Banana Fish short stories | ✔

Caribbean love

Cariban love: What if Ash actually agreed to leave New York and live in the Caribbean with Blanca. How would Ash's and Eiji's reunion go and how would his life be?

The story inspired by the picture, that doesn't belong to me.

Dedicated to Eijihihihi for voting and writing comments.

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"That's it. He's leaving again. Tomorrow." Ash took a deep breath and resumed gazing at the sun nearing the ocean line, he tried to keep his eyes cemented to the ocean, but his eyes didn't cooperate since every so often he found himself staring at him. Eiji was chatting happily while walking beside him. He had a childish grin on his face and his eyes were roaming all around the beach, from one side of the ocean to their beach house a little further away, then on the other side of the beach with ocean clashing with unusually sharp boulders.

Four weeks in the Caribbean. Two weeks of nothing but a beach house, the ocean, and the two of them since Blanca was instructed to stay out of Ash's sight while Eiji was visiting. By instructed I mean - and I quote "If you're even in my line of view you're dead meat." Of course, both knew he wasn't indeed serious, but Blanca got the point and didn't bother to visit the blond boy like he usually did.

Four weeks, Ash has spent some of the best time of his life with Eiji but not once, in the entire time they'd been here together, had he gathered up the guts to take a gamble and tell Eiji his real feelings, although he planned to do it, he just couldn't. He could imagine how pathetic he looked, Shorter would laugh his ass off if he saw him like this.

Two young men spent their time the best they could, exploring the trails and nearby woods and wandering through the beach and childish sandcastle competitions, then being spread out over beach towels and getting little sunburns - major for Ash since his skin never got used to so much sun. There were so many opportunities for Ash to say the words, to say aloud the feelings he had for Eiji for almost four years now. He just needed to know what Eiji's reply would be, how would he react when he was face to face with him, what his expression would be... But he can't do it. Even if Ash loves him so much it feels like it's suffocating him.

"Ash!"

He turns sharply, finding Eiji standing a few feet behind him and staring at him with his big doe eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, you didn't answer me," Eiji breathed out as he took a step closer hesitantly. Ash swallowed and shook his head, he opened his mouth as if he was about to say something but he closed them. Eiji studied him for a few more moments before nodding in understanding. "I'm gonna miss this too," Eiji murmured making Ash freeze, the blond lost balance while walking. He shuffled a few steps trying to find balance in the sand. When he finally did, he waited for a few moments before answering with rosy cheeks. "Me too,"

Eiji's laughter at his 'incident' made Ash, even more, redder than he already was "Are you laughing at me?" Ash asked with a mix of shame and irritation. "Yes," Eiji continued laughing and before he could respond his legs were dangling in the air and he was leaned on something strong and warm. "wah! Ash, put me down!" Eiji jelled with wide eyes staring at the boy carrying him princess-style with such ease. "Nope, you have to pay for teasing me so much," Ash answered and continued walking, the sand warm under his feet being replaced by damp one as he strode closer to the ocean. "Are you ready?" Ash asked with a smirk "You will not dare," Eiji replied, readjusting his hold around Ash's neck so he was gripping him tighter "mmh, you sure?" Ash mused "Ash!" but before he could say something else Ash jumped and dived under the water taking Eiji with him, only a brisk "cannonball" Ash jelled before jumping warned Eiji to hold breath, so - fortunately, he didn't swallow water, too much. They laughed and went back to the beach after a short swim. They sat on the damp sand and talked.