When we stopped for the night near an oasis, Rin was drooling.
I was tempted of doing oh soo many practical jokes.
Sasuke, you corrupted this innocent boy. Now...maybe toilet paper and..

As if sensing my evil intent, she came awake. She looked at me and I pointed to her cheek, which was in all its unholy glory. Her voice was dull.
-"Each day of this damned trip, my pride dies and the next day, somehow, dies again."

I hugged her close and whispered in her ear.
-"That's good news. Pride kills, you need to shoot it first."

She pondered over this. We started making camp, in one tent, all the girls, on the other, yours truly. I took out the boxes of ammo and started to load the speedloaders. The Mateba was a gorgeous piece and the cylinder's spin was as smooth as a baby's ass. Having done that, I took inventory of the valuables looted from the auction. When we reached Tartus, we could use my parent's contacts to find the girls a home.

The flap of my tent moved and I held it down, Sasuke's influence overcoming me at last.
-"Rin! I'm not decent, this is scandalous!"

She growled and ripped the fabric from my hands.
-"As if it matters! We will be wed and one way or another, I will see the wares. Move aside."
Pausing to look at me, she questioned.
-"You are dressed...why YOU?...Breathe...breathe... Rin is calm...Rin...is caalm."

I should have stayed silent, but it was too good to pass it up.
"It doesn't fill me with confidence to know that my intended addresses herself in third person."
Both Mini Shirious assented from their perch on my shoulders. Not that Rin could see them.

Her aqua eyes shone with the candelight, they were bloodshot and there wasn't a trace of humour on them.
-"We have a problem."

I bid her to continue.
-"Right now or long term?"

She sat down on my bedroll.
-"The girls described who kidnapped them, who killed their families. It was the most soul rending game of Charades ever."

I took out my notebook.
-"Long term it is. Well, let me hear it. Names, places, modus operandi."

Rin took her head between her hands.
-"They don't know much, and the language barrier doesn't help. But they repeated one word non-stop while crying."
She eyed me.
"Ibrahim."

I scoured over the loot and showed her the remainging diamonds.
-"The plot thickens."

She eyed the Mateba and worried her lower lip.
-"This Magus, heir of a noble house, knows that Pride is the hallmark of a trueborn Tohsaka."
Then she uncovered her wrists, still raw from the manacles.
"But I'm done. Sorry Father, sorry Tohsakas of old, this Magus is sick, sick and tired of being overcome by mundane means."
She put her hand on mine.
"Teach me how to use guns, Shiriou, so I can shoot this Pride of mine."

Good Shiriou gave me a thumbs up while Mini Shiriou the Red, trident and all, was wiping down tears of joy using the toga of the other Mini Shirou.