Juvia-senpai

3. Yukino's problem

Yukino wasn't being her usual self .

Gray and Yukino were walking home after school. They usually take a road which leads to a junction were they part ways. They usually chat along the way, but that day Yukino was unusually quiet. Gray could tell that something was bothering the silver haired girl, but he was debating whether or not to ask her when his phone gave a 'ching!'.

It was a message from Yukino.

It was the notification message you get when you have been added as a person's emergency contact. Gray raised an eyebrow. He glaced at the girl, she gave him a smile.

"Just a precautionary measure Gray-sama," she said.

Gray almost believed her. Almost. But eyes didn't have the shine they usually do, she was acting as though she afraid of something. However Gray didn't press for an answer.

They reached the junction and it was time to part ways. Yukino didn't say anything and went on her way.

"Yukino!," Gray called. The silver haired girl turned back. "Just don't hesitate to give me a call if you need anything, okay?,"

"Will do Gray-sama!," the girl said smiling and both of them went them their separate ways.

(Line break)

"Thang.. yu.. frgh. Inviting mii," Natsu said inhaling his food.

He was currently with Gray, Gajeel, Levy, Lucy and Juvia in a restaurant. After the Loke incident the other day, Natsu calmed down and started to speak normally with them.

"I swear to god! How the hell do you talk while gobbling that much of food?!," Gajeel commented.

"its aagh gippht," Natsu said still gobbling down his food. All of them laughed at his behavior.

Gray wasn't paying attention to what was happening. all he could think was of Yukino. What was happening in her life? Why did she look scared? Was she safe? These were the kind of questions that floated in his mind.

"GRAY!!,"

"wha...," Gray was brought back to the present.

"Gray-tan is really silent. How unusual," Juvia commented.

"Are you thinking of Yukino?," Natsu teased. Immediately Lissana's ears shot up.

"Who's that?,"

"she's a classmate," Gray replied.

"Yeah she's just some girl Gray cuddles with," Natsu said.

"I WHAT?!,"

"OMG!," Lucy exclaimed.

"He hasn't mentioned her?? They are practically inseperable," Natsu said looking at Gray, who looked away with a pink tinge in his cheeks.

"I didn't know you had it in you Gray," Gajeel said.

"SHUT UP!,"

"Tell us more Natsu!," Levy asked.

"Everytime I see them, she's sitting in his lap," Natsu said sticking out his tongue.

"What?!?!," Everyone exclaimed.

"Stop twisting facts baka!!," Gray yelled. Natsu put on an amused look.

Gray's phone started vibrating. He took out his phone and whatever he saw, made his face pale white.

He quickly got up and without saying anything ran out of the café.

"What just happened?," Gajeel asked blinking.

Gray sprinted across alleys and shops dodging everything in his path. He had one objective in his mind: Reach Yukino.

If this is a nightmare, this would be a nice time to wake up, Gray thought to himself.

He kept checking his phone for her location every now and then. She had activated her emergency mode, which Gray sincerely hoped was just an accident.

He tried calling her, but he could reach only her voicemail.

He checked the location again.

300 meters

200 meters

Gray willed his body to not stop, no matter what.

This could be a prank a part of his consciousness said. But he didn't care. Right now he wanted to make sure that she was perfectly safe.

30 meters

20 meters

10 meters

He was approaching a cross section. There was very little traffic and no people around.

5 meters

He couldn't see her anywhere.

In the street he saw her phone, lying on the pavement.

He picked it up and stuffed it in his pocket.

"YUKINO!," he yelled.

"YUKINO!,"

Suddenly, he heard a muffled sound. He looked around, no one was around. He heard it again, this time a little louder.

He heard it again after a few moments. The sounds let him straight to a dark alley.

Gray walked inside. At some distance he could he someone was sitting on the ground. The person stirred upon hearing Gray's footsteps and looked back.

Gray could see him clearly. He had sandy coloured hair, and he had someone pinned down.

"Walk away buddy, this doesn't concern you," the boy said.

Gray kept coming towards him, his expression turning fearsome, upon seeing the scene before him. The person whom the boy had pinned down was a girl of his age with short silver hair; Yukino. He had managed to gag her and tie her hands.

Gray kept on advancing.

The sandy haired boy rose and faced Gray, baring his teeth.

He lept towards him and gave him a punch aimed for his face.

Gray dodged the punch midair and grabbed his wrist with one hand and his collar with another. With a burst of power Gray tossed him away. The boy crashed in a dumpster.

The boy got up and wiped the blood that was oozing from his lower lip.

He charged at Gray.

Gray planted a kick in his chest. It's brute strength was enough to send him right back into the dumpster.

He stared at Gray with anger. He gave Yukino the same look before getting up and fleeing away.

Gray untied his friend's hands and removed the piece of cloth from her mouth.

"You okay?," he asked. She looked at him with teary eyes.

"You came ....," she exhaled.

Gray looked at her and saw a bunch of different emotions.

"Of course I did," he said. "You asked me to,"

She could no longer hold back her cry.

"Thank you," she said as she continued to sob on his chest.

Gray was walking her home. The entire time they walked, she didn't mumble a word. She even prevented him from informing the police. He knew there was more to this story than just today. But he didn't press her for an answer.

Finally they reached her home.

"Well here we are. Well, take care Yukino. And give me a call if you need anything."

She just nodded.

As Gray walked away, she clutched his shirt.

Gray looked back.

"Stay," she said.