Aka stared at Nefe.
"Are you ok girl? You look really weird" she asked.
"Something must have happened to her but what?" Yana wondered as the door opened to see the engaged couple.

The two pulled apart when the door swung opened, nearly causing Melhana to topple out. And this time both Bakura and Melhana turned a few shades redder than the Griffindor House flag.

"Looks like we need to leave the lovebirds alone while they 'get it on', Yana!" Jonouchi teased. The joke was met with a frying pan flying through the air and hitting him in the face.

"Moron!" Melhana yelled, back on her feet. "Can't you keep your foot out of your mouth for once?!"

Bakura sighed. So much for privacy, he thought.

"Yana," Neferhenta asked. "Do you guys always have these kinds of awkward situations...?" She herself was turning a tad red as well.

Aka sighed.
"Can we move along please! We can ask them what's going on later" she asked, getting pissed, "I don't want to waste my time on something which isn't going to happen."

"R-right," Melhana said, still blushing. She helped Bakura up and the two joined the rest of the gang.

"How far are we?" Bakura asked.

"We were about to list what we need for the party" Yana asked, "and Nefe was going to take some notes too."

"Hm," Melhana mused. "I've got an idea of what to get her..."

"What's that?" Bakura asked. His face was still bright red, and Melhana suspected that hers still was too. She couldn't stop playing with the new ring on her finger.

"An art easel, and paints." Melhana said. "In fact, we could probablly theme the whole party around it. After all, Ashleigh likes drawing nearly as much as her music."

"An art party.....I have noticed in her soul room that some picture frames are painted beautifuly" Aka agreed.
"That sounds cool" Yana agreed.

"There's an oil painting that one of Pegusus' proteges painted of the gang a while back," Melhana said. "You still have it, Honda?"

"It's in my quarters, why?" Honda asked.
"Melhana, did you apologuised to Ashleigh about what happened a while back?" Aka asked.

"Yeah," Melhana replied. She placed a hand around the dog tag-style cartouches around her neck. Bakura, Jonouchi, Honda, Mana and Ryuji all had a set that matched. The only differences in the pendants were their names on them, and their birthstones. "She's a part of the gang, just like the rest of us after all."

Aka revealed Ashleigh's Dog tags from her pocket.
"She hasn't been wearing hers since she still thinks that you still hate her, which is really hard to believe since you two get along fine" she said, "She also thinks that she's not good enough for the group now because she blames herself, dragging you into this" and she threw the dog tags at Melhana.
"Put this in her present to remind her that we're all in this. Together" Aka added.

Melhana caught the dog tags. "I will," She said. The emeralds in the pendants were swirling with energy inside them. Ashleigh's energy. No wonder I haven't been able to feel what's going on with her through these. She hasn't been wearing them.

"it was also for protection right?" Aka asked, "So far she has been attacked since she's being stubborn."

Melhana nodded. "All of these are infused with a protection enchantment." She replied. "That, and they'll get warm if any one of us is in danger."

"Like the rings my father, aunty, uncle, and cousin had." Neferhenta said. She reached into a pocket and pulled out a golden band inscribed with heirglyphics, with a single garnet stone set into it. "This was my father's. My cousin, Seto, gave it to me when I was young, shortly after my father was killed. Of course, it's always been too big on me. But I've kept it close ever since." She fell silent, staring into the depths of the gem in the ring, which was glowing slightly with an inner light. "I've never worn it."

3 Days later, Ashleigh fully recovered, finding Yugi by her side.
"Morning! I guess that the potion worked?" she asked.

"Yep," Yugi yawned. "Selena's still sleeping like a rock though. And so's Judai, considering how he stayed up all last night finishing a paper for one of his college classes."

Just then, Jonouchi poked his head into the room. "Hey, you're awake!" He said. "Ashleigh, we've got a bit of a surprise for ya...." He winked at Yugi, who knew what it was right away.

Ashleigh's birthday, and the gang had planed a party.

---

Meanwhile, in Selena's quarters they were getting the finishing touches put together. "Where's Honda with the group portrait?" Ryuji asked in frustration.

"Beats me," Selena typed on her phone. On cue, there was a knock on the door. Selena went to open it, and there were Honda and Mana.

"I got the painting" he said, handing it over.
"Anything we can do untill she gets here?" Mana asked as both entered the room.
"I don't think we need anymore help. We're nearly done" Aka yelled.

---

"You do?" Ashleigh asked, really confused. Then she looked at Yugi.

Melhana hung it up in the center of the back wall, directly accross from the door, where it would be the first thing Ashleigh saw when she entered the room. "There," she said.

"All right, now for the hiding." Neferhenta said.

"Easy for you, you're a yami." Selena typed. Neferhenta responded by sticking her tongue out at Selena.

---

"Yeah," Yugi said, playing along. "It's in Selena's quarters here. Once the doctors say you're fit to leave, we'll take you there."

"Um....ok" Ashleigh said, taking Yugi's hand and getting out of bed.....
"Hey! Who turned out the lights?"

---

"They're comming!" Aka yelled.

Everyone scrambled to hide as the voices of Yugi, Jonouchi, and Ashleigh got nearer. Ashleigh didn't seem too happy about being led blindly down the hall to Selena's quarters. I hope this works. Melhana thought.

---

"Don't worry, I won't let you bump into anything." Yugi said as he led Ashleigh with his hands over her eyes to Selena's quarters. After a few minutes and an elevator ride, they were at the girl's quarters. Jonouchi eased the door open, and Yugi led Ashleigh in, allowing her to open her eyes as he took his hands away.

((going to nab Yugi))
"Um, guys...."
FLICK!
"SURPRISE!" eyeryone yelled, leaving Ashleigh totally lost for words for a a short words. She strolled to the painting and touched it with her hands. Then turned around.
"You did this? For me?" she asked.
"Of course we did" Aka said, which made Ashleigh jump. Ashleigh turned to the improved Aka.
"Aka! You look different" she said. Aka nodded. Ashleigh turned back to the guys.
"And remind me what is the occasion?" she asked.
"It's your birthday you silly. I can't believe you forgotten that" Yugi pointed out. Ashleigh sweatdropped. Everyone laughed as Ashleigh flopped on the coutch, Yugi following her. A song was playing in the background.
"Here" Yugi said as he gave the girl a box. Ashleigh opened it and it showed a locket. in the front, it had the Japanese characters for her name (アシュリー) And it's meaning on the back (From The Ash Tree: アッシュツリーから)
"This is from Max. She knew that she won't be here for your next birthday so she gave me this in advance to give it to you today. She's always in advance in these things" Yugi said as he put it around Ashleigh's neck, "She said that no-one but you can have a look what's inside." Ashleigh nodded. Yana coughed.
"May I sing you a song mum?" she asked.
"Sure" Ashleigh replied.

Even when we have to each walk our different path now,
we are still friends. There's no doubt about that.
Those days when we each shone in our own colors,
they now push our backs so that we can stick out our chests.

The school ground where dust flew as we competed in a race,
the uniform that we didn't wear properly because it didn't fit,
the scribbles that we wrote on the desk tops,
all of them are our testimonies.

The replies on the white paper couldn't convey completely
the amount of our memories, which are being blurred by our tears.
Being childish, we also hurt each other before.
Have we, even by a little, grown up slightly?

The cherry blossoms rained in from our classroom's windows,
softly landed in our palms,
and knocked open our hearts.
Let's launch into the sky
the bouquets everyone made together.

Do not forget,
although we are each just a small flower petal right now,
we are not alone.

The love letters we found in our shoe rack,
the grumblings of our discontent in the hallway,
the future we drew hand-to-hand on the roof top,
all of them are our testimonies.

Although it's not written in our diplomas,
we have learned to trust and love people.
Crying,
laughing,
happiness,
anger,
just like us, the blue sky is also clearing up.

A rainbow of cherry blossoms stretched into our classroom from the windows,
as a piece of our dream
stirred up the feelings in our chest.
Believing that we separate now in order to reunite later,
let's all wave goodbyes at each other.

Do not forget,
once we've each grown out an extravagant flower,
let's meet again here.

With thousands of schools out there,
it was a miracle that we ended up in this school.
No matter how many years you age,
please always keep that gentle smile.

The cherry blossoms rained in from our classroom's windows,
softly landed in our palms,
and knocked open our hearts.
Let's launch into the sky
the bouquets everyone made together.

Do not forget,
although we are each just a small flower petal right now,
we are not alone.

Once we've
each grown out an extravagant flower,
let's meet again here.

No matter how hard it hurts me.
I'll never say good bye.
Your presence will always linger in my heart.
...wanna see your smile again.

There was a silence for a bit. Then everyone applauded at Yana's preformance. She sounded like an angel.
"Come here you two" Ashleigh said. The twins obeyed. Ashleigh gave them a hug.
"I got something for you too" Yugi said, giving her a bit larger box. Ashleigh opened it and, shimmering in the light was a crown. Yugi placed it on the girl's head.
"You're special, and don't you even forget it. No matter how many thoughts you have about not being worthy, you are. You're one of us now and nothing will take that away" Yugi said. Everyone gave a good murmur.
"Is this the main reason why you guys planned this for me?" Ashleigh asked.
"That's right" Aka said, "Until you get way stronger, I'm not going anywhere. They care for you and I can feel it through them."
"Thanks guys. I wish Max was here to see this" Ashleigh said, which followed by a kiss from Yugi.
"I always love you. From now till the end of time" he said, smiling.
"Why do I feel a group hug coming on?" Honda asked, and he was right. After the group hug, every noticed an automatic change in Ashleigh. The Ashleigh they knew long ago has finally returned back to them.
"For an ancient spirit Nefe, you're a great party planner. Finally Ashleigh has returned to her sences" Aka told Nefe as everyone put their pressents on the table.
"I wish I know where I put that blasted CD" Ashleigh said, which made Yugi hit the cushions.
"She's back alright" he groaned. Everyone laughed.

"I'll say," Melhana grinned. She handed Ashleigh her present. "Go ahead, open it." She said.

"Looks like we've got our Ashleigh back," Selena typed on her phone. Melhana nodded. Behind her back, she was playing with the ring on her finger. She hadn't taken it off since Bakura's proposal.

We may be stuck in another mission to save the world, but we're still allowed a bit of happiness from time to time. Melhana thought.

Ashleigh opened it and it revealed a photo album and something quite familiar. A Pair of Dog Tags.
"You found them! I was looking for it everywhere!" she said.
Eh? So she lost them. I thought she was stubbon about not wearing it Aka thought as Ashleigh hugged Melhana.

Melhana hugged the girl back. "Recognize the picture on the wall?" She asked.

"Yes. Yana painted the picture for us since she was greatful for saving her adopted dad. It was her that I named my daughter after" Ashleigh replied.