AfterMath (Ash x Eiji - Banana Fish Ending a.u)

2.

A few more hours passed by, Bones' soft snores filled the empty silence in the room.

"Ash Lynx?" A nurse called out.

Eiji quickly stood up, nearly spilling the leftover coffee — "Yes, hi. here. Is everything okay? Did surgery go well? Is he...alive?" He could feel his heart beat increase, he wasn't sure if it was because of the sudden movement, the incredibly large dosage of coffee he had, the nervousness he felt for the answer — or all of the above.

The nurse flipped through her clipboard, "All is well and dandy. The patient is awake if you want to come see him, taking that you are his fiancé?"

Eiji blushes profoundly, "actually I.." He was cut off by Bones, "Yes, yes he is." He draped his arm around Eiji, "they won't let you in if you're not related, just stick with it." Bones muttered under his breath. "Yeah, his fiancé." As the words rolled off of his tongue, he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to ever actually be engaged to him. "Tell him the gang misses him... and take good care of him, you already know he's a stubborn man." Bones chuckled.

"Follow me this way." The nurse lead Eiji past the double doors and into a small hallway, "Last room on the right hand side." She pointed using her clipboard, giving him a soft yet reassuring smile. "He's a fighter, that future husband of yours." She added. Eiji smiled weakly, heart sinking into his stomach - "yeah, that he is." She gave him another smile, "Enjoy your visit." He just nodded, slowly making his way over to the room. Why was he so nervous? It's not like he hasn't seen Ash in this condition before? His hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitating to open it.

He's okay, and that's all that mattered — so why was it so hard to open the door? His hand grasped the doorknob tightly, "Just open it already." He muttered to himself.

He pushed the door open, eyes immediately landing on the blond boy laying down, fiddling with the IV injected into his right arm. He looked up, green eyes piercing right into Eiji's.

"I suppose you are my 'fiancé' ?" Ash narrowed his look, pursing his lips before speaking once more. "Hm, thought he would be a lot more handsome."

"Shut up, I was worried about you." Eiji rolled his eyes, pulling a chair to sit right beside Ash.

"I'm sorry.... Who exactly are you?" Ash pushed himself up, grunting softly before locking eyes with Eiji once more.

"...Do you really not remember me?" Eiji's stomach tied in knots as he choked out those words. The nurse hadn't mentioned anything related to amnesia? "I.." He felt tears start to fill his eyes, "I'm Eiji, you know...I saved your life once, and you let me hold your gun, and you kissed me once, and you took me to get hot dogs one time, and you saved my life multiple times, and..." Eiji let out a soft sob, "and....and...." Another sob slipped out, this time it was proceeded by a stream of tears.

There was a silence that flooded the room after the first few tears. It was awkward to say the least. Ash let out a chuckle, "Gosh, Eiji, you're so weak." He pushes himself to lay back down, closing his eyes. "Now imagine if I did have amnesia....You would've just lied saying you're my fiancé...Now what kind of guy does that make you?" He let out another strained chuckle.

"You're such a..." Eiji let out a sigh, wiping off his tears. "I'm glad you're okay, Ash."

"Mmhmm." Ash kept his eyes closed, taking short and deep breaths. "What are you doing here anyways? I thought you went back to Japan?"

"I made them turn the flight around." Eiji replies nonchalantly, still wiping off tears with the sleeves of his sweater.

Ash ran a hand through his hair, "Did you now?"

".....no. I got off at the first stop and booked a plane back." Eiji replied softly, "Bones called me...I came back immediately."

Ash stayed silent.

"I was worried sick, I felt like I was going to throw up everywhere if I didn't find out you were okay soon." Eiji continued. "I..I don't know what I would do without you."

"I've been through worse." Ash finally opened his eyes again, looking back up at Eiji. He extended his hand towards Eiji, wiggling his long fingers at the elder. Eiji stared at the patsy hand, reluctantly holding the hand, careful to not squeeze too tight.

"I'm glad it was you who came." Ash turned his gaze to the white tiles on the ceiling. "To be honest with you, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. I'm pretty sure I died somewhere along the lines." He gave Eiji's hand a soft squeeze. "Actually, it was the most peaceful I had ever been during that period of time, but this small voice kept telling me it wasn't my time to go yet — that I had to hold up to your promise to meet you once more." Ash finally looked back at Eiji, "I'm a man of my word Eiji, and I came back just for you."

silence.

"Well, aren't you going to say something? Don't tell me I got all emotional over nothing." Ash closed his eyes again, still holding Eiji's hand.

"The thought of you dying is so scary." Eiji finally said.
"We all die in the end." Ash replies.

"I know"
- "If you know, then why is it so scary?"
"Because it's you."
- "Because it's me?"
"I want you to stay alive for as long as possible."
- "I can do that."
"Can you?"
Ash nodded, "Only if you stay alive for just as long."