First things first, I dedicate this story to Ash / DOMinMatrix, without whose help, guidance and inspiration this story would never have been dreamt up. Thank you, my wise and cherished mistress. (Oh and if you haven't yet, go check out her stories Can I Have Your Daughter and Can I Keep You!) Also, to my son. You are my beloved demon spawn and I pray you never read this story. Lief you.

Secondly, reviews make me write faster. The story is there but knowing it's for you helps me access it faster. I once read someone's story who said while she loved reviews, she would prefer you to take the time you would spend on reviewing and tell someone you love them. Unfortunately I am not that altruistic so if you could do both, that would be amazing! If not, please review.

And last but not least, I'm new to fanfic writing so if I fall away from the material, please forgive me. This fanfic is intended M for dark and adult themes. You have been warned.

Enjoy xXx


"Is that all you've got?!" yelled Ban, wiping blood from his mouth."I thought we were gonna have a real fight!" Diane's eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. She raised her hand from where it hung at her side and thrust it, palm out, towards Ban. "Rush rock!" she cried. At once the earth broke into pieces and rose skywards then hurtled towards the lanky man. Ban leapt as high as he could into the sky, pushing off each fragment of rock to propel himself higher. At the apex of his bound, he coiled his body inwards, and then thrust himself towards Diane, preparing to unleash his full power. He was stopped by King as he felt Chastiefol enter his back. The former bandit grunted as the force of the blow caused him to start falling back to earth. Coughing up blood, he heard King, "Chastiefol form five, configuration: Increase!"

Twisting and turning to avoid the daggers, grazed here, impaled there as he fell to the ground, Ban miraculously landed upon his feet, his wounds already healed. "That's more like it," he growled. Meliodas flashed into his peripheral vision and Ban swayed from side to side, ducking and weaving as he dodged the captain's blows.

"C'mon captain, you can do better than that!" Ban taunted. "Okay," shrugged Meliodas and jumped back lightly. He snatched a twig from the ground and made a small gesture. Mud and grass flew into the air to either side as a deep furrow appeared, traveling towards Ban. Ban grinned and prepared to jump to the side when he was slammed to the ground by Diane's sacred treasure, the warhammer Gideon. The furrow caught him and sent the immortal flying backwards. He lay there groaning until Meliodas came and stood over him. Before the captain could say a word, Ban attacked. He punched the blonde man in the jaw and sent him flying backwards. Meliodas landed with an outward ripple of rock.

"Sir Meliodas!" came a shriek and the curvy princess landed on her knees beside him. "Elizabeth, it's not safe! What are you still doing here?!" "This," she replied and gathering the captain in her arms, held him to her ample chest. A golden glow surrounded them for an instant.

"Don't they call that cheating, captain?" came Ban's slow drawl. "Nothing is cheating in a fight for your life." Meliodas' voice was muffled, coming from between Elizabeth's breasts. "And especially not something that keeps you alive longer."

"Well then, I guess I should do something about that," and, using his three-sectioned-staff, performed his ability, Steal, on Elizabeth. The princess sailed through the air, screaming in terror. Ban clutched her to his side and grinned down at her. "How about healing me now, princess?"

Elizabeth unexpectedly snarled at him and swung as hard as she could at his face. Taken by surprise, Ban loosened his grip on her. With a look of thunder, Meliodas took advantage of Ban's distraction and launched himself at the pair. He swiftly pulled Elizabeth into his arms and delivered a mighty kick to Ban's bare midriff in the same, smooth action. Ban flew backwards with a hole in his chest, coughing and spluttering. "Damn captain, no touching your girl. You could have just said so."

Diane was ready. She raised Gideon above her head, "Rising Meteor!" she yelled. King was right behind her, continuing the attack. "Spirit Spear Chastiefol, fourth configuration: Sunflower!" Shooting skywards, Ban lay trapped atop a star shaped obelisk, growing at an incredible rate, as King's powerful attack towered above him. "Oh shit!"

The rock pillar reached its climax and the sunflower opened up. Ban rolled off the rock and plummeted to earth, the rays from the plant just missing him. "This is gonna hurt" he thought to himself.

The Fox sin landed face down upon the ground and lay still. Meliodas approached him and, using a foot, flipped him over. He remained on his guard as he asked, "had enough yet?"

Ban exhaled with a puff and spat dirt out of his mouth. "Yeah... Enough... Can we go get a drink now?" He asked shakily.

Meliodas relaxed and extended an arm. He pulled Ban to his feet. "You know, you're getting better. I felt for sure King and Diane's combined attacks had you and you avoided them both." "Yeah but I didn't land as many blows as I'd have liked." "Something to strive for next time." The captain grinned and then backhanded the taller man.

Ban span across the meadow where they had been fighting and landed with a crash, his body split almost in two. Meliodas flashed to his side. "What the hell captain?" Ban gurgled as he coughed up blood.

"The next time you involve Elizabeth, I will find a way to kill you," the blonde man said in a low voice. The threat all the more intense for the quiet and serious tone he used.

"I hear ya, hands off the princess." Ban agreed. Meliodas turned and strode away, leaving his comrade lying in the grass.


"So where's Merlin and Gowther? I felt for sure Merlin would have wanted to see me get my backside handed to me. She's a bit twisted that one." Ban lifted his stein to his mouth and drained it. He wiped his lips on the back of his hand and hiccuped.

"She said something about new armour for Gowther. I guess it's taking longer than she thought." Meliodas looked thoughtful.

"And besides, she can watch us beat you next time we're training", interjected King, a flush to his face from the alcohol.

Elizabeth looked a little worried. "Lady Merlin is twisted? She looks perfectly normal to me." The group erupted into laughter. Ban fell off his stool, he was laughing so hard, which caused the group to laugh harder. Elizabeth coloured red. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"He means Merlin enjoys seeing him get hurt", Diane rescued the princess. "Oh... Why would she do that? That can't be right." Diane smiled and tried to explain. "We all know that Ban can't be killed and because sometimes he's not exactly the most considerate of people, Merlin, among others, likes to see him get hurt."

Elizabeth thought for a second, "I see, like a punishment!"She smiled widely, happy to understand. The sins exploded once more into laughter.

"Hey Ban, bend over, the captain's coming to smack your bottom!" howled King.

"Go to your room with no supper!" shrieked Diane who was struggling to breathe. Her hand shook with the mirth and she tipped ale over her leg, causing her to squeal all the more.

Ban was still rolling around on his back on the floor, clutching his stomach. Meliodas bopped Ban on the head with his tankard. "I declare you officially punished!" he joined in.

Elizabeth was now the colour of a tomato and lowered her head, trying to hide behind her hair. Meliodas reached out a hand and squeezed her breast quickly. Her head rose as she protested, "Sir Meliodas!" but she quickly smiled as she took in the scene around her.

Her comrades were all in various states of inebriation, the happy sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air. The princess smiled, thinking back to before she had met the sins. She had been happy with her sisters and father but she truly felt she belonged here among these deadly warriors, currently acting like children.

She stood, intending to bring more ale to the table. She was the Boar Hat tavern's waitress after all. A crackle near her ear caused her to pause. She looked worriedly at her companions but they were all occupied and hadn't noticed anything amiss. The princess took a step away from the table and the gateway opened.

An inky portal, purple oil seeming to swirl within a ring of black flame, appeared before her. She let out a piercing scream as a muscled, dark coloured arm stretched forth and grabbed her. Her companions had all stood and made movements towards her at the first note of the outcry but none were fast enough. Elizabeth was gone. The last remnants of her scream echoed through the quiet her absence produced.

"Elizabeth!" Meliodas had launched himself at the portal, intending to also pass through when a lightning flash of black flame blazed through and touched each sin. The portal closed with another crackle.

The whole event had lasted but a few seconds. Meliodas landed with a thump on the grass and began laughing. His fellow comrades joined him. King and Ban leaning on each other in hysterics while Diane rolled on the ground, clutching her sides.

The four began to regain their composure and sat back around the table, straightening the stools and reaching for their steins. Their conversation continued genially.


Merlin and Gowther appeared in front of the tavern. They glanced at each other worriedly. "Captain? Where is Elizabeth?"

The blonde man looked blank, "Who?"