To Any Cost

Chapter 4: What's the big deal?

Hello again! I'm trying to lengthen my chapters out a bit, but I how this turned out ok!!! ;)

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   It seemed like a normal day at the guild. Other than the fact that the Fairy Tail Guild was currently an over-grown shack, life seemed normal. Unlike yesterday, however, this day was not going to be a quiet, confined one. The guys were back to stay, but only becuase there were no more jobs to take.

   It was a little dark out, even though it was almost nine in the morning, and the breeze in the air was bitter enough to freeze any normal person's bones. Of course, no one at Fairy Tail was normal. Juvia liked the gloominess in the weather, but she couldn't help but wishing the sun would come out. Frost had enveloped the window panes of several shops and apartments, and blanketed the roof tops of most of the buildings in Magnolia. Juvia sighed, "Juvia likes winter. It reminds her of Gray-sa-" she caught herself. 'No. Mira told Juvia not to talk about Gray-sama.' She shook her head sadly as she made her way to the guild.

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   "Hello, Juvia!" Mira called from the bar, "Can I get you something?"

   Juvia dropped down onto one of the seats in front of the bar, "Juvia just wants water," she sighed unhappily.

   "Juvia, what's the matter?" Mira frowned in concern.

   "Juvia misses her Gray-sama. Juvia doesn't want to ignore him!" the water mage wailed, putting her head in her arms.

   "Instead of focusing on that, start focusing on how much he'll want to talk to you afterwards," Mira pointed out.

   "That's right!" Juvia sat up, smiling regained confidence, "Juvia didn't think about it that way!" 

   "Here," Mira handed her something hot and steaming in a thick, black mug, "I know it's not the glass of water you ordered, but it seems to chear a lot of people up!"

   She took a whiff of the steam, then smiled even brighter, "Peppermint tea is Juvia's favorite!"

   Mira smiled as she watched people slowly trickle in. 'My ships are going to be canon,' she thought giddily, 'And no one is going to stop them from happening...'

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   When Gray reached the guild, something felt off, like some part was missing from it. Slowly opening the door, he strutted inside, heading towards his normal place at the bar.

   "Hello, Gray!" Mira giggled as she dried a wine glass.

   "Oh hey, Mira," Gray answered as he continued to scan the guild. Everything seemed normal.

   "What can I get you?"

   "Oh, uh,,," he thought for a minute, "You still do Peppermint Tea here, don't you?"

   "Of course!" Mira turned away with a smiled on her face.

   "Men don't drink tea," Wakaba from a nearby table scoffed.

   "Yeah, well you're drinking it," Macao raised his eyebrows, gesturing towards the drink in his friends hand.

   "Yeah, uh..." Wakaba laughed nervously.

   "Drink Mira's tea!" Elfman exclaimed, "That's a real MAN!"

   "Oh shut up, Elfman," Evergreen grumbled.