This chapter was rather difficult for me to write, and I'm still not fully satisfied with it. But, I wanted to get it out today, so I hope you enjoy it!

I want to thank everyone who left a review on the last chapter. I had decided to not post on this site anymore, owing to the lack of interest in my works here. This chapter would not have been published if not for you, and a lot of the progress I made was possible thanks to the motivation I got from your reviews.

I truly was baffled to see any interest displayed. You made my day, all of you.

That being said, I wish you all wonderful holidays!

Walking up those stairs, Eiji hoped that it would be the last time Ash and he would have to reunite in a hospital. Every time, it was as though something had changed between them forever, like gears had shifted and clicked into place. They would turn faster, smoother, more efficient. By now, the two of them must be like a well-oiled machine, perfectly in tune.

Eiji wished that it made a difference and that fate would be kind to them from now on; kind enough so that the good would last even when troubles continued to follow them. Maybe what he wanted were more chances to reunite, to push away the final goodbye time and time again.

Sa-yo-na-ra. Eiji wondered if the bitter taste that appeared on his tongue whenever he as much as thought that word would vanish some day.

Ash had pronounced it oddly, a little foreign, but the emotion behind it still managed to send a shiver down Eiji's spine. And now, he also felt rage. He was angry at Ash's fate, at Lao for the injury he had caused, the pain and suffering that America continued to thrust upon people who were least to deserve it.

In front of Eiji, Kong's broad shoulders blocked the view. He had waited for Eiji at the airport and escorted him here, to a seemingly abandoned building in China town. Though they hadn't talked much, Eiji was glad to see him. And, if Kong's faint smile was any indication, the feeling was mutual. It was comforting to know that Ash was never truly alone.

Once they arrived at the top of the stairs, Kong led the way into what appeared to be a doctor's office. The walls were a blinding white, and medicines were stacked orderly on various shelves.

Bones was standing next to a table, his arms crossed in front of his chest, and his eyes were fixed onto a middle-aged man with hunched posture and bulging eyes. There was a gun on the table, Eiji realized, only after he noticed the man sending hurried glances toward it.

That was, until he locked his eyes on Eiji.

"You're sure he's-"

"Eiji!" Bones greeted, his expression relaxing momentarily. "Go on, Ash is straight through that door." He pointed to his right, not sparing a glance at who Eiji realized must be the doctor.

The man was wearing casual clothes, a sweater and beige pants rather than the typical white cloak associated with his profession. Eiji felt a little silly for not having realized earlier, but he already made for the door Bones had indicated.

"You're sure-"

"Yes, doc. How many times-"

Eiji ignored them and entered the patient's room.

Ash's eyes instantly found his.

Something felt different. Eiji didn't know what it was, nor could he describe it. It was like nails digging into his skin and scratching at his heart, like a sensation of unease that lingered there underneath the joy and relief.

He had needed to see Ash again as soon as possible. He had known that something was wrong before even departing from America, but once he had learned the rough circumstances of what had occurred, he had felt the urge tenfold. Maybe what Eiji felt now was the very same emotion. But, he was already here, Ash right in front of him.

So why?

Eiji sat down next to the bed, giving a smile.

"I was worried," he said. "I'm very relieved that you are fine now."

His hand was quick to find Ash's. Eiji noticed the roughness of his fingers, the slight chill in them. He held on a little tighter, willing his own warmth to chase away the cold.

"I wouldn't say fine," Ash countered, a little awkwardly, a little out of place. Eiji noticed. He saw that the smile on Ash's face didn't fully reach his eyes. "They won't let me get up for the next couple of weeks. An exaggeration, if you ask me, but…"

"Don't say that. Listen to the doctor." Eiji pulled together his brows for emphasis.

"Yeah, yeah."

And then, they became quiet. It wasn't for a lack of topics, Eiji knew that. He averted his eyes the moment Ash did; A deflection? Uncertainty, maybe.

Again, Eiji didn't quite know what it was.

He brought his other hand to lay on top of Ash's as well. Eiji grabbed it from both sides now as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. That action changed something, caused a little stir in Ash. Eiji could tell by the twitch in his hand.

"My letter-"

Again.

"-Did you read it?"

Slowly, Eiji looked up at Ash. They looked at each other.

"I did."

Eiji nodded. He wanted to know if this suspicion that had grown inside him, that had festered during the flight here, had any merit to it. He couldn't make sense of Ash's injury were it not for this thought, this worry, that had it not been for that letter, Ash wouldn't be injured.

And yet, Eiji refrained from bringing it up, merely repeated his previous nod to himself.

There was no need to ask. Ash couldn't run away now, not if he wanted to, given how he was chained to the bed. It wasn't fair to ask, not fair to force him to answer and certainly not to provoke an argument when Ash was this weak. Eiji didn't want to argue when he'd hardly just gotten him back. He didn't ever want to argue with him.

This wrist he was holding, it was so thin.

"I want you to come to Japan with me," Eiji said. "I mean it."

"Eiji-"

"I don't want to talk about it now. Just … consider it. For me."

Maybe within these next few weeks, they could come to a decision that would please both of them. So long as Eiji showed patience, he hoped to melt away the resistance and fear that surrounded Ash like a wall. So long as they were together, Eiji didn't care what happened to him.

Ah, Eiji thought. He might know now what that earlier feeling was.

His sister's words echoed in his mind, the sweet smile on her face.

Her charm had worked indeed. Maybe better than she had intended.

"-I've been telling you, it wasn't like that." Eiji leaned forward, his hands grabbing the fabric covering his knees. "I didn't run away because I'll go back. It's different."

Ash rose a brow, making Eiji falter in his certainly. Ash could tell by the way he deflated.

"You still ran away, even if you intend to go back," he said. "You shouldn't have."

And yet, Ash was glad that he had. To see Eiji again was a blessing, unexpected and as a result all the more beautiful. His heart had soared the moment he had laid eyes on him, yet crashed the instance he had realized that all this joy could only ever be temporary. He had thought that he would be more resistant toward it now, but he felt deeply how wrong this impression had been.

Ash looked at Eiji, and he understood that he very almost would have lost this moment. Eiji's face was full of unsaid emotion, hidden somewhere deep inside. It made Ash's throat become tight.

How would he ever learn to live again without Eiji there by his side?

Ash had given up on life for Eiji's sake, but now he felt that, when looking at him, Eiji was saved only when he had been returned to him. It didn't make sense. It was untrue to think it. But Eiji's words and gestures, they made Ash believe it was true.

He ached all over, thinking it.

Eiji's forever meant more than anything else in the world.

"Make sure you make up with your family. You make it sound like they are good people."

Eiji lowered his gaze, still smiling, but dim. Ash wondered what it was all about. There was something Eiji wasn't telling him.

"You think you'd endanger us, don't you?"

Ah, so they would get into it after all. Ash sighed, leaned back against the head of the bed.

"I know you're tired. I'm sorry, Ash."

But Ash shook his head. "I was wondering when you'd want to talk about it."

"I'm sorry."

"Again with your sorrys…" It was endearing how much Eiji cared. Ash realized they were holding hands again. Or, well, Eiji was holding his. When Ash closed his fingers around Eiji's in return, he noticed the slight drop in his shoulders, the added pressure against his hand.

They smiled at each other. Despite everything, they smiled and smiled and smiled. Ash found it uncanny, almost.

His smile dropped. He said, "I wanted to go with you after I read your letter. But now, I don't know if it would be the right decision. I can't run away from who I am, not after all the things I've done. You wouldn't ever be safe with me."

Eiji listened quietly, but he gave no immediate reaction. They both knew what Ash said was true. Ash doubted Eiji would find an argument that could convince him otherwise.

"I feel safe with you. I'm not scared."

Ash looked away.

"I'm never scared of you, Ash."

"That might be the problem."

Maybe that, right from the start, had been the reason for why they had fallen so fast. They were still falling, and Ash dreaded the time when they would collide with the ground.

Eiji licked his lips. "Even so, that doesn't change anything. I want you to come with me because I want you to live happily, away from the violence. But I also-"

Ash looked up.

"-I also want you to come to Japan because it would make me happy. You hear? It's something I want, too. For myself."

For the first time in his life, Ash felt happy to be susceptible to another's selfishness. For the first time, he heard 'I love you' without actually hearing it.

Could he really be so selfless as to let this feeling go forever?

Max and Jessica stopped by the next day. Ash knew not who told them his whereabouts, but it was a pleasant visit nonetheless. Admittedly, Ash didn't quite show his joy at first, but they eventually managed to drag it out and make it show on his face.

Somehow, Max had earned a spot in Ash's heart that had been vacant up until recently. He didn't know what it was like to have a father who had proven himself worthy of that title, but he felt that Max was closest to it.

"I can't believe you," Max said. "Vanishing without a trace again. Making us think you've died. Again." He slapped his hands on his knees.

"Next time, I won't worry for you, you brat. Well-" he pouted now-"Maybe a little."

He brought his forefinger and thumb together, allowing just a little bit of space between those digits. "This little, you hear me! Even less!"

Jessica slapped his shoulder. "Stop being an idiot, Max," she scolded him. "You almost cried when you thought something had happened to him."

"How dare you! You don't-"

"You sobbed all over the morning paper! You know-"

Ash and Eiji exchanged a quick glance. At least, it was supposed to be a quick glance. Somehow, Ash couldn't tear his eyes away so easily.

When he did eventually, Max and Jessica were smiling at him.

"So, you gonna go to Japan once you're back on your feet?" Max asked.

Ash tensed. Next to him, Eiji leaned away a little, giving him space.

"I-"

...

"Maybe for a short visit," Ash said to Eiji after they were gone.

The sun had gone down, and outside, the city lights shone brightly.