Gajeel P.O.V

I sat on my couch after the shrimp left and sighed. "So why did you lie to her?" Lily asked, making me jump. "Don't know what your talking about." I muttered.

"Your sick arnt you?" he asked. "It's just a cold, some sleep and I'll be right as rain." I stared at me. "Gajeel you've been like this since we saw Rouge. I think we should tell her."

I sighed."I said im fine Lily. And when we saw Rouge he was fine. She is just overreacting."

"I dont think she is. I'm gonna go talk to her." He started for the door. I sighed. "Fine. If I'm not feeling better by tomorrow I will tell her. Damn cat." I muttered the last part. He simply smiled an headed to his room.

Levy P.O.V

The next morning I called up Sabertooth on the communication lacrima in the guild. "This is Sabertooth." blonde haired girl answered. Her eyes were red like he had been crying.

"This is Levy from Fairy Tail. I need to speak to Rouge about a stone he had me research." I said with a smile.

The girl nearly broke into tears. "Rouge can't talk anymore.... He... he died last night..." my eyes widened and I felt the color drain from my face. "Im... I'm so sorry. "I whispered.

She tried to calm herself down. "And on top of it all, Sting is starting to get sick too." I stared at her. "please, I know it's difficult, but can you tell me what happened to Rouge, and what's happening to Sting."

She nodded and dried her eyes. "About a month ago Rogue went on a mission and came back looking like he had the flu. He tended to stay in his room or was out in a job. He didn't hang around the guild much. Frosh told Lector and Sting that Rouge was sick. He wouldn't eat and he had a horrible cough. He also complained of constant headaches. After awhile he wouldn't get out of bed. And then..." she started to tear up again.

"It's ok, you don't have to continue." I whispered to her. She rubbed her eyes. "Now Sting won't eat either and he is having migraines. Frosh says it's just like Rouge."

I nodded. "Listen, I think I know what's going on." I explained the dragon stone. "I will start looking up any kind if cure I can. Just keep Sting at the guild and keeps tabs on him ok? What's your name for when I call again?"

"Annie." she sniffed. "Alright. I will do everything I can Annie." she nodded and the crystal blanked out. I made a run for Gajeels house. I knocked on the door a few times before he answered.

"Shrimp?" he yawned a little. He was paler than he was yesterday and looked like he didn't sleep well. "Your sick arnt you?"

Gajeel P.O.V

"Your sick arnt you?" Lily asked the same damn thing yesterday. I opened my mouth to deny it but then remember what I told Lily yesterday. I sighed.

"Yeah..." She slapped me hard on the chest. "God damn it Gajeel why didn't you tell me?!" I looked at her, shocked that she cursed. "Because it's nothing. And when I saw Rouge last week he was f-" "Rouge is dead Gajeel!!" she screamed.

I stared at her wide eyed. "I just talked to Sabertooth... He died last night, and now Sting is sick too..." She looked down at the ground, her hands trembling.

"Look shrimp I-" "You can't die!" she half sobbed. I stared at her. "If you died how am I supposed to."she was whispering and sniffing, I could hardly hear her. "What?"

"How I'm I supposed to tell you I love you if you die you idiot!" she yelled. Her face was red and I could feel mine heating up. Did she really just say that? She turned to storm off but I caught her arm and pulled her inside.

"Let go Gajeel." She whispered. "I wont."I pulled her against my chest. "Because I feel the same." I said gruffly. She was tense as I held her but she soon relaxed and wrapped her arms around me. I let her cry quietly and when she went to step back I let her.

She wiped her eyes. "Will you answer my questions then?" I nodded.

"What was the first symptom?" she looked up at me. "I didn't feel like eating. That was the day right after I met with him." "The next?" "A cough and headaches later the same day."

She nodded then frowned. "And the nose bleeds?" "Huh?" I reached up and touched my face. Blood smeared my fingers. I couldn't even smell it. I wiped my nose with my shirt before answering. "That's new."

"We need to get you to the guild infirmary." she said. Before I could answer I felt the world spinning. I heard her call my name but it sounded far away. The world tilted then went black.