April 2, X790

"We're back!" Lyon called as he entered Lamia Scale's base. Jura followed after him, looking rather disheartened.

"How was the search?" Ooba asked, spinning into view.

Jura shook his head. "Nothing at all, Ooba-dono. No matter how much we searched, there were no traces of Fairy Tail's core members."

"Is that so, Jura?" Ooba sighed sadly, knowing that if Jura said it, then it was most likely correct. "Very well. How is Fairy Tail coping?"

"They refuse to give up hope," Jura said, his voice containing admiration. "But even the strong-willed are beginning to lose hope."

"Hey, who's this kid?" Jura looked away from his conversation with Ooba to see what attracted Lyon's attention. The ice mage stood before Platin, who dozed away with his head on the table. Lyon slammed his palms against the table. "Hey, wake up!"

"You don't want to do that," Yuka suggested.

"Indeed, he is unfamiliar to me." Jura stroked his beard. "Who is he, Ooba-dono?"

"Who?" Ooba spun in the direction of Lyon and saw who her top two mages meant. "His name's Platin, from what he told me two weeks ago. He could be pulling my leg with the names, though. His handwriting looks like a girl's—"

"Nap time's over, kid! Wake up and introduce yourself!" Lyon put his hands together. "Ice-Make: Sword!"

"Don't wake him up, Lyon!" Ooba called in reaction, but it was too late. Ooba knew he would only strike the table, but that still wouldn't change what would follow, if she was correct.

One of Platin's feet kicked off the ground, launching him out of the way as Lyon's sword made contact with the table and got itself stuck there. Lyon tugged at his creation, not taking notice of the blonde-haired, blue-capped boy falling to the ground behind him. But before Platin touched the ground, he inverted himself in midair. His left foot shot out and kicked Lyon in the back; the hit was enough to send Lyon and the table flying towards the wall.

"Ah, there he flies," Yuka commented.

"Oon," Toby yawned, since it was still early.

"...That's why I said not to wake him," Ooba muttered, her eyes covered.

"Platin-dono's a very light sleeper, it seems," Jura noted.

"He's not a light sleeper, Jura. The boy never woke up at all."

"Hm?"

On cue, Platin's head bobbed shortly before he opened his eyes, blinking them rapidly. He stretched his arms and yawned. "Good morning," he mumbled sleepily. "What's for breakfast?"

"Well, some people got a serving of Lyon-got-his-butt-handed-over-by-a-kid just a minute ago," A chubby man informed Platin, gesturing towards said wizard.

"Ah..." Platin sweated nervously. "Did I do that in my sleep?" The only answers he received were hasty nods. Platin bowed his head dejectedly. "One more apology to make for my sleep-fighting."

Jura's jaw dropped when he heard Platin's response. "Platin-dono fights in his sleep?"

"The poor boy spends most of the day sleeping like a cat," Ooba said, spinning her arms around each other. "And if someone tries to wake him up, he attacks them in his sleep."

"I...I see..." In truth, it frightened Jura that a child could fight in his sleep. The notion of it seemed impossible, but he couldn't deny what he witnessed with his own eyes.

"*Yawn* What's on the request board today?" Platin walked over to the bulletin board and scanned it for a mission he wanted.

"Erm...shouldn't someone accompany him?" Jura asked. "Platin-dono is quite young to go off on his own."

"Yes...you have a point there, Jura," Ooba murmured, scratching her cheek. "He does need supervision."

"Master Ooba!" Platin came up to Ooba and Jura, holding out the mission he wanted to take on. "I need your approval!"

"You have my blessing," Ooba said. "But Platin...it does worry me that you're going on your own...especially when you're asleep most of the time. And the mission you picked isn't one that you can complete on your own, even though I have faith in your capabilities. Why don't you go off with another person?"

"Ah..." Platin rubbed his temples. "I guess sleeping clouds my judgement."

Ooba merely nodded in silent agreement. "So who's going with—aha! Yuka! Toby!" The duo came to attention when their master called their names. "Accompany Platin on his first mission, will you?"

"Why us?" Toby shouted.

"Don't argue. She wants us to go so we can watch over him," Yuka said.

"Exactly," Ooba affirmed. "Remember, Platin is still young, so help him when he needs it."

"Oon."

"Got it, Obaba."

"Now, so you're all familiar with each other—" Ooba cleared her throat. "Yuka, Toby, this is Platin. He's new to this guild, so make him feel comfortable here." The duo accompanying Platin nodded in acknowledgement. "Platin, these are Yuka Suzuki and Toby Horhorta. Yuka is the one with huge eyebrows and Toby—I'm sure you remember him—is the one you attacked in your sleep two weeks ago." Jura raised his eyebrows at this comment that made some of his colleagues snicker.

"Don't say that in front of Jura, granny!" Toby wailed.

"I hope you listen to me when I say this, and I mean it: get along, boys."

"Th-thanks for coming with me," Platin yawned as they boarded the train. "Even if it was on Ooba's orders."

"And you should be grateful—!" Before Toby could finish his sentence, Yuka elbowed him in the gut to shut him up.

"No problem, kid," Yuka answered. "And just so you know, you're allowed to call the master Obaba or granny. She doesn't mind as long as you don't call her hag."

"I see..." Platin yawned again just when they found seats for themselves. "Well, wake me up when we get there!"

"Wait, you're sleeping again?" Yuka sweated as Platin snored softly back into dreamland. He frowned as he watched Platin's hair shift from brown to blonde with each breath. "What is this kid?"

"Sleeping again?" Toby yelled at the sleeping boy.

"Quiet down!" Yuka hissed. "He looks...at ease. Like he was sleep-deprived for so long. What are you up to?" he added abruptly.

Toby rubbed his hands together, an evil glint in his eyes. "Kukuku...let's see what's under his hat."

"Don't try it," Yuka groaned. "Didn't the last time teach you anything?"

Toby barely had his hand over Platin's hat when the boy said sharply, "Touch the hat and your hand says goodbye!"

Yuka and Toby jolted, alarmed by Platin's threat. The Anti-Mage had to look at Platin carefully to make sure he wasn't faking. But the boy's breathing was as steady as ever and his eyes were closed, but not screwed shut.

"Sleep-talking," Toby said, reaching for the hat. This time, Platin's hand shot out, choking Toby's wrist in a vicegrip. "Ouch! Let go!"

"What did I just say about the hat?" Platin growled. Yuka noticed that Platin's hair was now a light shade of brown, and some parts of it seemed to cover his left eye. The boy opened his right eye, which matched his hair in shade. The dark circle under his eye made him look too sinister for his age. "Tell me, are you that desperate to die young?"

"Pl-Platin, let him go!" Yuka stammered nervously, but firmly.

"Hmph." Platin let go of Toby's wrist and swatted it away. "You're lucky that you caught me during my nap. But strike three, and you're out." With that, Platin closed his right eye; his hair lightened to his natural blond before darkening as he inhaled.

Yuka and Toby sweated at the boy's antics. The dog-like man moaned in pain as he massaged his wrist.

Rule number one: Never try to mess with Platin in his sleep.

Really, people. Is ONE review really that hard? I'm not saying that reviews are required, but they give inspiration.