Mature Content Warning: A little foul language and naughty imagery. I would not call it 'Ero' but it might be slightly more graphic than some might prefer in that there are drunk people touching places sober people would not and a lot of it involves girls who are handsy with each other. Basically, if you've ever seen an ecchi anime you'll probably survive this update.

Author's Notes: This chapter is dedicated to the development of people and not really about external conflicts. If you don't care for character development, you will have to wait for another chapter or so.

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Chapter 22.1: Please Stop Protecting me

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Laughter echoed through the air as one exhausted human form dragon and three overly enthusiastic girls continued their discussion. In a way the evening had turned into something like a miniature party. What was the old saying? One is sad, two’s a date, three’s a crowd, and four’s a party? It was something like that.

“No way, you did not.” said Ashton with a soft giggle. She had decided that she genuinely liked the other two girls. Sure, she was still a little jealous about how close they were with Scott, but it was not like she had any real history with him outside of work. He was just someone who she had become interested in, quite recently.

Shara laughed then took a sip of her supposedly non-alcoholic beverage. After downing the entire glass of suspicious smelling orange juice, she said, “I sure did. That guy walked funny for two weeks.”

“Good, to hear, big sister.” said Sonja. She blinked then giggled a little before she took another sip of her strange tasting, but surprisingly pleasant juice.

“The guy deserved worse.” remarked Scott. He was not against a man caressing a woman, but don’t grope a girl when she bends over to tie her shoe.

“So protec-tive...” said Shara. She giggled once and her face became flush. This stuff was stronger than she had thought. If only she could have coaxed Scott into drinking some too. She understood his reasons for not drinking given his past issues with his step-father.

Scott reached out and rubbed the top of her head. “Gotta look out for... what was it you used to have me call you when we were kids?”

She raised her hand then held up a single finger. "Firsto...” She said just before she moved her finger to the side. “Waifu.”

Ashton blinked owlishly then laughed. “Seriously?”

Scott nodded. “Yeah, she often said things like that when we were growing up.”

“What language is that? It doesn’t sound like it fits.” said Sonja, curiously.

“Engrish.” said Scott and Shara in unison.

Ashton giggled softly then took another drink. This was fun! She had not had fun like this since college, though she never had a guy in the room when she and her sorority sisters got sloshed.

“Ah...” said Sonja. She did not get the reference, but it was nice to see her master happy for once. He certainly smiled more when Shara was around.

“So, she wanted to be your first wife?” asked Ashton. Did that mean she expected to get divorced or something?

“Mhmm.” said Shara lightly before she swayed from side to side. It became apparent that she was listening to music that no one else could hear. Lost momentarily in a memory of the past, it took her a moment to register what Scott said next.

“Yeah, Shara was always saying weird things.” side Scott.

“Well, she kept insisting that she was a ninja and that her family was a secret group of demon hunters.” he said.

Ashton laughed loudly. “Really?”

“Yep.” said Scott.

“Ah, that’s not s’bad. When I was a kid, I wanted to be one of the sailor senshi from Sailor Moon.” said Ashton.

Scott laughed. “You like that show too?”

“He-eey! Wait a minute, who you callin’ weird, Scott?” asked Shara suddenly. She had finally caught up with the conversation. Scott looked over to her and the ponytailed girl pointed at him then shook her finger.

“You, mostly.” said Scott with a smile.

Shara gasped at him then wobbled a little. She looked at Sonja then looked back at Scott. Her cheeks became flush and she waved at him in annoyance. “Iz not weird to be a ninja. We got skillsies.”

“A ninja wouldn’t trip over every rock and root in the forest.” said Scott, still smiling.

She gasped again then flailed her arms around and exclaimed, “They were sneaky!”

Scott laughed at her drunken antics for a moment. Shara had certainly changed a little over the years, but she was still a sweet goofball at heart. That was a good thing to know.

Ashton started taking another drink. These people were crazy, and she loved every minute of it.

Shara snorted then bounced up from her seat on the couch. She wobbled slightly then said, “Besides dat, Imz not just a ninja an-anymore!”

“Oh?” asked Scott.

She untied her apron then spun it around. “I’m a super ninja!”

Ashton took in the sight of the now naked girl flying an apron as a cape and her drink shot out of her mouth amid a surprised laugh. “Oh my Ga-awwwd.”

“Shara, what the hell...?” asked Scott. The sight of his busty childhood friend wearing nothing but a cape while she stood with her fists on her hips was almost too much for even his jaded mind to handle.

“I’mz not the Shara! I’m iz the Soopa Ninja!” she exclaimed before raising one knee into the air and lifting her arms up to the side. With that maneuver she left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

“Shara!” exclaimed Ashton in surprise. She had heard of liquid courage, but whatever was in this stuff was amazing!

“Waa-aaawh” said the Soopa Ninja before she performed an expert and bouncy back flip then proceeded into a short series of punches and kicks.

“The Soopa Ninja fights for justice alongside her side-kick!” Shara hopped over and pulled Sonja to her feet.

“So, I’m getting involved in this then?” asked Sonja curiously.

“Oh, yah, girl.” Shara nodded at her emphatically. “We have to fight crimezies and stuffs.”

“I see.” Sonja thought about it for a brief moment then untied her apron and turned it around backwards to match Shara.

Scott suddenly understood why young Japanese males in anime and manga were often portrayed as developing a nose bleed whenever a naked girl popped up. He felt like his blood pressure had skyrocketed.

“He-eey. Wait... no no. Not likes that.” said Shara to Sonja.

“Hmm?” asked Sonja. “Is this wrong?”

“Yes, you haves to ‘nounce yaself with your secret codes name!” said Shara.

“What name might that be?” asked Sonja. She was happy to play along, but she did not actually know the rules of this event.

“Uh...” Shara blinked then raised up one finger. “Thasa good point!”

She turned to Scott. “What is she to you anyway? She your guuurlfriend?” Shara grabbed her breasts then kissed at the air and made little kissing sounds to emphasize her point.

Scott was not certain how to handle that. The question made him uncomfortable. “Well...”

“Yeah?” asked Shara. She leaned forward and turned her head to the side so that one of her ears was closer.

“I do like having her around...” he admitted. He was not sure what else to say.

Sonja’s nostrils flared slightly and her cheeks became flush for reasons other than being drunk. Finally, she said. “Mooooo!”

“Moo? Whassat?” asked Shara.

“I’m more like his livestock, I think.” admitted Sonja drunkenly.

“Sonja...” said Scott in a low voice.

“Well, it’s true! I am nothing but, but... Your cow... Aren’t I?” said the girl with a sniffle.

Scott very quietly said, “Dammit, Sonja...”

“What in the world are you talking about?” asked Ashton.

“You mad at me master? Huh? You mad?” asked Sonja in a sudden drunken fit.

The Valkyrie lunged forward and lept atop the man who owned her. She gripped him tight by the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward her. “Who the hell do you think you are, huh? I’m a grown woman dammit. If I want to fuck you, it’s because I want to fuck you!”

“Sonja, I-” Scott started to speak, but found it impossible with a slightly pickled tongue jammed in his mouth.

She pulled back and shook him roughly. She started to cry “Stop protecting me! Stoppit! Just stop it!”

Scott sat up a little more and adjusted their position. “I refuse.”

Sonja sniffled at him. “Wha...?”

Scott pulled her close and gave her a warm hug. “If you want me to see you more as a woman and less as a friend, I am happy to do that.”

Sonja’s eyes widened gently and she sniffled a little. However, she was completely unprepared for what he said next.

“Even so, I don’t think there would ever be a time when I would not try to protect you.” he said without a hint of silliness or intended humor. The fact that his eyes started to glow a dull-red spoke volumes about his intent.

“Master...” whispered Sonja gently. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.

Scott kissed her softly on the lips then smiled at her. She was a wonderful girl, and he would have to have been crazy not to have seen it.

“If... If that’s true... Then stop pushing me away.” she said in a soft, tremulous, voice. The words came hard for her. Had she been sober, she might not have been able to speak them so suddenly.

Scott was lost for words. He was not certain how to answer her. He cared about her greatly, but their ideas on sex were in opposition. The main issue was her enslavement, however. He could not just end it, no matter how much he would like to do so. It did not work that way. From what he had learned from her, only taking her back to the highlands would break the enslavement magic properly.

While he thought about what to say, the moment became awkward. However, a certain someone knew exactly how to lighten an awkward mood.

Soft hands reached around and grasped Sonja’s breasts from behind. “I dub thee, Mega Moo!”

Sonja gasped at the sudden entanglement then blinked. After she realized what had happened, she laughed a little then rose up from Scott’s lap. She rubbed away a tear from her left eye then smiled softly at her would-be big sister. “Mega Moo, is it?”

“Yes, Soopa Ninja and Mega Moo! We fight crimezies and stuffs!” exclaimed Shara with a giggle.

“Right... Let’s do that.” said Mega Moo, a soft smile rising further upon her lips.

She started to step away from Scott, but she stopped when she felt his hand firmly clasp hers. “Master?” she asked in surprise.

“Just for a moment...” said Scott.

“Huh?” she asked him curiously.

Scott rose up from his seat then started to walk toward his bedroom, Sonja in tow. The surprised girl followed along, almost shyly. What did he intend? The possibilities were endless.

Ashton asked Shara, “Should.... I leave?”

“Nah.” said Shara before she flopped her naked ass down next to Ashton without a hint of embarrassment. “They’re probably going to go discuss secret boy girl stuffs.”

Shara made a shushing sound to Ashton then giggled drunkenly. “Shhh. No telling.”

“Goodness, I’m buzzed.” said Shara after the room grew quiet.

“Sweety, I think you passed buzzed a while back.” said Ashton with a smile.

Shara turned toward the girl again then nodded. After a moment the leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.

Ashton’s eyes shot open in surprise and she pushed at Shara. Unfortunately, what she ended up pushing against only made Soopa Ninja even more intrigued. However, the naked girl pulled back then blinked.

“Oh, yeah, wanna make out a little?” she asked seriously. Sure, it was a bit after-the-fact, but it would be rude not to ask.

“Uh... no, not so much.” said Ashton nervously. She might have experimented a little in college, and she was kind of drunk. But she was definitely not that drunk, yet.

“Aww, but you’re such a cute 'lil bitty foxy poo.” said Shara while wiggling her face and nose cutely.

“What...?” Ashton pulled away from Shara a little. What had she just said?

“Hmm? You’re not a foxy poo? Imz shur I saw foxy ears and a cute bushy tail...” said Shara lightly.

“Uhhh.” said Ashton. Shara had seen her? She had thought that she had made her escape quick enough to avoid detection!

Shara waved her hand rapidly then snuggled her cheek against Ashton’s face. “Don’ worry bouts it. S’not like you’re the only one who changes to sumthin...”

“Huh? I’m not?” asked Ashton.

“Yah, nope! I’m not 'sposa knows, but I knows, and they dun knows that I know.” She blinked then made a counting motion in the air. Finally, her eyes lit up and she said, “Ya know?”

“No. Who is it that changes?” asked Ashton.

Shara giggled softly then nuzzled her nose into the fox-girl’s neck a little. “You wanna know?”

“Yeah...” said Ashton, while she tried to edge away from the amorous drunk girl.

Shara leaned in then whispered into her ear. “It’s a sec-ret.”

“Gonna tell me?” asked Ashton.

Shara looked at her for a moment then leaned in a slowly ran her tongue along the side of the girl’s face. Ashton was somewhat mortified and had no idea what to do. What did you do when a nice, drunk, girl licked your face but also knew your secret identity?

“You taste awesome.” said Shara with a giggle.

Ashton’s eyes darted around awkwardly for a moment, then she managed to awkwardly say, “Thanks...”

Shara giggled again then kissed her on the ear. “No wonder Scott likes you.”

Ashton’s expression froze. Slowly her nostrils began to flare and then her face turned bright red before a soft puppy-like whine escape her lips.