Chapter Text
Eiji Okumura. New York – Los Angeles. Seat 36A. Arrival at 7:30 pm.
Eiji’s eyes grasp at the name of the city where all his life has been turned upside down as he grips the ticket more tightly between the two fingers. They are really doing it. They will deal with it. It’s a sure plan.
Airport noise, laughs, and talking here and there feels like an echo of something distant, in the past or future. All Eiji can do right now is to think about the plan and without any luck try to suppress the impatience that makes every little part of him vibrate with restlessness.
Ash sighs inaudibly and uneasy beside him. It seems someone has a little loss of confidence.
“Still having second thoughts?” Eiji asks softly.
“No,” Ash replies and sighs again. “Maybe a little bit,” he looks at Eiji, but it’s impossible to say what’s his look like behind the sunglasses on his nose. “You would’ve been safe if you left with Ibe and Max.”
“Yes, maybe,” Eiji doesn’t object. He’s just sick of doing so but he will carry on until he and Ash get out of New York and he won’t have any other choice. “But you wouldn’t. Don’t look at me like that with your glasses on, it’s Shorter’s thing and it doesn’t suit you,” Eiji smiles barely with just his eyes and then gets all serious again. “I would never leave you alone.”
“I know,” Ash nods and takes the glasses off. And his look is full of delicacy. “I do.”
Eiji reaches for him and hugs him carefully, placing his nose on the other’s shoulder.
“You don’t have to be all on your own, Ash,” he says, feeling the hug in return. “And you can’t deny that it’s quite shitty,” he closes his eyes, mentally prays to the merciless heavens and inconsistent luck everything works out just fine, and whispers: “Everything will be all right.”
A phone in Ash’s pocket vibrates and they have to break the warm hug. He glances at the screen and looks at Eiji again.
“If you say so, so it will be,” he quietly utters. “I believe you.”
Eiji nods.
“Thanks.”
“Shorter is here.”
They leave the airport in rapid steps, looking around from time to time. It is unlikely they’re being followed, but that’s exactly what they need right now. Anyway, Dino will know from his hounds about the tickets to Los Angeles, booked in their names, in a few days. There was neither time nor reason to hide this information more thoroughly.
Airport’s parking is just packed with cars, but it’s impossible to miss out of sight Shorter’s vibrant mohawk. Shorter stands near an old grey Toyota and idly sips his coffee.
“How did it go?” Shorter asks as soon as Ash and Eiji come closer. “Everything all right?”
Ash shows the tickets to him and swiftly hides them in his bag.
“You can check the second point out now, strategist,” he says, opening the back door. “Eiji and I are officially leaving for Los Angeles in four days.”
“Awesome,” Shorter nods and drinks off his coffee in a single quaff, while Ash gets inside the car. “I will complete the next point tomorrow. Sing’s spreading the information in Chinatown today, and it will spread further to everyone from there.”
Ash simply nods and bends his head back on a seat. It’s hot and stifling inside the car and no better outside, but this doesn’t bother him. He’s tired. They’ve been planning this so thoroughly for so long that now when they’re all set to run away, he feels exhausted. By the anticipation, anxiety, and sleepless nights. And there’s still a long road ahead.
“I really don’t want us to part,” Eiji confesses while settling on a back seat beside Ash. He’s wearing an old, yet still bright and comfy Ash’s cap, which is not to be returned to him any time soon, but is taken off and placed on Eiji’s knees.
“I’m afraid it’s necessary.”
Ash ogles Eiji’s face a bit longingly for a few seconds and closes his eyes. Maybe, he should take a nap while they’re on the road.
“Don’t worry, Eiji, everything will be just fine,” Shorter ensures him, bending over so his friend can see his face adorned with a confident smile and winks. “I’ll get through it.”
Shorter inhales deeply, his sight catches the main airport building, white and shining with sunlight, and gets behind the wheel, loudly closing the door behind himself.
“Call back as soon as you have the chance,” Ash asks without opening his eyes. “Don’t drag it out, we have to be sure that everything goes according to plan.”
“No problem,” Shorter smiles at the rear-view mirror and starts the engine.
Maybe, it’s just Ash, but Shorter seems too calm as if he tries to look like that on purpose. He’s probably much more worried than he wishes to show. Ash can understand that.
The plan only seemed easy. But if you looked at it more precisely, you’d see how long and risky it was and how much it depended on everyone directly involved.
It’s just that Ash is hardly afraid of anything after the nuthouse and his official demise. Shorter leaves no stone unturned to use his second chance at life to gain freedom for himself and his friends, and Eiji believes in a safe shelter for all of them in Japan and is willing to do everything and anything to ensure the plan works out smoothly.
Ibe, Max, Jessica, and Michael fly directly to Japan. Ash doesn’t question their safety. Until he’s staying in New York, his friends outside of it are not in danger. It’s the first point of the plan, already checked out — they all took a plane almost a week ago and hassle-free landed in Tokyo. Ibe promised to take care of them.
The second point — Ash and Eiji “are flying to LA” this Friday. In reality, they will have hit the road in a completely other direction for two days already. They will head south, the shortest road to Mexico, which is out of both Dino’s, and the Lee Clan’s spheres of influence, to take their plane to Japan smoothly. Ash will have one thing in Jefferson to handle en route, but he’s sure he can finish it fast and successfully. There’s no other way.
The third and last point — is the gangs. Shorter will disband them, starting with his own. They made sure everyone finds their place afterward. Stubborn I-won’t-sit-idly-Shorter Nadia searched high and low and finally found a volunteer organization, which agreed to settle everything unofficially so no one in the city would know. Every teen will be taken care of. Nadia and Max also gained the unofficial support of one certain police station thanks to Charlie.
Sing decided to leave with Shorter and Nadia when he discovered the plan. Once the gangs are disbanded, they will also head to Mexico, just the other road, longer than Ash’s and Eiji’s. To cover their tracks, not allowing Dino to understand what they planned — it’s their main mission. And then they will run away. As fast and abruptly that no one can do anything about it. That’s what the plan was supposed to be.
What will it be in reality — that’s what Ash doesn’t want to think of. Not now.
Shorter drives through the city without a rush. Traffic jams are usual for this time of a working day, yet he conveniently chooses less packed roads, and gets to Chinatown in forty minutes, parking the car near his and Nadia’s flat.
A little living room welcomes them with sunlight streaming through an open window, pleasant freshness, and the thick aroma of green tea. Nadia greets them, more serious than ever, and hugs Shorter — they didn’t see each other in more than a week.
“Hi,” she welcomes and bumps Ash’s and Eiji’s fists in turn. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” Ash nods. “You?”
Nadia stands near the bookcase with different figurines she collected back in the day and takes out a thick travel guide and two folders with documents from it.
“Here’s everything you need, along with new passports,” she says, passing to each of them the corresponding folder. “This should be enough. Charlie wishes you luck.”
“So my name’s Spencer Rand,” Ash states, opening the folder. “Another one in a row of my fake names,” he extends a hand towards Eiji and smiles: “Nice to meet you?..”
“Minato Kaji,” Eiji answers and shakes Ash’s hand, and then smiles softly at Nadia, who smiles back at him.
“This name has a special ring to it?” Ash guesses.
“’Harbour’,” Eiji answers, glancing down at his false ID. “It means ‘a harbour’.”
Ash smiles.
“Come to the kitchen, I’m cooking a stew,” Nadia put the guide back in its place and goes to the adjacent room.
The kitchen is as small as the rest of the flat, barely having enough space for four of them. A narrow windowsill with a petit blooming cactus, along with a stack of thin books. Hundreds of motes dance in the evening sunlight in between two window glasses hardly aware of what’s happening right now.
Shorter puts on an apron and starts cooking some omelet in another pan, while the stew is getting done on the first one. Nadia leaves the kitchen responsibilities entirely to him and seats at the table after making sure Ash and Eiji are also set. Both of them are sitting on a kitchen sofa, quite a narrow one, but seem perfectly comfortable.
A delicious scent of stew fills the kitchen but Ash doesn’t really feel hungry. He’s probably too worried. All of them are quite nervous and all of them try not to show it. They already bought the tickets, have the documents, and are leaving tomorrow.
“Sing will be here with a car by tomorrow morning,” Shorter says while setting the table and putting the dishes onto it.
“I just hope he gets something operating,” Ash nods and takes a fork.
“I know that he will at least try.”
“How about you all? You said you have something special up your sleeve.”
“Nadia has, not me,” Shorter smiles, glancing at his sister. “Charlie got her one hell of an SUV for such an occasion.”
“Wow,” Eiji wonders. “Now I’m worried about you slightly less.”
They have dinner while a radio somewhere in Shorter’s room plays soft music and talk a little more than nothing, but it’s not like they have to — everyone is thinking about the same thing.
Ash eats just to calm his stomach, without any appetite. His thoughts are too loud today. So many years have passed and here it is — a small window out of the cage they will try to escape through. And destroy the hell the cage along with it, so no one else gets trapped. They considered every small detail and matured this plan for too long for something to go wrong.
Nadia insists on going to bed early, at least for Ash and Eiji, who leave at dawn. Shorter makes some kind of a bed of three futons and a few blankets on his room’s floor because, first of all, no one wants to sleep on a bed — it’s too hot, and, second of all, all three want to be closer to each other at their last night before the unknown.
“Does anyone need another blanket?” Shorter asks, throwing the third pillow upon the futons.
“Maybe a thin one,” Eiji answers — he has already taken shower and is now wearing a pajama shirt and fine shorts, being about the mirror and drying his hair with a towel.
“Fine, I’ll get you a sheet.”
“Thanks.”
Shorter leaves the room and rustles with something in the hallway. Eiji feels Ash staring at him and turns away from the mirror.
“What?”
“Nothing, just…” Ash shrugs and hides his eyes. “This is going to be difficult.”
Eiji nods in agreement but without any fear in his eyes.
“Yes. Yet we will be together.”
Ash smiles softly and somehow sleepy. He understands now that Eiji’s decision to come along with him is the right one.
A clock in the kitchen says it’s twenty minutes past nine when Ash comes out of the bathroom and goes to drink some before-bed water. The radio is silent and the flat is filled with an atmosphere of nervosity and goodbyes. Ash is not a fan of such things, so he stays in the kitchen for some time longer, drinking his cold water slowly, sip by sip, while looking out the window. The sun sinks below the horizon, its red afterglow is running from one small puddle to another — there was a short but pouring rain yesterday.
Ash gladly faces the last for today yet still hot sunlight and inhales deeply. He closes his eyes and begs. He beseeches his damn fate to give them all a chance. Everything has to work out. There’s no other way.
***
“At least grab a bite, Ash. Please.”
Ash moves his drowsy look from the window onto Eiji and stops for a few seconds, trying to understand what he has just said. He understands and moves the look further down, to his plate with a delicious-smelling and nutritious breakfast he hasn’t even touched yet. He nods and takes a fork.
“Didn’t sleep well, I guess?”
Well, how to put it? He didn’t sleep at all. He couldn’t. Had been thinking too much and scared away all the sleep if there was any at all.
“Uh-huh,” Ash simply hums while breaking off a piece of toast.
Nadia, who has previously been making some tea, turns back to them with her hands on her hips.
“And give me back all the empty plates, understood?” she says. “God knows, how much time you’ll spend on the road and when you’ll get the chance for some fine food. So eat.”
“And what if we don’t?” Ash chuckles.
Nadia smiles back at him but has no chance to respond because Shorter comes to the kitchen, shirtless and sleepy.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you, my friend, she holds a blackbelt and has an incredibly strong kick,” he murmurs and takes a cup of tea from the counter. “Thanks, love.”
“There’s no sugar in it.”
“Felt it on yourself, didn’t you?” Ash carries on his amusement. “Nadia, when did you get the chance to beat him up?”
“Ha-ha,” Shorter laughs theatrically. “I visited all of her competitions. And you’d like to feel that? Wait till we get to Japan, then you’ll get to scuffle.”
“Only if he has a kimono,” Nadia says, hiding her sly smile behind a cup while sipping tea.
Shorter moves away to the window and checks his phone, savouring the tea.
This little goofy conversation has calmed Ash’s thoughts and lifted his spirit a bit. These people wouldn’t let each other down. These people are the ones Ash can rely on.
“Sing will be here soon,” mentions Shorter, switching his attention back to the phone.
As much as Ash doesn’t want this, but he finishes everything to the last drop, even having a cup of tea with a biscuit. It’s not like he’s afraid of Nadia’s moves, but they could use some strength indeed.
Ash and Eiji check their bags once again while waiting for Sing. First aid kit, IDs, some clothes, a stock of food, and a whole load of different necessities. And yeah, weapons too. Ash won’t part with his magnum for at least as long as the trip takes. It’s reassuring. As they say, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
The car arrives just in time, no delays. Everyone grabs a bag and goes outside.
The red sun is already unbearably dazzling, but not boiling hot yet. A light warm breeze runs down the alley. There’s a black auto parked near the stairwell, entirely new at the first sight, but the second one gives Ash an idea — it’s been used, but highly carefully and, probably, not that often, also, it’s freshly painted. Sing stands beside the car, resting on a hood.
“Hi,” Ash greets him. “How is it?”
“Hey. As good as new,” Sing answers proudly while opening the truck. “Everything’s checked up, repaired, new tires and the registration’s all right. Full tank and a load of fuel as well,” he points at the two cans inside of the truck. “But it’s better to fill it up any time you get the chance. Get one of the bags into the cabin, they won’t fit here.”
“Thank you,” Ash says, looking at the younger one with gratitude. “It’s a nice car.”
“Don’t mention it,” Sing winks and smirks. “There’s another thing — the roof can be opened and front seats — reclined. Just like in a plane, cool, isn’t it?”
“Never drove anything like it,” Eiji breaks his silence, coming closer to put in the bags — his and the one he took from Nadia.
“I wouldn’t pass up on a car like this as well,” Shorter approves and opens the back door to leave one last bag. “Awesome interior. How the hell did you find it, Sing?”
“It’s a trade secret,” Soo-Ling smiles mysteriously and holds his tongue.
Shorter slowly walks all around the car checking something, while Ash addresses Nadia:
“Look after them, would you?” he asks. “Just so they don’t do anything stupid.”
“Hey! I heard that!” Shorter’s voice car comes from the other side of the car, but the young man himself can’t be seen while squatting.
“I always look out for him, that’s what elder sisters do,” Nadia smiles. “I can’t imagine how it would be harder to look after the two of them.”
“I’m not a troublemaker, by the way,” Sing utters, clearly discontent with the fact he’s being referred to as a child. “And I can pretty much cope, thanks.”
“Care to stay for breakfast?” Nadia suggests to him.
“Only if you insist.”
Nadia smiles again and hastily hugs Ash and then Eiji.
“You take care.”
“You too,” Eiji nods. “See you in Mexico.”
“Agreed.”
Ash’s mood goes up, then down, while everyone exchanges their goodbyes and a fair share of pleasant words. Eiji was right when he said that they don’t want to part. Although his heart would not in fact be in place from restlessness, it has to be done to make sure his friends are safe.
“Take care of Eiji and don’t forget about yourself,” Shorter says while they walk away to have a chat. Ash simply nods at that.
“You’ll settle things with the gang, right?”
“Yeah, Nadia and you did the hard part. Don’t worry about the boys.”
“I’m not worried, but you, on the contrary, look much more concerned than me,” Ash chuckles at the perplexity on Shorter’s face, but the latter becomes even more serious.
“Ash, do you… trust me?” he asks suddenly.
“What kind of a stupid question is that, Shorter?” Ash frowns. “Of course, I trust you. You have something in mind?”
Ash had a foreboding and, evidently, he wasn’t wrong.
“Yes, I have an idea. But I can’t tell you yet.”
“Let it be. Just as I said, I trust you. Almost as much as myself.”
“Almost?” Shorter smirks.
“Yeah,” Ash smiles back at him. “I’m better at shooting. We’re gonna do it, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we are,” Shorter nods firmly. “Good luck.”
“You too. We all could use it right now.”
They have a second round of hugs and go back to the car.
“Ash, maybe it’s better for me to drive first so you take a nap?” Eiji asks, clenching his hand on the car keys.
“I know my way around much better, I want to leave the city and avoid the traffic,” Ash objects. “Then I can take a nap. And we have a place to get to first of all.”
“Sure.”
To drive away from home is the hardest part. To get around the corner, leaving friends and their looks behind, full of hope and commotion. Ash starts sharply, drives off a narrow street, and joins the flow of hundreds of other cars.
No one knows where they will end up tomorrow. Maybe in Wilmington. And maybe in Dino’s hands.