Yo guys sorry for the lack of updating the past few days I was out of town so no access to a computer and all that but anyway here is the next chapter of Hidden Shadows hope you enjoy don't forget to R&R!-Ira

P.S. I'm currently working on a novel and putting my ideas for characters races and locations on pintrest so if your interested make sure to follow me just search Josiah Hein in the pinners bar!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL

(Eastern Forest: Baron's home)

Erza took a deep breath trying to control her breathing. She turned her gaze upwards to face the completely stoic face of Baron. They had been fighting for the past two hours straight and despite his expressionless face she knew that he was tired as well. It was the first time she had ever been able to pull off something like a stalemate in their whole training career with the man.

It had been two days since they had their talk and walk through the woods. After she learned what he had been holding in all these years she was... shocked to say least mostly because he had the strength to be alone all that time and never reach out. She shuddered at the thought of what he went through. To kill the one you love was unthinkable and what made it all the worse was that he had intended to die in that match so the action of it was raw and unplanned.

"Erza the match is far from over keep your wits" Baron's voice rang across the open field bringing Erza back to the present.

"Hey Baron we haven't been back to the guild for a while why don't we go check in?"

"hmm seems like a good idea besides your final test is tonight so you will need some rest" he said with a evil grin on his face. Erza quaked to think of what he had in store for her. His training and tests where grueling more so than any lessons Erza had ever taught anyone. In truth if Erza didn't care for the man she would think him cruel.

So it being decided that the two would go visit the guild they got dressed in their normal clothing including Baron's jacket and usual pants and shirt excluding the mask however Erza noticed with a smile they made their way to the guild.

"Hey Baron?"

"Hmmm?"

"What do you think of the people in our guild?"

Baron turned to look at her raising an eyebrow knowing full well she disliked it when he did that.

"Tch Baron use words!" she glared daggers at him only for him to chuckle.

"Why do you ask?" he said in a bit more serious of a tone.

"Well you never talked about them before and I am curious to hear your opinion" and it was true. She had never heard Baron speak of the guild despite him having his outburst behind the guild hall when they where attacked. She honestly wanted to know considering he was reserved in his opinions.

"They are my family in many ways Erza, They took me in when no one else would, they treated me like family and honestly I couldn't bring myself to ever return the favor, My family was killed when I was young causing my heart to freeze over but when I joined the guild they warmed it never fully freeing it but all the same they made me more gentle and kind than I was before and for that I am grateful" he stopped and looked at Erza "However the one that broke my heart free believe it or not was you Erza Scarlet"

Erza's eyes widened a bit and she blushed madly before punching him lightly on the shoulder.

"You know full well you where mostly free before I found you Baron besides all I did was talk to you and force you to be connected" Erza said looking away not wanting him to see how glad him saying that made her.

"Aye while that is true if you never came along I wouldn't have ever been truly free, Erza in many ways I owe you a debt that cant be repaid" Erza saw him smile lightly out of the corner of her eyes and in turn making her smile. When he smiled it filled her with warmth unknown to her. She closely but indirectly observed the morning rays play across his face accentuating his jawline and proud features. His scars only made it all the more attractive and Erza found herself wanting to touch it however she refrained not wanting to show her affections in public.

Suddenly Erza felt herself run into something hard and banging her head against something that felt like a metal grate. She looked up holding her head noticing that she had run into the gate of Fairy Tail's guild hall entrance.

"Pffft...Erza...Chhhch...Theres a gate there you know...HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!" Baron had tried to hold in his laughter and finally broke down holding his sides and laughing so hard he was crying.

"Baron its not funny that hurt!" Erza shouted glowering at him but inside genuinely happy he was laughing so hard.

"Fine well if your going to sit her laughing like a bafoon im going inside to say hi" She turned on her heel and quickly strode into the guild hall hearing Baron getting up and following her. She smiled making sure to keep her face hidden from him.

She was happy.

She had made Baron laugh.

(Fairy Tail Guild Hall)

Baron having finally recovered fully from Erza's mishap stepped into the guild hall behind her instinctively making his way to the table in the corner before smiling to himself. If I sit there she will cause a uproar might as well follow her. Baron quickly rectifying his mis-step followed Erza to the bar before sitting down beside her.

Mirajane who had been busy cleaning some dishes turned around and began to speak.

"Oh what can- OH MY LORD ERZA WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" she squealed and startled Erza by leaning over the counter before pulling her into a hug.

"Um hi Mira?" Erza said throwing a look at a amused looking Baron he was trying not to spit take his beer with laughter.

"Where have you been!" she demanded pouting hands on her hips.

"Uh well I was training with Baron for the past couple months out of town so.." Erza said as she pointed over at Baron.

Baron who was still struggling for control raised a hand in acknowledgement before returning his attention to the beer in his hand not wanting to become the center of attention.

"Wait that's Baron?" Mira said while eyeing him before leaning into Erza's ear "Training huh? what kind of training?" she asked mischeviously.

"Mira! that is utterly innapropriate!" Erza scolded while trying to hide her blush by looking down at the counter.

Mira just tossed her a knowing smile before turning her attention back to Baron "Would you like something to eat Baron?"

"No I'm ok Mira thank you" was his polite reply. He knew full well what she had whispered into Erza's ear seeing as how his magic allowed him to hear much better than the average person and he fully intended to tease Erza about it later.

"How about you Erza?"

"No its ok we just came to chat with some people before we head back"

"Oh ok have a good day Erza,Baron" she tossed a wink at Baron before turning to go back to the kitchen causing Erza to send a glare at Mira making Baron cough into his beer stifling a laugh.

Baron stood and grabbed Erza by the arms dragging her to her usual table with Gray, Lucy, and Natsu staring at Baron like he was the devil himself. The fact he was still alive while he was dragging Erza was a feat unbeknownst to any person in the entire guild. They simply stared at Baron as he set her down on the bench and then sat down next to her preventing her from charging the now laughing Mira.

"Erza calm down it was a joke" Baron barely able to speak between his laughs. He enjoyed seeing this side of Erza. Despite everyone else fearing her he thought that this was her defining trait of the feared Titania.

Natsu having shaken off his shock of seeing Erza being contained noticed Baron was sitting next her and had a fantastic idea.

"Baron fight me!" Natsu shouted launching himself on to the top of the table pointing at Baron and grinning.

"Natsu st-" Erza began but was cut off by Baron standing smiling with a mischevious look in his eyes.

"Ok Natsu but I just want to say its not my fault if something breaks"

"Baron-" Erza began to object until he turned to face her and winked at her smiling before turning and going to the open area of the dining area causing her to blush which did not go unnoticed by Gray and Lucy who shared a knowing look before returning their attention to the fight.

Baron stopped and turned around to face Natsu who had prepared to launch himself at Baron.

"Oi Baron you ready?" he called grinning madly. This boy was very...energetic Baron thought as he nodded.

Natsu launched himself at Baron only to have him step to the side grab his leg spin him a bit and launch him into the ceiling.

"I think I win Natsu" he called to the now stuck boy in the ceiling trying to pull his head out from the rafters before returning to his seat next to Erza.

"Was that necessary?" she asked scowling at him.

"Of course it was entertaining besides he would never have left me alone if I didn't" he said grinning as he turned to face her noticing she blushed and moved her gaze away from his. She was so damn cute! he thought to himself before he turned his attention back to the table.

The day continued as Baron got to know Gray and Lucy after a while Erza and him made the rounds around the guild trying to intergrate Baron into guild life. Seeing as how he was... blunt most of the time it proved kind of awkward when Cana offered him her 'special' tankard of beer seeing as how he loved the stuff and about to accept when Erza hurriedly pushed him away wanting to avoid any side effects of Cana's 'special' beer.

The day had passed for the most part uneventful after that and as it approached sundown Baron led Erza out of the guild saying it was time for her final Training test. He planned on using his armor. He knew that she wouldn't expect it or know its abilities making it all the more useful in the test. It would force her to improvise and that would allow Baron to see how well she does under changing situations.

Finally after they had made their way back to the clearing where they lived together now Baron turned to face Erza his face suddenly serious.

"Erza you have spent the past two months training and I will say you have come a very long way however there is one final test to pass, in order to pass this test you must defeat me in combat if you do not training will recommence but this time it will be twice as hard and brutal as before are you prepared?"

"I am" came her collected reply.

"Then we shall begin" Baron raised his hands as if holding a spear and shield then called Re-quip: Wraiths Vengeance

As the light from around his body cleared Erza's eyes widened. Not only had he used Re-quip magic which for the record she never knew he could, on top of that he had re-quipped into armor she had never even seen before.

Before her Baron stood in what seemed to be a heavy exotic armor but at the same time it looked light and maneuverable. The helm was slightly squared with a open face allowing his eyes to see out with a thin nose guard then opening completely to allow free breathing and moving of the jaw. The top of the helm was decorated with a long plume that went down the back of his neck before being cut off at the end. The chest piece covered his torso with carved in abs and chest muscles leaving the arms of the wearer completely unguarded except for the leather vambraces he wore. The bottom of the chest piece had small tabs of thin black steel looking slightly like a skirt. The only part of Barons legs that where armored where his shin guards that appeared to be made of light but sturdy leather and his black sandals. He held a black spear that glinted wickedly in the moonlight and a large round steel shield.

(A/N if you want a more accurate description/image of the armor so you know what he is wearing there will be a link posted to a photo of what it is meant to look like at the bottom of this story)

Good Baron thought to himself observing Erza's reaction. She was surprised but not completely thrown off. He watched silently as she re-quipped into her Purgatory armor. Baron smiled, she wasn't messing around.

Baron readied his spear and held his shield forward before evenly spacing his feet so that he had better purchase of the earth. They stood facing each other for a long time gauging each others guard learning the others patience. But the first of the two to break was Erza. She charged forward swinging her large blade at the shaft of Baron's spear attempting to shorten his reach only to have Baron twirl on his back foot before bashing her exposed side with his shield causing her to stumble a bit before she regained her footing and face him again.

"Erza remember you must calculate, try to see what I will do before I do it" Baron kept his eyes trained on her waiting for her next move.

Suddenly a flash of light blazed through the forest and instinctively sensing danger Baron quickly put his shield covering his back and hearing the sound of metal on metal swung bashing the butt of his spear on someone hearing a grunt he turned quickly returning to his stance. He saw Erza stumbling back this time wearing her speed enchanted armor (sorry I forget the name) stumbling back holding her side.

"Focus do not let eagerness and arrogance blind your strikes"

Baron saw her getting more and more frustrated with every blocked attack but the truth was he was on the ropes. He could barely keep up enough to stop getting hit and he knew it but he had to hide it from her or she would realize it and continue to attack with twice the ferocity.

Suddenly Baron felt a foot slam behind his knee and in retaliation as he fell not wasting a moment in his weakness he tossed his shield behind him hearing it make contact with his opponent and them fall to the earth he used his spear to vault up and land back on his feet now using two hands to hold his weapon. He made a mistake and he knew it. That shield was his only useable defense against Erza's unrelenting attacks and he had thrown it away.

Erza seeing this and realizing the same thing Baron did launched herself at him in her flight armor. Attack after attack happened. Then Baron pulled out all the stops.

After shoving Erza back he pushed off to the right to avoid a strike in retaliation to his shove and moved behind her quickly he struck behind her leg causing her to fall to one knee before slamming the spear into the fabric of her greaves pinning her to the earth and drawing his sword placed it on her throat from behind.

"End game Erza" he said panting with a small smile.

"Baron if there is one thing I have learned from you" Erza said then suddenly un-equipped her greave before grabbing his arm and twisting him around before pressing him against a tree pinning him there holding his own blade under his chin her face very close to his.

"The fights not over until one of you is on the ground unconscious" she whispered her breath washing over his face.

Baron smiled gently at her before re-quipping back to his normal clothing.

"You know I do believe I taught you everything you know now" he said smirking.

"I think it has to do some with my absolute brilliance" she stated calmly not having moved from their previous position after also returning to her causal clothing.

Baron in response swung his right leg behind her left causing her to fall slightly before flexing his magic power and teleporting both of them into his home so that she fell onto the couch and he stopped himself with his elbows on the back part of it while still leaning over her.

"Hmmm well I suppose you deserve at least SOME of the credit Erza Scarlet" he whispered in her ear before pushing himself up and sitting next to the now madly blushing Erza Scarlet. She really was beautiful Baron thought as he looked at her flushed gorgeous face. Her hair was slightly covering her left eye making her all the more attractive.

"Baron what are you looking at is something on my face?" she asked confused and quickly placing her hand on her face.

Baron just laughed and said "no Erza you look fine beautiful in fact"

She blushed bringing out a amused smile from Baron.

"I do think you will be glad to know you passed one of the hardest training routines on the known planet Erza my master taught me the same way I taught you.. well mostly mine was a tad bit more... painful" he said with a shiver at the memory.

She threw a sidelong glance at the man knowing full well that the memory of his master was one of his most sensitive ones.

"I will tell you some day Erza just like I told you of Valia because for some odd reason I have never trusted someone more than I do you" Baron said as he turned to look at her.

No ones words had ever made Erza Scarlet happier.

Hey guys some side notes uuhh so for the next few weeks or so im going to be really freakin busy so if updating happens less and less don't worry im not done by a long shot also if you want to help me out with the story and the way it begins to develop in the future make sure you just PM or drop a review with a idea I will get back to you on it as soon as I can. By the way Next chapter will contain a Lemon! I know some people wont enjoy that but the story is rated M for a reason so I will have a warning on that chapter informing people of it however don't worry the story is not going to change into a short oh they have sex a few more times Erza gets pregnant and they have kids happily ever after no not by a long shot so don't worry about something like that happening.

P.S. Heres the link to see a general idea of what Barons armor looked like images/search?q=Black+Greek+Spartan+Armor&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=black+greek+spartan+armor&sc=1-19&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=AF9855F8AEA048B06CFC732A87575E2257D2C023&selectedIndex=169