Banana Fish short stories | ✔

Lost in the woods

Lost in the woods: Eiji and his family go on the hiking trip and Ash tags along, but while hiking they got separated and then storm starts, so Ash and Eiji decide to go in the house they find to take shelter from the rain. Once in they find few blankets and they light up the fire. Since their clothes are wet they strip and leave them to dry. It was freezing night so they both curl in their blankets and lie next to the fireplace. How will that night end?

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  "So pretty," Eiji said with a beaming smile. "I agree," Neumi said breathless, her eyes shining excitedly as she gazed at a beutiful view in front of her. Sun shining golden light over the trees so far away, that they seemed like a mare dots. "Oi, you two. Don't stay behind on your own." Ash called waving for them to hurry up. "Sorry, just let me take a picture first" Eiji called and grabbed the camera strapped around his neck. "Okay, now we can go," Eiji said and hurried forward, Neumi tapping behind. Ash shrugged and murmured 'children' and trailed behind with hands in pockets of his blue jacket. Eiji's parents were going first then Eiji and Neumi while Ash was behind making sure that they don't get separated or left behind as the two would stop for a picture or just to admire the sight.

"Hey Ash" Eiji called as he ran back towards him. "Yes Eiji?" he asked. "Which one do you think is better between these two?" Ash hurried next to him and peeked over his shoulder, his camera shows a magnificent picture of the landscape around them, it was taken in just perfect moment. Orange sky met green forests on the mountains making them clash and blend at the same time. The other was the less bright picture of the landscape, the difference between the two of them was mare minutes, yet the change was visible. Ash considered both pictures for a few moments "The first one" Eiji nodded and flashed him a smile, they continued walking only to stop abruptly. They got left behind the group, no one in sight. Ash sighed and picked up his pace, Eiji right next to him. "Sorry Ash" Eiji sheepishly apologized and Ash gave him a side-glance. "It's fine. Let's hurry and find them," both nodded and continued marching onwards.

"We need to hurry and find them. It's already getting dark."

* * *

The rain was hard. The night has already come and it was chilly. The two figures were now running through woods. Lost and wet, their clothes clung to their skin, long soaked by the rain. Ash cursed under his breath while he ran. He was going out of breath and so was Eiji. Even with high stamina of both of them, they already ran so long and now tiredness is seeping in instead of adrenalin pumping through their veins, replacing it and effectively making their bodies feel as heavy as rocks.

"Eiji, stop" he called and other twirled around, his lips parted and turning blue due to cold while he panted for breath. "We can't go on like this. We don't even know where we are. Finding shelter is the most important thing right now" Eiji nodded, choosing to trust Ash and do what he says. "First let's catch our breath before we start running again. That tree." Ash pointed to hunched over tree up ahead and Eiji followed his gaze "Let's go there for now" his words were muffled by the rain while the only moonlight let them see each other, but only faintly. Eiji looked down to see Ash rummaging through his backpack,  "finally" Ash grumbled and straightened himself and Eiji squinted his eyes at the sudden beam of light "You had flashlight this whole time!?" Ash turned to look at him, flashing the light at the boy who instantly brought his arms up to shield his eyes "The path was clear enough till now, and sunset just half of the hour ago, it would be better if we save it since it was already flickering when i packed it" Eiji sighed "Still has survival instincts of the cockroach, i see."

"Hey Ash" Green eyes looked up and Eiji continued when sensing his gaze on him. "Do you see that?" Eiji pointed ahead at the dark figure. Ash squinted his eyes trying to see the shape properly. "What is it?" Eiji glanced back before returning his gaze to Ash "it looks like... a house?" Eiji started at him confused. He knew Ash has sharper eyesight then Eiji will ever have, even being able to see properly in the dark further proves the fact, but house...? In the middle of the forest...? Surrounded by mountains...? Less then likely, yet they both hurried towards it. 

It was a wooden house, small and covered with plants running up the walls. Eiji tried opening the doors but the knob didn't budge.

"Eiji, move" Ash wasted no time and gestured to Eiji to scoot away. With one-foot standing firm on the ground, he leaned into the kick and drove his other heel on the doors, close to the doorknob, effectively opening it with a loud crack. "Watch your step" Eiji felt a hand wrap around his wrist while they walked deeper in after shutting the doors closed. A little beam of light shining the floor so they don't misstep and end up falling. "look, a fireplace" Ash felt a relived sigh leaving his mouth when he noticed a case full of dry wood resting in the corner next to it. "I will get the fire started, look if you can find something useful around here" Eiji nodded and determinedly started rummaging through cabinets on the walls.

"How is the fire doing?" Eiji asked from a different side of the room, obviosly uncomfortable with silence in the darkroom. "Almost there... Done!" Ash called back as he let himself plop down sitting in front of now little dancing flame "Eh, good work." relived Eiji came behind him "Never mind that, did you find anything?" 

"Few blankets, candles, three bottles of water and a rope" Eiji ended his report "water is highly appreciated, blankets will help to keep us warm and we can use candles to light up the room" Eiji smiled at Ash's thoughtful face, "now the only thing to do is." Ash turned to look at Eiji "Strip." Eiji twitched and his smile started slipping away as he looked at Ash "Huh?" he genuinely didn't think he heard him right "You didn't hear me? I said strip" Eiji looked dazed for a few more moments only blinking as his mind processed the thought "What?! Why?!" Ash snorted "If you wanna catch a cold in those dripping clothes, be my guest" he explained with a smug smile "But we don't have clothes to change into...?" he tilted his head confused "Yeah, we will sleep nude so having blankets is great relief" Eiji nodded with a blush creeping on his cheeks "i will go ahead then" Ash waved while walking past Eiji, he went into corner where there were big wardrobe doors which gave him little privacy. Minutes later when he came back, the only a thin blanket was wrapped around his waist. "You were busy I see" Ash crossed his arms while staring at the make-shift bed on the floor close to fireplace "Yeah, i figured we need to warm ourselves so i made them close to the fire, hope you don't mind" Eiji shuffled to place previously occupied by Ash. "It's fine," he said before plopping himself down and snuggling between the blankets properly. The floor was hard, but still very much welcomed with both boys so exhausted. A few minutes passed before Ash heard shuffling through the room, he didn't turn around knowing Eiji is quite shy and probably really embarrassed right now. Once the shuffling quieted down he decided it's safe now.

"Ash" Ash rolled over so they were facing each other now, he was met with a sad smile "sorry... for getting us in this mess" Ash tilted his head before resting it again on his crossed hands while laying on his stomach "Eiji, it's fine. Don't blame yourself" Eiji nodded reluctantly but Ash saw through him and continued with a sigh "I got us into far bigger trouble and you never blamed me, so don't blame yourself this time" Eiji frowned at his words and Ash felt himself chuckling dryly "Say what you want, we both know it's true" Eiji frowned even harder.

"Eiji" Ash called barely above a whisper "hmm" he tilted his head with curios eyes "Did anyone ever tell you that... you're really cute when naked" With wide eyes Dark-haired choked on his own salvia. Swifty grabbing a blanket, he only now noticed, fell off his shoulders and was barely above his waist he glared at Ash while furiously blushing. Ash just chuckled again with fond smile.