"Everyone, this is Eiji. Eiji, this is everyone."

Eiji gulped as Ash's gang crowded around him. A boy his age with pink hair woven into a messy braid stepped forward and offered his hand with a broken grin.

"Nice to meet you officially. The name's Bones." He rubbed his nose, "Although technically we already met. I helped kidnap you. Along with Kong here."

Eiji looked up at the huge, black man that towered over him, smiling like a teddy bear.

"Your friends are really scary," he whispered to Ash.

"Nonsense!" Ash laughed, putting an arm around Eiji's shoulder. "Okay, well maybe a little. But while you're here, you're our guest. They'll take good care of you."

Bones grinned and nodded. Eiji looked around at the faces, all with looks too worn and wise for their age. He spotted Alex in the corner.

"I'm sorry I kicked you," Eiji said, bowing.

Bones and Kong looked at each other and busted out laughing. Alex scowled at them. "Nothing to laugh at. The kid's got a mean kick." He looked at Eiji, glaring. "You're tougher than you look."

Eiji blinked and looked at Ash.

"Oh right," Ash said. "Eiji here only speaks Japanese. So if you need to talk to him- make Bones translate for you because I can't be bothered. Now everybody get moving. You've got jobs to do. Go do them."

Ash turned to Eiji. "Come on. I'll show you where you'll be staying."

The room was small with exposed brick walls and the floor made of thick, worn lumber. It was nice, in a sort of minimalistic way. It looked like it was old enough to have been built back when the main mode of transportation in New York city was still horse and buggy. Eiji looked around and turned back to Ash.

"There's only one exit," Eiji said. "The door that goes to your room."

Ash was leaning against the wall, blocking the doorway. He looked at the door frame and feigned surprise as if that had just occurred to him. "You're right. There is only one way in or out. I guess you'll have to go through me any time you want to leave." He smiled at Eiji. "I hope that's okay with you."

Eiji scowled, "Bastard. You planned it that way."

Ash shrugged. "It is convenient for keeping an eye on you, I admit. Think of it as added security. No one can get to you without going through me first." He winked. "Don't worry, I won't charge you extra."

"Am I a prisoner here?"

Ash smiled, "You're my guest."

He closed the door and the key turned in the lock with a heavy click. Eiji ran forward and banged on the door. "Ash! Ash, let me out! Chikushou, bakayarou-"

Ash shook his head and turned away from the rattling door. Bones and Kong stared at him.

"Boss," Bones said, glancing at the door. "I thought you said he was one of us? Why-?"

"I don't know if we can trust him," Ash said. "Griffin said he was looking for a person and his final message led us to him."

They gaped. "Boss, you don't think-"

Ash shook his head. "I don't know. But he's hiding something and until I know what it is, I can't trust him. Right now he's information. A lead. And a risk."

Bones and Kong looked at Ash uncertainly. "What do you want us to do?"

"Just watch him for now. Give him food if he's hungry. He likes books, and he can use any of mine." Ash grabbed his jacket and headed towards the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

Ash looked back at them. "I've got some calls to make."

"You know China isn't the same country as Japan, right?" Shorter said.

"Yes, I know," Ash sighed. "But I'm being watched, I can't start asking questions without arousing suspicion."

Shorter crossed his arms. "Oh, so I'm not even the information supplier, I'm a fence. Relegated to being a middleman." He slammed his fist on the table. "Do you know who I am? I'm the best in the business! I've got connections! I've got class!"

Ash looked at his spiked purple mohawk and pierced eyebrow and laughed. "I know you do, Shorter. That's why you're the only guy I trust with this job."

Shorter smirked, satisfied. "Fair enough. Apology accepted. So, who am I looking for?"

"A man, and a girl."

Shorter whistled excitedly. "Ooh. Things are definitely getting interesting. Who is this girl? Is she cute? Does she like Chinese food?" Shorter wiggled his eyebrows and ran his fingers through his mohawk.

"It's Eiji's father and sister," Ash said.

"Oh," Shorter deflated. He glanced up at Ash. "Is she single?"

"I don't know," Ash laughed. "If you find her, you can ask her. Here's everything I know."

Ash slid a piece of paper across to Shorter. Shorter looked at it and frowned. "Not much to go off of."

Ash slipped on his helmet. "I know. That's why I need the best." He hopped on his motorcycle and revved the engine.

He paused and looked back. "Shorter."

"Yeah?"

"I need this. He needs it."

Shorter nodded and waved his hand at Ash. "No need to guilt trip me. I'll find your kid's long-lost family. I've got this."

Ash smiled and nodded.

Trying to break down the door with his fists was useless. Eiji looked around the room and ran to the window. He tried to open it but it was stuck fast. Thick, crooked nails had been driven in through the window sill from the other side. Eiji pulled with all his strength but it wouldn't budge. He picked up a chair and was about to throw it through the window when he realized there wasn't even a fire escape on the other side. Of course. A gang leader wouldn't want a back entrance into his private room. He was four stories up. Even if he survived the fall, he wouldn't get far on broken legs.

He hurled the chair across the room and slammed his fist against the wall angrily. He regretted it instantly and yelped, cradling his knuckles gingerly.

Eiji turned back and glared at the impassible door. He gave a wild yell and charged, ramming his shoulder against the heavy door. He reeled back, crashing to the ground. He cried out as the wound in his shoulder spiked with pain. Blood began seeping through his shirt. Eiji fought back angry tears as he clutched his shoulder.

He looked up as the latch clicked and the door swung open. Bones peered at him, a gun in his hand and Kong behind him as back up. Bones' eyes widened when he saw Eiji's bleeding shoulder.

"What did you do? You're bleeding!" he cried, running forward.

Eiji shoved him away, glaring through his tears. "Let me go. I am a person, not some thing to be locked in a cage."

Bones and Kong glanced at each other uncomfortably. Bones set his gun down and knelt in front of Eiji.

"Can I help you with that?" he asked gently, pointing at Eiji's shoulder.

Eiji scowled but let Bones pull his shirt back and inspect the wound.

Bones sighed, "You didn't hurt it too badly. Just pulled it open a bit. It'll be fine if you don't ram into any more doors."

Eiji glared at the floor and didn't answer. Bones scratched the back of his neck and glanced up at Kong.

Kong saw the look in his eyes and shook his head. "You do that and Ash will break the rest of your teeth."

Bones frowned and looked back at Eiji. He crossed his legs and sat on the floor with him, looking around at the room.

"You know," Bones said, "This used to be Griffin's room."

Eiji glanced up at him and looked around the bare room.

Bones sighed, "When Griffin came back from the war, he was pretty messed up. He used to have nightmares that'd make him scream so loud he woke the whole building. Ash would stay up with him at night, sit with him through the nightmares."

Bones looked quietly at the empty bed in the corner. "When Griff discovered that Golzine was involved with… whatever it was that killed his buddy during the war, he became obsessed. Ash didn't stop him, because hunting Dino made the nightmares go away."

Bones looked at Eiji. "We all love Ash. White, Puerto Rican, Chinese, black, all of us. He can be a little scary and he's got an awful temper, but he's a good guy. He takes care of us."

Eiji looked down at his hand and his fingers curled around the invisible red stain. He looked up at Bones. "I don't want to be a prisoner."

"Ash doesn't know if he can trust you."

Eiji looked away.

"Just give him some time. He'll come around. And so will you."

Eiji looked up, startled. Bones smiled.