The Potion 7

I do not own anything and if you're not a Keel x Lavi fan then don't read it. It is definitely OOC.

Also, for two of the OC monsters in this fic are drawn from Mokona from xxxHolic and Puella Magi Madoka Magica so I don't own any rights to them either.

Part one of the double update.

[Third person]

Miki was trying to remain calm. She looked it anyway. She had been conned before and her sense for cons was going spastic. Her powers had vanished leaving her vulnerable and, quite frankly, naked too. There was no way she imagined it. Miki waited it out, tested if she was. She let Lavi go about her "business" for the entire day. It seemed natural on the surface but beneath it, something was lurking. It was some sort of secret being masqueraded by a couple-like phenomenon. 'I'm going to go that nearby hot spring we passed.' Miki announced. 'By myself.' She wandered off and no one stopped her. Keel and Lavi were too busy fussing over each other and this had profusely stunned Blue and Mippy.

This is bad! A black bipedal rabbit with wings thought. A glimmer caught the centre of its forehead; a jewel was reflecting light off it. It looked like a murky emerald upon an upside-down tiara. It bounded after Miki awkwardly. Its wings were fluttering in vain. Miki detected its presence earlier. She was using the hot spring as a disguise for her wanting to meet this strange creature. Miki knew it was in relation to Lavi's new found behaviour.

Steam was pouring out around Miki, blurring the forest which was still enraptured by surrealistic feels. 'Come out! I know your there!' Miki barked and shyly, the black rabbit moved forward as if in shame. Miki glanced around, surveying the creature and their surroundings. 'Who are you?' Miki demanded, hoping that it had speech capabilities like Mippy. Miki didn't hold hope since she didn't recognise the species; she presumed it would be around the "F" Level though.

'I am called Esmeralda.' it stuttered. Its voice was soft and pleasing to the ear.

'Are you the one responsible for Lavi's change?' Miki asked bluntly

'No! I am not! Please do not accuse me of such things!' Esmeralda howled, shaking her head vehemently. Her floppy ears were flailing and her voice rising with hysteria.

'Then who should I accuse? What business do you have stalking me? What are you exactly?' Miki interrogate the poor creature whose knees were buckling in sheer terror. Actual tears were welling up in its inky blue eyes but Miki saw them only as false. This rabbit-like creature radiated with evil in her opinion. Miki supposed it was the devil-like wings which gave the rabbit such a threatening appearance.

'You should accuse my friend – my enemy – Sangre, she is the one who has put a spell on your friend.' Esmeralda said and Miki watched the creature's eyes carefully.

'You can read auras, can't you? I can too. That's why my powers are suddenly negated. Continue.' Miki said

'Sangre, she put a spell on that girl Lavi, manipulating her into believing she's got lust for that young man Keel. I don't know why. Sangre and I...' Esmeralda's voice trailed off. Miki couldn't predict where this conversation was going. The black rabbit swallowed its fears and continued talking. Miki couldn't believe her ears. Her eyes were going wide and her heart hammering her ribcage mercilessly. It was worse than what she thought. Esmeralda ceased her speech since she knew Miki's comprehension of the problem was vast. 'I want to help.' Esmeralda offered

'Thanks. I'll need it.' Miki said dumbly. She was still numb with shock. 'For the price of a single vial of your blood.'

'Understood.' the rabbit-like creature nodded bravely. Miki explained the plan mysteriously and Esmeralda absorbed every detail in Miki's words, etching them into her memory. This would be important for Lavi's survival. 'The plan will be initiated soon, understand?' Miki asked and Esmeralda nodded, her ears flailing again. 'Wait here.'

Miki returned to camp, leaving Esmeralda behind. The further away from the rabbit Miki came, the clearer her ability to read auras became but the more vulnerable she felt. It was a strange reversal for the young merchant. Miki noticed the truths Esmeralda spoke of as she walked. The rabbit's words echoed in Miki's head:

'Sangre created this forest to trap travellers like you. She's gone mad with power, I believe. Don't be fooled by her appearance. Just because cherubs have halos doesn't mean they don't have black hearts. She wishes to consume Keel and Lavi's life-span, and if she gets her way she'll probably drink yours and that Blue's and that Pig Devil's too. That's why this forest repeats and is so empty.' Until Esmeralda pointed it out, Miki hadn't seen a single woodland creature in the Forest of Nesbit. Now that she thought about it further, she didn't even know there was a location called Nesbit. It was truly a powerful illusion.

MerryFairy :)

I have a random surge of inspiration headed for this story so it will be a double update.

Teasers: What kind of creatures are Sangre and Esmeralda? What kind of plan has Miki cooked up? How can Sangre and Esmeralda be both enemies and friends?