Chapter Text
What am I even doing here?
Shorter stood in front of the Public Library, waiting for Eiji. He had sought shelter from the rain and therefore was standing close to the entrance of the Public Library. It was a perfect day to meet ghosts: rainy, windy, and dark clouds swallowing up the remaining light.
To be honest, this was the last place on earth he wanted to be. This place would never be the same to him after he had seen Ash bleeding out in this building. He would never forget those horrible images; they would haunt him for the rest of his life. Ash had looked so peaceful and carefree for once that the thought had occurred to him that his death would be the easier option for Ash. Death would free him from all his pain and suffering, his nightmares and his fears, his self-loathing and remorse. He would never forget that content half-smile on his face, at peace with the world for the first time in his short life.
Yet, he couldn't bring himself to let Ash die. After all he had suffered and gone through, he deserved a better life. Still, Shorter was furious that Ash had really done that. Ash had always been self-destructive and torn apart by guilt and regret after all he had done. Still, he had never expected him to give up so easily. He could have gotten help, could have called someone. Like him, for instance. Instead, he deliberately chose to die, that idiot. Even more so, Shorter suspected that Ash had seen the attack coming but simply hadn't fought back. Ash had never been afraid to die. It was what had made him dangerous and lethal.
And he still didn't know who had attacked him. Since Ash had left the crime scene and hadn't called anyone, the culprit had plenty of time to disappear. He still didn't know who had attacked Ash, the only one who could reveal that secret was Ash himself. However, he had some possible suspects on his list. Ash had countless enemies. Still, as far as he was concerned, it had to be gang-related. Dino's people would have killed him on the spot and made it look like an accident. They would have used a sniper like Blanca or shot him in the head to make sure he was really dead. The Corsican mafia or their allies would have done a professional assassination without any traces left behind.
This attack, however, wasn't thought through; it had been messy, clumsy, and amateurish. Two many traces had been left behind, blood, Ash's .357 Magnum, the opponent's knife, traces of the fight. So, Shorter was sure it was done by one of the opposing gangs.
And, as a gang leader, Shorter also had to see the bigger picture here. Without Ash, New York would drown in chaos soon. With Ash, the underworld had a leader, a ruler that held everything together, introducing clear rules and severe consequences if they were broken.
Ash had quickly dominated the underworld and had gained control of every gang. He wasn't your usual gang leader. He had received professional training, both physically and intellectually, so he played in a completely different league. As long as Ash was alive, no one of the gangs dared to move, knowing perfectly well they wouldn't survive Ash's revenge. Furthermore, Ash wasn't interested in taking over territory; he was only interested in power. Not because he wanted money or to get all the profits the gangs made from smuggling goods like weapons and drugs.
The only thing he had aimed for was to get enough manpower and money for weapons to go against Dino. And everyone had followed Ash because you didn't say no to Ash and survived. Also, Ash was not only a great leader that many people looked up to, even people from other gangs or other gang leaders. He was also highly respected because, unlike Arthur, he never played foul or backstabbed people. He challenged the leader to a duel and settled matters without a blood bath. He never killed the foot soldiers who, according to Ash, just carried out orders. He always went straight to the leaders, knowing perfectly well that a gang lost all its remaining power and quickly disappeared from sight without a leader, and the problem would solve itself.
And he had succeeded in the end. Dino and Fox had both died in the fire. Dino's reign had ended, and the Corsican mafia had dissipated into thin air now that no one took the lead. Without a leader, a mafia is just a troop of monkeys. So, they weren't an issue anymore.
That's probably why Ash had accepted his death so readily. His aim in life had been to defeat Dino and get his revenge on his rapist and abuser, who had caused him unimaginable pain and suffering. He had not only raped and abused him but had also sold him to other disgusting pedophiles like a piece of meat, forcing him into prostitution from an early age.
He had seen the nightmares Ash had suffered from and the fear in his eyes when Dino or Marvin approached him, especially when he was younger. Unfortunately, he had been powerless against Dino's empire. Dino had reigned over New York, so the only thing he could do was to stay by his side and be there for him.
He and Nadia had often helped Ash out if he needed a place to stay or hide. Shorter and Ash had often joined their gangs in gunfights or turf wars and had been inseparable since they had met in juvie.
Shorter was disappointed that Ash had just died, leaving him and everyone in his gang behind. He had told Shorter that he would be responsible for his gang if he died and should take command. He had left precise instructions and a detailed plan for the next few years to ensure his gang would be safe.
So, he had done what Ash had asked of him, but he wasn't nearly as good as Ash. He hadn't trained with an ex-KGB agent and elite military units or possessed his superior intellect. He was just a regular street kid growing up in China Town. What could he even do? Not much. At least, not for long. He was painfully aware of that.
So, now that Ash was in a coma, his empire slowly crumbled, fell apart, and would eventually collapse. At the moment, no one dared to make a move or start a war over Ash's territory. Ash had been an urban legend, and many people were scared or secretly hoped he had survived and would return. So, Shorter had taken control for now, but without Ash, he wouldn't be able to keep it up for long before there would be a vicious gang war now that Ash had disappeared. Things would get messy soon.
To make things worse, an old acquaintance had suddenly appeared again and tried to gain control over Ash's territory. Shorter worked together with Ash's gang, but it was only a matter of time before a turf war would break out.
Their nemesis was a simpleton, but he acted way more competent than before. Shorter suspected that he had a sponsor who was pulling the strings. Unfortunately, he hadn't found out yet who it could be... These last few days, gangs had been targeted, and some gang members had been killed. The killings weren't the issue here. A life was worth nothing in this hellhole. Even so, the problem was how they had been carried out. All the victims had belonged to a gang and had been shot in the forehead. Clean and efficient. That was Ash's signature move. Ash had never learned to go easy on anyone and always aimed to kill at the first try.
So, everyone in this area knew that if people were shot in the forehead, that was a warning from Ash Lynx. Shorter knew there was a greater motivation behind it, but he couldn't figure out what it could be. Those weren't regular murders carried out for petty revenge or lust for power. There was more behind it, a much greater goal...
Ash was the only one who could find a solution to this whole mess. So, if there were only the tiniest spark of hope that Ash would wake up, he'd grasp it.
After finding Ash in the Public Library, Shorter had called Max because he was the only adult he trusted, and they had both agreed to fake his death. If anyone found him in his current state, he'd be more than an easy target, and even though they visited him, Shorter and Max couldn't spend every minute of the following months next to his bed.
So, they had arranged his death and had secretly moved him to a private Army hospital that Max's friend ran. After a few weeks of fighting for his life, Ash had finally been stable, yet he was in a coma and hadn't woken up yet. The doctors had explained that Ash's condition was stable and he had recovered as expected, considering his severe injury and immense blood loss.
According to them, the reason for his coma wasn't physical but psychological. Ash just didn't want to wake up. Or his mind protected him from his memories and reality.
When Eiji had told him that he had seen a ghost that looked like Ash, he had gained new hope that maybe there was a way to wake him up. Yes, it sounded utterly insane even for someone like him who had always bothered Ash with the craziest conspiracy theories he could come up with. Ash always thought too rationally, like a computer, and had always chastised him for his crazy theories he had constantly teased Ash with, telling him he should keep his crazy and absurd theories to himself.
Eiji had told him the ghost story with such an honest face and had added so many details he couldn't have known without having met Ash that Shorter slowly started to believe him. Looking at Eiji's sincere and open face, he doubted that guy could even lie.
Even so, Eiji knew details that barely anyone knew. For example, Ash's real name and especially his middle name, Jade. Most people only knew Ash by his nickname Ash Lynx. Barely anyone knew his birth name, and only a selected few knew his middle name. Shorter had only learned his real name after being friends for years. He was his damn best friend, and he had never heard of his middle name Jade before then since Ash was too secretive and rarely shared any personal information. His gang knew nothing about Ash's personal life, either, due to the very same reason.
And yet, Eiji had known it, a guy who had just recently moved here and who didn't know anything about gangs and didn't belong to their world.
So when Eiji had just told him Ash's real name, he had started to believe Eiji's fairytale. Eiji also knew all of Ash's character traits, his impulsive behavior, his stubbornness, even his trust issues, and how he always looked for ulterior motives in people and grew suspicious when people offered their help.
Eiji had deeply impressed Shorter when he had described Ash to him. Everyone in this part of New York described Ash as a ruthless and vicious monster, a cold-blooded creature of darkness, a ruthless and terrifying killer, a wild, dangerous and untamable beast that feared nothing and no one, not even death. People were terrified of him and tried to keep a safe distance at all times.
As his best friend, Shorter knew that Ash wanted people to think exactly that. It was his protective shield in this dark and cruel world. If you showed only the slightest emotion or weakness, you would be dead before you knew it.
Ash had often been underestimated because he looked thin and frail and had a handsome face.
So, he had effectively turned his greatest weakness into his greatest strength. Ash had used his weak appearance to his advantage because people had always lowered their guard around him. That was when he struck. His reflexes were out of this world, lightning-fast, every move calculated, and every opponent's move anticipated. Ash had turned the tables in his favor in a matter of seconds.
Furthermore, he could pull the trigger of his gun faster than anyone else. And he was as deadly with a knife. He never hesitated, always aiming to kill. Ash had learned the hard way that if you didn't kill your opponent today, he'd kill you the following day.
Eiji's description, however, had been entirely different, though. Eiji had described Ash as impulsive, rude, and stubborn. Yet, what he had added after that had drawn Shorter's attention. After complaining about Ash's rudeness, Eiji had mentioned that Ash looked devastatingly sad and that he had seen a loneliness in his eyes that had left him stunned. He had explained to Shorter that at that moment, he had promised to help him.
No one had described Ash that way. Ever. Eiji had hit the nail on the head. Ash was rude and all those other things Eiji had mentioned, but he was suffering from severe trauma, nightmares, and an utter self-loathing and was torn apart by guilt and remorse.
He had distanced himself from everyone ever since he had liked a girl, and she had been killed just because people had assumed she had been his girlfriend.
The only person he let stay close was him because he could look out for himself and was an equally skilled fighter. That, and Ash wouldn't have succeeded in pulling that distancing crap on him. He could be stubborn as well. Ash had eventually given up, and since then, they had fought side by side and had always helped each other out. Since he had spent so much time with Ash, Shorter knew Ash inside and out. Behind his mask of indifference, Ash was kind and always looked out for the people he cared for. He would give his life for everyone in his gang and all the people he cared about without a second of hesitation.
So, here he was, standing in front of the Public Library. After a few minutes, Eiji came running towards him, completely out of breath. He bent forward, hands on his knees, to catch his breath.
"Sorry, I'm late. I got held up by my tutor in college.", he gasped out.
"Didn't you tell me you were an athlete?" Shorter teased him.
"I was,” Eiji pouted. "As in past tense."
Then he began walking towards the entrance. "Come on, Shorter, let's go. Or Aslan will get mad at me again because I'm late."
Shorter quietly followed him up the stairs, still wondering what he was doing here. But hope always died last, so maybe he'd see a miracle today. He'd do anything to talk to Ash again...
After they had reached the Rose Reading Room, Eiji led him to a quiet corner at the end of the room. It was the left corner on the other side of the room that was farthest from the students and the study desks. On the left side, this location was covered by large windows, while the wall and some bookshelves covered the other part of the corner.
Shorter looked around, automatically noticing all the entrances and exits and looking at the students buried under sheets of paper and stacks of books. Then, he looked back at Eiji in confusion.
"This part of the room is haunted. Books disappear and begin to float or fall from the shelves. Meaning Ash is responsible for that. So, no one will bother us here," Eiji explained, grinning. "And Ash is standing directly in front of you."
Shorter stared at the wall opposite him but couldn't see anything. Except for the wall and the bookshelves, of course. He blinked and squinted, concentrating hard, but it was useless.
"I told you Shorter wouldn't see me. He's an idiot."
"Hey, that was totally rude! Damn smart-ass!" Shorter complained before realizing with a start that he had just heard Ash's voice.
"You really heard that?" Ash and Eiji asked in unison. Pure surprise overwhelmed Eiji's features. Now, Shorter would have given anything to see Ash's perplexed expression, too, his voice,however, had been equally surprised; his tone of voice betraying him.
"Yes, I did. And I know for certain that was Ash's voice. I'd recognize his rude outbursts and his stubborn tone of voice anywhere. That was definitely Ash. I'd bet my life on it."
"But why can't you see him?" Eiji wondered, more speaking to himself.
"Because he still doubts that I'm a ghost. He loves conspiracy theories, but even he doesn't believe that ghosts exist. Eiji, you're more open-minded towards spiritual and supernatural things."
"He may be right about that. I don't believe in ghosts or supernatural beings. Even if I always torture Ash with conspiracy theories and supernatural sightings."
"I thought since you're Chinese, you'd be more flexible about supernatural topics, too," Eiji clarified.
"And Ash isn't really a ghost. He's more like a lost soul that doesn't know where his body is. Maybe seeing it like that would make it easier."
Shorter stared at him in disbelief with raised eyebrows. "Souls or ghosts, giving it a different name doesn't make it any less weird..."
"Fine, then, do you believe in Ash?" Eiji asked him. "In your friendship? Your bond?"
"Of course. Even if he's a pain in the ass and didn't remember me."
"Says my best friend who can't see me," Ash countered snarkily.
Eiji sighed at their bickering. "Aslan, why don't you prove it to him? Do you see the misted window next to you? Write something only Shorter will understand. You can move objects and make them float, right?"
With awe, Shorter watched the window and gasped out when he saw a pen floating in the air, approaching the window. After a moment, a phrase appeared.
Even if your hair is purple now, I'll still call you pineapple head.
Shorter just stared at the writing, frozen up and stunned. Only Ash had always called him by that stupid nickname. No one else. He was the only one who knew it. Even worse, he had created that damn nickname himself. Shorter never expected to hear it again. That was when Shorter realized that Ash or his ghost or whatever was here.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to calm himself and to concentrate on the fact that Ash was standing in front of him. No matter how unrealistic that might be, it was an undeniable fact. Not only had he heard his voice, but only Ash had teased him with that nickname. Back then, his hair had been died green, hence the nickname.
He slowly opened his eyes again, blinking a few times. That's when he saw Ash. Ok, at the beginning, he only made out a silhouette, completely transparent, but then the outline got clearer with every second until he could make out his golden hair and his green eyes. And his pale skin. He still was semi-transparent, but at least he saw him now. Ash had always been as ashen-faced as his name suggested, so his pale complexion hadn't changed much.
"I had no idea that you could look even paler than you usually look," Shorter smirked while looking directly at him. "And if you'll ever forget me again, I'll punch you. This time, there were exceptional circumstances, so I just barely forgive you."
"I'll try to make up for it, Shorter," Ash grinned, but Shorter saw the relief in his eyes. He was still shocked and stared at Ash for a moment, then decided whatever Ash was and whatever had happened to him, he still was his best friend, and he'd help him solve this issue. If that was Ash's ghost or soul, it made sense that Ash wouldn't wake up. Without a soul, regaining consciousness was impossible. At least, now, there was a reason for the state he was in. One they could hopefully solve soon. So, he decided to ask him about his memories. Ash remembered him, so he wondered if that meant if all of his memories had returned. If he recognized him, that was probably a good sign.
"How much do you remember, Ash?" he asked curiously.
"Not everything. Eiji told me about my childhood and you. Since Eiji confronted me with some awful childhood memories, more and more memories came flooding back to me. At first, I only remembered my real name and the time I spent with Griff in Cape Cod. Everything else was a mystery to me. I still have some holes and missing puzzle pieces. I would have preferred not to remember some parts. Even so, I decided to listen to Eiji's findings in the hope of getting my memories back, and I'm glad I did. Not remembering who you are is worse than having terrifying memories..."
"I guess that's one way to see it," Shorter said thoughtfully.
"And I ended up in jail with 14... Sounds like a great career start in the underworld..."
"I'm glad you did. I probably wouldn't have met you otherwise. Also, we both landed in jail because Arthur set us up. Some things never change."
"What do you mean by that? Arthur could never beat us even if he tried. He's dumb as shit and totally spineless. His trap only worked because we were much younger back then. And setting someone up and calling the police on them is completely immature and child's play. Even Skip could do that and succeed."
"Yes, you're right, but the current events have something to do with him. He's the connection."
"Fill me in on the details."
"Tell me what you can remember first. I'll help you with the rest."
"I remember now how I met you in jail. I also remember your sister, that we're both best friends and always hang out and help each other out."
"What about your gang?"
"I remember all of them and also that we fought together with Sing and Cain to rescue Max and the other hostages. And that Dino and Foxx didn't survive. But I can't remember how I ended up like this. He pointed to his half-transparent state. Or where my body is. Or why I'm here. And how that happened. And why I'm a ghost."
"The good part is that I have answers to most of your questions. The bad part is that I don't know who attacked you. I have some suspects but no proof yet."
"Ok, so start telling me where my body is."
Shorter cast a glance at Eiji. "What about him?"
"He was the only one who could see me for some reason. But I know what you mean."
Eiji's glance shifted from one to the other, blinking in confusion.
Ash turned to Eiji. "Eiji, you should let me and Shorter handle matters from here. You don't belong in our world. If you want to return to your quiet life, now is your chance. Go back to your college life and forget about us. Otherwise, you'll get dragged into a world of crime and murder that will eventually lead to your death." Eiji paled when hearing that last phrase; then, a stubborn look crossed his face. Before he could reply, however, Ash continued.
"Thank you for everything, Eiji, but you've done enough. I don't want to drag you into our mess any further."
"It's too late for that, Ash," Shorter replied honestly. Eiji nodded and pointed to his forehead, where the cut was still visible through his brown strands. "I've already been attacked by a guy named Arthur. If Shorter hadn't saved me, I'd be dead by now."
"What? You've never told me that!" Ash accused him, shooting daggers at him, his eyes glowing dangerously.
A guilty look crossed Eiji's features before he looked down at the floor. "I wanted to, but when seeing your reaction to those memories I've shown you, I forgot about it. Sorry." Ash's gaze softened instantly. He
"So, you can't stay there. It's not safe. Arthur is like a ticking time bomb. You can never tell when it will go off. Move to my hideout."
"Huh? I already live in your apartment," Eiji replied, utterly lost.
"I said hideout, not apartment, dummy. I have a hideout in a wealthy part of town. You can stay there."
"Aslan, I'm a college student. I can't just stay in your apartment in hiding. I'll stay where I am. Besides, if I move now, that Arthur guy will get even more suspicious."
"Ash, he's right. As long as Eiji goes to college and this library to study and follows a routine, he'll be fine. My guys watch him and his apartment."
"Ok, I guess that's fine. So, Shorter, please fill me in on the latest events. What happened?"
"So, starting with your supposed death, you bled out here, in the Rose Reading Room. I don't know what happened before except that you were stabbed, and instead of going to a hospital, you dumbass just went to this room and chose to bleed out and die. Without even calling for help. I promise you that if you ever wake up, I'll punch you for that! How dare you leave me alone in this cruel world? I thought we were best friends." Shorter felt how tears were pricking at his eyes, took off his sunglasses, and stubbornly wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, Shorter. The last moments are completely clouded, and I don't remember all of it yet. I'll apologize if my memories have returned, I promise. Please tell me which situation we're facing right now, ok?"
"Fine. Alex and I took over your gang while Sing took command of my own gang. In the last weeks, some suspicious movements and deaths happened. First, Arthur watched your apartment because he assumed you were still alive. That was how he stumbled across Eiji, who found some of your belongings in your old apartment. At the same time, strange executions started happening. They always targeted one person and executed them. All of them belonged to a different gang."
"Executed? How?"
"That's the problem. All the victims were shot in the forehead. With the caliber you use. Ash, I don't have to tell you that this is your signature move, right? Arthur wants to create fear and terror to draw you out. So, you have to regain consciousness. Arthur doesn't work alone this time. This is too professional for him. He has a sponsor and an intelligent one. But I don't know who it is yet although I've tried to find out. He's a pro and barely leaves any traces."
"You're right. That's way too smart for Arthur," Ash replied, thinking about it for a moment.
"He stabs people in the back like the coward that he is. Surprise attacks are his thing. Or setting people up. He knows he'd never win in a fair fight, so he doesn't play fair."
"And he can't fire a gun. Thanks to you. So someone else killed them."
Ash grinned. "He got what he deserved. I regret many things in my life but injuring Arthur and teaching him a lesson isn't one of them. But what exactly do you want me to do? You see the state I'm in. I'm powerless like that." Sadness overwhelmed his face; still, Shorter saw that he hadn't given up yet. It was probably thanks to Eiji that he hadn't lost all hope. He had convinced him that it was too early to give up. And he had brought him and Ash together. Maybe meeting Eiji was fate for both of them.
"You have to wake up as quickly as possible. It's only a matter of time until Arthur will target our gangs. He started with the weakest links and moved up the food chain. Until he targets our gangs, Nadia or someone like Skip. You know Arthur's lust for power drives him to do anything. He'd sell his soul to the devil to achieve that. He wants your territory and kill you. But he has a sponsor who's pulling the strings from the shadows. And that person probably sees the bigger picture and has a much greater scheme in mind. He just uses Arthur as his puppet or foot soldier." Shorter summarized the situation they were facing. He wondered who would support Arthur.
"Could it be Blanca, maybe? I heard he stayed in New York," Shorter wondered quietly.
"No, Blanca is a lone wolf who works alone. And he's a professional sniper. He wouldn't shoot people at close range. And most of all, he's too expensive for Arthur. He works for money. Blanca would just leave a Hemingway book in my apartment if he wanted to contact me. The modus operandi doesn't fit Blanca." Ash explained rationally.
"Furthermore, he makes it always look like accidents, so he doesn't leave any traces or connections leading to him. He works from the shadows. And Blanca would never create fear. It's too provocative for him. This is someone who loves creating fear and chaos. Blanca never draws attention. It has to be someone with the same intellect and a similar military background." Shorter nodded in agreement. "That makes sense." Then, he looked at Ash, feeling slightly guilty for his next suggestion.
"I don't want to drag you into this, Ash. I really don't. I'd prefer if you stayed officially dead, moved somewhere else, and enjoyed a more peaceful life. However, I can't handle this situation on my own. If you remain like this, we'll lose everyone we love or swore to protect. And I'd rather die than hand over my territory to an idiot like Arthur. With you gone, we'll also have a turf war that will be so bloody it will change New York forever. Most of the gangs won't move now because they still fear you'll come back. However, the underworld needs a leader that will retake control, or all gangs will fight each other, and Arthur will use that to his advantage. We need someone like you who sets clear boundaries, rules, and consequences. Only you're smart enough to do that. And - "
Ash nodded in understanding. "Thanks for taking care of my gang in the meantime. Of course, I'll help you out. Do you know in which hospital my body is?"
"Yes, of course. Only two people know the location. One of them is me."
"Who's the other one?" Ash asked curiously. "Please don't tell me it's Sing. He's a great fighter but too emotional. He wouldn't be a wise choice."
"I'm not dumb, Ash! Of course, it's not Sing. It's Max. He arranged your death, your secret location and wrote an article about your official death. And I'll only tell you the location, not Eiji. Too much is at stake here. But not here. Too many people could overhear us." Eiji hadn't heard them because he had given them some space to catch up.
Ash nodded and smiled. "Ok, the old man will keep it secret. He's a pain in the ass, but he's trustworthy. It was a great idea to involve him."
"There's only one problem we still have to solve. I'm trapped here. I can't leave this room. Believe me; I've tried.
"Are you fucking serious? And why didn't you tell me this sooner, you damn genius?" Shorter exclaimed furiously.
"I'm telling you now!" Ash shouted back, glaring at him, his eyes glowing dangerously.
"Well, I might have an idea how to solve that," Eiji replied, smiling brightly. He'd overheard their outbursts which wasn't difficult to accomplish with their raised voices.
"You do?" He and Ash asked simultaneously, first looking at each other, then at Eiji in amazement.