TAINTED. GRUVIA

10.5*

ハンター hunter;

Gray 氷

How long? How long had it been since she left? Since she disappeared?

"Gray..." Lucy's voice called out, thick with worry. "You need to sleep."

I looked at the map in front of me. Words, circles, and lines were scrawled all over. It was a little wrinkled, as if someone crumpled it up and then smoothed it back out again. Weeks of frustration and sorrow were visibly worn into it.

"The weather's really nice today. It's raining, but the sun's still shining. A warm, summer rain... isn't that nice?"

Raining. What was the point in going outside and enjoying the rain when Juvia was missing? Sure, it looked quite resplendent outside, but it was raining—so Juvia must be out there somewhere, and not happy. On top of all that, it was my fault. If only I had been more open to her, then this never would have happened. If only I told her that I was simply undercover, then I wouldn't have lost her.

I was using Lucy's house to hideout while I informed Avatar that I was going on a quest for the weekend. Lucy was understandably shocked when I arrived at her house with no clothes on and a tattered map. I'd been tracking her down for months, but she was no where to be found. Really, Erza should have informed me sooner, but I understood her reasons for keeping it from me.

Now I was too invested.

"Gray—?"

"Dammit, Lucy!" I slammed my hand on the table. It stung my palm and the tingling pain spread to my fingers, but I didn't flinch.

God. What was I becoming?

"I'm—I'm sorry," I stammered, running a hand through my messy hair, though I didn't get too far due to the tangles.

"Gray, you need sleep," Lucy begged, heading to the bed and arranging some pillows for me to sleep on.

I felt terrible for taking her kindness for granted. Lucy had dangerously offered me her hospitality and brought me food three times a day, and I never uttered a single "thank you." Hell, I barely even spoke to Lucy the three days I had been holed up in her room. She was risking her skin for me, and I was treating her like my maid.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Hollow eyes, sunken cheeks, tousled hair—I was a mess. I poked at the bags under my eyes, as if they would disappear if I touched them. They were very real, and so was everything around me that I failed to acknowledge.

Juvia's disappearance was consuming me. My entirety, my soul, my strength—all drained and washed out. Exerting all my energy like this drained me of any power to do anything but find Juvia.

Find Juvia. Find Juvia. Find Juvia. That was all I could think about.

"You're right... sleep is a good idea," I managed to muster, yawning through my words. I was suddenly to dizzy to stay awake. I was dangerously toeing the line of consciousness.

I dropped my pen with a clatter and had Lucy help me into the bed. I weakly found my way, stumbling and tripping. It was incredible that I managed to work in this condition.

"Thank you," I mumbled to Lucy as my head hit the soft pillow. Sleep was drawing me in and blurring my vision, but I managed to see Lucy smile. I felt the tight embrace of Sleep holding me down and luring me in—

"Lucy, we found Juvia!" Natsu burst into Lucy's place with no respect for the door's hinges.

"Is that Gray?!" Erza shrieked and a furious look crossed her face. "Why in the world is he here?!"

"Shit, he wasn't supposed to hear!" Natsu groaned, inching slowly away from Erza, who was about to explode.

Lucy sweatdropped. "Erza, look—"

Adrenaline coursed through me and shot me up in the bed. Sleep no longer had any grip on me; I felt completely in control.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "Where is she?"