Just Add Water

Chapter 32

After that last full moon incident Gray became determined to find a scientific explanation for all of this. Like most people with great level of intelligence he relied mainly on logic and reason. Things like magic just didn't make any sense to him and he didn't believe in it either much to the annoyance of Anna. So he began to study the girls in their mermaid form, watched them whenever they used their powers over water, and would occasionally take a hair sample from them which resulted in Erza hitting him. He kept a journal which he wrote notes in about what he had learned and observed. Lucy objected to the idea but he assured her he'd keep his journal locked and hidden so that no one would see what he had written. Or what he had sketched.

One afternoon he was working on something in his journal by the docks while waiting for the fish to bite. At that same time Natsu was going surfing and happened to notice him. He walked by to say hello but then became curious about what Gray was so busy with.

"Hey Gray whatcha doing?" He asked in a way that startled him.

"Nothing!" Gray said closing his journal before the surfer could see it.

"Oh really? Then why so quick to hide it?"

"Because it's none of your business. It's private."

"Are you keeping a diary?"

"No it's a research journal for a project I'm doing. I don't want anyone to cheat off my work or steal my idea."

"Okay fair enough. Hey look I think you got a bite." Natsu said pointing over to Gray's fishing pole.

"Really?"

When Gray turned his head to look, Natsu grabbed the journal from his hand and started to run around the docks with it. Gray chased him and tried to get it back before Natsu could read or see what was inside.

"Give it back Natsu!" He demanded.

"In a minute. I just wanna see what you're hiding."

Natsu opened the journal and looked inside. Gray felt as if he was going to panic. If Natsu read any of his notes and actually believed what was written, words could not describe how much the trouble would follow. The girls's secret could be exposed. They could be captured by the government or circus people, he didn't which scenario would be worse. And to top it all off Erza would probably kill him since technically it would be all his fault.

"This is what you call research?" Natsu chuckled before showing Gray the page he had turned to. It was a marked page which was why Natsu turned to that one instead of the others and on it wasn't his notes. It was a drawing. A few days back Juvia and Gray had gone to Tendrou Island for him to do some research. While he was examining some water samples from the sea and the moon pool he spotted Juvia perched on a rock looking out at the sun which was setting over the ocean's horizon. She had looked so beautiful in that position with the wind gently blowing her hair back and the sun's light bouncing off her skin and eyes that he couldn't help but think that it would make a very nice picture. So in that moment he sketched her image but made sure not to her tail inn the picture.

Though relieved that Natsu had found the drawing instead of the notes he was nevertheless upset by this discovery as well. 

"It's not what it looks like." Gray said. "Juvia asked me to draw that for her. She wanted a self portrait."

"Really? Then why was it in your journal?"

"I haven't finished it for her yet."

"Oh? Okay then you wouldn't mind if I talked to Juvia about this would you?"

"No!" He said in a panic. 

"Ha! I knew it!" Natsu laughed. "You like her."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No way."

"Yes way."

"You're crazy."

"You like her and you wanna look at her all the time don't you?" 

"Shut up! It's not true!"

"Then what's with the personal drawing?"

"It's not personal it's... It's none of your business why I drew it! And that's all I have to say!"

"Whatever man but hey don't feel embarrassed. I'm sure lots of guys would have the hots for her." Natsu said. "She's a cool chick with a hot figure."

"How's this? You talk about her figure again, I'll break your neck."

"Ooooo...You like her bad."

"No I don't but I don't like hearing people talk about her like that. She's a nice kid."

"Kid?! Dude you talk like she's six or something. You guys are the same age."

"You know what I mean! We grew up together. So of course we're close but there's no liking! That would just make things weird. And give me that!" He snatched the journal from him.

"So what was with the whole sea look she had in that picture?" Natsu asked. "You draw her as some sort of sea goddess or something?"

"No but Juvia has always had a certain interest in ocean myths and stories. You remember how when we were kids she loved the fairy tale the Little Mermaid? Well I uh...Paid some homage to it."

"Okay I guess that makes sense." Natsu said. "I still don't get why anyone would be interested in all that."

"What do you mean? The legends of those creatures are fascinating."

"Maybe to you but they give me the creeps. I mean half woman half fish, sounds like some kind of a monster."

"For your information they're actually very beautiful especially the ones associated with water itself...That is what I've read in books and seen in illustrations that is."

"You're more open minded than I am man. Honestly I'm glad they don't exist. If they did I would steer clear of them."

"So you're saying if you saw one in the water you'd run away screaming?"

"I wouldn't scream but I would stay away from them."

"Don't like mermaids huh?" Gray deduced before mumbling to himself. "Irony can be so funny."

"Hey listen I was wondering, do you know if Lucy is free this weekend?"

"I don't know. Why are you asking me? Why not ask her?"

"I'm worried that if I ask she'll lie about having plans. I need another date with her. One where nothing will go wrong."

"I thought you said she told you she wasn't interested in dating anyone."

"She did tell me that but reminder, some time after that she made out with me and acted like nothing happened. I need this second date so I can finally figure out if she's into me or not."

"All I can say is good luck. Because girls are complicated and I should know I spend everyday with three of them."

"Exactly. Which is why I was thinking maybe you and Juvia could convince her to go on a second date with me?"

"Who do you think we are? Eros and Psyche? We don't do matchmaking."

"Oh come on help a brother out. I'd do it for you."

Gray was about to say no again but Natsu gave him the pleading, big eye look. He caved and let out a huff of frustration.

"I guess we could mention it to her that going out with you again would be a good idea."

"Thanks man. You're the best."

"Yeah, yeah, just don't tell anyone about that drawing okay?"

"I won't say a word. I promise."