Stripping the Feline

Prologue: The Player's Dilemma

She had fallen for him. She had fallen for the guy without the latter making such effort. That's it. An effortless and flawless scheme, he thought.

Before long, the once infatuated woman would only be contented on settling herself in a distance, sometimes behind the shadows of Fairy Tail's walls, peeping through holes just to get her fill of seeing the guy, even just for a few seconds. Though most of the time, the woman would end up getting caught by her subject of affection and be brushed away coldly, her feelings just grew more and more intense as each days flew.

Then the time came when she was finally recruited by the guild's master. He never really knew what had happen between the two of them. He was told that during the fight between Phantom Lord Juvia was a former member of the Element Four, the Dark Guild's strongest members, and that she had a showdown with the ice mage where guild members also told him that Juvia lose on purpose. Why she did that no one knows why. Since she became a member of Fairy Tail her eyes were always on Gray, so no one could really ask her what really happened during the fight. There were few times when his master and Levy had dared asked her but unexpectedly, Lucy received a fierce glare and the title 'love rival.' 'The hell', he thought. 'She's really head over heels on him. What a flawless scheme indeed.'

Sometimes he thinks the rain woman is a masochists-enjoying herself being ignored. Even though she always ended up like that, her feelings for the exhibitionist just grew much deeper as it drowned her. The worst case scenario? Gray didn't even lift a frozen finger to do anything. Really, an effortless and perfect scheme, and so he thought.

And that thought makes his blood boil and his animalistic side roar.

He is Loke. Leader of the 12 Zodiacs, the perfect gentleman every woman dreamed of. His dashing looks, smooth talk, the way he leads a lady up to his well tailored-suit makes him the epitome of manly perfection. Not to mention the fact that he ranked #2 on the Weekly Sorcerer's Magazine as 'The Most Eligible Bachelor You want To Have as a Boyfriend' under Seigrain (Jellal) and #1 in Fairy Tail's ranking of the same category added popularity to him. And because of that, every woman in town flocks to him whenever he's spotted, much to the dismay and irritation of his master.

Yes, he is Loke. The player and a lady's man. But that was before he met his new master, Lucy Heartfilia. Before, he was everybody's Loke. But now he just wanted to be Leo, the ever faithful, caring and loving servant of Lucy Heartfilia. Before, he was just an exiled, lost spirit who had committed an unforgivable sin that even his own cannot bring justification on his past actions. He was a murderer, an unreliable servant, a useless tool that caused, though indirectly, the death of his former owner Karen Lilica. Yes, he was supposed not just to suffer, but to die as well.

But not until Lucy came for him in the nick of time, realizing who he really was and why he was like that. He was dying, he knew it, that there's no escaping his verdict until Lucy made a miracle out of nothing, even standing and defending him from the spirit king himself. Though not the strongest mage there was, she even summoned all her gold and silver keys to have their support for him, to prove that there's nothing wrong in standing up for your friend's sake. It was risky, stupid, he thought. He is a spirit who has lived eons of years than Lucy and that he know the rules more that her. He was convinced that time that whatever Lucy had in mind was futile as he was guilty. And he has finally acknowledged it even from the start.

He was dying. He was letting go until she said things that stirred his mind. 'You wanted to vanish to atone for your sins? Then don't you know how we will feel about it?', and 'If I can't protect my friends, then what is the use of having magic?' and lastly, 'If that is the rule, then I will change it.' Those words etched themselves on his being, and as he received forgiveness from the spirit king and was given to Lucy, he vowed that very day that he will protect her with all his life, just like she did to him.

And that he did. He was always protecting her, watching over her even from the astral plane. Most of the time he will force his gate open just to make sure his master is doing well, and remind Lucy that he will always be by her side no matter what happens. That all she needed to do was call him.

He was doing quite a good job until he realized something. He was falling for his master. At first, he tried to acquaint it with his feelings towards other girls he had been before, thinking that it was natural for him to feel something for his savior. Gratitude perhaps? Yes, that would be it. She saved him so it was natural to be thankful and feel something deep for her. After all, he is Leo the spirit of the lion, belonging to the cat family, and cats will only be loyal to those who had tried the hardest way to earn their trust.

And that thing Lucy had unconsciously did. She had unceremoniously put her life on the line for him. And that was enough for Loke to love his master. He may have not yet stop his old habit of flirting and dating very girl in Magnolia but his heart and loyalty already belongs to his master. He was inlove with her. And he has vowed to do anything it takes for his master to notice and reciprocate his love.

He is Loke, the perfect gentleman, and was trained to handle women. The lady Loke wants, the lady Loke gets. That is him, for no one sues like Loke. From flowers to chocolates, teddy bears and dates, it all takes a couple of his winks and irresistible smiles to have his girl. He is the ideal boyfriend of all the ladies in Magnolia that they even agreed to share Loke with each other. Every woman wants him but Lucy.

He has tried everything known to men on how to get the attention of the girl you like. Yes, everything he had tried but nothing happened. Still, Lucy just brushed him off every time he declares his love for her. He had courted her, flirted with her. He even used his magic (Light of Love) to add some romance when he confessed to her after he had saved her from Bixlow but she just shrugged it off.

Well, who can't blame Lucy? I mean, everyone knows what a playboy Loke is. Though hard as he might try, some says that 'first impression lasts.'

He was nearing his limit, but he loves her. Although he had almost done everything he can, he doesn't want to give up. He has to think of better ways to make Lucy see that his feelings are real. But what else can he do? It was driving him crazy, and the scene in front of him was making his blood boil.

Sitting on the farthest corner of the guild was Gray with a blushing Juvia. They were talking animatedly about something but he didn't care to listen to them. Just the image of the two made him jealous and confused.

Gray was good looking but cold. And the rain woman was really head over heels on him. But what made the lion spirit so confused was the fact that Gray didn't do anything to deserve the attention and affection of the rain woman. He hadn't put up any effort in the first place! Unlike him, he would make sure that the girl would feel like she is the center of his world, that she is the star of his night. He would always make sure that the girl will be happy.

But, Gray? He who does not know how to court a woman properly, who only knows how to clash his head with the flame-brained idiot, who only knows how to break in his master's apartment, he who…who only knows how to strip!

With this things running in his mind, Loke let out a desperate groan.