AshEiji

"At least I know there's one guy who cares about me. It's the happiest feeling in the world."

- Ash talking about Eiji

AshEiji is the slash ship between Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura from the Banana Fish fandom.

Canon
Eiji came to New York to assist Ibe finish a report on street gangs. When they first met at the bar where Ash's gang usually hangs out, Ash was unusually lenient with Eiji, even allowing Eiji to hold his gun when Eiji politely asked Ash's permission to do so. As Skip later explained to Eiji, Ash has never let anyone touch his gun before; one man attempted to do so without Ash's permission and had his fingers blown off. When Ash, Eiji, and Skip were kidnapped by Arthur's gang and Dino's man, Eiji earned Ash's respect by putting himself in danger to save Ash and Skipper. As Ash stated later in episode 7, while encouraging Eiji to return to Japan, most people do not help Ash without expecting something in return.

As Eiji insists on assisting Ash in the case of Banana Fish, they become close as they travel the country together, and Ash saves Eiji's life on numerous occasions. Their friendship grows so strong that either would be willing to die without hesitation rather than let the other suffer. Following the deaths of several loved ones, including his best friend, Ash abandons his attempt to force Eiji to return to Japan, where he is safe, admitting to his need for Eiji by his side. Although, several people have noted, Eiji's refreshing innocence and honesty have a calming effect on those around him, particularly Ash, who was able to find joy in his grief because Eiji loved him unconditionally. They share several tender moments and a deep and unique connection that is frequently interpreted as romantic.

Soon after, Ash admits to Eiji Okumura that when he was fourteen, he thought he was in love with a girl before she was murdered by Golzine's men who assumed they were together, which explains his caution with Eiji as well as previous romantic interests. Sing Soo-Ling stated in the short story Garden of Light in Vol. 19 that their relationship may not have been sexual, but that they truly loved each other and were soul mates.

Fanon
Many fans were unsatisfied with the anime's ending due for Ash's death and it's less possible for Ash and Eiji to become an official couple. This is also the main reason why most fan fictions about them includes Ash still being alive and giving them the ending that they deserve. But still, fans appreciated the author's proper representation about LGBTQ+ relationships and diversity throughout the show even though it's main genre is a crime-fighting anime. Especially for having an open bisexual protagonist, who is Ash. It's the most written ship for both Ash and Eiji and it's the most written tag within the Banana Fish tag on AO3.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * Eiji hasn't been to a library since Ash's death.
 * AshEiji was listed as one of fandom's top 7 anime ships of 2018.
 * The author of No.6 stated that she based the relationship between Shion and Nezumi off of Ash and Eiji's.
 * Yoshida refers to Ash as “onee“ and Eiji as ”tachi“ implying that Eiji plays the more sexually dominant role in their relationship.
 * Ash and Eiji are very frequently depicted together in official art. This is the case for both the show and the manga.
 * Though Ash's death is confirmed in "The Garden of Light" manga, the anime remains open-ended.