A/N: HEY GUISE ME IS BACK AFTER AWHILE DID YA MISS MEEEEE~~~~~ hais... updates will still take awhile but fret not! here is the next chappie howhowhowhow

I tried my best to put in more so it didn't feel rushed, cos I was excited because everyone's fighting each other! (somewhat) so please excuse any abruptness jyeahhh

An Amber Pen: thank you so much, I really appreciate your understanding.. :) ehehhe thank you once more and I hope you enjoy this next one!

Wynterlace: hohoho thank you so much!

She was acting a bit, weirder. Gajeel didn't quite understand it though. Ever since she had blocked the mind talk thingy with her sisters, she blushed if he was just slightly invading her space. She would stammer and shove him back, which made Gajeel want to inch in closer again and they do this kind of weird dance of pushing and inching and pushing -

"Gajeel! I said, too close!" Levy shrieked and again, shove him away. He rolled his eyes.

"Not my-" He stopped as a very familiar smell wafted to him. He'd know that stench anywhere. Gajeel stood up, held Levy's hand to stop her from escaping and growled. "Rogue."

He had tried his best to be as discreet as he could. One would think it would come naturally to him but he was so far off, it was laughable to think he inherited the shadow dragon. Rogue, even in his shadow form could never control his stench from another being with heightened senses, knock things or beings and couldn't even silent his movements.

It was a wonder he was able to sneak in earlier and learnt of the situation his brethren were in. Almost as if someone had helped him to mask his very presence..

He will ponder on that later. For now..

"Gajeel." He rasped. He walked out of the wall, making a small being shriek out of fear. His eyebrow raised, was Gajeel shielding the enemy?

Gajeel had pushed Levy behind him and braced his feet apart. But, Rogue's not the enemy..

"Let's go, Gajeel. I came here to save you."

"Ain't going back. Didn't ask to be saved." He bared his fangs at Rogue, his muscles tensed and his whole body looked ready to attack.

Rogue had learnt earlier from Lisanna that a demon had cast a spell on Natsu, making him prisoner of her perversions. Maybe it was the same with Gajeel?

Rogue had no experience with spells, especially of the dark sort. Again, laughable, as his shadow powers was definitely of darkness. That shadow dragon really picked the wrong angel to inherit his power.

The other way was to sneak up on Gajeel and swallow him in Rogue's shadows. But Gajeel was on his guard and unless Rogue masked his stench, his very movement, he won't be able to start the rescue.

Unless.. Rogue saw the being behind Gajeel peeked at Rogue.

Yes, she would do nicely.

Gray had never hated Sting. Just, tolerated his presence like one would with an annoying half-cousin. Loud, arrogant and not admitting his weaknesses. Almost as bad as Natsu.

But Sting, had the cheek to stand there, after interrupting the best kiss Gray had in ages, without a look of remorse. Even when Gray had gathered his courage to kiss Juvia!

Her taste lingered on his lips, making Gray yearn for her again. Such sweetness and saltiness..

"C'mon Gray. Can't you see that's a demon? Sure she looks mighty fine but a demon nonetheless. Let's go home, brother."

Gray snapped his teeth in anger, making Sting flinch. The nerve of the dirtbag to talk about her as if she was some kind of tool!

Sting shook off his shock and stood firm. "You leave me no choice."

Sting shot a beam of pure light which went through Gray's chest and hit Juvia who was standing directly behind him. Her cry of pain made Gray turned to her in frantic, his back facing Sting.

He tried to reach for her but darkness enveloped his whole being. Understanding dawned on him; Sting had pulled Rogue's shadow over them. Not caring about the consequences and if Sting will question him, Gray turned and punched the light out of the angel.

Laxus stared at nothing.

Trapped in Rogue's shadow prison until he deem Laxus was not 'mad' enough to run after Mira. Lisanna claimed Natsu was trapped in a web of deceit by a demon and thought Laxus was the same too. She had ordered Rogue to let her pass while Laxus was to sit there and reflect.

He had reflected all right, and regret was the only dominant thing that came out. Regret that he had not stayed, regret he had not pushed for them to escape sooner. Regret he had not continued kissing her. Regret he had not bothered to be careful with her mind.

A body swept past him, interrupting his thoughts. A second body stalked towards the first, intent on punishing the first. The temperature dropped almost abruptly and Laxus quickly grabbed the angel. Instantly, his hand was numb as it made contact with Gray's shoulder.

"Relax Gray. Think of Natsu." He whispered. That was the other thought that lingered in his mind. Seeing how their brethren had launched a rescue plan, Laxus and the others have to be careful of what they say. If they were being 'rescued' and sent back to the High Heavens, they would have a lot of explaining to do. And admitting getting ambushed while they were escaping the war and ultimately turning their backs on their brethren was definitely out of the question.

Gray relaxed but his fists were still clenched.

"Lisanna was right! You idiots! Snap out of it!" Sting quickly stood up and wiped his mouth. " I don't know how much more-" Sting stopped abruptly and sniffed the air. "Yuki?"

Without bothering to finish his words, Sting passed through the shadow and disappeared.

Heaving a sigh, Gray turned to look at Laxus. "You got a plan?"

"Nope." He sat down. "Might as well get comfortable."

The moment that stinky shadowy bastard dared to send a small shadow to creep behind Levy and took her hostage, Gajeel snapped.

Nobody can have her, none but him.

He let the metal dragon take over, metal scales forming over his skin and his wings became blades. He let out a roar and the pungent smell of fear hit his nose.

That's right, even shadows should fear him.

He lunged straight for Rogue, only to find himself enter an empty void.

He stopped abruptly, trying to smell Rogue and Levy but all he got was, just emptiness. Gajeel roared but his roar didn't bounce back, indicating the space was endless.

Well, shit. He turned around and around, clawing at anything and anywhere. His hearbeat sped up, his blood getting pumped faster.

"LEVY!"

"GAJEEL! OH SHIT WHERE DID HE GO? WHAT DID YOU DO?" Forgetting she was a hostage, Levy swirled and kicked Rogue's stomach. The feel of flesh hitting her heel was almost satisfying. Almost.

Rogue doubled over and held up a hand, "That- that wasn't me."

Levy frowned. Angels don't lie, do they? Before she could question further, one of Levy's hated noises interrupted her. A seemingly innocent, emptying stomach inducing giggle.

Minerva Orland, the High Sin of Gluttony, had entered Levy's lair.

"No worries, luv. I'm keeping him safe, just for you." She blew a kiss to Levy, which she pointedly ignored. "Give him back, Minerva! He isn't one of your playthings."

Minerva laughed while tilting her head. "Oh dear me. Playthings?" She slithered closer. Levy spared a glance back to the angel Gajeel had called 'Rogue'. She didn't see them as enemies but he might think otherwise. However, with Minerva prowling closer, he was definitely the lesser of two evils. If she could call an angel evil, that is. Levy took a step back and hissed. "Give. Him. Back."