Magical Tails Unfold

Loke was very slow and gentle about sliding her ankle back into joint, using his magic. "Thank you," Kurai sighed. She'd be okay now but would not be walking on that foot for awhile.

Just then Loke got protective as a pillar fell down. He reached out and pulled the woman into his arms and ran out. There was another person there, after her. "If you're wondering how I found this place, I'm a Celestial Spirit," said the guy. Huh? a Celestial Spirit shouldn't be doing a crime like this. He wouldn't be allowed back in the spirit world.

The guy ran at him but was stopped by Laxus' punches. Kurai gasped. "Laxus, thank you." She didn't realize he was only helping cause it was a mission.

At the same time Laxus arrived at the scene, so did Silvie. She transformed into her human form as Laxus punched the guy. "That jerk..." she hissed.

Laxus smirked as he saw the purplette. "You're late," he answered as he then fired an electric charge at the enemy. "Why don't you make yourself useful and get them to safety."

"You're not my boss!" she shouted.

"Silvie!" Loke called. "This is no time... we have to..." Loke stopped and protected Kurai once again as he dove out of the way of another pillar falling.

"I'll handle things here. This is a mission after all. You all will just get in my way," said Laxus as he attacked. Suddenly though Gray walked up. Seemed he'd finished his fight and had won.

"Gray! You're okay," Kurai cried out. She had a make swift cast on her foot. Right before leaving the cabin Loke had managed to make a cast and put it on her foot.

Silvie flipped Laxus the finger before transforming into a large bird. "Ok, who isn't going to fight, grab onto my leg."

Loke, still holding Kurai, grabbed Silvie's bird foot.

"Good, you're safe!" Gray looked as someone was about to attack Silvie and he intercepted the attack with his ice allowing Silvie to get the others to safety, which was straight to the Guildhall.

They got back to the guild and Kurai was taken to the medical wing. Once in there the nurse had put a real cast on her foot and gave her something for the pain, which made her sleepy. She fell asleep right away. Loke pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed, watching her sleep. "See, I told you I'd protect you," he whispered to her. He had never said it out loud to her but he'd said it to himself.

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"Gray, you're in the way," said Laxus. Uh... excuse me! HE was in the way. Gray would probably argue back with Laxus that he was the one in the way, not him.

When they reached back to the guild, Silvie transformed back to being human and her and Loke ran into the guild calling out for help. Soon Kurai was taken to the medical wing and after she was dealt with Loke went to sit with her.

"Loke?" Belle asked as she stepped into the room. "How is she?"

-

"I don't give a damn!" Gray snapped. "Kurai is my charge. I was given strict orders to protect her. And you would have just been in a BBQ if not for me just now!" Gray had attacked someone who was about to get the drop on Laxus at the same time someone was attacking Silvie. "And I was giving Silvie cover."

"I'm confused about something. The doctor told me she'd be better in a few days. Yet her foot was twisted out of joint, broken real badly. Something like that should take months to heal, not a few days," Loke explained.

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"What? You in love with her or something?" Laxus asked the man. He threw a punch at a guy.

"What? No! That's crazy!" Yelled Gray. The two men finished beating up the guys and both headed back to the guild.

Belle blinked. "I'm..." she paused. She had thought of calling Seer to perhaps find the answer but then that would reveal her secret to Loke and she couldn't do that to him. She knew all about his previous master and how she abused him and her other spirits and now she was dead because he was indirectly responsible. "Not sure myself. That is very odd," she added. "I wonder why that is."

She stepped further into the room standing directly behind him. "Speak of odd things. Do you know you're hurting Lucy's feelings very time you run from her?"

-

"Why the hell would I love her?" Gray asked as he strolled back. "I just met her a week ago. Your grandfather has appointed me her guardian and that is just what I'm doing. Now, we have a serious situation on our hands. They know she's here."

"Well I... uh... I have a problem with (can't spell) wizards," said Loke. Belle probably understood why. "Would you like to sit with her for a bit. I'm sure when Gray gets back he'll want to sit with her." He got up and left the room, leaving Belle alone with Kurai.

Lucy came in. "How's Kurai doing?"

Belle just took a seat when Lucy came in. She turned. "Healing fast and there's no particular reason why. I could call and ask Seer but I don't want to pry. I pry enough as it is. How was the fight?"

Lucy shrugged. "By the time Natsu, Erza and I showed up, Gray was just cleaning up the rest of them. But he quickly fled saying someone chased after Loke and Kurai. Erza was about to run after him but we saw Laxus and Silvie, in bird form, buzz by us, so instead we took a couple captives to question them."

"Good thinking. Maybe that could shed some light in why Kurai's a target. What a way to spend our first day back in town. Having to deal with Laxus and then a fight."

The others got back soon. And just as Loke had said, Gray came into the room to see Kurai. Why was his heart aching at seeing the woman hurt? Could it be? It had only been one week, but sometimes that was all it took. Gray had also heard of people being able to fall in love at first site. So perhaps a week was long enough to fall in love with her. That would explain why his heart rate always sped up when she touched him and why this past morning he'd woken up feeling very turned on.

"Oh, Gray. Kurai's fine. The doctor says she'll be on her feet in a few days," Lucy told him.

Belle stood, giving Gray a spot to sit. "Here, you can sit with her. I wish to speak with Loke a little more. Lucy, it's good to meet another Celestial Wizard."

Lucy nodded. She was glad to have a fellow wizard friend who had the same power as her. Belle left the room and went searching for the orange haired man posing as a wizard. Her eyes darted around and she couldn't find no sign of the man.

"Damn it," she hissed. "Where is he?"

Loke was currently at his master's grave. He went there every day at this time to pay his respects to her. But knowing Belle, she could probably guess that's where Loke had gone off to.

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"Guess I'll leave too. Give you some alone time." Lucy left the room. Why was everyone thinking Kurai was his girlfriend? It was probably starting to get on his nerves.

"Damn that bastard," Belle hissed. "He's visiting her grave. I have to try and stop this." Without so much as a 'bye', she fled the guild, using her quickest speed to find Karen's grave.

-

"Lucy..." Gray began but found she was gone. He sighed. "Why is everyone assuming we're dating?" He looked back to Kurai. "I'm protecting you..." His hand reached forward to brush a strand of hair from her face. "But I do have to admit you are beautiful."

Sure enough Belle found Loke at Karen's grave. He turned around when he spotted Belle and gasped in surprise. "Belle, what are you doing here?" Loke asked her. 'How did she find me? Does she know about me? How could she?'

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Kurai kinda twitched a bit when he touched her hair. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Oh, Gray, you're back. How'd it go?" She asked him, as she smiled sweetly at him. Her smiles were just the sweetest and made Gray feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"Nothing you have to worry about," Gray replied. "We should soon find out why you are being targeted. Funny part is Laxus took an S-Class quest, which is to protect you with his life. Gramps posted it up on the S-Class board just this morning. One thing with Laxus is he's a man of his word, which means he will do his job to the best of his abilities."

-

Belle looked at the man. "Looking for you," she replied. It was time to bring the truth out. "Loke, you don't have to pretend with me. I know who you are." Her heart was beating like mad. Seeing him run away from Lucy was pissing her off and it had to stop and she had to stop him from dying to, but how?

"There's something you should know. I'm dying," Loke told her. He pulled Belle into his arms, into a hug. "I'm sorry you had to find this out." Belle probably already knew he was dying though. "And you don't need to hide from me. I know you're a Celestial Wizard. And I'm not bothered by it. I found out a year ago when I hid my presence and saw you take one of your keys out and summon a spirit." And all this time he pretended like he didn't know?

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"No, he's a nice man. I can tell. He likes to hide his feeling by being mean. But he truly cares. I can tell." Kurai held Gray's hand as she said this. Why did she grab his hand? Whatever the reason, it was sending chill bumps down his spine.

Belle pulled out of his arms. "What!? How the hell did you know!?" Her eyes narrowed. "If you know I was a Celestial Wizard why the hell didn't you tell me and why the hell do you run from Lucy?!" She started tapping her foot. "And for your information I already knew about you dying. You're Leo the Lion, the leader of the Celestial Spirits."

-

"Laxus can be a moron but he cares more than he lets on. But he does likes to show off. Speaking of more than what's going on... you're healing faster than you should be. Any thoughts to that?"

He began to wonder if there was something about her she may or may not know.

"I don't know. I've always been a fast healer. Perhaps that's just the way my body is," she smiled. She had no clue it was cause she had a magical ability of healing. "Now, could you do me a favor and help me sit up?" Her injury, prevented her from being able to move very well on her own without feeling pain.

Laxus was actually at the door watching the two. He was trying not to get noticed. He was a bit upset. Even though he was strict about wanting to lead Fairy Tail he never wanted anyone to get hurt. And Kurai had gotten hurt. And it was his fault in a way cause he'd upset her, making her run off.

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Loke told her everything, down to how he was being punished and couldn't go back to the spirit world. "A spirit will die if they stay in this world too long. Which is what's happening to me. I'd say, I got about a week maybe less before I..." He held his chest and doubled over in pain. This was not fair at all! There had to be something Belle could do right?

Gray nodded, ignoring the tall man behind him, hidden in the shadows.

"Sure." He brought his hand behind her back and took her hand with this other and slowly lifted her into a sitting position. "Did you want to sit back so you're leaning against the headboard?"

-

She forced him to pause. "Loke, you don't have to tell me. I know everything about you. My spirit, Seer told me." Just then he doubled over in pain.

"Wait... Seer said you still had a few weeks left at least..." She gasped as he kneeled down. "Loke! NO! You can't die right now!"

"I'm sorry. There's nothing that can be done. I must pay the price for killing Karen," he told her. "You should go. You shouldn't have to see this." He clutched his chest even harder. No! He couldn't die. He just couldn't. Wait! She's a Celestial Wizard right? Perhaps she could send him back to the Spirit world. It was wort a try right?

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"Yes, thank you." Kurai kissed his cheek as a thank you. When she did that he felt like his heart was going to burst from his chest. He got hot and felt himself feeling a bit turned on. "Are you okay? You look like you have a fever." She reached to feel his forehead.

"Do you think I'm going to stand here and let you die in front of me? For the past three years I've kept this secret of knowing who you are, keeping your secret, letting you drown your sorrows from losing Karen with those women you've been with and some you had sex with to at least have one night on non guilt. There is no way in fucking hell I will let that happen."

She quickly hugged him. "I will not allow that to happen! Seer said there was a way to save you and I believed you and now it's time for me to prove it! You're not leaving I won't let you!"

-

Laxus had to clamp a hand over his mouth to stop himself form releasing a humorous snort. He was a man, he knew what to expect. Gray was attracted to the woman and her kiss just sent the young ice mage's lions into pumping blood. Sometimes Laxus wondered if Gray was a virgin and judging from his reaction just now, the man was indeed a virgin. Laxus was in no virgin territory.

"No...I'm fine," Gray slightly stuttered. "You just surprised me just now."

"No! Don't! You'll die too." Loke tried to pull away from her but it wasn't working.

Suddenly a man appeared in the sky. This was the lord of the spirit world. "Girl, you're a Celestial Wizard are you not? You know the law. He must pay the price. That is, unless he finds a new Celestial Wizard to work with." Huh? Why couldn't it be her? She's a Celestial Wizard. That's how she could save Loke. She could claim his key.

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"By a kiss on the cheek? It was just a thank you, that's all." Kurai smiled at him. She reached for her cup of water that was on the table next to her, taking a sip through the straw.

Both Loke and Belle looked up. She pulled away from the man to glare at the large spirit King.

"Look buddy! You should know who I am. I am the keeper of one of your own. You probably know her quite well as she speaks very fondly of you. You are the Spirit King and Seer has been in my family since the day her key was created. I don't give a damn about your law but what I do care about is that you're condemning this man... this spirit to a fate worse than death all because he decided to have some balls and stand up to his former master who actually abused her spirits, 'your children'!" She phrased it as such because Master Makarov referred to his guild as his children. Loke did nothing wrong but stand up for his friends he cares about and what do you do, you punish him because his master had to get herself killed all because she didn't want to listen. She knew the risks and yet she ignored them and went anyway.

"For centuries spirits have always been misused, but they're not just tools to help the wizard who holds contracts with, they can be your friends too. You people are not human but you have thoughts and feelings. Why can't you see that? The only crime Loke is guilty of is trying to show a point and that point became pointless when his master got herself killed because she became a snob. Everyone thought she was a nice person, but she wasn't. Even her own Guild master tried to tell her that and she wouldn't listen."

"Belle..." Loke breathed, blushing at the mention of 'balls'.

-

"Yes... I know..." Gray shook his thoughts, clearing his mind. "I've never really had someone be generous enough to kiss me on the cheek. Most would rather just grope my near nude body.

Laxus lifted a brow. Was he or was he not a virgin?

"Very well," said the Spirit King. A golden key appeared into Belle's hand. "This is Leo's key." He then turned to Loke. "You may return to the spirit world, however as punishment you're to always protect this woman with your life."

"Yes, I understand," said Loke.

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"That's not very nice! You're a person, not a trophy. And you shouldn't be treated as one. All those other women were awful," she told him. So, maybe Gray wasn't a virgin after all. If so, that meant, he got nervous around Kurai cause he's in love with her. And Laxus probably knew that now. All the signs to him were quite obviously pointing to love.