Another month went by; the boys all passed the latest tests and made it to level 17 which means Beast was going to show them a good hunting spot which turned out to be on the 10th floor, two floors up. This being the first time Beast ever allowed the group to go up more than one floor at a time they were very thrilled.
Beast had slowed his massive leveling binges, mainly because he was helping Ryoko try to catch up with him. She did try the bonus leveling but found it was hard to handle more than fifteen to twenty minutes, so she had only gained six levels in two weeks.
The group was out in a large grassy square of the town and as the boys played a game of tag Ryoko looked over at Beast.
"I'm sorry I have not been able to power level with you but I don't want to leave the boys alone, and I really don't want them to learn about this trick." she whispered in apology.
Beast just chuckled. "Don't worry about it, you're right that the boys don't need to be left alone for two long and they wouldn't be able to handle the pain."
Ryoko just hugged his arm tighter. "I just wish I had time to gain more levels that way you don't always have to take the brunt of the fight."
She was thinking how two weeks before had been the day that he went to help with the Boss of the 25th floor, he did make it through but he was very banged up. A messenger had come to their room and at first she was scared speechless believing that he had died in the fight, only to find out he was alive but needed some help walking.
"Don't, I'm ok being the tank, as long as you and the boys are safe and happy, then I am very happy." he smiles and leaned down to kiss her, earning a cat call from the boys who had stopped playing and were watching them.
A week before Roku had woken early from a nightmare and went to Ryoko's room, were he found both her and Beast asleep in her bed. That was when the boys learned about their relationship turns out none of them had any problem; 'about time' was all the older boys had to say.
"DAMN IT!" Toma shouted breaking the two out of the kiss.
"No swearing." Ryoko called and headed to the boys.
"I tore my shoe" he whined as he held up the mentioned leather shoe, the sole had started to split off and he could put his hand through the hole.
"Still no reason to curse." she replied, giving a sigh as she took his shoe to look at it.
Looking at his watch Beast smiled. "How about I take Toma and Kiba to get new shoes." and he pointed at Kiba's feet where his shoe was starting to fall apart.
"Do you have enough money?" she asked concerned, despite everything she still had trouble with him spending too much of his money on them.
"No problem, come on gremlins let's roll." he smiled and waved to the boys.
"Don't be late I will have diner ready soon" Ryoko called back laughing as the two older boys hurried behind Beast.
An hour later:
The boys had been out in the town street running testing out the new leather boots they had just gotten when they stopped and started pointing down an alley.
"What is it boys?" Beast asked despite knowing what they were looking at, he had found this alley on one of his solo trips to this floor.
"Whores." Toma whispered and pointed.
First thing Beast did as he walked up to the boys was slap both on the back of the head.
"Prostitution is one of the oldest jobs there has ever been, and 99% of the time they live a hard life and suffer greatly. Don't ever let me catch you disrespecting them."
The shocked the boys, normally they would be told to ignore and treat them as trash that was inferior to them. Their parents were very strict and prudish when it came to people 'below their station.
"Wow I never heard anyone tell me that, usually…" Toma stated.
"You are both starting puberty, it's natural to be drawn to this thinking." Beast started. "But nether of you are mature enough yet. Understand?"
"No, but I will take your word for it," Kiba replied and Toma just nodded.
"Good, head back I will be right behind you." he told them and motioned for them to leave without arguing.
After they left he turned and went down the alley passing the women, so far he had yet to find anyone that looked underage.
"Find something?" a young man said from the shadows.
"You the Pimp?" Beast asked his whole body language had changed; now he radiated his true strength and anger.
"I wish there was a better word, I provide protection and a safe work enviro…
"In a dirty nasty alley, the only clients you will get are the dregs, go get a house with clean floors." Beast growled.
"Don't have enough, this is the best we can do. We are trying to stay out of sight of the 'younger crowd'
Beast just brought up his menu and transferred a large sum of money to the man.
"Don't ever let me hear that you abuse them and if you think about employing under age, I will hurt you hard." beast turned and headed out of the alley.
"I understand, come on ladies, we have a house to buy"
Back at the Inn:
"What kept you? Ryoko asked as he walked in and she was setting the table for the three boys.
"The boys found the alley girls," he whispered in her ear. Ryoko blushed but quickly controlled herself; he had told her about it and shown her shortly after they arrived in this town.
"Any trouble?"
"No. I just gave them a little talking to, the boys don't yet understand but they are willing to trust me." He replied.
"Good" was all she replied.
March 20th:
"Ok you Gremlins," Ryoko started to speak. Since Beast seemed to always call them that they decided that they wanted to make a guild, the boys called themselves The House of Gremlins or HOG. "You three will behave; I had better not get any bad reports."
She growled and the boys just nodded, this would be her and Beast first official date night. Something the boys decided she needed. A woman arrived at around six o'clock that night, Su the sitter for the evening; she came highly recommended as reliable.
"Be good you three and maybe we will let you go without a sitter next time." Beast added as he ushered Ryoko out the door.
I am not leaving those three without a sitter, ever." Ryoko growled at a smiling Beast. "Untill they are married and have a wife that controls them they can't be trusted to behave."
"That being said as this is our first date…I will let you pick where we go." he told her and she stopped and thought.
"26th floor, I want to level" she replied as she changed from her date cloths of a formal shirt and skirt to her new Blue robes under her black armor. A gift from Beast, she now resembled a true Samurai.
"As you wish," he smiled and changed into his chain mail armor and put his long coat on, it was a rare drop that added 15 strength and 15 agility. He also put on a pair of hard leather gloves with a set of iron claws.
"You're the only high level person I know that uses the Wild Dance as their primary combat skill set." She told him as they finished gearing up.
"That is because it's hard to level up and use, the half ass's tend to just level their strength, with this you need to level strength, agility, and speed." he replied smiling "but also your Acrobatics, parry, battle healing and Martial Arts, and you must level them all equally"
Arriving on the floor they headed to a strong hunting ground and started simply working back and forth, Ryoko enjoying herself as she cut through with her Katana, as Beast starting to live up to his name. This was a side of him the boys never saw, he was wild as he punched kicked and generally beat the crap out of everything.
Violent and brutal, it was the best way she could describe his true fighting style, but she also knew how gentle he could be. After an hour of melee she stopped and stood back watching, the Beast did not stop. He was in a zone she did not understand and did not care to.
"Have you gotten your level?" he asked her as he stopped and realized all she was doing was watching him.
"An hour ago, I don't think I will ever get tired of watching you fight though" she told him as she walked up and gave him a kiss.
"Most are usually appalled they call me an animal, and barbaric." he replied.
"I am not most" she smiled "Roku will be mad when he learns how you fight like this; he is a big fan of professional wrestling"
Beast just chuckled "noticed that did you?"
"Yes and if you don't wish for me to tell him you have to do something for me" she smiled and turned away.
It was now that he realized she had removed her armor, and at that moment she let her robes fall leaving her naked in the middle of the field, in the middle of the night and in the light of the full moon.
A/N the skills he mentioned are in the SAO world and are not made up. Thanks to Draco38 for the editing. reveiw reply burn if you want.