Ghosts of the past

Chapter 15 : Bad idea

Hey guys! Here's the second part of the training chapter including the Gruvia moment I promised!

Enjoy!

Juvia woke up at dawn. In Phantom, she was used to wake up early. The morning was indeed the moment where she got the most out of her trainings. So she got out of her improvised bed and went for a jogging in the clearing next to their campsite. She however made sure she didn't get too far. When she came back, wiping the sweat from her forehead, she had the most wonderful vision of all: Gray. "My love finally woke up" she rejoiced herself. He was sitting close to Gajeel and Levy who where training, peacefully eating his breakfast. His body was even more sublime while the sunrays were hitting on his perfect bare chest. Decidedly, she was lucky Gajeel was there to occupy all of Levy's attention. Otherwise, Juvia was sure of it, Levy would have tried to run to Gray's arms a long time ago.

Then her heart filled with joy as her best friend handed a sword to Gray. She knew he had ordered a sword with custom for Levy, but she never doubted he had taken the same precautions for Gray. The sword may be more ordinary then the one he picked out for Levy, but it still was able to increase considerably his chances at survival.

Then she noticed Gray walking in her direction. Juvia's face turned in a redder shade when she saw him abandon his pants on his way. Normally, she should be used to his stripping habit, but the young woman just couldn't help but admiring him at every occasion.

"Hey Juvia! You didn't tell me you were good at sword fighting" he said in greeting.

She blushed a little more.

"Juvia isn't that good" she shyly said, playing with a strand of hair.

"Well, if Gajeel offers a compliment, it must be because he really thinks so" argued Gray. "Could you..."

He stopped for a moment, scratching the back of his head in an embarrassed gesture. He pretty much never asked for help. Even less to girls. Even less to a girl as pretty as Juvia. Okay... he had had around him a lot of girls that people classified as hotties. But her, he thought she was attracting. As a result, it was even harder to ask her for the much needed help.

"Could you show me how to fight with that thing?" he finally let out.

Without any surprise, Juvia screamed out of joy and excitement, trying to jump into his arms. As he did so many times before, he dodged the hug then unguarded his sword, ready to train.

Juvia was indeed excellent. More then that, she seemed born to teach the different techniques she was mastering. Gray was even surprised of his own quick progress. A couple of hours passed without seeing the time flying by. Then at some point, the young woman who always seemed to wear hot clothing took off her jacket to uncover a black thank top that seemed to be made for those kind of trainings. Against all expectations, it was Gray's turn to have to focus on not staring at the generous curves Juvia just enhanced. Of course, it wasn't hard to guess she was blessed by nature under her jacket, but now... He however continued the combat, not showing that he was a little destabilised.

They continued a little more. It had been a while since Gray had the opportunity to let go that much. Then he gave a bad hit with his sword on Juvia's. His weapon ricocheted and nicked the skin on his forehead just above his left eye. "Shit" he taught as blood fell on his eye. He expected Juvia to yell, babbling a whole lot of apologises, but she didn't do so. Instead, she calmly walked to her bag, taking out of it a piece of fabric and started to wipe off the blood.

She clearly had experience in that domain and had obviously been hurt more then once while herself training. Gray could see in her eyes the assurance of a soldier that had too often witness the horrors of combat. He understood more than ever at that moment that she hadn't have an easy life. He couldn't even comprehend how she could see everything in such a positive way. If he would have a life like hers, without knowing his parents and trained to be a soldier since a very young age, he probably would have ended up as unbearable as Gajeel, or even worst... if possible. On his behalf, he may also have lost his parents a long time ago, he had had Makarov's help as well as the support of all of those he taught as family in Fairy Tail. She had nothing of this except for Gajeel whom she obviously considered like her own brother.