Let's Get This Show on the Road

The number of fighters were dwindling, and Ivy couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Her grip tightened around the devil’s arm while she watched Sakura dodge a punch, her body arching back while her hands planted firmly onto the ground and her legs sprung up, a foot colliding under her opponent's chin as she flipped backwards. The kick stunned the man, and he stumbled back while the woman launched forward, her shoulder digging into his gut and lifting him momentarily off of his feet before slamming him onto the ground.

The fae winced at the sight. It didn’t matter how many times she’d seen the woman fight; it was something she’d never get used to. When she had first come to be under the vixen’s care, she had been overwhelmed with panic each time Sakura found herself going toe to toe with a man, or even more surprising to the girl, multiple men. But each and every time, the demon claimed victory almost as quickly as the fight had begun, showing no mercy towards whatever unfortunate soul she found fault with. It wasn’t long before fear for the woman became worry for the men she battered, and the most Ivy could do was plead for Sakura to walk away.

Never had she met anyone like the woman, and that probably rang true for most who came across her. In the beginning of their travels, Ivy hadn’t known just how uncommon it was for a woman to travel alone since Sakura had been doing so until she brought Ivy along, and then it was just the two of them. But as the weeks and months went by with the only women they ever passed by on the road being those accompanied by men, did the girl begin taking notice.

“Why do all the women travel with men?” Ivy had asked one day after walking by a group on the path, the women watching the two girls with concern in their eyes. One had even spoken up and asked if one of their fathers was nearby, to which Sakura responded with a disgusted chortle and continued on her way, pulling Ivy along by the hand.

“It can be dangerous on the road,” the fox informed her casually. “Women don’t tend to fight, so a lot of them feel more comfortable traveling with a man in case there’s a problem.”

“But you fight,” Ivy pointed out, glancing at the giant glaive on the demon’s back. “All the time. It seems like you love it.”

A smile stretched across her lips. “That’s cause I do.”

“Do you think we need a man with us?” the younger girl asked softly, beginning to question whether there was need for them to be concerned. “Those women sure seemed to think we did.”

Sakura scoffed at the suggestion. “They can think what they want. We’ll be just fine. We don’t need a man to defend us.”

And they didn’t. Sakura was more than adequate at the job of protecting the both of them, and she did so when need be. Whether it be the road, a town, or a city, Ivy unintentionally attracted men wherever they went, some more aggressive than others, but none nearly as fierce as the demon. But the fae wasn’t the only one who enticed men.

So did Sakura.

Though men were more reluctant to approach the vixen with her various weapons and daunting glare, there were those who were brave enough to make the attempt. Most were wise enough to give up quickly and go about their way, but the ones who weren’t were never foolish enough to try again, not after having their faces smashed and their bones snapped.

Sakura was right in that they didn’t need men to protect them.

But having them around sure was a relief.

Ivy didn’t realize just how quiet and peaceful things could be until joining with Zero and Ren. It was an instant change in the way they traveled. No longer were they stopped or called to by men. Now, those same men passed by with little more than a glance at the two women before moving onto their male companions and then back onto the path without issue. There was an unspoken, yet obvious respect given to Zero and Ren that Ivy and Sakura had never been granted. It seemed unfair to the girl that their treatment would be so vastly different, but fair or not, it was still nice to reap the benefits that the men’s presence provided. Though Ren was always so friendly and charming to those along the way, his intimidating stature gave even the most valiant of men pause. Zero, on the other hand, never spoke up, but he always walked alongside the girl, quietly observing everything around them, sheltering and keeping her company.

Ivy gazed up at the boy next to her. The wolf demon had compared him to a brick wall earlier, but she never saw him that way. He may not be as expressive as others, but it just made the ones he showed all the more genuine. Each physical display of emotion was pure and true and never forced. And even though others were weary of the crimson of his eyes, the girl only ever felt warmth from them.

Those same crimson irises turned to peer into her violet ones. “What?” he asked softly.

“Nothing.” She smiled and reached up for a quick peck before retreating. “I just love you.”

But Zero followed her, his lips claiming hers for an encore. He pulled back slightly, his own smile gentle and adoring. “I love you.”

A giggle bubbled from the fae as she held onto his arm tighter and rested her cheek against him.

There was nothing brick wall about the boy.

How anyone could think that about him was beyond her.

Ivy tilted her head to look at the angel sitting on the other side of her. Even though she was probably the only one who thought so, she had enjoyed watching Ren’s fights most of all. Of course, they weren’t really fights, more of a battle of wits on his part. He had won his third match relatively quickly, as his opponent had expected the same ducking and dodging from him as he had done during the first two matches. But Ren had been prepared for that, and so, instead of tricking the other fighter out of bounds, he tripped him.

It had made Ivy giggle despite the jeering and booing from the crowd and the growls from Sakura as she struggled to compose herself. The girl couldn’t help it though. She much rather preferred the bruising of egos compared to the bruising of flesh.

And now the man sat, proud and audacious, waiting for his time in the final’s match while he watched the woman pound her opponent into the ground. A smile grew across his face as he elbowed the wolf demon next to him. “You’re all that’s left, big guy. You ready to get your ass beat by my woman?”

Ahiga didn’t look as amused as the angel, his jaw set tightly and brow furrowed. “I’m not worried about it.”

“You should be. Just look at her.” Ren continued to avidly observe Sakura, her body looming over her opponents, fist smashing into his face to the cheers of the crowd. “She’s a fucking monster. Have you ever seen anyone like her?”

“I think I can safely say I haven’t,” the wolf said before turning and studying the man. “How did someone like you end up with someone like her?”

“Well, I may not be a wolf, but I do have a certain charm about me that is hard to resist.” He grinned at the demon. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Ahiga snorted. “No, I wouldn’t. There’s nothing charming about a man who enters a tournament and doesn’t even bother to fight. And it looks like she has no problem resisting you. Seems like she’s pretty fed up.”

The grin on the angel’s face slowly vanished as his eyes roamed over the wolf. “Is it really that obvious?”

“Do you not have eyes?”

“I do, I guess I just…” Ren sighed, facing forward and sinking into himself, his voice losing its perk. “It’s hard, you know? When I made Sakura my One, we were young. Real young. Just kids. It really was just a spur of the moment thing that neither of us really thought through. But you know how young love is. Stupid. Blind. You think you have it all figured out. That nothing will ever change. Then you get older and things do change. You change. She changes. How she felt then isn’t how she feels now. I probably should have known. She’s always been prone to wander. Never one to be kept down for long.”

A small gasp escaped from Ivy as she listened to Ren. How he could say such things, she couldn’t comprehend in the least. It was unmistakable how much Ren loved and cared for Sakura. And although Sakura wasn’t as candid with expressing herself on a constant basis as he was, there was no denying that she felt the same. To think that the man had been carrying on to such convictions of doubt broke her heart.

Ivy couldn’t let this misunderstanding continue. She had to do something about it.

She reached out, tenderly placing her hand on the man’s arm. “Ren,” she said gently, “that’s not…”

He turned to her, a small curve creeping to his lips despite his solemn face as he spoke quietly to the girl. “Not now, Little One. Papa’s having a very important conversation. It’s impolite to interrupt.”

The girl was taken aback as he turned away and ignored her. She was trying to comfort him, and he had completely dismissed her.

Ivy wouldn’t take this lying down.

She opened her mouth to argue but was silenced by a large hand covering her own and removing it from Ren’s arm.

“Just leave it.” Zero shook his head and entwined his fingers through hers. “Trust me. It’s best to not get involved.”

The girl didn’t like it, but she would do as recommended.

For now.

Ren peered at the wolf—so pathetic and beaten down—and continued. “That feather on her shoulder, that’s my bond to her. I can never take another. Doing so would be a sin against my god that I love and cherish so dearly. But there’s nothing that bonds her to me. Nothing stopping her from taking another.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands clasped, staring at the victorious woman standing in the arena as the dwarf announced her win and called for the next match. “That becomes more apparent every day, and at this point it’s probably just a waiting game.”

Ahiga took a moment to look at the troubled man before pushing himself to his feet. “Well, I guess you can’t win them all.”

“No, you can’t,” Ren agreed as the wolf made his way from the stands and to the ring.

Ivy could no longer hold her tongue and she escaped Zero’s grasp and grabbed at the man’s face, twisting it towards her. “That’s not true, Ren!” she insisted as tears welled in her eyes. “Sakura loves you! How could you not see that?”

“Of course she does. Just look at her.” Ren did as he told the girl to do with a lecherous gaze. “Out there flaunting herself around for my enjoyment. She’s obsessed with me.”

The girl blinked, confused, the moisture in her eyes evaporating as her hands fell into her lap. “What?” It made no sense. If he didn’t actually think those things then why would he say them? “Why would you tell him that then?”

A chuckle escaped from his wicked grin. “This tournament has been a little too boring. It’s time to liven things up.”