A Lost Boy

Chapter 29

Meredy didn't have time to react, once again Hades just snatched her up into his fist, held her over himself, and then shook her tiny body as if she were a common salt shaker. Her fairy dust fell on to him in mere seconds. Throwing her aside, he began to think of what made him happy which were nothing that the perfectly sane and moral man would find happy but that didn't matter in this case. He was lifted off the deck and into the air, taking Gray briefly by surprise.

"Looks like I have the high ground now boy." He said with great satisfaction. 

"We'll see about that." His young opponent said. "This won't change anything. Even if you can fly, I'll still beat you because I've had a lot more experience in this."

They flew around the ship, swords clashing as each rival fought to bring down the other and not stopping until their goals were met. 

"Not bad." Gray smirked as they fought in mid air. "For an old man!"

In that moment Hades might have exploded due to all the anger and frustration boiling up inside of him, going higher and with each insult Gray threw at his face. He would have killed to do something, anything to wipe that smug look off the boy's face and break his seemingly invulnerable spirit. Captain Hades had been so sure that if he could fly as well as Gray he would beat him no problem but a victory and defeat seemed impossible in this duel for despite their age differences, they were both equally matched in combat. Just like when he fought with Silver. 

However remembering that duel from years back allowed him to finally figure out how he could defeat his foe. Of course, what was he doing? He was using the wrong weapon. The weapon known as a sword wouldn't help him destroy Gray. A sword wouldn't cut his heart deep, deep enough to break him. But Hades now knew what weapon would and he knew just how to use it.

"You've gone quiet Captain." Gray said upon not hearing any curses or insults from him in the last three minutes. "Have you become afraid?"

"Of you? Never. But I know what scares you."

"Seeing you in a dress?"

"Mock me all you wish! Your words will no longer have any effect on me. For I now pity you."

"You pity me?" Gray laughed as if it were a joke. "

"I know what you are. You're a tragedy."

"Me? Tragic? I barely know the meaning of the word."

Gray raised his sword while looking very triumphant and proud but just before he could swing another attack, Hades said one sentence that would change his demeanor entirely.

"She was leaving you, Gray."

Instantly his smile fell and for a moment he became confused by what the pirate meant by those words, but he very quickly figured out the meaning when Hades pointed toward Juvia fighting off the other pirates and looking very happy for she felt assured that the battle would be won in the favor of her allies. Gray's eyes were completely glued to her pretty face and he found himself reminded that before all this occurred the girl had every intention of going home.

"Your Juvia was leaving you." Hades said with a malicious grin. "Why should she stay? What have you to offer? You are incomplete."

Gray was taken off guard and barely had time to defend himself when Hades lunged for another attack. 

"She'd rather grow up than stay with you." 

With those horrid words spoken, Hades punched Gray right up his chin and knocked him into a post. Gray tried to regain his confident composure but Hades was just getting warmed up.