When a Monster Becomes a Demon chapter 7

TWO MONTHS LATER.

"Sakura! Nail it!"

"Got em! Pink punch!"

The 65 foot tall giant they were battling shattered as the trio landed another perfectly timed triple threat. Tyler and Asuna dropped to the floor of the dungeon they were raiding as Sakura rejoined them from her spot further back. They were still stuck on floor ten, as due to the size of the floor, it was like finding a needle in a haystack locating the boss. The majority of the active player base had moved onto floor ten, and the number had surprised the trio. A full 10000. Tyler had been mildly surprised, but it didn't really matter to the Demon as he had his sister and his...he still didn't have an answer there for Asuna's place in his heart. She was his best friend, but that title didn't do the spot he had for her justice. Their gear was still the same, as Tyler kept upgrading it, with the exceptions of his red coat, Sakura's beloved wolf fur scarf, and Asuna's Rapier, as they were upgraded to their max. They were three weeks from civilization and three days from sunlight in their current dive. The dungeon being a secret one they'd found while poking around some ancient ruins to the west of the cave they'd stayed in.

"Good kill girls. Pop em."

They snorted as they drank restore potions as they recovered. Tyler pulled the UI up for drops.

"Okay. Cave giant. Mismatched as hell but whatever. We got 25,000 exp, two toes, 4500 droy, and four high health potions. Decent."

He closed the UI and looked ahead.

"Any ore in the walls?"

The flaming red head Asuna looked around.

"There's an iron vein there, just low tier though."

"Exp and droy."

Sakura pulled her pickaxe and collected the ore as Tyler scrolled through their mass of mats.

"Getting a little full?"

"Not really. Most of this is useful to some capacity. We DO need to empty our junk tab though. We're at the million item mark again."

Asuna flipped her long hair.

"No biggee really. We don't have a carrying capacity in SaS."

HE smiled reflexively, as after their chat in the cave, they'd become friendlier towards each other, and she'd started using some of his phrases.

"I got the iron. Scored a sapphire as well."

Tyler smiled at his little sister.

"Nice Sakura. Okay, let's keep moving."

They moved on as they explored the dungeon. Tyler in the front with his blade and experience, Asuna behind him with her rapier and speed, Sakura in the rear with her bow. They walked along the ten foot wide passage, seeking anything useful or interesting.

"Hey, Tyler. What's this?"

He looked to see Asuna looking at a rather smooth, shiny bit of stone in the wall. He frowned.

"No clue."

HE walked over and tapped a knuckle on it,

"It sounds like glass."

Sakura stood watch as he pulled his pickaxe.

"I'll see if I can mine it. Watch for traps."

The girls nodded as he hit the odd stone. HE got a ping and it was added to his inven, revealing a small chamber twenty feet wide and ten feet high with a chest in a ray of light.

"Oh that's it?"

The girls sighed as they walked in. They popped buff potions as he threw the lid. There was a small bit of fanfare as they were each awarded 50,000 exp, 150,000 droy, a mirror, and a map. Tyler frowned.

"A treasure chest?"

He looked at the exit and sighed.

"Fuck it. Let's play it."

They walked through the hole and nothing. No monsters, traps, or surprises. That made the red clad boy burst out laughing.

"I'm MORE nervous now!"

Asuna and Sakura nodded.

"It's scary when it's that easy."

"What she said. What about that map?"

Tyler pulled it out and opened it.

"We got a treasure map."

The two girls looked at the image.

"I know that spot."

"Yeah, it's by the small cave we dumped Yuka in."

"Well, let's clear the cave here first before we go claim our prize."

The girls smiled.

"Wanna make a bet?"

"Oh you are SO on."

"Chest is rigged."

"Ohh, you're good Asuna. Okay, I'll say it's NOT rigged."

"If I win, hmm."

She looked at him as she considered it. Sakura giggled.

"If YOU win Asuna, HE has to take YOU on a date!"

"HUH?"

"HUH!?"

Both or them just looked at Sakura as she smiled sweetly. The red head was now blushing hard as she looked at him.

"That....could work."

Tyler rubbed his head.

"I guess. But what about Sakura? We can't leave her alone."

The pink haired girl smiled knowingly.

"The hut in Briyack is safe enough! I'll stay there as you two go on your date."

Tyler looked at Asuna.

"I guess that works."

She lowered her gaze shyly.

"If I win, you'll take me out on a date."

"And if I win?"

Sakura giggled.

"I go spend the day with Gabol in his restaurant and YOU two have a stay date in the Hut!"

They looked at her.

"You're really pushing this date thing, Sakura."

"How long have you been practicing this pitch?"

She giggled.

"SOMEONE needs to give the push!"

Tyler just looked at Asuna.

"Well, are YOU okay with this?"

She smiled.

"I am. It'd be nice to have some non-death-game related fun every now and then. Are YOU okay with it?"

"I don't mind taking you out. Even if I still can't truly answer that question yet."

Sakura squealed.

"Then it's a bet!"

Tyler and Asuna shrugged.

"I guess it is."

They got back to clearing the cave as they forced their emotions aside to focus. The trio left the cave behind them stripped to the stone as they went. Tyler had his music going and they would chat or crack jokes or just let their minds wander.

"Hey, what did Lorg's last update say?"

"I guess the town of beginnings had a mini riot the other day."

"Why?"

"She said the Town Guard guild that popped up was bullying the children that got trapped in here. And, another guild had an issue with it."

"Idiots. Hey. Got some emeralds."

"Nice Asuna. Hey, if you want I can set you up as a Christmas pun."

"Fuck off."

"Asuna the red eyed ginger."

"Keep talking and you'll know what a Rapier tastes like."

"Hey, any word on Yuka?"

"Sakura to the rescue."

"Not really. I guess she made it back to town, but she hasn't really popped up."

Sakura sighed.

"I'm still a little sad."

That got her a hug from Tyler and Asuna.

"Better?"

"Yup!"

They moved on as Tyler changed songs.

"hey, I love this song!"

Tyler smiled as Asuna's secret otaku came out.

"Hey, Asuna, I got a question for ya."

"Oh shit here we go."

"ARE you an Otaku?"

She blushed, and looked down as she mined some ore.

"I am. I had to hide it because of my mother."

"Well that sucks. What was your genre?"

She blushed harder and was really embarrassed.

"Slice of Life."

"Like Lucky Star, K-on and After School Dice Club?"

She looked at him as he swung his own pickaxe.

"I am amazed you know them."

"I got something her ya."

HE used a free hand to open his Music and scrolled.

"Where are ye? Ah. Gotchya."

He hit play and a song played. Asuna gasped.

"Fuwa Fuwa time?"

"The Yui Hirasawa version."

She just laughed.

"wow, Tyler. I'd had you pegged for DxD, Berserk, Hellsing, and the ones like that."

"I've got DXD on blue ray, seen Berserk and Hellsing ultimate. I'm impressed you know the last two. But, when I just want to relax and unwind, Slice of Life is the one I go to."

"I am learning so much about you. Okay, test time."

"Oh your on."

"Akeno or Asia?"

"Bitch! Asia!"

"You just like the nun bit."

"Gotta love a sweet blonde. Okay. Revy or Mikasa."

"Damn dude. Good one."

She cleaned the ore as she considered it.

"I gotta go with Mikasa."

"I took Revy."

"Can we agree Rock sucks?"

"I would KILL him. Seriously, I hated him most."

"Those twins were heart breaking."

"They were. Okay. I got another."

"Shoot."

"Cute. Shalltear Bloodfallen, or Yue?"

"off, damn you ask the hard ones."

Tyler smiled as they headed off further down the passage.

"I gotta go with Yue. The Golden Vampire Princess is just adorable."

"Okay. Who do you hate more for this one."

"Should be interesting."

"Emyia from fate stay night, or Hiro?"

"Hiro. Hands down Hiro. Fuckin HATED him."

Asuna smiled.

"Okay, why do you hate him that much?"

He growled.

"That bastard abandoned Zerotwo TWICE. Plus was just so damn wishy-washy."

Asuna sighed.

"I see your issue. Okay, most loved for this one."

"Oh damn."

"Rias Gremory or Zerotwo?"

"I am a pawn in the service the Noble House of Gremory. Rias is my King."

"Damn dude. Waifu much?"

"I friggin love Rias. Hate Issei though."

They moved along at a easy pace as Sakura hummed along to his music as they talked.

"It because of the pervert thing?"

"More he fucked up at times that is just not an option."

"Okay, I see your point."

Sakura giggled.

"Gore's a pervert too!"

Tyler just looked at her.

"Guess she just volunteered for first watch tonight."

Asuna nodded as she followed the red clad demon.

"Yup. We get a good night's sleep."

"Hey!"

Tyler and Asuna smiled as Sakura bawled. They moved along the cave collecting everything and anything that was collectable.

"Hey, got some iron."

"Nice. Woah. Got a diamond off this coal vein."

"Hey, I got one."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"Best goddess. Holo or Hestia."

Tyler frowned hard as he dug a vein of crystallite iron from the wall.

"Shit, Asuna, that hurts. But, I gotta go with Holo the Wise Wolf."

The red head smiled.

"I got a few good ones too."

"I can see that. Okay. Best intro song."

"Got some rose gold!"

"Wow, Sakura that's rare."

"Intro song? Sounds intense."

"Fairytail's first intro or DxD's first intro."

"Jesus dude. I loved both of them."

They headed along then cave as a 8 foot skeleton with an axe and shield appeared ahead. Tyler sighed.

"I got em."

The girls kept mining as he ran at the thing. Tyler slid under the axe as the monster swung it's axe in an upward arc, and he used a skill to sever it's leg.

"Dragon slide."

He was up as the beast fell and stabbed it in the skull, splitting it entirely. It shattered and he got 1500 droy, 2500 exp, a skeleton bone, and a lich heart. He shrugged.

"eh. Lame."

Asuna came over as they kept moving.

"I gotta say DxD for the win. I friggin loved that riff."

"Wow, Asuna. You ARE an Otaku. Weekends are gonna be fun."

She smiled as Sakura giggled.

"Don't say it Sakura."

"Eep!"

Asuna was looking at the red faced girl.

"What was she gonna say?"

"Some kinda bed joke."

The red head blushed now herself. Tyler looked ahead.

"Heads up Ladies. We got light."

The moved towards the light cautiously, and when they looked out Tyler whistled.

"Nice spit out point."

The cave opened up onto a stone bridge that spanned a fifty foot gap with a drop the trio could not see the bottom to. Tyler looked to the sky and saw they were still underground.

"Pop speed potions, ladies."

They nodded and popped their highest tier speed potions before Tyler looked to the other side.

"Okay, on three. 1….2.....3….GO!"

They tore forward as fast as they could as the bridge was a most obvious deathtrap. As they neared the middle of the span it rumbled as the part behind them started to crumble. Tyler swept Sakura up into his arms and Asuna as well as he was both the fastest and the strongest. HE then pushed even faster as the collapse chased them. Tyler launched off the stone underfoot as it gave way and soared into the cave on the other side a good ten feet. He was still breathing lightly as he set the girls down.

"We good?"

They nodded.

"Yeah."

"Thanks for that. The hell kinda trap is that?"

"A speed challenge. I got 10,000 droy for it. Plus my speed went up 2 levels."

Asuna smiled as they got back to strip mining.

"Musta been nice for you, carrying two girls in your arms like that."

Tyler smirked.

"I guess. Too bad I was in too much of a hurry to really enjoy it."

Sakura giggled as Asuna blushed.

"Still a prude!"

"Yup."

"You talking an awful lotta shit for a guy with a thousand foot drop behind em."

"Another swear? Making progress Sakura, making progress."

Asuna just groaned in defeat as the industrious trio strip mined the cave. They spent another three days in the cave cleaning house until they hit a wall. Tyler was walking forward and they found a dead end in the cave. Asuna was a little miffed.

"Don't TELL me we have to walk all the way back now?"

Sakura sighed.

"It happens sometimes, Assy. Once we spent a week straight exploring a cave, hit a wall and had to walk back to the entrance."

Tyler smiled.

"That sucked. Luckily this is not one of those times."

HE walked to the center of the wall and tapped a knuckle. The party was then teleported to the cave entrance. Tyler smiled as they stood outside the crack in the ground they'd explored.

"Those kinds of cave are just trolls. There's not as common as you'd think as the devs made them to just fuck with the no lifers. One cave I found took two weeks to fully explore, and when you reached the end wall and touched it, you got the fanfare of a completed challenge. Only thing was when the UI screen popped up it said you need to get a life."

The girls burst out laughing.

"That's priceless!"

"That freakin mean, but hilarious."

Tyler smiled as he pulled the treasure map out.

"So, wanna go get the bet on?"

Sakura was wrapped in smiles as Asuna nodded nervously.

"Yeah."

Tyler looked at the map sphere.

"we can either teleport there or run. Fuck it."

He pulled his crystal and the girls smiled as they pulled theirs.

"Teleport: Trest."

The named town was an hours run from the spot they kicked Yuka from the tent, and was the main hub city for the floor. They had their cloaks on as they landed and took off running as they had no desire to deal with people. Tyler led the party to the cave and they went about their search.

"Okay, the spot is a small circle of rocks with a tree in the center."

The girls nodded and they walked the area. It did not take long.

"Hey, Gore. There it is."

Sakura pointed to a tree in a rock circle. The drew weapons as they approached the thing and Tyler spotted a small X in the dirt.

"Guards up."

HE used a shovel to dig in the dirt as the girls stood watch. He dug out a chest and there was a minor bit of fireworks as he got it with a screen that said congrats. Ever the cautious one, he swapped for his sword before kicking the thing open. They got 150,000 droy, 250,000 exp, 2 mirrors, a mass of potions, another map, and their perception skill shot up by 5 levels. Tyler and the girls were on guard until the chest disappeared, then they just looked at each other.

"Why the hell is it MORE terrifying when nothing happens?"

Tyler just shrugged.

"I guess we're just used to bullshit fuckery?"

Asuna smiled.

"I won the bet."

Sakura giggled.

"So YOU have a stay date in the Hut as I hang out with Gabol!"

Tyler and Asuna looked at each other.

"If you want out just say so, no hard or hurt feelings."

She blushed a little.

"No, I'm in. Just, outta left field ya know?"

"I'm in the same boat. Well, wanna try it?"

She smiled now.

"Sure. Worst case we get to relax as Sakura drives Gabol up the freakin wall."

That got a laugh as they pulled crystals.

"Teleport: Briyack"

They arrived in their cloaks and headed for the restaurant. As they went, Asuna had a thought.

"Hey, Gore? I just thought of something."

"Oh shit here we go."

"Prick. You killed Sakura's family in a restaurant inside a town, right? I thought we can't kill another player in a town?"

"Since the place was player owned, they were vulnerable to say a robbery. So, since murders happen in robberies it bypassed the no kill rule."

"An exploit?"

"More loophole. Problem is it's an integral part of SaS, so it can't be altered."

"So, if we go into a player-owned store?"

"You need to treat it like the wilds as players can kill in them. No one outside the beta knew this, but I guarantee it's common knowledge now."

She sighed as they walked in.

"I hate people."

"I hate them too."

"Me three!"

They patted Sakura's hair as they walked in to Gabol's place. They spotted the 7 foot black man by the counter Tyler had thrown Sakura's father into and headed over. The place was packed with players and the sight of three cloaked figures just walking into the place like they owned it put them all on edge. Gabol looked over at the approaching steps and was seen to go a little pale, as he knew those builds.

"If yer quite done scarin my customers, Gore."

Tyler smiled from within his hood.

"We all know that face is scarier an us."

The trio dropped their hoods as Sakura giggled.

"Gaby!"

The big man got a hug off Sakura as Tyler sighed.

"Need a favor Gabol."

He was instantly on edge as if the DEMON needed a face to face favor, it could only be trouble.

"This oughta be good."

"Sakura's been wanting to spend some time hangin with you for some freakin reason, so, might helpin her out?"

Gabol blinked as Sakura giggled.

"Yay! Gaby!"

The man was more then a little terrified of spending time alone with the Demon's precious little sister, for if she got so much as a scratch he'd die screaming. So, he tried the service route.

"Well if that's all it is, why don't the three of you take a table? Food's good!"

"Thanks, but me and Asuna wanna relax a bit in the hut. Sakura here won't let it go though."

The older man got it then. Now I've seen everything! The Demon's got a date! Good for him. He smiled, betraying nothing.

"Well, alright then. Oh, and she's safe in here since I bought the safezone part."

"Well, Sakura can handle herself till I come raise hell. Have fun Sakura. Just, go easy on his sanity."

She giggled as the duo walked out amid a flurry of whispered conversations from the other players.

"Did I miss something or did The Demon just say he's got a date?"

"Him? No way!"

"Did he seriously leave Sakura ALONE?"

Gabol looked at the grinning in victory Sakura.

"So princess, how bad is it?"

She sighed.

"Idiots. They're both a pair of idiots."

He laughed.

"I see it was YOUR idea then."

Tyler and Asuna headed for the general store to unload their junk on the terrified shopkeep, netting them 120 million droy, and headed for the hut at the end of the pier. The duo quiet as they walked in and swapped to their swimsuits as the house rule. Then they just looked at each other awkwardly.

"Sooo, now what?"

Asuna had a light blush as she looked at the couch.

"We can watch some shows on the screen?"

"I guess."

They got on the couch and sat apart as Tyler used the feature to throw shows up on the big screen in the living room. Asuna awkwardly playing with her red hair as she looked at the kitchen.

"I'll go make us some snacks."

"I'll get the show set up. Anything in particular you wanna watch?"

She thought for a moment.

"Do…you have high school of the dead?"

"Oh hell yeah."

She went into the kitchen, clad in her flaming bikini as he set the ecchi show up. Wow this is awkward as all hell. Asuna seems out of her element and I'm on pins and fuckin needles as well! Just hope it don't end badly. Asuna looked through her inven and smiled as she saw she had all the ingredients for pizza, chicken tenders, their beloved ketchup, fries, and...wine as well. Damn you Sakura! I'm on edge as hell, he's on edge, and you get to have fun! I will get you for this! Wine? She looked at the boy now setting the screen up. Probably NOT a good idea on a first date. She set the food using the interface and rejoined him.

"It'll be a few minutes."

He nodded as he held the mini UI up to the screen.

"I got it the thing ready. Wanna wait for the food or?"

She sat on the couch and got comfy.

"We got time for the first episode."

He hit play and they tried to relax as they watched the adventure of a group of students as their world went straight to hell in a bus."

Tyler and Asuna were a good three feet apart as they watched the blood.

"Takashi kinda reminds me of you Tyler."

"Ya think?"

She smiled as she played with her hair.

"Well, he has his way of doing things, and don't really hesitate to get blood on his hands."

"I was thinking I was more like Psycho. Tough, knows she's a monster and thrives on that knowledge, plus does not hesitate to kill."

Asuna sighed.

"I see it now. Takashi DOES hesitate a lot. First time in the blood notwithstanding."

"Yeah. You remind me of Rei."

She smiled at that one.

"Aww, thanks! She was my favorite in the show."

"Even if in the show you'd wind up being Mine and I'd be that guy with the nail gun."

She snorted.

"A prissy bitch that thinks she superior? You being the nail gun guy I can see, but I'd be more Rei."

"If you say so. Way, that reminds me."

"Oh shit here we go."

"Your Rapier skills, were you taught IRL?"

She sighed as she leaned into the couch.

"I was. And hated it. My mother wanted me to be a fit, perfect model for her so she would force me into different sports. She had me take fencing for two semesters even though I was horrible at it. She just didn't hear the school officials or me when we said I'd fail. When I did fail the class, she went ballistic on me saying I was ruining my life for not listening to her, how could I be such an ungrateful daughter when she does so much for me, how could I fail such an easy course yatta yatta you get the idea."

"That sucks. It stop?"

"Not really. She just made me take volleyball."

"Explains the whacking thing."

She wacked him.

"Idiot, you deserve it!"

HE chuckled.

"Wow, you must have a killer spike."

Asuna snorted.

"Prick, I was the BEST spike!"

"Pretending to slap the taste out of your mother helped right?"

She smiled wickedly.

"Oh you have NO idea."

The timer beeped and she got their food as he sett he next episode. They munched on pizza and tenders as the blood and boobs increased. Asuna had a thought.

"Hey, where did you learn your sword skills?"

"Well, Larping."

She just looked at him.

"You larp?"

He sighed.

"Used to. Before I was sent to japan, it was a means of escape for me. Then I came here and was able to get my Otaku on."

She smiled.

"That makes sense."

She yawned as they finished the last episode. HE looked at her.

"Wanna rest a bit?"

She nodded.

"Yeah, I go crash in the fish room."

"Kay. If Submarine pays a visit, smack em for me."

She smiled as she went down. He swung up as she shut down the screen and sighed. Date huh? More just hanging out. Closed his eyes and drifted off.

He woke up to a message.

get here now, Sakura's in trouble.

He was up and geared in a split second!

"Asuna! Sakura's in trouble!"

She was a stream of fire as they tore out the door after popping high level speed potions as they rocketed to Gabol's place. They botted the door in to see Gabol on the floor and the place tore up.

"Where is she?"

"Laughing Coffin. They're headed for the hub."

They left him there as they teleported to the hub. Tyler was enraged as they landed. HE used a feature for tracking a friend and they he saw her footprints. He was off like a thunderclap. Asuna barely able to keep up with the enraged Demon. The glowing tracks leading them to a small building on the outskirts and they could hear laughing as Sakura giggled.

"You idiots are dead!"

Tyler slammed into the door with s savage force and the wood simply exploded as they beheld the scene. Sakura hanging from chains with grooves from dagger cuts naked as they'd forced her hand in her UI. She was smiling as the ten men looked at the shattered door. Then Tyler was on them like a ravening wolf as Asuna walked over with a potion. Sakura shrugged as she was released.

"Idiots hit me with a sleep dart when I wasn't looking. My gear don't have sleep protection."

Her glowing grooves vanished as Tyler lifted the last survivor.

"Where is your HQ?"

The man spit on him.

"You can't make me talk."

"Yes. I CAN."

Tyler grabbed his hand and forced him to bring up his UI. He then went to settings for things like saving and audio. HE forced him to scroll to one setting: the pain absorber. Tyler set the level to zero and hit save before smiling.

"You're going to FEEL everything now."

Tyler dragged him to the chains and hung him up now as the man laughed.

"You really think you can break me? I was a POW in the war!"

Tyler just smiled.

"I'm gonna ENJOY this!"

He pulled a small acid from his inven and dipped a dagger in as the man laughed.

"Amateur."

Tyler then walked behind the man and just laughed. The man couldn't see him now as Tyler shoved the dagger blade up his ass with the acid and with a sadistic smile began to move it in and out as he screamed in absolute agony.

"Come on tough guy. That it? That's all you got?"

The man was sobbing from the pain from his rear, something no torturer he had encountered had thought of.

"Just stop! I'll talk! Please!"

"HQ."

"Floor 5. Here, I'll show you!"

The man dropped a marker on the swamp. Tyler smiled wickedly.

"I know that place."

He then went right back to stabbing him. The man screamed for hours before his health bar depleted and he shattered as well. Tyler laughed as he looked at the two trembling girls.

"Go back to the hut. I'll be BACK."

Tyler's face was contorted in such a sadistic smile that the two girls were terrified, but Asuna plucked courage.

"Toss me two mirrors please."

He tossed them as he walked out and jumped. Asuna and Sakura walked out and sprinted for the hut, Sakura back in her Cutie in Pink outfit.

"What was that, Sakura? I've never seen Tyler so….evil before."

The pink haired girl shuddered.

"I haven't either Asuna. I have no idea what just happened."

Asuna was covered in a cold sweat, for if SAKURA did know then there was only ONE person that would. They ran inside and swapped to swimsuits as force of habit and threw the comms mirror up. Then they were looking into the room as the families were looking to his mother for an explanation. Asuna spoke first.

"What the hell was that?"

Tyler's mother sighed.

"That Asuna, was his Shadow. Or, what happens when he snaps. You remember his story, right?"

The red head was shaking.

"That REALLY happened to him? I thought he was exaggerating!"

Sakura sighed.

"Tyler does not exaggerate."

His mother sighed again.

"If anything, Asuna? That wasn't even HALF of what he suffered. His sister, my boyfriends, bullies, and the places they sent him for his snaps. He's been tortured for years before I sent him to japan. No matter how he may seem to you, he is truly dead inside. With a most sadistic dark side that will skin you alive with that smile."

Arthur looked at the comatose body of the boy beside his daughter.

"if that is what he harbors, I need to get Asuna away from him."

Kakashi sighed now.

"Arthur, Tyler will do it himself."

They looked at him in shock.

"What do you mean?"

The yakuza boss looked to the other screen that had Tyler's viewpoint and watched as he attacked the Laughing Coffin guild alone.

"I mean, once this rage subsides, he'll most likely vanish into the depths of the game over the guilt of letting them se it period."

Sakura dropped lifelessly to the floor in horror.

"He'll…..leave me?"

Her happy chirp of a voice was utterly dead and small now. The man looked at Sakura sadly.

"I'm afraid so, child. It escaped here once, and we had to use a stun gun on him before he skinned a man alive for stabbing Yuka with a small pen knife. That was the last time we saw him in our restaurant. I myself went to his apartment and he wouldn't even open the door to look at me. We had to talk like that, and he said he was sorry we had to see that, and he didn't blame me for being scared of him. That was the last time we stood face to face and when I told him if he needs a favor to call. Yuta would see him in class, and he said that Tyler had all but died. He had no spark in his eyes, no real life to him period. He was just there tearing himself apart for, in his mind, ruining a truly good thing because of his own evil. He took a video of him once and it was just heartbreakingly sad. Tyler had gone from a snarky, infuriatingly cheery boy to mere lifeless zombie just looking to get through the day and go home."

Sakura had tears welling up as Asuna hugged her.

"He won't leave you, Sakura! He won't!"

She looked at her and hugged her tightly.

The man sighed as he looked back at the screen.

"Well, he's got the last man. Let's see what he does."

Tyler had torn the guild headquarters of Laughing Coffin apart in a rage filled fury. Now, he had the leader under his knife as he made him scream. Good thing the girls aren't here for this. Tyler tortured him until he shattered and sighed.

"Well, the trash was taken out. Now what?"

the girls are going to be TERRIFIED of me now. Asuna will never trust me again and Sakura will just see me as a monster. Maybe. Maybe it's time to wake up. He sighed sadly as he pulled out his crystal. all I wanted was to protect them. Yet, I can't protect them from myself. Yuka was right. I AM just a toxic monster. And monsters DON'T deserve a happy ending. HE had tears in his eyes as he lifted the thing up. As he was about to jump to the tenth floor again, he remembered Sakura's plea.

"PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE ANYMORE!"

He smiled.

"Okay, Sakura."

He jumped back to Briyack. He landed and walked to the hut with his cloak on and hood up as he walked with his head down. The hell am I doing? You KNOW they'll never trust you again! Hell, they'll never even LIKE you now. You're a monster that masquerades as a man, remember? The demon, the creature that gives monsters and players nightmares. Why the hell WOULD they want to be near you? He put his hand on the door handle, and hesitated. You open that door, all you can expect, is just unnecessary pain. Not for your worthless hide. But THEM. Can you REALLY handle hurting Sakura like that? He sighed, and it sounded like a sob. I can't do that to her. Not when she has Asuna to look after her better then I could. He let the handle go and turned to walk away. Inside the room, Sakura and Asuna could hear the footsteps approaching the door, and stop at the door. Asuna had a hand on her back,

"Trust him Sakura. He'll come in. HE won't abandon us."

Sakura was holding the scarf he'd made her like a rosery as she placed her faith in her brother. They heard the steps stop outside the door, and a hand place itself on the handle. Then nothing. Asuna was ranting at herself. Don't you do this to her, Tyler. Not when she's put her faith in you! Please, don't break what's left of her heart! The minutes of silence passed, and Asuna was starting to shake as Sakura was heard to start to faintly cry. Then they heard the sound of the handle being released and the steps start to recede back down the dock. Asuna collapsed as Sakura's pink eyes went wide in horror as she heard them stop again. Asuna looked up at the sound of the steps stopping again.

"Look asshole, if yer going to leave then just leave."

Her voice was dead and full of hate as Sakura's small hands gripped the scarf with white knuckles.

Tyler sighed as he turned to walk away. There. You can't hurt them anymore. Asuna is just the better person. He was walking away from the door. At least they're safe from you. You're better off alone anyway. Not like they were useful. He was maybe halfway down the pier. It was fun while it lasted. But we both know you're not deserving of happiness. Sakura will be safer and happier without a monster like you in her life. Asuna saw right through you when you met. He sighed. I just wish I could just ONCE not be as alone. HE then remembered another moment of Sakura.

"If you don't want me, then I should just die as I have no one else."

HE stopped dead and looked back at the cabin. She really has no one else. Asuna will do what she can, but. It's Asuna, she'll be fine. Tyler clenched his fists as he looked back. Make a fucking decision already. This were a fight you'd be dead by now! Are you going to ABANDON Sakura like everyone else? Or?

HE made a choice.

Asuna and Sakura were listening for the steps to pick back up, but they heard nothing as the minutes wore on. Then Asuna just sighed.

"Bastard jumped."

She just wrapped Sakura in her arms as the girl went limp.

"No. Brother. Please don't leave me too."

Her voice broke as she started sobbing heartbrokenly. Asuna held her tight as her hero left her too.

"I will never forgive you for this Tyler"

The two swayed back and forth when the door opened. They looked over and saw a sad faced Tyler just walk in with his head low. He shut the thing and was in his trunks as he walked over and sat on the couch. As far away from them as he could get. The girls looked at him as he sighed.

"I'm sorry."

HE sounded like he'd been crying as well. Hard. For his usually, strong, hard voice was a mere whisper packed with pain. Sakura looked at him with fury.

"You LEFT me!"

HE looked at her.

"I'm not as strong as you thought I was. I nearly gave up out there."

Sakura took the scarf off and threw it at him.

"Why should I listen to you? You walked way just like everyone else! I hate you!"

He took the scarf and sighed as he looked into her blue eyes.

"I walked away, but only got to halfway done the pier. Then, look, I'm sorry, Sakura. My heart shattered again, I have no idea what the hell to say, I fucked up AGAIN, you were nearly killed, Asuna here hates me, and I hate myself more."

He broke. Like full sobbing meltdown. The two girls were shocked by the sight of the strongest person they knew just buckle. They watched as he held the scarf and looked at the with tears in his brown eyes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't have the strength to just walk in. I'm sorry you got hurt Sakura. I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry I walked away."

he was heart broken as well, and Sakura couldn't take it anymore. She got out of Asuna's nerveless grip and hugged the boy.

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have let you stand out there alone."

HE hugged her tightly as he dared. And he regained control of himself.

"I don't want to be alone anymore, Sakura."

She hugged him the tighter.

"We not, brother. We have each other."

HE put the scarf back on her.

"Here, this looks better on you."

She smiled as he then looked to a still silent Asuna.

"I'm sorry Asuna."

She had tears of her own.

"I am too. You walked away. You abandoned us. You abandoned ME."

Tyler held Sakura, and she could feel his shaking. The beautiful red head sighed then.

"Yet. You didn't leave. You came back. So. If Sakura forgives you, I can too."

Sakura smiled.

"I forgive him, Asuna. HE's shaking like a leaf right now."

She took a deep breath and let it out.

"I forgive you too. Just do NOT do this again."

She hugged him as well.

"I won't."

The trio hugged hard before he cleaned himself up and looked at the screen.

"So. Been a while."

The girls sighed.

"Why did we keep him?"

"I forgot."

Kakashi sighed.

"It has been some time since that thing came out to play."

Tyler sighed himself.

"It didn't."

They looked at him in shock. He looked at Sakura.

"I did NOT lose it. That was me just BORROWING the evil. A mask, nothing more."

The pink haired girl gulped.

"You where in control when you did that to him?"

"Complete control. They made you hurt. So I hurt them more."

Tyler looked at Arthur now.

"My own weakness of heart aside, THAT is how far I am willing to go to protect them."

The red haired father to Asuna shuddered.

"That was truly horrific. I see why they call you Demon."

"This point just call me a Monster. A Demon protects those he cares for. A Monster just gets them hurt."

HE sighed as his fists went white. Kakashi rubbed his eyes.

"Now that's the same."

Asuna looked at the Yakuza boss.

"What is?"

"Tyler's locked himself in the torture chamber that is his mind. As much as it hurt the two of you to hear him walk away, it hurt him in a far worse manner. Like, nearly killing him to do it."

Sakura just looked at her brother.

"Why?"

HE looked at her.

"You nearly got killed over me Sakura. Hell, I was nearly certain you'd be terrified of me, Asuna would never be able to trust me again after seeing that. So, that combined with my own insecurities just turned my mind into a torture chamber. Then, a single thought came into my head."

She had huge blue eyes with tears as she asked.

"What was it?"

"If I open this door, I'd just cause you both more unnecessary pain. Could I really do that to you?"

She gasped as Asuna hung her head as Kakashi sighed. Then Asuna smacked him.

"Do you REALLY have THAT little faith in us?"

Sakura hugged him.

"You were already in the torture chamber and it was taking all your strength to even TOUCH that door. That just broke the camel's back."

Kakashi spoke up now.

"He does that. He has no weaknesses other than that mind. If he gets lost in it, it kills his spirit like he was shot in the head. In his mind, he's not the Demon or strong or even happy. In there, he's just a sad boy that has lost the ability to really feel anything for anyone other then negative emotions. A boy who just wishes to escape from the nonstop misery."

Asuna just looked at him.

"So all his lessons on strength, fighting your emotions, and standing on your own are lies?"

"No, miss. They are the lessons he wishes he himself had when he suffered. HE learned them the hard way. Then he was sent to live in solitude instead of any real help. He's reforged his ruined soul as best he could, but it will never be like ours is."

Tyler just shrugged.

"I've been dead inside for years now. I fake 90% of my emotions, I force myself to be nice, and I lost the ability to really care for another."

Sakura hugged him.

"I did too."

HE hugged her as Asuna hung her red haired head.

"You say I mean something to you. Yet you have no idea what that is. Was that a lie too?"

"As much as you don't want to hear this, Asuna: I don't know."

She looked at him with tears in her red eyes.

"Are you saying you're so dead you don't know what feelings are?"

"I am."

His voice was sad as he said this, and Asuna sniffed.

"Show me."

He looked at her.

"Huh?"

"Show me the true you! When you're not pretending to be human!"

Tyler sighed sadly.

"Alright."

he wiped his eyes and looked at Sakura.

"Mind getting off me?"

His voice was dead and lifeless as he spoke in a harsh snap that Sakura blinked at as she moved.

"Been a while since I've heard that tone."

"That a fact?"

His dismissal of her made Sakura smile a little as she looked at Asuna.

"That was what he was like when we met. Cold, harsh, and brutal."

The red head looked at him.

"How long we staying?"

"Well once you two crybabies are done with the damned waterworks we're leaving. I want you both to go up five levels by weeks end."

He had his UI up and was sifting again like they were not having a heart to heart. Asuna was stunned as Sakura nodded.

"Okay. I'm good."

"Bout damned time. What's your numbers looking like?"

"Bow's in the triple digits, same with my other skills."

"Mats?"

"I got a few but you have the majority."

"Anything decent?"

"This is what your like when not pretending?"

Asuna was looking at him with new eyes. Tyler looked at her.

"You asked me toots to drop the act. I did. Don't like it? Shouldn't have asked."

Kakashi laughed.

"That's the boy I know an hate! Nice to see ya again!"

"Eh, shove it. You done wasting me time, kakcy?"

"Ha! Been a while since ya called me that!"

Asuna just looked at him in shock. And he looked at her.

"Ya done? We got work to do."

She had new tears now.

"So, the cold, harsh, just nasty person you were when we met was the real you?"

"Ahhh, duh. Took you this long to realize that?"

Sakura smiled as she looked at him.

"Honestly? You being nice was kinda weirding me out a bit."

He snorted as he ruffled her hair.

"Jealous much?"

"Hey! Leave my hair alone!"

The boy looked at Asuna as she was on the verge of breaking down as she saw the true him.

"What? Ya gonna fall apart now just cause you saw beneath the mask I forged to make YOU happy?"

She jumped.

"Me? You forged it for ME?"

He sighed and turned to face her.

"I forged it to help you tolerate me. I know you can't stomach my personality, hell Sakura can barely do it herself. So, to minimize the headaches and maybe enjoy myself a little, I tried to be a little nicer so you would feel more at ease."

The red head was running through their time together and had a heartbroken look on her face.

"You were faking it to make me happy?"

"Would you rather me be a cold, hateful, toxic bastard, of the kind, hard, sometimes affectionate asshole?"

Sakura sighed as well now.

"He did it to make YOU happy Asuna. YOU. Not ME. If you need an idea of the place in his heart for you, well, he forged an entire new personality just for you. He didn't even ATTEMPT it for me."

Tyler shrugged.

"Her spot in my heart? Well, it's a big one. Sadly, even AFTER taking the damned mask off, I still have no clue what exactly it is. That said, it's a little clearer."

Asuna sniffed again.

"Then it is?"

"Well, when I hear your name my heart feels lighter. I like you. A helluva a lot if I'm going to these lengths just to keep you around. Best guess? You're a few bars above best friend."

She smiled reflexively before going back to her stone face.

"So, the cave?"

"Look, Asuna, make a call here. We have a lot of work to do before floor eleven and I need to get the rust off. Do I put the mask back on for you, and pretend to be the human you thought I was, or do you want me to be myself?"

She drew in s harp breath at his cold tone as Sakura smiled as she hugged him.

"Nice to have my Demon back!"

"Stick it."

"Teehee! Kay!"

"I forgot, yous a dirty girl. Well, I don't judge."

Sakura blushed as Asuna waged a war in her heart and mind. Tyler looked at Kakashi.

"So, Yuka dead yet?"

The man sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"She got picked up by the Bloodoath. She's their new second in command and HATES you now."

"Eh, fuck er. I give her a chance and she blew it."

The man nodded.

"She did indeed."

Asuna made a choice.

"Tyler?"

"What?"

He turned to look at her with a bored stare. She sighed.

"If this is the true you, then I prefer it."

"Ya say that now. Then further down the line you pull the goodie two shoes shit."

She smacked him again.

"Have you forgotten I've killed people too? I can handle it!"

He smacked her right back.

"Yeah, I wouldn't play that card again."

She gasped and sat down as Sakura winced.

"See? Goreleech is NOT a good person Asuna."

The red head looked into Tyler's dead eyes, and noticed something.

"Why do you look like you're about to cry?"

he blinked and the spark of regret was gone.

"No clue. Now, ya dong with the sentimental bullshit?"

She snapped at him.

"Ya done being an ass?"

"Hey, YOU asked me to take the mask off. Don't get mad at me for ME."

She glared at him.

"Then just put it back on if your going to be a miserable bastard."

"Make up your damned mind."

HE sighed and when he looked at her again, his brown eyes were full of a lively fire, he had a slight smile, and his face was softer.

"You good?"

His voice was even lighter and kinder. Sakura frowned.

"See? It's weird."

He chuckled.

"It's weird for me as well, Sakura. Feels like I'm suffocating in here, but Asuna likes it for some friggin reason."

His switch from hateful dead to lively kind hearted bastard gave the others whiplash. Asuna slumped now.

"The differences between the mask and you are THAT extreme?"

"They are. Asuna, are you SURE you want to keep traveling with us? This point you need to make a choice."

Sakura sighed as well.

"She does. I prefer the real you, Tyler. Least it's REAL."

Tyler sat back on the couch as Sakura rested against him as he looked at the bikini clad red head.

"So, Asuna. What's it going to be?"

She looked at him.

"I….need to think about it."

"Ya got till I wake back up."

She glared at him as he walked downstairs with Sakura. HE walked to the couch with the view of the undersea and laid on it as Sakura cuddled up next to him.

"If she keeps traveling with us, will you keep it on?"

He stroked her pink hair.

"I don't want to keep wearing this thing, Sakura. Truth be told I hate it, as I feel like a fraud. But, I like her enough to KEEP it on if she asks me too."

She sighed as she got comfy.

"you really care about her."

"I guess I do."

The siblings drifted off as Asuna worked out her heart upstairs.

Asuna watched as Tyler and Sakura headed downstairs to sleep. What the hell is he? She looked at the screen.

"What the hell?"

Kakashi smiled at the flaming beauty.

"He cares quite a bit about you, Miss. If he's willing to go to such lengths as to forge an entire new personality to keep you around, then your place in his heart must be truly precious to him."

Asuna just looked at the empty staircase.

"does he care? Or is that an act too?"

Tyler's mother spoke up now.

"Listen flamer, Tyler is many things. Most of them bad. Yet, when it comes to his heart? He don't know how to fuck with it. He lost the ability to listen to his heart years ago, and now just goes off his mind and his gut. His heart? Ha. Fact he can SAY you have a place in it PERIOD means it's starting to both wake back up, and he can hear it."

Arthur sighed now.

"I see now. He put the remains of his shattered heart in a vault to protect it, but over the years lost the key. My brother was like that. Tyler is a man of immense strength and tenacity outwardly. Inwardly? He's just a lonely boy with a shattered heart and ruined soul. He puts on the face he does as he just can't handle another hit. He takes one that's it. He's a ghost."

Sakura's god parents sighed now.

"I've worked in some wards with kids like him. Now that you say that, I see it."

Asuna looked to the stairwell.

"What do I do? His masked self is just a fake but I like the person. His true face is real yet I hate the toxicity."

Arthur sighed again.

"This is a choice YOU have to make Asuna. Do you want him to lie to you to make you happy? or do you want to get to know his true self?"

Asuna just rubbed her temples as the timer ran down.

"I'll sleep on it. God knows I need the sleep."

They said goodbye and the screen shattered as she laid on the couch. She looked at the ceiling and mused aloud.

"A fake personality with all the things I like in a person, or the real personality with all the things I hate?"

She drifted off as she let the question hover in her mind.

Tyler opened his eyes to see Sakura laid out beside him gently breathing in sleep. He sighed silently. In the course of a day or so we're on the verge of losing so much. Just because of a mere date, and my own toxicity. Asuna will most likely bail again and we'd be alone again. And as sad as Sakura will be, I'll miss her fiery personality even more. He stroked Sakura's hair softly as he pondered his own shortcomings. I am just too dead inside at this point to really change. And even if I did Asuna will still think I'm faking it for her. Maybe it's her time to just take off? Sakura squeaked in her sleep.

"Asuna, don't leave!"

He gave the sleeping girl a soft hug as he himself felt the same thing. Asuna leaves again it'll break Sakura's heart again. And it'll hurt so much more this time since we've spent so much time together now. Fuck it I need an answer. He looked at his little sister before extracting himself from her warm embrace. He then snuck up the stairs and found Asuna on the couch sleeping. He sighed internally. I guess she too needed rest. Maybe we're just exhausted? He walked to the kitchen and looked through his UI for a drink. HE smiled as he found a bottle of soda and grabbed it. He walked to a spot in the hut where he could see the shore and surrounding area and drank deep as he looked. Well, Asuna. Looks like we're going our separate ways again. Sakura is going to be heartbroken and I have a sinking feeling she won't be able to recover this time. He heard a yawn and looked in a more reflective spot to see Asuna sitting up and stretching hard. HE let her wake up fully before walking over to her. She watched as he sat on the opposite side of the couch from her.

"Have you made a choice?"

She looked at him.

"I have."

Tyler sighed.

"Well, what is it?"

She smiled.

"I'll still go with you."

HE looked at her mildly surprised.

"But?"

She became serious.

"But. You need to find a way to MERGE those two sides of you, Tyler."

He tilted his head.

"Merge?"

the red head nodded.

"Merge. Take the two pieces and make them one. Make the fake person you were pretending to be become one with that hateful personality you have."

He became thoughtful.

"I've never tried to merge them before. I wonder."

He crossed his arms as he finished his drink. His brown eyes became lifeless as he took the mask off. Then they lit back up as he experimented with Asuna's idea. The red head watched as he waged his internal construction project. He can make a new personality just like that? Then his eyes became lively with a steely feel to them and he smiled at her.

"I think I got it."

She smacked him.

"Ya think?"

"Wow, Asuna, I'm startin to think ya got a whackin fetish there."

She blushed as she saw his voice had a harder edge then usual, but was still friendly and warm. His eyes had a more…edgy feel now. Like he was looking at her while contemplating whether to hug her or kill her. She snorted.

"Prick."

"whatever. So, we okay?"

She sighed.

"we'll have to see. I….need time."

"Sure. Sakura's still out cold. So, now what?"

She smiled now.

"Well, mats?"

HE chuckled.

"Sure. Oh, and Asuna?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry our date went to hell. And for the mess."

She could tell he was being genuine with it and her heart skipped a beat.

"So am I. Sakura's safe, so that's more important."

"It is. Still kinda sucks though. Least Laughing Coffin's a crater. That's a win."

She smiled with relief.

"I trust no survivors?"

"If there are, then they were off base when I hit. In that case there's only a few left."

She felt more at ease around him now for some reason.

"That's good I guess. They pop back up you'll just shatter them."

"Damn straight. Bastards want to get to you they have to get through ME first."

She smiled.

"is this your new True self?"

"It is. I can reforge it at will if you don't like it."

she blinked, and that's when something…..clicked...for the red head.

"You never had a real personality to begin with."

HE looked at her confused.

"Huh?"

She now just felt immense pity for the boy.

"I said it's better then the last."

"Oh, well good. Glad you like it."

HE settled back as Asuna sighed inwardly. He can remake himself at will because he didn't GET to make a personality before it was shattered entirely. And every time he tried to make one after it was broken and ruined. So at some point he just gave up and started forging fake personalities just to HAVE an identity period. Then he forgot he was faking it. She sighed now.

"I'm gonna go check on Sakura."

"I'll pass out again."

She walked off as he laid back down and closed his eyes before blacking out.

He opened his eyes to see Sakura cuddled up on his chest. He smiled as he saw his cute little sister. Then he heard breathing next to him and he turned his head to see Asuna asleep next to him on the cushion. He smiled again. Better. He then felt she'd taken his his arm as a body pillow and was cuddled into it. He laid back and pondered his own failings as a person. I'm still too toxic for Asuna even after my merge. She wants a nice person that's not afraid to make the hard choices and LIVE with them. I heard her comment on me not HAVING a personality. She's right. I never DID. Nor a soul for that matter. I wonder, is a soul that easy to gain? Or can I grow one? Asuna deserves a helluva lot better then my worthless ass, and so does Sakura. I'm a broken person that much is true. Then again if I'm broke, I can be repaired too. right? He looked at Sakura's and Asuna's sleeping faces and made a decision. They deserve a better person the cling to. I deserve TO BE HAPPY TOO. I can be happy too dammit! It's time to take the lessons I fucking preach to heart. My sister and those bastards used me like a condom for years. That was THEIR fault. Not mine. I call myself a Demon. Yet in truth I'm just a monster. As Monsters have NOTHING precious to them. He looked at Sakura again. I do. Sakura needs someone she can cling to in the most desperate of times. She needs a Brother. She needs…a Demon. A Monster is alone in this world and only seeks to hurt those near it. A DEMON is a force of darkness with something precious to fight for. I fight for Sakura. Asuna too. I do not know what she means to me, but DAMMIT I WILL FIND OUT! His browns eyes hardened again and a fire was lit inside them that was fueled by his newfound soul. A soul is not something that is grown or made. No. a soul is GIVEN when you find that which is truly precious. When you find that thing you are willing to die to defend.

"I will DIE before I let them suffer like I did."

The girls blinked awake at his voice, and were shocked by the new fire blazing in his eyes as he sat up. Even Sakura was intimidated by his gaze as he sat up to look at them. Asuna gulped.

"You okay?"

He smiled,

"Just had to look in the mirror with my lessons for once. And. I've made a decision."

Sakura gulped now herself at the new steel in his voice.

"What's that, Brother?"

Tyler clenched his fists as he looked at them with his new fire.

"I will DIE before I let you suffer like I did. Asuna wanted me to merge the two sides of myself. The toxic, hateful creature and the warm asshole. That just wasn't possible as I have no idea how to merge my different sides. No. what was needed isn't another mask. That just puts a new face on the Monster I am. No. the Monster I was."

Asuna and Sakura were outright SCARED by their friend's steel voice and blazing eyes. Asuna screwed up her courage.

"If you were a monster, what are you now?"

He smiled widely.

"See the thing about a Monster? They're hateful, vile, LONELY creatures of immense strength. But nothing precious to them. Nothing to live for. Nothing to protect. I was just such a creature for many years."

His fists cracked as his emotions raged.

"I am NOT alone anymore. I have YOU Sakura. YOU Asuna. A Monster will only get you hurt."

His eyes were smoldering with a new life the likes of which had never been there prior.

"But a DEMON WILL KEEP YOU SAFE. A demon has something truly precious to protect. Something to live for. A REASON for it's strength. I have just such a reason. And it's the two of you. My sister. And Asuna. I still do not know what you are to me. BUT I WILL FIND OUT DAMMIT."

The two girls were now openly gaping at Tyler's declaration of his newfound soul. Sakura was the first to get over her shock to pounce on him with a happy squeal.

"Yay! Big brother's stronger! I got a Demon for a big brother!"

He hugged her tightly.

"And I got a Pink Imp for my sister."

She squeaked.

"Imp? The hell? I'm a Demon too!"

He rubbed her pink hair.

"Demon's do evil work Sakura. Imps? They help the Demon work."

She grumbled.

"FINE! I'll be the imp."

"And a damned cute one at that!"

"Eep!"

Asuna's jaw woulda dropped off her face if it wasn't attached to her face by Tyler's on the fly complement. And just how heartfelt it was. Sakura was in even more shocked state of mind as Tyler gave her a complement.

"You…just COMPLEMENTED me!"

He smiled kindly.

"Demons have many benefits over Monsters Sakura. Like for example actually saying things and meaning them. Saying nice things don't cost a Demon anything whereas for a Monster it hurts. Like that fire hair on Asuna there. Number a times I've caught myself staring? Amazed I still GOT eyes!"

Sakura just gaped at her brother as he HIT on Asuna! Poor Asuna was even MORE mind blown by Tyler's sudden flattery. The trunks clad boy got up and walked to stand in font of the fiery red head.

"I'm sorry I was such a bastard Asuna. You asked for a merge. I got a soul. I still have no idea what you are to me, but that said."

He held out his hand smiling widely.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd help me figure that out."

Asuna just looked at him like he had three heads.

"I….need a minute."

"Sure. I'll go make sure Gabol's not still on the floor."

Sakura looked at him.

"I do too. This is a little…..what the FUCK?"

"Love you too."

"Eep!"

"Yeah. Gonna have fun with that one."

He equipped his gear and walked out to check on the big black man that had gotten caught in the crossfire. Soon as the door shut Sakura rounded on Asuna.

"What the fuck was that?! What the HELL?"

Asuna was pulling out another Mirror.

"I have no fucking clue Sakura. Let's ask the experts."

She activated the comms mirror and the hospital room was seen. The parents and friends were all sleeping when they called. Sakura giggled.

"BEACHED WHALE!"

The room exploded as Asuna busted up laughing at Sakura's cute jab. Kakashi noted the looks of shock on their faces,

"What happened?"

Sakura just rubbed her hair.

"Big brother complemented me. And said he loved me."

Asuna just looked at them.

"Rewatch the last hour. Easiest way to explain. And we're STILL reeling."

The families did, and as they saw Tyler's newfound fire from the girl's perspectives, Kakashi burst out laughing.

"Me boy! Ya finally found your soul!"

Asuna looked at the yakuza boss confused.

"But I thought he was a shattered person?"

The older man nodded smiling with pride.

"He WAS Little Asuna. And it seems he finally put them back together again. You asked him to merge his two extremes. Well, he tried. And failed. Tyler made himself false souls to get through live as he was just a hit to the heart away from becoming a Ghost. His soul was in pieces and he just didn't have a reason or a will to reforge himself. Now he HAS a reason. And it's YOU two. Tyler hit the nail on the head when he said Monster are just evil without purpose. They're just Ghost that pretend to be people. But DEMONS, little Asuna, Demons are evil WITH a purpose driving them. Tyler's soul is a dark one never you doubt that. But his darkness is now haled together not by pain and regret for a past he did not deserve. No girls. It's held up by the drive to defend YOU. And if that fire in his eyes is anything to go by, his strength of heart has returned in full. Better brace girls, his heart's alive, active and ready to run wild. And if I know him like I think I do, well, let's say you're going to either HATE this guy, or love the ever loving fuck outta him. And as for YOU Asuna? He's now LOOKING for the answer to you with his HEART, not his MIND. So I assume things are going to pick up. Tyler's awake now. Enjoy the fire and the mess that comes with it."