Yeah boi, it be that time for TOI.

I am back on TOI for a bit before I feel like I want to go back to TRE. I miss writing this and I want to start writing the guild characters to. XD

I'll let you get on with it.

:::-((x))-:::

(1 Day later)

"Gray!" Vali's voice echoed through the streets of Magnolia, reaching the Devil Slayers ears no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.

The taller boy caught up, jumping over the sudden icy patch on the ground as he grabbed his shoulder, grinning at the annoyed glance he received for his hard work.

"Vali, this better be good or I will plant your face into the dirt." Gray growled, fighting the urge to knock his friend out as he laughed in response to the unhidden threat.

"Mmm, Dirt pie." The Earth Mage giggled. "Very scrumptious… But I think you'll want to read this." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket before clumsily sticking it in his hair before jumping back, avoiding the swipe made for his face. "It's from Pause and Doranbo."

He suddenly looked more conflicted. "They left, I don't think they'll be coming back either."

Gray looked up from the letter, surprised. "Pause is alive?"

Vali nodded. "It may not be what he deserves, but yeah, I heard it from pops."

"Stop calling him that."

Vali shrugged. "No can do, Cyclops."

"Stop calling me that."

"Stop calling me that."

Vali would have continued on, but when he felt a pair of huge icy hands pull him onto the ground he gave it up. He couldn't be bothered to start flinging dirt at the irritated boy and it probably wouldn't solve anything either.

"You have such a way with words, Gray." He snickered. Jumping back up to his feet.

"Can you please just shut it for a few minutes."

"I can, but that doesn't mean I will."

Vali was so infuriating and Gray hated it. He didn't bother training any harder due to being set in his ways, he refused to let up on annoying him and he was going to have to live with the bastard until they turned 18! If things could get any more worse then he was going to explode.

It had been a full day since the discovery of his 'marks'. It had to have been bad if the guild master of Fairy Tail looked ready to freak out. He had been instructed to visit a 'Porlyusica' tomorrow to check his magic and body just incase they were bad in anyway and he really wasn't prepared for all of the events that followed.

Soon after the meeting he and Makarov went back out to find a limping Vali in the guild hall, chatting with Wakaba about the entire ordeal. Within minutes he was a proud member of Fairy Tail to, a dark green insignia presenting itself on the right side of his neck. They all had some fun with the rest of the guild, though the two mostly kept to themselves, Wakaba and Makarov.

According to the master, there was someone else around their age to, but she was sick and likely wouldn't be in for another day at most.

So at the end of the day, Makarov gave them both a slip and told them to find an apartment. Apparently in Magnolia, under-age guild members were allowed to live off of the Guild Fund for the time they were under-age, but as soon as they turned 16, they were to start paying off the rent themselves. It seemed to be a cool thing, definitely something Gray could get behind…

If he didn't have to share a place with Vali of all people…

"Oh cheer up." Vali laughed, catching his attention once more. "Besides sharing a room with me, the best privilege any man can get, we also get to meet Cana tomorrow."

"Oh yeah." He had admittedly forgotten about Cana. They were supposed to meet her when she got back to the guild. Though he could care less, he had to make some kind of friendship, Vali would likely be dead by his hand within the week, so it may be worth the time to at least not completely shut the girl out.

The two of them fell into a half comfortable and half uncomfortable silence for the rest of the walk to the apartments. Though they had passed multiple blocks at this point, none of them really looked good or even worth spending a minute in and one of them even had this horrible pig-faced woman shouting at someone for their rent. That was something neither of them wanted to endure for the next 6 to 5 years.

But as the sun began to finally sink into the horizon Vali finally spotted the perfect apartment block, though Gray wondered how great an apartment block could possibly be.

Though when he looked in the direction Vali pointed towards he had to admit that it wasn't particularly nasty looking. The deep rich red bricks that built the main body of the building finished off with the even darker maroon tiles that made the roof gave off the air of luxury. Though it was an apartment, Gray knew that no amount of atmosphere could take away from the fact that it was an apartment.

"I take it that is the one you want?" He sighed, turning his head to the Earth Mage to look him over. Seeing the nod and grin he quickly adjusted the eye-patch and turned towards the enchanting building, Vali followed behind making sure to button up the chequered shirt given to him by Makarov.

"This better be good, or I am nailing you to the wall first thing."

"Everything I pick is good." Vali retorted, brushing some of his hair behind his ear. "Have I ever made a bad decision?"

"Besides being a dumbass? Yes."

"Ouch."

"Everytime you open your mouth, I feel the urge to kick your teeth down your throat." Gray growled back. If he really had to live with this bastard…

"Can you even reach up here?" Was the oh-so annoying response.

"Earthworm!"

Vali reeled back as if struck before ending off the action with a hand over his mouth. "That hurts, Gray." He sorrowfully whispered, though the grin he was trying to hide made it obvious as to what he was doing.

"Good."

"Oh, you're so cold!"

"Even better..."

Vali sighed, ending his little episode of teasing. "Let's just get inside."

"I thought you'd never ask!" Gray exclaimed in return, grabbing the taller boy by his ear and dragging him to the building. Smirking, Gray ignored his pained cries at his action.

:::-((x))-:::

The first thing the two saw as they entered the building was the figure of a slim, middle-aged man. He had a few grey hairs starting to sprout and his face was starting to show the signs of ageing. It was a little surreal, like watching the very moment in time when the human body began to lose its youth, beginning its journey into the twilight stage.

The man's grey eyes shone with an air that Gray couldn't pinpoint. But it wasn't unwelcoming at least, the man wore an old brown tweed jacket with a green shirt underneath, everything below was brown and black. It wasn't a pleasant sight for sure, but it wasn't threatening, if anything, he looked harmless enough.

He was the usual middle-aged man in all of his unassuming glory…

And though Gray thought he looked slightly ridiculous, he didn't feel the need to suddenly bolt. Vali clearly felt much more at ease, if that was even possible.

The Earth Mage strode right up to the man, greeting him with his usual annoying and laid back rambling. Though the older man easily kept up with him, even stumping him at one point. Gray liked this man already.

'I really hope this guy is the landlord.'

"Well..." The man chuckled, an easy smile forming on his face. "I suppose I should tell you two that I am the landlord of this place."

'Thank the heavens for that!' Gray mentally did a backflip. Anyone who could make the dumbass Earth Mage stumble over his own words was a welcome addition in his life.

"Figured that..." Said stumped Earth Mage grumbled, though he let it go rather quickly, returning back to his slouched relaxation. "I take it this place also has that deal with the Fairy Tail guild?" He asked. The old man simply nodded his head.

"I currently have one room left here, so you two are particularly lucky." He motioned for them both to follow him as he turned away from the desk beside him and made a bee-line for the stairs. "Though you two will have to share, if that is fine with the both of you's?"

Gray wanted to curse at that, there went his peace and quiet. But deep down, he knew it was something he'd have to stomach. But it was Vali…

"Wait." Vali took his place next to the man as they walked up the stairs, looking up at him with curious eyes. "How did you know we are new guild members?"

He laughed, as if the question was extremely ridiculous. Vali briefly wondered whether or not he was missing something but bit back at the feeling. Maybe the man was just notified in advance? No, that would mean that the guild-master managed to call up every hotel or apartment in Magnolia and no matter how much time he had on his hands, he simply wouldn't have been able to reach all of them in time before they got here.

"My boy." The man started, looking down to him. "Your guild mark is on your neck, you haven't made it very difficult for me to figure out at all"

"Oh..." Sheepishly, Vali rubbed his hand across the mark that adorned his neck. He really wasn't thinking about where he should probably have it. "I guess not. Good point, but please don't do that again." He laughed, though it came out a little more nervous than he intended. "I thought you were a damn psychic for a few moments."

"Scared of having your grisly demise projected?" Gray piped up, mocking the older boy.

Though Vali was just a quick to the punch. "Nope, I just shudder at the thought of seeing you naked before I can comprehend what the word ugly truly means."

A growl escaped Gray's throat. How dare this bastard turn his mockery back on him. He didn't look even slightly offended! He had no idea how to combat Vali, if his fighting style was anything to go by, he'd be a complete bastard to hit in the first place and he clearly wasn't immature enough to throw a tantrum at his insults.

Why did the world hate him so much?

"Calm down you two." The man warned. "I won't have fighting under this roof."

The light glare he supplied them with quelled the fight within Gray fairly well. The man knew how to come off as intimidating if he needed to. Vali even gave up on his annoying sniggering when the glare was levelled upon him.

This guy was frightening alright…

"Fine."

"You got it, my man!"

"Do you have to be so over the top?"

"Ah-ah!" Vali wagged his finger at him, Gray felt the sudden urge to freeze it off for him. "Remember, we have to be good boys, whilst under this generous guys roof."

The man smiled at their antics. "Good to see I still make an impression."

After a few more moments, the man stopped them both before turning to the door. It was then Gray realised that they had travelled to the far right of the building. It even looked like they were on the top floor. Inwardly he frowned a little, he really did have rotten luck.

"Okay boys, here are your keys, try not to lose them." He turned his back to them before beginning to walk away from them. "It really is hard to get them replaced and I really don't like having locksmiths coming in and tampering with my building."

"Got it." Vali replied, but quickly froze for a second before snapping his head to the man before he descended the stairs. "Wait, what's your name?"

The man chuckled, turning to look at them before replying. "Eric Maynard, at your service!"

And with that he turned back and disappeared down the stairs…

:::-((x))-:::

"Woah..."

Gray would never let his 'friend' know, but he agreed completely. The room was fantastic! The building was a structural behemoth on the outside, but the room felt like it took up half of the damn place. The first thing they were greeted with when entering the room was a fairly spacey hallway that looked to be at least four or five strides long. Two doors opposite one another were the first thing they noticed but at the end of the hall was what was obviously a big room that could easily fit seven or more people in.

"Come on, Gray. Let's take a look around." Vali grinned, racing down the end of the hallway before he could get a response.

"Hang on." The Devil Slayer grunted, turning to look into the door on the left.

"There's a nice, squeaky-clean kitchen!" Was the sing-songed reply he got. Gray snapped his eye shut and quickly counted to ten.

"I don't care!"

"When I make my famous Slop and Shit sandwich you will!"

"You see that window in front of you?" He asked, point directly behind the Earth Mage, who looked back and nodded, grinning. "Open it and take a dive!"

"Righto!" Vali laughed, bounding off and out of his view. "Holy shit! This kitchen is great!"

He really was a weird one…

Shaking his head, Gray resumed his original task of looking into the two doors ahead of him. He could simply deal with Vali at a later date but right now, he wanted to know where he was staying and where everything was.

But the first thing he saw when opening the door was not really what he had expected.

He froze…

He could easily tell that he was in the Bathroom, which was fairly roomy by bathroom standards, the floors were tiled in those classic creamy-mess tiles. The bath itself came installed with a shower which hung high enough for him to reach and the sink which was right in front of him had a few provisions ready and waiting for him.

But above the sink was a mirror, it wasn't too big, but he could clearly see his entire head and upper portion of his body. He must have unconsciously stripped again because his chest was exposed, showing of his new Guild-Mark.

He stepped in, closer, looking at the deep, almost void black skin that covered half of his body and face, it almost seemed to be alive in its own way as he could see the tainted reflections skin pulse from what must have been corrupted magic. Looking at his head he could see that his nose almost covered but barely missed being half covered. His eyes, whilst not the same horrible black that his skin was shone a bright, terrifying purple that seemed to reach into the inner depths of the underworld itself. He stared at himself and could feel the malicious intent the reflection held for him.

Shaking his head, he looked and watched as the reflection from hell mimicked his every move, he snapped his gaze down to his own body and stopped.

There was nothing there…

Nothing, just his alabaster skin and the untouched Guild-Mark.

Looking up again at his demonic counter-part, he quickly shut the bathroom door and left for the living. But even as Vali began to taunt him yet again, he only responded half-heartedly. His mind was stuck in an abyss of fear and confusion. What had he just seen, he wasn't hallucinating and he wasn't going insane, he knew that, he felt fine and everything despite being difficult for him wasn't mentally destroying. He was not going to think back to his past and he wasn't allowing himself to be put in a position where was going to end up doing so.

So just what was that… Thing? That perverted effigy of himself that stared back at him just then?

"Vali, I am going to find the bedroom, you find your own." He breathed.

"Sure."

Just who was he anymore?

:::-((x))-:::

That was awkward…

Gray really doesn't like anyone, does he?

Not even himself…

Anyway!

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you all again at some point… Preferably next chapter.

-Viperhat