The Demon's Princess: More traveling and some minor action.

ON THE ROAD TO THE VILLAGE.

DAY 13.

FRIDAY.

GOLD: 10,193.

Tyler woke to see Rias asleep in his arms. She bundled into the curve of his body with his arms resting on her hands and his face pressed into her blood red hair. Her crimson lockes were drapped above them like blood blanket and he smiled at the feeling.

"She's not Seria. But this is nice in it's own way."

She smiled as she opened her blue eyes to roll over.

"It's nice for me too."

He sighed at the closeness and she smiled.

"I don't bite."

"I know who you learned from Rias."

"Hey. Akeno is not that cruel."

"Akeno? i meant your mother."

"OOoh I hate you."

He chuckled at her irritation as they got out of the bedroll and got dressed. The redhead grabbed him ina tight hug as he donned his coat.

"Thank you."

He smiled at her.

"You're welcome."

She smiled.

"And I still want you."

"Ugh."

"Relax. We're friends."

He smiled at that as they walked out and Asuna came over with the report from the night's watch.

"Nothing from the watch besides a few pteradactyls flying over the camp. They didn't stick around."

"Good. we'll load up for the usual."

"On it."

Rias chuckled as she warmed her coffee.

"Well you sure adapted to the life of a Company Commander quick."

"I like bossing people around."

"Ha."

The friends ate breakfast before breaking camp. Tyler was on Shadow and moving along the road at a decent clip as the incline grew more severe. Asuna was beside him as the climb increased and the pace slowed to a walk.

"This is harsh."

Tyler nodded as he kept watch.

"How's the wagon?"

"Making progress and keeping pace. We hooked it to two more teams aside."

"Good."

Strand smiled astride her wolf.

"It levels off a mile ahead, Tyler. And then you'll be treated to one of the most impressive sights this side of the Black Mountains."

"I got a photo crystal for JUST that reason."

They smiled at that one as they climbed up to the top of the hill and onto flatland. To their left was more mountains and hills rising into the distance. While to their RIGHT the land fell away drastically to give the gawkers a magnificent view of the land from close to 4,000 feet high. As far as the eye could see was rippling green fur and slender bands of blue while in the far distance a slight hump rose up and Strand smiled.

"That is Berun."

Tyler pulled a 4 inch blue crystal from his pocket, and held it up to the sight and smiled as he snapped the image with a tap on the rear of the banana shaped object. He looked at the image and then found a panoramic function he used to take a sweeping image of the entire landscape before he hit save. Happy he looked to the rest and found them also posing by the cliff for photos.

"Let;s no one fall off today. Looks VERY bad on my report."

They chuckled at that as he mounted Shadow. The Morbol tossed his head as Tyler relaxed.

"Oh be quiet, big guy. I'll give you a brushing later."

Another snort of boredom from the black horse. Tyler chuckled as he looked out over the landscape towards the capital his beloved princess awaited his return. He waved and a few of the ladies smiled at the oddly romantic moment as the rest mounted up again. The got moving and Tyler sighed as he turned his back on the capital. Strand smiled as she came up beside him.

"It is never easy leaving the ones you care for, Lord Berserker."

He smiled.

"no it is not. But that is nothing but a good thing, Strand."

She looked at him quizzically

"How so, Sire?"

"If leaving her DIDN'T bother me, I truly didn't care."

She smiled at this wisdom.

"A very good point, Lord Berserker. And a most true one indeed. She is in good hands."

He smiled as he plied the reins as they navigated a rather treacherous snakeback pass wide enough for two wagons at best.

"I hope so."

He focused on the road as the rest of the heroes had to walk their horses up the winding road by hand due to nerves and inexperience. Tyler had Shadow moving with ease over the snaking turns until he reached the top of the VERY steep incline....only to be faced with an odd creature. It stood 9 feet tall with scaly skin and the head of a bear. The thing had the claws of a tiger and the fangs of a wolf as it growled at him like a cat. Shadow screamed in surprise at this odd creature and Tyler merely drew his sword.

"Cut the shit. You're a MOBOL. Act like it."

Shadow calmed RIGHT the fuck down as the creature reared to it's full height,

"Iced Wall."

A wall of ice appeared under the beast's bear-like foot and it slipped. The thing fell to a knee and tyler sent the horse on a charge that had him swinging his sword one handedly and decapitating the thing. It dropped to the dirt with a thud as Tyler turned Shadow around. Strand climbed up over the hill then and blinked as she saw the dead thing.

"A mountain Ashlin? How odd."

Tyler dismounted and so did the Ranger to inspect the carcass after dragging it out of the road.

"A Mountain Ashlin, Strand?"

"A member of the hobgoblin race. More an amalgamation of different animals to create something unnatrual. It feeds on the meat of men and men alone. Women hold no interest to them, for food or breeders of which we still don't know HOW they reproduce. they live in mountainous regions and are rare to the point of myth. This is only the third I have ever seen."

Tyler frowned.

"Are they worth anything?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing. And I'll record the encounter in the Ranger Annuals as an encounter is that form of rare."

"Do i need to help?"

"I was about to ask you."

"Sure. We'll chat on the ride once the others get over the edge."

She smiled.

"I appreciate it Lord Berserker."

"I get it. And it's kinda cool seeing something that's not supposed to exist."

The elf smiled at that one as more of the heroes surmounted the snakeback road. Tyler was back up on Shadow and waved his sword.

"Alright we need to get everybody up on the hill. we're not going anywhere until they are. Hitch up and help them out people."

They nodded and he snagged a photo of the corpse for Seria before lending a hand to help the company cross to realitive safety. The task taking a few hours and once the last regained their breath Tyler showed them the corpse. Like a flock of tourists the photos were taken and the poses made. As Tyler watched with a fond smile, he had a thought that made him frown. Asuna came over as she saw it.

"Problem?"

"Take a look at them, Asuna. They look like a fighting force to you?"

She smiled at that.

"They do. A RELAXED YET READY fighting force. Careful with that one though."

He sighed with a smile.

"I forgot who I was dealing with for a moment there."

Once the fascination wore off the heroes mounted back up and tyler took stock of the road ahead. They were now on flatland between two towering green clad peaks still dwarved by even taller peaks behind them. The road led through the valley between the smaller peaks and there was a light grey mist floating about their tops adding a layer of mysticism to the sight. Strand pointed to a thin line running up the valley.

"That is the road."

"Oh crap. you heard the elf. Let's move."

The Company got moving with Tyler in the lead and his sword in hands reach for any issues. The road was rocky with more pebbles then dirt in places and often times they foudn themselves clipclopping along solid stone. The sounds of which were oddly satisfiying to the warrior as he listened to them. He looked up at the soaring peaks overhead and Strand came up beside him.

"We're inside the Black Mountains now."

"Why are they black?"

"For the extremely fertile coal mines that honeycomb them. Roughly one third of the Eastern Coast's entire coal mining comes from this line of peaks RIGHT HERE."

"Huh. Coal ya say?"

"Yes. That mean something to you, Lord Berserker?"

"Just an odd poke in my archive. Like there's something to that I oughta pay attention to. Problem is the only thing I can think of is a staged powderbang."

She frowned at the odd term.

"I know not this powderbang."

"Okay. When you were taught to cook, weren't you ever told to keep flour AWAY from an open flame?"

"My mother taught me this very lesson."

"The reason is because of how extremely flammable it is. More material in the air in a confined space when a flame goes up, the more extreme the explosion. Are you with me so far?"

"I am."

"Now a major fear of coal miners in my world is a fire. A SINGLE SPARK can set off an entire mine. If it goes hard enough, the ENTIRE mountain will go with it."

Her eyes flashed as she saw where he was going with this.

"And since the entire mountain has HUNDREDS of coal mines,"

"A SINGLE pyromaniac can set them off with a bang."

"By the SKY."

she looked at the suddenly FAR more ominous mountain ranges a LITTLE fearfully now.

"We would have no warning."

"Nope. And the rubble would tear even the captial apart. The hole would be a new canyon. There's no teeling just the DAMAGE it would do to the landscape as a WHOLE. Hmm."

He pulled the map now and looked at the location of the village again.

"Forest Wolves. Are they considered monsters?"

Strand shook her head.

"No. they are animals through and through."

"Okay. Can they be tamed?"

"It is EXTREMELY difficult, but they can. Even then, they only follow basic commands. Like attack, halt, and hunt."

"Hmm. A BRAIN washing spell would do the trick."

"It would. You think the Drakens are seeking a powderbang?"

"It's a theory. One I kinda like a little more then the others. Just because of how outlandish it is."

Victoria, who had been listening in on the discussion, added her two cents now.

"I see where you're logic lays with this one, Tyler. The coal mines are HEAVILY defended however. Not for fear of sabotage, but seizure. They are the Queendom's lifeblood. And as such are some of the most WELL defended populated areas on the continent."

"Which makes it fit just that much more. HOW many would look at such a WELL DEFENDED and BLATANT area for a plot to bring the country down?"

she blinked at this and Mina rode up now with her own experience.

"I agree with him, Captain, Ranger. My world used similarly plans to undo our own enemies. We once used an underwater wagon to attack a city with witches launched from inside....we won."

Tyler chuckled.

"That mission to retake that port from the Neroui."

Mina nodded.

"And then there was the mission with the Witch Rocket."

"That one time Luccini went around stealing everyone's panties."

"UGH. I DON'T wanna remember that."

"Ha. Commander iron buns."

"I will hit you with an axe."

"Great. A lady with an axe to grind."

They chuckled at that one as Victoria looked at him.

"Consult the Queen, Tyler. In that light, I fear an immediate update from the overseers is required."

"Sure."

He produced the orb and tilted his head.

"Er, HOW do you use this?"

A MASS groan went up from the heroes and a fair few fell off their horses. Asia looked at her friend beside her.

"THAT guy is charge? Owwie."

Victoria, now nursing a THROBBING headache, tapped the ball.

"Royal Scry."

The ball fired up with a purple light and an image of Mylissia appeared. She smirked as she saw the still riding company.

"Seria?"

Tyler smiled.

"Always, but not this time."

She nodded.

"A moment then."

The queen was seen leaving the throne room and when the sound of a door was heard she faced them.

"You have not yet reached the village, correct?"

"No. I had a thought."

"Go on."

"The coal mines. Are they secure?"

She blinked at this question before frowning hard.

"I will find that out IMMEDIATELY. Explain how you came to suspect otherwise."

He spent the next thirty minutes going over his knowledge of a powderbang, coal mines, the possible strategy, and the reason he liked the possibility. Mylissia asked nurmerous question on his logic, Mina's past experiences with such unorthodox campaigns, and his gut. After another twenty minutes, the queen sighed.

"I will have EVERY overseer I have report in immediately. if even ONE does not answer, the legions will be dispatched to check the mine. We CANNOT lose those mines or my country would starve."

"We'll see what the hell is going on in the village and go from there."

"And I will do some internal reviews. Such ploys make waves."

"We'll keep at it."

"I'll have an update tonight."

He smiled.

"Seria?"

Mylissia chuckled.

"She is enjoying a bath day at the local Lady Temple."

"Ah. I hope she's having fun."

"Oh she is. And her lessons are progressing rapidly as well."

"So are my plans."

"Yes about them."

He looked at her curiously and she smirked.

"YOU are a ROMANTIC SONUVABITCH. That poor girl might have a heart attack."

"Good. If she forgets even a single detail a hundred years from now, we failed."

"We'll record it. But agreed."

He smiled at that as the orb went clear again. Mina smiled wistfully as she looked at him.

"I'm happy for you, Tyler."

"Thanks Mina."

She smiled and the sadness faded a little and he patted her. The witch had a fonder smile as she saw he knew. Tyler looked ahead as they got moving again and Asuna leaned in his ear.

"Sooo mind explaining?"

"Her fiance died in her war."

"Ah."

"Yeah. She watched it happen too."

"Poor girl."

He sighed at that one.

"She's been at war for YEARS. Her homeland was overrun by beings from another world and she's been fighting them since the flip."

Asuna looked to where Mina was chatting with Belfast now, a warm smile on both their faces.

"Her strength is incredible."

"She's Commander Mina of the 501st joint fighter wing. The Strike Witches. And SHE'S their leader."

He shivered from the memories and Asuna chuckled.

"Damn. That good huh?"

"Oh yeah. SAO may hit me the hardest, DxD may be my favorite, but DAMMIT if the STRIKE WITCHES don't get me in the heart too."

That got a chuckle from Mina.

"NOW I wanna see how they represented us. If they can get that kinda reaction from YOU, I;m curious."

"Sure thing Commander Badass."

"HA!"

"Sakamoto's Major Badass."

"Tell her that I dare you."

"Sure. She only brought a knife to an alien gunfight....and WON."

"HA!"

"Barkhorn's captain badass."

"She is going to like you. Myafuji?"

"Overly energetic little sister you love to death....but am MILDLY scared of."

"Her in a SENTENCE. She's over there."

He looked and saw a blushing shyly girl on a sturdy little Arabian. She was half his height with short cut brown hair and fiesty hazel eyes. Her skin was fair and her bust modest on her petite frame. She was slender but with a well cut frame from her life as a soldier. On her back was a long white staff tipped by a diamond and her attire was a tight fitting leather tunic with chainmail over it and a plateskirt. Tyler smiled.

"Myafuji!"

"Here Sir!"

Her voice was a hard yet warm chirp and he waved.

"Nice to meetchya!"

She smiled at that and waved back. Mina chuckled.

"NOW I have a new worry."

"HA. Sanya here?"

"ALL the witches are here."

"Oh damn. I'll be sure to keep Luccini AWAY from my princess."

"HA!"

Rias chuckled as she rode up beside him.

"YOU are gushing HARD."

"Yeah I know. The Strike Witches have their own pedestal in my collection."

"Is that so?"

"Lady. they fought aliens with machineguns in flying pants. when they WEREN'T they didn't WEAR pants. Music was fire, the girls freakin hilarious, the fights epic, and Yoshkia is hilarious. She goes from a pacisfist to the TIP of the SPEAR against the enemy! And WINS! She tore an alien dropship CLEAN in TWO with her shield ALONE! And we're talking a craft the sizr a that peak there. and she did it nearly single handedly. Captain badass over there dual wields MG42S FOR REPS. And when she runs out of bullets, she flips em around, and BEATS ya to death with em! Nuff said."

Mina had a proud smile on her face as he talked with clear awe and respect in his voice.

"Way you talk, Tyler, we won the war nearly alone."

"Ya did."

"What?"

"You win the war, ALLLLL because of Yoshkia. THAT one girl, is the ENTIRE REASON you retook Berlin."

"She's not a one woman army, Tyler."

"Yeah, She is. that girl has more magical power in her left pinkie then the ENTIRE WING. Problem is her units just can't keep up. And she hasn;t even SCRATCHED what she can TRULY do."

Mina whistled at that high praise.

"She has EXTRAORIDNARY potential. I see you understand her quite well."

"Yoshkia's simple. She;s got heart, FIRE, and can put a mule to shame for how stubborn she can be. Same time? She can be trusted with ANYTHING. And in ALL of my collection, Mina? YOSHKIA is the SECOND BEST HEALER OUT OF THEM ALL. Let that sink in."

She blinked and Rias looked at him curiously.

"Who the hell is the FIRST?"

"Asia."

"Oh my hell tell her that!"

"Sure."

Yoshkia's VERY embarrassed voice was heard then.

"Thank you!"

"Sure think Yoshi."

"Hey!"

The Company chuckled at her new humilation and Tyler smiled as he refocused on the road ahead.

"That girl."

Asuna smiled.

"Why didn't you make her the leader of the healer corp, Tyler?"

"Short answer? Asia has more experience. Long answer? Asia has more training under her belt. Yoshkia's got extreme power, but it is all VERY raw. I want her and Asia to be friends since Asia can teach her how to wield it."

"Ah. Smart. And why isn't Mina in the top four for commanders?"

"Because she works best as a subcommander. She may have been base commander of her unit, but her more accurate role was go between for the brass and the rest. She CAN step up if needed, but at the same time is better in her current role."

Mina nodded approvingly.

"I completely agree. And appreciate the faith."

"Sure thing Mina."

Rias tilted her head at one point.

"I know as much about magic as Asia does, why not have me help out Yoshkia?"

"Yoshkia's a LITTLE jumpy."

"Ah. her type?"

"Well....."

"OOOH."

"Yeah. Asia's too sweet for that kinda thing so perfect fit."

"Clever."

Mina smiled a little sheepishly now.

"Yoshkia is....affectionate."

"We'll have Belfast hang out with her for a bit then, Mina. She'll get her on the right path."

The silver haired maid smiled at this.

"I will see to her."

"Thanks Belfast."

"It is no matter, Mina. I am happy to help."

Tyler looked at Asuna.

"The slackers keeping up?"

She looked.

"Yup. barely though."

"Anyone i'd know?"

"Well. One guy's named Sora, the other's named Shiro."

"No shit?"

She blinked at the mild surprise in his voice and eyes.

"Um, yeah, you know them?"

"Yeah. they're codependant, Shutin, NEET, siblings."

"Ah. That explains a lot."

"Have em report to the front. I wanna have a word with em."

Asuna dropped back to collect the pair as Victoria looked at him curiously.

"I miss something?"

He smirked.

"Those two are strategic geniuses and BOTH former rulers. in THEIR WORLD? They were the king and queen."

"Oh my gods. they're losers!"

"True. But. Their minds more then make up for their lack of brawn. Sora just needs to get over himself, and Shiro....is Shiro. Once they do, my GODS are they gonna be powerful."

Asuna returned with a TERRIFED duo on a massive roan. One was a tall, lanky guy with brown hair and yellow eyes. His skin was pale and his frame skinny in his T-shirt and chainmail. On his back was a longsword and shield while between his legs was a STRIKINGLY cute girl half Tyler's height with long, foot length silver hair. Her face was delicate and her skin fair while her bust small. Her eyes were red and she was clutching her brother in terror as he looked at Tyler with a gulp. His voice a hard yet fearful bark.

"whatever it is we didn;t do it!"

"Ha. Sora and Shiro. Blank."

They blinked at this and Shiro spoke in a soft, breathy voice.

"You know us?"

Tyler chuckled.

"Oh yeah. The king and queen of Imanity. Ha. Oh this gonna be fun."

Sora seemed to relax slightly as he looked at Tyler curiously.

"What the hell do yuo want with US? We're losers again."

"Dude. You're a hero. Act like it."

"Ummmm. You make it sound easy."

"It is. Imagine you're in a deep dive videogame with permadeath engaged."

The pair smirked at this and a new confidence swept over them. Their horse reacted and calmed RIGHT down. Shiro looked at the hulking boy in black wide eyed.

"THANK YOU."

"Ha. Sure thing toots."

She smiled at this and Sora bristled.

"Dude she's 11."

"i'm 15. fucks' your point?"

"HOLY."

They did exeragerated heads to toe of the boy in black and Tyler flipped his Status plate.

"read em and weep."

They looked at his number and Sora smirked.

"An allrounder tank huh? Not bad rookie....LEVEL 4? Already?"

"I'm the BEST at this kinda shit."

Asuna snorted.

"Ph okay tough guy."

"I'm sorry. Did I, or did I NOT kick your ass, TWICE toots?"

"I will shove this rapier so far up your ass it'll fly out your mouth."

"Ha. Yo, Sora, Jirbreal here?"

"uuuh no."

"Damn. we need more battleangels to be perfectly honest. Steph?"

"She's back there."

"Okay. Rias? Think you can teach Steph how to be a fire mage?"

Rias smirked.

"Sure. BUT WHY me?"

"She's a redheaded princess that has had to watch her homeland litteraly DIE before her eyes with there not a damn thing she could do about it."

"Sweet fucking hell. Okay i'll get her."

"Thanks Rias."

Sora looked at him.

"YOU have a plan."

"Yup. Shiro. What kinda Proficency are you?"

She looked up at him with HUGE red eyes.

"I have Muse."

"Huh?"

He looked at her curiously.

"I have Muse."

Victoria explained.

"It means she's skilled in giving inspiration and is a source of wisdom to those that need it."

"Huh. Oracle?"

"THOSE depend on the TYPE of oracle. The one you're thinking is called a Farseer."

"Huh. Sora?"

"I got Strategist. I'm SUPPOSED to be some kinda god at strategy. Buuut nothing works."

"Because you're trying to do it yourself. A GOOD strategist knows NOT to get their hands dirty."

Sora chuckled at that one as he passed Tyler's plate back.

"Okay. And since YOU'RE the leader of this Company,"

"YOU an I are gonna be best friends."

"And you're marrying the Princess."

Tyler smiled proudly at that reminder.

"That I am. And my GODS is that fun to say."

"Lucky bastard."

"Dude you had a planet by the balls. You have NO room to talk."

"Okay fair enough. So where do you want me?"

"OUT of battle and directing traffic with the other leaders. Shiro? I'll need to look at your plate."

She passed it over and he realized she had NOT FOR A SPLIT SECOND STOPPED STARING AT HIM. He looked at her curiously.

"Can I help you?"

She shook her head without breaking her gaze and he shrugged.

"eh. She's not the first one to stare at me like I'm food. Go with it."

He looked at her abilities.

"Inspire. Huh. A spoken ability that enhances all those that hear's it's morale. OOOOH I know how I'll deck her out."

Sora looked at him curiously.

"A buff mage?"

"That's what i'm thinking. She'll be the party support mage. we stack debuffs and buffs on her an emphasis on defense, she goes from backrank liability,"

"To midrank pillar. Damn dude. You;re making us look bad."

"I thought you two were supposed to be gods at games?"

Shiro snapped out of her trance to glare at him.

"Blank DOESN'T LOSE."

"Ya just did. I just talked you two in circles with strategies YOU shoulda schooled ME in. Are you or are you not BLANK? The best gamers in two worlds?"

Sora glared at him now.

"we are damn you. Okay. WE'LL prove it to you."

"Coolzies. oh. hey Shiro."

"Yes?"

"I love the hair."

She blushed at this and smiled shyly into her sleeve.

"Thank you."

Sora sighed.

"Greeeat. My little sister gets more action then I do."

"Want a tip?"

"YES SIR!"

Tyler chuckled at his INSTANT flip to groveling.

"Confidence. if YOU don't believe in yourself, why should they?"

Sora blinked.

"That's it? Confidence?"

"THAT. And here's a bit a gamer wisdom you should be able to appreicate."

"Hit me."

"Real recognizes real."

He nodded sagely at that.

"I DO appreciate that. Confidence and being real. And that's how you get chicks?"

"Well, you gotta respect em too. Understand that one first."

"Okay. Huh."

He had a thoughtful look on his face and Shiro pouted.

"So you ARE trying to replace me."

Tyler patted her before Sora could start groveling.

"If he does, I'm sure Seria would LOVE another little sister."

Shiro was RED in the FACE at the pat and she blinked like a fish at the warrior petting her.

"ME? A PRINCESS again?"

"Or a lady in waiting or whatever the hell she likes."

"Wow."

"Ha."

The pair dropped back to consider his words and Victoria sighed.

"I shoulda have had YOU deal with them."

"Anyone else?"

"Issei for one."

"Yeah i'm not helping him."

"NO ONE does."

The Company rode on for the rest of the day without issue until they came to a suitable campsite inside a rather large bowl by the side of the road. Tyler was on first watch and so set his tent in view of the road as a dare. He had just lit his fire when Shiro appeared from the shadow to sit across from him....and immediately started staring at him. He sighed with a smile at this cute yet CREEPY apparition.

"Got something to say Shiro?"

She blinked.

"You're AWESOME."

He smiled at her softly voiced words of awe.

"HA. Sorry Shiro. You're too much the little sister to me."

She blinked again.

"ME the Little Sister of Lord Berserker?"

"Yup."

She smiled happily and he patted her again.

"Yay!"

"Cute."

She blushed again and rested her head on his leg.

"Sora won't like this."

"Oh he told me to come here."

"Ha. You two good?"

"Oh we're fine. We thought it over and you're right. We need to stop being so scared. We're in a deep dive game. we can work with this."

He stroked her soft silver hair and she hummed.

"This is nice. You're better at petting then Sora is."

"You're like a cat."

She purred and he chuckled.

"Okay. One? That was cute as hell. 2? Koneko's still the sexier kittycat."

"And 3?"

"You're a DANGEROUS little minx aren't ya?"

"Meow."

"Oh my gods enough with the cuteness."

She chuckled at that and he rubbed her belly like a cat now. Making her blush.

"That tickles."

"Oh?"

"Help."

Rias appeared with a smirk as Shiro squeaked.

"Well, well. What have we here? TYLER."

He chuckled as the smirking redhead sat down.

"This is Shiro. LITTLE. SISTER."

"JUST a little sister?"

"And a good friend."

Shiro smiled happily as she snuggled with the warrior and Rias smiled.

"Koneko heard you."

"Okay."

"She nearly threw a rock at you."

"So she's a ROCKFISTER?"

A small rock bounced off his head ans a dry girl's voice was heard from deeper in the camp.

"Say that again and it'll be in the balls."

"Ha."

Shiro yawned suddenly and he chuckled as she fell asleep.

"She's cute."

Rias smiled at the adorable sight...and snapped a photo of it with her own crystal. Tyler smirked at her.

"And WHAT is your plan for that?"

She smiled.

"A reminder."

"Rias."

"Oh fine. Something I can show Seria. NOT like that."

"It better not be."

"ugh."

She sighed at that warning as the time for his watch came. he deposited the sleepign Shiro in his tent and she snuggled into the bedroll.

"Yay."

"Jesus Christ."

He left the bundle of cute for his watch and Rias looked at him through her hair as he walked by.

"I didn't deserve that."

"I don't take chances."

She sighed at that nonapology as he took his place at the edge of camp. Rias walked to her tent as Tyler cast his defense spell and did his statue of armor imitation for his watch. The hours passed by and he was relieved by an unnerved Mina.

"Okay. YOU are a FREAKY guard. Was like i was approaching a demon and it KNEW i was there."

He chuckled at that as he went into his tent and found Asia cuddled up with Shiro in the bedroll. The sweet blonde smiled.

"Surprise!"

"Ha."

Tyler chuckled as he laid between them and the blonde snuggled RIGHT up against him with Shiro claiming his chest.

"Night Shiro. Night Asia."

"Night, Tyler. This is comfy."

"Night Big Brother. I think I'll keep visiting."

"And there goes my restful sleep."