Shorter looked up grimly as the cell door opened.
He blinked in surprise. "Ash!"
Ash looked down at him with a grin and tossed him a machine gun. Shorter caught it and looked up at Ash.
"I don't understand. How did you escape?"
"We'll talk later," Ash said. "Come on, I planted a bomb that will go off in four minutes."
Shorter grabbed the gun and followed Ash out of the cell.
They ran through the hallways.
Ash paused, looking around frantically.
"This is house is like a maze," Shorter gasped.
They heard voices and moved back against the wall. Ash peered around the corner. He pulled back and looked at Shorter and held up two fingers. Shorter nodded.
"I think the exit is that way," Ash whispered. "Grab a car and meet us out front-"
"No way," Shorter cut in. "I'm not letting you go alone. I'm coming too." He cocked his machine gun. "Besides, I can take care of myself."
Ash smiled. They stepped out from behind the corner together and opened fire.
Alarms blared and Yut-Lung woke with a start. His arm was still wrapped protectively around Eiji as they slept. He sat up and looked around. A distant explosion rattled the floor.
"What's going on?"
He got out of bed and looked out the window. Dark figures moved in night, surrounding the house.
Yut-Lung's breath caught in his throat as he recognized one of them. "Blanca."
He turned and froze. Eiji was standing behind him, staring out the window. He looked up at Yut-Lung, his eyes dark and clear.
"He came back for you," Eiji said. He looked around the room a moment, at the bed, at the bathroom, then back to Yut-Lung. "You died in the firefight. Ash Lynx killed you as revenge for betraying him."
Yut-Lung took a step back. "What are you talking about?"
They heard machine gun fire in the hallway. Ash's voice rang out, calling for Eiji.
"In here, Ash!" Eiji yelled.
Yut-Lung felt the blood drain from his face. The door was rammed open, splinters flying everywhere and Ash Lynx stood in the doorway, a machine gun in his hand, blood staining his clothes.
Ash saw Yut-Lung and his grip on the gun tightened. Eiji stepped between them.
"Yut-Lung Lee is dead," he said firmly.
Eiji looked back at Yut-Lung. "He died. His brothers will never even find his body. He doesn't exist anymore. "
Yut-Lung wobbled and sank to his knees as realization and relief suddenly flooded through him. He was free.
Eiji looked down at him. "Find Blanca. Keep your head down and run far away."
Yut-Lung nodded wordlessly. Eiji turned away and went to Ash.
Their lips met as they embraced each other passionately. They looked up at the sound of footsteps and Shorter stepped into the room, his gun leveled at Eiji.
"Ash, back away," Shorter said, his voice as gentle as he could. "I can't let you do this."
"Shorter, put the gun away," Eiji said. "You're going to hurt somebody."
Shorter blinked.
Ash grinned. "Where do you think I got the key, you idiot?"
Shorter dropped the gun. 'Eiji! You bastard, I knew you would never turn on Ash!" He grabbed Eiji in a bear hug and rubbed his knuckles on his head. "I was never even worried for a minute."
Eiji laughed and wriggled out of Shorter's grasp. "Come on, we're not out of the woods yet."
"Do you know where Dino is?" Ash asked.
Eiji shook his head. "No."
"What?" Shorter asked. "You're not seriously still going after him?"
"He has the last sample of Banana Fish," Ash said.
"We have to stop him," Eiji agreed.
"There's a hanger on the roof."
They turned and looked at Yut-Lung.
Yut-Lung looked up at them. "Fox keeps helicopters up there. That's where he'll be headed."
Eiji smiled. "Thanks."
Yut-Lung watched as they turned away.
Ash and Eiji were two sides of the same heart. They were both strong on their own but together they were whole. Neither could live without the other anymore; neither wanted to. Yut-Lung had never experienced love like that. He couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his stomach as he watched them disappear.
Yut-Lung was free now for the first time in his life. He could disappear, maybe even find out what it was to live a real life. But Ash and Eiji hadn't given themselves that choice. They weren't out of the woods yet. They were heading deeper into them.
