~Ao~

We were nearing Sand Garden the last stop on this stupid lift house ride, it's almost taken a month, with Shiro we would of been there already and had three weeks to spare but no Toriko had to insist we'd take the scenic route.

Anyway i was nearly at my own limit too Zebra has been especially irritated with Toriko here, picking fights none stop thankfully i had managed to stop them from fighting but that's exactly why i was at my limit, these two rowdy kids hardly gave me a brake.

Komatsu and Toriko were talking about something in the guidebook when Zebra walked up, please don't tell me he's picking yet another fight we're so close to our destination too "Hey kid, you ain't getting cocky are ya?"he asked Komatsu, oh good he's just playing around with Komatsu.

"No, not at all, not one iota"Komatsu told him "Alright, listen up kid just lemme tell you this before we get to the desert, think of me as an environment, if you don't adapt to me you're gonna get killed that's the law of nature, Ao there is the only one who can deal with me even in my worst mood"he said pointing back to me.

"Huh? How?"Komatsu blurted scared, i sighed a bit Komatsu too is a part of the reason i'm stressed, he's been asking me hints on cooking and some really personal stuff too like a little kid who doesn't know when to shut up "I'm not in the mood to tell you, i'm so stressed i'm certain i'll get a grey hair at thirty, oi Toriko i blame you for this, with Shiro we'd be done by now but no you had to take the scenic route"i said.

"Oh come on Ao it hasn't been that bad"Toriko said with that stupid grin on his face, i glared at him making him drop it instantly "I'm very sorry"he said kneeling in apology, i sighed rubbing my head "I'll say it again this is your fault so i expect to be paid back in full"i said "Yes miss" Toriko said bowing.

~Third~

'For even someone as composed as Ao to be loosing her temper, being cooped up in this house has everyone on edge' Komatsu though sweatdropping as he watched Toriko, thankfully just then they finally arrived at Sand Garden.

"It's so hot out here"Komatsu said once the group got out of the Lift House "Yeah, apparently it gets a little over 60 degrees during the day"Toriko said "So this is the sand kingdom eh?"Zebra stated more then asked, Ao sighed "At least with the fresh air my head doesn't feel like it's going to explode you just had to insist on the scenic route Toriko"she said "I already said i'm sorry, geez how much are you gonna keep bringing it up?"he asked.

"Until i get paid back for a whole month wasted time keeping you and Zebra from fighting"Ao said crossing her arms "Yeah yeah"Toriko muttered, Zebra went over to some guy that had been staring but Ao pulled him back "Come on, we've wasted enough time as it is let's just get our supplies and get going"she said, Zebra huffed "Fine"he said as the two walked on ahead with Toriko and Komatsu following.

~Ao~

After arriving at town Zebra and i went our own way, Zebra went to empty out some of the restaurants while i gathered supplies and equipment for the desert trip, "Hey i'm done eating where'd Toriko and the little guy go?"he asked "Dunno but you can locate them by sound can't you? Anyway since you're done eating we should meet up with them, here a cloak and turban"i smiled handing them to him.

"Thanks"he muttered wrapping the cloak around himself and the turban on his head before tracking down where Komatsu and Toriko had left, we found them at the next town over "Oi Toriko, don't go leaving me behind, dammit!"Zebra yelled at Toriko as we found them and walked over.

Then the towns people ran over calling Zebra, sama(master) anyway i got caught up in their rush and was pushed outside the crowd by the crowd, at the end though someone tripped me and i yelped falling down before i could catch myself.

~a quick third~

Zebra looked over feeling Ao leave his side and then hearing her yelp, looking over the crowd he saw she had fallen down, he figured someone tripped her on purpose Ao wasn't clumsy, he shook off the crowd "Back off you cocky bastards i'll kill you!"he said getting them to back off a few meters, walking over to Ao he helped her up "Cocky bastard, you okay?"he asked.

~Ao~

"I'm fine, they just caught me off guard"i said brushing the dirt off of myself "I'm surprised though you're not usually like this in public"i said teasingly, Zebra huffed turning away "I can be if i wanna"he said, i giggled a bit "Whatever you say"i smiled and kissed his good cheek in thanks, he looked away blushing.

Anyway just then Zebra heard something and walked over as an eight tailed scorpion popped out of the ground, Zebra made quick work of it though but the towns folk ran over again "I told you to stay back you bastard, you better adapt to me"he said turning to them and making them stop in their tracks.

I giggled a bit, he's really quite protective, anyway we got some camels but before setting out i cooked up the eight tailed scorpion for Zebra as a snack on the road, the towns people let him have a Wine Camel too, i hopped on behind him and then we set out.

We had been travelling for a while now, i still say it would of been faster with Shiro, i wonder where he flew off to, maybe he's sunbathing somewhere in this vast desert, well regardless he can handle himself, then we were attacked by some sand sharks.

Zebra dealt with them too chasing them away, we continued travelling only stopping at night, i laid back and watched the star filled sky with a smile "What are you so happy about?"Zebra asked "Nothing i just like watching the night sky"i said, he huffed a bit "I don't see what's so great about it"he said.

~Third~

Ao giggled a bit before smirking as she tackled Zebra and pinned him, "Miss Ao!"Komatsu yelled shocked and looked away fearing he'd see something he shouldn't "There, do you see now?"Ao asked, she just forces Zebra down and held his head on her lap making him look at the night sky.

Zebra huffed "No, i do see something though"he said "And what's that?"Ao asked "Your boobs have gotten bigger"he said, Ao giggled "You perv" she said, Komatsu blushed hearing this but as he wasn't watching his imagination ran wild, Toriko pouted growling a bit 'That should be my head on her lap'he thought.

~skip~

~Ao~

The next day we finally arrived where the Desert Labyrinth starts, a vast red colored desert, the iron in the sand having been rusted red by the sun made the color possible, that's not all though the blood from countless beast made it red too, i remember this place from my training, this won't be easy.

"This is the start of a fun survival game, oi Ao hop on infront me, i wanna keep you close"Zebra said, i blushed a bit and nodded "Kay" i said and hopped infront of him, with that we continued moving.