. His eyes fluttered as he tried to focus on the girl he thought he had lost.
"You're real?" Gray tried to lift his hand to touch her, but his limbs felt too heavy. Juvia shushed him as she gently caressed his hair.
"Juvia is real, Gray-sama."
"You came back." Gray's hand clasped her as he felt himself succumbing to sleep.
"For you, Gray-sama." Juvia smiled, holding him closer to her chest, leaning her head on his. Their lips were only inches away, but Juvia felt the same wave of weariness take over.
Juvia carefully set him down before collapsing beside him. Wendy and the others rushed to them to ensure they were stable. Despite lying unconscious on the rubble, the couple held on to each other tightly, neither willing to live through the fear of losing each other again. No one else knew what they experienced in the in-between; no one else would understand how those moments felt.
Those moments of honesty, sharing each other's love, only to be separated by Juvia's devotion for Gray to live. Those minutes Gray thought she was dead had been the worst of his life. So, they held onto everything they had, their drained hands entangled together as a declaration to be at each other's side from now until the end because they both knew what they had was too real to let go.