Chapter 08

## Chapter Eight

This is the eighth chapter of the *Banana Fish* manga.

## Summary

Ash is released from prison and is focused on getting revenge.

## Plot

At the station, Captain Jenkins rushes into the bathroom to find Charlie. Finding him at the urinals, Jenkins informs him that Max had met with his lawyer and Charlie soon looks over the papers regarding the release of Ash. Seeing that a judge approved his release, Jenkins admits that the judge in question is doing Jenkins this favor since it was thanks to the captain that he was able to pass algebra and graduate high school.

At Falkner Prison, Ash and Max continue to fight and only stop when an inmate walks in. That night, Ash notices Max still awake and drinking a high-grade bourbon. The older man invites the teen to drink with him, but Ash turns it down. As he drinks alone, Max states that he and Griffin were indeed friends who went through the hellish parts of war together. Having seen many of the nightmarish acts from both sides of the war, Max is understanding why Griffin turned to narcotics but puts full blame of his state on whoever gave him the Banana Fish drug.

When he spots Ash standing behind him with the fork in hand, Max can easily guess that Ash wants to kill him. Surprisingly, Max allows Ash to do so as he is too tired to continue on after hearing of Griffin's death but confesses he wished he could have seen him one final time even if Griffin didn't recognize him.

Ash suddenly reveals that rouge members from his gang had killed Stephen Thompson, whom Max had noted in his logbook. Ash states the man had claimed to have found Banana Fish and had given Ash the locket containing said substance along with an address to mail it to. Max questions why Ash is telling him this, but the now crying teen isn't sure why. He says he wishes he could hate Max and explains how his older brother had raised him until he left for the war. When Ash had found Griffin in the hospital in the condition he was in, Max correctly assumes that Ash couldn't live with the thought of Griffin being in such a place and took him home to care for him.

To his own bewilderment, Ash is surprisingly not having doubt about his brother's passing. Max agrees and offers Ash a glass of bourbon, although Ash finds the drink tastes awful.

In the city, Eiji excitedly hears from Ibe that Ash is being released from prison thanks to Jenkins. His joys quickly diminishes when he realizes this means they will need to tell Ash about his brother. Ibe tries to place the task on himself but Eiji states that he will tell Ash since he had been there when everything happened and agrees to Ibe's instructions that they will head right to the airport afterwards.

In the prison, Ash meets with George Scott and listens to all of the conditions he will need to follow regarding his bail or else it will be revoked. After Ash signs the papers and leaves to gather his things, George expresses how sweet Ash seems and how the judge and jury will be taken in by his looks to make things a lot easier for the lawyer. However, Max explains that George has fallen for Ash's innocent act and that the teen knows full well how to use his looks to his advantage to get what he wants from others. George doesn't believe his friend and firmly believes that Ash is just a troubled teen with a terrible childhood and being blamed for a murder he didn't commit.

Max returns to his cell to ask if Ash is done packing and wonders if George is right about Ash being a normal troubled teen or if Griffin's death is hitting harder than he originally let on. He tries to lift Ash's spirit by informing him that he plans to go after Banana Fish and everyone involved once he's released, especially Dino. Unfortunately, Ash states that Max will not be able to go after someone like Dino. Before Max can further question what he means, Ash is informed that his ride has arrived. Ash leaves and meets with Eiji, Ibe, and Charlie.

Inside the prison, Max hurriedly locates George and tells him that he had informed Ash of Griffin's death and now fears that he may seek vengeance unless he is stopped. George begins heavily scolding Max for having told Ash this information.

At the same time Dino is learning of Ash's release, Ash asks Charlie for a favor. Hearing how serious Ash is, the officer asks what the favor is. Ash asks to be taken to a specific location and confesses he has an older brother who is probably worried about him. Although he tries to play dumb at first, Charlie mentions how he has something to tell Ash.

They leave the prison area just as George exits the building hoping to stop them and prevent Ash from retaliating. In the car, Eiji takes the blame for what happened to Griffin. Ash gives a believable performance of pretending to be ill at the news that Charlie is forced to pull over at a nearby diner where Ash takes advantage of Charlie's caring behavior to steal his gun and order everyone out of the car.

Charlie tries to get Ash to calm down by telling him Eiji can identify the person from Arthur's gang who had shot Griffin, but Ash isn't interested in doing things the legal way and warns that he will shoot Charlie if he tries to stop him. Seeing how things are getting, Ibe claims to see Arthur nearby which distracts Ash long enough for Charlie and Ibe to rush Ash and try to force him to surrender.

Unable to let the scene before him continue, Eiji quickly gets into the drivers seat and speeds away. A little down the road, Ash has him pull over and tries to get him to leave but Eiji refuses as he still feels at fault for what happened to Griffin. Realizing that Eiji is not going to change his mind, Ash agrees that he can tag along but shouldn't expect Ash to look out for him. Eiji agrees and they continue on.

Back at the diner, Charlie tells an angry Jenkins about Ash escaping. He returns to Ibe to inform his friend of the captain's displeased state and his fear of getting demoted for having his gun stolen or being used in whatever plan Ash has in store. Ibe offers another apology for Eiji's actions, but the officer is surprisingly understanding and forgiving but is concerned about where the two are currently headed. He voices how Dino will most likely be looking for Ash and that Arthur has taken over Ash's territory in the city. With both parties sure to be on the lookout for Ash, Ibe tells Charlie that he suspects they may head to Chinatown.

In Dino's mansion, Arthur tells Dino that Ash will most likely be going to Chinatown as a possible way to keep the two at bay since their reach there isn't very strong and Shorter is there. Dino agrees with Arthur's theory and theorizes that Ash had no choice but to go to Chinatown since he has virtually no power left and Dino's men have gotten the missing sample back.

Arthur now tries to get Dino to tell him about the tiff between him and Ash. With Arthur pointing out how involved he is in everything, Dino explains that Banana Fish is a drug that has the potential to change things on a global level.

As they walk through Chinatown, Eiji suggests they meet with Shorter but is given instructions by Ash to keep walking and not look behind them. After they duck down an alley, Ash's suspicions are confirmed when a man follows them. He tries to attack Ash, but the young gang leader quickly defeats the man. Ash then questions who the man is working for, but the man doesn't give a clear answer. The conversation is halted when Shorter and his gang arrive. As his men take the man, Shorter welcomes Ash back but is quickly surprised to hear Ash request the man be released once they have the information they need since there is no point in going after little fish. Shorter is confused by this but is unable to press the matter further when Ash asks what happened to his brother's body. Eiji answers that Griffin's body is still at the coroners since no one has claimed him. Ash comes to the unfortunate conclusion that, with him on the run and unable to identify his brother, Griffin will most likely be laid to rest as an unknown.

Ash then surprises Shorter when he declares that he wants to keep the Chinese man out of the scenario. Shorter naturally argues that this is not a wise move as Ash is sure to get hurt. Ash tries to continue trying to keep Shorter at bay until Shorter reveals that several of his guys have fallen victim to Arthur's gang and his new power as even Shorter has been reduced to having to sneak around. When Shorter brings up Skip and others who have given themselves up for Ash, the teen finally gives in and is willing to accept any help. Shorter suggests that they go somewhere to make a plan. Shorter reveals that his restaurant is being monitored and Ibe is currently there waiting for Eiji.

Inside Shorter's restaurant, Nadia offers Jenkin's more tea but is politely turned down and asked if Shorter is a lot to handle. Nadia answers that Shorter hasn't been home for a while due to being hunted by a gang. With Jenkins suspecting the gang in question is Arthur's, Nadia expresses her frustration of the police knowing about this but are refusing to do anything about it. Jenkins tries to defend the law by stating they need proof before doing anything. Their conversation is halted when Charlie enters with the news his stolen car has been located a few blocks away.

With the two officers leaving to investigate, Ibe turns to Nadia and pleads for her to tell them where the boys might be so he can get Eiji away as he firmly believes the younger man is too sheltered to realize how serious things are.

At Falkner prison, George angrily informs Max of everything that's happened since Ash was released and many are blaming Max for having started it from telling Ash about his brother. Max admits his fault in the matter and asks for George to get him out of prison so that he can help fix everything. He silently admits that Ash is problematic, but he can't let the teen face Dino and his organization alone as they share the same enemy.

In a hideout, Ash tells Eiji that he should return to Ibe as the older man is surely worried about him. Eiji agrees that Ibe must be worried about him but states that he will not go back since it would only prove that he cannot accomplish anything. He then shares his background about having been a pole vaulter but now is unable to compete and fell into depression from it until Ibe offered him the position of his assistant and join him in America. With Shorter pointing out how they each have their own reasons for wanting to continue, he leaves it to Ash to finish planning out how they will move forward.

The next morning, Eiji is awakened by Ash who is pointing a gun at him. Eiji instantly becomes fully awake at the sight but is surprised to hear Ash state the gun is for him to use to defend himself since Ash will be too busy to keep an eye on him. After breakfast, Ash meets with Lee Wang Lung, head of the Lee family, who provides a modified gun to Ash exactly how he prefers. Ash gives his thanks for the weapon but warns Lee Wang that he will not stand for any ties between him and Dino if it involves Ash.

Lee Wang claims that he and his people have their own way of handling things and that it is something Ash cannot comprehend as an outsider. He vows that he will not allow another syndicate to move in on his own so easily. Admitting he too thinks Dino is going too far, Lee Wang wishes for Ash to emerge victorious against the older mob boss.

Believing Lee Wang, Ash next asks for a truck that will go unnoticed in the fish market.

## Characters

* Antonio Jenkins
* Charlie Dickinson
* Max Lobo
* Ash Lynx
* Eiji Okumura
* Shunichi Ibe
* George Scott
* Dino Golzine
* Frederick Arthur
* Nadia Wong
* Lee Wang Lung

## Trivia

* Ash was in prison for two months.

* George and Max have known each other since college.

* Lee Wang Lung pretends to be an ordinary banker.