Chapter 10 : Seals

" Yep! The third's guild is so lively! I'm so proud of them!" The blond guild master chimed, swinging her legs in the air.

Tenebre smiled and looked back at the sky,

" It's so good to finally talk to you again."

Mavis drifted slightly lower, " Hmm, i believe i was still alive when we last met in person, in this form however, i think i saw you at Tenrojima, but you couldn't see me then cause you weren't a member." She then shrugged her shoulders dismissively, "Oh well! Nice to finally see you again Tenebre!"

Mavis attempted to hug Tenebre, but she just went straight through her, she started to tear up, and sniffed, " I just wanted to hug you!"

" There there," Tenebre 'patted' her head, " No need for the waterworks, Mavis, i had just about enough of that already."

Mavis pouted and crossed her arms, conjuring some wind to swat away the flap of Tenebre's sleeve from her face.

" I see you still have a liking for long-sleeved clothing." Mavis said, eyeing the sleeves of Tenebre's yukata rather irritably.

" Oh this? Its been sitting in space for quite some time so i thought it was about time to take it out." Tenebre smoothed out the black and red fabric rather smugly, " But from now on i'll be wearing these for another reason."

Tenebre lifted up her sleeves to show Mavis her arms,

" Ah,the seals. Let's see... According to the number of tattoos i can see, 5 seals each for both your main magic?" Mavis deduced, lifting her eyebrows inquiringly.

" Yep, sharp as usual Mavis." Tenebre winked.

" Weird thing is, you've always had a flair for making such troublesome stuff look pretty."

Tenebre chuckled and said,"Well, you can thank the two in Arcadia for that."

Tenebre scoffed and rolled her eyes, " The only thing of beauty to me is when i see their guts on a plate, now that's real beauty!"

Mavis sighed and shook her head while Tenebre laughed like a crazy maniac. She stopped suddenly as if realizing something, she then slowly turned to look at Mavis,

" Urm...I did it again, didn't i?" Mavis nodded and Tenebre sighed and rubbed her forehead "Jeez, why does using my father's magic always have that effect on me...?"

Whilst frowning, she thought aloud, " Even though from my memories he doesn't look or act like the typical blood-thirsty, human-flesh eating demon, why does using his magic make me act like one? Well, at least i don't look like one."

Mavis giggled at Tenebre's depressed look,her olive-green eyes twinkling,

" Come on, demons don't look so bad." Mavis said, her voice then trailing off uncertainly, " Right..?"

Tenebre's eyebrows quirked up in disbelief,

" Oh really? What happened the last time i showed you my demon familiar?" Tenebre showed an exaggerated frightened face as she mimicked Mavis's voice, " Tenebre! Get this thing away from me!"

" Very funny, Tenebre,very funny." Mavis glared halfheartedly at Tenebre.

Tenebre grinned and lifted up a glowing red hand, "Want me to bring him out now?"

Mavis immediately slammed ( or tried to ) her back onto the guild's exterior walls, flattening herself into the wall as much as she can and shook in fear,

" Okay okay! I get the point! Only some demons don't look so bad, some! So please don't let him out! Please!" Mavis stammered, face even paler than she already was,

Tenebre grinned evilly and moaned in an unearthly voice, as if she were summoning the dead,

" Dante, come forth..."

" Eep!" Mavis squeaked, covering her eyes.

.

.

.

" Eh?" Mavis peeked through her fingers to find nothing in front of her, only Tenebre who was trying to stifle her laughter,

" Just kidding! Jeez, when was the last time you saw Dante, like 2 centuries ago?" Tenebre giggled.

Mavis though for a moment and nodded her head.

" Many things can change in 2 centuries ya know? He's no longer that blood thirsty, tattered cape wearing, long haired ,crazy, red eyed horned and clawed psycho demon that you used to know, and yes, he no longer baths in blood everyday, so he smells WAY nicer than he used to."

" And even if i wanted to call him out now, i won't be able to, i broke his bond to me just before i sealed myself in the ice." Tenebre sat down beside a suddenly silent Mavis, then wondering why she was so quiet, Tenebre looked at Mavis, whose eyes were bulging out and mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

" Is there a problem Mavis?" Tenebre waved her hands in front of Mavis's face.

Grabbing Tenebre's shoulders, somehow managing to due to pure intent itself, Mavis shook Tenebre while screaming,

" YOU RELEASED HIM?! HIM?! ARE YOU MAD?!"

" HE ANNIHILATED 3 TOWNS, AN ENTIRE CITY ALONG WITH ITS HUMAN POPULATION AND HALF A MOUNTAIN IN HALF A DAY YOU KNOW?!"

" Of course i know, i was the one who stopped him from destroying the other half of the mountain after all." Tenebre deadpanned, as if it was nothing, making Mavis even angrier.

Mavis screeched, shaking Tenebre even harder, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

"Hey, i had a good reason for breaking his bond!"

" And what's so important that you had to break it and risk having him going on another crusade of his again?"

" Well, first things first, i can assure you that he won't be doing anything reckless like that anymore, i know he hated being bound to me and that he tries to escape every time i summon him.

" But after being stuck with me for a little less than 2 decades, he became more humane." A small smile crept up Tenebre's lips, " Who knew all it took for him to learn the true meaning of a life was the miracle of a child."

" Miracle of a child? Who?" Mavis asked, leaning forward in interest.

" Lucy."

" Eh? Lucy-chan?"

Flashback ( Normal POV )

" Push, mi'lady, PUSH!" One of the maids urged, earning herself a hard clench from Layla's hand.

" DO I FRIGGIN LOOK LIKE I'M NOT PUSHING?!" Layla screamed, " GAHHHH!"

" Language Layla! You're a lady!" Jude berated Layla, she let go of his hand and went for his hair instead, yanking it. Hard.

" IS THIS THE FUCKING TIME TO BE BOTHERING ABOUT THAT CRAP JUDE?! AAAAHHHHH!" Layla screeched, yanking Jude's hair and gripping onto the maid's hand.

" Just a little bit more, Lady Heartfilia, i can see her head already, just a little bit more!" The doctor persuaded.

" YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME THAT SHIT FOR THE PAST 36 TIMES ALREADY!" Layla yelled, "GET LUCY OUTTA MEEEEE!"

Suddenly, the doors slammed open and Tenebre strod in all her glory,grinning like an idiot,

" Heya Layla! What cha screaming bloody murder for..." Her voice trailed off when she saw what's in front of her and the looks she was getting from the people the room, she was immediately by Layla's side, pushing away the maid with a surprised, "Eep!", and grabbed Layla's hand.

" So fast? I though she wasn't due for another week or so?" Tenebre asked as Layla panted hard, using her sleeve, Tenebre wiped away the sweat on Layla's forehead.

" Huff...I...I thought so too...until my...water broke a few hours ago...AAAARRRGGGGGHHHH!" Layla pushed with all her might and when she ran out of breath, she relaxed and started breathing raggedly.

" Breath Layla breath." Tenebre cooed, gripping onto her hand firmly.

" Oi Master, can i go now?" A voice came from the direction of the door and Tenebre looked up.

" Oh Dante, you're still here?" She said blankly.

A tick mark appeared on the side of Dante's head, "Of course i'm still here, i can only go when you tell me to go, have you forgotten?" Dante said with gritted teeth, tapping his foot impatiently,"So can you send me back now, i don't want to spend another second here breathing the same air as these things."

"GGGGNNNGGGHHHH!" Layla pushed hard, yanking on Jude's hair just as hard, making him yelp out in pain, and gripping onto Tenebre's hand, she squeezed with all her might, while Tenebre just looked at her with a concerned look, not even flinching.

" Push a little harder, Lady Heartfilia, just a bit more!" The doctor repeated.

" 37TH TIME!" Layla screamed.

" Master! Send me back now!" Dante demanded, his red eyes flashing dangerously.

" Hey you! You're stressing the patient! Stop shouting!" The doctor yelled, Dante fumed, smoke trailing out from his body as he intoned in an unearthly voice,

"You foolish mortal, do you kno-"

Tenebre snapped her head up to look at him with an irritated expression,

" Dante, sit! " Tenebre snapped, cutting him off, and Dante slammed onto the ground with immediate effect.

" Damn you Tenebre..." Dante growled, trying to pull himself up from the ground, but was unsuccessful.

" Stay there until i tell you not to." Tenebre said, returning her attention back to Layla, "Oh and one more thing, shut up." And Dante's lips sealed shut.

Hours passed as Layla laboured, Tenebre didn't even know that her hand was in the process of being broken, Jude was turning bald and Dante continued glaring holes into Tenebre's head, still stuck onto the ground with his lips still sealed shut.

" If i could just kill her..." Dante thought, and immediately a jolt of pain went through him and he cringed," But i can't even harm her, much less think about it."

" That's damned bond..." He seethed in his head.

His thoughts were then broken by a high pitched wail and he looked up at the bloody bundle in the arms of the doctor.

" Congratulations, Lady Heartfilia, its a girl."

Tenebre took the cleaned baby from the doctor's arms and passed her to Layla, and Layla smiled tiredly, cooing at the little bundle in her arms as Jude made a hasty retreat out the room to make preparations for the newborn, and before he lost any more hair, along with all the other attendants.

Tenebre spared a glance at the suddenly silent demon on the the floor looking up with an utterly confused expression at the little squeamish bundle.

" It's a baby, Dante." She deadpanned.

Layla giggled at Tenebre's flat explanation, and continued for her, " What she was trying to say was that it's a miracle of life that's created between lovers after consummating their love together. One that can only happen when you've learnt the fragility of a life and how precious it really is."

" Do you want to take a closer look?" She asked.

Despite his best effort to mask his reaction, both ladies easily spotted the flicker of curiosity that flashed past his eyes.

Tenebre sighed as waved her hands, and instantly Dante felt the weight lift from his body, "You can stand up and talk now."

Standing up, Dante walked towards the weary Layla and took a closer look at the bundle in her arms,

" It's...wrinkly and pink." Dante said,

"Its a she Dante," Layla breathed, and Tenebre smacked her forehead, " And she is called Lucy, Lucky Lucy of the Heartfilias."

As much as he didn't want to admit, he felt a slight tug in his chest at the tender motherly look Layla bathed little Lucy in, cooing and playing with her tiny chubby fingers.

The little bald infant grabbed the hesitant outstretched pinky Dwnte offered with surprising strength and held it in her tiny fist with an almost vice like grip.

Registering his shock, Layla glowed with motherly pride, giggling at the tenacious little girl.

" We humans may seem weak and worthless to your kind, but we are strong, only in our own way," Layla said, her strength returning to her voice with each word,

" We persevere when times look bleak, we stand strong when we are beaten down, we fight on even when the odds are against us. And we cry when we are sad, we cry when we are happy, tears may be a form of weakness to you, but to us its is also a form of strength, it shows that we have emotions and that is what makes us strong.

" And that is what make us human."

Tenebre stood at the side with her arms crossed, her lips curving up in a disbeliving smile at how her mother never cease to keep amazing her.

" So let me ask you, Dante. What is your strength?"

Layla tipped her head up with a finger, making him look her in the eye,

" Strength to me, is love." Layla placed a hand above her heart, " Love for my husband, love for my family and friends, love for my beloved Lucy and love to me, is also where i think magic originates from."

" Love is what makes me strong, so what is your strength Dante? What is it that drives you to fight, what do you fight for, what makes you strong?"

Dante stayed silent, his shriveled greasy hair shadowing his face as he continued looking at the fragile little hand grasping his pinky, seriously contemplating his answer but coming up with nothing.

Only then did he feel the slight twinge of guilt slowly blossoming inside him, the scenes of all the atrocities he commited crashing back to him in waves.

Layla patted his back and smiled gently, sensing his inner turmoil, and said,

" If you don't know the answer now, you can start looking for it now, change for the better, get a better understanding of what you're missing out, what you've misunderstood and maybe you might just get to know your idiot of a master here a little better!"

Flashback end ( Normal POV )

Tenebre grinned, as if remembering something funny, " I was really surprised that he didn't go all ' How dare you mortal!' on her. Instead, he looked rather meek when he asked Layla for Lucy."

Pausing at there, she shuddered," He almost gave Layla a heart attack when he manhandled Lucy when she cried, merely saying ' This is how i normally tame the spawns in hell.' "

Mavis giggled hysterically when Tenebre mimicked Layla's horrified expression and at her sigh of utter exasperation," It took me an entire year just to drill into his head that humans aren't as durable as demons, and another two to get him to change his bathing and clothing habits."

" But... " Tenebre's expression became sad, " But right after he finally changed for the better, Layla died and i decided to seal myself in ice. Deciding to release him from his bond was one of the many decisions i made then, he was the loudest of the bunch who were against it."

" Shouting a bunch of easily misunderstandable things like 'Hell no am i going to allow you to do this, i just got to know you! No way in hell am I going to let you go like this!' or something."

Mavis grinned suggestively, and Tenebre shot her a pointed look, " No, Mavis, don't go so far as to think that way."

Folding her arms, Mavis glared rather scornfully at her, " Jeez, can't you let me have my fun?"

" Nope," Tenebre quipped, " I'm well known for a wet towel."

" That aside," Mavis moved on, " Why did you release him in the first place?"

" Well, when i'm away, there has to be someone to watch over them right? Especially with his shadow concealing skills."

Something clicked in Mavis's head, and she nodded, "Ah, them. No wonder you sent Dante."

" But he should have already sensed my release from from the ice, i didn't break the whole bond, i left just enough for us to sense each other's presence, so why can't i sense or contact him?" Tenebre put a finger to her chin in thought, mumbling to herself " Maybe he's onto something..."

"Master..."

Tenebre's head snapped up, looking around alertly, " Did you hear that?", she asked Mavis.

Mavis tilted her head to the side quizzically, " Hear what?"

" For a moment i thought i heard Dante's voice." Tenebre frowned.

Mavis 'patted' Tenebre's back, and shook her head pitiably, " I think staying in that crystal for too long has somewhat tired out your brain. I think you should get some rest before doing anything else reckless like that battle just now."

Tenebre laughed sheepishly at that.

" I should probably go find Lucy then."

" About that," Mavis smiled, gesturing to the guild, " I have a feeling you'd be spending your first night in the guild hall."

Giggling at Tenebre's befuddled expression, she drifted over to the guild's main door and she pushed open the door gently, gesturing to Tenebre to take a peek.

Looking through the gap, Tenebre smiled softly.

" They're not dead are they?" She whispered as she slipped through the crack, walking silently into the hall.

" Nope, they're all either finally feeling the effects of alcohol or just dead asleep." Mavis said in a hushed tone, giggling at the sleeping pile of guild members on the floor.

Walking towards Lucy, Tenebre squatted down beside her huddled up form,

" I just hope she realizes her feelings for him soon, the both of them look so good together." Tenebre whispered to herself, looking at the two huddled forms in front of her.

Mumbling something in his sleep, Natsu shifted his body to the side, instinctively pulling Lucy closer to him and effectively intertwining their legs together. Cuddling closer to Natsu's body for his warmth was Lucy, a tiny smile on her lips, her head resting at the crook of his neck and his above her head.

" Since they're all passed out, do you want do check up on her seals?" Mavis asked, floating above the pair.

" I might as well."

Tenebre knelt down and put both her hands slightly above Lucy's body and almost immediately a white light emitted from her hands and from Lucy's body,

" Commencing scan. Type: 7-layered seal. Subject: Lucy Heartfilia, 7th vessel of the Oculos Divae." An otherworldly voice spoke into Tenebre's mind, her eyes turning completely white, not even a single spot of black could be seen.

" Seal 1: Broken. Seal 2: 78% left . Seal 3-7: Functional. Life essence used: 3%." The voice continued to drone in her head, a small furrow forming between Tenebre's brow as she continued to take in all this information.

Lucy whimpered, her eyebrows knitting together in a frown as if in pain. Natsu unconsciously let out a low growl and held Lucy closer to his chest, as if sensing her distress, his arms wrapping themselves around her in a tight embrace, making the frown on her face melt away.

"Unidentified magic found. Analyzing. Type: Stage 1 of Mating Ritual. Origin: Dragon Slayer magic. No other abnormalities found. Terminating scan."

The white light blinked out and Tenebre's eyes returned back to its silver color, the black and gold flecks appearing a little later.

" It as bad as i though it would be, i have to find the spell quickly." Looking at Natsu, she sighed, "Dense idiot, he didn't even realize that he'd already started the mating process."

Leaning onto a wooden pillar just beside the couple, she slid down onto the ground and sighed heavily, bringing her knees close to her body.

" Things will be getting really busy from now. With the seals, Dante's disappearance and those bastards... Am i pushing my limits with all these?"

She whispered to no one in particular, Mavis deserting her the moment she found another sleeping couple to harass.

" Master...ca-"

Tenebre grimaced, pinching the bridge of her nose," Great, now i'm even hearing voices."

" Master...Can you hear me...?"

Sitting upright in shock, she gasped uncertainty,

" Dante...?"

She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to strengthen the faint connection she felt,

" Dante?" She tried again.

She heard nothing but the faint sound of static, till something zapped and a voice broke through.

" Master...can you... hear me?" A frantic male voice said, his voice blurred through static, " If you can please... reply,this... is urgent!"

Gasping, Tenebre immediately sat upright cross legged, eyebrows furrowing as she concentrated on strengthening the faint telepathic link.

" Dante, what happened to you?! I've been trying to reach you for days!"

" No time for that, Master! They're coming, i'm running away from them even as we speak now."

" Running away? Why aren't you fighting back?"

" I did. But they have demonglass weapons."

"What?! That is not possible! Unless..."

" That means that one of my kind has sided with them. And they know about the about the eye! One group is chasing after me,and the second group is heading your way right now!"

" This is bad,wait, give me a second."

Tenebre reached deep within her magic reserves, trying to find Dante's link with her somewhere within her, digging deeper, she finally found it, although it was weak, it was more than enough for what she was planning to do.

She grabbed onto the faint link and reinforced it with her magic. Feeling his magic respond to her own, she yanked hard at it and heard a loud thud beside her.

Opening her eyes, she gasped in horror,

" Dante!"

Slumping on the groud, the man had numerous gashes along his entire body, a huge one at the side of his head and several puncture wounds that practically flooded the floor with his blood.

" Hah...I finally...get to.. see you ...again Master..." He panted, smiling weakly as he cupped her cheek, leaving bloody marks. He then started coughing out blood, wheezing painfully as he did so.

" I need to get you fixed up!" Tenebre said frantically, lifting her wrist to her mouth when Dante grabbed her hand urgently,

" No! I will...heal in time...so please...don't hurt yourself..." Tenebre slapped his hand away and seethed," You idiot, you know that my blood is the only thing that can get you out of this mess, so shut up and drink!"

Biting harshly down onto her wrist, she shoved her bleeding fist into his reluctant, resisting mouth, lifting up his head and tilting his head slightly towards her bleeding hand, forcing him to drink.

His once taut shoulders slumped in defeat as she refused to release him from the grapple. and he drank, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he did, a small trickle of excess blood flowed down the side of his mouth. As he drank, Tenebre flicked a finger at the bloody mess he made, cleaning up all the blood on the floor.

His wounds closing up, stitching itself back together and forming a smooth layer of skin.

Regaining back his strength, Dante saw a slight sway in his master's movements and immediately sat up, catching Tenebre's limp body from crashing onto the ground just in time. Ripping of a strip from his coat, he wrapped it around her bleeding wrist who was healing at a really slow rate.

" I told you i was going to be fine! Nooooo, you just had to shove your fucking hand into my face, now look at you!" He growled at her angrily, but deep down, both of them knew that he was worried sick about her.

" Looks like i overexerted myself," Tenebre chuckled weakly, " My physical condition sure has deteriorated over the years, i am definitely in need of some serious training."

Her cheerful demeanor then took a complete turn and her face turned deadly,

" But it seems like i have to push myself even more to the limit, i have some bastards to deal with for messing with my precious familiar." Tenebre tried to sit up, but Dante forced her back down into his arms,

" Oh no you don't, i don't care who the fuck they are or what fuck they they did to me, but you are absolutely not going to leave this spot till you get a solid 8 hours of sleep." Dante said, glaring at her with his piercing red eyes as she glared back with just as much ferocity.

The glaring contest went on for a couple minutes before Tenebre gave in, her face pale and haggard with exhaustion.

" Ok fine, i admit defeat, but can you help me with something first?" Tenebre gave Dante the puppy dog look, making Dante's resolve falter and he waved his hand in defeat, motioning to her to continue

Grinning weakly, she whipped out a lacrima camera from out of nowhere and said,

" Help me take pictures of them," She pointed to Natsu and Lucy, still cuddled up with each other,

" And them," Then at Levy who slept beside Gajeel, her head leaning on his broad shoulder with his arm slung over her petite shoulder.

" And them too." She said, pointing at Gray, who was snoring with his mouth open and his hands and legs spread wide, with Juvia snuggling up his arm, and at Wendy and Romeo, who were sleeping with their heads on the table, facing each other,

"They look so cute!" She gushed with sparkling eyes.

Dante sweatdropped and muttered to himself,

" Looks like that Layla person influenced her a little too much..."

But nevertheless, he fulfilled his master's request, he even took pictures of them at different angles.

" I'm done, so go to sleep!" He flopped down beside her and patted his lap, leaning back into the same pillar Tenebre leaned onto earlier on.

Tenebre smiled and laid down beside him, her head on his lap, she mummured in good humor, "Good night old lady."

Dante coughed and huffed indignantly,"I ain't no old lady!"

" You certainly act like one..."She mumbled, struggling to keep her eyes open but swiftly succumbed to the darkness, falling into deep slumber.

Seeing that she's finally asleep, Dante's harsh expression softened with worry, sweeping a few stray strands of hair behind her ears, he took of his coat and draped it over her body,

" Its good to be back by your side, Master Tenebre..." He leaned down and kissed her on her lips, enveloping them both in a soft red light. He then places his forehead on hers and whispered,

" And now our bond is once more, complete."

And he too, fell asleep, his arms around his master's body, covering her in a protective embrace.

The morning light shined brightly down on the town of Magnolia, birds chirped cheerfully and the sky was painted a bright sky blue with small white fluffs spotted here and there. It was simply another peaceful start of the day.

"NATSUUUUU!"

Or at least it was.

" KYAAAAAA! HOW DID I END UP BESIDE GAJEEL?!" Levy screamed, mirroring Lucy's frantic movements moments ago, scrambling away into the arms of her just as confused/horrified best friend, the two hugging onto each other for dear life as they stared wide eyed at the two groaning dragonslayers rolling on the floor, clutching onto their ringing ears after being assaulted by the high pitched screams of their cuddle buddies.

" OI OI! JUVIA! GET OFF ME!" Swinging his arm around, Gray tried to shake Juvia off him, who clutched onto his arm desperately with hearts in her eyes.

" GRAY-SAMA~"

Natsu rubbed his ears one last time to get rid of the ringing sound, then pouting up at his blushing blond, " What was that for Luce? I was having such a good dream.", he said, grinning sleepily at her.

Lucy flushed red from both embarrassment and anger, and hissed, " While groping by behind!"

" Oh ho?" Lucy tensed up and looked warily at the smirking still drinking brunette, waggling her eyebrows suggestively at Lucy, " So the two of you got down and dirty last night eh?"

" N-No! What make you think that?!" Lucy spluttered incredulously, her face literally steaming red.

" Ya okay Luce? You looking kinda red." Natsu poked his face directly in front of her, making her jump back, letting out a surprised squeak, and stumbling backwards and tripping over a pair of outstretched legs.

" Eep!"

" Watch out!" Natsu's hand snapped forward and jerked her back from falling on her face, but he pulled a little too hard and ended up sending the both of them tumbling down together when their legs somehow tangled together in their attempt to balance themselves, the celestial mage landing on top of him when he twisted his body to shield her from the impact, both their faces just centimeters from each others.

" Oooo, look what we have here! Lovebirds in the battlefield!" Gray teased.

She immediately scrambled away from him, her flushed expression mirroring that of Natsu's, his face almost blending in with his hair.

" W-what lovebirds?!" He shouted back at Gray, stuttering a little.

" They liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike each other~" Happy rolled his tongue, covering his grin with his paw.

" Sh-shut up you baka neko!"

" Aaaa! Lushee's scary!"

" Get back here you blue puffball!"

At that time, Tenebre groaned, rubbing her eyes when she woke up.

" Did you sleep well,Master?" Dante looked down at her face, chuckling when she grumbled,

" What's with the racket Dante?"

" Well, let's just say the couples you were planning to help out with have decided to help themselves out." He said, pointing at Natsu and Lucy.

" Was this your doing? Tenebre looked up at Mira who was wiping some mugs with a sparkling aura of complete innocence.

" Me? Ara ara~ I was simply tucking them into bed!" She said, smiling cheerfully, only the two in front of her noticing the devious glint in her eyes.

Tenebre took out the camera from her sleeve and threw it to Mira, " I trust that you'd make full use of it?"

" You'll see it everywhere by tomorrow." Mira hid the camera in one of her hidden pockets, tossing one last smirk and wave to them before going into the kitchen.

" What are you planning this time?" Dante looked at his master, suddenly feeling bad for her victims.

" Oh, nothing much." Tenebre waved her hands dismissively, then she turned her head to look in the direction of the guild entrance and scowled, " But now, that i've rested, we have some cleaning up to do."

" Master, we have news from our scouts that our target has been reunited with her. Pursuit team is now on its way to regroup with the Main Group." A feminine voice said.

" Hmm, she must have transported him to her side." Thebooming voice said from on top the throne, his face nothing but a dark silhouette hidden behind a translucent screen, " More importantly, i trust that the present is unharmed and on its way?"

" Yes Master, it should reach her by dusk today. Scout Team A have already infiltrated the town." The woman reported.

" Good, bring up the lacrima screen, i want to see the look on her face..."

" Yes Master." The lady bowed to him and walked out the oaken double doors that close in behind her.

" I hope you enjoy your 'welcome back' present... Tenebre..."

AN : Well, other than the fact that this is a rather short chapter and that i keep leaving you guys at a cliffy,( please don't kill me! ) I'm proud to announce that my one-shot, titled Heaven is well on it way to completion, though coming up with a summary for it is rather hard, cause i suck at summaries, but i hope ya all would read and enjoy it!

Ja Ne!

~KanaeHitomi~