Asha stood up in her home, taking a few more pillows and arranging them nicely off to the side. Silently, she went in search of some blankets, and came back with a ragged patchwork quilt. Laying it neatly with the pillows she tried her best to make a bed for her guests. When she finished she turned back to her partner, who was still sitting staring at the floor deep in thought. "Asha apologizes… but there was no other way to clearly explain the consequences of the soul." She stepped over to him and held out her hands, which he took and stood, nodding to her. "But realize this… I do not pity you, street rat. The only thing I pity is your foolishness." A small smile broke across his face as he let out a soft chuckle. "I wouldn't want yer pity anyway, witch." She smiled back, and looked back at the front door. Asha knew they would come back, but she also knew that they had best be left alone for the night. Aqua had enough trauma in the past few days… poor girl. "Come… Let us leave them be.." She took Xigbar's hand again and tugged him into her room, though it looked like he wanted to protest.

Aqua led the way inside, and was greeted by the warm air. Thankful for it, she rubbed her eyes once more. Asha and Xigbar were gone, as was the walking skeleton. She was very glad that Asha's creation was gone… she could never sleep with that thing walking about.. A blanket was folded neatly amongst some pillows in the corner. That hadn't been there before. They must have set that out for her. Stepping carefully over to it she unfolded the blanket and motioned for Larxene to join her. "I-I'm sorry that there's only one blanket… You can have it if you'd like…. I just…" Her voice fell to a whisper, "I-I don't mind sharing…" Tiredly, she laid back on the pillows and curled up on her side.

Larxene followed after her, unsure of what she'd say to Xigbar and Asha. He'd probably say something smart. Her eyes narrowed at the thought. She drew a breath, ready to give him an earful if needed. "Oh." They were gone. Must've went to sleep too. Right? How long were they outside for? She shook the thought, hearing the other girl speak. She was going to open her mouth to protest, but couldn't bring herself to. Share it? They'd have to get awfully close for that… at this point she was in too deep. She sighed to herself in resignation and laid down neatly next to Aqua. She did share the blanket as requested, but refused to take much of it. Aqua was shaking so badly outside, not just from nerves. She needed the blanket more than Larxene did, she knew that. Her eyelids were feeling a little heavy, she wasn't going to deny it. "Thank you." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She wasn't used to sharing bedspace with anyone anymore. She hoped that she wouldn't end up being cuddled up to Aqua, be it hours from now, or in the morning. God, that'd be hard to explain… well, if Larxene were to wake up by a smack to the face of some sort, she'd know why.

Aqua felt Larxene's body lie down next to her, though her eyes were closed, and she was too tired to look. Her mind was slowly going dark, as she was falling asleep. Though something tugged at her mind. Having no thought behind her speech she asked with sleep-slurred speech, "Larxene…. why…. do you look at me…. like… you've known me before…?" She said this, and shortly after fell into a deep sleep. If Larxene were to answer, she would not hear it.

Larxene's eyes fell closed, surprised at how comfortable she had gotten. She didn't expect a response from the other girl, judging from the other night, sleep came easy for her. Larxene envied that a little. The performer sighed quietly, listening to the crackling of the dull remnants of fire in the center of the room. She peeked an eye open just barely, hearing her name being half-whispered. They snapped open in slight fear. Shit. What? She lay in silent, staring at the ceiling of Asha's home. Her eyes stung a little. Maybe things would be different, in another life? She shook her head. Aqua's question echoed in her ears. They looked so much alike… She felt that same strange hurt in her chest from earlier. She didn't like the feeling. She shrugged her shoulders in defeat. Tears welled in her eyes despite her best efforts. "Maybe I have…"

Asha pushed Xigbar in her room forcefully and followed after him without a word. She stopped to close the door quietly before saying, "You're not leaving. At least for tonight. You owe me that much..." Throwing her hip out to the side and folding her arms, as a scowl painted her face. "Also. Asha's not done questioning you. Sit down." At this, he waved a finger at her, "Un-Uh not so fast. I'll answer whatever questions you can throw at me, as long as I get a straight answer to one question at the end. Well... two questions.." "You will get one straight answer you greedy bastard. W-we shall see if Asha feels like answering the second question truthfully." Sitting down in an even larger pile of pillows than before, he accepted the terms, "Fine. Ask away, she-devil."

Asha sat across from him and smiled warmly, she couldn't explain why she enjoyed exchanging insults, but it was much better to her than calling each other something fluffy that left a bad taste in her mouth. Putting her staff down to the side, she watched Xigbar carefully, who was doing the same to her. She spoke softly, keeping her tone serious and even, "What did you bargain for that night ten years ago? There is no room for lies here." Xigbar's blood went cold. He swallowed hard as he looked at the floor again, away from her gaze. "I-I...I er... I told the Ringmaster that I would stay and work for him for as long as he needed me... as long as he'd let you and Mags go free."

Asha shook her head and whispered, "Her name is Maggie... But anyway... You should have chosen your words more carefully, that Demon is clever. He certainly kept his word... he did let us go." The Escape Artist tried to hold back his bitter tone, but didn't do so well, "How was I supposed to know he'd do a thing like that...?!" The woman looked at him with fire in her eyes, "You should have just ran with us."

"Next question." His tone was even worse now, which Asha let slide, given that she knew these questions would get under his skin. She sighed and asked another, "Are you really going to try to take Aqua to this Demon?" Xigbar chewed his tongue for a moment, truly thinking it over. He didn't have much choice, did he? After all, if he didn't... Mags' soul would be- "I have to. You know that." Asha slammed her palm onto the floor and snapped, "No you do not!"

Xigbar didn't have the heart to raise his voice anymore, so he evened it out, though not dropping the forceful tone. "How the hell do you think I kept yer souls safe fer ten years? Huh? Not by disobeying the Ringmaster. That's fer fuckin' sure. If I start now, Mags' soul is as good as gone." Asha looked away, folding her arms shakily, understanding what he had said, though she didn't want to believe it. The crimes he must have had to commit... to keep them both safe... She shook her head and muttered, "There must be another way... You see... If you do turn Aqua in... there is no hope... for any of us."

Sensing her pain, the performer touched her shoulder gently, "Wh-What do you mean?" Asha looked at him dead in the eye, voice wavering immensely, "If he gets her soul, he will be able to live on this earth for another century... maybe even several centuries... His power will know no limit. The souls of the living will be at his mercy, with little we can do to stop it! Don't you see?" He stared at her for a few moments before silently nodding, and holding out his arms to offer a hug. She denied it and hoarsely said, "Asha supposes that it is your turn to ask what you will..." Putting his arms down, he chose his words carefully again. He didn't want to make her even more upset than she already was. He hated to see her like that. It made his stomach turn.

Clearing his throat he spoke softly, "So... where is Mags? I know she's somewhere at the Circus... but why? Why did you let her go there?" Asha broke the quiet with a sarcastic laugh. "You had to ask this?! Is it not obvious, you idiot!? She left here looking for you. No matter how many times I told her that you were gone, she just wouldn't believe me... The foolish girl... She no doubt inherited that from you. But yes... she left a few days ago, and Pooka went with her. So far he has confirmed that she is safe there... but Asha knows not for how long..." Her voice trailed off into silence before she spoke again, "Do not get angry. Asha tried her best to stop Maggie... Though she was determined to find you, despite anything Asha told her."

Almost immediately, Xigbar's mouth went dry and there was a sharp pain in his chest. He knew why Mags had gone to the Circus... but he didn't realize how determined the kid was to find him. H-how old was she now... she certainly wasn't a kid anymore. S-Sixteen...that was probably her age now... Damn... And he had missed ten years of her life. Real fuckin' worthy of that "father of the year" award now. Interrupting his sorrow, Asha asked hastily, "Is that it? Because Asha is willing to answer your second question if you ask it quickly enough." Shaking the thoughts from his mind he hurriedly asked his second question. "I... know you probably didn't want me to say anything to you about this... but I have to know... When did you get that scar? W-Was it today?" He tried his best to ask this question as tenderly as possible, not knowing how she would react.

Asha froze in place, and promptly covered her face with her hair as best she could. She stammered, "A-Asha didn't expect company today... sh-she would have hidden it with magic if she could... but there was no time... A-... A-asha got this when she was very young... long before she met her idiotic street rat..." She turned away, covering her face with her hands. Xigbar didn't know what to do. He had never seen her confidence disappear like it had just now.

It was like she became a completely different person. Her voice wavered even more, and he could tell that she was holding back tears. "A-Asha is sorry... n-next time she will be sure to cover it up so that no one can see how awful and ugly it is..." Ugly? N-No... Scars aren't ugly... Well... at least hers wasn't. Not in the slightest. At least to him. It might be hard to convince her that it wasn't, but he could at least say something.

Softly, she began to cry, her shoulders heaving with every deep breath she took. Again, the sharp pain in his chest hit, causing him to move around to face her yet again. Gently taking her wrists and moving her hands away from her face, she looked at him with tears welled in her eyes; one a deep green, the other a pale white. Moving her hair from her face, and keeping his hand on her scarred cheek, he smiled softly, "I-I'm no good with words... but... Scars ain't a thing to be ashamed of, they're jus' proof to the world that you survived whatever it was that tried to take you down..." She hesitantly smiled back, amused by his cheesy advice. He continued, "You can hide it if it'll make ya feel better...I... I jus' want you to know that it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I mean come on. Look at me. If it did, I'd be an even bigger asshole than I already am!"

This last statement made her laugh, a happy and relieved laugh. She wiped her tears and whispered softly, "D-do you really have to go back...?" Xigbar stared into her eyes for a few moments, not wanting to answer that question. She only said he couldn't lie to her questions, she said nothing about not answering. Ignoring the question, he leaned in to kiss her, which this time, she accepted wholeheartedly.

Larxene was thankful for the silence that loomed over the two of them now. Aqua's breathing became more steady and even. Maybe she wouldn't remember saying that at all, and wouldn't ask about it in the morning. Larxene shook her head just barely. Stupid. Why'd she answer? Even if she didn't hear, that was an awfully fuckin' weird answer, wasn't it? She stared up at the ceiling, with her feet crossed and her hands folded neatly. The fire crackled weakly, still managing to radiate a fair amount of heat. What…? She listened for a moment, picking up a trace of voices. They're still awake…? Sure, after ten years apart, who wouldn't be? A slight grumbling noise escaped her mouth as she forced her eyes to close. She didn't want to hear whatever they may be saying, or doing in there. She focused instead on the fire, and Aqua's breathing. Soon enough, she faded into the ever-elusive state of sleep.