The fox smiled and nuzzled his hair, laughing along with him. "He's not exactly my partner, though he is a little unusual. A magician turned thief, in fact." He grinned at Kid, eyes sparkling.

"I see you managed to hold your own," he observed cheerfully. "Perhaps you should fight in the tournament as well."

He waved a hand, causing the demons he had felled earlier to erupt into improvised flower beds, each holding a single rosebush bearing black roses.

"I'd say we're through here, wouldn't the two of you?"