TAINTED. GRUVIA

02*

パンドラ pandora;

Juvia 水

J-Juvia killed S-Sting-kun....

But is it bad that it made me feel alive?

I feel awakened.

"Juvia. That's enough." Indira said, a small sly smirk playing at her lips.

My eyes widened a fraction as I realized that my old friend was lifeless in my Water Lock. I released him and watched him fall to the ground.

Pathetic, I thought. He looks so weak. So vulnerable.

A manic laugh arose in my throat, the sound rich as it escaped my lips. A power burned in me. It made me feel powerful, lively.

Scales smirked. "Are you enjoying this, Juvia?"

"I wouldn't say enjoying," I drawled, "it's more of a pleasurable feeling."

Urania raised a brow but I had a feeling she knew what I was talking about. "How so?"

"Oh, you know," I let out a small laugh, "I have the power over his life or his death. It's so tempting."

"Then welcome to Pandora," Kalio grinned. "I guarantee you'll enjoy your stay."

Gray 氷

Juvia, Juvia, Juvia. That was all that was going through my mind. I didn't know she would go this far. I thought she would be safer if I told her; she would stay at Fairy Tail and not follow me.

A smile curled at my lips. She's so persistent, it's cute.

Briar glared at me from across the table. "Have something to share?"

D-6 let out a disapproving grunt. "The punk's got nerve."

"No, carry on," I replied blatantly, ignoring D-6's comment.

"Sting Eucliffe was killed an hour ago," she said.

Sting?! No... This can't be possible, I thought.

"He was killed by Juvia Lockser," she added.

My heart stopped, a feeling of betrayal bubbled in me. No... It can't be, I thought. Juvia wouldn't do that. No, anyone but her.

She looked at all of us. "We need to kill Juvia Lockser."

Juvia 水

Pandora treated me well. I felt like a completely new person with what they did to me. I am learning to let go of my old self and embrace my new self.

They gave me my own room in Headquarters. It resembles my old one, but this one is better; the house is much more furnished and has a good amount of open space.

Kalio told me to throw away my outfit and hat and to change my hairstyle. She stated that I looked like an angry Russian woman. So now I wear a short dark blue dress that fades into a light blue, complete with pearl-rimmed boots. She straightened my hair and it's left loose down my shoulders.

I made my way across the living room, into my bedroom and slumped on my bed. I grabbed the Gray-sama doll on my pillow and hugged it close to my chest protectively.

Soon, my love. We will be together. No matter what it takes, I will find you and we will be together forever.

I made my way to the window and peaked up through the blinds and saw the sky. The gloomy, dark, depressing sky.

My door was flung open. "Juvia!" a man called, snapping me away from my thoughts.

I turned around to see Scales, his face calm but alerted. "We have some news."

"What is it?" I asked.

He paused for a second before speaking, "I just heard from Indira. Avatar is launching an attack on us tomorrow."

My eyes bulged as I boggled at him. "Avatar? The one with Gray Fullbuster?"

Scales nodded slowly. "Yes, but don't try to catch him. Leave it to one of us, he's way too powerful."

"No," I demanded. "He's mine. Leave him to me."

Scales sighed and walked me over to the others, his hands pressed firmly down on my shoulders. "Listen you little brat," he muttered into my ear, "I've wanted my vengeance on Gray Fullbuster for a long time now and I'm not going to let you finish him off by yourself. This is my chance, my opportunity, not yours."

I pulled one shoulder free and grabbed his wrist tightly, glaring at him. "I don't give a crap about your revenge. When life gives me an opportunity, I take it. I'm not going to feel pity for you and give into your lame stories. I follow my own path, I make my own decisions. I don't let others make my decisions for me."

Scales looked shocked but continued to glare at me, his black eyes never leaving my dark-blue ones. "Choose your words wisely, Rain Woman."

With that final warning, he walked off into the meeting room. I glared holes through the back of his shirt, following him into the meeting room. Indira, Urania, Kalio, and Alexe were waiting for us. With bored faces and half-lidded eyes.

On the touch monitor, there was a giant digital clock counting down. Currently at forty-five minutes and fifty-six seconds.

"What is this for?" I asked.

"That clock counts down to when Avatar is going to attack us," Urania said.

"And we're just going to sit here and wait?" I asked bitterly.

"No," Alexe sighed, "we're going to prepare for our counterattack."

"Right," Kalio smirked, "in less than a few hours, they will all be dead."

"S-shouldn't we keep a member as hostage?" I asked, fearing for Gray-sama's life.

"I don't think it's necessary," Kalio said, "we can find out everything when we finish them off, a hostage would be useless."

"Now, to pair up who gets to fight who," Indira announced, "Scales has already agreed to fight Gray Full-"

"No!" I exclaimed, making everyone turn to me and stare.

"What's wrong, Juvia?" Kalio asked.

"I have to fight Gray Fullbuster, I need to," I pleaded, still standing away from the group.

"Juvia, sit down," Indira sighed, "you know, this means a lot to Scales."

"Well it means more to me," I snapped, causing Scales to glare at me.

"Very well," Indira gave in, "just don't whine like that, it's annoying."

Scales' face twisted in anger as he continued to glare at me, but he didn't utter a word.

"Kalio will fight Jerome, Urania will fight Briar, I will fight Goumon and Abel, Alexe will fight Arlock and Mary, Scales will fight D-6, and Juvia will fight Gray Fullbuster." Indira announced. "This is the final change. Everyone get in position, we will bring down Avatar today and be the guild that Zeref will respect and entrust us to E.N.D.," she added with a smirk, "let's go."

I started running to the rooftop, where my battle would take place. Finally, I thought. Gray-sama and I will be reunited!