Gray's P.O.V.

Geez, this mission was a total disaster. Juvia kept clinging to me, thinking that we could fight together, but she kept restraining me, so I couldn't do anything! Dammit, because we kept unison raiding, we desrtroyed more than half the town, taking away our reward. And now we're walking home, completely rewardless and the shame of destroying a tow- "Uh?" I stop dead in my tracks. What is that?

"Gray-sama? Is something wrong, my dear?" Juvia asks, staring up at me in concern.

"Uh- yeah. I just want to check something out. You go on ahead." I tell her, looking in the direction that I heard the sound.

"Well, if my prince is bothered by something, I must come along-"

"Juvia, what would help me the most right now is if you left me alone and went back to the guild!" I snap. She jumps back slightly, her face obviously shocked.

Pouting, she looks up at me, her eyes sad, and she says, "All right. If Gray-sama wants me to leave, then I shall. But if you're ever in danger, just call out for me, all right?" I just ignore her and look the other way, the direction of the sound. Then I hear footsteps walking away slowly, and obviously tentatively. Each step taken got quieter and quieter. After at least ten minutes, they finally disappeared, and the area was dead silent. Almost. There's that sound again. It's soft, and high-pitched, but barely audible at all. Walking forward, I try to listen to the sound. It's hard. I turn left from the road to try and find it, but it's just getting quieter. Then I go back.

For now, it's probably best if I keep walking forward. Ignoring the right gravel path, I continue on the road, wakling forward until the next thing I know, the right side path starts getting steep, leaning down as a hill slowly creates itself, revealing a glimmering river. I remember this river. I used to come here all the time when I was little. There was even one time when I completely beat up Natsu here. That was enjoyable. Walking more and more along the path, I realize that the sound grows slightly lowder, but still dim. It's obviously trying to be quiet. But it sounds familiar... almost sad. Whimpering? No... it's more. Someone's crying.

I then stop there, trying to listen for the sound. Where is it coming from? I look to my left. Unlikely. Only a grass plain that way, no chance that I'd miss someone crying. I actually wonder who designed the city sometimes, there's just a random huge patch of grass surrounded to its left, right and back by buildings; and by the front, well, this path. This time I look to my right and down. Nothing ahead there, but then I trail my gaze along the lake, and that's when I see it. Scarlet hair flowing beautifully with the breeze. And its owner, and equally beautiful woman sitting in front of the river, her arms hugging her legs tightly to her chest, and her face digging inside the cave between her knees and her lower neck area.

Instinctively, I run down the hill in her directions, my feet thumping against the durt aand grass of the hill. Startled, she looks up at me, her hazel brown eyes looking sad, almost desperate, and filled with tears. That sight shocks me so much, that I try to stop, but the hill is too steep, so I end up tripping over my own feet and falling down. I roll down, painfully hitting a rock or stick every so often. Thank god sticks and stones don't break my bones that easily. [:A/N: not in an action descriptive mood, sorry :P]

After tumbling down the hill, I use my arms to pull myself up, standing on my hands and knees. But then I hear a little grunt. I didn't say that. This time, someone whined an ow. That's not my voice. I open my eyes quickly and see the scarlet haired girl lying on her back. But then I realize, she's lying under me.

"Erza!" I blush so much that I immeditely jump up and look away. God dammit, that was embarrassing!

"Gray," she says firmly. I look back, the heat gone from my face. She's brushing herself off, but then looks up at me with an extremely serious face. "What are you doing? I thought you were on a job with Juvia?" she asks, in more question than her face shows.

"Uhh... well, we got back not too long ago, but..." I pause, remembering how I treated her, making me feel a bit guilty, "She decided to go ahead of me to the guild. I stayed back and then I saw you."

"I see. Well then, we should probably head back to the guild," she says while walking away, but before she goes far, I run up to her and grab her wrist, makeing her turn in a shock. Our faces only a few inches from each other, I notice that her eyes are actually somewhat red, and her nose too.

"Hey, are you all right?" I ask, straightening up a bit. She glares at me, as if I step into her turf when I wasn't suppose to, but I brush it off and glare back, but in a way that tells her that I want to know what's wrong.

"I'm fine," she grunts, attempting to whip out her hand, but I just tighten my hold around her wrist, protesting and not letting anyone leave until she tells me. "Listen, there's nothing wrong now let go of my hand!" she barks, fighting a bit more, but I keep my hold on it anyway. The fact that she's not able to take her arm out of my grasp proves that she's not feeling like herself. Normally, she'd be able to throw me into the river with no problem with a single flick of her wrist. Literally.

In annoyance, I huff and then tighten my grip even more, pulling her just slightly closer, "No, you listen. I can tell you're upset Erza. And I want you to tell me what's wrong, and I won't let either of us leave until you do." she growls through clenched teeth, but I don't care.

"Then I guess we won't be going anywhere for a long time." she says, resting her arm.

"Erza," I mutter. I stare into her hazel eyes, still serious and a bit red. For some reason, as if on instinct, I embrace her and wrap my arms around her, letting go of her wrist. even though she's confused, she hugs me back. At least now she knows she's not alone. Unlike when we were little.

~~~~~~~~

"Id' rather be alone."

"Well, if that's so, why are you crying."

"So, you're not gonna fight me then?"

"I can't fight a girl who's cryin'!"

"... I wasn't crying"

~~~~~~~~~

After that, she'd run off. She didn't believe that she needed to be with people. She'd always hide herself behind her armor, a place where she could protect her heart and keep it from shattering. But that didn't help, all it did was keep her distant from others. And all though she's finally found that out 7 years ago during after the tower of heaven incident that we were dragged into, she still wears that armor, as if there's still something not right. Something she wants to protect it from. Something she's afraid of. Something, or someone.

I then feel her chest shaking against mine, and more whimpering like the ones before. I look down at her, her eyes and nose are slightly more red, and tears are flowing down her pink tinted cheeks. I hug her more, gently stroking her soft beautiful hair. And we stay this way for a long time before she stops crying and we go back to the guild.

Although the brave warrior was not ready to express her feelings at that moment, over thime, she was able to lift the weight off of her chest. And the very first person to hear it, was the very ice wizard who had pulled her into an embrace that moment.

GrayZa one-shot