A Lost Boy

Chapter 22

Gray was not gone long and when he returned he found all the boys gathered around Juvia, looking very excited about something. For a moment he felt relieved, thinking that their excitement was because she had changed her mind and decided to stay. But that relief turned back to disappointment when he saw their expressions change upon seeing that he had returned. They had gone from excited to worry, the kind of worry that a child gets when they're about to ask a parent for something they know that said parent would disapprove of. 

"I have arranged a fairy guide to lead you back." He said calmly but not in a way to hide how he really felt.

"Gray." Juvia said standing up from the group and walking toward him. "We've been talking and...What if you all came back with us? You and the lost boys?"

"Can we go? Please?" The four boys implored. They took it for granted that if they went he would go also, but really they scarcely cared. Thus children are ever ready, when novelty knocks, to desert their dearest ones.

"If you wish it." He replied again.

They were all lit with smiles that were brighter than stars and at once the boys jumped with joy.

"Hurry now." Juvia said to the boys. "Get your things."

"And you're sure that your parents won't think us rather a handful?" Elfman asked in the middle of his jump.

"Oh no." Juvia said rapidly thinking it out. "Mother and Father will do their best to find you all suitable parents and until then they'll gladly let you stay with us."

With that said all the boys, including Natsu and Romeo immediately rushed to get their things. Gray and Juvia were left alone in the room, he had a look on his face that made her heart sink.

"You can come too." She offered. "I know you think grown ups are all horrible but they're not. You could have good parents who love you and take care of you."

"Would they send me to school?" He inquired craftily.

"Yes."

"Then to an office?"

"I suppose so."

"Soon I should be a man."

"If you were to leave this place and come live in Magnolia then yes it would be inevitable."

"I thought so. You can't catch me and make me a man."

"Gray."

She raised her hand to gently touch him but he moved away from her.

"I want to always be a boy and have fun." He smiled bitterly.

Poor Juvia felt her heart sink even deeper.

"You say so, but I think it is your biggest pretend." She said. "You claim that this life makes you happy and maybe it has for a very long time but I don't think it will be enough for you. Not forever."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I think I've learned something about you. You're afraid of being alone. That is why you bring other children here. Yes you do believe that by doing that you're rescuing them from a terrible life but you also do it because subconsciously you can't bear your own loneliness."

His expression did not change and he even laughed at little, trying to convince her that her theory was just a ridiculous notion but the look in his eyes confirmed that her theory was a fact. Because those eyes were pleading with her not to leave him all alone. He was cocky, he was brave, he was clever, he could fly, he could fight, he could do things no other child could do. He was no ordinary child. But that didn't change the fact that ordinary or not, he was still a child and all children dreaded being alone. 

"You think that if you leave I'll be unhappy." He said. "But I won't. Nothing can make me unhappy. I have no unhappy thoughts."

"Do you understand that once I leave I won't be able to come back?" She asked.

"I do and I do not care. I can always find other children to bring here, I've been doing it for years. I won't cry or fuss or blubber once you're gone. I'll continue living everyday like I normally do and eventually you'll just be a faded memory."

"Is that what you think you'll become to me once I grow up? A faded memory?"

He didn't answer. He just went off to his own room. Juvia accepted that she couldn't persuade him to change his mind so she went to prepare herself for the trip back. The boys had already packed up their things and were most eager to leave. The fairy guide Gray had brought waited for them patiently but sadly met a quick end when he heard the unfeeling voice of Hades whisper suddenly:

"There's no such thing as fairies."

The poor creature then dropped dead and Hades flicked his tiny corpse away before proceeding toward the hideout with his crew.

One by one each of the boys went up the stairway which lead out of the underground house. Juvia was the last one out but before she left she filled a small cup with a little water and sap which she then placed on to a table just outside of Gray's room.

"At least remember to take your medicine." She said softly. "Goodbye Gray."

She was hurt that he didn't even have the decency to say goodbye to her or the boys. But rather than scold him for it, she just went on her way. As soon as she came out, she found Natsu, Romeo, and the lost boys all tied up and gagged. Next thing she saw was the entire crew of Grimoire Heart surrounding them. She tried to scream but she was gagged herself by one pirate called Rustyrose. 

"None of that." He said gripping her arms so she couldn't run either. "It is most improper for a lady to scream."

The other pirates laughed at his comment, although Hades just gave a vindictive chuckle as he faced the young girl. 

"A new era begins now." He said. "Take them away."

With that order given, the pirates immediately left for their ship with Juvia being forcibly carried over Rystyrose's shoulder and the boys being dragged along by the ropes that binded them. Speaking of the ship, back in Captain Hades's quarters Meredy was trying every thing she could to escape from the lantern case she was trapped in. She tried to break the glass by beating and kicking it but her tiny fists and feet just weren't strong enough. Nor was she strong enough to tip the lantern over. There was seemingly no way out. That is until she heard the sound of Grimoire Heart's parrot laughing at her. 

There it stood across from the desk, sitting on his perch, mocking her failure with it's excruciating voice. Oh she would just love to get even with that small vulture. Then she got an idea.

"Hey you!" She called to get his attention. "Are you really a bird or just a rat with wings and feathers?"

The parrot glared at her, she responded by blowing it a raspberry. The parrot squawked and flew over to the desk. Good, he was close but not close enough.

"I bet the reason the crew didn't bring you along is because of your really tiny and really stupid bird brain." She taunted. "Who's a stupid bird? Who's a stupid bird? Stupid Polly want a cracker?"

That really made the parrot angry and in rage it lunged for the lantern case, knocking it over in the process, which broke the glass, and thus freeing Meredy. She flew off the desk, the parrot chased her but she led it into a small port hole which was big enough for her to get through but not the bird pursuing her. So the nasty parrot got stuck.

"Wow you really are a stupid bird." She snickered before flying away.