Chapter Sixty-Eight: Hide & Seek

Life as a seven-year-old is more difficult than one might think, especially when said seven-year-old is responsible for making decisions beyond her years. Ideas that sound logical do not always pan out. For Akira, running away seemed like the only logical idea. And quite honestly, running away in the daylight would not have been the worst idea. But it was dark when Akira finally hit the road and, though she knew the way in the daytime, everything looked surprisingly foreign at night.

Her seven-year-old brain also had a hard time judging distance by car vs distance on foot. What was only a fifteen-minute drive by car was a significantly longer journey on foot, especially on child-sized legs.

She was overly determined at the start. She walked with haste and purpose. The goal was to reach her destination quickly, without attracting any unwanted attention.

An hour into her walk, however, she lost her steam. The night grew colder and her feet began to ache. Little legs slowed to a halt. Akira looked around her. She was having a harder and harder time deciphering where she was and in which direction she was heading. Panic began to grow in her chest, breath quickening. The headlights of an approaching car rounded a bend and, not wanting to be seen, she dove headfirst into a plump Japanese Boxwood that lined the road. The branches of the bush stung her cheek as she fell onto the dry earth.

She sat there for several minutes, even after the car had passed. It was warmer inside the bush than it had been on the road. She considered lying down on the earth and sleeping for a short time, but the dense foliage made that nearly impossible. Eventually, she willed her body to move. She crawled out the opposite side of the bush than the side she had entered. The landscape before her was dense with native trees and plants. A few hundred feet in the distance was a walking trail devoid of streetlights. There was a small shape she couldn't quite make out from where she was. Curious, she made her way toward it. Halfway there, the object in the distance became more clear; it was a small roadside shrine.

The petite wooden shrine housed a two-foot stone statue. Around the statue's shoulders was a red, silk fabric with intricate embroidery of golden Japanese pine trees. At the statue's feet lay an array of simple candles, all burned down to different heights. Wax pooled at the bottoms of the candles, marrying them to the stone floor. A bowl of fresh oranges and a vase of fresh flowers were evidence that the shrine was frequently visited by locals, likely daily.

Akira bowed to the statue as she approached, paying homage. She then stepped inside the shrine, minding the candles and gifts at the statue's feet.

[I hope you don't mind me resting here a minute.]

It was a tight squeeze, but she managed to lay herself down inside the back of the shrine, using her backpack as a pillow. There were matches beside the candles. She thought about lighting them for warmth. She thought back to all the times her parents had told her not to play with fire. Of course, they had told her many things throughout her life that she questioned now. And yet, instinct told her not to attempt to start a flame in such a small space while wrapped in a likely flammable jacket. The shrine shielded her from the evening spring wind, that would have to be good enough.

Eiji emerged from Shunichi's bathroom nearly an hour later. He approached Ash who was now lying calmly on the couch, icing his injuries. Despite his calm demeanor, his mind was still racing. His face and side were numb from the ice, slowly gathering condensation on his skin. Standing beside the couch, Eiji reached down to smooth Ash's now-damp fringe from his face.

Iku-san watched the pair from the comfort of the armchair Shunichi had given up for her. Not wanting to interfere, she simply willed Ash to apologize from within her inner monologue. Her grip on the bourbon in her hand tightened.

"I'm sorry, Eiji," Ash said softly, staring into the brown abyss peering down at him. "I've been a dick to you all day."

Eiji nodded. "You have."

Eiji turned toward Shunichi who was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall that separated the living room and kitchen. "Iku-san's car is still at the beach." He eyed the two empty beers by his feet. "Help her get home before you drink too much." It wasn't a question.

Shunichi nodded.

Eiji turned back to Ash and motioned for him to stand. "Now, let's get going."

Ash stood, wincing as he did so. His vision tunneled as he stood and Eiji, as if predicting it, offered Ash a hand to stabilize himself.

"Where are your keys?"

Ash dug them from his pocket and placed them in Eiji's expecting hand.

Once in the car, they drove in silence. Ash didn't have to ask to know where Eiji was driving.

She didn't mean to sleep for more than an hour or two, but when she woke, it was early morning. She squinted in the morning light. Before her, an elderly woman squatted beside the shrine. She held a vase of fresh flowers.

[What are you doing in there, child?]

Akira's eyes widened in fear. Hastily, she shifted into a seated position. She tucked her disheveled hair behind her ears and rubbed her eyes. The woman, who had been blurry in her foggy vision, was now clear. [It's morning?!] Akira stood, bumping her head on the roof of the shrine. [Ow!] Her small hands clasped the top of her head. She grabbed her backpack and pushed past the woman.

Several candles toppled over in her wake. The glass vase was caught by shaking, elderly hands before it could shatter. Akira began to run the second her feet hit the dirt. She didn't look back, not even as the woman shouted, [Wait!]

It was worse than the time with Blanca when Ash had punched the shower wall to expel the anger in his bones. Eiji had been questioned thoroughly to ensure he was not being abused by the blond with the broken hand.

This time, however, things were the other way around. Upon arrival to the emergency department, Ash was separated from Eiji and taken for questioning. [Are you safe at home?] [Who did this to you?] [Has this ever happened before?] The questions went on and on, despite Ash repeatedly telling the medical professionals he had already filed a police report against the actual perpetrator. [Were you sexually assaulted? Tonight or previously?] Those two questions hurt the most.

[Yes,] he had answered, [but not by the man I came here with. He would never hurt me in any way.]

It was a difficult task, but he answered their questions respectfully, never once snapping. He owed Eiji that much at least.

"They are going to assume I did this." Eiji had warned him in the car before they walked in. "I know," he had responded. And Eiji would be questioned as well, but they left that bit unsaid.

After Ash was utterly exhausted from questioning, he was evaluated medically. His face was swollen but free of fractures or any significant, long-lasting damage. He'd be swollen and discolored for a few days, but after that, he was assured he'd be fine.

His ribs, on the other hand, were a different story. He had a non-displaced fracture of his right seventh and eighth ribs. Rest, swelling, pain control, and time were the treatment course; in other words, exactly what Ash had told Iku-san. But at least now they knew there was nothing more serious going on.

He didn't hit Eiji with any 'I told you so's, nor did he tell him the ER visit was a waste of time. However, he also did not explicitly thank him for caring about Ash enough to make sure he was medically stable, even after the day they'd had. Instead, he said nothing as they walked to the car. Without discussion, Ash took the passenger seat.

"What's that script for?" Eiji gestured to the paper in Ash's hand.

"Prescription-strength Ibuprofen."

Without discussion, Eiji started the car and began driving to the nearest pharmacy.

"We'll pick up a few ice packs too."

Ash nodded. Guilty and tired, he didn't bother arguing.

They barely made it before the pharmacy closed. Their common prescription was filled and they bought two ice packs in less than twenty minutes.

"We should keep looking," Ash told Eiji from the passenger seat as they left the pharmacy lot.

"Ash, you need to rest."

Ash closed his eyes and willed himself not to raise his voice. "I need to find her. She's most vulnerable at night." There was a pause. "Please, Eiji."

Eiji didn't answer right away. He looked at Ash. His clothes and hair were disheveled. His face, besides being swollen and discolored, was draped in fatigue. He desperately needed to rest.

Truly, Eiji understood his concern. He too was concerned. He'd known Akira since she was a baby, he cared for her like a cousin. Maybe even a sister. He remembered how his own mother used to watch her when she was young. He and Miyuki would fight over who got to hold or feed her. Conversely, they fought over who had to help put her down for naps. And, when she was very young, they fought over who didn't have to change her dirty diapers. Eiji was just as worried as Ash was, but it showed in different ways.

"One hour," Eiji decided. "I'll drive you around for one hour and we'll look for her from the car. Then we go home and you rest." Ash thought about it. "And take those meds," Eiji added as an afterthought.

"Two hours," Ash rebutted.

"Seventy minutes," Eiji conceded.

"You won't go any more than that," it wasn't a question.

Eiji shook his head, "Nope."

Ash nodded. "Okay."

After another hour or so of walking, she finally arrived at her destination. She had no way of knowing the exact time, but judging by the sun in the sky, she guessed it was around eight or nine in the morning.

She was the only one there when she arrived, but she wasn't going to let that stop her.

Eiji placed the thawed ice packs they had purchased in the freezer once they arrived home.

Ash downed an ibuprofen and collapsed on the living room sectional. His eyes were closed a mere thirty seconds before they snapped open. "Where's Buddy?" Ash asked Eiji.

Eiji turned in circles where he stood, looking around the room for signs of their dog. "I don't—"

Ash stood hastily, gripping his side in pain as he did.

As if on queue, Buddy barked from outside.

Eiji looked relieved but Ash grew more tense. "Did you ask Miyuki to let him out? Or Mom?" His voice was hushed.

Eiji shook his head very slowly, realizing what Ash was getting at.

Ash crossed the room and stood close to Eiji. He leaned down to whisper in Eiji's ear, "Someone's in the house. Where are those bullets?"

Eiji shook his head.

"Eiji," he hissed. "If there was ever a time—"

"I can't Ash, I got rid of them."

Ash's eyes widened before closing. His face wrinkled in distress. He took a deep, collecting breath. "I really wish you hadn't done that."

Eiji's stomach churned. "Me too."

Ash scanned the kitchen for the next best line of defense. He selected their sharpest butcher knife. He ran his thumb along the edge, it sliced with the slightest amount of pressure.

"Ash—"

Ash pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhhh." He took a step, knife drawn. "Stay close," he whispered to Eiji. If someone were hiding in the living room or kitchen, Ash was certain he would have seen, or heard, them by now. He started slowly up the steps, Eiji right behind him. Eiji couldn't help but think of Ash saving him from Golzine's.

Ash searched the office first. He flung the door open, but no one was there. No one in the closet either. They made their way down the hall and into the guest room. At first glance, it was empty. Eiji held his breath while Ash searched the closet and under the bed. They did the same with their room and the master bathroom. They then went back downstairs, wordlessly, and searched the second bathroom. Ash kicked in the shower curtain, certain it was the last place for someone to hide, but, again, no one was there.

They went back to the main living space. Ash searched a coat closet followed by the kitchen pantry. Both of which would have been very tight hiding places, but he supposed it was possible.

"I don't think there's anyone here," Eiji whispered.

"Someone has to be. Buddy didn't let himself outside."

"We were in a rush this morning, maybe I forgot to let him back inside," Eiji whispered in reply.

Ash shook his head. "He was in here when we left."

Ash's eyes scanned the living room one more. It was the only place they hadn't searched. Ash knew the space beneath the sofa was too small to hide an adult. Still, he checked, his reasoning being that the Japanese tended to be more petite in stature. He found no one.

He hoisted himself off the ground after checking beneath the couch. His foot brushed the kotatsu on his way up. His eyes widened in realization. He glanced at Eiji and pointed at the kotatsu that was still adorned with a thick blanket left over from the colder months.

Eiji placed his hands over his mouth, eyes wide.

Ash braced one foot on the table's edge. He took a deep breath and kicked. The table flipped, the two legs closest to Ash leaving the ground first. The table crashed loudly to the floor. The books and candles that had decorated the top clattered across the floor. Glass shattered. Eiji screamed.

Ash stood threateningly, knife still in hand.

Two wide, dark eyes stared up at him.

"Oh fuck," Ash cursed.