Wookie threw Ash into a chair and secured his hands behind him. Eiji was in a chair opposite him, his bare feet and wrists chained securely to the chair. Eiji's dark eyes met his desperately.
Arthur glared at them. "How'd you escape?"
"We didn't technically," Ash said.
Wookie punched him and Eiji lashed out angrily against his restraints.
Arthur turned and approached Eiji. He grabbed Eiji's chin and forced his head back.
"What about the honor student?" Arthur said. He stole a sideways glance at Ash. "What's he to you?"
Ash met him with a cold, unrevealing look. "Information. Rumor has it he was close to Dino."
Arthur looked back at Eiji hungrily. "So I've heard."
Arthur squatted down in front of Eiji, studying him. "They said he only speaks Japanese. How were you planning to get information out of him?"
"I can speak more than one language, fuck face," Ash said.
"Lucky for us that he can't," Arthur said. "It means we can talk freely in front of him. Smart design."
He stood and walked behind Eiji, smiling at Ash. "So are you really after information or are you just a fan?"
"What are you talking about?" Ash growled.
"Oh, I just figured that with your… preferences, you might have seen some of his movies. I heard he was quite popular when he was younger."
Eiji looked at Ash, desperate to understand what was happening. Ash felt nauseated.
"What do you mean?"
Arthur smiled at him. "You mean to tell me that in all the time you've had him, you've never sampled the goods?"
Arthur ran a hand across Eiji's cheek. Eiji flinched away but Arthur grabbed his hair, forcing his head back.
"Enough, Arthur," Ash growled. "It's me you want. Leave him alone."
"It's not quite that simple," Arthur said. "Sorry, Ash, but this isn't just about you and me anymore."
Eiji recoiled as Arthur ran his fingers down Eiji's neck and chest, slipping beneath his shirt.
"You don't have anything I want this time. Except him."
Arthur pulled up the thin chain, the pendant dangling between his fingers. Eiji's eyes widened.
Ash glared. "You're Dino's dog now? That's low even for you, Arthur."
"I'm nobody's dog," Arthur spat.
Ash smiled. "Down on all fours, begging for scraps?"
Arthur slammed a fist into Ash's stomach angrily. Ash groaned and then laughed. "Wouldn't make you angry if it wasn't true."
"I am angry," Arthur said. "But this one here has caused me more pain than you."
He turned on Eiji. He clenched his fist and Ash saw again the tortured scars that ran their way down Arthur's shoulder - from a wound in the same place as Eiji's scar from when he had been shot on the wharf.
"It was you that night," Ash said, his eyes widening in realization.
"Do you know how much I've been through for that?" Arthur growled. "My shoulder for the bullet. Waterboarding for the river. He tortured me for days when he thought you had drowned."
Arthur slipped off his belt, folding it over in his hand. Eiji looked up at him, his eyes wide with fear.
Arthur raised his arm to strike.
A heavy hand stopped him.
"And you still haven't learned your lesson," Marvin growled. "Any damage you do to the boy, Papa will visit on you tenfold. Is lashing the brat yourself really worth it?"
Arthur growled and glared at the frightened boy in front of him. Marvin's hand clenched down harder and Arthur winced and the belt dropped from his hand.
"Good boy," Marvin smiled.
He turned and Eiji's face went pale and cold.
"Hello, Eiji."
"No!" Eiji thrashed back as Marvin grabbed him.
"Get your hands off of him!" Ash shouted.
"This doesn't concern you, street rat," Marvin hissed. "Consider it a mercy that I'm not doing anything to him in front of you. It's been a long time since Eiji and I have been acquainted with each other and I plan on taking my time."
Eiji cried and struggled as Marvin dragged him towards a darkened room at the back of the warehouse.
Ash rushed forward and was slammed back into his chair by Arthur's goons. He watched desperately as Eiji was dragged away.
"Ash!"
"Eiji!"
The door slammed closed. Ash's mind reeled, trying to figure out how they were going to get out of this.
Arthur laughed. "You really let that kid get under your skin, didn't you? I shouldn't be surprised. After all, he was trained to make you love him."
Ash glared at him. "You're a bastard, Arthur. I don't care what he's done to you, this is unforgivable."
Arthur waved his hand. "You always did play the honorable type. I would kill you but I don't see why I should ruin my gift to Golzine. Your head is going to be my ticket up the ladder."
Two goons grabbed Ash and threw him into a storage room. Ash turned on them but they slammed the door before he could escape. He yelled and bashed against the door furiously.
"Arthur, you'd better pray I die today. Because I am going to kill you if I ever get my hands on you!"
He winced as his side lit up with a sharp stab of pain. The knife wound wasn't deep but it hurt like hell.
Ash sank back against the old crates and closed his eyes. Hurry, Skipper. We need you.
Ash opened his eyes and winced as he tried to move. He looked around the room but it was empty and silent.
"Psst!" the voice said again. "Boss!"
Ash looked up in surprise and saw Skip in the barred window above his head.
Skip yanked open the grate over the window and jumped inside.
"We have to hurry," he whispered as sawed through the ropes that bound Ash's wrists. "Arthur's guys are pissed."
Ash grabbed the knife and turned as the door slammed open. The knife flew through the air, dropping the goon before he could draw his gun.
Sounds of fighting were coming from the courtyard. Ash could hear Alex's voice. "Where are you, Arthur, you backstabber!"
"Watch out!" Ash yelled. "Dino's guys are here!"
Bullets ricocheted off the walls as if in answer and Ash and Skip ducked for cover.
"Where's Eiji?" Skip yelled.
A green car squealed up the road and Ash saw two of Marvin's men running towards it, pulling Eiji between them. Eiji saw Ash and struggled in vain to break away and get to him. Then Marvin turned and saw them.
Ash froze. They had no cover. No weapons.
Marvin smiled and his gun trained on Ash. Skipper's eyes widened.
"No!"
Eiji launched himself forward just as the gun went off.
Ash's heart stopped in his chest as Eiji collapsed to the ground.
A purple mohawked figure launched himself off the top of the crates with a wild yell, knocking Marvin and his men to the ground. Shorter growled and shot both henchmen point blank.
Marvin's head hit the asphalt hard. He groaned, blood seeping through his hair.
Ash stood over him, his eyes a deadly green flame.
"Do it," Marvin said. He looked at Eiji lying on the ground, blood pooling around his body. "I'm dead anyway."
Ash pulled the trigger and the man's brains hit the ground before his body.
Ash turned and ran to Eiji's side. Skipper was beside him, putting pressure on the wound. Skip looked up at him desperately, tears in his eyes.
"What do we do, Ash? I-I don't know what to do."
Ash knelt beside Eiji and grabbed his hand but his eyes were unfocused, staring at the sky.