Okay guys, sorry for the late update. My files crashed on me last minute, so I had to rewrite some of the last parts. That and I had my wisdom tooth removed, so I was in pain for quite a bit of time.

Anyways, enough about me. Go ahead and read on!

Levy's POV

*a week later*

It's been a few days since Lu-chan has been with Natsu and the others. I don't think though that these guys came with the intention of attacking; if they did, Lu-chan and the others would be far worse off. Loke fought with this orange haired girl called Taiga, but it was not serious; Loke testified to that. I can only presume at this point that she was some sort of Celestial Spirit, but there are only a few records about these guys. Judging by what Loke said, they're an alternate version of the Zodiac keys: Blood Keys.

These guys, unlike most Celestial spirits, did not have special magical powers; they emphasize physical strength and agility with their attacks. I believe one of the documents specified that they were proud of their ways, but few ever summon them for two reasons: one being that majority of them are brutal and the other that they require something more from their key holders. To maintain their forms, the owner would have to give something away to the spirits. No one knows except those in the contract and differs for all of the spirits. Supposedly from Natsu, Renaldo and Virgo, Taiga, Houkou and Ryuu accompanied this guy.

Judging by what I can guess… our perp here isn't just insane and powerful; he has connections to items. To create that country, he needs resources, so I should probably rule out a ridiculously poor person. If he was, he'd have to be damn handsome to woe some of the women into giving him money. Hmm… some of the rumors about the rich boys don't really indicate anything that could have possibly remind me of him… Damnit, why does nothing connect? Why can't I- GAJEEL, THE HELL?

"Out, shortie." Excuse me? I'm trying to figure out who the hell we're dealing with here; Lu-chan's probably sweating blood out there to get stronger. Mira's trying her connections to get more info. The rest are out in patrols, which you should be joining… Why are you here, Gajeel?

"Gajeel, I'm not in the mood." When you live with a horny dragon slayer, you need to lay down some key rules: 1. No excessive attacking, 2. No sex unless given permission (actually that's applicable any time) and 3. No misunderstandings. So far, it has been rather helpful.

"It ain't that. I may be horny, but I ain't an idiot to do it now. Besides, the mood ain't here." … debating about that part, but I fell for this idiot, so same applied.

"So what are you doing?" Without even saying a word, Gajeel just drags me out of the library and somehow, we end up in the forest with me sitting on his lap, eating a donut. Don't ask me. I was kind of resisting him half the time and acting confused for the rest. All I know is that right now… I'm eating a donut on Gajeel's lap while we look at the scenery. Lu-chan… somehow I think I get why you and Natsu liked watching the outdoors every so often. It felt… peaceful.

"Squirt, ya got black holes as eyes 'nd ya ain't eatin'. I know ya well enough, shortie." Seeing how he wouldn't really look at me would say that, I guess he knew something was wrong. I look dreadful, huh?

"Look, we can't do anything here except research, so I want to do what I can." How could I face Lu-chan if I didn't? Also… what are we to do about Mai? She was a little overwhelmed when we tried to bring her to the guild. Too many voices, she said. Well, if she has the ability to hear minds, I could say that would be hard to deal with. Keeping her out here though with Gajeel, I wonder what they have been doing.

"Mai okay. Levy okay?" Eh? When did she get here?! Ah, she can hear my thoughts. Yes, I'm okay, Mai.

"Good. Mai stay here to listen to trees and animals. Very simple and peaceful thoughts. They say storm coming. Bad man coming?" Yes, he is coming. Is there anything you can tell me about the men who took you?

"I tell, but not with Gajeel here. Private." Well, I can understand. If they did something that was in any way… painful to you, I imagine him being here would be hard on you.

"Gajeel, a minute?" Gajeel, don't you give me that look. There are certain things that talking to a girl would be better than talkin to a guy. Given what I could imagine she's gone through, I wouldn't wish to push her. Thanks, Gajeel. He's gone now, Mai.

"Mm… one who fed Mai was Hokkori. Kind, but sad. She talk to Mai. Always worried about bad guy. No know why." Hokkori? If I recall, she was a healing spirit, but unfortunately was also a blood key. You could say that she probably was around groups that were never that passive. She is almost like Aries, but she often was looked upon like a dark image of Aries and was bullied quite often.

"Passif? What that?" Ah… it means she wasn't violent.

"Mai met Sou once. Hokkori gone. Sou gave me meat that day." Sou? If I recall, he was more of a negotiator and somewhat reckless. They all respresent animals. Hokkori is the ram and Sou is the horse, I believe. Taiga is fairly obvious. Houkou is the dog, I think and Ryuu. Dragon… How does all this work out? How does this guy have so many of the Blood Keys? They're not easy to find.

"Mmm.. Red keys, yes?" Yeah. Dark keys that should have been left alone.

"… that sad." Sad?

"Maybe Taiga or Ryuu okay, but what about Hokkori? Sou? Nice people. I no want hurt" Maybe, but we can't let them harm Lu-chan.

"… so someone die?" …I would hope not. I would wish to just stop them and have them arrested. I don't think any of us would want that.

"Mai help?" Yes, you could help. Tell me, what did they do to you?

"Mai no know. Mai left in forest. Bad man come to take liquid from me. No know why." That must have been the pheromones. It is strange though that you would pheromones from a child. Must be some way for them to manipulate it. Maybe some sort of spell that can mature cells to produce the pheromones? With this sort

"Feremones? What that?" Umm… those are natural chemicals that you can smell that make people react in a certain way.

"Cause Gajeel and Natsu to go in heat?" Um… how do you know that?

"Bad man told me. He said I start game." Game? This is a game to him? Just what is the goal then?

"Mai no know. Mai do know something else. They have all 12." All 12 Bloody keys? How is it possible? What you give up for those keys; the stories about them are hardly nice. One was about them having to sacrifice their wife in order to get a key. Just how could this guy do this? Why is he doing this?

"Lost." Wait, what? Lost?

"Bad man lost." What do you mean?

"His mind jumbled. All thoughts sick. Like cloudy water. One night, I see dream. World glitters like stars. Paths like tiles. Crafts light up like fireflies. Then all turns red. Blood red." … was this Noria? Doesn't sound like what the stories say. Most of them say that the place was beautiful, but tainted because of the fact they used human mana as an energy source. Still, I couldn't tell that from the image. Maybe that's why this guy still believes that its destruction was not justified? No, he knew about the way it was created and its magic. There's no way he wouldn't. How else could he recreate the spells?

"Mai know. Book in Bad man's house." A book? Must have been smuggled out. All right, we know how he knew and why, for the most part. I just don't get how Lu-chan gets involved with this.

"Oy, Squirt. Time to eat. You too, brat." Gajeel… I think you should learn how to talk nicer to children… Seeing that my stomach was growling, I couldn't argue back and I can see that your stomach is not hiding either, Mai.

"Mmm… Mai hungry. Neh, Gajeel, what you eat?"

"Hmm? Metal, brat. Yer a dragon too. What was yer mother's element?" How would Mai know? If her mother disappeared before she broke out of her shell.

"Mommy was water." …Mai, how do you know that?

"A dream. Mommy came in dream. Told me to not trust Bad Guy. Told Mai about Mai's abilities." Huh, I didn't know about that. So dragons have the capability to transfer their thoughts in dreams. Then, that doesn't explain why Metallica and the others disappeared and never told anything to Natsu and the others. Then again, none of them are the direct sons and daughters of the dragons, so this might be an exception to that.

"So what do you eat then, Mai?"

"Any food okay. I digest all." Well, that makes life simple. Well, then, let's get something to eat.

"Ah, squirt. Wait ta minute, alright?"… what in Mavis's name would I…. never mind… I can wait. Please don't give the death glares again. I'd rather avoid an issue. Seeing though that you're happy, Mai. Go ahead. I'm sure Mira's sandwich will be very helpful.

Thinking of it now, I guess it makes sense though. Dreams were a manner of communication, I imagine. If they were used in mating rituals, I guess you could use them for other purposes. Makes me wonder why the dragons haven't contacted Gajeel or the others. Also, something she said worried me. A book about their magic exists? Damn, if the dark guilds knew, they'd probably be after that. I don't think any of the dark guilds are on the move right now, but if they catch word, they might be all over the case. I'd hate to see that.

Somehow, I'm starting to wonder why this guy is fighting. He's a creepy bastard; there's no doubt about that, but something's off about his reasoning. Maybe Lu-chan's needed for his spells, but I can't possibly see why he would come out to scout. It's like he's taunting us, telling us that we cannot stop his plan, even if we know it or he's right in front of us. It's really frustrating.

"Shortie." Ah, you're back, Gajeel. Wait, why are you looking at me like that?... Are you...

"Yeah, Gajeel?" Touching my cheek so delicately makes me wonder what you're going to-… A-ah…. Your tongue's a little…. It feels good. After so many times, it doesn't really stop making me... breathless.

"Shortie."… what, metal brain?

"I ain't one to wait normally, but the brat in there has been keepin' ya away. Still… I ain't callin' ya just fer that." Then what?

"Levy…"…he called my name…

"I dunno if I can hold out much longer…" …I guess I don't mind, but isn't Mai… never mind. I guess a break is in order…

Gajeel… somehow, you always started out like this with a kiss and a warning. I always found that comforting. Your kisses were always rough yet gentle as if you were needing something within me. Like you were afraid I would break or that we'd lose ourselves in the feeling. Moving your hands up and down my sides, I could only hold myself up by leaning into you and your kiss. It wasn't like I wanted to stay out of pity. In all's honesty, it's comforting.

"Gajeel…" We don't really need words, do we?

Well, I ain't like Salamander. I personally prefer to keep out of yer head, shrimp… But this thing is rather helpful right now with the brat over there. Oh, right, you could do that, couldn't you? By the way, that wet dream… was that caused by you. …I can see it was. You know, when you blush, you look really cute, Gajeel.

So ye knew? Don't push it, shortie or I'll just strip ya here and now. Point taken. Still… why now?

"Cuz I didn't want to hold back anymore." Fair enough.

"All right, but… we're not going to go the whole way, you know?" Seeing you smirk, I somehow doubt my own words.

Yeah, we're not stopping half way. Men. You can't live with them. You can't live without them. Well... might as well enjoy it, right?

Sorry for the short chapter, but I couldn't really drag it out and I didn't want the story to become too lemony. Anyways, see you guys next week.