Disclaim: manga belongs to Hiro Mashima.


Chapter 7: Strangers

To most guild members of Sabertooth life was getting better. Of course some still think Sting is an incapable idiot that perhaps is strong but not strong enough to be the master of their guild. But to most sunshine was coming back to their lives. Sting was enjoying his day without knowing what was coming his way. He was even preparing for a movie night with his closest friends. He did not however except his friend and closest brother to run to him with a panicked look on his face.

"Has Frosh run away again? I honestly don't believe he likes you anymore," said the new master.

"Sting you need to come now," screamed his friend, or scream in the Rouge fashion of his, meaning a very sever voice and straight out creepy. Giving his friend no time to think, Rouge started dragging Sting by the hand before realising it the fastest he could.

"So, mind telling me what is so mind blowing you actually ran into my new office? In fact I'm surprised you know how to freak out without it being because of your cat. It's not Frosh I hope." The two walked quickly toward the guild hall.

"It's not Frosh."

"Seriously, that's all you have to say? I mean what on earth have happened? You're allowed to talk you know? And for all sake why are you transporting a wool coat? I trust you now its summer? Ah will you just tell me what's going on? I'm losing it here."

"So I see."

"You're kidding? At least answer this: why the coat? I know you're afraid of light but that's too warm to wear now, even for you."

"It's not for me."

"What?"

"You'll see."

The master was welcomed to an extremely quiet hall. All the members were used to keep quiet but this was exceptional. The few members standing between sting and the apparently big problem moved a side to reveal Yukino on her knees with a young unconscious girl with black hair.

"Who's this?" He inquired.

"I don't know, she just fainted in the middle of the street," answered the panicking white haired. His friend gave the girl the huge coat. Ah so that's why he was holding that thing.

"Take her to the infirmary. She will be more comfortable there, and I suppose you will too."

And that's all he needed to say before Rouge picked her up and left to the infirmary with Yukino close behind. She was extremely protective he noticed, funny.

"Nothing to be afraid of. You can return to your occupations." And that's all it took for them to be uninterested.

He made his way to the infirmary while picking up Orga and Rufus on his way surprisingly absent during the big commotion. He found that many things were surprising him in so short time. It was thrilling and a bit annoying. He needs to know his friends better he decided. But it was still confusing him what the big thing was about. There was an unconscious random girl, why the fuss? Why run? Oh well he'll never really understand Rouge anyway.

The infirmary wasn't that impressive, just a little room with one bed. Before the only thought of being here meant either that you were dying or you'll have no longer a home. He made a note to expand the infirmary and put more credit in heeling the wounded. The three were trying to push them self inside the tiny room. In the bed laid the young creature, Yukino was protecting her like a guardian angel by tossing many blankets around her, and Rouge was just staring at the girl.

"So how is she?" asked Rufus approaching the bed.

"Sleeping apparently. She has no damage she just seem exhausted and I think she is harbouring a malady."

"That's good to hear. Any information you manage to get out of her?"

"No, I am sorry master to bringing her here. It's just that she seemed to trust me."

"No problem Yukino, at least we must show her our kindness by taking care of her," Sting said sitting himself on the other side of the bed watching the girl.

"Do you remember her from somewhere?" asked Rufus who had taken a chair to sit on.

"I don't think I have seen her before."

"Pity. Why do you think she trusted you?"

"Ma'be she's a fan of 'ours," injected Orga leaning against the wall.

"A girl walking in the middle of the street barefoot with nothing else than her cloth is not someone who is a potential fan. She probably was happy to see someone with a kind face," was Rufus hypotheses.

"Well there is something that could identify her," said Rouge for the first time. "She has a tattoo on her neck."

Four pair of eyes stared at her neck only to find nothing there.

"Under the hair," said Rouge impatient. He when to the girl and revealed behind her locks, right under her ear, a black tattoo. It was more of a mark really. It was circles and lines randomly placed on the skin. Too anyone this would be gibberish but both Rufus and Rouge made a note that there was a meaning behind it.

"It is a world of some nature," said the literate of the guild. "I have seen those markings before a long time ago. It means something like Light head."

"Strange to write that under your ear," said Sting happily having found his good nature again.

~O~

She was probably not one of the brightest spies. After all she had just manage to jump one to the tree nearby before Madame Levy had entered her room, and you tell me that obviously she'll come to her room before going to the guild, but in that minute that didn't even touched her mind. When she was sure the path was cleared again she jumped back in.

It was a girl of normal build showing quite a lot of muscles, wearing black jeans rolled up on her legs over an oversized green t-shirt. She wore black boots and a black jean jacket with hood. Her red gloves were not covering her fingers and her pockets were filled with pieces of papers.

"Stupid cousin asking me to do this shit job," she muttered under her breath.

She was happy she could sleep in a good bed that night and frankly having Levy sleep in the lobby made her job so much easier. And still she wasn't capable to hear her come before she turned the handle of the door. How pathetic as spy was she. She needed to find that bloody parchment before her bastard cousin blames her for being weak and actually goes and tell her dad. That would be bad.

"Come on, focus. It's a leather book with yellow pages, how many of these exist. One bloody parchment was what I am looking after, not a book. Come one remember what the parchment looks like. "

Nope nothing, she found a dozen books matching the description and still none of them were the right one. As for the parchment it was impossible to find, first of all because there were no parchment what so ever in the library of madam Levy, not a single bloody one.

Deciding it was safe enough she voted for a bath. She didn't have one of those in months. Taking of her cloths she reviled her white hair shaved on one side and falling to her shoulder on the other. She had a lot of scares on her arms and legs but worst of all was the huge scare on her back going from one shoulder to her hip. You could also distinguish an enormous tattoo on her left arm, nearly like a dragon eating up her shoulder.

Leaving the bath she takes her time to find some food, after all she hadn't eaten a thing in a day. And there, right on the kitchen table, or what could be the kitchen table if it wasn't submerging under books, was a parchment. A random yellow roll: bingo! Forgetting her hunger she jumped out the window and ran the fastest she could to the woods on the other side of town.

~O~

(Flashback) Mangolia year x809

"Master can I ask you a question?" asked the 8 year old boy too the guild master sited at the bar.

"What is it William?"

"Well you see master there is something I don't really understand in this book. Can you tell me what exactly happened in the year 791? It is written something bad happened but it didn't say what. Could you tell me...," William trailed off. While he was speaking the entire guild went silent. The children understood their parent's silence, but deep down they were excited to know if the master was actually going to answer that question. The boy felt unsecure suddenly. The master stared at him.

"Many things happened that year. Many things have happened in the past, thing we are proud of and things we want to hide. That year was a year of both sadness and happiness. However you are too young to hear the stories. You don't worry; we'll tell you the truth in the end lad. For now you should go play and stop reading so much." The master ruffs up his hair before walking off.

"One more thing master, can I ask you a last question concerning this book?"

He sight before turning around again. "Fire away kid."

"Well I understand that you are not allowed to tell ancient stories that should be forgotten and that I am not old enough for many of these tales, but there is a word that is repeated constantly in this book and I don't really understand why. What exactly does Sacrifice mean? Or I know what it means; I just wondered why it was written randomly in a sentence. "

If the guild had been silent before, it was not even near the silence know. Everyone was staring at the young boy, and even the youngest ones were staring. That's made William understand he made a big mistake. Apparently that was not a good question. The master was making faces; he didn't seem to know how to react.

"William Justin you will never ask that question again, is that understood?" the master's voice was booming and send shiver down the boys spin. "Some things are better forgotten. And I want the book you are reading."

William handed over a thick leather book, nodded and ran off toward the library. Pairs of eyes were following him. Of course he didn't know what to except of these people. Maybe he should just runaway. Leaning against the closed doors he started crying.

"Not to be an unemotional dork but I don't think the library is the best place to do that," said a voice coming from nowhere. The poor boy jumped his hand up to defend himself.

"Who's there? Show yourself coward."

"Euh, mind telling me why exactly I'm a coward too you? Put down your arms, and just for information, I'm not hiding you're just looking in the wrong direction." On the highest shelf was a boy around his own age.

"Who are you?"

"You must be new meet." He jumped down like a cat, landing right in front of William.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're new around here."

"And what if I am, what is it to you?" The boy just started walking off. "Hey, where are you going?"

"So you interested in the past?" said the boy smugly.

"How do you know?" he followed.

"I overheard your conversation in the guild. I give you a tip; don't ask questions to the adults about these things, they won't answer. And I learned from experience too. They are scared of it."

"And you're not?" They were walking out of the guild now toward the water.

"I don't know yet, but I intend to find up. I thought we could pair up." The two boys were staring at one another.

"Why me?"

"You seem like a good guy in need of a friend that isn't mentally retarded like the rest of the kids. Their idiots if you didn't know that yet. And I'm a loaner. We'll make a good team County." The boy extended his hand.

"County?"

"Well you haven't presented yourself and the name suite you. You're Freed's kid right?"

"I am William Justin and I am 8 years old. And you are?"

"Someone. What do you want to call me?" he sounded oddly amused.

"What? I asked for your name dimwit."

"Okay, than I'm Dimwit, nice to meet you County."

"Hey my name is William, maybe Willy can work."

"Whatever you say County, you coming? There is a spot I want to show you." And with that he ran off.

"Hey, wait for me Dimwit."


Hope you liked :) If there is any scentences that doesn't make sence please warn me :)