When a Monster Becomes a demon chapter 6

Tyler put the tent away as the girls pulled their gear.

"Hey, Gore?"

Tyler looked to Sakura as she readied up.

"What up?"

"Who the hell are you?"

"What do you mean Sakura?"

Asuna sighed.

"Dude, she means how the hell are you on such friendly terms with the leader of the White Dragon Claw family?"

"We'll talk as we go."

"Right."

"Kay."

The trio left the cave and teleported to the hub on Seven. Tyler knew the town in question, and knew it couldn't be teleported to. So once their feet hit the dirt they pulled hoods up and took off.

"So. The story of me and the yakuza?"

Asuna and Sakura paid rapt attention.

"Okay. I met Yuta in class what? Two weeks after I moved to japan? Guy was a twig compared to me, and rather jumpy too. He was an otaku like me and we got to talking about different shows we loved. Well, we were walking down the street to hit a shop he wanted to show me when a group of like three guys tried to jump us for our wallets. Yeah. I am not some mere pushover. So, I dropped em. Ha. Turned out they were hired by a rival family to rough him up as a message. I met Kakashi through that one. In return for saving his son, he gave me the job at his family restaurant that catered Asuna's parties. No one knew they two were connected, which was the whole point as that place was a meeting place for Kakashi and his dealings. Well, I am nothing if not a hard worker. That paired with my no bullshit mentality made me more of an asset then just busboy. That creepy uncle and the camera were a case in point. Kakashi HATES those types of people. So, when I told him my side of why we lost the regular custom of Asuna's family, I got a damned raise, became a family friend that got access to their network, and could hang with Yuta at will. Well, one day I was cleaning his office in the back when I found a small black tube on top of a small cabinet. If you were not looking for it, or not me, you would not have found it. The thing was a live camera bug used in surveillance. It had JUST been placed, as the head of a rival family Kakashi had just finished meeting with had placed it there. So, since I found it and brought it to him as soon as I realized what I held, I got basically the same amount of trust Yuta had. Well, until I met Yuka that is. Yuka is Yuta's sister. She's sixteen, my height, beautiful blue hair, fair skin, purple eyes, and a great rack. Easily Double D's. Plus her personality is I-don't-give-a-fuck. She's got a razor blade for a tongue and a hornet's nest for a mind. We met one day as I was doing my thing at the eatery. Dude was getting a little rowdy with one of the serving girls and I laid his ass out. I was dragging him to the sidewalk when she came sauntering up in short shorts, black and white sneakers, a raggedy crop top, and a half leather jacket with spiked fingerless gloves. I see her and she spotted me as I dumped the idiot onto the sidewalk. I nod to her and head back inside to check on the girl nad she comes in right behind me to talk to the head chef."

"Hey, Butch."

"She goes."

"Who's the angry lookin pencil?"

"Oh, Tyler? That's the boss's newest favorite."

She looked at me now with a very appraising eye. Like I was some damned horse or somethin.

"That right? I guess the old man's lost it."

"He never really had it to begin with. I mean, he's got a girl like YOU running with him."

She had burst out laughing as I said this, not even looking at her as I cleaned the table the girl had been at so she could go get her marbles back. She then comes waltzing over pretty as ya please to slap my back.

"So then, yer the newest project he's got going?"

"Well, I see you. With a failure like that on the board, ya bet that punk rock knock off ass he needs a redesign."

Oh she lost it at that one. Like doubled over wheezing holding onto a table laughing lost it. I just ignored her and did my thing. Maybe ten minutes later she comes back over and gets in my face.

"Name's Yuka Yutama I'm the old man's daughter."

"Poor bastard."

"Okay, tough guy, I like you."

"Fuck."

And that was it. She'd drop by the place when I was working and we'd more or less just bust each other's balls the entire time. We dated for like four months? Kakashi had me under a microscope the entire time. I didn't really care and just loved life. Then Yuka crushed hard on some other guy I never met and we called it. We're still good friends and all. So, yeah. Me and the claws are tight."

Sakura and Asuna looked at each other as they ran towards the town.

"Soo, he's in good with the reigning yakuza family, and is now to be their new adoptive heir."

"Big brother's awesome."

Tyler smiled.

"And we're taking Yuka with us."

"kay! New sister!"

"Is that a good idea?"

Tyler chuckled.

"Yuka's a beast. She'll most likely be under leveled, but no biggee."

Asuna nodded and they ran on. Soo, he's looking forward to this new girl. A lot. Why does it bother me so much? The fiery red head shook her head as they came up on the outpost town of Dracul. In terms of style, it was a western theme set in a backdrop of dusty desert and plains complete with tumble weeds. Tyler smiled as he threw his hood and the girls did as well. Then they walked towards the saloon called Fell Tooth. Tyler threw open the swinging doors as he walked in with the two cloaked girls. The place was exactly what one would expect a dusty western ton's saloon would look like. There were buckets for spit, a long bar with a tender wiping a class, and wenches walking around table. Tyler picked out a group of maybe fifteen players all sitting at a table with a girl in a ragged set of period underwear with a disgusted look on her pretty face holding a tray with drinks. Tyler walked towards the group as a hand of cards was played and the girl had to get groped by the winner. She did the deed and had a look of hatred on her face as the man reached for her voluptuous breasts.

"Are you Grimoire Rose?"

The table stopped playing to look at the newcomers. The reaching man spat on the floor.

"Whatsit to ya?"

"Shut it prick, was talkin to the lady."

The table was on their feet as weapons were drawn. Tyler just ignored them as he looked to the shocked girl.

"Are you. Grimoire Rose? Yes. Or. NO."

She found her voice.

"I am. Now, who are you?"

"The Demon has come for you."

The girl started shaking as the group laughed.

"The Demon? What a load o bullshit!"

"He was last seen what? Floor ten?"

"And headed into the mountains with them two beauties he runs with."

"One's more cutie but yer right."

"Aww! Thanks!"

Sakura's cute voice got the player's attention.

"Wow, boys. We got a real wanna be Demon here. He even brought a little girl to pretend to be that Cutie!"

"Rose. We're leaving. Gear up."

The humor died as the girl with the blue hair gulped.

"I can't leave."

"And why not?"

"I owe them a debt."

"For?"

The man laughed as he threw an arm over her shoulders.

"She played a hand o cards and lost! Now she's our toy till we let her go."

"Riiiight. And you cheated. Only way you'd beat HER in a game of cards."

Rose gasped hard at that one, and now the man glared at him.

"Yer startin to irritate me now. Leave now and we won't shatter you."

"Fuck this."

Tyler grabbed the edge of his cloak and tore it off with a flourish. Then his unmistakable red coat and sword made the men go white.

"Demon."

"The Demon's here!"

"Oh fuck."

Tyler looked at the man with his arm around the girl's shoulders.

"So. Rose. Ready to roll?"

"She's not going with you."

Tyler drew his sword, and split the man's head clean in half, shattering him, and sheathed the sword on his back in a single fluid movement.

"Anyone else?"

The players fell over themselves in their rush to get away.

"No sir!"

"She have any gear?"

"Yes sir. Here!"

"That ALL of it?"

"Yes sir!"

Tyler looked at the mass of equipment and mats.

"Not bad. Not GOOD. But not bad."

The blue haired girl was looking at him in horror.

"Who are you?"

Tyler smirked.

"Been a while, hasn't it? Yuka."

She gasped again.

"Tyler?"

"Goreleech ingame. And we need to get rolling. Here. Suit up."

She got the mass of goods except her crafting mats and got dressed. Her gear choice was a crop top made of some fur, denim short shorts, black boots, a one handed sword with a large buckler, and a cowgirl hat. Tyler patted her as he nodded to the door.

"we're headed back topside. Try and keep us in sight toots."

She blinked as Asuna and Sakura threw their cloaks as well. Then the trio were off running.

"Hey! Wait up!"

"Keep up or get left to them."

She took off running after the trio.

Tyler and the three girls ran back to the main hub and they jumped back to floor ten. Rose was panting hard, but they didn't make allowances for her as they raced to the cave again. They claimed it again and set up shop again. Once the tent was set up, Sakura and Asuna swapped to bikinis and relaxed as Tyler set up another mirror.

"Wait."

HE looked at the girl.

"What's up? Oh, and I'mma call you either Rose or Yuka."

Rose just slumped.

"Are you really Tyler?"

"Yup."

"Prove it."

"Okay, let's see. Oh, I know how to get you off in two moves."

"Seriously? Yup. You're him alright."

"Hiya. Miss me?"

Rose tackled him with a hug.

"Thank you."

"Pff, like I'd leave my favorite badass bitch in the lurch."

She smiled as she pinned him under her and kissed him hard. Sakura clapped as Asuna felt a most….intense jealousy. He is MINE! Wait? MINE? Why am I so angry now?" Tyler and Yuka made out for a few minutes before she pulled back and hugged him again.

"How did you know I was in here?"

"We need to chat."

"Oh shit here we go."

He set the mirror up and Yuka sighed as she saw Kakashi sitting in the chair.

"I see daddy told you."

"Yeah. A most unexpected surprise, as all I called him for was some hired muscle to keep the idiots out."

Yuka hung her head in shame.

"I am sorry, father."

"Oi! No."

Tyler smacked her back.

"Lift that head, and get that shame out of your heart, Yuka."

She jumped and looked at Tyler in shock.

"But, I was made to do horrible things!"

"And now your free to run again. Plus those idiots will come after us once they put their balls back on. And, I'll shatter em."

Sakura was curious.

"Why didn't you just shatter em then Gore?"

"Not really sure. More a spur of the moment thing."

"Well, they can't touch us up here."

Asuna sighed.

"Her level's wack as well."

"I'll train her as well."

"great. MORE babysitting."

"Yeah, Sakura, babysitting Asuna is a full time job."

"You wanna get a Rapier shoved up yer ass keep talking."

Tyler smiled as he looked at Kakashi.

"I trust you saw."

"I did. And splendidly handled."

"Not really. Sakura's right. I should have just killed them. Must be going soft."

Sakura sighed as she waggled her small feet.

"Great. Don't get comfy Asuna."

"Wasn't gonna."

Rose was confused.

"Ummm, why are you acting like I'm going with you?"

Tyler smiled at her.

"Because you are."

"Ahh, okay, WHY are you so certain?"

"Because I'm asking you to."

She sighed.

"Right. I forgot we're in a video game YOU helped make. Ya know something? And I feel I need to make this point."

"My diving was the real reason we broke up?"

She just shook her head.

"Of course you knew. Yup. You were diving so much I was alone. So. There. I said it."

"And now we're trapped inside that same game."

"And you have a plan no doubt."

"I got like four."

"Of course you do. And them?"

She jabbed a thumb at the two bikini girls.

"The pink cutie is Sakura. My surrogate little sister. Fuck with her and you die screaming. That flaming red headed bombshell is Asuna. A good friend to have on the road. I am currently teaching them the right way to live."

"At the expense of everyone else."

"We got more important things to worry about."

"Yeah. It's not our job to babysit the player base."

Yuka just sighed.

"You are still as toxic as ever."

Asuna chuckled.

"Oh he's toxic alright. But, at least he won't ever lie to you. Or stab you in the back."

Yuka looked at her.

"And about the cost to yourself?"

Sakura snorted.

"Cost to ourselves? Long as we get to live, who cares?"

"Yeah. I may not always agree with his views, but at least I'm safe."

"But, in exchange for this safety you have to give up your ability to trust people."

Sakura and Asuna laughed.

"Trust people? They want something that precious they have to earn it."

"Exactly. Trusting people blindly is just opening the door to getting taken advantage of."

Yuka looked at Tyler, as he was scrolling through mats.

"They've been listening to you."

"Yup. It's how we've survived. Asuna's a great learner and Sakura gets it."

That made the pair glow a little as he praised them. Kakashi chuckled.

"So, Yuka. Yuta is dead."

The girl lost all the color from her fair skinned face. She had tears in her eyes as Tyler thumped her on the back.

"Oi, no falling apart in my camp."

Yuka got a rein on her emotions.

"How'd he die?"

"He dived and joined the wrong guild."

She hung her head.

"What guild."

Kakashi looked at Tyler.

"You know it better then I."

Tyler closed his UI.

"He joined Laughing Coffin. The murder guild."

Yuka looked at him in horror.

"How do you know this?"

"Because I killed him."

Yuka scrambled away from him then and sat cowering against the other cave wall.

"Y-y-you k-killed Y-y-yuta?"

"I did. Had no clue it was him at the time. Hell, till Kakashi told me he dived had no clue he was IN here."

"Why?"

"The guild sent an intimidation squad to threaten me. So. To send my own message I shattered their envoy trio."

Yuka was shaking like a leaf in a rain storm.

"Just to make a point, you killed them? What point?"

"Don't fuck with my family."

Yuka's purple eyes went wide as he replied in a cold voice.

"That's it?"

"Only reason I need to send you to hell in a bucket. My kill count is 31 as of that jackass."

Yuka looked like she was about to take off running, so scared of this monster before her as she was. Then Sakura burst out laughing.

"Big brother you sure she was a friend of yours?"

"First girlfriend."

"You'd think she'd know what you would do to protect the ones you love."

"It was a strain on our relationship. We had each other so fuck the rest. She's a kind hearted girl, and I'm dead inside."

Yuka looked at a staring in sympathy Asuna.

"How are you not scared of him?"

"Because he saved my life. Even AFTER I turned on him. He saved me from my mother that wanted to marry me off to some forty year old man just to further her own career."

Yuka stopped shaking and just looked at Asuna in pity.

"You poor girl."

"Poor girl my ass. I didn't have the strength to say no. And he's teaching me how to get it."

"More sharpening the strength you already have, but same thing at the core."

She looked at Sakura.

"You?"

"He saved me from a capture squad that wanted to sell me as a sex slave after my family abandoned me when the doors closed."

Yuka the looked at the group with new eyes.

"I get it now. You see the world like he does because you've been burned by it like he was. That makes sense."

She looked at her father.

"I take it YOU told him to rescue me."

"No. Sweetie. I ASKED him to. There is a difference there."

"Had he ORDERED me to, I'd have just killed the feed and been done with the mess."

"I can see that. So, I am to travel with him now?"

"I'd feel much better if you did Yuka. Tyler is the very best there is in there. If you're with him-"

"If she's going with us, she'd need to agree to my rules."

He cut him off and now looked at the blue haired girl.

"If you do not we'll take off and just leave you here."

Yuka and Kakashi sighed.

"Fair."

"What are they?"

"1:I call the shots, my word is law.2:if you complain about anything, from hardship to chores, I will drop your ass, regardless of where we are. We could be in the middle of a dragons nest, I don't care.3:Everything you have/get/find is to be shared equally among us. If you get an item you run it by me, odds are I know how to get the absolute most from it,4:everything about your character's stats is open party knowledge, we keep no secrets. I have a set plan to keep us alive even if outnumbered and out leveled, I need to see your stats to better make use of your skills and abilities. This goes both ways, for if you ask I'll show you my UI too, without hesitating.5: I do not care about any of the other players besides my friends. We do our own thing and the rest of the players can fuck right off.6: We spent the overwhelming majority outside as such we share a single tent, and when in town a single room. I do not have the time or patience for bullshit arguments over stuff like boys and girls in the same room together. If you think you can follow these rules, then welcome to our circus, if you don't think you can, that's fine too. We don't really need you, or anyone else for that matter. So, Yuka, make a call."

Kakashi was nodding sagely as Tyler listed his party rules. Asuna looked at Sakura chuckling.

"Déjà vu."

"Right?"

Yuka had sad eyes.

"You've gone full dictator in here."

"Wanna live? You listen to me. We get out, as we will, you do whatever the fuck you want."

She sighed.

"And the penalty for breaking a rule is?"

"Death."

"Death."

"Death."

Three reflexive responses in a matter-of-fact tone sent shivers down the people's spine.

"Just for not listening to you I die?"

"Fuck this. Kakashi, I am sorry, but it looks like she won't be going with us."

The man sighed.

"I understand. It's survival of the fittest in there."

"And I will NOT endanger Sakura or Asuna's lives by bringing such a freakin weak link on our travels."

Tyler looked at Yuka.

"We'll rest here tonight, but in the morning we go separate ways."

She just looked at him.

"I haven't even made a decision yet!"

"This were a fight we'd be dead already."

"If she'd been with us in that cave we WOULD be dead already."

"You get maybe split seconds to make a choice in this game."

Yuka watched as Tyler then turned his attention back to the screen, dismissing her entirely.

"So. I'll still accept your proposal."

"I'd thought you would, as you'd already agreed."

"It benefits Sakura and Asuna. Plus, more or less sets us up right."

"Speaking of the setup, your living arrangements. I meant to ask you, but we ran out of time."

"Sakura and Asuna stay with me."

"Why'd I even bother asking? As for the place's location?"

"That one we'll discuss as we get closer. No sense in diverting energies at this early stage."

"Agreed. So you know, the gears are already turning."

"Good to hear."

"We got approached by another rep while you were working."

"How much this time?"

"3.5 million."

"Jesus."

"We shot it down saying the world does not want to see what you do."

"His response?"

"He said that Goreleech is the most highly requested player out of them all. People are literally protesting for the right to see your travels."

"The tanks?"

"Well, I couldn't get the tanks sadly. But we did get the APCs."

"Eh. Good enough."

"Wait, back up. WHAT arrangement?"

Tyler looked at Kakashi.

"I think you should handle this one. I'mma go fishing."

That got a chuckle as he got up and walked to stand between Asuna and Sakura with his rod. He sat down and flicked it into the water. Asuna sighed as he tore another eel out.

"So that's your first girlfriend."

HE chuckled.

"Yup. Quite the looker ain't she?"

Sakura shrugged.

"Asuna's prettier."

"Aww thanks Sakura!"

Tyler smiled as he tore another eel out.

"She's most likely NOT coming with us."

The red head looked over her shoulder to see Yuka talking with her father with a very intense expression.

"Did you love her?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah huh?"

Asuna blushed hard as both Tyler and Sakura looked at her in shock. She rolled onto her back and pressed her face into her arms.

"Forget it! Sorry!"

Tyler patted her back fondly.

"Did I love Yuka? I'd like to think I did. Even if I have no clue what love feels like."

She rolled back over and he laughed.

"Oh, and another perk to this place? Sand don't get in your hair."

That made the two girls laugh. Then Sakura became curious.

"Hey, Tyler?"

"What's up squirt?"

"Call me squirt again and I'll stab you."

"What's up runt?"

"Do you WANT Asuna to fuck you with a Rapier?"

"What's up Doc?"

"Do I LOOK LIKE A DOCTOR?"

Tyler and Asuna looked at each other in shock.

"Oh that is just wrong!"

"I feel old now. Dammit."

"okay Asuna. Me an you need to make a blood oath here."

"Nice name drop and yes we do."

"We get out, we introduce Sakura to REAL cartoons."

"Agreed. You have them?"

"Yup. ALL of them."

"Then we have a deal."

The duo used a knife to cut their hands and show the yellow groves before clasping hands until the groves vanished. Then Tyler looked to a VERY confused Sakura.

"What's yer question?"

"I got two now."

"Oh that? Don't worry bout it."

"More something to look forward to when you get out."

"Ooookay. Weird. My OTHER question is if you STILL love Yuka, Tyler?"

Tyler flicked the line back into the water and pulled a pike out this time.

"Not as in a girlfriend. More close friend now."

Asuna breathed a silent breath of immense relief. Wait, WHY am I so relieved? Like the hell? Tyler smiled as he went.

"I may have loved her once, still not sure on that one, but do I still feel that way? No."

Tyler tore another eel out of the river and whistled.

"Nice. We just scored a Blood Eel. Fucker's rare. Hey, Sakura, we got dinner."

She giggled as Yuka was heard yelling.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN NEW HEIR?"

Tyler chuckled.

"We're gonna need another mirror for this one."

Asuna shrugged.

"eh, we know what to look for now."

Tyler sat up and passed the rod to Sakura as he pulled the map sphere out.

"If I had to, I think I can find a likely spot for that chesthead to spawn."

Asuna smiled.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you care."

"Just a little. Sakura a bit."

The two girls laughed as he panned around the floor map a bit. He then smiled.

"That grandbear might be a good bet."

Sakura was pulling eels out as she talked.

"Hey! Got a pink! Cute! Any caves up there you know of?"

"That pink eel's rare. Nice. There's a few caves. Problem is their all frozen and we'd need to slide around a lot."

Asuna sighed as she looked at her feet.

"I'm a pretty good ice skater."

Sakura giggled as she pulled a blue out.

"I am too."

Tyler chuckled.

"Then you two can teach me. I can't skate worth a damn."

The two girls looked at him in shock.

"Us teach YOU?"

"Is he okay?"

Tyler patted both their heads.

"I can't skate IRL, so never bothered to try ingame. So, yes. There are things in here even I don't know how to do."

That got a laugh as Asuna looked at her feet again.

"We'd need skates."

Tyler pulled his crafting UI up.

"No biggee. We got plenty of lower tier mats we can use."

The flaming red head sat up to look at it.

"I'd suggest using a decent metal for the blades, since they tend to wear out quicker."

"You know them better than I do. You know the drill."

Asuna laughed as she pulled her UI up and he looked at her measurements.

"Okay, feet. 6.5."

She watched as he used some leftover Wolf fur and redsteel to make her new ice skates. They came out pretty. The blades were a deep red, while the shoe itself was the pattern of shiny wolf fur. She hugged him as she added them to her inven.

"Thanks."

"Sure. Sakura, your turn."

She sat in his lap as she pulled her UI up.

"Pink!"

"Like there's another color for you."

She hummed as he crafted an identical pair for her smaller feet. She hugged him before adding them to her inven. Then Asuna had a thought.

"You think we should add coats to our clothes? We ARE headed into the mountains."

Tyler looked at the map sphere.

"It might be a good idea for Sakura. I can't feel cold period, so don't need it. What about you, Asuna?"

She flipped her red hair.

"I don't have a cold tolerance. So, yeah."

Tyler smiled then.

"Fur coats coming up."

Sakura snorted.

"Asuna already has a fur carpet!"

Tyler burst out laughing as Asuna's red eyes started twitching as she was on the verge of murdering the cutie in pink. Sakura was smiling at the taller girl sweetly.

"You seem mad, Asuna. What's wrong?"

Tyler was still laughing as he looked through their mats, as Asuna replied in a highly strained voice.

"Tyler, for the sake of you groin ingame, and your balls IRL, you had better give the right answer."

"Sure Asuna."

"Do YOU have a problem with a carpet?"

Sakura became confused.

"Asuna, I think you're confused. You have a carpet in your inven."

Asuna blushed so red, Tyler thought she'd started bleeding. Tyler chuckled.

"No Asuna, I don't have a problem with a carpet."

The poor red head just laid back down, as Sakura still played the cutely innocent act.

"what did you think I meant, Asuna?"

"Sakura."

"Yeah sis?"

The red wacked her.

"I have a headache now cause o you."

Sakura looked at Tyler for aid in this attack, and he just patted her head.

"Tell the joke deal with the consequences."

She crossed her arms and huffed.

"Meanie!"

"Asuna, I got the mats ready, just need to see your UI again."

She came over to give him a better look. He then noticed she smelled of crushed pine.

"Okay, I think you'll like this."

He pulled a coat out and Asuna gasped. It was made from red fox fur and blood red with a black belt about the middle. The fox's head rested on the chest with the white tail tip the hood. He smiled at her.

"Try it on."

She got up as Yuka was still arguing with her father, and put the coat on. It hugged her slender body tightly, but she found she could still move freely like she wasn't wearing a thick fur coat. It hung to just above her thigh, and glistened like fire in the light. He chuckled.

"Like it?"

She hugged him.

"I love it. It's so warm and comfy too."

She swapped it for her bikini as Sakura took her turn scowling. He patted her pink hair.

"I got just the think for you."

She pulled her UI up and watched as he made her coat. Hers was thicker then Asuna's and was a deep pink wolf fur he'd dyed with a rose he'd found. It was belted with a blue belt that made her that much more eye catching, and remined the older duo of a Russian fur coat. Sakura was jerked of her foul mood and had stars in her eyes as she held the softness.

"Thank you, Tyler!"

He hugged her as she stored it away. Then they were back to fishing. Tyler and the two girls tore maybe 50 eels out before Yuka spoke up.

"Hey, Demon, dad wants you."

Tyler tore out another eel before getting off the sand and joining Yuka in front of the mirror. Kakashi was rubbing his head as Tyler sat next to Yuka.

"So, Yuka will tolerate you as the new heir, and Sakura as the new sister."

"She doesn't really have to like it. Long as she's not a bitch to Sakura that is."

She glared at him.

"This is MY family you're joining, ya know."

"Your point? So, Kakashi, what's the word?"

HE sighed.

"She says she'll go with you."

Tyler looked at Yuka.

"Do you agree to my rules?"

"I'll go with you, but that is all."

"Then you are not going with us."

He looked back to the screen as Yuka slapped him.

"Then WHY did you even bother saving me?"

Tyler smiled.

"He asked me to. And, because we were friends out there."

She glared at him angrily.

"I am NOT a slave. NOR will I follow you like some lost puppy. I do not obey dictators."

"If you are in MY party, you. WILL. LISTEN. TO. ME."

He was smiling but Sakura and Asuna sighed.

"Yuka, if you keep pushing him he'll just kill you to shut you up."

"I am amazed he hasn't already."

Yuka just snorted.

"He wouldn't be able to kill me. We're too close."

Tyler looked at Kakashi, and he sighed.

"No. I won't hold it against you."

Tyler had Yuka against the wall of the cave outside the protection of the circle with his blade sticking out of her belly the next instant. She was gaping in horror as her health bar depleted rapidly.

"Make a choice. Death. Or shutting up."

She closed her mouth.

"Good girl."

He forced a potion down her throat before tossing her back into the circle.

"Let me makes this clear to you, Yuka. I do not care who you are, what you mean to me, or what you have done for me."

He was walking slowly as he donned his red coat.

"If you endanger Sakura or Asuna in ANY way, shape or form,"

He was speaking with all the iron and steel that had scared Asuna's family and the hospitals.

"If you threaten their survival. I. Will. END. YOU. "

Yuka was white as a sheet as she processed her near death and the fact TYLER had nearly killed her. Tyler crouched to look her in the eye.

"You had your chance. I do not want you with us. This point, I regret wasting our time and money to save you. Now. I will keep my word, and allow you to rest here until we leave. But this is the extent of my charity to you. Do not push the issue further."

Tyler then walked back to sit before the screen as Kakashi was nodding sadly.

"I feel like I owe you an apology."

Tyler shrugged.

"No biggee. Least we know now for certain."

The Yakuza boss sighed.

"Silver lining I suppose. Will she die out there?"

"Most likely. If she refuses to see the truth as it is, then she will die."

The man looked at him now.

"If she were to ever TRULY need you?"

Tyler sighed.

"I don't know Kakashi. I went for Asuna because she LISTENED to me BEFORE turning on me."

The red head was smiling at Yuka with a grin most smug.

"Yuka? She just sees the world she wants. Regardless of the truth of it."

That made her mad.

"Better to see it diluted and still be able to be myself then whatever YOU are."

Tyler chuckled a dark chuckle.

"I'm ALIVE, Yuka. ALIVE and safe. At the end of the day, that is all that matters. Well, that and Sakura and Asuna."

"Love you too, big brother!"

"Nice to see I matter as an afterthought."

"And a right fiery one too!"

She smiled as he said this, and Sakura giggled.

"I think he LIKES you, Assy!"

Yuka sighed.

"Why the hell did I fall for you? You're a heartless, pitiless dead inside man. You didn't love me, you don't love THEM. You just seek to build walls between you and the world."

Tyler smiled as the two girls gasped at the cold remark.

"I know why I fell for you. At least, I THINK that's what love feels like."

She glared at him with distain.

"You just wanted to get in with the family."

"Yet, by the point I met you, me and Yuta were already brothers. Plus the bug mess. I was already in good."

Kakashi laughed.

"He's got a point. Me an him waged wars just so he could see you, Yuka. Hell you know that! Remember the time he nearly got shot for sneaking in to our compound because you called him up saying you wanted to see him?"

Tyler chuckled.

"Yer boys sucked, Kakashi. I'm a better shot an half of em."

"At the time? Sadly yes. Now? Well, we'll have to see."

"I'll humiliate your boys another day."

Yuka snorted.

"Was it to see ME, or to fuck me?"

Tyler smiled now.

"Both, Yuka. Not gonna lie. It was both. Mostly the first."

She had a look of disgust on her face.

"Okay, WHY did you THINK you fell for me?"

"Because every time I saw your face my heart felt like it was singing. My soul felt lighter as well, as if just looking at you made my lonely existence just barely bearable. When we were together, my face would hurt so much from smiling and my heart felt like it housed something OTHER then the lonely bitterness that's there usually. And when we parted, I was both sadder and more dead then when we met up. Plus, you were so strong and fierce as well as drop dead gorgeous. So that helped. For the first time in my life, I didn't feel so utterly alone."

Sakura and Asuna were hugging each other as he finished his deadpan, on-the-fly response to Yuka's harsh question as they sought comfort from the emotion packed into each word. Even Kakashi was moved a little. The man was nodding along as Tyler finished his mini speech.

"That's called love, Tyler. You felt it, and it was REAL."

Tyler smiled.

"Really? Huh."

Yuka had tears in her purple eyes. She sniffed.

"You felt like that?"

"I did."

She gasped.

"You….DID? Not anymore?"

He sighed now, and Asuna caught his gaze flickering towards her. I didn't just see that? He didn't just look at ME?

"I don't feel that anymore Yuka. I used to. But not anymore."

The blue haired girl's gaze surged to look at Asuna.

"Her?"

Tyler shrugged.

"That's….not easily answered. I'm not sure myself. So, for now we're good friends."

Asuna's mind exploded as Sakura giggled.

"See? He LIKES you!"

"if I didn't Sakura, you really think she'd be here?"

"Fair."

The red head laid her head in Sakura's soft lap as she processed this latest bombshell, getting a happy giggle as Sakura took the opportunity to pet Asuna's hair like a cat. Yuka looked back at him and tried to hug him, only for him to place a firm hand on her head and sit her back down.

"Nu-uh."

She blinked at his rejection.

"I mean nothing to you now?"

He sighed as he rubbed his eyes.

"You're a danger to their survival, Yuka. So. Until you give me a reason to trust you again, you mean about as much as the other players."

She had a hurt look on her face.

"They mean more to you then me? We've been friends for years! You just met them!"

"They do. And right now, they are the most important things in my life. Sakura slightly more."

"Yay!"

"Love ya too sis!"

She was now happily glowing as Asuna slumbered peacefully in her soft lap. Yuka looked at them.

"Why? Why are you choosing them over ME?"

Tyler sighed.

"I am choosing them, over you, because 1: They may not like my rules, but they follow them as they is no better option. 2. They have earned my trust in a way you just haven't. They have had my back and I theirs for months now. 3. They understand my points and lessons. Asuna may not always agree with my extreme views, but she is able to get past them as her survival is more important them morals."

"Wouldn't phrase it like that. My survival is more important then Ideals."

"I like yours better."

She waved a sleepy hand and went back under. Tyler smiled fondly at her.

"See? She has her way of seeing the world, and I have mine. And yet she's someone I ENJOY being around. 4. They understand that sometimes it is better to just cut the whole branch off rather then safe it."

Yuka was shaking her head.

"So, as long as they obey your whims and never speak against your word, you care?"

Sakura sighed now.

"He'll listen if we think we have a better idea. But NOT in battle. We're safer now for the moment so we can waste time with this meaningless debate. If we DO have a better idea we usually do it. But again, depends on just WHAT it is. Now, Yuka, you're starting to give me a headache with the circles. Either agree to his rules and be set for the game,-"

"She's not coming with us Sakura."

"That bad huh?"

"Yup. She does, we'd never stop hearing it. We'd literally argue like this for hours on our bad days, as she just is incapable of agreeing to disagree."

The pink haired girl sighed sadly.

"And you being right just makes it that much more infuriating for her. That sucks, I was hoping I got a new sister. Ah well."

"Ya got Asuna. She's the better sister anyway."

Sakura nodded sagely.

"By a long shot. Asuna's awesome!"

The poor red head was blushing like a tomato, so embarrassed as she was! Yuka was shaking.

"You rescued me, just to throw me to the wolves over a disagreement?"

Kakashi stepped in now.

"Yuka, you are fighting for your lives in there. Tyler is right. As I myself have seen this pattern in you as well. You HAVE to get over it, or you will suffer a fate worse then death itself. Now, as much as it hurts me to say it, if Tyler deems it necessary, and just dumps you off in the wilds, I will NOT hold it against him. He wouldn't really care if I did, but besides the point. Yuka, ideals like yours are nothing but a hindrance in there. You know it, but just refuse to accept it. Yuta accepted it, and the only true mistake he made in that thing was to join the wrong crew. Tyler, let me ask a question."

"Sure."

"If Yuta had asked to join you, would you have let him?"

"I'd have given him the same speech and rules. But, so long as he agreed and listened, I would have had no problem with him running with us."

Yuka glared at her father.

"Tyler just wants mindless followers."

"He WANTS you to LIVE, Yuka. At this point, your just being stubborn. You know he's right, yet are refusing to accept it just to deny being ANYTHING like him."

"Kakashi, Sakura's holding her head in pain. So, since she's just going in circles and in such denial, I now need to remove her from the camp. Do you have a complaint?"

Kakashi rubbed his head.

"She's giving ME a headache now too. Do as you need to."

Tyler got up and sent over all of Yuka's mats and forced the now screaming girl to accept before dragging her down the cave to a secret entrance he'd found in the beta. HE threw her out the small crack and into the roiling river.

"You need my help, you have my name."

She was swept away screaming in both anger and rage as she now had to fight the current or drown. The entrance being at the top of a hundred foot drop into a deep river that flowed away from the hideout. Tyler reached up and broke a root on a tree, which triggered a secret door to close as he returned to the cave. Sakura was drinking some chilled water as Asuna held a bit of ice to her head.

"Sorry, Tyler. She said her head was throbbing."

Tyler sighed as well.

"I was going to do that myself. Well, we'll rest a bit longer before heading for the mountain."

Tyler retook his spot in front of the screen.

"Sorry, Kakashi. But their survival is more important."

He nodded.

"I understand. And don't blame you in the slightest. Yuka will either get over this or suffer."

"Is her feed up?"

"it is. She needs to understand that some things just ARE. And you have no choice but to accept them."

"She'll get enslaved again. No way in hell she doesn't."

"I agree. Now, is there anything else you needed?"

"You said something about a merger with Arthur?"

Asuna came over now and sat next to Tyler as her father sat with the yakuza boss.

"Indeed. We are in talks over a joint business venture."

"Like protection?"

"More or less. I'd say more….conglomerate?"

Kakashi nodded.

"That seems the better fit. Since my new heir and his daughter are so close, it seemed a good move to strengthen ties between our companies."

Tyler crossed his arms now.

"Okay. So, what? Like the two companies become one entity?"

"With Arthur handling the day to day and myself handling the shadows."

Tyler looked to Asuna.

"You care more an I do."

She shrugged.

"Long as daddy don't turn into mother, I'm fine. Oh, and I get to stay with Tyler and Sakura."

The two men smiled.

"we'll let you go now."

"Yeah we all have work to do."

The screen went dim and Kakashi sighed.

"It's a shame Yuka is still just as stubborn as ever."

Arthur was checking his daughter's body.

"Tyler may be a harsh, unforgiving, dark boy. But he is right, and is always willing to give his life for those he loves."

The yakuza boss nodded.

"It's why Yuta looked up to him so much. They were two sides of the same coin, Tyler the dark side with all the nastiness, Yuta the kind and gentle side. Yuka loved the sense of raw danger Tyler had around him, yet didn't like the reality that comes with it. Now that I think of it, Tyler was more invested in their relationship then she was. He'd bend over backwards just to put a smile on her face, and she'd use him as a bridge."

Arthur chuckled.

"Asuna's not like that. I can tell she much prefers the sense of safety he gives her over the feelings of danger."

"Your girl could not pick a better vessel to place her heart in."

Tyler rubbed his eyes as the screen went dark and they were looking at the wall.

"Okay. We need to get ready to move."

He looked over and Asuna was looking at him.

"You okay?"

She smiled and hugged him.

"I'm okay. Just a little thrown I guess."

He patted her back.

"well, go hug Sakura. She's good for it."

The flaming red head smiled and did just that as Tyler took down the tent. The ladies sighed.

"We need to disappear?"

Tyler geared up.

"Yuka's going to draw attention and now this place ain't safe anymore."

They sighed sadly.

"Wasted time, money, and lost a hideout to her."

Tyler led the girls out running towards the far off mountain.

"This was my fuck up. I knew Yuka was like that. So, yeah."

Asuna was in her gown thing and Sakura her cutie in pink outfit.

"well, it's YOU. Do better."

"What she said. We won't ream you as she was a friend before this mess."

"And we know how you are with friends."

Tyler smiled as he pulled an acrobatic front flip off a ten foot cliff.

"Well, we all know I don't make the same mistake twice."

Sakura dropped a moose with a perfect heart shot as they ran to the mountain.

"I still find it hard to believe you fell for her."

Tyler sighed as he pegged a blue furred rabbit with a dart.

"I think it was the first girlfriend emotional hell."

Asuna pegged a rabbit of her own.

"I hear that. Girl in my class got asked out and fell in love that day. Guy was an ass, and left her heart broken when she refused to sleep with him on the first date."

Tyler chuckled, and opened his mouth.

"Well, she's got more standards then you, Asuna. You slept with Gore in the first DAY."

Tyler closed his mouth, as Sakura beat him to the joke. Asuna looked at Tyler.

"And what were YOU going to say?"

"oh, me? Was gonna ask what you got off that rabbit."

"Smart man. Sakura, YOU are IN for it later."

Tyler laughed.

"Well, thank god it wasn't me this time."

Sakura was now a little nervous as she shattered a bear.

"Umm, I'm sorry?"

Asuna giggled.

"Forgiven!"

"Though to be fair, Asuna? You are really warm."

Poor Asuna ran into a tree! Tyler and Sakura stopped to lo0ok at her as she recovered.

"You good?"

"never thought her as a tree hugger."

Asuna took off running with them as the siblings ran beside her.

"You okay?"

She smiled.

"Just surprised by the complement Gore."

"I'm an asshole, Asuna. But, I do like to pretend to pretend to be not as mean sometimes."

Sakura giggled.

"I can count those times on one hand!"

The trio ran for the rest of the day, and as the sun went down they kept running. Their night vision serving them well, they dropped any monsters and animals they came across. Tyler leading the way as usual. The friends blew through the gentle woodland and were now in a slightly more rocky, hilly area that the friends loved as they could use their agility and show off their acrobatics. Tyler ran at a tall rock face and leapt at it to wall run to grab the lip and swing himself up to the top. He looked behind him to see Asuna make the same climb. Sakura used a different way up. She had spotted a set of two faces with a gap between them and used them to bounce between them to the top of the cliff. She landed with a light squeak of effort before they ran off to their next stunt. Tyler smiled as they neared a set of rocks.

"Oh, this is gonna be great."

They ran and as they came upon a long rock jutting from the ground, Tyler ran along it with the girls right behind him.

"We got a 300 foot drop ahead into a lake 600 feet deep."

They looked at him like he was insane.

"Are you sure it's still there?"

"What she said?"

"It's a diving challenge."

The girls gulped, but trusted their friend. Tyler ran to the tip of the rock, and dove of the thing with the two girls right behind him. The put their trust in him to the ultimate test as they fell. Tyler straight up in the air as the surface of the lake appeared beneath them. Tyler barely cut the surface in a perfect dive, as the two girls cannonballed hard with loud splashes. They swam to the nearby shore and Tyler got an award for a clean dive.

"nice. I went up three dex levels, got 4500 droy, and a water breathing amulet."

Sakura tilted her pink head.

"It okay if I get that one?"

"You do love to swim. Sure."

She smiled as he gave it to her. Asuna was looking up and found she couldn't see the rock they'd leapt off.

"You're insane."

"Well, thank heaven for that then, cause otherwise this'd probably never work."

Asuna sighed.

"If our lives were not on the line, I'd think that was awesome."

Tyler chuckled.

"There's a challenge up on floor 30 a girl I knew made. She loved diving, so she got to make a few challenges. The one I'm talking about is two THOUSAND feet into a 600 foot hotspring you cannot see from the jump off spot."

Asuna just looked at him.

"And I bet you'll do it just for the kick in the teeth."

"Well, yeah. I get to have fun while you soak in the spring."

Sakura sighed longingly.

"Ahhhh, hotspring."

Tyler smiled.

"Let's keep going. Oh, and watch the shadows. Placed is riddled with caves."

The girls nodded and off they went. It was early dawn when they stopped again. The trio took a small food break on the top of a small cliff that overlooked a valley of stone hedges and alleyways. Tyler sighed.

"I know this place. Listen up, you to. We go in there holding hands. If you let go, say something and we'll stop."

Asuna gulped.

"This place dangerous?"

"If you get lost in here, Asuna, the only way to get back out would be to either use a crystal, or logout entirely and relog in as then it's set you outside it."

Sakura was looking at the intricate pattern.

"Is it a maze?"

"yup. I know the guy that designed it. Dude loved maze challenges, and this was his baby. It's hard but fair. We get through it, we'll get good drops."

Asuna seemed nervous.

"Did you solve it?"

"I did. A few times actually. Took me like three hours each time, but I did it."

"Monsters?"

"A few. Mainly wall lizards. Shot to the face and shatter."

They ate their lunch of sandwiches which Asuna had made and Tyler took Asuna's hand and she took Sakura's. Then Tyler led them into the entrance to the maze. They moved cautiously as they had no idea what was around the corner. Tyler was on high alert as they went, having beaten it before, he knew the path to the best loot.

"Hey, Gore. We got some ore here."

Tyler looked over to Sakura's voice, and she pointed to a vein of gold ore. HE sighed.

"leave it. That's a rigged vein. Touch it and it'll transport us somewhere else in the maze."

She groaned.

"Dammit. It's a good one too!"

They chuckled as they moved on. The party spent maybe four hours navigating the maze, at which point they came out into a larger chamber with a chest in the center. They saw four other routes leading out of the maze. Tyler sighed.

"Guards up."

Sakura raised her bow as Asuna drew her rapier. Tyler walked over and threw the lid open. There was a burst of fanfare as the challenge was completed, and the walls around them all lowered to the ground. Once the fanfare ended tyler and the two girls got a screen with the rewards 50,000 droy, a legendary sword, bow, and shield, a teleport crystal good for forty jumps at full charge, and a map of the area. Tyler smiled.

"Clear. Glark may have loved screwing with those in his mazes, but he didn't do rigged rewards."

The girls relaxed as Tyler looked towards the much closer mountain.

"we got a hard run now. I want to be at that border by the end of tomorrow."

The girls nodded and off they went running along the path Tyler took. The party ran for a full day and a half straight before they stopped to both take a breather and eat. They were standing at the boundary between the semi-tropical climate of the hilly area, and the winter tundra that the mountain sat in. Tyler showed them to a small hollow that was more crater surrounded by boulders with a pool of water at the bottom. There the two girls took their boots off to dip their feet with moans of relief.

"Ohhh, that feels good!"

"Running on rock sucks!"

Tyler laughed as he sat on a boulder nearby.

"Yer goin soft ladies."

They sighed.

"Whatever."

"Gore could run on a bed of nails and not feel a thing."

They rested for a few minutes, when the ground started shaking. Tyler looked to the rim of the hollow.

"Wow. I did not think they'd keep that in the game."

The girls looked to see a massive tortoise, easily 500 feet tall, 600 feet long, and 900 across lumbering towards the hollow.

"Umm, Gore? What is that thing?"

"That Sakura, is this floor's secret boss. The adamantiose. Or adamant tortoise. I have waged wars against him in the beta. And, I've beaten him twice. So. Sack up. We kill that thing, we get some seriously gnarly drops."

Asuna gulped as she saw the massive beast walking towards them.

"How bad is it?"

"It has the highest defense of the first ten floors. Even greater then the floor bosses as well. Attacks are easily predicated, but do NOT let them touch you, as they're all one shots. He has 8 health bars. And uses slam based attacks."

The girls looked at him as he watched the beast.

"Please Gore? Can we run just this once?"

"It's just too dangerous without revives."

"Ladies, I hate to break it to you, but we're on floor 10. Okay? This thing, is a secret boss on floor 10. Please consider what that means."

Sakura gasped and then looked at the hulking beast with new eyes.

"Are you saying that thing is just fodder compared to some of the monsters higher up?"

"Sadly yes. I have not faced them myself, but yes. So. Let's see if you've REALLY been listening."

Asuna sighed as her and Sakura put their boots on.

"What'll we get for killing it?"

"1.500.000 exp, 5.000,000 droy, 500 admantoise shells, 1500 meat, secret weapons and armor, and vouchers that are used to force level skills."

The girls nodded.

"The meat?"

"S-class prime cuts."

That lit a fire in their bellies. Tyler drew his own blade.

"Pop potions ladies. This is an all-or-nothing boss fight. We win or we die."

They all popped buffer potions as the creature roared a challenge that sounded more like a million elephants were stampeding through a wooden gymnasium. Tyler looked at Sakura.

"Keep your distance. Go for the eyes, Asuna follow my shadow."

They nodded and the battle was on. Sakura loaded arrows on her bow.

"Pink Piercer."

She fired and the shots hit the slow moving beast in the left eye, getting a roar of pain and chipping a sliver of health away from it's eight health bars. She groaned as she saw it.

"This going to be a slog. Pink Slam."

Tyler and Asuna reached the thing's leg and Tyler brought the bastard sword in on a double fisted swing.

"Dragon hammer smash."

The chunk lost was more easily seen, but was still a mere scratch. Asuna hit next with her thrusting rapier.

"Dancing stab!"

The sliver was greater then Sakura's but less then Tyler's. In all? A tenth of the first bar.

"Sync up!"

And so they did. The well oiled gears of the three friends went to work, Tyler delivering a heavy shot, Asuna poking holes with Sakura raining hell from a distance. The tortoise rumbled.

"Get ready to jump! Slam in coming!"

The thing lifted a leg 15 feet thick, and as it slammed it down, Tyler and his friends jumped hard as the ground literally rippled from the impact of the shot. The effect ended as they landed.

"That's attack 1. Roar then slam. If it lifts a leg jump!"

The girls nodded as they kept up the attacks. They had been fighting by this point for two hours, and had barely broken the half way mark on the first bar. Tyler was still going strong, and so was Asuna and Sakura. Tyler harsh training allowing them to fight at full strength for 12 straight before they needed to stop for breath. Tyler was coming in for another attack as he saw the 50 foot tail twitching.

"get down flat!"

The group dropped prone as the turtle planted it's feet to spin in a most terrifying display of agility for such a massive creature to swing it's tail with all the force of a giant swing a metal baseball bat. The thing missed and dropped back on all fours.

"Go!"

The attacks resumed, and Tyler relayed the pattern.

"If the tail twitches, drop flat! Tail whip incoming!"

The girls heeded the words.

"Dragon flip fang!"

"Elegant dazzle!"

"Pink Shaft!"

Tyler pulled his UI up and pulled a poison out.

"Poison!"

The girls did the same as Tyler drew fire for them. They all coordinated a triple threat to inflict triple poison damage, and it worked, as the first health bar broke they were onto the second.

"Alternate poison and stun!"

Tyler brought his blade down onto the same spot he and Asuna had been working to sever since the fight had began and they had chopped through maybe a quarter of the thing's 15 foot thick leg. Tyler pulled a hand spring back as he readied another attack as he saw the turtle lower it's head.

"Cover your ears!"

They heeded the words as the turtle bellowed to the sky in a roar that shook the very ground with it's force. Then it lowered it's head to look at them and the attack cycle was back on.

"Dragon impalement!"

"Toxic dance!"

"Pink death."

The friends battled valiantly for a further four hours, and succeeded in chipping one and a half more health bars away, threading between slams, tail whips, and roars. They also used their most toxic poisons near constantly, and the effects were stacking up. Tyler was just readying another lunge, when he saw the shoulder lower.

"Get to the sides! Tackle in coming!"

The girls scrambled to move as the colossal turtle surged forward like a mountainous battering ram, tearing trees from the ground, shattering rocks to dust, and ripping a massive hole in the landscape. Tyler watched as it surged towards the rim of the hollow.

"Drive it into the hollow! It'll flip over if we do!"

The party took up spots behind the turtle and began to attack again. Tyler using his more powerful knockbacks with Sakura and Asuna to make it step backward into the hollow. Tyler slammed his attack own.

"Dragon's Fist!"

"Rushing flurry!"

"Pink pusher!"

They landed their triple threat on the turtle, each attack enhanced with their strongest knockbacks they had, and it forced the thing to take a step backward, only for it's leg to land on empty air.

"Again!"

They hit the thing with another triple threat, and the ground on the rim of the hollow was heard to crackle.

"One more then jump!"

They did, and jump right after. It was good they did too, as the tortured rock beneath the creature gave out and the creature flipped over onto it's back in the small hollow in a most impractical way for such a large creature.

"Get on it's under shell! All attacks to quad damage!"

The trio got in position and attacked the softer under belly.

"Do as much as you can. It can't move right now."

The party broke out everything they had, and the chunks fell from it's health bar in visible sections. They blew through five bars in that span, leaving it maybe two and a half. Then the turtle started to vibrate.

"One triple then off!"

They landed the hits and jumped off the thing as it did another physically impossible thing for a creature that size: Just flipped over entirely. The hollow was now under the creature's trunk like legs, as the friends got to it. They dodged hits and landed their own. They did take glancing shots here and there, but thankfully no direct hits. Tyler and Asuna were still working the leg they'd been at the entirety of the battle, and they were nearly through.

"Triple the leg and it'll go!"

"Dragon slash!"

"Dancer's Fury!"

"Pink pounder!"

The trio's triple threat slammed into the leg and it was severed entirely.

"Flip! Get back!"

They jumped back as it flipped over onto it's back again.

"do it!"

The trio leapt up and started carving again.

"Dragon splitter!"

"Dancing nails!"

"Pink piercer!"

The bars dropped to the red, and the turtle started to glow red.

"Hurry!"

They sync'd up for triple threat after triple threat and the bar ran out just as the thing started to flip. It shattered and they dropped to the ground a good 500 feet below them with heavy thuds, taking a decent amount of fall damage, but they had potions out and were drinking them. Then they dropped to the ground panting as the icon for a victory appeared. Tyler looked to his friends.

"We good?"

Asuna lifted a thumb in the air. Sakura did the same.

"Good. Stone's comfy."

They laughed as the drops were listed.

"I shot up 5 levels."

"I got 6."

"Same."

"Mats, wow. 2500 tortoise shells. 1600 meat, 10,000,000 droy, a high level legendary sword, a bow, a long spear, some plate mail, Sakura's arrows, 60 tortoise blood, a tortoise heart, wow, we even scored a teleport crystal good for a 100 jumps and a map sphere, hell we even got 9 vouchers that force the leveling up of a skill without the exp."

"All that? Damn."

"We can sell the spear. How many arrows?"

"Maybe half?"

"Yay."

They panted for a little while before they regained their strength. The trio got up and even Tyler was a little shaky on his feet.

"We need to go before he respawns."

The girls went a little pale.

"Please, we're not fighting it again are we?"

"Not him. He has a mechanic built into his code to prevent milking. It's a fundamental part of his code too. So, if the same party attacks him twice in a row after he respawns, he pops up TWICE as powerful, with triple the speed and quad defense. Rewards stay the same however."

The girls looked at each other and popped high stamina potions.

"We need to go."

"Which way?"

Tyler led them to a path through the ruined forest the tortoise battle had torn through.

"That was the strongest monster on this floor, ladies. Even stronger then the leaders of the sex villages. The boss will be a cake walk compared."

The girls sighed.

"I need a rest."

"Me too. My hands are shaking."

"We'll rest at the next place. I'm not much better myself."

They breathed a sigh of relief as Tyler led them to a cave in the ground near a tall tree. They dove in and found the floor to be half full of water.

"Take a breath ladies. We're going for a swim."

They all took deep breaths before diving into the silent depths of the submerged cave. The water was frigid, and they couldn't hear a thing as the two girls followed the red form of their guide through the blue depths. They could see small fish and underwater life all around them as Tyler kicked upwards towards the surface. They broke the surface into a glittering cave with a large section of flat grey stone with a ten foot patch of sunlight on one side. The girls gasped as they climbed onto the stone.

"This place is beautiful!"

"Did you make this?"

Tyler chuckled as they stepped into the white ring of a sanctuary.

"No. This was the dev's idea."

The cave was filled with the shimmering pattern of light reflecting off water, the smell of warm forest air, and was silent save for their voices. Tyler pointed to a rock.

"I've been here as well."

Sure enough, his Demon player signature was seen on the wall. The girls swapped for bikinis, and noticed something.

"The floor's warm!"

"I was expecting cold stone."

Tyler swapped to his trunks as he set the tent up.

"That's guess this cave's sitting on top of a hotspring. The water gets thrown up behind that turn. I'll show you in a sec."

The girls waited with baited breath as he set their tent up, before he led them towards a small nook in the rock, that once they squeezed through it, they found themselves on the edge of a twenty foot wide hotspring with rather convenient ledges and a gentle slope for sitting and soaking. Tyler got in first as the ladies gaped.

"Ahhh, I MISSED this place!"

That broke the spell. Both girls got right in beside him as he sat in a corner spot and rested in it.

"Ohh that feels soooooo good!"

"I NEEDED this!"

Tyler smiled as Sakura came over to snuggle her brother.

"We'll rest here for a day. I needed to after fighting that damned turtle."

Sakura was happily nestled in his arm as Asuna sat by him, but not full snuggling.

"My hands feel numb."

He sighed as he splashed a little water at her playfully.

"Sadly, from the rumor's I heard in the beta, the upper floors like 50 and up? All the monsters are that base powerful and above."

Asuna slumped in the water dejectedly.

"And most will be far too scared to challenge them."

Tyler was stroking a giggling Sakura's pink hair.

"Most likely. But, by that point? We should be able to eat creatures like that for breakfast."

The red headed girl ducked under the water and came up with now soaked hair.

"It'll be interesting to see just who keeps going."

HE was now holding a nodding off Sakura against his chest.

"We have what? 37000 players left?"

"I'd say that's a safe bet."

"I'm willing to be we get 10000 that just up and hid in the town of beginnings."

"I'd say more."

"Wanna say half?"

"For the sake of argument, sure."

"Okay. 15,000 just up and shut themselves in the town of beginnings. Then we'll say 5000 are active fighters like us. Going out and getting in the teeth of monsters."

Asuna crossed her arms under her breasts as she thought.

"5000? From my time in my last guild, mind you a few months ago now, the estimated active force was closer to 8."

"that many? I'm impressed. So, that's 23,000 accounted for. Either doing nothing or doing everything. So, we can safely assume the numbers of 'actives' will drop significantly as the floors increase. Whether due to death or just giving up. And the middle ground will increase."

"Those that would rather let others fight their battles?"

"More, the back ranks of a fight. They fire an arrow to remind you they're there, but that's it."

The beautiful red head frowned.

"I hated those types of players. In the last guild, I made it a sorta mission to force them into more active roles. Mirackle found it hilarious during raids when I'd get behind the force from the guild and stab people until they all got involved."

"Well, by that point you were already stronger then they were just from BEING near us for the time you were."

She smiled fondly now.

"You're not wrong. I would often times find myself asking just how would you handle a problem I was currently struggling with. Every time I used what I thought you'd do, it'd both work and the problem wouldn't pop back up again."

He patted her arm affectionately.

"See? You had strength already."

she gave him a soft hug as Sakura had fallen asleep in his arm.

"Thanks for coming like you did."

"Sure, Asuna."

She settled a little closer to him and rested on a ledge.

"So, how are we playing the floors above us?"

"We'll use another method I had for exploration."

"Okay."

"It's simple enough. Move like you expect every step to be a land mine."

She smiled as she stretched in the soothingly hot water.

"Monsters? Oh that felt good!"

"One hit insta kills."

"Sounds intense. Loot?"

He smiled eagerly.

"That will be more fun then a pain in the ass. As the main reason I know everything about the items we have is I'd load up on as many as I could get and just experiment with them until I ran out of mats or uses."

Asuna smiled teasingly now.

"Oh, are YOU saying you'll WASTE materials?"

He flicked water at her.

"How else am I going to make that look half way decent?"

She glared at him now.

"Make WHAT look halfway decent?"

"YOU. You think you know looks? Pff, everything you have looks like shit compared to the things on the upper floors."

She was still glaring at him.

"Are you saying I don't look good?"

"I'm saying what you have doesn't do you justice."

She blushed a little now.

"Okay, I think you're complementing me."

He chuckled.

"Well, I ain't insulting ya for once."

She sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Why can't you just call me beautiful and be done with it?"

"Why do you girls like to play mind games?"

She glared at him indignantly now.

"I don't PLAY games thank you very much. I happen to SAY what I like point blank."

"Really? Nifty."

His unbelieving demeanor just serving to infuriate Asuna that much more. She was about to say so, when Sakura yawned.

"Asuna being weird again big brother?"

"Nah. Just fun. Go back to sleep."

"M'kay."

She rested her pink head back down and was out again as Asuna just glared at him.

"Prick."

"Love you too."

"Eep!"

"Cute."

Her face went blood red again and Tyler chuckled quietly. He sighed then and rested his head back.

"Well, we'll be fine on the upper floors. Our friends will be as well."

She let her embarrassment go.

"Yeah. Kirito is a lot like you, so he'll be fine."

"Even if he's a 'beater'."

She snorted.

"I picked up on it when he claimed it, but didn't have the heart to point it out. Surprised you didn't."

"I wanted to. But, things happened kinda fast."

She rubbed some of the water into her arm.

"I hear that. No sooner then the battle ends, that Dybbuk prick starts bitching."

"I hate people like him with a passion. He die yet?"

"I heard he joined the Holy Dragon Alliance, and was a high ranker."

"Wow. Kinda amazed he ain't bit it yet."

Asuna sighed again.

"From what I heard, everyone hates him. He holds the rank of Dragon, which in their guild is like a captain, yet doesn't really DO anything. He makes a lot of noise and steals the credit for kills and levels from those under him."

"We'll make him look stupid soon enough."

"Again you mean."

"Oh hell yeah. Hey, how's the durability on your Rapier?"

She pulled her blade out.

"still good. Haven't even dropped by ten yet."

"Really? Not bad Spitfire."

She looked at him with an unreadable expression.

"That's what? My new nickname?"

"Well, Sakura calls you Assy."

She put her weapon up.

"I let her do it cause she's cute."

"Very cute."

Sakura squeaked, and blushed as she gave herself away. The two older players laughed.

"Just not really sneaky."

"Right? She's too cute for sneaking."

Poor Sakura had steam coming off her. The two let her off the hook as Tyler pulled the turtle drops up.

"Looking for the meat?"

"Yeah. Seeing if it can be….hello?"

The two girls looked at him concerned.

"Problem?"

"What she said?"

"The turtle meat got dropped from S-class to b-class food. I guess that means them things are more common then the beta."

Asuna and Sakura groaned.

"That sucks!"

"I got excited!"

"I did too dammit. That thing's meat is now equal to say that dragon we killed back on 6. Tasty as it was."

The girls sighed with disappointment.

"Bastards."

"Agreed."

Tyler closed his UI.

"Well, we're set on food. That's a plus."

The girls settled back down as Sakura looked up at him.

"Are you okay? About Yuka?"

He patted his affectionate sister's pink hair.

"I am Sakura. Yuka woulda died in that battle, or Asuna woulda stabbed her for runnin her mouth."

She looked at him.

"Why ME?"

"Yuka has a nasty habit of....not seeing the line. Let me put it to you like this: Have I ever once thrown your weakness to stand up to your mother in your face in a hurtful manner?"

Asuna thought it over.

"No. You haven't. You were a dick about it, but you never threw it in my face."

"Yuka would. If she got worked up enough, she would. Plus, she'd challenge us on everything we chose to do for explanations, reasons for those explanations, and would just make life miserable."

Sakura sighed.

"She WAS pretty."

Asuna grumbled.

"I'll admit that. She was very pretty."

"I'm more miffed we lost out on a sword/shield combo."

Asuna looked at him a little hurt.

"Are you saying you don't care how we look? So long as we're useful?"

Tyler frowned.

"Well, yeah kinda. Looking good is secondary to kicking ass in here. Even if those doing the asskickin look good to begin with."

Asuna smiled then, and so did Sakura.

"Gore doesn't like to just come out and say it Assy."

"I'm getting that impression, Sakura. Think he's shy?"

"Look at his LAST girl!"

"Fair point. But hey, least we got the time to work on him, right?"

"Yup!"

"Why the hell do I suddenly feel like a damaged car?"

Sakura smiled as she patted his head like a dog.

"I dunno, maybe cause you drive us up the freakin wall?"

"I was gonna say insane but that too."

"Umm, If I remember right, that turtle's cooldown for a normal reattack is-"

"Okay! Sorry!"

"Wow, Tyler. Take a joke already."

"I look at YOU every day Asuna. So, I CAN take a joke."

He said it with a teasing tone, but it was NOT taken as a tease as Asuna got up and left the hot spring with Sakura right behind her.

"Bad joke, Tyler. Asshole."

Tyler just slammed his head into the wall in a self deprecating rage. Nice one jackass. He sighed and got out as well, and used another exit to go sit alone to give her a little room before he apologized. He found a spot where the water was still and he sat down to just look at himself. Been awhile since I actually felt BAD for anything really. He sighed as he listened to the drip drop of the cave. He felt like shit for once, and it was bothering him. What the hell? Since when did I start to care what others thought of the things I said? I have gone soft. He laid on his back and just stared at the ceiling. As he did, he spotted a rare vein of Water steel. Used to make blue weaponry and added water status affects. Score! HE got up and mined it before sitting back down.

"Wow. You really DON'T care do you?"

He looked over to see Asuna looking at him with a MORE hurt expression. He sighed.

"Having something to keep my hands busy helps me think."

"Pff, whatever. You and I both know that's half the truth."

He just looked at her.

"And do you WANT me to just say I got it cause it's useful? Or, we need it?"

She had tears in her red eyes.

"I want some damned respect. That was just mean. Joke or not, I stand up for you to others and yet you crack a joke like that? AFTER saying you have a line? If that's not your line, what IS?"

He just sighed again.

"I don't use things from your past to HURT you."

"Bullshit you don't. You'd use it if you thought it'd keep Sakura alive. Right/"

"Okay, Asuna. Yes I would. There, what else do you want to hear?"

She just looked at him as the tears fell from her eyes.

"Do I mean nothing to you? Even after traveling with you?"

"Nothing? No. You DO mean something to mem, Asuna."

"WHAT?"

He pulled his knees into a ball as he looked into the water.

"I am not exactly sure. Odd as it may seem. You mean a helluva lot to me, yet just what that actually is? No clue."

"How can you say that so calmly? I mean a lot to you, but you don't know what? That's an answer a grade schooler gives to his crush! Are YOU such a child to not know your own heart?"

"Asuna, you DO remember I was shipped halfway around the world by my family just so they wouldn't have to look at me, right? I don't really talk about it much, but, I had never experienced love or affection or hell even tenderness. I fake 99% of the softer things I do with Sakura as THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I have no idea what Love is. Or even what caring is as you seem to understand it."

HE was now speaking in a sad tone as Asuna clenched her fists.

"Are you saying that makes it okay? To just bullshit your way through life without ANY genuine feelings?"

"It's either that, or feel nothing at all. When I say I'm dead inside, Asuna, I'm not kidding. Something died inside me years ago when, well...you don't want to know."

He shuddered as he remembered something, and Asuna was not letting it go.

"When WHAT? You preach to us all the damn time to CONFRONT our weakness. Are you saying YOU can't do it yourself?"

"Okay, Asuna. You really wanna know?"

She marched right over and sat across from him.

"I do dammit."

"My sister would lace my drinks with drugs and use toys and her body on me as I was loopy as all hell when I was younger. Sometimes, the boyfriends my mother had would join in. Plus, well, the other kids in my class would spike my lunches when I wasn't looking and then beat the shit out of the 'loopy' retard. THAT is the REAL reason I got sent to japan. I've tried to commit suicide 7 times now."

Asuna was gaping at him in horror as he spoke. He just looked at her.

"So, yeah. That's MY weakness."

He watched as her tears increased,

"I'm sorry."

HE sighed.

"And I'm sorry for a bad joke."

She leaned in and hugged him.

"I'm sorry I made you tell me."

He shrugged as he stroked her back.

"Eh. No biggee. You smell nice by the way."

She snorted.

"I'm falling apart at the seams for your past and NOW you try flattery?"

He smiled as she sat beside him.

"Better?"

She brushed her hair back.

"Just, answer one question."

"Okay. Stab."

"Cute. AM I a joke to you?"

"No. no you are not. I count on you a helluva lot more then you know. I may not know just what you are to me, beyond a friend, but you are not a joke."

She hugged him again.

"Thanks for that."

"Lady, what the hell kinda monster did you raise?"

Arthur and Kakashi were openly glaring at the large woman in her chair. She sighed.

"I had him at 18. Her a year later. The hell would you expect?"

Arthur just rubbed his red eyes, getting the tears out of them.

"That boy's strength is simply terrifying."

The yakuza boss was still glaring at the woman.

"I am now grateful he is no longer your son. Getting raised by monsters like you people? No wonder he kills so easily. He's got a monster inside him from that, I promise you."

The lady laughed an unpleasant laugh.

"yer right. He does have a dark side. And, if you value your life, DON'T set it off. As then he goes utterly berserk. Like you need a tanq rifle to drop him berserk. Or, just wait until his energy runs out."

Sakura's god parents gulped.

"Sakura is so attached to a boy like that?"

Kakashi rewound footage from an earlier recording to look in a reflection of Tyler's eyes. Son as he did, he sighed.

"I see it now. Spend enough years in the underworld and you can read those with a Shadow. He's got one, but from the look of it, it's not as bad as we think."

Arthur looked to the screen and watched as Tyler, as an evil prank, pushed Asuna in the cold water as they walked back to the hot spring. Tyler was then running for his life as an enraged, smiling Asuna, chased him back to the hot spring with her Rapier out.

"You mean he's healing?"

Kakashi smiled.

"Healing is not the word. As his wounds all healed years ago. No, the scars are fading. And they're fading fast."