-Naofumi-

Night had fallen upon the outside world, the revelries of the hidden bar having died down as Naofumi sat alone and stared at an empty stage where many different musicians and showgirls showed their stuff to the cheers and applause of the audience.

"Something on your mind, Lord Naofumi?" The cat girl, Diona, her name was, asked as she sat down next to him with a drink in her hand that she sipped from. The lack of alcohol on Naofumi's nose proved it was a virgin cocktail.

"Just… this whole thing," Naofumi replied with an exasperated sigh waving around with his hand not attached to a shield, "The politics, the worship… I mean, I get that we're important, but war?"

"This isn't a small thing, tensions between our two kingdoms were already strained," Diona explained, "Because the same king who attacked you so recklessly has already gone to war with us before. He's essentially opened an old wound and his wife, the true ruler, may not be able to save him from retribution a second time."

"What about Raphtalia?" Naofumi asked with worry about the ever mysterious girl the voice told him about, "I still don't know who or where they are."

"One of our agents is already looking for relevant information on your mystery girl," Diona replied, "Relax for tonight and let us handle it," She gave him a reassuring smile before taking his right hand in her own.

"Thanks… I guess I-" Fighting back a yawn, Naofumi rubbed his tired eyes and blinked, "I guess I am a little tired…"

"Then you're going to love this~" The cat girl whispered into his ear before pulling him up to his feet and leading him deeper into the building. Past the bar, past a cleaned and well kept kitchen… up a flight of stairs and down a hall, the sweet smell of some mystery flower invaded Naofumi's nose as he was gently pushed into a room filled with…

"Hello Master~" Naofumi blinked, senses at full attention once more as several scantily clad girls with cat ears, fox ears, dog ears… every four pawed and furred animal he could think of filled the room and his vision. Nodding, he backed out, closed the door… only to be pushed back in, Diona giggling in his ear.

"Aw~ New Master is shy~" She said cutely as a cacophony of giggles echoed in Naofumi's mind.

"Girls, girls, girls!" He shouted, "I am tired! Confused! And still trying to wrap my head around everything! This is only making things worse and all I really want to do is sleep! Can I?"

Ears began to droop as melancholic whining filled the surprisingly large room before Diona hummed, "Well, this is kind of unorthodox, but…" Pulling him along, the barmaid led him to a fairly wide and long heart shaped bed before pulling him down with her. Naofumi yelped, but instead of hitting what he expected to land on… he felt fur as gentle purring vibrated along his cheek.

Looking up, he found a calico cat where he thought Diona would be, the cat giving a cute 'Nya' before licking his face. Soon, other girls jumped the bed and morphed into their respective animal before they all laid (or attempted to lay) their heads upon Naofumi. Blinking, Naofumi couldn't help but smile at the warmth they provided as he let himself fall to sleep. All of the girls felt an intense but comforting warmth exude from Naofumi as they slept.

/- - -/

-Ren-

"And may I ask where you plan to go this late at night?" Sucrose asked the dark haired boy as he walked through the slowly brightening streets of Melromarc. Candles hanging from metal posts lit one by one as the pair walked the empty streets.

"That idiot, Naofumi is God knows where, I haven't seen Motoyasu anywhere, and I don't want to know what kind of trouble Itsuki could have run into," Ren growled in resigned anger, "So I am prowling the streets in the very low and off chance I find either of them."

"You also haven't had anything to eat," Sucrose pointed out, "You've been awake for literally two days as from what you told me about how you woke here before you left your world and-" Pulling his arm, she ducked into a dark alley and kept him close, royal knights patrolling the streets, "The king has his knights looking for you and the rest of the idiot crew if those wanted posters mean anything."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Ren questioned with ever growing anger, "I haven't even been able to go outside of these damn walls and level up!"

"Melromarc's wave isn't for another month or so," Sucrose replied as she ran a hand along the boy's head, easing away his frustrations as he flinched and groaned before melting at her touch, "Right now, we need to smuggle you out of this town. Maybe lay low in Lute village… nothing ever happens in Lute village."

"What about my Guild membership?" He asked gently as he pulled away and rose to his feet, "How am I supposed to take on and turn in quests?"

"Proxy," Sucrose replied easily, "Or through certain remote channels. Some villages do have a legitimate carrier pigeon service. I even know someone famous for her messenger skills, if a little odd."

"Okay, then what about lodging?" Ren asked, "Where am I supposed to sleep if every inn in town has a chance to throw me out and into a guard patrol for a quick penny?"

"Easy, ya dunce," Sucrose replied with a calm smile, "I know a place."

Humming in displeasure, Ren allowed himself to be pulled along before asking, "So, why do you keep insulting me anyway?"

"You mean why am I purposefully calling you things like dunderhead and dork?" Sucrose questioned, "It's simple really. I've taken an interest in you."

Blinking, Ren had to rub his eyes before blinking again, "Hah!? How does that even translate?"

Sucrose only smiled, eyes half closed before closing slowly, "It's not my fault you can't figure out, empty headed Hero."

Sighing, Ren rolled his eyes as he allowed himself to be whisked away to another random alley, a man in a heavy black cloak looking at the pair, "Customer or other?" He asked without looking up, "Because kitchen service is currently closed."

"What?" Ren asked worriedly as Sucrose sighed.

"I've brought a Hero," The maiden replied simply, her gaze having darkened significantly, "He's a Sh-"

"A Shield Hero, I've heard," The cloaked man stated as Ren held a look of surprise.

"Who are you people!?" Ren shouted before preparing his Glass Shield, "What's going on!?"

Groaning, Sucrose brightened up as she looked at Ren, "Easy there, ya gnat…" Sighing, she took off her hat as her 'hair' twitched and shot up before falling slightly and settling. Blinking, Ren could do nothing but watch as the girl reached behind her cloak. At the sound of a click, a green and bushy tail fell out and began to swish side to side as Sucrose signed in relief, "Ah~ Much better."

"Huh?" Was all Ren could mutter as Sucrose poked his nose, "Gah!? Wait! What's- you! Ears! Tail! Tail!? Ears!?"

"Can you open the door already?" She asked the man as he knocked on the wall twice, "Come on in, silly human, we'll get you a warm meal and a bed."

Sighing, Ren figured he had enough crazy for one day and followed her in.

/- - -/

-Itsuki-

Confusion.

"Retake the Cargo!" One of the shipmates, villains in Itsuki's mind, shouted before getting a crossbow bolt to the back.

Bedlam.

"They're capsizing the ship!" Another man shouted as a group of three desperately tried to pry a harpoon out of the hull as water started to flood the cabins.

Chaos.

All this and more greeted Itsuki and his fellow prisoners as they found themselves out in the open. Sailors were falling left and right either from cannon fire, giant ballista bolts, or crossbow bolts whistling by.

"Okay! Everyone stay close!" Itsuki shouted as he stared at a heavy piece of iron from the remains of Noelle's shackles and slammed it into his shield before he was given a prompt: [Item quality higher than uncommon] before his shield morphed into a large ring of iron clasped on his arm and spanning from his wrist to just underneath his elbow, "Okay, that was weird…" Yelping, he hid behind his large bracer as he blocked an incoming bolt of iron, a sudden clang informing him that his 'shield' was in fact struck. One bolt was grabbed out of the air by Noelle and snapped in half with a flat look on her face as she looked to the pirate that dare shoot at her master's back. The pirate gulped and dropped the crossbow. He ran to another side of the pirate ship to get away from the girl whose wrath he incurred.

"Oi! They really don't call it a Legendary Shield for nothing!" The silver haired boy exclaimed.

"Yeah, I guess so!" Itsuki said rather happily before he looked to his left. Directly on top of the now sinking ship was a magnificent vessel of what he could only assume was of oriental design. Three ballistas were trained on the ship, red paper-like sails adorned with a gold insignia and the bow shaped like a dragon's head.

Various men and women looking down at them. One in particular wore a form fitting red open chested oriental dress with white fur lining her shoulders over a tight black corset, knee high black boots with golden trim, a red eye patch that practically covered half of her face and a large golden intricate hair pin.

"Are you all prisoners of this ship!?" The woman questioned as she raised a sword that seemed to spark with electricity high into the air.

"Aye! We're all prisoners here!" The silver haired child replied in defiance.

"Hey! Get back!" Itsuki shouted as he pulled the boy back behind the defense of his shield, "Can you not see how armed they are!?"

"Oh come on! I thought you were the Shield Hero of Justice!" The boy shouted as he struggled.

"The Shield Hero… of Justice?" The woman asked in surprise… before throwing her head back in laughter, her crew added to the growing cacophony.

"What? What's so funny!?" Itsuki questioned, "It's not funny!"

"Boy!" The woman shouted with a wicked smile, "That. Is the single most. Hilarious thing I've heard all week! Ahh… take them," She murmured before turning around and walking away.

"Don't worry, Shield Idiot, Razor here's got your back!" The child declared as he pointed a thumb at his face.

The boy's bravado lasted all of five seconds until several glass flasks were thrown onto Itsuki and the prisoners, a purple mist rising up as everyone devolved into a coughing fit.

"Shield Idiot… help…" Razor whispered before falling, another partner prompt appearing in Itsuki's sight.

"Fueeh…" Ryshia cried softly as she slumped to her knees.

[Accept party members: Ryshia Ivyred, Razor (Y/N)?]

"Just… perfect…" Itsuki mumbled as his hand hit yes just as he slumped to the floor. What no one noticed was the shield on Itsuki's arm absorbing some of the gas turning it into an odd tri-whisp purple shield. Clangs and yells were the last thing Itsuki heard as his consciousness faded.

/- - -/

-Motoyasu-

The world was a spinning mess. Wood seemed to sh A weird mish mash of colors and sounds that make him nauseous just by breathing. Everything felt stiff but didn't hurt. Motoyasu couldn't remember what he did last night after drinking all those mana potions. He remembered one thing however. Red… lots of red. Squealing? A dress maybe?

Hissing, Motoyasu clasped his head with both hands as he felt something incredibly soft graze his cheek. Opening his eyes just a bit wider, he found he was holding crimson silky laced underwear.

"What… what did I do last night?" He asked no one as he spied the room, groaning before tossing the piece of fabric to the side, "Di- did I… pay for se-" Attempting to stand, he fell back on to his elbows and wretched as whatever it was that was in those potions finally wanted out.

[Warning: Acute Mana Poisoning]

"Oh… oh that's not-" More harsh substance left his stomach, his mouth stained with the sickly mixture of spent potion and body fluid. Despite it all, his body was in no true pain. Weakened muscles and a hammering head that felt like it was close to breaking open, but none of it felt life threatening, "What happened? Myne?" He called out as loudly as he could, "My- haugh…" Nothing left to release, his body began dry heaving as his room's door was broken in.

"Shield Hero!" A loud voice shouted as several spears were pointed at his face, "For crimes against his majesty's daughter, you are tried for the forceful molestation of the kingdom's first princess!"

"What? No… no this has to be some haaugh…" Was all he could manage to so much as breathe out before he was knocked out by the butt of a spear to his head. Sadly, that wasn't enough to knock him out as the multiple hits to the head afterwards showed.

/- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/

And that's another one down, folks! Man I am having fun with this!