With Jia's only contact into Bangkok now dead, Tai gone and Gabriel wounded, Jia was teetering on the edge of wrath and panic. He was worried of his future actions, of his associates...and anything else having to do with the moment. We left early that morning, late that night depending on how you looked at it and took the first flight out to Bangkok. I managed to get some sleep on the plane but nonetheless when we landed I was still tired. Jia couldn't work yet. I was too early in the morning and prying for information might lead to Tai's undoing so we decided to check into our usual hotel and get some rest. As usual, cabs and cars were hell to get to in Bangkok...at any hour of the day. Subways were also extremely crowded, but walking was out of the question. Jia eventually hired one of the helicopters to take us to the roof of our hotel since Jia was obviously wealthy. Business suits that screamed real Gucci and not knock off could be spotted miles away in the streets of Bangkok. Merchants were probably lining up the streets while children selling cigarettes and whores looking for a fix were all preparing and awaiting Jia's arrival. Akio, Toki, Jia and myself boarded the private helicopter that took us over Bangkok and to our hotel. Once we landed, we went downstairs into the hotel and to the lobby. Once it was clear that we had arrived by helicopter, a rich man's entrance, the staff was more then willing to kick anyone off from any room Jia so desired. We took three suites and that was all. We then escorted to our rooms and once I was by myself, I begin to sigh, taking off my coat and my shoes and laying my gun down on the night stand as I laid down and then set my phone beside it as I went to sleep.

It was a short peaceful nap at first. I was so tired, but the minute I heard any kind of sound, I would sit up as if I was wide awake. It happened a few times, but after about two hours, I slept soundly. I was dead to the world. The little Ghost had retreated to the spirit world for rest. Nothing could have awaken me during that time. Not unless someone came in to shake me awake. After a long time of resting, mostly though the morning and most of the afternoon, I turned on my back, turning my head as I slept. I felt my hair over my face and I was about to reach up to it and pull it back when I felt someone else do it for me. I didn't think too much of it for a moment until I thought...wait a minute...my hands are right here. I opened my eyes and much to my shock saw Toki standing beside my bed. I sat up quickly as I said,

"Is something wrong?"

"Nah."

"Then why are you just standing there watching me sleep? In fact, why are you just standing there? Actually why are you in my room to begin with?"

He laughed slightly as he said,

"I was gonna get ya to go have lunch with us. But then I saw ya sleepin...didn't have the heart to wake ya."

"Oh..."

I rubbed my eyes, coming down from my tense state of being and started getting off the bed.

"You can go. I'm not very hungry."

"Neither am I."

"You're never hungry."

"I know."

"Go Toki."

"So quick to rid yourself of me."

"I know what you and me equal behind closed doors so...I'd rather avoid that whole equation."

He smirked as he said,

"Oh...so you do think about that."

I felt myself fluster as I said,

"Now is not the time nor the place."

"Actually it's both."

"You know what I mean!" I shouted.

I didn't mean to shout. He had exasperated me and was making me grow embarrassed by the second. And even though I just shouted at him, he still smirked. I felt my face grow warm as he took my hands and held them tightly in his own.

"Let me go."

"I'll leave. Just ask me to."

"Leave."

"Mean it."

"I do mean it. Now leave."

"Look at me when you say it."

I had not looked into Toki's eyes for a long, long time. I looked at them when he wasn't looking at me, or when he was looking at something else, when he was too dazed to make me shake inside. I had not looked into his eyes for years...and I didn't want to now. I tried squirming my hands from his grip but he only tightened his hold. I didn't want to look at him but I said,

"Toki please....leave."

I had been reduced to pleading. I still wouldn't look at his face. I felt his hands loosen from mine as he said,

"Okay. I'll let them know you were too tired for lunch."

I nodded, his fingers slipping from mine. I swallowed hard as he then leaned down and kissed the side of my mouth as I stood there, looking anywhere but at him. I heard his deep voice ask me,

"You okay?"

I nodded as I said,

"Please leave."

He nodded, kissing the side of my mouth again as he finally turned and left.

I knew I would regret not eating later...especially when I was working, but I knew I had no choice. That night, at ten or so, we dressed and left for a boxing match. I was in no mood for watching boxing. I was hungry and tired but I made no complaints. I sat beside Akio as Toki sat on Jia's other side. We were surrounded by screaming fans, whores and bookies looking to make a profit. I watched some of the match, looking around mostly for anyone I could remember from the Teo Chiu. I saw Akio and Jia doing the same, Toki was staring flesh that strolled by. Akio then said,

"I don't see anyone."

"Neither do."

The roar of the crowd overwhelmed anything I said afterwards to Akio as one of the opponent went down. The referee came in and declared the match over, the winning man cheering, his bandaged hands in the air as blood and bruises stained his face. The crowds roared, cheering or booing. Bookies began cleaning up. Jia then stood up with the crowd as Jia and Akio followed. I did as well as Jia began getting of the VIP box and started walking past the arena. We followed him, chasing him down as Toki said,

"Li! Where you going?"

"I found Sung."

Sung Xi Yu, the don of the Teo Chiu. The old man that had such hatred for Jia because Jia could out do him any day of the week. Any don that held a syndicate like the Teo Chiu was full of ego and no space. He lost a lot of face when Jia came into the game, broke his best and sent them back in body bags...and these were Sung's best. We walked around the arena where a group of the Teo Chiu waited for us. They looked at Jia and then gestured for him to follow. Jia didn't hesitate and put his hands in his coat pocket and walked ahead. We followed close by as we exited the arena and walked into the parking lot. There in front of a limo stood Sung. Another guard was waiting as Sung said,

"So Jia, we meet again."

"Sung."

Jia made a slight bow of his head as did Sung. They looked at each other as Sung then said,

"I'm surprised you came all this way."

"You have one of my workers."

"A well paid young man."

"He's more then well paid."

"He's loyal isn't he? Wouldn't say a word about you or where you live or what you're actually worth. He would rather take a bullet then open his mouth and say your name in vain. There aren't too many people like that in this world Jia."

"I know."

The idea that we might have been too late crossed my mind. I worried for Tai's safety for a moment before Sung said,

"Your servant is alive. For now Jia. Come. Let's make a deal."

He gestured to the limo beside him as Jia went ahead, Toki following as Akio and myself did. We got inside the limo and sat down as Jia sat directly across from Sung. His guards followed us as the driver got in and started up the car. Soon we were on our way. Jia had a cigarette as we drove, not caring that Sung had not given him permission. Jia hated him at the moment and would sooner spite him then talk to him. The drive was filled with silence, only the intense glare that Sung and Jia exchanged. After forty-five minutes, we arrived at Sung's warehouse in the docks of Bangkok. We got out of the car as Sung led the way inside. Jia was still quiet, his hands in his pockets as we went inside.

Among crates and chains that towered over us, Sung stepped through his crowd of about ten people and invited Jia through. When the rest of us tried to cross, we were denied. Toki began to fight with them but Jia turned and gave him a stern glare and Toki stopped. Jia turned his attention to Sung as he took his hands out from his pockets, his back facing us as he said,

"What have you done with my employee?"

"We have many problems between us Jia.

"Thank you for stating the over obvious Sung."

"You will never understand what it means for an empire to own power and status like my own. Because you don't have the stomach to do half of what I do."

"I didn't come for a lecture Sung. Tell me where my employee is."

"Why should I? Turn about is fair play Jia. You have killed four of my best, stolen another and murdered by far my greatest business man and killer."

"Sugihara was a psychopath with no straight intent. He could have been the pimp you use here to whore out your cracked out sluts to junkies getting high on powder and speed."

"Don't speak to me in the way that you are better then me because you're not Jia! You, like everyone else in this room have blood staining your hands. You may not kill people the same way I do, but you kill."

"I have class about it Sung. It's what makes you owner of Bangkok and me owner of Japan, Hong Kong, Korea...New York...should I go on?"

"You do not impress me Jia."

"No, I scare you. It's why you continue to come after me."

"That makes no sense."

"No, it makes perfect sense. You're scared, but you can't afford to loose face after the scores of body bags I sent back to Bangkok. So you have to send more people to come after me, but never yourself. You wouldn't dare set foot in Tokyo. I am here. I am in Bangkok, in front of you. And you do not impress me. Now...return my employee to me...or I'll have you tortured and I will make sure that your blood line ends here and now."

Sung walked back a little as he then said,

"You make threats....here? Out numbered?"

"I make threats anywhere and outnumbered by the hundreds if need be. I am not afraid."

Sung laughed as he said,

"You know how I told you your employee is loyal to the death?"

"I know."

"Are you that loyal?"

Jia straightened up. He tensed as Toki did too. Akio and myself were trying to inch our way through, but found ourselves cut off. Jia then said,

"Yes."

"I did say I would make a deal with you. I'll make a trade with you. You for your employee."

Toki tried shoving his way through as he said,

"Li!"

Jia didn't turn, but raised his hand slightly to stop Toki. Jia then said,

"You have to let him go."

"I'll give you my word."

"No, I mean now. Not afterwards. You release him now. And I'll stay in his place."

"Very well."

Sung gave the signal to one of his men from the crowd as he disappeared. When his man came back, he was walking Tai out. Other then an exhausted look on his face, a few bruises and cuts, Tai was fine. He walked out and looked almost surprised to see the situation at hand. I heard Jia say,

"Akio...take Tai out. Stay with him."

Akio froze for a minute as he then stepped back and went over to Tai as they left the warehouse. Toki and I watched on as Jia then said,

"I'll come back to haunt you Sung. You know that."

Sung laughed again as he said,

"Your ghost will be easier to get rid of."

Sung held out his hand to one of the men from the crowd as he received a gun. Toki started fighting through again as he said,

"Li! Don't! Don't you fuckin dare allow this shit!"

Jia didn't move as Sung raised his arm and without hesitating, shot Jia.