When the moon killed the sun I thought, 'We all shine light, and yet to some we are dim.'
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"Ash!" Eiji collapsed onto his knees next the boy. His eyes had closed and his skin had grown a pale white causing a deep worry to course through Eiji. Why do I care? Eiji thought to himself as he barked at Shorter to get help, and that he didn't care who Ash was, or why he couldn't go to a public hospital- he needed professional help. He was going to die!

I don't know you, Ash Lynx. Eiji examined the wound, his shoddy job at mending Ash's leg was starting to fail. But you knew me enough to want me dead. Scarlet stained the cloth, it oozed and dripped. Maybe it's because I don't have anything worth caring about, that I care about you, Ash.

Eiji gave Ash a good and hard look. His hair was a messy blonde and his jeans were torn. His face was tired and pained like any other boy his age.

... Just who are you to demand my attention like this?

Eiji wasn't sure when the sirens came. He didn't know when Shorter had dragged Skipper away kicking so they wouldn't be caught. He couldn't have told you how much time had passed before paramedics where clawing past him to get at Ash's bleeding body. He couldn't have known what would happen, he couldn't have known that to save Ash's life- would soon mean destroying it.

What Eiji could tell you though, was that the future was one where loneliness was the least of his problems.

~~~

It wasn't long before the police questioned Eiji, wondering about his involvement and what not. He was taken away from his house to the nearest station so that the crime scene could be preserved... and cleaned up.

"Tell me, Eiji-" the officer that sat across from him asked, "Just why would two gangs choose your house to duke it out?"

Eiji shrugged, it was the truth after all that he was quite confused about the whole situation. "Sorry officer," his shoulders sagged, "I really don't know much. I received a threatening phone call- I thought it was a prank but then..."

The officers asked more and more questions, digging deep and grasping at straws to get any information they could out of Eiji. Eiji himself wasn't quite sure why he was rather reserved with his answers, but he kept things short and sweet- not revealing much of the little he did know.

But then, the officers asked a question Eiji found unsettling.

"The paramedics at the scene implied you knew the blonde haired boy, Ash Lynx who was shot in the leg. What was your relationship?"

Eiji hesitated, he knew exactly how Ash would answer that one. He could hear his voice in his head now, 'stalker' Ash snickered. Eiji shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "I didn't know him before the incident. He was just someone I'd occasionally see wandering around, I tried talking to him once but he always found a way to disappear. I think that's where the misunderstanding came from.. that's why they wanted to kill me- the gangs I mean, not Ash. Ash protected me. It was my fault he was shot."

The officers nodded and wrote down what he said. Eiji was very glad to be excused- at least for the time being. He had left with advice from the police to be cautious, and to stay at a paid for hotel that night so the crime scene could be fixed.

Eiji sighed, the late night air was crisp- it felt like frost filled his lungs as he breathed and danced in his veins as he shivered. He wanted to go to bed. He wanted to see Ash.

"Wait what?" Eiji spoke aloud, "Did I really just think that?" He sighed again, ashamed at the warm blush that tinted his cheeks. Maybe Ash wasn't so wrong in calling me a stalker. Goddammit he held a gun to my head, why aren't I mad or at least afraid of him? Why do I only want to see him more!

Eiji began to stroll, lost in his own thoughts. I wonder if he's okay though... that wound looked serious. There was blood everywhere...

Eiji wondered if his mother knew about the mess he had entangled himself in, he wondered if she'd even care. Maybe she'd be mad he forgot to water the plants that day, or maybe she'd yell angrily because someone had knocked her favourite flower pot over- shattering it like glass. Or maybe she'd cry because someone tried to kill her son. Eiji doubted the last one. A familiar feeling, loneliness tapped up and up his spine like a spider and rested its ugly fangs at the base of his neck.

"I don't want to live on like this."

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Happy Birthday to Ash!

Damn, 200 views in 4 chapters so soon? That's pretty good. Thank you everyone! Also, thank you for the votes- it brings a smile to my face seeing them.

So, did you guys enjoy the progression this chapter- the plot will surely go up a few gears soon. Prepare for a drive.