Banana Fish: Three Special Words

Part 1

   It's always been you. Since the day that we met, I knew you would become something special in my life. You are the only one who is able to make me smile.
   "Ash!" Eiji called from the table. "Are you going to eat or not? I thought you said you were going out tonight."
   "I am," I said, pulling out the chair and plopping down. "So what did you try to make this time?"
   Eiji kicked me from under the table. "Hey! I get that I'm not a great cook. You don't need to rub it in."
   I looked down at my bowl and stirred it. It was some sort of chicken soup. Eiji was muttering something about how I wasn't being greatful about his food, so I quickly ate a spoonful.
   "You're not going to sniff it?" Eiji asked, putting his arm against the table and resting his head on his hand. "You seem to do that everywhere else. Why not here?"
   "Because I know you won't poison me," I muttered, looking away as my cheeks got a little red.
   "That's true," Eiji said, taking a spoonful of his soup.
   The two of them were alone at the moment in the large condo I rented with Papa Dino's money. I still had enough money to rent the place for another few weeks before the money would be running low. Eiji uses some of the money to buy cooking supplies for the week.
   "So," I started, looking at him. "How's the job hunting coming along?"
   "Alright, I guess," Eiji sighed. "If I want to get a good job, I'll probably have to go to a university somewhere here in the States."
   "Just sell your photographs online or something," I suggested, finishing the rest of my soup. "Can I have seconds?"
   "I'm saving it for tomorrow's meal," Eiji said, scraping the bottom of his bowl. "If you want to give me some more money for the food, then I'll gladly make some more."
   "I think a $500 budget for a week's worth of food is fine," I said, getting up and putting my dish in the sink. I headed towards the front door, grabbing my jacket off the couch.
   "When do you think you'll be back?" Eiji asked.
   "Dunno," I responded over my shoulder. "I'll send Jack back to make sure you're safe." I opened the door, and glanced at Eiji over my shoulder. "Don't go outside. Don't open the door unless it's me or one of my men. Don't-"
   "I'm not a child," Eiji said. "Plus, we have guns hidden everywhere."
   "This is our hideout, idiot," I smirked at him before closing the door and headed out for the night.

   "I'm back," I sighed, shutting and locking the front door. Eiji wasn't going to be happy about my filthy appearance.
   A few cuts here and there, and dirt all over my clothes. I looked around the dark kitchen.
   "Eiji?" I called, walking towards the door leading into the dining room. "Eiji, where are you?" I opened the door and saw the dining room table covered in beer cans.
   "Ash~?" Eiji called, looking at me with misty eyes.
   "Ugh," I muttered, putting a hand on my forehead. I walked over to the boy, prying the half filled beer can out of his grip. "Come on, Eiji!" I slung his arm over my shoulder and started carrying him to our room. His body went limp as he fell asleep. "Eiji! Eiji! Can't you at least try and walk?" Although he was light as a feather to me. Eiji reeked of alcohol, and when I got to his bed, he woke up.
   "Ash~?" Eiji asked, looking up at me. "Ash~! Pick me up! Pick me up!" Eiji jumped up, but I tripped over the edge of the bed, and he fell on top of me.
   "Hey! Eiji!" I pushed him off me, but his hand slid down to the belt of my pants. "Eiji!" I grabbed his wrist. "What are you doing!?"
   "You don't want to?" he asked, eyes pleading.
   "When you wake up tomorrow I'm going to tell you it wasn't my fault," I muttered, letting go.
   He undid my belt, taking it off and discarding it on the floor. His hands fumbled with my zipper for a moment, but then unzipped it. I felt his hands reach to touch me, but then he stopped. I looked down at him and saw he was asleep.
   "Way to go, Eiji," I muttered, carefully placing him on the bed. I pulled the cover over him, heading towards the bathroom to wash the blood off myself. After doing that, I heading into the room to see Eiji sleeping peacefully. I turned the light off and then drifted off to sleep myself.

   "Uugghhhh."
   I glanced over from my desk and saw Eiji waking up. The sun was rising, and it was only about 6 am.
   "My head's killing me," Eiji sat up and looked at me. "Ash? When did you get back?" He then looked at the crack between the curtains. "Morning!? What happened last night?"
   "You got drunk, idiot," I said, taking my glasses off. "When did you get all that beer?"
   "Jack brought two packs when he came over," Eiji said, standing. "Ugh. I think I'm gonna be sick!" Eiji ran to the bathroom and I heard him throwing up.
   "You alright?" I asked, leaning against the door frame of the bathroom.
   "Ugh," Eiji responded. I tapped his shoulder with the bottom of a water bottle.
   "Drink this when you think your stomach can handle it," I said. "I'm going out for a bit. Don't go anywhere alone. Call me if you need something." Eiji nodded, and gave me a forced smile. I sighed, rubbing my head. "When you look at me like that, I don't know if I should leave." I bent over Eiji, rubbing his back.
   "Yo Boss!!" someone called, the front door clicking shut. "We've been waiting for, like, an hour. What have you been- whoa. What happened, Eiji?" Two of my followers appeared in the doorway, one of them was Jack. Jack was a tall, slim teen around my age and he was my most loyal follower in the gang. The younger teen next to him was Alex, and he would've started high school, if his parents didn't die in a car accident.
   "Eiji's hangover," I replied as Eiji leaned against my shoulder. "I heard it was you who brought the beer?" I glared at Jack. He flinched.
   "W-well, I mean- don't kill me!!" Jack ran off, but I didn't feel like leaving Eiji's side. The other guy sighed, and went after Jack.
   "You feeling better?" I asked.
   "Yeah," Eiji breathed, standing. "Ugh. I shouldn't have drank so much last night." I picked up the water bottle that Eiji placed on the floor and opened it.
   "You want some?" I asked. Eiji nodded his head. I took a few sips and then pulled his chin towards me. I kissed him, and let him drink the water from my mouth. We parted lips, and I looked into his deep dark eyes. I gently wiped the extra water dripping down Eiji's chin.
   "More?" Eiji glanced to his side, his cheeks turning a little red. I covered my mouth, looking away from him.
   "Sorry," I muttered. "I don't know what happened to me." Eiji leaned over and pecked my cheek.
   "Who said you should stop?" he asked shyly.