Chapter 19: Baby, I'm Yours (Whenever You're Ready)

Eiji stumbled from bed in the darkened room. His head throbbed painfully with each step. He made his way to the bathroom slowly, wincing in pain as he entered the brightly lit room. He caught his reflection in the mirror and was startled at the foreign mess that faced him. With a squeak, hot water began to pour from the showerhead. Eiji eased his way in, wincing in pain as he did so. His body was punishing him for the way he'd treated it yesterday. Once under the water, he noticed a large, dark bruise upon his right hip.

His head spun as he tried to remember the cause. He remembered only some of last night. He remembered the restaurant and Miyuki cursing like a sailor as they played cards. He remembered drinking far too much sake and his buzzing head as he won the card game. And he remembered Ash flinging the cards to the floor before getting in bed. That was about it. There were gaps in his memory and he certainly hadn't remembered falling asleep.

He couldn't stand-not when he felt like he'd been hit by a truck the previous night and his head spun with lost memories. He sat in the shower as he washed his hair, brain still searching for the source of the bruise. With a curious finger, he poked it, which caused him to wince in pain again. The pain brought back a memory though. Not a very helpful one, but he did remember Ash and him flinging Miyuki into her bed by her wrists and ankles. He chuckled at the thought. 'Such a strange night,' he thought to himself. Anxiety buzzed in the pit of his stomach like hot coals - what caused this bruise? The thought of something happening between him and Ash that he couldn't remember made him sick. He pulled open the shower curtain, not caring about the running water wetting the floor. He examined his naked body in the mirror. No other marks. No other signs of drunken escapades. He closed the curtain and sat back on the tub floor. He finished his shower and threw on his boxers and draped his towel over his shoulders.

Ash was reading the book he purchased yesterday under the bedside lamp. He looked up as Eiji entered. "Morning," he said with an undertone of humor that Eiji didn't yet understand. His eyes returned to the pages of his book. "How ya feeling?" He asked with a smirk.

"Like I need a coffee," Eiji said seriously. He'd never been drunk or hungover, but that's always what people in movies did to sober up.

Ash let out a small huff of a laugh, eyes still on his book.

"...Ash?" Eiji asked timidly.

Ash's eyes finally looked at him again. Something was wrong. Eiji walked closer to him and pulled down the corner of his boxers that covered his hip to reveal the bruise.

"How'd the hell I get this?" He asked almost fearfully.

Ash moved his head closer and squinted his eyes. Eiji could see the wheels in his head turning. That made his anxiety worse. Did neither of them remember?

After a moment, Ash's eyes widened and he said "Oh! You ran into the doorway. It sounded so painful."

Eiji relaxed a bit, relieved by the simple explanation. "Were you drunk too?" He asked Ash.

"Kinda. Not as much as you or Mi-chan though." Thankfully, at least one of them remembered the whole night.

"We didn't do...anything I should remember...did we?" Eiji asked with nervously pressed lips.

Ash barked a single laugh before answering. "You certainly tried, but no. I wouldn't let that happen."

Eiji plopped down on the bed, sitting beside Ash. He slapped an embarrassed hand to his forehead. "Fuck!" The towel around his neck fell with a thud to his lap and then the floor with the sudden arm movement.

Eiji hung his head low in guilt. "I made an ass of myself, didn't I?"

"A bit," Ash said with a smirk. He folded the corner of his page, closed the book, and set it on the bedside table. "Turns out," he said slowly and humorously, "that you are a very childlike, tearful drunk." Ash lowered his head to meet Eiji's eyes and smirked at him.

Eiji avoided his eyes and fell back dramatically on the bed. He covered his face with his hands as he whined, "Nooo!"

Ash crawled over and sat beside him. He gently peeled Eiji's hands from his flushed face. "And ya know what you told me?" Ash asked tauntingly.

"God, I don't even want to know!" Eiji groaned in embarrassment. He tried to cover his face, but Ash still had a firm grip on his wrists.

"You said, Ash, I want you inside me'" Ash lied in an airy, girly, teasing voice.

Eiji ripped his wrists away from Ash and sat up quickly, causing his head to pound. Ash pulled away, just barely averting a disastrously painful head-on collision.

"Please tell me that's a joke!" Eiji demanded. "There's no way I said that! … right?"

Ash laughed viciously. "Yes, it's a joke," he admitted. "But you did say you wanted me 'so bad.'" Ash added truthfully.

Eiji groaned again and laid back down, palms shielding his humiliated face. "I hate myself," he muttered into his palms.

"It was all very entertaining," Ash said comically.

Eiji's hands left his face suddenly. "Wait!"

"What?"

"You said tearful…" Eiji said, his fearful wide eyes met Ash's green, amused eyes.

"I did," he said, casting Eiji a devilish grin.

"Well, explain that!" Eiji raised his voice, frustrated and humiliated.

"You cried like a child when I said I wouldn't have you in your drunken state," Ash teased.

"God, NO!" Eiji shouted as he flipped to his stomach. He hid his red face in the sheets.

Ash leaned over him and patted his back soothingly. "Another stretched truth," he admitted with a sharp grin. He leaned his face close to Eiji's ear, his breath tickling him as he spoke. "Really, you cried because you felt bad for asking after I turned you down. It was honestly very sweet. And it was quite nice to know that even drunk Eiji respects my wishes."

A muffled whine moistened the sheets with hot air. Ash lifted his face from Eiji's ear. He patted his back twice before rising from the bed. Eiji turned his face to see where Ash was going - and also to breathe.

"I'm getting coffee," Ash said, answering his unspoken question.

When Ash returned with two cups of coffee, he found Eiji fully dressed. He sat in the direct middle of the bed with his laptop on his crossed legs. He was occupying himself by looking through the pictures they'd taken yesterday. Ash handed him his coffee and joined him on the bed. He watched over his shoulder as Eiji flipped through the pictures slowly.

"I love this one," Eiji stated about a picture of himself that Ash had taken.

"Mmm, me too. You look so cool."

"I'm not cool, Ash, but okay."

"Stop being so damn modest," Ash grumbled.

Eiji shrugged and kept flipping through the pictures. The first picture of Ash taken on the camera, of him on the bed, flashed onto the screen.

Ash shifted uncomfortably at all his exposed skin captured on the digital film. Eiji pressed next and another picture emerged. Ash shook his head and stood.

"I can't look at these," he admitted.

Eiji's hand moved to close the laptop, but before he could do so, Ash spoke again. "You look at them. I took them for you. I saw the way you looked at the photo of the three of us. It meant a lot to you, I could tell," He moved closer to the balcony doors. "Those are for you. I wanted to take them, but I don't want to see them. At least, not yet." He opened the door. "But you look. It's fine. I'm gonna wait out here." He closed the door before Eiji even had a chance to speak.

Eiji watched him for a minute as he stood leaning against the balcony rail. His head was hunched at an angle that made it impossible for him to see his face. As if he knew he was being watched, Ash looked back inside. "Keep looking." Eiji read his lips more than he actually heard the statement. Reluctantly, his head faced the bright screen again.

When he'd finished viewing the pictures, Eiji joined Ash outside in the crisp morning air. He sat beside him. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking," Eiji apologized.

"It's fine," Ash said simply. They both stared out into the city.

"Need to talk about it?"

"Too much skin," Ash explained. "It's not your fault. You offered me clothes and I rejected them," he added before Eiji could apologize. "I don't regret taking them...but I know myself and looking through them will bring back old ghosts."

"You're the bravest man I know," Eiji said softly. "If it were me in your shoes - I don't think I could do half the things you do."

"I mean, it's definitely not easy."

"My point exactly."

Ash grabbed Eiji's hand and stroked the back of it lovingly with his thumb.

"Next time I'll show less skin. Then maybe I can admire your work."

"Next time?" Eiji asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I really want to work through this. Pictures are important to you. I want to be able to look back on our past when we're old and grey."

Eiji's stomach flipped at the thought of the two of them growing old together.

"Don't look so shocked. You've already asked me twice...no three times. And I've said yes each time." Ash smirked.

"What...to marry me?" Eiji furrowed his brow.

"Anytime, anyplace. Baby, I'm yours." The words were goofy but the sentiment was sincere.

Eiji blushed and chuckled. With his free hand, he fidgeted nervously with his shirt's hem. "You're such a sap, Ash."

Darkened shades covered Miyuki's eyes at breakfast. She wore a white tank top, daintily patterned in pink and blue flowers, with jean shorts and sandals. Her white sunhat sat atop her head as they ate breakfast on the restaurant's patio. Her head pounded, even more so than her brothers, as she picked at her food.

"You need water," Ash told her as she ate.

Miyuki reluctantly started on the water beside her. "Water tastes so bad in the morning," she complained.

"I think, right now, it's worth it," Eiji said as he sipped his own water.

"You were a wreck," Ash said, picking at his food. "But don't worry," a slim, pale finger pressed against his lips, "not a word to Mom."

Miyuki rolled her eyes under her dark shades. "She'd kill me."

"So rebellious," Ash smirked.

"Ash, I think that's the first rebellious thing she's ever done," Eiji teased with a nudging elbow in Ash's side.

"First of many?" He asked with a raised brow.

Miyuki squinted in the sun as she pulled her shades slightly down her nose to make her eyes meet Ash's, "For sure. That was too much fun."

"I'm kidding, I'm never letting you drink again," Ash said executively.

"And, what, you're gonna follow me around for the rest of my life then? Gonna keep me sober at every party ever?" She asked playfully. She stabbed at her food.

A wave of solemnity washed over his face. "Please don't get drunk at parties. Nothing good ever comes of that."

Miyuki was chewing, not looking at his face to notice the change in emotion. "That's just something boring adults say to keep teens from having a good time," she mocked.

"He's serious," Eiji said, prompting her to raise her head from the plate and notice Ash's expression.

A wave of guilt hit her gut.

"Yeah, I am. Booze turns the best boys foolish and the worst ones violent." Ash looked at his plate, rolling a grape around with his chopsticks as he spoke.

Eiji's ears pinkened, remembering the stories of his own foolish actions from the night before.

"Sorry," Miyuki muttered quietly with regret. "I wouldn't actually...anyway...I was just messing around." She mumbled honestly.

"Mmmm," was all he responded.

They all sat in awkward silence for a few moments before Eiji said, "Today's our last full day. Anything you want to see before we leave tomorrow?" He asked, looking up at Ash.

"How about that shrine you were telling me about?"

"Hmm, oh, yeah Meiji Shrine. And Yoyogi Park is right next door."

"Can we do a picnic?" Miyuki asked excitedly.

"I'm down," Ash said, looking at Eiji for his opinion.

"Mmm!" He agreed with a smile.

"And you could bring your camera?" Ash's suggestion more closely resembled a question.

Eiji's face changed. His lips tugged in a sweet, half-smile and his eyes went droopy with sentiment as he gazed lovingly at Ash. "Yeah, okay."

"If you guys were famous, girls all around the world would be obsessed with how freaking cute you two are," Miyuki decided.

Ash laughed at the unexpected comment and Eiji blushed. "Whatever you say, Mi-chan."

Eiji and Ash had been to a few shrines in and around Izumo. Ash loved learning about their history from Eiji, as well as just enjoying the solitude and calm atmosphere that accompanied shrines. The Meiji Shrine was no different. Eiji shared the shrine's history as he knew it with Ash as they walked. He read him informational signs as they walked since Ash's Japanese was still quite limited. Miyuki interjected a few fun facts of her own, but for the most part, let Eiji play the role of the tour guide.

Eiji took a few pictures of the scenery along their walk. A fellow tourist took the group's picture at the torii gate before they departed.

With their picnic lunch in tow, they then made their way to the adjacent park. Rebelliously, they brought a neatly folded hotel sheet to spread out as their picnic blanket.

Before they had left that morning, Ash had told Eiji to just take pictures as he would with any other group of friends. Candid ones, posed ones, pictures of nature, whatever he wanted. So that's what he was doing. He snapped several candid pictures as they walked through the shrine that morning and now, as they sat down in the grass for lunch, he took a few more.

"Ever tried this before?" Eiji asked Ash as they opened the karaage they'd purchased from a local restaurant.

"We have an American version, but I'm sure this will be better," he remarked as he grabbed his box of takeout.

"Mmmm, authentic is always the way to go," Eiji agreed.

"It's not fair," Miyuki said as she chewed her karaage.

"What's not?" Eiji asked with a furrowed brow.

"That you've both been to America. I'd love to go. America sounds so fun, so free."

"Maybe you can fake a tennis accident, pretend to be super depressed, and convince Ibe-san to take you on his next expedition," Eiji suggested jokingly.

She paused in thought to consider it. "No. I'm a horrible liar. He'd see right through me," she decided.

Eiji took a candid shot. Then another of his food before he began eating.

"Hmm, maybe we can go sometime as a family," Ash pondered.

Miyuki and Eiji's heads shot up.

"I mean, as long as we stay out of New York…" his voice trailed off, "or maybe I could dye my hair and we could risk a visit to the city."

"NO, Ash! You can't dye your hair!" "Yes! You should dye it pink!" Eiji and Miyuki shouted over each other, respectively.

Ash laughed at the polar opposite opinions. "Pink? Are you serious, Mi?" Ash asked with another chuckle.

"100%! You'd look so cute!" She said, shifting to her knees excitedly. She reached out a hand and gently grabbed a lock of his hair. "You wouldn't even have to bleach it since it's already so light, it would be perfect!"

"I don't think 'cute' is the look I'm going for," he said as she dropped her hand and returned to her food.

She gave her head a slight shake and raised her eyebrows as she scooped up some rice and karaage. "Well you really should," she told him.

"But you like the blond, don't you, Ei-chan," Ash said flirtatiously.

"Yesss…" he smiled, "and my gut reaction was no….but Mi-chan has a point, pink would be cute," he said back with a sly smile.

Miyuki's eyes darted between them as they momentarily acted like she wasn't there.

Ash reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind Eiji's ear. "But you're the cute one, Eiji, I'm the thug."

"Ha! A thug, Ash? Maybe in New York...but...I've softened you," Eiji said sappily as he pulled Ash's fingers from his hair and lightly kissed his fingers before entwining his hand in Ash's.

Miyuki couldn't restrain the joyous squeal that escaped her lips.

Ash leaned closer to Eiji, 'give her a show,' he thought as he gave Eiji's cheek a peck. "Mmmm, and I've corrupted you."

Eiji's cheeks burned and suddenly he wished he was alone with Ash, free from the burning gaze of Miyuki.

"You've not corrupted me," he told those green, sun-struck, eyes.

"Drunken Eiji begs to differ," he teased, causing Eiji to further redden.

Miyuki gasped. She didn't know what Ash was on about, but it sounded scandalous.

Ash finally broke his act and laughed at Miyuki's reaction. "You're much too easy to fluster!"

"Not always!" Eiji retorted.

And Ash's mind was flooded with memories of intimate nights. He remembered saying things that would normally elicit red cheeks and shocked sounds, but in those moments did not. He remembered Eiji joining his shower with zero reservations just a few nights ago. Eiji was right, in those times, he was often bold. This time, Ash blushed as Eiji's statement flustered him.

Miyuki was so confused.

Eiji snapped a photo, capturing the rare moment.

Ash's eyebrows raised in lighthearted anger as he reached for the camera around his soft boy's neck. "You're an ass!" He shouted as he tackled Eiji to the ground. Ash could see Miyuki rolling in laughter in his peripheral vision as he tickled Eiji and pried the camera from his weakening fingers.

Ash pulled the camera free from Eiji's grasp and tugged the strap over his head. He clicked a few buttons with several loud beeps. Eiji bounded off the ground "NO! Don't delete it, Ash!"

Ash held the camera screen to face him. The picture was still there, he'd just been messing with Eiji. He laughed as he watched Eiji's face relax before twisting in anger.

"NOW WHO'S THE ASS?!" Eiji shouted dramatically as he attempted to snatch the camera back.

Ash tightened his grip and used the camera to pull Eiji close. He leaned in close to kiss those soft, pink lips as Miyuki practically combusted with joy. Eiji softened instantly, melting into Ash. After a few moments, Ash pulled away and was faced with a hazy, love-sick Eiji staring back at him. Now they both wished they could be alone. Ash quickly took a picture of Eiji.

"Even." Ash said before giving him a final, soft kiss.

"Mmm. Even," Eiji agreed softly.

The word was first spoken all those months ago in New York when Eiji helped bathe the wounded Lynx. He'd removed his own shirt to even the playing field, to make Ash feel less vulnerable, to show he understood, to show he cared. The word, even, now had a significant meaning between the pair, as they spoke it countless times since. It spoke volumes in a language Miyuki couldn't comprehend.

After they'd finished lunch, they packed up and walked back to the Harajuku station and waited for the next train. Earlier, they'd all agreed to visit the museums Miyuki mentioned the previous day. However, that was now the last thing on both Eiji and Ash's minds. After that lunch, all they wanted to do was go back to the room and enjoy each other's company. But like good soldiers, they pressed on. But Miyuki wasn't stupid. She picked up on the mood change despite their efforts to hide it. Now the pair held hands and stood close together, making as much physical contact as possible without being blatantly obvious.

The train was crowded when it arrived. Eiji decided to sit on Ash's lap, earning them ample stares.

One may think this would leave Eiji practically steaming in embarrassment, but instead, he sat calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the whole world.

They exited at their stop and made their way to the museum. They walked hand-in-hand through the entirety of the guided tour. Ash whispered goofy jokes in Eiji's ears as they passed exhibits that normal people would not have found funny. But Ash had a talent for bringing humor to just about any situation. And Eiji had a talent for egging him on with his sad attempts to stifle laughter.

It was 4 PM when they stood on the museum steps following their visit.

"You guys wanna head back?" Miyuki asked.

Ash shrugged his shoulders, trying to act nonchalant. "Yeah, sure."

"I think I'm gonna visit dad again before we leave, so I'll head there now," she told them. "I'll see you guys in the morning at breakfast."

"No dinner?" Ash asked, still trying to sound aloof.

"I'll get something with dad," she said with a smile tugging at her lips that she was desperately trying to suppress. "Anyway, I'll see ya," she said with a little wave.

"Aren't we walking the same way?" Eiji asked.

"Um, I'm actually gonna stop in that shop first." Miyuki pointed vaguely at one of the shops across the street.

"So I'll see you at breakfast! What time's our flight?"

"11 AM."

"Okay, cool! See ya at breakfast!" Miyuki said a final time before darting across the street to the shop she had shown a faux interest in.

"She's so on to us," Eiji managed to say.

"Mmmm, how many times did she say the word breakfast?" Ash asked humorously.

"Enough to make it clear she wouldn't come knocking on the door tonight," Eiji huffed.

"So last night, when you said you wanted me, what exactly did you mean?" Ash asked as they walked down the sidewalk with clasped hands.

"Nope. That wasn't me. I was drunk. I don't even remember saying that. For all I know you could have made the whole thing up." Eiji said with a furious head shake.

"Okay, well assuming I'm not lying, which I'm not, what did you mean?" Ash asked again.

"I don't know, Ash, I was drunk."

"Okay, so you don't want me then?" Ash said with a shit-eating grin.

Eiji gave his shoulder a nudge with his as they walked. "No, I do."

He did not blush.

"Alright then, what's the problem? How, exactly, do you want me?" Ash asked calmly.

They stopped at the traffic light and waited for their turn to cross. They stood surrounded by a crowd of Tokyo natives and a scattering of fellow tourists.

"I don't know," Eiji said firmly. "I want you...however you're okay with, I don't know."

"That's not what I'm asking," Ash said, slightly frustrated at Eiji's extreme politeness.

The light changed and they began to walk with the crowd.

"I'm asking, what you want," Ash added, emphasizing his words meaningfully. "Come on, you can tell me. I won't tease you. Nothing to be embarrassed about." He wanted to know. Needed to know.

"Ash, what I want isn't fair to you," Eiji said finally.

"And what is that? You still haven't answered the question."

"I'd really rather not say." Now it was Eiji's turn to sound frustrated.

They reached the other side of the street and continued their trek to the hotel.

"Well, I can see that. But I'm asking you to tell me anyway." Ash replied seriously. "Please, Eiji, I need to know. It made you cry. That's not fair to you."

"It made drunk me cry," Eiji corrected.

Ash said nothing as they walked with only the sounds of foreign conversation infiltrating their silence.

Eiji dropped Ash's hand and wrapped both hands nervously around the base of his neck. He inhaled deeply.

"I-I don't know, Ash-it's selfish, but I just…" Eiji's voice trailed off. Ash remained quiet, praying he'd finally complete the thought. He did, but in a voice so quiet and shy Ash almost couldn't hear him. "I want you in the classic sense. Like, legit sex."

Ash tried to hide his growing frustration. "Okay," he said softly, "I'm not trying to be an ass, but I kinda figured that much. Still not specific enough."

Eiji stopped walking. He was suddenly angry and embarrassed. "Well, what do you want me to say, then, Ash?" Eiji snapped.

Ash closed his eyes and placed two frustrated fingers to the bridge of his nose. Why was this so hard? He conjured a question that'd make things clear without being vulgar. "Eiji," he said finally, in an authoritative tone, "bottom or top?"

They continued walking as Eiji summoned every ounce of courage he had.

"top," Eiji said in an actual whisper.

"Okay." Ash tried his hardest to conceal how he felt; completely taken aback.

But, of course, Eiji noticed.

"See? Can't happen," He said forcefully.

"Why not?" Ash asked. He was serious. Though the idea scared him somewhat, he'd be lying if he said he'd never thought about it before.

"Ghosts, Ash," Eiji said simply, using his own words from that morning against him.

"I have to work through it, Eiji," Ash said after a long pause filled with only footsteps and distant conversations he couldn't understand.

"But I don't want you to rush it just because I was a drunken moron who accidentally revealed what he wanted."

"So….it's been a while, then? Since you've wanted that?" He asked the older boy hesitantly.

Eiji didn't respond, just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Ash halted, forcing Eiji to do the same. "Eiji? How long?"

"Since New York," he mumbled into the concrete.

Bile burned Ash's throat as guilt surged inside him as if he'd just stuck a wet fork in the toaster.

"We were in New York a long time…" Ash pointed out, hoping Eiji would give him a more specific answer.

"I don't know exactly, um…" Eiji's eyes traced the clouds as he thought, "I don't know, sometime around when we went on the roof."

The roof. Ash tried to recall how he felt at that time. "That's a long time, Eiji," Ash remarked.

"I know," Eiji mumbled.

"Sorry…" Ash began as his feet propelled him forward once more.

"What for?" Eiji asked in shock as his head snapped up to see the blond's face.

"I should have realized."

"No, you shouldn't have. I hid it on purpose," Eiji replied.

They reached the hotel doors and stalled outside them. The automatic doors opened and closed again.

"I'm willing to try," Ash offered.

"I don't know, Ash. Things are going so well recently, I can't ask for more."

Eiji was afraid. Afraid they'd take things too far and regress much further. Afraid he'd lose this side of Ash to pain and old ghosts.

"Then let's not make it a scheduled event. When it feels right, we'll try. And if I can't do it, we'll try again later," Ash told Eiji in a soothing voice.

It was exactly what Eiji was thinking. Exactly what he was afraid of. If they talked about this now would they have to try tonight? Ash didn't seem to think so. He exhaled a shaky breath and let the tension in his shoulders drop.

"You should have said so," Ash said, reading Eiji's face perfectly.

Eiji looked up at him confused.

"You thought I meant tonight."

Eiji shrugged, "Well, yeah."

Ash stepped closer and gave Eiji a soft hug. "I think you're right," he said into the boy's dark hair, "it won't be easy. But we'll work on it, just like we have with everything else."

"Does it repulse you?" Eiji asked in a voice that could barely be heard above the traffic.

"Quite the opposite. Old ghosts repulse me," he told him sincerely. "It scares me. But so do roller coasters, and I love them," Ash said. He pulled Eiji away so he could see Ash's smirking expression.

"Marry me, Ash?" Eiji asked with eyebrows knitted together in a sad, yet loving expression.

"For the fifth time, yes." Ash grinned.

The mood that accompanied them in the park had now dissipated into something else entirely. The serious conversation changed the mood, and Ash somewhat regretted broaching the subject, but he needed to know. He needed to understand what Eiji was secretly wanting all this time.

"Hey," Ash began as they walked through the lobby, "no more secrets, okay?"

"That goes for you too, then," Eiji agreed.

"Deal."

"Ash?" Eiji asked as they pressed the button for their floor in the elevator. "Can we order food and watch one of those movies you brought?"

"Okay," Ash smiled. He really didn't deserve him, at least that's what he wrongly thought. Eiji wanted him badly, yet he was so very patient.

"Can we watch the funny one?" Eiji asked as the door opened on their floor.

"Mmmm, I think you'll love it." He laughed. "Ya know? I brought that one with Miyuki in mind, ironically, she would have loved it."

Eiji chuckled. "She probably thinks we're up to no good right about now."

"Mmm, little does she know her brother is an ever-patient saint," Ash said, voicing his previously internal thought.

"You think too highly of me, I'm just doing what's decent," Eiji argued softly.

The key reader beeped as the door unlocked.

"It means a lot," Ash said genuinely. "No more secrets, right?" Ash asked in a lighter tone.

They stepped inside.

"...Yeahhhh…" Eiji drawled, suspiciously.

"Then I'll have you know that you're far too humble. You're a good guy, so just accept the damn compliment!" Ash scolded him lovingly.

The door shut.

"And you're drop dead gorgeous and I don't want to hear any complaints about it!"

Eiji giggled, "Oh, alright, Ash."

When Miyuki arrived back to the hotel room she found the door adjoining the two rooms had been left purposely open. The rooms smelt like takeout. Ash and Eiji laughed hysterically as Monty Python and the Holy Grail blared through the TV speakers. Slowly, she poked her head into their room to find, much to her surprise, that they were both fully clothed, nestled wholesomely side by side, as they watched the ridiculous film.

"Welcome back!" Ash called to her from the bed.

She stepped inside. "Hey," she smiled as she looked at the screen to see what they were watching.

She looked back at the boys. "I thought for sure you-" her voice trailed off as she decided to alter her words, "never mind, I clearly misunderstood." They barely heard her over the sound of the movie. "Anyway, goodnight," She said sweetly before walking back to her own room, closing the door softly as she went.

"Night!" They both called out to the closing door.

Eiji wrapped his arms more tightly around Ash and inhaled his smell. Ash had chosen him. Out of all the other boys in the world, he'd picked Eiji. And Eiji had picked him, damage and all. They'd learned the lesson before, but tonight was a nice reminder. Intimate moments range far and wide; much more so than Hollywood often shows on TV. And in their case, waiting communicated far more love than impulsivity ever could. All good things come to those who can wait.