Duel of the dragons: day three: part 4

Chapter 16 part 4

"Now without further ado let's get the final match of the second round under way. Contestants please take your places," Gajeel and the unknown man walked out into the arena after their meal. The man bowed at Gajeel and raised his left hand.

"This is all I will need to defeat you," Gajeel gritted his teeth.

"Combatants get set. FIGHT!" Gajeel took the first move since his opponent obviously wasn't going to. "IRON DRAGON ROAR!" The man put his hand up and when the roar collided with him his hand stopped the roar dead in it's track. With amazing speed, he was suddenly behind Gajeel and he hit at him with his karate style strike to the throat. Gajeel managed to get out of the way just in time. He began leaking shadows across the ground. "IRON SHADOW DRAGON MODE! IRON SHADOW DRAGON CLUB!" Gajeel's dark skinned hand turned to a very dark iron rod and he hit at his opponent with it. The man stood still and right before he was hit pushed it aside with his left hand while not moving the rest of his body. He moved towards Gajeel and hit him right in solar plexus with a straight hand knocking all the air out him as well as his iron shadow. Gajeel fell to the ground while holding on to his chest for air. The man moved over to Gajeel who was gasping for air. With a quick move, he hit Gajeel with two bended fingers in a nerve causing him to be knocked out.

"And our mysterious dragon slayer does it again. Taking out another dragon slayer without using any magic what so ever," the man walked out of the arena.

As Gajeel woke up in the hospital, he was feeling a little bit better. That last attack had paralyzed him and he still couldn't move. He looked around and saw his partner Lily and Levy sitting and waiting for him to wake up.

"Gajeel! Are you alright?"

"Yeah I suppose. Why are you here scrimp?" Levy puffed her cheeks.

"Don't call me scrimp it's Levy L-e-v-y. And of course I'm here I care about your well-being," Gajeel looked away from her gaze.

"You shouldn't care about me at all after what I did to you, I tortured you and left you for dead. You should have a restraining order signed by the magic council and I should be in jail," Lily got up and started walking to the door.

"I think the two of you need a little alone time," when he had left the room Levy slapped Gajeel causing a surprised look on his face.

"WHY ON EARTHLAND ARE YOU STILL ON THAT! II HAPPENED OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO GAJEEL! AND YOU HAVE DONE ALMOST NOTHING BUT PROTECT ME IN ALL THAT TIME! SO WHY ARE YOU STILL MAD AT YOURSELF! I FORGAVE YOU A LONG TIME AGO!" she fell over him and cried on his bandages.

"Hey now scrimp don't cry," Gajeel said wanting to put his arm around her but he was still paralyzed. She then whispered under her breath.

"I-I love you Gajeel for crying out loud. Why won't you just accept me?" Gajeel was taken aback by these words. He couldn't do anything but stare at the small figure lying on him.

"Levy I-I don't…" He didn't get to finish that sentence before he felt her lips on his. There was no way for Gajeel to break the kiss since he still couldn't move. After a short while, Levy broke the kiss.

"Why aren't you kissing me back? Don't you like me?" He had to admit he was in love with the bookworm, but he knew he didn't deserve her.

"No it's not that. I just… don't deserve your forgiveness," Levy was pissed. She sat up onto the bed sitting on his lap with her legs on either side of him. She moved her hair behind her head. She slapped him again.

"That might be true for you, but now you are going to forget about that, you're going to kiss me and you will like it," with that she leaned in over, cupped his cheek in her hand and she started kissing him again. This girl did not take no for an answer right now. Gajeel decided to push their relationship a little in the background and kissed Levy back. Even when they were kissing, they were fighting. Only this time their tongues were doing a physical fight instead of their usual verbal one. As their tongues battled for dominance, Levy's hands went exploring in Gajeel's mane as well as pulling him closer. Under half-closed eyelids, they made eye contact and Levy could see the look of absolute pleasure in Gajeel's eyes. Levy felt her lungs demanded air and the broke contact and they started panting.

"So… that just happened," Levy said panting.

"Yeah… that was… for lack of a better word… amazing," Levy got off Gajeel's lap.

"I don't know what made me do that. I just… um… I have to go," Levy stood up and ran to the door.

"Are you really just leaving like that?"

"Yes. I need some time to think," She said as she disappeared through the door leaving Gajeel with himself. Did that really just happen?

Back at the arena. The announcer was wrapping up the third day.

"And with that ladies and gentlemen with that the third day of the duel of the dragons tournament is over your exit is to the left. I will see you all tomorrow for the semifinals," everyone got up and left the arena. I waited at the exit for Sapphire but she never came. I decided that she might have gone home early or that she was sick. Well sick or not I'm still sleeping at her house. When I got to Sapphire house, I grabbed the handle. Locked. Huh. I climbed to the roof and got the extra key under a flowerpot up there. I went back down and went inside.

"Hey I'm back. Did you miss me?" I didn't get an answer. I searched the entire house and Sapphire wasn't home," I decided to go to the forest were she would be if she wasn't at her house. I got to the opening in the forest and there was no sign that she was or had been there. At least today. Well since I was there, I might as well train while I wait for her to come back. She was perhaps at the guildhall or out grocery shopping. She'd be back before it got dark.

After a couple of hours of running with a giant fallen log tied to my back, I decided to go home and chill. Maybe Sapphire was back now. I swam over the river, walked up the small hill and unlocked the door. When I went inside, I noticed a severe lack of female presence. In other words, Sapphire wasn't home. I got a little worried but I knew she could take care of herself. I grabbed some broken glass out of the dumpster outside, cleaned it and ate it. I laid on the floor.

"Well goodnight beautiful. Wherever you are," I closed my eyes and went to sleep. Mavis keep her safe for the spirit of Fairy Tail!