see! I told you~

This story is set in an AU where I half ass everything because I am the authorahhhhh so HAH, TAKE THAT TURNIP. No actually, it's because not much is known of Sabertooth as of now and the actual guild according to the manga is extremely strict. Well at least that's what I think after reading the Chinese scans. But anyways, I'm starting to like Rogue more than Sting, I mean—come on! Who wouldn't fall for that smile?

I feel extremely sorry for Yukino, I mean Sting only got scolded (well that's what I think happened) while Yuki got grapes thrown at her and um… I don't want to spoil it for anyone…. ANY WHO! I can't wait for the English scans of chapter 281 to come out tomorrow~

"Sock?"

Orga and I were both staring in disbelief as we watched the resident dog boy of Lamia Scale tell the world his sob story. Sting was next to us laughing his little butt off while Rogue was nowhere to be found.

I scratched my head awkwardly, tilting it and muttering, "i-isn't it..."

Back on the ground, I watched Kurohebi point towards his chest and Tobi looked down. His eyes widening as he began to cry once more, "I've been searching for three whole months!"

Sting snorted once more as I cooed beside him. Watching as the dark man of Raven Tail seemingly offered him a hand, beside me Orga was muttering how no one questioned why he had tied his sock and wore it as a necklace all those months. I hit him playfully on the arm and laughed, "don't be such a killjoy! Those Ravens-"

"Seem like angels?" Yukino offered quietly; a small sarcasm hinted on her voice as I gaped at the scene on the stage.

"Fro thinks dog man is stupid."

"That is why you never trust a Raven," Lector shrugged as the scene unfolded and Tobi began full on crying as the announcers announced his defeat.

"I always remembered him as a twisted fellow," Rufus sighed as I started twitching.

Kurohebi definitely isn't going to be in my good books anymore- that creepy fuck.

"He never was in your good books to begin with, Lily." Yukino had sighed beside me, placing her elbows on the railings and stared halfheartedly at the arena, "no one in Raven Tail is worth the attention of a Sabertooth mage's."

Sting left out a loud string of laughter then, smirking as he went over to the celestial mage and messed up her short bob, almost misplacing her black rose clip. I watched with a wide grin on my face as Yukino scowled at him childishly and Rufus and Orga chuckled.

Yukino Agria had joined Sabertooth at roughly a year after I had joined the guild, though the only difference was that when she joined- it caused a great big commotion. Because funny enough, some way or another; Yuki had provoked a fight with the Shadow Dragon Slayer himself and the first spirit she summoned, or really had at the time was the rumored 13th zodiac- Ophiucus. And that duel had caused the destruction of the half the guild hall, in which she somehow got Sting's attention. If you ask me, I think it's pretty amazing that this was actually her first time participating in the game- with her silent self-confidence; I figured that it would've been her seventh or something.

And really, that was the only reason I was ok with Yukino Agria.

She was so quiet that if it wasn't for her flashy feather outfit and a self confidence as big as Sting's pride, she would've been the wallflower of Sabertooth.

"Hey, Lily- look it's your boyfriend," Yuki broke through my thoughts then, her face dead straight as she pointed at the Quatro Cerberus mage fighting below.

I turned a bright crimson as I felt Sting throw his arm around my shoulder, "so you and that Bacchus guy?"

Yukino had the slightest bit of a smirk on her lips as she watched me suffer slowly under the gaze of her team mates, making up some grand story of how we both met and fell in love and had been secretly dating for the past millennia. When in truth, I had met him in some bar with Yukino and had found myself drunk off my ass in some drinking competition I have no memory of.

I was still fused in with the red of a tomato when we started to listen in on the conversation the two battling mages were having.

"This is quite the one sided battle!" the announcer was practically throwing himself at the mic now; I could almost visualize him ready to fall off from their magical platform, "Elfman! He can't even lay a hand on Bacchus!"

"He's stronger than a Fairy? He has my slightest approval already," Sting smirked as he squished me closer into the crook of his neck, not realizing just how much strength he was using.

"Sting. Sting- you're..."

"His hair is probably longer than yours though," the White Dragon Slayer said suddenly, the grin quickly replaced with a deep frown.

"Wh-wait what?"

"What kind of man puts his hair in a bun after all, look at that!" he said in a fatherly voice and I just had to blush at his proximity, "and it looks greasy too!"

"Oh my gosh, Sting. You-"

"Even I use shampoo and- oh hey, did you know your strawberry scented one works pretty well with my hair?" I gaped at the sudden change of topic and wondered if Sting was just trying to mess with me or if he was actually being serious. No way was the prideful Sting Eucliffe having a conversation with me about my shampoo that he just so happened to- HEY!

"A night of dreams with those beautiful sisters... how wonderful"

I watched Sting's head snap up suddenly then, dropping his hands away from me before he gripped the railing. I swear if he held it any tighter, he would've sent the whole balcony crashing to the ground.

We stayed there in silence as we all watched as Elfman began attacking Bacchus angrily; only to have the Quatro Cerberus mage beat him down using his drunken fist. I was beginning to daydream once again when Sting suddenly growled beside me,

"No."

"Sting, what do you mean 'no'?" I shot a look at Yukino only to get an unknowing shrug as she stared off at the lacrima-visions.

"There is no way I am letting you near men outside our guild ever again," the blond said sternly as he glared at me.

Somewhere behind him, Yukino had raised her hand up like a little kid and started nodding energetically with a smirk on her face. Orga was doing the same, and Rufus only had a smirk on his face.

"Sting. That was a joke-"

"Is this why you were missing the other day?"

"Wait what?"

"You were hanging out with your boyfriend without telling me and his girlfriend went out searching for-"

"Sting, I don't know what you're talking about anymore."

"Don't play stupid with me! EMILY was looking for a cat fight!"

The other Sabertooth mages were now looking at the both of us curiously now, probably wondering the same thing as I let another blush spread my cheeks before pushing the taller mage out of my face. My ears were out once again as I debated whether or not I should whack him with one ear.

I probably shouldn't... Sting Eucliffe was livid right now after all.

About who knows what.

"Sting, calm down; first of all-" I sighed only to have my wrist grabbed and found myself being dragged off into the hall, away from the curious eyes of the crowd and judges.

"Lily." Ahh shoot, he's using my first name. I am such big trouble, "just tell me the truth here."

"Ok well," I swallowed nervously as I stared at him in confusion. This was awkward; the usually strong and prideful Sting Eucliffe looked almost disappointed.

Ever since he came back from Chariot and dragged me from the stands, it looked as if he was conflicted with himself. Constantly changing moods from angry one moment and annoying the next; like while we were walking back, I had made an offhand comment about how the Pumpkin guy had a day off today and he told me to shut up. Unbeknownst to him, that really hurt my feelings. Sob. Sob.

But in all seriousness, replacing Rogue for the day was sort of awkward after he disappeared. I wasn't really sure what to do at first when Orga had suggested to play catch with Sting using me as the ball during those first five minutes.

And now he was asking for the truth? The truth of what?

Oh dear god, was he expecting a confession?

"I... Sting... I... you..." I stuttered and looked away from him; trying to find the proper words to finish my sentence. I wasn't ready for this, wasn't ready for this at all, I tell you- I mean-

"Lily, what's going on between you and L'Arc Sibyl? Who is this Lilian Evan?"

"EXTRA BATTLE PORTION: TAG TEAM BATTLE! Lily Harvard & Yukino Agria of Sabertooth VS En Zato of L'Arc Sibyl and Kagura Mikazuchi of Mermaid Heel!"

Let me explain the last part! ...

In a chapter in the near future.

No but seriously, this chapter was basically just conversations and I WILL actually elaborate in a future chapter! Like sixteen more chapters guys until Fools Gold ends!

Review? And thanks for all the birthday wishes guys, you're all angels. Like the real kind- not the creepy freaking Kurohebi kind. Argh. Hahah but seriously. LOVE YOU!