#ticklish!ash

Some days more intensely than others, but he would always come up with an excuse to tickle Karlyle silly. 

“Ahahahash, plehehease!” Karlyle tried to cover his mouth with one of his hands as the other gently pushed at Ash's shoulder, only leaving his ribs exposed for Ash's sneaky fingers. “AHAHA! N-Nohoho! Plehehease, n-nohohot thehere!” 

Ash giggled along with him, fingers digging into Karlyle’s ribs just the way it made Karlyle laugh almost hysterically. Karlyle, uselessly wrapped his arms around his ribcage and pressed himself into Ash. 

“Hehe, do you want me to hug you? I can't right now because I'm tickling you, Lyle~” 

Karlyle laughed against Ash's neck, feeling that sensation from earlier intensifying inside his chest, making his heart flutter. Was he going to die? 

“Ahahash, ack!”

“Careful!” 

Karlyle took a step back, not noticing that the couch was right there. The back of his knee touched the edge and he fell back, dragging Ash down with him. 

“Karlyle! Are you alri-hihihight?! Wahahahait!” 

Taking advantage of the fact that Ash was distracted, Karlyle's hands found their way under Ash's arms and his fingers curled against his armpits, causing Ash to collapse onto him, laughing. 

That sweet, yet awkward sensation filled him again and as Ash retaliated by tickling Karlyle's ribs again, he finally understood what it was. 

Warmth. Living with Ash, kissing Ash, making love with Ash, celebrating Christmas, tickling each other– everything with Ash made him feel warm, happy and loved. 

“FIHIHIHINE! Fihihihine, Lyle! Let's ehehehat! Let's ea- AHAHAHA!” 

“Ash… you shouldn’t be such a jerk to Shorter. And you shouldn’t have drunk his alcohol without his permission!” Eiji scolded him, but Ash just rolled his eyes and ruffled his hair, causing Eiji to scowl.

“What are you, my mom?” Ash asked and began walking away to exit the room. He stopped in his tracks when Shorter reappeared in the doorway, now empty-handed.

“You’ll pay,” was all he said, his tone foreboding.

“Don’t be such a drama queen…” Ash replied, assuming a defensive stance.

“Ash, Shorter, come one,” Eiji attempted to intervene, but as soon as Ash turned to address him, Shorter charged, tackling him to the floor. Eiji jumped at the sudden turn of events and stepped well out of the way of the conflict.

Shorter had landed on top of Ash and was sitting on his thighs. Ash had a tight hold on Shorter’s wrists, and the two fought intensely for control of the situation. Eiji could see that Ash was trying to knee Shorter in the groin, but was unable to in his position. Shorter, on the other hand, seemed to be reaching down towards Ash’s middle rather than any vital spots.

“Guys! Come one, knock it off! I don’t want anyone getting… hurt…” Eiji quickly went from concerned to confused as Shorter was able to overcome Ash, but instead of hurting him Ash began to… laugh?

“Sh-shorter, you don’t wahan’t to do thihis,” Ash struggled to keep his composure as Shorter’s hands, still held in a death grip by Ash, had found purchase on his sides.

“Yeah no, I really do,” Shorter replied with a smile, enthusiastic to get his payback. Ash didn’t stop fighting but could do nothing to stop Shorter’s eager fingers from spidering under his loose-fitting shirt and across the sensitive skin of his stomach.

“Shihihit, knohOHock it ohohfff,” Ash tried to sound threatening but the giggles flooding the room made him much less convincing. Shorter smirked as he saw him glance out of the corner of his eye at Eiji and turn a bit red, probably out of embarrassment.

“Pay close attention, Eiji, because I am about to impart upon you some crucial knowledge about our good friend here,” Shorter said with a smug smile, his voice wavering only slightly as the blond beneath him fought aggressively to dislodge him.

Ash laugh-shrieked before dissolving into nonstop laughter as Shorter squeezed his hips then kneaded them with his thumbs relentlessly. He had abandoned his pointless grip on Shorter’s wrists and instead flailed his hands, grabbing at the floor and nothing in particular.

Now it was Eiji’s turn to blush, both due to being called out by Shorter, as well as due to the unexpectedly cute reactions from Ash.

“This~ is~ a bad~ spot~ right, Ash?” Shorter singsonged, squeezing the poor blond's hips a couple more times. Ash arched his back and twisted desperately to get away from the unbearable feeling.

“FUHUaa- nyahahAHaha!” He wasn’t even able to form a response, and Shorter soon relented, instead walking his fingers up Ash’s torso to his neck.

“And here too, see Eiji?” he asked, turning his attention to Eiji rather than his victim who was taking the opportunity to catch his breath, but still giggling helplessly and twitching as the sensitive skin of his neck was targetted.

“Come and help me! Don’t you want payback as well?” Shorter continued, raising his eyebrows at the nervous looking man.

“Oh, I don’t know…” Eiji fiddled with his hands at the thought- it would be fun to get back at Ash but he wouldn’t even know where to begin. Shorter noticed his hesitance and paused his assault momentarily.

“I told you, I’m bestowing my knowledge unto you,” Shorter said in a silly voice, urging Eiji to join him. “I can show you how to make him forget what it’s like to not be a laughing mess,” he continued, returning his gaze to Ash who stared back nervously.

“Eiji, I s-swear to god I wihill kill you if you come anywhere near me,” Ash tilted his head back to glare at Eiji from his position on the floor. Again, he meant to be threatening, but his breathy voice and flustered face only made Eiji want to join in even more.

“After everything I’ve done for you lately, you’re threatening me?” Eiji asked with a hurt expression on his face and made his way over to where they were, kneeling next to them. Shorter smiled at him excitedly. Ash just stared incredulously.

Eiji gave Ash an almost apologetic smile before looking at Shorter hesitantly. Shorter gave him a thumbs up and grabbed Ash’s wrists. The blond’s struggling began anew as Shorter tried to lift his hands above his head.

“Help me with these please~,” Shorter said casually, and Eiji obliged. It took the both of them to pin Ash’s hands. Eiji held on tightly as Shorter sat back, contemplating where to strike next.

“Hmm… Let’s see, let’s see. We’ve already tried here,” Shorter accentuated that last word by poking Ash’s stomach with each of his pointer fingers, causing him to flinch.

“And we’ve already tried here,” this time pokes to his hips, and again Ash jumped, biting his lip to hide his growing smile.

“Eiji, where else have we tried?” Shorter gave his accomplice a quizzical look, and Ash groaned at the teasing. It was really making everything worse.

“Damn it guys, let me goOO,” Ash demanded, though it turned squeaky as Eijii used one of his hands to scratch at his neck and collar bones.

“Here?” he asked, laughing softly as Ash tried to trap his hand.

“Yes, yes. Next, I will show you a spot that will always make him squirm and giggle like a dumb kid,” Shorter said, sticking his tongue out at Ash. The latter grew a bit more panicked as Shorter scooted down from his thighs to sit on his calves.

“Shorter no, SHORTER,” Eiji nearly lost his hold on Ash’s hands as he began rolling back and forth as much as his current position would allow. Eiji solved this by half sitting-half kneeling over his hands to better pin them down.

Shorter, meanwhile, had begun squeezing up and down Ash’s thighs, from the tops of his knees, up to his hips, and back down again. Ash was laughing heartily now, squirming and kicking his legs as much as possible with Shorter sitting on them, which wasn’t much.

“Now, it’s all about technique here. And that technique is, Ash is a super ticklish mess and anything you do will work! Right, Ash?” Ash just shook his head in response. Shorter’s embarrassing teasing never ceased to make the feelings all the more sensitive. Tears teased at his eyelashes as he blushed and gasped and laughed.

“Ehehjihi, plehease hehehelp,” he attempted to plead with the less malicious of the two. Eiji felt a little guilty, but still wanted his turn at payback.

“Yeah Eiji, please help!” Shorter agreed happily.

“Okay,” Eiji said quietly, smiling down at Ash as he swept messy hair out of his face, before returning to tickling his neck. Ash had only a moment to look betrayed before his laughter became more giggly and he tried fruitlessly to shake off both Eiji’s and Shorter’s hands.

“Nearly, but no,” Shorter said, seemingly critiquing Eiji’s technique. Ash and Eiji both looked to Shorter who had stopped tickling him.

Shorter hummed as he moved his hands and pointed at his own neck, similar to where Eiji was tickling Ash. Shorter than moved his hands in a slow circle before stopping to point at his own underarms. Ash blushed deeply at his display, then shot a nervous look up to Eiji.

Eiji nodded at Shorter in understanding and mouthed ‘sorry’ to Ash, though the apology seemed insincere as he slowly dragged his nails from Ash’s collar bones to his underarms, causing the blond to jerk. He didn’t start tickling him right away, leaving his fingers pressed into Ash’s underarms.

Ash kept twitching from the slight tickly feeling of Eiji’s nails, as well as the anticipation. He let out a frustrated groan and hid his face in his arm.

“Damn it you guys, just- ohohohOH SHIHIT,” Eiji finally dug in, causing Ash to jolt and arch is back, nearly knocking a highly amused Shorter from his perch. His desperate laughter was gaspy as he shook his head back and forth.

“You’re better at this than I thought, Eiji,” Shorter said around a delighted smile. Rather than full tickling Ash again, he simply poked randomly across his stomach and sides.

“How does it feel, Ash? Was my baijiu worth it? Hm?”

“P-Please stahahap,” Ash gasped, twitching from every poke.

“Say you’re sorry for drinking my alcohol,” Shorter demanded.

“And for being an asshole the last few days,” Eiji added.

“I-I’m sohohorihihiy,” Ash apologized around tired laughter. Shorter stopped his pokes and folded his arms across his chest.

“For?”

“Drihihinking ihiHIHIT” Ash jumped when Eiji tested out his ribs with a couple squeezes.

“And?”

“Behehe- behehing an- ahahHA I cahahahan’t!” Ash stopped trying to speak and his struggling was weak as he laid there and laughed freely. Eiji tickled his ribs for a few moments longer before slowing his attack to a stop.

“Good enough,” Eiji said, releasing Ash’s hands. Ash immediately pulled his arms down and hugged his torse, still twitching and giggling slightly.

“I hope you have a change of attitude from here on,” Shorter said, also moving off of Ash. “Then again, if you don’t we will get to do this again~.”

“I’m gonna destrohoy you bohohoth,” Ash wheezed out, his voice cracking slightly.

Eiji swallowed and tried to avoid Ash's eyes as much as he could, which was relatively easy since the boy was only looking at Skipper, perhaps making sure he wasn't being too much for him.

"A-Ah, no. I... I just came back from the market and-

"AHAHAHA! Eihihijihihi, plehehehase! Mahahake hihim stahahap!" Skipper cackled, tears of laughter rolling down the sides of his face.

"Haha, now you want Eiji to help? Weren't you being a little shit while I was asleep? No one will help you, right, Eiji?" Ash looked up at him and Eiji quickly looked away so Ash wouldn't notice the intensity with which he was staring at Ash's fingers playfully digging into the spaces between Skipper's ribs.

"Eiji? What-

"Ahahahaha! Ahahahash, plehehease! I cahahan't!" Distracted by Skipper's hands tapping his arm, Ash turned his attention away from Eiji and Eiji sighed in relief, taking the opportunity to slip out of the room unseen.

His legs felt like sticks, he felt tense and embarrassed to the core and he hated feeling that way. He walked to the kitchen as best as he could and tried to entertain himself by putting away all the groceries and trying to ignore the laughter that came from the room, this time from Ash.

Eiji had always been strangely attracted to tickling and he usually didn't know how to react when he had to witness it. It was a secret that, clearly, he hadn't shared with anyone and he would really appreciate it if no one ever found out, but just like today, he was not able to control his reactions, besides, it had been a long time since he had even thought about it, especially not when he was with Ash.

But it had happened and now he felt a tingling sensation on his sides that made him shudder and clamp his arms tightly to his body. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be in Skipper's place or if he also wanted to join in the fun, either way he really wanted to participate, but of course he wouldn’t and so, he decided to try and forget about it all; ignoring the fact that the laughter made his cheeks turn bright red, that his heart skipped a beat when he heard Skipper yell a hysterical ‘not there!’ and that Ash’s teasing was driving him up the wall with butterflies inside his stomach. 

Their little game lasted only a few more minutes and Eiji took as long as he could to put away the groceries before sneaking off to do other chores to avoid running into a giggly Skipper or a playful Ash, he wasn't sure he could stand either of the two in his current state.

This is how the day passed by without Eiji noticing and when he least expected it, it was time to sleep. He wished everyone a good night and finally laid back on his bed ready to sleep... or so he hoped, but found he simply couldn't fall asleep, the events of the day spinning through his head over and over again, making his cheeks flush again and his heart pound wildly in his chest.

He rolled on the bed and tried to think of other things, but Ash and Skipper's giggles echoed in his head and a goofy smile appeared on his own face; dammit, he really wanted to join them, but it was risky, he couldn't bear the embarrassment if they ever realized how much fun he was having- no. He didn't even want to imagine it.

At some point, between thoughts of himself laughing his head off, he finally fell asleep and luckily (or unfortunately) had a dreamless, but restful night that was interrupted by incessant knocks on his door. He growled deep in his throat, but decided against asking who it was, he felt like he needed perhaps one more hour of sleep. 

“Eiji!” 

Of course it had to be Ash. This kid. Knocking on people’s doors as if life depended on it when he was the number one person to get pissed if you dared to even breathe too close to him when he was sleeping. Eiji shut his eyes, refusing to let Ash know he was awake. 

“Eiji! Are you asleep? Get up!”

More loud knocks and Eiji felt like crying. Was Ash being serious right now?! 

“Eiji, I’m gonna get in,” he said as he was already opening the door. Eiji fought back a gasp. Who told Ash that he could come in?! Eiji relaxed his face as best as he could, trying to even his breathing and keep his body melted into the mattress. “Eiji.” Ash wasn’t even whispering. “Eiji,” he said, startling Eiji when he touched his shoulder. “Eiji, wake up! I’m hungry!” 

Huh?! This kid had no shame! He wanted Eiji to get up just because he was hungry?! Eiji clenched his fist under his pillow and tried not to clench his jaw; maybe if he didn't move Ash would go away and Eiji could get some more slee-

“Huh?! A-Ah! Wahahahait! N-Nohohoho!" 

"Hehe, are you awake now?"

Of all things, of course he had to tickle him! Eiji squirmed and giggled into his pillow as Ash squeezed his sides; he tried to hide his flushed face and his uncoordinated hands tried to stop Ash's, but everytime Eiji was about to catch one of Ash’s hands, Ash would immediately jump to tickle his ribs and Eiji was left confused, not knowing what to do except from laughing his head off. 

"It tihihickles!”

Ash chuckled, fingers digging into Eiji’s bottom ribs, making him shriek and squirm heavily on his bed. “I bet it does, Eiji. I thought this is what you wanted, though?”

Eiji gasped, “WHAHAT?!”

Ash shrugged, his fingers now wiggling against Eiji’s waist, causing him to giggle brightly. “Well, yesterday when I was tickling Skipper, you looked quite flustered and like you really wanted to join us.”

There had been many times where Eiji had felt extremely embarrassed before, but he thought he had never felt as embarrassed as he was feeling right now. He was a fool to think that someone as observant as Ash wouldn’t notice anything the day before. 

“Thahahat’s nohohot truhuhue! Ah! NO! Nohohot thehehere!”

Ash laughed, “it’s not true? Oh, Eiji, I know you better than you think! You really wanted me to tickle you back then, huh? You wanted this, Eiji?” His teasing not only made Eiji’s ears turn bright red, but it also made his heart flutter with excitement. “And what do you mean ‘not there’? Is it your weak spot right here? Under your arms?” 

Eiji shrieked with laughter when fingers nestled under his arms, wiggling and digging into the warmth of his most ticklish spot. His arms clamped tightly to his sides and loud laughter filled the room as he kicked his legs, trying his best to at least roll over his back, but Ash had pressed one of his knees against Eiji's lower back, keeping him trapped and pressed face-first onto the bed. 

It had been so long since the last time Eiji was tickled like this. Actually, he was not sure he had ever been tickled like this before. Even though Ash was only tickling under his arms, he felt the funny sensations spreading throughout his whole body, to the tip of his toes and so his laughter increased in volume and happy tears of laughter clinged to his lashes. 

This was so much fun and yet, he felt the urge to make Ash stop because he knew Ash could tell he was enjoying it and it made him want to hide his head in a hole. 

“Oh, Eiji, are you embarrassed right now? What’s wrong? Are you enjoying your tickles so much?” Ash teased him and Eiji could tell there was no bad intentions in his words, but that didn’t mean it was any less embarrassing. “Can’t you even speak, Eiji? Does it tickle too badly?”

“PLEHEHEASE!” Eiji howled, laughing in nearly hysterics. “I cahahahan’t! I’ll mahahake breheheakfahahahast!”

Ash gasped, his fingers moving faster against the center of Eiji’s armpits. “Ah, so you were awake the whole time but decided to ignore me, huh?! Now you’ll see!”

“AHAHAHASH! I’m sohohohorry!”

“Yes, I’m sure you will after I’m done with you!”

Needless to say, Eiji was tickled until his laughter turned silent and even though he was somehow telling Ash to stop, he was not actually asking him to stop and Ash didn’t lose the chance to tease him some more about it as he tickled his underarms with scary precision and expertise. 

Eiji had fun, though, he would never admit it and he avoided looking at Ash directly in the eye even after he was out of bed in shaky legs and breathing heavily. He avoided looking at him even when he was in the kitchen, making breakfast for this child as Ash talked to him about this and that, surprising him from time to time with a poke or a squeeze to his sides that made Eiji blush, jump and squeak all at the same time, causing Ash to laugh out loud. 

Eiji thought that during the day Ash would eventually forget about the whole thing, but goodness, was he wrong. Eiji was on high alert during the rest of the morning and the whole evening: Ash poking and squeezing his sides when he walked past him, wiggling his fingers under Eiji’s arms when he reached up for something, doing the yolk-thing on Eiji’s knees when they were sat together, blowing into Eiji’s neck and ears- just every little thing he could think of to make Eiji squeak and giggle and blush.

And the teasing; Eiji could barely stand it. Every time he heard Ash teasing him he felt the need to curl into a little ball and hide under his bed. It would fluster him so good that he just wanted to disappear. Anyway, Eiji had endured very well throughout the day, but in the afternoon, when he was lying in bed resting from... well, from Ash, said boy appeared in his room again and before Eiji could escape, he was pinned down on the bed and tickled to pieces. 

"AHAHAHASH!" 

"Yes, Eiji? You want me to tickle your armpits? Of course!"

"NOHOHO! AHAHAHA!"

He wasn't sure how, but Eiji, still cackling, gathered strength from a hidden place within him and started wrestling with Ash. They both tried to pin the other, giggling and growling playfully, but in the end, to their surprise, Eiji was the one pinning Ash's legs. He was sat on Ash's shins and Ash squirmed and jerked, trying to roll on his back to push Eiji off him, but he just couldn't. 

"Eiji, get off! I was just giving you what you wanted!"

Eiji blushed to his ears and he looked back at Ash, "shut it! When did I say so?!" It was painfully obvious that he wanted it, but he still tried to put an act.  "I'm so done with you, Ash. You'll regret being an annoying little rascal!"

"What you mean- ack! N-NOHOHO!" 

Loud laughter immediately filled the room and for a change, it wasn't Eiji's, but Ash's, who was throwing his head back and twisting from side to side while Eiji's fingers scribbled up and down the soles of his feet. 

"How's that, Ash? Having fun?"

"STAHAHAP! Dohohon't!"

Eiji was a little awkward, he could tell so himself, but his tickling still drove Ash up the wall. He skittered his fingernails along Ash's arches, scratching at them gently, but fast, making the pale skin get slightly pink and Ash snorted between his laughter, toes spreading and curling as he wiggled his feet. 

"EHEHEIJIHIHI! It tihihihickles!" 

Eiji snickered, "well, it must be because I am tickling you, don't you think?" Ash banged his fists against the bed and curled and writhed like a fish out of water. "You shouldn't act like a tease when you are this ticklish, Ash. It's not so fun when you are on the receiving end, huh?"

"It ihihihis f-for you- AHAHAHA! N-Nohohoho! Nohohot thehehere!" 

"Not here? Maybe I'll keep tickling you here until you learn to respect your big brother," Eiji said, his fingers wiggling and scribbling against the soft skin under Ash's toes. 

Ash was cackling in hysterics, tears of laughter falling down his rosy cheeks. Eiji didn't know Ash was so ticklish on his feet, but he was thankful he was, otherwise it would have been awkward for him if Ash didn't have any reaction, but there they were, playing like teenagers, and Eiji was having so much fun and he could tell by that clear, honest laugh that Ash was having fun too, but he liked to play though all the time and who was Eiji to stop him?

"Your toes are really ticklish, huh?" Eiji asked, wiggling his fingers in the spaces between Ash toes, making him shriek loudly. "But you're even more ticklish on the balls of your feet," he said, now scraping his blunt nails against the sensitive skin. 

"MY GAHAHAHAD! Eihihijihihi! Stohohop teheheasing and stahahahap tihihickling mehehehe!"

"Maybe if you apologize for being a handful?"

"NEHEHEHEVER!"

Eiji giggles under his breath, shrugging. "Suit yourself, I hope you enjoy your feet being tickled until I get tired."

"N-Nohohoho! Hehehelp!"

"There's no one here to help you, silly Ash."

Or at least that was what Eiji thought until he felt fingers digging into his sides, making him shriek and giggle. 

"S-Skihihihippeheher?!" 

"I'll help you, Ash!"

This little traitor! Wasn't Ash tickling him to tears the day before?! Now he was on Ash's side and was tickling Eiji! Either Eiji was too ticklish or Skipper had lots of experience in tickle fights thanks to Ash, but the poor japanese boy found himself being thrown into the bed as Skipper tickled his ribs. 

"Ahahahash hahahas beheheen an-nohohiying mehehe all dahahay!" Eiji laughed out, trying to catch Skipper's hands. "Why ahahare you hehehelping hihim?!" 

Skipper laughed and Eiji's heart melted in his chest, he sounded just so happy and playful, acting his age. "Because I wanted to tickle you too, big bro!" 

Eiji felt his cheeks burning bright red, he was the big brother and yet there he was laughing his head off by Skipper's fingers. Eiji gasped and he opened one of his eyes to see where Ash was, he shrieked when he found him staring at the scene with a wide smirk. 

Ash chuckled, his cheeks still pink after laughing so much. "What's wrong, big brother? Weren't you trying to teach me a lesson?" He teased and Eiji squirmed, trying to get up from the bed, but Ash was faster and easily got a hold of Eiji's wrists and pulled them up above his head. "Get his armpits!"

"NO! NOHOHO! Plehehease!"

In Eiji’s defense, his mind really was somewhere else when he knelt next to the bathtub, and when Ash brought their foreheads together, and when he placed his hand on the back of Eiji's neck. Oh, and of course when Ash’s expression turned to a mischievous grin as he pulled gently, but firmly on Eiji’s neck.

Eiji, not expecting this sudden turn of events, shot his arm out reflexively to catch himself, which landed right in the water, colliding with the bottom of the bathtub. This made for an annoyed Eiji, whose arm and sleeve was now soaked nearly to his shoulder, as well as part of his shirt and face from the splash.

Ash smirked as Eiji gasped and stood up. He kept his arm over the tub so as not to get water all over the floor.

“Ash!” he cried as he used his dry sleeve to wipe off his face. He then squeezed the wet sleeve in an attempt to ring out some of the water.

“Aw, c’mon Eiji, I just wanted you to take a bath with me,” Ash said jokingly. Eiji squeezed some of the now cooling water on top of Ash’s head, causing him to complain about how cold it was.

“Eiji, why are you so grumpy suddenly,” Ash teased as he poked Eiji in the side.

Eiji just huffed, twitching away a bit, before giving Ash an uneasy look. Ash smiled deviously and continued poking at Eiji’s side. Eiji tried to move away while still keeping his dripping arm over the tub.

“A-Ash- would you stop? I don’t want to make a mess,” he was swatting at Ash with his dry hand while trying to hide the twitching of his lips.

“It’s not a big deal, it’s just a little water.” Ash wiggled his eyebrows and reached around to squeeze Eiji’s other side. This caused Eiji to flinch right towards Ash’s other hand, which squeezed the hip closest to him. Eiji inhaled sharply and flinched again, right back in the other direction.

“Ahahash, you’re dripping water on the- on the floor,” Eiji stuttered, trying to keep his composure together as electric sensations shot from his sides. His eyes locked onto the towel hanging on the wall opposite the tub, and he quickly lept out of Ash’s reach and wrapped his arm in it. Ash pouted slightly, half hanging over the side of the tub, but couldn’t help but smirk at Eiji’s gaspy breaths.

“So,” he continued smugly, “will you take a bath with me?” He jokingly batted his eyes at the other, who was drying his arm with an annoyed expression.

“You know what? I think I will.” Eiji said matter-of-factly, hung the towel back up, and undressed. Ash made it a point to sigh impatiently while he waited, but he had an amused look on his face.

Soon, Eiji was facing the bathtub, and nodded his head to the side, signaling the blond to move forward. Ash scooted forward until his feet hit the other end if the tub, and his legs bent out of the water slightly.

Eiji climbed into the warm water and sat behind the other, a leg on each side of Ash’s body and his arms wrapped around his torso. Eiji let his eyes fall shut and hugged himself against the other so that his chest was flush against Ash’s back, taking in the smell of the soap in the water, and the soft feeling of his boyfriend's skin.

Ash sighed in contentment, crossing his arms so that they wrapped around on top of Eiji’s. He would’ve been happy to stay like that for the rest of the night- but that was definitely not Eiji’s intention.

Eyes still closed, Eiji’s expression changed only with the smirk that formed on his face. He gently rubbed his thumbs back and forth against Ash’s sides, causing the other male to shift slightly.

“Eiji…” Ash felt the hairs on his neck stand on end, partly due to the shiver that went throughout his body from Eiji’s touch, and partially from the ominous vibe that he was getting from the man behind him.

“You know Ash, this was a good idea. I’m glad you suggested it,” Eiji purred happily into Ash’s ear, pressing all five of his fingertips gently into Ash’s ribs. Ash’s whole body twitched away from the threat on his sides.

“Y-yeah, me too, but I think I’m done now. It was a nice bath though. Great, very romantic. I give it a ten outta ten.” Ash smiled nervously, his words coming out rushed as he leaned forward, attempting to stand up. Unfortunately for him, Eiji refused to let go, keeping the other stuck in the bathtub.

“Really, Ash? After I just got in? You were the one that wanted me here in the first place,” Eiji loosened his grip a bit so that he could sit a few inches away from Ash, bringing his arms back so that only his hands rested on each side. Ash couldn't bring himself to look back at the other as his heartbeat sped up in anticipation.

“I know, bu- he-ey!” Ash couldn’t help but jump and hold back laughter when Eiji squeezed his sides.

“Eiji, I’m se-herious, stop. What are you- wait-” Eiji had let go of Ash’s torso and instead wrapped his legs around Ash’s waist to hold him in place. With his arms now free, he lightly dragged his fingertips up Ash’s back to his neck, before scratching all around his neck with feather light touches.

Ash shivered and snorted, before scrunching up his shoulders to protect his neck. Eiji spidered his fingers back down the others back and blew in his ear, causing him to choke on a laugh. He scrunched his head to one side to cover his ear while arching his back away from Eiji.

Eiji kissed the exposed side of Ash’s neck and scribbled his fingers against his stomach, which was pulled taught from bending his back.

“Stahahapfh,” Ash’s laughter finally spilled out and he arched in the other direction in an attempt to escape the tormenting fingers.

“You're the one that wanted me here~” Eiji repeated in a sweet, sing-song voice.

Eiji's nails dragged from Ash's stomach to his sides, up to the top of his ribs, before finding their way into the hollows of his underarms.

Ash’s laughter spiked and each hand latched onto one of Eiji's wrists. He couldn't find the strength or focus to pull them away, however, and the vulnerable feeling of exposing his underarms was too much. He quickly squeezed his arms tight against his sides and writhed due to the sensation.

While lingering on this tickle spot, Eiji frowned slightly at the squirming the other was doing.

“Ash, look at all the water you're spilling out of the tub. It's like you're trying to make me angry.”

The blond dissolved into an uncontrollable stream of soft giggles when Eiji toned down his attack, simply rubbing his hands up and down Ash’s now hypersensitive sides.

“This is your punishment” he whispered into the other's ear, before kissing it, which sent a shiver throughout Ash’s body. He was still twitching slightly as Eiji's hands stilled on his hips.

“No mo-ho-hore,” Ash panted out, a few leftover giggles still escaping him. “Sorry about spilling the water and tickling you, really!”

“And for making me pick up after you all the time... and for always making fun of Japanese food!” Eiji huffed, removing his hands from the other and unwrapping his legs from around him.

“But I won't stay mad at you,” he said, kissing the other on the back of the neck, and Ash sighed in relief.

“It is nice seeing you all hot and bothered though,” Eiji smirked against the other's neck and reached around to squeeze his thighs.

“Shihit, noHOHO,” Ash called out through forced laughter when Eiji started scribbling finger against his sensitive skin. He began twisting and writhing as his muscles jumped uncontrollably beneath Eiji's fingers.

However, Ash was now able to move about more freely and quickly worked to end his torment.

Ash twisted away and began to look frantically in the water through teary eyes. He locked on to his target and firmly gripped Eiji's ankle.

Eiji immediately stopped trying to tickle Ash, and quickly pulled back the leg that was free. He tested the grip on his captive ankle, which was surprisingly strong for what Ash had just endured. Eiji had momentarily forgotten just how strong the Lynx was.

“Ash...” Eiji said in a cautious tone.

Said man looked at him as threateningly as he could, although he was still panting slightly and his face was flushed.

“This is your punishment, Eiji.” He pulled the other's foot out of the water, ready to enact his wrath.

However, before his fingers could connect with his victim's foot, it was suddenly out of his grasp. Ash, stunned, looked up to see Eiji outside of the tub, casually wrapping a towel around his waist.

“Thanks for inviting me into the bath, but I'm clean enough,” he said as he walked towards the door.