Chapter 36 – It's good to be back

Ashley sighed as she packed her pyjamas and other necessities into her backpack and started to lay out an outfit to wear to the sleepover on her bed. Galaxy leggings, a black baggy jumper, black converse and a beanie. Kid leaned over her shoulder as she did her makeup lightly and grabbed her hair brush,

"May I?"

Ashley giggled slightly, "You may."

Kid sighed after a few minutes of brushing, "Promise me this whole Tsubaki depression thing won't get you worked up thinking it's all your fault Ash cause it's really not, ok?"

Ashley nodded before spinning round in her seat and stealing a passionate kiss from Kid as he ran his fingers through her hair.

After a while he stopped, "Shit I'm going to have to redo your hair now!" He sighed as he picked up the beanie he discarded off the floor and started to do the process all over again.

"Hey guys, come in!" Maka giggled as she opened the door letting Kid, Ashley and the twin pistols stroll into her apartment half an hour later.

Their small place had always been a warm and friendly home to Ashley, whenever she wanted they promised they'd take her in, have her round for tea. Seemed odd that she knew she hadn't been there for roughly five months, perhaps things had changed?

"Ashley, you're here!" BlackStar grinned as she turned and walked into the living room as he wheeled Tsubaki and picked her up out of her wheel chair and placed her on the sofa so Ashley could sit with her.

"Hey, you ok Tsubaki?"

The weapon looked at Ashley and nodded quietly trying to smile, "I'm so glad your back Ash."

"Hey, listen I know what happened, why you're in this condition. I want you to know I don't judge you for it, nor do I want this behaviour to continue Tsubaki. What happened to myself and Crona wasn't your fault. It's no one's fault, it was fate."

Tsubaki sniffed as a tear rolled down her pale cheek, "Ok, I'll try to stop, b-but it's hard. I look up to you Ashley, you've done a lot in your life and equally been through a lot yet somehow you seem to be able to toss it all over your shoulder and forget the memory..."

Ashley frowned, "I never forget. It's impossible. You remember things that are important. There is a reason for everything, you can also learn from experience. Every day something happens I learn from, if I forgot the memory it could lead to me making a similar if not same mistake; or I could never recall a precious, special time like meeting you and the others. You see?"

Tsubaki nodded, "So don't forget, but come to peace with the past and learn from it?"

"Precisely."

Suddenly a knock caused the two to turn round as the rest of the gang walked in with hot drinks and blankets as they piled onto the couches and chairs,

"All right then, dirty dice..."

"Dirty dice?"

"No way. Never again."

Ashley looked between each individual, "Can someone explain?"

Soul smirked, "First you spin the bottle to see who it lands on, and they're the victim. Then,
here I have two dice, one dice has an action on each face and the other has a body part on each face. You simply roll the dice and complete your challenge by doing whatever the dice says to the victim."

Ashley grinned sadistically, "I'm in!"

Everyone groaned as BlackStar grabbed the bottle and spun it round fast until it finally landed on Maka, everyone but Maka and BlackStar laughed as he rolled the dice,

"Eugh this sucks. Maka take off your shirt, I have to pinch your breasts."

"WHAT?! WHY CANT YOU DO IT WITH MY SHIRT ON?!"

"ITS NOT THE SAME! Besides you need to so you can prove you actually have boobs."

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT MY GIRLFRIEND?" Soul growled.

"Sorry man but you gotta admit it's not exactly the same as pinching Tsubaki's or Patty's tits..."

"WHAT ABOUT OUR TITS?!" Ashley and Liz screamed weirdly furious at the fact their sizes weren't mentioned favourably.

"Err um...sorry gals theirs just came to mind first!"

After a bit more of a row finally BlackStar gave in and slipped his hands up Maka's shirt and completed the challenge.

"MAKAAAA CHOP!"

"Aargh jeez it's not my fault!"

Maka rolled the dice and spun the bottle bright red with embarrassment,

"Kid, you're my victim and I have toooo...stroke your neck?"

"Ehh ok fine but you better do it symmetrically!"

Maka sighed and did as she was told before handing the bottle and dice to Kid.

"Liz, I have to anything your ass so..."

Liz squealed as Kid slapped her butt causing her to go bright red, "THAT WAS MEAN!"

Liz grumbled embarrassed as she read out, "Soul I have to oh lord...lick your lips."

Soul smirked, "And this is why I like this game, Soul chuckled as he winked at Liz who grimaced at the action.

Liz leaned forward and awkwardly did what had to be done before running back to her seat as Soul licked the saliva from his mouth and spun the bottle and it landed on Ashley who was currently cuddling Blair who was sprawled across her lap in cat form.

"Ashley I have to..."

"Woah woah woah, no. Surely there should be an acceptation for siblings..."

"You wish Ashley Stein, you wish." BlackStar laughed.

"I have to touch your below belt area...great. This is why I hate this game," Soul moaned as he sat in front of Ashley and reached out but before he could ever get close she shoved him backwards onto the floor as Blair leapt on top of him and transformed into her naked human form.

"That's the only pussy you're getting bro," Ashley smirked watching Soul struggle and shriek rape as Blair possibly went a bit too far with the touching.

Ashley picked up the dice and rolled after having Patty as her victim, "Patty I hope you're into this sorta thing cause I have to lick your breast." Ashley laughed as Patty whipped off her shirt.

"Okie Ashy I don't mind!" Patty giggled as Ash ran her tongue across the top of her right tit.

Everyone either laughed or sighed as Ashley strolled over sassily and sat on Kid's lap,

"Maybe some time I could do that to you? See how you like it bad girl." He purred into her ear making her blush bright red.

"What did he say to you Ash?"

"Don't worry Maka I just said she has nice taste in ladies, only teasing." He grinned evilly as Ash buried her face in his chest to avoid the embarrassment of being caught blushing.

"Okie dokie Lokie Tsubaki I have to suck on your neck!" Patty giggled as she practically leapt onto the space by her friend and started to go all wild at Tsubaki's somehow easily found sweet spot.

After Patty had finished she got back up and started to stroll back to her seat when BlackStar beckoned her to his side,

"Awkward question but gimme some tips on that stuff later please? I wanna make Tsu squeal when she's healed and able to do..."

"Don't worry BlackStar I'll make an instruction book for ya," she giggled.

"Instruction book for what?"

"Hehe I'll tell you later Ashy!"

Ashley couldn't help smile all through the evening, even though they all seemed to be hurt emotionally and physically after the current events, they all had each other. Ashley opened an eye and looked at the clock, she couldn't remember much of the evening that had slipped away from her along with time. She looked up into the eyes of Kid who was holding her tightly in his arms as she came to realise she lay on him on the couch in Maka and Soul's living room as the rest of the team seemed to be draped across other items of furniture. Her soft, tired giggle was stopped by Kid's lips crashing against hers, she was home.

'We are Broken, but we mend each other together.'
'Our souls are sound...together.'