Ruthless Winds and Raging Seas

Chapter 32

The next day Fairy Tail left the little town and set a course for Tendrou Island. Though Erza, Gajeel, and Laxus could not help but notice that Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Juvia were acting a little differently. Juvia had become very melancholic recently while Natsu, Gray, and Lucy had become greatly confused. They were confused by the strange, new feelings stirring inside of them. Feelings that they had never felt before. And to make things more akward, Natsu and Lucy avoided each other while Gray avoided Juvia.

"What's the matter with them?" Erza asked Gajeel as they raised up the sails together.

"Don't look at me. I'm not a mind reader."

"I've asked Natsu and Gray if everything is ok, they both say that everything is fine but I know that's a lie. I can always tell when they're lying."

"I didn't think holy boy could lie."

"He can he just doesn't like to. That's why he's so bad at it. I asked Lucy, she told me the same thing but I haven't known her long enough to tell if she's lying or not."

"I'm more concerned about Juvia."

"What do you mean? What's wrong with her?"

"She just seems so... Disappointed."

"Disappointed? By what?"

"Again I am not a mind reader. Especially when it comes to the mind of a woman. If I did I'd probably be married by now."

"Well she doesn't exactly keep quiet about her feelings. Why don't we talk to her?"

"Okay."

They found her looking over the side of the ship, watching the ripples of the ocean surface. She couldn't help but think of her sisters and how foolish they would think she was. For falling in love with a human and expecting that love to be returned so she could gain a soul. It was no use, at the end of her life she would just turn to sea foam and cease to exist like every other mermaid before her. It made her sad because it made her feel like her life held no meaning. None what so ever.

But perhaps she shouldn't take it like that. True it would seem that she would never earn Gray's love or a soul but there was one victory she had accomplished during her stay above the waves. She now knew what it felt like to love someone with all her heart. Truth be told it was all she ever really wanted. To know and feel the wonderful emotion that humans had been blessed with known as love. It wasn't everything that she had hoped to obtain from the human world but it was enough. 

"Juvia can we talk to you?" Erza asked.

"Of course. What about?"

"Do you have any idea why Natsu, Lucy, and Gray are acting so weird?" Gajeel asked.

"I couldn't say."

"Then could you tell us why you've been looking so down lately?" Erza asked.

"I'll tell you if you promise not to tell Gray that this is what made me this way."

"Why? What did he do? He didn't hurt you did he?"

"No. It's just that...The other day in town we had a wonderful time and for a brief moment I thought...I thought..." She trailed off.

"I thought that he returned my feelings."

"Your feelings?"

"She's in love with holy boy." Gajeel said.

"Oh...You love Gray?"

She nodded.

"What did he exactly do that made you think that he returned your romantic feelings?" Gajeel asked.

"He kissed me."

"He kissed you?!"

"Yes and for a hopeful moment I thought that meant he loved me but then he told me he did it to be helpful. Just like how we merfolk will sometimes kiss land creatures to give them strength or the ability to breathe underwater. So I now realize that my love will never be returned. But please don't ever tell him this, I don't want him to feel guilty. He can't help it if he doesn't love me."

"Juvia could you excuse us for a moment?" Gajeel said pulling Erza below deck to talk. "Erza where's Gray?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because I'm gonna toss him overboard."

"What?!"

"He deserves it! The nerve of him, trifling with the feelings of a woman. A woman who happens to be very desperate for love. I thought he was better than that."

"Gajeel we're talking about Gray here. I mean he's a twenty year old man and he's still a virgin. I don't think he'd take advantage of a woman."

"Well then why would he kiss her? I know it's not for the reasons she thinks."

"I have a theory. Maybe he does return her feelings."

"Aww man. That's even worse."

"How is that worse? I think that it would be just wonderful if they got together. He's negative and cold and she's positive and warm. She'll bring out the best in him and he's very faithful and loyal, he'd make a good husband. Though I don't think they should marry so soon."

"You're forgetting two things. He's a human, she's a mermaid, they're not the same species. It would never work."

"You just don't believe in love. That's your problem."

"That's not true! I believe in love I just don't believe in the love between two different species!"

"Love conquers all."

"No it doesn't. They're better off apart."

"If she loves him and he loves her then what's the problem?"

"Sometimes love just isn't enough!"

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been where they are!" He snapped in a way that made Erza become quiet. After a moment of silence, calmed down.

"You loved someone once?" Erza guessed.

"Yes. I know it seems impossible but I once knew what it was like to love and be loved in return. But we were much too different and if we were to ever be together, it would bring about her end."

"Who was she? And why couldn't you be together?"

"That's not important. All you need to know is that I'm not against Juvia's love for Gray to be cruel. I'm against it because I know the pain and suffering of a love that can never be. Yes it hurts when you love someone and they don't return your feelings but there is a pain that is ten times worse than that. It is when you love someone and they return your love but you have to be apart anyway because you can't bear the thought that you could be the thing that destroys the person you love the most."

"I don't understand." Erza said. "How could you destroy someone that you love? That doesn't make any sense."

"I didn't think it was possible either but it is and that awful pain is where she's headed. She and Gray are both so good and selfless, it would be cruel for them to suffer through that heartache."

"You know something Gajeel." Erza said giving his shoulder a gentle pat. "You're much kinder than you let on. I mean I always figured that deep down you were a good person but I never thought that you could be so caring and considerate."

"Don't tell anyone okay?" He said trying not to smile. "If the other guys find out that I have a soft side they won't respect me anymore."

"It'll be our little secret. I understand why you feel this way Gajeel but most of the time it's better to have a broken heart instead of a frozen one."

"Maybe." He sighed but he wasn't sure if she was right.