You don't know me, no one does.
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"Ash!" The name escaped Eiji's lips before he had even registered that yes, Ash was actually in front of him. Messy blonde hair, gleaming green eyes- it was all there. Or was it? The tired frown was new, so were the bags that hung heavy under his eyes.

Eiji rushed forward, straight past the 'security' that were 'confirming his identity,' and right to Ash's side. "I'm glad you're okay!" Eiji couldn't hide the joy in his voice. From a young age, Eiji had been no stranger to having a lack of people to care about. Friends only seemed to back stab him, his mother didn't seem to acknowledge his own existence and his real father was.. well his father wasn't important. But Ash was, Ash was right in front of him- Ash had acknowledged and praised Eiji and-

"Who are you?"

What. Eiji scratched his head, confused, "It's me, Eiji. Ash, I-I'm your boyfriend.." Eiji spoke in a laughing tone, though inside fear wrenched at his gut. "Surely you haven't-"

Ash shook his head, "You must have the wrong guy, I've never seen you before."

"O-oh, I see.." Eiji's mouth felt numb as he fumbled over his words, not really sure of what to say. How had Ash forgotten him?... Shorter's phone buzzed In Eiji's hand, snapping him back to reality. It didn't matter if Ash had forgotten him, what mattered currently- was saving him.

"You don't know this man, Mr Lynx?" One of the security guards spoke to Ash from next to the door. He was big, looked like he had eaten one too many donuts and those muscles just screamed 'I'm hela strong.' Eiji shuttered at the thought of having one of the Goliath's fists swung at him.

Thinking quickly while the guard was focused on Ash, Eiji pretended to drop his phone so that he could plant the smoke bomb under the patient's bed where it would be out of sight. With a flick of the switch, Shorter would be notified and the next stage of the plan would be brought into action.

"No, I don't." Ash answered hesitantly, "I... I haven't seen him before. At least, I don't thin-"

Tick.

"We'll have him removed from your room immediately, Sir." The guard moved quickly, his large hands finding their way to Eiji's shoulder, successfully dragging him back towards the way Eiji had come in.

Tick.

Eiji struggled, he didn't know what else to do. Shorter hadn't prepared him for this, all he had been given was a pat on a the back and a good luck kiddo. "Ash!" He called.

Ash's frown had grown deep and he would not look at Eiji. What was happening, what was wrong, why had Ash forgotten him?!

Tock.

Boom.

The room flooded with smoke, endless wave after wave of thick grey smog hungrily bloomed to fill any space it could find. Eiji coughed, his eyes tearing up as the smoke licked at his eyes, filled his nose and found a new home in his lungs.

Behind him, the angry cries of Ash's gang who had been laying in wait for Eiji to plant the smoke bomb, filled the room. Their battle cries dragged Eiji back into a place so familiar and yet so haunting. His own home. A hellish blaze of gunfire.

Eiji crumpled to grown, he could not control his own body that had become overrun with fear. The smoke choked at him, clawed at him from inside his own lungs. Eiji hadn't had the chance to tie his piece of cloth around his face due to the guard's quick meddling, and no one had yet seemed to notice the smaller boy collapsed, shaking on the floor.

Swamped in panic and smoke, Eiji struggled to so much as breath. His violent coughing stopped though, when he realised he was being picked up and dragged away from the scene. Through the tiny slits his eyes allowed themselves to open, Eiji expected to see Shorter or Skipper at his aid. The man helping him, wasn't either.

"Ash..." Eiji's voice sounded drunk, as if his conscience was floating just above him. You shouldn't be up yet- you're injured.

Somewhere, through it all- Eiji's sight and mind faded to black. The new darkness however, did not choke him. It cradled his head and filled him with a kind warmth.
Of course, Eiji thought, of course I was meant to save him- but he ended up saving me.

Ash was back.

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Hohohohoho.
Sorry for the late update, I hope I somewhat made it up to you guys with an action packed chapter and the return of Ash!

Please note: Chapter updates may be more infrequent from now on.

Also thank you for 2k views~
And apologies for those wishing to see papa Dino pole dancing in room 107, he was in room 108.

I hope you enjoyed though!