The Skull Hidden in the Sand

Lisanna Is A Green-Eyed Monster?!

A/N: Asuka and friend, from the previous chapter.

"Does Gray need something?" Juvia asked when the door had swung shut behind them.

"I, uh, just gimme a second..." Gray ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to think of what to say. "First off, I'm...I'm sorry for...treating you badly..." His voice trailed off and he hesitated.

"...was that all? Gray has been protesting for some time that he does not return Juvia's affections. Juvia has just realized it, that's all. If that's all Gray had to say..." Juvia turned and started to leave.

Gray yanked her back by her wrist and pushed her up against the counter. He blocked her in with his body. "W-w-what is G-Gray-sama doing?" Juvia stuttered, blushing slightly and reverting back to 'Gray-sama' in her flustered state.

"I'm not done yet." Gray mumbled lowly. "Be patient." Juvia nodded jerkily.

Gray closed his eyes. Inhale. Exhale. You can do this. "I wasn't pretending."

"What?"

Gray opened his eyes again. "Back at the mudslide. I wasn't pretending to care."

"Gray-sama..."

"I was so panicked that I, uh, kinda forgot it couldn't hurt you, okay?!" Gray's face was approximately the same shade as Erza's hair.

"But, then...why did Gray-sama ignore Juvia? Juvia was...very sad..."

"This is gonna sound really shitty, but...it was because I finally got you to leave me alone and I didn't want you to start bothering me again." Gray looked down, feeling ashamed.

"Juvia just really loves Gray-sama!"

"Yeah, I know." He gave her a lopsided smile. "It's just...maybe we can tone it down a little?"

Juvia nodded up and down very fast. "Yes, Juvia will do anything for Gray-sama! That might be a little hard though..."

Gray gave a chuckle. "Then how about I be more...forward and you be a little more...uh..."

"Subtle?" Juvia supplied.

"Yeah, that'll work."

"Yay!" Juvia threw her arms up and leaned forward before suddenly freezing and tucking them back behind her back. "Juvia forgot." She said, a little sheepishly.

Gray let out a laugh. "Alright, just this once." Juvia very carefully wrapped her arms around his shoulders and they hugged. Unbeknownst to them, the rain outside stopped and the sky began clearing. Due to this, they now could hear the enormous ruckus going on by the pool. "What the hell is that?" Gray asked, leaning back slightly to stare at the closed door.

"Juvia hopes Fairy Tail isn't destroying anything." Juvia said worriedly. The pair gave a twitch when the door suddenly opened, revealing a soaking-wet Aras.

"What do you want?" Gray growled, pressing himself harder against Juvia possessively, as if protecting her from the interloper.

"Aras-kun, what happened to your face?!" Juvia asked, when she noticed the blood covering most of one cheek.

The greeter walked past them and went into a supply closet and started rooting around. "The short story is careless parents = careless kids and careless kids = injuries of others. And careless kids + injuries of others + Fairy Tail kids + careless parents = almost brawls." Aras explained, voice muffled slightly. "Though now that I'm here..." The greeter re-emerged, holding a first-aid kit. "I feel obligated to remind you that men aren't allowed in the women's restroom."