Chapter Eleven: Japan It With Me
It was 2:15 PM when Ash's flight landed in Okayama. Ash was running on pure adrenaline as his jet-lagged body still thought it was 1 AM. Fortunately, he'd managed to at least sleep several hours on the flight. Now as he walked through the terminal, eyes scanning for his boy, sleep was the last thing on his mind. Eiji was a lot easier to spot in New York. Now in Japan, there were many people who shared Eiji's hair color and complexion. Several times Ash's eyes were momentarily tricked, but when his eyes finally found him, he wondered how he'd mistaken anyone else for Eiji. Eiji was just different, show-stoppingly perfect in every way, Ash thought. Eiji was wearing a burnt orange t-shirt, that had a pocket on the front and cuffed sleeves, and dark cuffed skinny jeans and sneakers that matched his shirt perfectly. Eiji hadn't spotted him in the crowd of other passengers yet. His head was still pivoting slowly with dark, searching eyes.
When their eyes finally connected it was electric. Tears immediately burned Ash's eyes as Eiji began racing towards him through the crowd. Ash was running too, now, his luggage dragging behind him loudly. With a great effort, Ash blinked back his happy tears, not wanting the first moments of their reunion to be spent crying. Seconds later their bodies collided. Luggage was dropped as their arms tightly stitched their bodies together. They both said the other's name as if it were the most sacred word on Earth. For the first time ever, neither of them asked, neither of them had to. They kissed each other with a passion unique to months of separation from the one you love most. People were staring, but neither boy seemed to notice, and even if they had, they certainly wouldn't have cared.
Against all better judgment, Eiji pulled away from Ash and jumped up into his arms, his legs tangling tightly against Ash's waist. Ash was crying now, happy tears streamed down his face as he laughed at Eiji's sudden bold show of affection. His strong arms held Eiji away from him slightly so he could see his face. Happy tears glazed Eiji's eyes as he sat in Ash's arms smiling at him from ear to ear.
"God, I've missed you more than you can ever know." Ash said to him softly.
Eiji wrapped his arms tighter around Ash's neck and kissed him again with so much love. Most people walked by quickly, ducking their heads awkwardly. However, a few teenage girls gawked and squealed in joy at the sight. Ash would have been a sight to see all on his own, with his pale blond hair and movie-star-like appearance. The sight of him passionately holding and kissing his soft boy was apparently too much for these girls to handle, even though they had no idea who he was.
Reluctantly, Ash placed Eiji back on the ground.
"We're causing a scene." he grinned and gestured to the girls with his head, arms still around Eiji's waist. Eiji who previously hadn't noticed them was now blushing more fiercely than Ash had ever seen. Eiji ducked his head into Ash's chest in pure embarrassment. Ash's chest sent earth-shattering vibrations through Eiji as he laughed from deep within.
Ash turned his head towards the group of girls and said with a laugh "You're embarrassing him!"
The Japanese girls didn't understand him, of course, but seemed to get the message. They all turned red and scattered in the other direction.
"Come on, the coast is clear." Ash said, patting Eiji's hair lovingly.
It was surprisingly hot for the beginning of October. The heatwave greeted them with a kick as they exited the airport. Eiji stopped walking for a moment, just staring ahead at Ash as he walked. Ash stopped and turned around to look at him.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." Eiji said and then gave his head a shake, causing his hair to glisten furiously in the sun. "I just feel like I'm in a dream. It's all too good to be true."
Ash stepped to him, taking his hand. "I know."
They continued walking several blocks until they reached the train station. Ash's flight had landed in Okayama, so they still had a three hour train ride to Eiji's home in Izumo. The conductor collected their tickets and they settled into their seats for the trip.
After they were settled, Eiji asked "So, how was the flight?"
"Tortuously long." Ash smirked, grabbing Eiji's hand and leaning his head on his shoulder. "It's 1 AM in New York right now. I'm dead tired." Ash added.
"Ha, yeah I remember the feeling." Eiji sighed, leaning his head against Ash's. "It's a three hour trip. You can sleep if you'd like."
"Mmm, 'k." Ash said, inhaling deeply. For the past several months, he'd been deprived of the safe feeling he felt as he smelled Eiji's unique scent and felt his warmth radiating into his soul. He cherished it now.
An hour outside of Izumo, Eiji's phone rang, waking both boys who'd dozed off not long after they'd left the station. Ash rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he listened to Eiji speak rapid Japanese into the phone. Since he'd been preoccupied with putting an end to Golzine and Banana Fish back in America, he hadn't had a chance to learn any Japanese before his trip.
Eiji placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's Mom," Eiji said, "she wants to know if you'd like to go out for dinner or if you'd rather eat at the house?"
Ash grinned like a love-drunk idiot. It seemed like taking care of Ash Lynx ran in the family. "Whatever is easier for her." Ash replied simply.
"Just pick."
Ash thought for a moment. He didn't want Eiji's family to have to spend money on him, but if he chose eating at home, surely his mom would have to go through a lot of work to prepare food for them all.
"I'm really cool with whatever, Eiji."
"Ash." Eiji raised his eyebrows at him. "We want you to pick."
"Ok, fine, let's eat at home." Home. The word struck Ash hard, like a sledgehammer to his chest.
Eiji relayed Ash's answer to his mom in more quick Japanese. He glanced at Ash "Mom says hi, by the way." He told him, smiling.
Ash's eyes widened in surprise. How was it that Eiji's mom had already taken to him so well? How much did she know of him? Would her opinion change if she knew everything?
Eiji rolled his eyes at the shocked Ash. "He says 'hi' too." He told his Mom in English so that Ash could understand. After a few more foreign words, Eiji hung up the phone.
"What's wrong?"
"Who says anything's wrong?"
"Your face." Eiji said, raising his eyebrows. He had Ash all figured out. Sometimes it scared Ash how well Eiji could read him.
Ash's face hardened as he averted Eiji's eyes. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his outstretched legs. Eiji didn't say another word, giving Ash a chance to voice whatever was bothering him.
"It's just that- You're mom seems to like me so much." He got out finally.
"And, that's bad?" Eiji said lightly, nudging Ash with his shoulder.
"Well, I'm not sure I deserve it. How much does she know about me? Surely she won't be thrilled to find out I'm a gang boss who's lost track of the lives he's ended. And she certainly won't be happy to learn her son has fallen for a guy who's been with more faces than he can even remember." 'More than he wants to remember' Ash added in his mind.
"You're far too hard on yourself. None of those things are your fault." Eiji said, placing an arm around his shoulders. "Besides, you're worried about nothing, because I already told her about you."
"What?!" Ash exclaimed, his head whipping up to see Eiji's.
"Well, I didn't tell her everything. But I did tell her about you being a gang boss. I told her you've had a past so bad it would seem unbelievable even for an American drama. But I told her the specifics aren't her business unless you choose to tell her." Eiji told him calmly.
Ash relaxed. "And about us?" He asked cautiously.
"I told her you're the best friend I've ever had. She doesn't know how we really feel but in time she'll figure it out. She's pretty accepting, I know she'll be ok with it." Eiji reassured him. "I think once you meet her, you'll find her and I are a lot alike. So there's really nothing to worry about. I promise." Eiji added.
"And your dad and sister?" Ash asked, still not completely at ease.
"Miyuki is more intuitive than Mom." Eiji said with a smile. "She's already figured it out. The two of us, I mean. She heard us talking on the phone one night. After I hung up she came in my room and just said 'Are you in love with this Ashu?'" Eiji mimicked his sister's voice.
Ash perked up like a dog seeing a squirrel. "What did you say?" He asked anxiously.
"At first I said we were just friends. But she saw right through me." He laughed, "I was probably blushing like an idiot. So I told her the truth." He finished.
"Is she cool with it?" Ash asked on the edge of his seat.
"More than cool with it. She kinda geeked out." Eiji laughed, blushing bright pink. "She would always give me a knowing smile when she saw me smiling as I texted you."
Ash relaxed fully now. "So kinda like those girls at the airport?" He smirked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mi-chan has more manners than that." Eiji said matter-of-factly. "But then again, if she'd seen us in the airport she may have squealed as well."
They both laughed. After a moment, Eiji added seriously, "Dad's kinda a different story. He's pretty old-fashioned, so to speak. Dad doesn't live with us anymore." A sadness washed over Eiji. "He and I are on good terms but we aren't as close as we once were. I haven't told him much about you. Just that we met in America and that we're good friends. That's all he knows."
Ash tensed again, "Oh." was all he managed to say.
"It'll be ok though. We can take our time to tell him. In time, I'm sure the two of you will get along." Eiji said. It was an attempt to put Ash's mind at ease, but his words were honest.
"Did you manage to learn any Japanese before you came?" Eiji asked, changing the subject.
"Gomen ne, Gomenasai, baka dayo, bakadesu, Ashu." Ash said, his green eyes mischievously glinting at Eiji. "That's all I got." He added with a smirk. Eiji swatted his shoulder playfully.
"Sooo two words and your own name."
"Gomen ne." Ash said bowing his head in jest.
"Mi-chan can help me teach you. She's really good with languages. She's never been to an English-speaking country but her English is fantastic."
"Does your mom speak English too?" Ash asked hopefully.
"She knows enough to carry a basic conversation, but it will be hard for her to keep up. I'll probably have to do a lot of translating. Dad hardly speaks any at all though, any conversations between you two will need to be translated entirely."
"Make sure you take off your shoes once we're inside." Eiji told Ash as they walked up the front steps.
Ash just nodded and swallowed dryly. He knew it was silly after their conversation on the train, but he was incredibly nervous to meet Eiji's mom and sister. He grabbed Eiji's sleeve before he could unlock the door. Eiji stopped and looked at him.
"What is it?"
"What should I call your mom?" He asked his eyes darting nervously over Eiji's face as if the answer resided somewhere between his eyes.
"Okumura-san for now. Her first name is Aki, but don't call her that until she says it's ok. We're much more formal here than in America. Although, I told them how casual Americans are, so who knows, maybe she'll act differently around you." Eiji told him with a reassuring smile. "All good now?" Eiji asked, his key hovering above the lock.
Ash drew in a deep, shaky breath. He'd never be truly ready. "All good." he confirmed, nodding his head.
Before Eiji could unlock the door it was whipped open by a very excited young girl who could only be Miyuki. She looked several years younger than Eiji, probably around 17 or 18. She was slim and petite in stature, with long straight hair a few shades darker than Eiji's. Her dark eyes sparkled in excitement. She wore a white lacy top with a short pale pink skirt. She stood barefoot in the doorway on her tiptoes. She yelled something Japanese excitedly into the house and then turned to face them.
"Ashu Lynx!" She stated, smiling and holding out her hand.
"Just Ash." Eiji corrected her pronunciation, shaking his head.
Ash shook her hand tentatively, looking a little shocked by the whole situation.
"I'm Miyuki. Or Mi-Chan. Either is fine."
"Nice to meet you. Eiji's told me about you." He said, smiling now as he relaxed.
"Eiji's told me about you too." She said with a wink. Eiji's mouth dropped open. "But he failed to tell me how gorgeous you are." She said grinning ear to ear.
Ash blushed furiously. He faced Eiji with wide eyes and an awkward, shocked smile.
"Miyuki! You can't say things like that!" Eiji scolded.
"But you said Americans are straightforward and casual." She said shrugging her shoulders.
Just then a petite woman stepped into the room, standing behind Mi-Chan. It was striking how much she resembled Eiji. She had dark, shoulder-length hair with bangs. Her eyes were mere slits as she smiled at them.
"Let them come in, Mi-Chan" She spoke, causing Miyuki to jump.
"Gomen ne!" She yipped. She stepped aside as they entered. They both removed their shoes in the entryway. Miyuki grabbed Ash's luggage and excitedly hauled it off down the hall before Ash could say a word. She returned surprisingly quickly, still smiling and watching him closely.
"Hello, Ashu." Aki bowed slightly.
Ash followed her lead, bowing as he greeted her. "Nice to meet you, Okumura-san."
Miyuki let out a giddy squeak. Eiji shot her a look.
Eiji turned back to his mom, "It's just Ash, mom, not Ashu." Eiji corrected, smiling apologetically at Ash.
"Ashu is fine." Ash told her, smiling.
"I have heard about you. Eiji never stops talking. Ashu this, Ashu that...Blah, blah, blah" she teased.
"Mom…" Eiji closed his eyes in embarrassment.
Ash laughed and gave Eiji's shoulder a nudge. Miyuki squealed again, unable to contain her happiness.
"Doushtano, Ei-Chan?" Aki teasingly asked Eiji 'what's wrong' as if she were oblivious. She turned back to Ash. "Eiji is...sensitive, ah?" She told him in a thick Japanese accent.
"We are gonna get along, Okumura-san." Ash told her with a sly grin.
"Ah?" She said with her hand to her ear. "Too fast, Ashu. My English is not that good."
"Gomen ne," Ash said.
Eiji slapped his hand to his forehead. 'Sumimasen!' Eiji corrected him in his brain. Ash clearly did not know the rules of formal vs casual words.
"I said, we will get along." Ash clarified, this time speaking more slowly and articulately.
"Ah, yes, yes." Aki smiled and patted his shoulder. "I will get food ready. 5 minutes." She told them, leaving for the kitchen.
"What's with the facepalm? Did I say something wrong?" Ash asked, turning to Eiji. Miyuki still stood watching them, her eyes darting between them as they spoke.
"Remember what I said about formalities? You were so eager to say one of the two words you know, but there are many ways to say 'sorry' and you chose the most casual option."
"Oops." Ash snickered. "Bakadesu."
"And now you've exhausted your vocabulary." Eiji said laughing with Ash.
"Think I offended her?"
"Nah, she's not that sensitive." Eiji told him, waving his hand as he brushed it off.
"Ashu-er-Ash," Miyuki interrupted, causing Eiji and Ash to look in her direction. "I can show you your room while we wait for the food." Miyuki clearly wanted any excuse to be involved in the conversation. She'd been waiting months to meet him after all.
"Oh, uh, yeah."
"This way, then!" She said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hall. Ash just followed her as if it were normal. Eiji rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't stick to the back of his eye sockets.
"Miyuki when I said Americans were casual, I only meant according to our standards. You can't just go around grabbing people you just met." Eiji lectured her as he followed her down the hall to the guest room.
As they entered the small room she looked at her hand on Ash's arm. "Is Eiji telling the truth? Too much?"
Eiji's eyes narrowed as he waited for Ash's reaction.
"Eh, just a bit too much, yeah." He told her politely. Maybe not for some, but he'd rather not let casual touch become a regular thing for anyone except Eiji.
Her face turned solemn and she released his arm. "Sumimasen!" She apologized with a deep bow.
Eiji rolled his eyes again. "But that's too much in the other direction. Just act normal, Mi-Chan. He's not a celebrity."
"You like the room, Ash?" Eiji said changing the subject.
Ash surveyed the small room. It was minimally decorated with grey walls and a navy blue and white comforter on the bed. To Ash's surprise, it was a Western-style bed. A chest of drawers and a few plants sat against the wall. There was a decent-sized window that looked into the front yard. The yard was neatly landscaped with several trees. Ash wondered if they'd bear cherry blossoms in the spring.
"It's perfect." Ash told them.
"The bathroom's down the hall and so is Mom's room. Laundry and the kitchen are that direction," she said pointing down the opposite end of the hall "And Eiji and I sleep upstairs." Miyuki added.
Okumura-san stuck her head in the doorway, making Ash jump slightly. He didn't know it was possible for anyone to walk that quietly.
"Food is ready." She announced and then walked down the hall to the kitchen. Miyuki followed after her.
Ash kept Eiji behind for a moment.
"You were serious when you said your sister liked the idea of us, huh?"
"She's obsessed with you." Eiji said, rolling his eyes. "Sorry."
"I find it very amusing."
"Yeah, you would." Eiji said with another eye roll.
"Eiji, careful, I think you're turning into me." Ash teased.
"I just wish they'd act normal. I don't want them to scare you off."
"It's fine, really. I don't scare that easy." Ash told him with one eyebrow raised. "Come on, before Miyuki gets any ideas."
Ash showered after dinner and then found his way upstairs. Miyuki was walking down the hall as Ash came up the stairs.
"That one's his room." She said, pointing down the hall at Eiji's room.
"Thanks." He said as he walked past her
"Wait, Ash." She said, causing him to turn back around.
"I wanted to say-" She looked nervously at the ground "It's so good you're here. Ever since America, Eiji's been different. But when he talks about you, he's so happy. You're good for him." After she said the words, she blushed deep red and turned and ran down the stairs. Ash stood there in shock for a moment before shaking his head in amusement and continuing down the hall to Eiji's room.
Ash knocked lightly on Eiji's door with a single knuckle.
"Come in!" Eiji called softly.
Ash did. He found Eiji lying on his stomach on his bed. He was leaning on his elbows with a book in hand. His legs were bent, feet in the air behind him. He, too, was freshly showered, now wearing a white t-shirt and black gym shorts.
"Oh, I thought you were Mi-Chan. I thought you'd be passed out by now."
It was true, Ash's body ached for sleep. He sat on the edge of the bed and laid down, his feet still touching the floor. His face pointed at the ceiling with closed eyes.
"Your family is lovely."
"They like you too. Mom said you can stay forever if you want." Eiji said sweetly. He sat up so he was sitting with crisscrossed legs. He reached out his arm and ran a gentle hand through Ash's hair. "I think she meant it."
Ash opened his eyes to see Eiji staring down at him lovingly.
"That's tempting...but I'm not willing to sleep in the guest room forever." Ash said. Eiji couldn't tell if it was a joke or not.
"I mean, you could always sneak up here…"
"I like the sound of that."
Ash sat suddenly as he heard Miyuki's footsteps coming back down the hall. Her room was directly across from Eiji's and Ash had not closed the door after he entered. He saw her sneak a glance at them as she opened and shut her own door. She wore a very goofy smile on her face.
"She's worse than Max." Ash remarked.
Eiji stood and closed the door and then flopped on the bed beside Ash.
"Is your door closed downstairs?" Eiji asked into the ceiling.
"Yeah" Ash responded absentmindedly.
"You can just stay here then." Eiji said in an unnaturally level voice. "I mean, only if you want to, of course." He added shyly.
Ash flipped his body, facing Eiji, so that he was laying on his side with his arm supporting his head. "I'd love to...but I probably shouldn't. I don't wanna freak out your mom."
"Just for a bit?" Eiji pleaded.
"I'll pass out."
"I'll set an alarm?" Eiji said, his fingers already finding his phone.
Ash reached out an arm and shoved Eiji's shoulder lightly. "Yeah, ok. Set it for an hour."
"Two?" Eiji tried to bargain.
"One and a half." Ash crawled to the top of the bed and flopped into a pillow. The whole bed smelled like Eiji, it was amazing. He couldn't think of anywhere in the world he'd rather be. Eiji crawled up beside him and flopped onto the pillow opposite Ash.
"How much ya wanna bet Miyuki will knock on the door pretending to need something just to see what we're up to?"
"If she does, I'll kill her."
Ash let out a single, sharp "Ha!"
They lay there in silence for a few minutes under the dim light of Eiji's lamp. "I never did stop worrying about you, ya know?" Eiji began.
Ash looked at him intently.
"I was so worried Golzine would somehow find out you're still alive, track you down and kill you, or worse...I worried you'd bust a stitch in your sleep and bleed out in the night. Or that you'd get stir crazy and leave the apartment only to be killed by one of Arthur's men." Eiji shuddered. "And I dreamt about you all the time...but never good dreams. All I wanted after those dreams was to roll over and feel you next to me, safe and sound."
"I never meant to bring you so much pain…" Ash said sadly.
"I didn't say it to make you feel guilty. Just-hold me? Let me fall asleep in your arms until that alarm goes off? That is if you-"
"Of course I want to." Ash said before Eiji could even say the words. He pulled Eiji close against his chest and they dozed off.
After 90 minutes the alarm woke them both. Ash was tempted to shut it off and lay right back down. It was all he wanted to be able to stay there with Eiji. But he forced himself downstairs to the guest room-his room. That bed-his bed now-was cold and smelled like the house, but not specifically like Eiji. Ash tossed and turned before finally falling asleep in the far too quiet room. A part of him missed the sounds of traffic the city always had. He was beyond happy to be here, but he couldn't deny he missed New York.
Ash would have slept the morning away had it not been for the gentle knock and Okumura-san yelling "breakfast!" through his door. Evidently, not letting Ash sleep also ran in the family. Ash entered the kitchen wearing what he'd slept in and his hair a mess. To his dismay, the rest of the family sat fully dressed as they waited for him. Miyuki bit her tongue to keep from laughing.
"Sorry, I'll go get dressed" Ash said as turned to leave the kitchen.
"It is ok! Sit. Food will get cold." Okumura-san called after him.
Ash did as he was told, returning with a blush on his face. He sat next to Eiji.
Okumura-san began speaking Japanese to Eiji. Eiji turned towards Ash "She wants to apologize for waking you, but it's the only way to get over jet lag. Also, she's going to the store later and she wants you to go with her."
"What, why?" Ash asked Eiji confused.
"Ash, that's not polite. You speak to her, not to the translator." Eiji corrected him. Miyuki giggled.
"Oh, right, sorry." He faced Okumura-san "I'd be happy to go shopping with you." Ash said, deciding to alter his previous words.
"Good. We pick out something for dinner. You help cook." Okumura-san responded, not needing a translation for Ash's simple words.
"Wanna come?" Ash asked Eiji.
"Just you, Ashu." She tried for a minute to think of the right words before saying something in Japanese.
"It'll be a good chance for the two of you to get to know each other, she says." Eiji translated.
"It's a date." Ash teased.
Eiji laughed, Miyuki choked on her tea, and Okumura-san looked to Eiji for a translation. Eiji translated, causing her to laugh along with them.
'So this is what it's like' Ash thought 'for a family to love each other. To joke around instead of fighting…'