Ash and Eiji walked out the prison gates, blinking in the harsh sunlight. Ash draped his jacket over his shoulder and looked down the empty road. Eiji glanced at the prison behind them uncertainly. Jenkins was supposed to be here to pick them up, but other than a beat up, old van by the curb and a few cars in the small parking lot across the street, there was no sign of people or traffic. The road that ran alongside the prison was deserted.

Eiji opened his mouth to ask Ash what they were supposed to do now, when he heard the growl of a powerful engine. A sleek, red car swung into view and coasted into the parking lot, kicking up dust and gravel. Eiji jumped back, the dust cloud stinging his eyes.

But the driver wasn't Jenkins. A dangerously beautiful woman with lush, blonde hair looked at them and her cold, dark blue eyes flashed over Eiji in a cool glance and then she inspected her nails like he wasn't worth further consideration. Ash walked up to the car and slid into the passenger seat.

Eiji moved to follow when the car lurched forward and they sped away.

"Ash!"

Eiji stood in the road and watched them disappear around the corner without so much as a backwards glance.

He looked down the long, empty road and then back at the prison, unsure of what to do next. The prison guards on the wall both turned and looked the other way.

The doors of the white van burst open and two figures in black ski masks sprang out and grabbed Eiji as he gave a startled yell. Strong hands grabbed his arms and shoulders and a black hood was pulled over his head as they dragged him kicking and screaming into the van.

Eiji yelled angrily and threw a blind kick. His foot made contact and the unseen person cursed in pain but didn't loosen his grip. Eiji was suddenly thrown forward and staggered to the floor. The bag was ripped off his head and Eiji whirled around, ready for a fight.

Ash leaned against the wall and looked down at him, amused.

"Ash? What the hell?"

Ash shrugged. "Sorry. Couldn't risk being seen taking you with me. And it's not like I could just leave you out on the street for Golzine to find."

Alex and Kong grabbed Eiji and wrestled him down into a metal chair that was bolted to the ground. They pulled Eiji's arms behind his back and bound his wrists to the back of the chair. Eiji fought against his new imprisonment, swearing foully in Japanese.

Ash chuckled. "Language, Eiji-chan. You'd better be careful or we may not believe you're as innocent as you look."

Eiji glared daggers.

Ash looked at his men. "Were you followed?"

"No," Alex said, still rubbing his shin painfully.

Ash nodded. "Thanks. You can go now."

Alex nodded, glaring at Eiji. He and Kong turned and closed the door behind him, leaving Ash and Eiji alone in the room. Ash turned back and looked at his captive.

"Why the black look, Eiji-chan?"

"Don't call me that," Eiji growled.

"I'm sure you've been called worse."

Eiji's glare turned venomous.

Ash spun his knife loosely in his fingers. "See, the thing that I can't understand is why, after all Golzine has done to you, why you would want to protect him."

Eiji spat at Ash. "Kutabare. You have no idea what he's done."

Ash sat down and slapped his knife against Eiji's leg. "Enlighten me then."

"Or what?"

Ash looked at him and then glanced down at his knife like he was making sure it was still there. "You do see the big knife in my hand, right?"

"You won't use it."

"See, now that makes me want to, just to prove you wrong." Ash pressed the point into Eiji's leg.

"You're not that kind of person."

Ash stopped. He looked up at Eiji.

Eiji's eyes were dark and angry, but he wasn't afraid.

Ash stood up, glaring. "Tell me what you know about Golzine."

"Free me," Eiji answered.

"You'll just run away again."

"I won't."

Ash laughed. "Of course you will. Why wouldn't you?"

"Because I need you."

Ash's knife stopped twirling in his hand. "What?"

"You're the brother of Griffin Callenreese."

Ash lunged forward and pressed his knife to Eiji's throat.

Eiji glared up at him coolly. "You said he died. That means I need you."

"How do you know Griff?" Ash hissed.

"Set. me. free."

Ash glared at him. He shoved hard against Eiji's chest and his knife sliced through the ropes that bound his hands. Ash leaned back against the door, knife in hand, as Eiji rubbed his wrists.

"Talk."

"Later," Eiji said. "I'm starving. Let's get something to eat."