Banana Fish AshxEiji

~part eleven~

We decided to walk to the cafe instead of taking the bus, we both need to get some fresh air and exercise. The walk is only a mile long so it won't take too big of a toll on us, we leave my apartment building hand in hand and I realize I haven't left my apartment since I heard about your death. The fresh fall air is crisp and comforting, autumn has always been my favorite season. I close my eyes and appreciate where I am right now, everything is okay right now. This is real.

Ash patiently waits for me as I take a deep breath in and then out, I do this 4 times just like I taught you too when you get anxious. We start slowly walking, picking up our pace when our bodies get used to moving this much again. We talk about nothing, but those conversations, the ones that hold so many words but so little meaning, have a remarkably large amount of significance. After about twenty minutes the small cafe comes into sight and I bring Ash around to the back of the building, Aimi hasn't gotten here yet.

We quietly sit together, my head resting on his shoulder as he looks back and forth over and over, awaiting someone to try and hurt us. I know my words will mean nothing to him now, he needs to feel like he's protecting me, in some weird twisted way it helps him. I took my phone out of my pocket to make sure she didn't text me, she didn't.

"Eiji!" I hear the familiar high pitched voice exclaim, I snap my head towards the voice and stand up, I run towards her and wrap my arms around her spinning Aimi in a circle. She giggles and pulls back to look at my face, my smile immediately drops when I see her left eye has a black and blue bruise rimming it. Concern fills me and I gently grab the sides of her face to get a better look, I run my thumb under her eye but she flinches away. I mumble an apology and ask "who did this to you?". She lightly shakes her head giving me my answer.

"Who's that?"she points at the blonde haired boy leaning up against the brick wall with his arms crossed, changing the subject. I laugh lightly, trying to get my mind off of her injury, "that's Ash, he's the one that I stayed with in New York City". My parents and Aimi had no clue what I was a part of when I went to New York and I plan to keep it that way. She nods and walks up closer to him, "stop standing like you're so cool it's weird and intimidating." she states clearly. Ash nods at her and lowers his arms, "straight-shooter" he replies, smirking, I laugh loudly at this interaction. I always loved that she was so straight forward. It was also one of the first things I noticed about Ash when we met for the first time in that bar.

Conversation comes easily to the three of us, I always forget how much I loved my sister. She was my support system when I lived with my family still, I wonder if I was hers too. I let my mind wonder as she interrogates Ash, I need to talk to her about our parents. I share a glance with Ash, silently asking him to give Aimi and I a moment.

"Do you guys want something to drink? I think i'm gonna get a coffee" Ash says lightly, "hot chocolate" Aimi and I say in unison laughing and smiling at each other. Ash smiles and nods, I hand him enough yen for three drinks. When he walks around the side of the building and I know there's no one near us I turn towards Aimi and she has a solemn look on her face as if she knows what I'm about to ask, she does.

"Who did it?" I ask sternly, I hate being tough on her. It's out of my comfort zone but she wont give me a real answer if she thinks she can cry her way out of it. I keep my eyes trained on hers, trying my best not to break eye contact, after a second of her reviewing her options of what she can say she takes a deep breath in.

"Dad" she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

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He hurt you. If I were still here, if I didn't leave I would've been here I could've helped you. He won't get away with this, he can't. He only ever hit me and mom, never you. We made sure you were always safe.

I love you Aimi. I made a mistake leaving you with him, unprotected and vulnerable. I wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry

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