AN: Wow! Did not expect so many people to review! I'm really ecstatic; thank all of you so much! So, shorter, quicker chapters won the poll-I hope that those of you who wanted longer ones are okay with it anyway. Hugs!
Kagome stared at the blue cat curiously and leapt off Rogue's shoulder to hurry over to him. "Hi!" she greeted the stunned Exceed. "I'm Kagome."
The cat gave a hesitant smile. "I'm Happy. That's my partner, Natsu."
"Nice to meet you!" she grinned to them as Lector scowled and Sting rolled his eyes. "You must be the Fire Dragon Slayer I've heard so much about," she told Natsu, floating around him and sniffing him excitedly. She smelled something odd with his magic and concentrated on memorizing it so that she could take the puzzle apart later.
"You're a lot nicer than him," Happy pointed to Lector, who was trying to school Natsu on generational Dragon Slayers.
"He's kind of an attention-hog," she whispered to him and the Fire Dragon Slayer. "That's my friend over there. His name's Rogue."
Happy seemed to relax at her easy manner and Natsu was glancing between all of them in confusion.
"Come, Kagome," Rogue called.
"See you!" she waved and bounded over to her friend where she took her usual place on his shoulder. "I hope Fairy Tail comes in second!" she hollered back before Rogue narrowed his eyes.
Smiling sheepishly, she let out a squeak when his shadows converged on her, pulling into familiar warmth. Giggling at the tickling torment he was subjecting her to, she pleaded for mercy until he released her from the shadows. Slumping over his shoulder, she panted and whined at the treatment, causing him to smirk.
Happy glanced at Natsu and found his partner staring after the four with an intense scowl. The Shadow Dragon had used his shadows against his Exceed, sucking her into darkness before letting her go. That was not cool in his book.
"Some friend he looked like," Natsu growled. "What's someone as nice as her doing with those jerks?"
"Appearances can be deceiving. Strange that she didn't call him her partner, though," Happy mused.
"Whatever. Let's go."
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"There was something odd about Natsu," she told Rogue when they were back at their hotel.
Settling beside her on the bed, he arched a brow. "I noticed you were paying him more attention than you usually pay strangers."
Kagome blinked at that. Something in his tone made her wonder if Rogue's pulling her into his shadows had stemmed from her actions toward the other slayer. Had Rogue been jealous of the attention she'd shown Natsu? That was ridiculous. Dismissing the absurd thought, she continued her find.
"Well, his smell was off," she said. "His magic smelled…bigger than a normal wizard at his supposed level. Almost like…almost like he'd tapped into his Second Origin."
Rogue stiffened and jerked his eyes to hers. "How could he have done that in so short a time?"
"Maybe a spell?" she guessed, holding up her hands to indicate she was stumped over it as well.
"If he has, there is a chance that the other members of Fairy Tail have as well. That could be a problem. Without that extra boost, I've little doubt Sting and I could take any of them. With it, I don't know."
Kagome licked her lips and looked down. "I…I could try to work on a spell that would allow me to unseal yours," she offered lowly. "It might take me too long, though, for the Games. I wish I'd thought of this sooner."
Reaching out, Rogue rubbed her ears. "Do what you can. I'll tell Sting to be on his guard, much good as that'll do."
Grinning, Kagome leaned into his hand happily. "He's such an arrogant showoff. I don't know why people think Light Dragon Slayers are more pure than others with Sting being one."
That made him chuckle and lay back, not commenting when she curled up on his chest. Tomorrow the Grand Magic Games began, but tonight, the two friends had a small bubble of peace.
Until midnight, that is. Kagome was seriously cranky about that stupid new preliminary round. Freaking pumpkin.
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"Lady Kagome?" a deep voice called in shock.
Pausing, Rogue turned around, Kagome on his shoulder, to see a black and white Exceed staring at them with wide eyes. Kagome's tail tightened slightly in surprise before her whiskers twitched and she floated away from him.
"Panther Lily?" she asked.
The Exceed hurried over to her and bowed deeply. "I had thought you'd been killed," he told her.
"Oh! No, I got pulled over here years ago. It's so good to see you!" She gushed happily, hugging him despite his awkwardness.
He patted her reluctantly and then pulled away to eye Rogue. "How did you come to earn Lady Kagome's loyalty?"
Rogue arched a brow. " 'Lady' Kagome?"
Kagome dropped her eyes and gave a nervous chuckle. "Don't pay any attention to that, Rogue. Lily's being kind. My mother was related to the queen before the…upset."
Lily narrowed his eyes. "She is one of the only Exceeds to ever access their Jewel-the seat of each Exceed's magic. She's more than earned the title."
"One time!" she squeaked. "Just once, Lily, and I couldn't control it."
"You restored the prince to health and everyone in the hospital at the time," Lily growled. "It was miraculous, even if you didn't align the Four Souls. Now, why are you worthy of her loyalty?" He demanded of Rogue.
Rogue looked at Kagome curiously. "Perhaps I am not. She's been my friend since I was a child, though, so I would be…unwilling to give her up."
Floating up, Kagome curled around Rogue, purring happily. Meeting her eyes, he smiled and rubbed her ears the way she liked.
Lily crossed his arms and nodded. "See that you don't then."
"Who are you cheering for?" Kagome asked.
"My partner, of course," he huffed. "Gajeel."
At that, Rogue eyed the Exceed with more interest while Kagome smiled.
"If he's got his Second Origin opened, too, he'll be tough to beat," she chirped. "Two Dragon Slayers with major magic-Fairy Tail is really going to be a dark horse."
Surprise registered on his face, but he smirked. "Bet on it, my lady."
As he disappeared down the hall, Rogue looked to Kagome and found her frowning in calculation.
"So, it's true," he murmured, impressed that she'd gotten it confirmed so easily.
"Seems like it," she grumbled. "I'll work harder. If I really try, maybe I can unlock yours before the end of the Games."
Rogue inclined his head and resumed his stride toward his destination.
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Next Chapter: Yukino!
