● BLACK ▪ BLUE● ¤Gruvia¤

•3•

Juvia peeked around the corner of a crate. There was Gray, working away at the rebuilding of the guild. She blushed as she realized that his shirt had vanished once again. Her fingers worked nervously on a brass button from her coat, and she bit her lip, wondering that if "observing" him was too creepy. Probably yes, the mage decided, but she continued.

Juvia just had to find a way to get into Fairy Tail. Not only for her Gray-sama, but because she knew she couldn't remain an independent mage for so long. She wasn't like Gran; her fame wasn't so widespread that she would get a flood of requests as an independent mage. And she wondered where Gajeel-kun was; she'd have to bring him along.

Toto had been the only one to tell her what he was going to do. Everyone else had vanished without a word, dispersing. She knew that some of them would join dark guilds. Some would join official guilds, some would be independent, maybe some would just give up being mages.

"I'll be a teacher!" Totomaru told her proudly as they sat in the remains of the battle. She was rubbing dirt and scrap metal out of Gajeel's wounds while he talked. "I'm going to travel for a while, get even better, then I'll teach Fire Magic to kids."

"That sounds great!" She Told Him.

Juvia had a plan, too. Get into Fairy Tail. She just needed to find a way to get in. Would they even let her join after all the grief she caused them? Maybe. She was just more worried about Gajeel-kun getting in. After all, he wrecked their hall, nearly killed three of them, and tortured the Heartfilia (LOVE RIVAL) girl.

"I'm going home!" she heard Gray shout. "Be back tomorrow."

Juvia shouldered her backpack further. She'd head back to her inn, too. Making sure no one was watching, she crept behind the crates until she was out of the construction zone. Juvia smiled while she walked, looking up at the sky. She reached her hand up to it, wondering if she could touch those fluffy white wisps of water. The warmth of the sun bathed her skin. She would forever love the feeling.

The inn she was staying at was on the very edge of town, and therefore not fantastic. She hardly ever got sleep; the person below her stayed up all night drinking and swearing (bringing back unpleasant memories of her father), and the people in the room next to her had sex all the time. All. The. Damn. Time.

She took a shower and changed into her flannel pajamas, then sat down at the miniscule desk the room provided. Out of her bag came a silver letter opener (a gift from Aria for her last birthday) and she cut open the lapel to a blue envelope. The remains of the gray wax seal crumbled on the desk. She swept them off.

Her grandmother's official parchment, red and blue, was nearly empty. It had only a few sentences on it.

Juvia,

I heard about your guild and Fairy Tail. Also that your guild disbanded. Are you alright? Do you want to come home?

Love you lots,

Gran

She took her own parchment from a desk drawer, opened up a little ink bottle, and began to write her own reply.

Gran,

I'll be home soon. Give me a month or so.

Love you more,

Juvia

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"There goes the last of Juvia's savings," she muttered, fiddling with her short dress. She'd never worn a dress so short, and it made her feel naked.