Ashley

The music seemed to flow through her as they practiced each song. Sometimes she sang solo, sometimes duet, and even once or twice in a group. The few songs she didn't sing, she played acoustic or electric guitar. After a while they had a break and she sat down on the edge of the stage. Ichigo sat down next to her. Besides being her best friend, he was also one of the few people she sang duets with.

"Hey, Ashley. Great job today!" he said, handing her a bottle of water. Ashley took it, nodding.

"Thanks! You too!" she said, speaking in-between breathing. The intensity of the singing and dancing took a lot out of her sometimes.

"So you forgot it was today huh?" he asked, laughing. Ashley glared at him.

"Yeah yeah, whatever. I had a lot on my mind today is all," she said, taking another sip. He laughed.

"Well well. So little miss perfect actually forgot something? Wow, such a shocker!" an irritating voice came from behind. Ichigo turned around while Ashley only looked over her shoulder.

"Come on, Yuki. Don't be mean!" Ichigo said. Ashley waved him off.

"Let her. It's not like what she says bothers me. In fact, I couldn't care less what the ice queen has to say to or about me," Ashley said. She gave a devious little smirk to Yuki which just made her madder.

"Ice queen? Why you, ahem. Whatever, as if a stupid insult like that could bother me," she tried to say calmly.

"Don't try to act cool and unbothered. Everyone knows you hate being called that," Ashley said.

"The-then why do you say it?" she asked, marching over to Ashley. Ashley's smirked grew bigger.

"It's fine to mess with you," she said matter-of-factly. It looked like Yuki was about to throw a hissy fit when Ichigo stepped in.

"Yuki what was it you wanted anyway?" he asked, sounding bored of this conversation already. Yuki cleared her throat and directed her attention to Ichigo.

"Well, um, you see. Some people from the drama department were going to see a movie this Saturday. So we were wondering if our president wanted to come with us?" she asked, stuttering. Ashley took a sip and kept one eye open to see what Ichigo would do. She knew for a fact that Yuki liked Ichigo, and who could really blame her? The guy was nice, courteous, kind of strong, and smart. Granted Ashley didn't see him romantically, but she could understand why many girls were in a secret Ichigo fan club at the school.

"Well, if you guys really want me to, then I guess. What about you Ashley? You wanna come with?" Ichigo asked. Yuki looked a little disappointed that Ichigo asked Ashley. Now, while Ashley would love to get under her skin, she wouldn't jeopardize people's chances for love.

"Nah. I've got training to do. I can't really skip a day," Ashley said. When she looked at them Ichigo looked a little disappointed. "Plus I don't like movies that much."

"Oh, okay," he said.

"Great! Then it's all settled! We'll meet up at the theatre at four on Saturday!" Yuki cheered. She walked away.

"Hey, what's the deal? I know you like movies! In fact I know you love movies!" Ichigo complained. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Didn't really feel like spending an afternoon with a bunch of people I don't know other than you," she said. Ichigo sighed. After a few more minutes they began to practice again and the rehearsal ended an hour later.

"Hey, Yuki!" Ashley called. Yuki turned around and looked angry to see her.

"What do you want?" she asked. Ashley lightly bumped her shoulder.

"Oh come on! Don't be that way! Let's talk for a sec!" Ashley said. Yuki sighed and they walked over to a nearby park. They set down their things and stood face to face.

"What do you want?" she repeated. Ashley glared at her.

"You listen to me. I know you like Ichigo," Ashley stated. Yuki's eyes grew big and she started to sweat. "So I suggest that if you really want to be with him, stop being so god damn jealous every time you see me with him. There is nothing going on between us. We are just friends. Always have been and always will. Now, if you are nice to him and me from now on, then I will help you." Yuki blinked twice.

"Huh? Help me? You mean, help me get to be his girlfriend?" she asked. Ashley nodded and stretched out her hand.

"Do we have an agreement? You stop calling me little miss perfect, I stop calling you Ice queen. You start being nice, and I'll help you get together with him. Basically I'll be your wing woman or whatever," Ashley said. Yuki smiled and nodded, quickly taking Ashley's hand.

"Agreed! But you can't tell him that I like him!" she said. Ashley let go and shook her head.

"No, that parts up to you. I'm just going to be there to set up the mood. So we have an understanding? Good, then I'll see you at school tomorrow. And be sure to wear less make up. I'm telling you right now he hates girls with too much make up. A little is okay, but not a lot," Ashley said. She picked up her bag and began to walk home, leaving a slightly stunned Yuki behind her.

However, she didn't quite make it home. A tall Maui Tai user stood in her way before she could get out of the park.

"Apa!" Apachai said. Yuki ran to Ashley's side.

"Who, or what, is that?" she whispered. Ashley sighed.

"Yuki, this is Apachai. Apachai, one of my friend's from school," Ashley introduced.

"Hello small person! Oh, Ashley! Allie and Haley are waiting for you back at the dojo. They sent me to see if you were done but I didn't see you at the school. So I followed your smell," he said. Ashley laughed nervously.

"My smell? Oh whatever. Okay. I guess this is good bye until tomorrow, Yuki. See ya! And don't forget what I told you!" Ashley said, looking at Yuki over her shoulder. Yuki looked a little surprised when she pointed up, Ashley found out why. Apachai had leaped onto a roof. Ashley sighed again.

"Don't question it. You'll have a lot more sanity that way. I'll see you later, Yuki!" Ashley said, also leaping onto a roof top via jumping from the top of a nearby dumpster.

They arrived at the dojo about ten minutes later.

"So Haley still sucks?" Ashley asked. Apachai nodded. "Well, it is only her first day. I guess we should probably wait a week to see results." When they landed, Ashley noticed that Takeda was still there. They all seemed to just be standing around talking and eating rice balls.

"Hey guys!" Ashley called.

"Huh? Oh, hey Ash!" Allie called.

"Hi Ashley!" Takeda said with smile. Ashley smiled back at him.

"Hi Takeda," she said. "So, how was the training, Haley?" she asked. Haley groaned.

"Oh don't be a wuss!" Sakaki said. "Today's light. Tomorrow we'll increase the training." Kenichi looked like he saw a ghost.

"Now where did I hear that before?" he muttered.

"What was that, Kenichi?" Akisame asked. Kenichi laughed nervously. That seemed to be a thing for him.

"Nothing Master Akisame, nothing at all!" Kenichi said.

"Hey! Ashley and Allie! Make sure she's on time tomorrow!" Sakaki said.

"She'll be coming here herself tomorrow since I have early morning rehearsal and Allie's training is increasing," Ashley said. Haley sighed.

"Great, so now I have to be sore and walk by myself?" Haley complained.

"Once again, it's either that or live her and get more training than you already are," Ashley said. Haley sighed.

"Fine, I'll walk by myself," Haley muttered. Everyone laughed. Things were definitely starting to get interesting, in school and at both dojos.

HEY GUYS!

HERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER!

THE THANKS!

THANKS FOR REVIEWING:

HALEY

MOLLY GRACE 16

LIZABETH

OUT OF CHARACTER

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!

I APREICATE EVERY REVIEW I GET, WHETHER IT BE PRAISE OR CRITICISM!

NOW QUESTION ANSWERING TIME!

LIZABETH: TO BE HONEST, I USED A TRANSLATOR TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR REVIEW LOL. SORRY IF THAT OFFENDS YOU. ANYWAY, I BELIEVE YOUR QUESTION WAS (MORE OR LESS) WHY TAKEDA WAS ASKING ABOUT THE CONCERT? WELL, HE ASKS BECAUSE, AS IT WAS POINTED OUT IN THE LAST CHAPTER, HE HAS A CRUSH ON ASHLEY. I MADE HIM ASK ABOUT HER CONCERT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SEE HER PERFORM HER PASSION. HE WANTS TO SEE HER HAPPY. ALSO, HE WANTS TO SHOW HER IN A SUBTLE WAY THAT HE WILL STAND BY HER SIDE WHEN SHE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HER. I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. IF IT DIDN'T PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT ANSWER. THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

OUT OF CHARACTER: I APRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GAVE YOUR HONEST OPINION. HOWEVER IF I MAY SAY SOMETHING. I AM FULLY AWARE THAT HIM KISSING ALLIE AWAKE WAS VERY OOC. BUT SOME CHARACTERS LIKE AKISAME NEED TO BE MADE TO BE OOC. IF YOU READ MY INUYASHA STORY, SESSHOMARU IS ALSO VERY OOC BUT HE AND AKISAME NEED TO BE MADE THIS WAY SINCE WE NEVER SEE HOW THEY ACT WHEN EITHER ARE IN LOVE. I JUST FELT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP NEEDED A LITTLE KICKSTART. I WILL MOST LIKELY BACK OFF A LITTLE ON THE OOCING IF I FEEL THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS PROGRESSING NICELY. NOW FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. IT IS NOT A TYPO THAT ALLIE IS 38. I MADE HER THIS OLD SINCE AKISAME IS THAT AGE OR AROUND THAT AGE. I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE HER 28 SINCE THAT WOULD FEEL A LITTLE WEIRD TO HAVE A TEN YEAR AGE GAP IN-BETWEEN THEM. ONCE AGAIN, I DO APRECIATE THE REVIEW AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING TO LIGHT THE OOC.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS AND REVIEWS!

SINCE I NOW HAVE A SET SCHEDULE THAT I KNOW WORKS, I CAN FINALLY SAY THIS:

THIS STORY IS UPDATED EVERY SUNDAY!

...AT SOME POINT IN THAT DAY LOL.

SO PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE STORY AND READ, REVIEW, AND QUESTION!

THANKS!