Hey again! I would like to start by saying thank you for the amazing reviews I'm getting. They really help motivate me to make this a great fix and to try my best whilst writing it. I really hope this chapter will live up to the rest as the plot thickens even further. I enjoy hearing peoples theories about what they think is happening but your all going to have to wait a little longer to see if your right. Anyways please enjoy!

"Your coming in late again Luck" Charmy commented as she sat in the kitchen stuffing her face with food, "How come you've started training this late all of a sudden?"

"Oh hey Charmy!" Luck acknowledged her surprised, "I didn't know you'd be up this late. But erm... it's not a regular thing. Just sometimes its fun to train when it's really dark. It helps to train the senses more when you can't see"

"I suppose that's a pretty good idea" she answered in agreement. However she took note of his shiftiness, keeping his hands firmly behind his back, "So what are you holding?"

"Oh nothing! Just an old rag for sweat, or blood if I hurt myself" Luck laughed.

Charmy didn't know why, but she definitely didn't believe him. It was true he would occasionally hurt himself during his rough training sessions, but he never took anything to wipe his wounds. He never got hurt that badly anyways. There was no way to prove he wasn't telling her the truth though, and she couldn't try to subdue him to find out what he was hiding behind his back in case the noise woke everyone up. Instead, she made a suggestion.

"Next time you go training, maybe I can come with you?" she offered. At least this way she might be able to find out what he was keeping from them all.

"Yeah maybe" he answered before quickly leaving the room before she could force it upon him. His hands still firmly hiding whatever he was holding. She knew there was no chance of her ever getting an invite.

It had been a week since the events of Finral and Vanessa's disastrous date and peace had finally fell between them again. They had managed to talk it through and Vanessa had finally accepted it as somebody trying to cause a fight. Sitting on the couch together, Vanessa was napping as she lay her head on Finral's lap. He was quietly stroking his fingers through her hair noting how soft it felt on his fingers.

"I'm glad you two finally made up" Asta commented as he sat by them, "All that arguing was driving us all insane"

"I know. I'm sorry it went that far but at least she finally believes me" Finral apologised as he admired Vanessa's peaceful face, "I can't believe we scared Yami and the others away. They haven't been back for days" he joked.

"They got a lead on a demon. They'll be back soon enough so we can go kick it's arse and hopefully get some answers" Asta commented and then added with a smile, "Of course all that shouting you both did didn't help. I bet even Noelle would have offered to go and fight it on her own if it meant getting some quiet"

"I think that's pushing it a bit" Finral laughed, "But it still confuse's me. I mean, why would some strange person suddenly try and start trouble for us? And how did she know my name?" he asked with a sigh.

"Because she must have heard us on the beach together and she's just a selfish, jealous bitch who can't stand other people's happiness" Vanessa spoke groggily as she turned onto her side.

Finral smiled down at her as he continued to stroke through her hair.

"You have such a way with words" he chuckled.

"I guess finding her and asking is out of the question" Asta spoke again.

"Of course it is!" Vanessa cut in sharply, "That woman will only try to cause trouble again. So you can stay well enough away! Both of you!"

"Yes Vanessa" Finral and and Asta both agreed as if they were naughty school children.

Outside of the hideout, Magna was busy throwing fireballs at targets as a way of blowing off some steam and defeating his boredom. This is where Charmy found him and decided to approach him with a thought that had been bugging her.

"Hey Magna, can I ask you something?" she spoke in a happy but serious tone.

"Yeah sure, what's up?" Magna stopped what he was doing and turned to face her.

"Where's Luck? He's normally training with you. Or tormenting you" she added.

"We haven't really spoken for a while" Magna shrugged, "He's either locked up in his room or out somewhere by himself"

"Oh I see" Charmy looked thoughtful, "So have you not trained with him on his midnight training sessions before?"

"What midnight sessions? I wasn't aware he did that" Magna was confused, "At least he's never mentioned it"

"Oh erm... have you ever seen him hurt himself so badly whilst training, he needed to clean it with a cloth or anything?"

"No. He just suck's it up and carries on"

"Didn't think so..." Charmy trailed off.

"What's this really about Charmy?" Magna asked, knowing she wasn't just here for idle chit chat.

Charmy sighed but Magna was Luck's best friend, so maybe he could help figure out what was going on. She explained her encounters with him, from him sneaking back into the hideout, down to him hiding things behind his back.

"Honestly Charmy I couldn't tell you. He's not been himself for a while now and I'm getting more worried the longer it goes on" he smiled weakly, "It's like I don't know him anymore"

Charmy stood and thought for a moment. An idea suddenly popped into her head and she grinned from ear to ear.

"What if we followed him when he sneaks out again?" She suggested.

"He would pick up on our Mana straight away" Magna shot her down almost instantly.

"If he has nothing to hide, I can't see him minding to much. Besides, I wasn't thinking about us two" she smirked.

"Then what are you talking about? Magna asked exasperated.

"There's one person who could follow him without Luck's knowledge"

"Eh?" Magna looked confused.

"Use your brain idiot!" Charmy slapped her hand to her face in frustration.

Magna stared at her for awhile going over what she could possibly mean, when it finally sunk in.

"Asta!" he exclaimed.

"Asta" Charmy agreed with a knowing smile.

In order for their plan to work however they would have to keep nightly watches for next time Luck left the hideout. Plus, they would have to get the un willing Asta to cooperate with them.

Cracking his eyes open, Finral stared into the darkness. Turning his head to the left, Vanessa was still sleeping soundly. Facing the ceiling again, he tried to figure out what exactly had woken him up so late. As if answering his thought's, he heard someone whisper his name. Sitting up right, he looked around the room to see who it could have possibly been. Seeing there was no one there, he looked down at Vanessa half expecting to see her smiling up at him playing some kind of joke. This was not the case, and again he heard someone whisper his name, but this time it came from outside of the room. Slowly getting up so not to wake Vanessa, he tip toed out of the room to find the source.

"Finral..." his name drifted to him from down the hallway.

He felt that he should recognise the voice, but for some reason he couldn't quite place it. Following it down the hall he reached the end. He listened for awhile but he never heard it again. Standing in confusion, he wondered if he had imagined it all. He walked slowly back to bed keeping his ears open to see if he would hear his name called again, but it never was. He was completely unaware of a pair of eyes watching him menacingly from a dark corner. As he climbed back into bed, Vanessa stirred.

"Where have you been?" she asked groggily as she wrapped herself around him and snuggled closer.

"No where important" he answered as he wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes.

Yami was in a bad mood that morning. The lead for the demon threat had turned out to be a dud and he was willing to let the whole hideout know about it. As he stormed about the place slamming anything he could and complaining the whole time, everyone else made sure to stay well enough out of his way.

"So anything from last night?" Charmy asked Magna who had took the first watch.

"Nope nothing. Don't even think he left his room" Magna replied with a yawn.

"Maybe it's only certain nights in the week" Charmy suggested half to herself and half to Magna.

"I'm just grateful it's your turn to watch tonight" Magna yawned again.

"And yet I'm the one that has to be woken up if anything happens" Asta complained from where he sat close by.

"You know if we could follow him without being detected, we would" Noelle added sternly from her seat next to him. She had been with Asta when Magna and Charmy had approached him with their plan.

"Some how I find that hard to believe" Asta grunted.

"What's that supposed to mean insect?!" she half yelled as she quickly remembered Yami's bad mood.

The silence was quickly broken when Vanessa came storming into the room followed closely by a pleading Finral.

"Where did that lipstick come from?" she demanded loudly as she turned to face him.

"I'm telling you I don't know! It wasn't there last night when I took it off!" he defended himself.

"But you weren't in bed all night were you? I remember you getting back into bed but not out! How am I supposed to know how long you were gone for?!" Vanessa shot back.

By now everyone was staring at the pair as they argued, even Yami was watching from over his paper. They were both fine when they went to bed last night, so what could have possibly happened between then and now? From what could be seen, Vanessa had Finral's black bull cloak tightly grasped in her hand.

"I told you I left the room because someone was calling my name. I wasn't gone long I swear. And I definitely never went to meet any woman" Finral continued.

"Likely story, at least try to make it sound more convincing!" Vanessa scorned, "This lipstick got on your cloak somehow and add that to the woman from the other day, just admit your up to no good!"

"But I'm not!" Finral became visibly deflated as she clearly didn't believe him.

"Save it! We're done! You and that slut can go jump off a cliff together for all I care!" Vanessa choked up as she threw his cloak at him, "I was stupid to believe you the first time!"

"But I haven't done anything!" Finral pleaded as a last attempt to get his point across, grabbing her wrist before she could walk away, "I would never throw what we have away like that! I'm not that kind of person. Please I love you!"

"Screw you and your lies! And don't you ever touch me again!" Vanessa cried as she pulled her wrist away from him and went to slap him.

Before she could however, her wrist was then restrained by no other than Yami. He had appeared behind her and looked far from happy as he glared at them both.

"I thought I told you that this relationship would be fine, as long as it didn't affect your work?" he growled, "Now I don't know what's gone on, but I'd rather you sorted it in private then mess up my peace"

"It's fine, we're done now" Vanessa sobbed as she pulled her wrist back and quickly left the room, "Don't bother following me!" she shouted back to Finral.

Instead of doing just that, he stood for a moment in shock. Quietly he turned in the opposite direction Vanessa had just left in, and walked out of the hideout. The others that were left behind sat in silence for a moment before Gauche began to speak.

"And that's why Marie will be the only person I'll ever need"

"Bit insensitive" Zora answered.

"Am I supposed to care?" Gauche asked without taking his eyes off his little sisters picture.

Zora didn't answer that bit, instead he walked over to where Asta and the others were sat.

"Do you guys know what the hell that was all about?" he asked.

Noelle explained what had happened the time they had visited the seaside town and the sudden appearance of a woman they had never seen before.

"She claimed she knew him and that they had spent some time together. So it must be something to do with that" she trailed.

"It is a bit suspicious. I mean, he's got to be guilty right? How else can a strange woman know him and lipstick suddenly appear on his cloak? Vanessa said herself, he left their room last night without explanation" Magna added.

"I agree. He must be guilty" Charmy said out loud, not wanting to believe her own words, "He's always been one for the ladies, being with Vanessa obviously hasn't changed that..."

"Well I think you guys are wrong!" Asta butted in angrily, "He's innocent! I don't know how but I'm going to help him prove he's innocent!"

Asta got up from the table and marched off in search of Finral. The people left behind sat in silence ashamed of themselves. With the evidence stacking up against him, it was hard to believe their team mate could be innocent. But even doubting him the way they were, they still felt guilty for doing so.

"Well I agree with Asta" Zora spoke again as he stared at everyone's sad faces, "I think something else is going on. Normally when that guy has a hunch, it always turns out to be true So you can keep doubting Finral all you like. I'm on his side" as he finished speaking, he got up and walked away.

Outside, Luck was laying in the grass when he noticed Finral walk by looking lost. Sitting up, he watched as his friend wandered aimlessly towards the woods that they were hiding near.. Getting up, he ran after him.

"Hey Finral, what's up?" He asked happily.

Finral stared back blankly as he carried on walking.

"How come your going that way?" Luck spoke again.

"I'm just going to lose myself in the woods. That way Vanessa never has to worry about seeing me again" he answered pitifully.

"Why?"

"We broke up"

"Why?"

"Because she thinks I'm a cheat"

"Well then it's a waste of time trying to get lost. Considering your a spatial mage, you can just teleport back out" Luck laughed.

"Doesn't mean I have to use it"

"Why does she think your a cheat?"

"Some stuff happened"

"What stuff? Is it to do with that lady from town the other day?"

"It doesn't matter"

"There's a tear rolling down your cheek you know" Luck laughed again.

"I'm glad you find my misery amusing" Finral snapped as he dabbed at his cheek fiercely, "Is there anything you want in particular? Or are you just trying to annoy me?"

Luck stopped in his tracks aware he had touched a nerve.

"Why don't we go into that town we passed on the way here and blow off some steam" Luck suggested with a grin, "It's not to far away"

Finral stopped walking and turned to face him.

"I'm not in the mood"

"It will give you chance to cool down and Vanessa might cool down, and when you get back, she might be willing to talk to you" Luck shrugged.

"Maybe that's not such a bad idea" Finral answered thoughtfully.

"You can always try and get lost again if she won't"

"Hey guys!" Asta ran up them shouting loudly, "Where are you going?"

"Finral's going to get lost in the woods" Luck answered happily.

"But that wouldn't work" Asta commented.

"Yes it's already been pointed out that I'm a spatial mage thank you" Finral sighed.

"Oh, and I just came to see if your ok?" Asta asked sincerely.

"Not really" Finral answered truthfully.

"Well it might not be the same as if it was Vanessa, but I believe you" Asta smiled comfortingly.

"Your right, it's not the same. But thank you all the same" Finral answered gratefully.

"I just suggested we go into town and blow off some steam" Luck broke back into the conversation.

"In what way?" Asta asked.

"We can find the biggest toughest guy and fight him!"

"Erm... I think I just need a strong drink to be honest" Finral denied him.

"Well I guess we can give you company" Asta offered.

"Ok, but I'm leaving now"

"I just have something to do first, then I'll catch up with you" Luck answered as he made to run back to the hideout.

"You wait here and you can walk with him. I could do with a bit of alone time to be honest" Finral suggested.

"You sure?" Asta asked.

"Yeah, I'll see you there"

"Ok" Asta agreed as he watched Finral walk away.

Sitting alone at a table outside a tavern he had found, Finral sighed as he took a sip of his drink. He had been sat there for awhile now and Asta and Luck still hadn't shown up. He wasn't complaining though, if anything he was enjoying being alone. That was until the strange woman from the seaside town turned up and sat right in front of him.

"Hey there handsome" she greeted him, "Where's your precious girlfriend today?"

Finral stared in shock and confusion as he tried to make sense of her being there.

"Wh...what are you doing here?" he asked nervously.

"I just came to see how you were. So, how are you?" she asked smugly.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly, "And how did you find me this far away?"

"That's on a need to know basis" she smirked, "And let's just put it down as a coincidence"

"I don't know what you want from me and quite frankly I'm not interested. Now, please can you leave" Finral requested sternly.

"Oh I will"

"Now!" he demanded a bit louder.

"Just a moment" she smiled.

"Hey Asta there he is over there!" Lucks loud voice came flowing over to them.

"Ah perfect timing" the woman grinned before laughing loudly and grabbing hold of Finral's shoulder like he had just told an hilarious joke.

"What are you doi..." he was cut off before he could finish as she kissed him strongly on the lips.

"Hey Finral! What the hell are you doing!" Asta shouted angrily as he ran towards them.

Finral shot out of his seat after pushing the woman away. Looking like a deer caught in the headlights. He was taken off guard when Asta grabbed him roughly by the collar.

"I believed you were innocent and all this time you weren't" he shouted, "How could you do this to Vanessa? To your friends for that matter? Is this why you wanted to be alone? You wanted to go running to see you other girlfriend!"

"But I never did anything. I didn't even know she was here and also, she kissed me!" Finral tried to Defend.

"That's not what I saw!"

"I'm telling the truth. I don't even know who she is! She's some weirdo that's following us!"

"Finral how could you?" the woman gasped with tears in her eyes, "You told me you loved me and we would be together. You said that pink haired hussy meant nothing to you!"

"Stop lying!" Finral shouted at her, "Never talk about Vanessa like that! And please just tell him what really happened!"

"What happened is I put my trust into the wrong man" she cried before turning and walking away.

"Get back here and tell them!" Finral demanded.

"Stop putting blame on other people and face up to what you've done!" Asta shouted, he gripped Finral's collar tighter.

Finral watched in dismay as the woman kept walking. What Asta didn't see however, was her turning her head back and flashing a satisfied grin at Finral before vanishing through the crowd that was forming.

Finral pulled himself away from Asta's grip and stared defiantly back at him.

"I have done nothing wrong" he tried one last time to prove his innocence.

"If you want any chance of gaining future forgiveness from the squad, I suggest you start by telling the truth" Asta finished before turning and marching away.

Finral watched him go, his first's clenched with anger. Luck, who up to now had been silently watching everything unfold, stepped to stand beside him.

"I believe you still" he said with a smile.

"Really, even after everything that's happened?" Finral asked quietly.

"Of course! After all, you are innocent" Lucks smile widened as he looked up at Finral.

Something about it unnerved Finral. He didn't know what it was exactly, but he could of swore there was something sinister behind what he had just said.

"Asta!"

A loud whisper came flowing to Asta's ears as he slept.

"Asta!"

There it was again.

"Asta!"

This time the whisper was accompanied by him being thrown out off bed. Jumping up, he quickly took on a fighting stance which was met by quiet familiar laughter. Once his eyesight had cleared and adjusted to the dark he saw it was Charmy.

"What the hell?" he asked.

"Sshh! No time. You need to go now! Luck just left the hideout and he's moving quickly"

"I'm not going to catch him then"

"He's heading towards town. I can get you somewhat close, but once there, your on your own"

With that, she dragged him onto one of her fluffy magic clouds and they sped off in chase.

Walking through town this late felt a little lonely to Asta. The Taverns were filled with late night drinkers but the streets were dark and quiet. He was used to staying away on training sessions on his own, but since he joined the Black Bulls, he was rarely on his own. Noelle was nearly always with him, or at least one of the others. Checking every alley, tavern and street in search of Luck finally paid off when he spotted him stood outside a small inn. Ducking around a nearby corner he watched on intently. About a minute later, a figure appeared coming out of the inn door wrapped in what looked like a cloak. The figure approached Luck who smiled happily in greeting. They began to have a conversation, but from this distance, Asta couldn't hear what was being said. He slowly moved closer being careful not to step into any light or make any noise. He wasn't quite quick enough to catch what was being said but he did see the figure hand something to Luck.

"You're good at this" Was all he heard. But that was all he needed. That voice was familiar.

Luck accepted what he had been given, said a cheery goodbye, before shooting off back towards the hideout . Once he had gone the figure turned around to head back into the inn, and Asta's suspicion was confirmed once the light hit the face.

Charmy stood in wait with Magna as Asta arrived back at the hideout. He barely had chance to walk through the door before they pounced on him.

"Did you see anything?"

"Why did he go into town?"

"Is it bad?"

"Are we all worried about nothing?"

"Has he arrived back yet?" Asta asked before they could ask him anymore questions.

"Yeah, he got back not to long ago. He didn't seem to pleased to see we were still up, but he didn't say anything" Magna answered.

"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost" Charmy commented.

"Erm...I don't really know how to tell you this" Asta began.

"Tell us what?" Magna asked concerned.

"Well..." Asta took a deep breath, "Luck was meeting Rachel in town"

And I'm going to leave it there for another week. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others, and I'm going to try and keep them coming on a regular basis. As always please forgive any mistakes and feel free to review. I'll see you all for the next chapter.