Banana Fish AshxEiji

~part twenty-two~

"Eiji? Are you in there? Please open the door" I hear ash say loudly through the door but I convince myself it's just my mind. I stand up, unable to sit still any longer. I pace the room hearing silence on the other side of the door which only confirms my suspicions and that I'm hallucinating you again. I stop moving when I hear a deep breath from the other side of the door and you say "I know you're in there, Im back Eiji, Im home". Something about his voice can't be fake, this is real.

I walk towards the door swiftly, tears spilling out of my eyes clouding my vision. I bring my hand to the silver handle but pull back at the last second, you cant see me like this. I'm pathetic, I've never gone through the sort of stuff that you have. You probably almost died out there helping people and I'm sitting here breaking down. I'm supposed to be the strong one that helps you when you need a shoulder to cry on, not the other way around.

"Eiji please let me in '' Ash says, his voice only a little above a whisper, his voice cracking at the end. I can't take it, I cant be the one to break him, I put my hand back on the doorknob and slowly unlock the door opening it just enough for us to see each other. He stands there sadly, he has a black eye and a few other noticeable cuts on him, he looks tired. I reach out for him, my hand connecting with his wrist "you're real?" I ask shakily. He nods and closes the distance between us, I rest my head on his chest not having the energy to lift my arms.

We break apart eventually and walk to our bed laying next to each other, I curl up into him and take his hand in mine. I don't ask him what happened, I don't ask him why he didn't come home, I don't ask him why he never contacted me telling me he's okay. I know he has his reasons. I prop myself up on my elbow so I can look him in the eyes, "promise me something?," I ask softly as he nods and says, "anything".

"We'll never say 'sayonara' to each other again" I say strongly not letting him see the fear behind my words, he holds out his pinky and smiles ," I promise". I hook my pinky on his and I believe him, we were never meant to say goodbye. I place my head lightly on his chest again and close my eyes, I listen to his breathing, I listen to his heartbeat and I wait until I hear soft snores coming from him before I let my brain shut down and sleep.