Skating To A New Dawn Chapter 2: A New Day, A New Dawn?, a SK8 the Infinity/SK エスケーエイト + Banana Fish Crossover fanfic

Eiji sat in his Japanese class and watched Ash scribbling some notes in his notebook while the teacher announced the students who'd work together on their next group project. He had a hunch who he'd team up with.

"Kyan and Hasegawa.", their teacher Mr. Nakamura announced next. Reki groaned and let his head fall onto the table in defeat.

"How do you work together with someone who isn't capable of human speech?", he muttered under his breath to Eiji, who had just turned back to him. The teacher cast him a scolding glance but didn't say anything.

"Okumura, you're with Callenreese for this year's group project. Help him out, ok?"

Eiji nodded and heard how all the people around him sighed in relief, glad they hadn't been forced to team up with Ash. Eiji didn't mind. Since he had sat next to him and had explained some things to him here and there, he had expected it. However, before he even had the chance to talk to him, Ash had rushed out of the classroom.

"Ash, wait!", Eiji called out to him. "What about our group project?"

When Ash didn't react and just kept walking, he ran after him and gripped his wrist to stop him.

That got a reaction from him, alright. Only one that Eiji hadn't expected.

"Don't touch me!" Ash immediately pulled his hand away as if he'd been burnt, then shoved him against the wall. The look in his green eyes was piercing and so intense that Eiji froze up for a second. Ash let go of him again and walked away, but Eiji quickly caught up to him. He wouldn't give up so easily.

"You can't write in Japanese. And you don't understand most of the class."

"That's none of your fucking business." Ash glared at him, then walked on. "I just forgot to take my glasses with me. That's all. I don't need your help. As for the project, I don't fucking care. I'll just do it by myself." Then, he stormed off.

"How will he do that without understanding Japanese? He knows that this is a Japanese lit class, right?" Eiji shrugged and looked back at Reki, who had just left the classroom.

"Why do you look as if you want to run after him?"

"Probably because I do want to run after him. We have a group project together, after all."

Reki gave him a mischievous smile. "Is that the only reason you want to talk to him?"

"Don't tease me, Reki. Fine, he's fascinating. He's -

"Tall, blonde and gorgeous?"

"It's not like that!", Eiji exclaimed angrily. "I just want to help him."

Reki suddenly turned serious again, looking directly at him. "Eiji, be careful, ok? Ash is dangerous. You've heard the rumors about him, too, right? He was a gang leader and a killer with ties to the mafia. He ruled New York's underworld with only 17."

"So, you listen to those stupid rumors, too? I thought you were better than that.", Eiji scolded him although he knew he was being unfair to Reki. He just couldn't stand all those rumors. Ash probably came here to start a new life. To forget his past. But how was he supposed to do that if people spread stupid rumors about him? No wonder he kept his distance and buried himself under a tower of books in the library. Escaping to a fictional world probably kept him sane.

"It's not like that!", Reki defended himself. "Unlike most of our classmates, I've just read some American newspaper articles about him. They weren't flattering and called him inhuman and a devil. I've just read them because you were interested in Ash, and I didn't want you to get hurt!"

"I'm sorry, Reki. I shouldn't have said that. I just can't stand all those rumors. Ash probably wants to forget his past, but those stupid rumors make that impossible."

"It's fine. Just promise me to be careful. Ash likes you, too. He's more comfortable around you. And his eyes and features soften when you speak to him. It's barely visible, but I noticed it when I watched you two interact. So, maybe it's a good idea if you speak to him again. Your presence comforts people. That's your innate talent. You always calm me down, too, if I'm too impulsive."

Eiji stared at Reki in surprise, then he smiled. "Thanks, Reki. If I get in trouble, I'll tell you."

"If Ash hurts you, I'll punch him. Eiji burst out laughing. "How will you manage to land a blow against a gang leader?"

"I don't know. But for you, I'll try. If I fail, I could still run him over with my skateboard."

"That's too violent but would probably work better. You're invincible with a skateboard."

"You won't give up, Eiji, will you? I can see it in your eyes. They always darken to a chocolate brown when you set your mind to something. Then, no one can stop you. Not even me. I don't know if I should be relieved that you focus your energy on something else than your depression now or worried that you'll get involved with Ash."

"You worry too much, but thanks anyway. Ash looks cold and acts tough from the outside, but his soul is screaming out in pain. He stays away from people because he probably had some terrible experiences and learned only to trust himself. You haven't seen it, Reki, but when our hands touched by accident, he right out panicked and moved away from me. I saw raw terror in his eyes. He fears touch and closeness. I want to know more about him and convince him that here in Okinawa, people are different."

"Good luck with that! If anyone can get closer to Ash, I'm sure it's you." Reki grinned. "And here I thought that Langa was weird. He never talks even if I explain exercises to him. And his written Japanese is a nightmare."

"Ash's is even worse. I offered him my notes, but he stubbornly refused."

"Maybe it's a culture thing? Are all People from the US this weird?"

"No, I don't think so. And Langa's Canadian, not from the US.", Eiji reminded him.

"Same difference." Reki waved it off with one hand.

"They both experienced something terrible. Their eyes are both overshadowed by pain and sadness. Langa has probably gone through something bad, too. Maybe that's the reason he came here. And why he doesn't talk. He speaks Japanese fluently, so one of his parents is probably Japanese. Give him a chance; maybe he'll surprise you."

"How do you do that? Langa's face is completely expressionless. So are his eyes. How can you see all of that? Even if I grew up with you, I think it leaves me speechless.

"Sixth sense? You know I can sense if people are in trouble. I can just see through poker faces. Like X-ray vision, only for emotions."

"Yes, I know. I just wished I could do that, too."

~ ~ ~

Later, Eiji walked across the school grounds towards the exit. When he passed the athletics field where he had always pole-vaulted, he stopped for a little while, sitting in the grass, and watched the training for a bit. Tears filled his eyes again when he realized he could never compete again, never feel the soft breeze around him when flying weightlessly through the air. Yet, seeing the training didn't hurt as much anymore. It was because Reki had told him something that had stuck in his mind.

'I get that you miss pole vaulting, Eiji. However, if you want to feel a soft breeze around you, why don't you pick up skateboarding again? With a skateboard, you can also fly in the air. I know the feeling is probably not the same, but maybe it's similar?'

Eiji picked up the skateboard Reki had made and designed for him. He loved the motive of dawn, of the sunrise he had painted on it. A new beginning. He wondered if Reki was right. He had never taken skateboarding seriously and wasn't as reckless as Reki. He had never had the self-confidence Reki possessed when it came to skateboarding. Maybe he should give it another try? It was a bit funny. Pole-vaulting practically meant jumping into the window of a two-story building. So, why was he scared to jump as high with a skateboard? Maybe it was just because he lacked actual practice. Perhaps he should change that...

He didn't know why exactly, but when he looked at the skateboard's design, it reminded him of Ash. He had once seen him reading a book outside in the grass when he had eaten his bento on the lawn together with Reki and some classmates during lunch break. Ash's blonde hair had glowed golden in the sunlight, and his expression was relaxed while reading. It only took a few seconds until Ash had caught him staring, and his emotionless mask immediately slipped back on, making his heart ache for his sake.

After a while, he looked back again and saw Ash napping, the book lying on his chest. Some of his blonde strands had fallen into his face, and his pale skin looked otherworldly, as pale and white as one of those Greek marble statues he had seen in museums.

He had been captivated by the soft and peaceful expression on his face while a faint half-smile played about his lips. He wondered what he could do to see that smile again. Not his sarcastic smile but the genuine smile he wore at that moment.

Ash was a mystery to him. He was handsome, smart and fascinating. Yet, at the same time, he had a body language and a death glare that warned the other students to stay away from him. He never talked unless it was absolutely necessary and spent all of his breaks reading in the library because most students avoided the library like the pest unless exams came closer.

Unlike Langa, who seemed as quiet, cold and indifferent as the American boy at first glance, Ash had already caused some commotions at school. Dark rumors were circulating about him. On the internet, nothing stayed hidden for long, especially if you had been an infamous gang leader and the adoptive son of a mafia boss who had ruled New York.

His name had made the headlines of most newspapers in the last few years, especially during the trial and conviction of Dino Golzine. However, most of Ash's past remained mysterious, so the weirdest rumors started spreading.

Eiji hadn't read the articles, but that wasn't necessary. Ash's mysterious past had been the talk of the school for weeks.

Did you know that Ash had ties to the mafia? He was in jail when he was only 14. My dad told me, he's a police officer.

Is it true that he was a cold-blooded gang leader? Does that mean we're going to school with a killer? I heard he even takes a revolver and a knife to school.

I heard he was involved with prostitution and drugs from a very young age. My mom did some research. She's a journalist and told me he's bad news and not to talk to him.

Even here, he sleeps with anyone for money. Guys like him never change. I heard some students in the cafeteria talking about it.

Within days, everyone had stayed away from Ash which was partly because he had a dangerous aura and an intense death glare but also because students challenging him as a proof of courage or a power struggle were hurt within seconds while he didn't even break a sweat. He usually arrived with some bruises and a bloodied shirt at school, but the teachers usually turned a blind eye, just telling them that he had come here on short notice and his circumstances were exceptional.

Most teachers looked away when he arrived late or skipped school entirely because he had excellent grades and aced every test (that didn't require much Japanese like math, English lit and all the sciences). If he had a good day, he could write English essays that were so brilliant; it made Ivy League universities like Harvard or Yale and their publications fade into oblivion.

Eiji didn't care about rumors. To him, the past didn't matter. Besides, to him, Ash didn't look dangerous. His eyes were empty, and dark shadows were lingering in his amazingly green eyes. Yet, he seemed so lonely and sad. Eiji had also seen the immense pain in his eyes and assumed that he went through a lot in New York. Apparently, he was the only one who noticed those details, though. So, he wanted to learn more about him. With Ash's stubborn attitude, that wouldn't be so easy...

A few days later, Eiji had to borrow a book from the library. He wandered between the shelves, looking for the classic literature section in English. After scanning the titles sorted in alphabetical order, he finally found the right book. He held on to the side of the shelf that was already shaking while trying to reach for the book with his other hand while standing on his tiptoes.

But he wasn't tall enough to reach it, so he tried to put one foot on the shelf to reach a bit higher.

"If you keep doing that, you'll crash, and the shelf will fall on top of you."

Ash hadn't even looked up from his book while saying that, just shoving his glasses on top of his nose again while turning the page of his book with his other hand.

"Well, why don't you help me then, smartass? You're taller than me!", Eiji burst out angrily.

To his complete surprise, Ash sighed, got up from his table, went to the shelf and glared at him. "Which one?", he demanded impatiently in a cold voice, his green eyes boring into him.