Against Jun and Tai's better advice, Jia decided to come in. He had been in bed and at home for the past week. Toki had enough and kept wandering in and out of the building. With no one to really stop him, finding him was almost impossible. So Jia opted to come back to work. He looked well enough. Also really rested and alert. Once he learned the New York associates were in Tokyo, he damned Jun and Tai's advice and got up to meet them all. I escorted Jia to Tai's office where everyone had gathered again to continue the meeting of the Teo Chiu and Shikou. Tai was trying to divide us into groups so we could go, the other oyabuns offering their own workers as Jia came in and said,

"So much work with me already? Hm..maybe I should retire."

Everyone turned to look at him as Tai stood up straight and said,

"Jia...what are you doing here?"

"Considering retirement."

Tsubasa stood up as Jia approached him first. He leaned down slightly to kiss the ningyo's cheek, taking Tsubasa's white hands in his own before he let go and then went about greeting everyone else with a handshake. Jia then invited everyone back to his office. As everyone followed, I excused myself, not seeing a need to be there since it was all business speak.

I stayed in the lobby, waiting as Jun came down to join me, Estuya and Jiki. I was surprised he wasn't in the meeting since he could be there. I looked over at him as he said,

"What?"

"I'm surprised you're here."

"There's nothing I can do there today."

"Ah...sou ka."

I stayed silent, looking ahead as I rested my hands on my lap. It was peaceful sitting by a the dark glow of the lamp beside me. There was no other lights in the lobby once it was past seven in the evening. Only the dull glow of the lamp of the lobby and the silence between Jun and myself. Jun crossed his arms, resting comfortably against the couch as he said,

"If we have time, you wanna get some dinner?"

"Sure."

I closed my eyes slightly as I then heard the elevator coming down and conversation soon filled the area. Everyone in the lobby got up as the oyabuns came down with their second in command. Jia thanked them for arriving and made plans for the next evening. As they all left, Jia watching them, he sat down on the lobby sofa and fell back. Jun and I stood up, somewhat alarmed as Jia yawned and said,

"What time is it?"

"Almost ten."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Not so late. Anyone going for dinner?"

"Mikkie and I were."

"Sou..."

"Would you like to join us Jia?" I asked.

Jia thought about it and then waved it off as he said,

"I wouldn't want to impose."

"It's not imposition if we invite you Jia." Said Jun.

Jia got up as he said,

"Thank you Jun."

We soon went to get dinner.

Jia got a few calls from a few of the New York heads every now and then asking of his health and such. Jia responded kindly, but quickly before he went back to eating. On Jun's medical advice, Jia was eating a little more the usual which was just a bowl of rice with some sauce and of course tea. Jun urged Jia to eat a little more, but our oyabun wasn't having it. As we ate, Jia got another phone call. He looked at us as he apologized and took the call. I didn't mind, what else could I expect from the head of a powerful syndicate? As he spoke, Jia smiled slightly and said,

"Hai...give me twenty minutes."

He then hung up and finished the last of his rice as Jun said,

"Leaving so soon?"

Jia nodded as he said,

"I apologize but....a personal matter came up."

We nodded in understanding as Jia set the now empty bowl down and drank the last of his tea as he got up from the table and said,

"I got the check. You two just enjoy the rest of your dinner."

"Arigato Jia." I said.

Jun said the same as Jia then left. Jun and I went back to our dinner in silence.

Once we finished and we returned back to back headquarters, we saw Tai was speaking to Karasu. As we entered Tai said,

"Do you two know where Jia is?"

"He went to take of a personal matter." I said.

Tai nodded as he said,

"Ah...sou ka. I apologize Karasu."

"No problem. I'll catch him tomorrow."

Karasu bowed his head slightly to Tai as Tai did the same and Karasu put his hands in his pockets, his dark brown hair sticking up slightly from the gelled up spikes, his eyebrow ring caught in a light for a moment as he turned and began leaving. Tai then said,

"Tomorrow."

Jun and I looked back at him as he said,

"Tomorrow Shikou is arriving."

"Tsubasa's clone is coming to Tokyo?" Asked Jun.

"Hai. He's got explaining to do and he has no one to do it to more then Jia."

"Ah..." Said Jun.

Tai then rubbed the side of his head slightly as he said,

"I'll have to ask Jo to pick him up. Also Toshimasa and Xiao Tien are around somewhere....they'll want to see Jia soon."

Jun then said,

"Get some rest Tai. You need it."

Tai nodded as he said,

"I just have to put some files away upstairs. I'll leave in a minute."

Tai went back upstairs to get ready as the rest began to leave. Jun and I shared a cab as we went to his apartment first. He and I were quiet again through the ride. I got home twenty minutes after Jun did and I closed the door to my apartment and locked the locks before I went to my room after toeing off my shoes near the door. I took off my jacket, hung it up and took off my tie and slowly undressed to get a few hours worth of sleep. I changed and laid down and soon went to sleep. For all of three hours. I picked my head up suddenly as I heard my phone ringing. I looked at the clock on the night stand seeing it was close to three in the morning. I picked up my cell phone from the charger as I said,

"Hai?"

"Hey Ghosto."

I sighed, hearing the voice that would only call me by that name.

"Toki...it's three in the morning."

"I know what time it be!"

I shook my head.

"Are you drunk?"

"Nah for once. If ya can believe it."

"So what do you want?"

"Wanna talk to you. I haven't had the chance to see ya and I miss talkin to ya."

"We haven't spoke in chunks previously Toki. How do you miss that?"

"I jus do damn. Don't get all technical on my ass."

I couldn't help but crack a small smile as I said,

"So now that we've established that, how about telling me what you want so I can go to bed."

"What you wearin?"

I recognized that tone. That deep, sexual tone. I rolled my eyes as I said,

"I'm in bed, what do you think I'm wearing?"

"That could be little to nothin'."

"Pervert."

"Damn straight."

I shook my head as I said,

"Toki, I'm really tired. I'll talk to you later."

"Can I stop by?"

"What for?"

"I dunno."

"Idiot...go home."

"What for?"

"I don't know. You just can't come here. I have to wake up in a few hours anyway to pick up Shikou."

"Shikou's comin here?"

"Hai. He's got business with the rest of the New York heads."

"Why he gotta be here..."

"He's got business with Jia. Toki, I have to go. I need some rest."

"Ghosto needs someone to tuck him in."

"No, Ghosto does not. Good night Toki."

I hung up without another word and I went to sleep again.

I only slept for a few more hours before I received a call I was expected to pick up Shikou with Jo that morning. It was eight...I had gotten little to no sleep and I didn't have time to loll around my bed as I usually did. I showered dressed and waited for Jo to arrive. Around eight thirty, as I tightened the noose on my tie, I heard someone knock on the door. I answered, seeing Jo in his suit, still looking very much the part of the baby since his black pants and matching black coat were slightly wrinkled as if they spent the night crumpled on someone's floor and his white button shirt was untucked and his tie was the only thing in place. His hair was in it's usual red knot, free ends falling down around his neck as his bangs framed his cheekbones, a cigarette on the side of his mouth as he had both hands in his pockets. I looked at him for a moment as I said,

"You look like hell."

"I woke up a few minutes ago. I had to rush here."

I nodded as I gathered my coat, getting it on as I then stepped out of my apartment, locking the door behind me as Jo walked to the elevator. I joined his side a moment later as he yawned loudly, his cigarette now in his hands as his jaw cracked. The elevator came, we left and got into the car as Jo yawned again. He then threw out the remains of his cigarette as he started up the car and pulled out into morning traffic. He cut around corners, cut people off and sped through mostly everything, getting to Narita within record time. We parked and walked inside, Jo yawning as he stopped to get some coffee before we reached the gate. I looked at my watch seeing the flight from New York just arrived. Jo sipped his coffee as he sighed and said,

"You want some?"

"Is it hazelnut?"

"No."

"No thank you."

"Got something against regular coffee?"

"I'm use to hazelnut."

Jo nodded as he took another sip and said,

"Shikou is nice eye candy."

"You sound like Aoki."

He laughed slightly as he said,

"I think Aoki would be a little more blunt then I was."

I almost rolled my eyes. Instead I said,

"You should at least fix yourself up. You look no better then a common free lance yakuza."

He looked down at himself as he said,

"I know. I look like shit. Hold this please."

I took his cup of coffee as he tucked his shirt in and buttoned the front of his coat. He took his hair down as he gathered it back up again, twisting it around and then snapping the elastic around a better formed knot. He then took back his coffee as he said,

"Thanks."

He took another sip as the gate opened and people began exiting. Just then Jo said,

"I see him."

I followed Jo's lead as we approached Shikou, the all in black, slender, taller version of Tsubasa, his lip ring still in place, his full lips parted as he ran the tip of his soft pink tongue on the edge of his lip. He reached up to his sunglasses, taking them off as he looked at Jo and myself.

"Its morning here correct?"

"Hai." Said Jo.

"I thought so."

He put his sunglasses away inside his coat as he carried a small hand bag. Jo then said,

"You know where you're staying?"

"I made reservations at the Imperial."

Jo shook his head as he said,

"Is that the only place yakuza know of?"

I shrugged as we began to leave. Once Shikou was checked into his room, I went to headquarters. Jo went to do something on his own. I went to meet Tai who was still working. I knocked on the door frame as he looked up.

"Ohayo."

"Ohayo."

I walked in as I sat down and said,

"How long you been here?"

"Since yesterday."

"You didn't go home?"

"I did for some time. I slept for a few hours but by four in the morning I was no longer tired so I came back."

"Tai...you have no life."

He looked up at me before he shook his head slightly and laughed as he said

"I suppose I don't."

"Shikou arrived a little earlier today."

"I expected as such. After this, I'm going home for a few more hours of sleep. Jia won't be in for a while himself anyway. Neither will anyone else."

I nodded as Tai then said,

"What about you?"

"I'll occupy myself. Don't worry."

Tai nodded as he finished the last of his work and then got up just as Gabriel came in. He smiled slightly as he said,

"Gomen......I didn't mean to be late. Traffic."

Tai shook it off as he said,

"It's all right. I just finished."

Gabriel nodded, a lock of blonde hair falling around his face, blue eyes watching Tai as Tai got his coat and then pulled it on. He then excused himself as he and Gabriel left. I faintly wondered how those two carried on any kind of relationship when Tai was working for a majority of his day.

I went for a walk later on as I waited for the morning hours to pass. I got something to eat and drink and around noon, Jun called me to let me know he was up and about. I went to meet him later on and we discussed the situation with Shikou now being here.

"Jia will probably meet him later."

"Toki will be absent." I said,

"How do you know?"

"He called to annoy me yesterday. Since he and Shikou tread on similar grounds I doubt he'd want to see him again."

Jun nodded but not before he gave me a look. I sighed as I said,

"I wish you would stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Looking down at me. I know you do it to everyone, but why do I have to be included among that?"

"I don't look down on you."

"But you don't respect me either because of Toki."

"I can't help it. You messed with the likes of him. It bothers me to know you could stoop to that level."

I turned away from him as I put my hands in my pockets.

"It happened a million years ago. If I can let it go why can't you?"

"I did let it go. It just bothers me when you mention him."

I continued to look away as we continued in our walk. Luckily it wasn't too long because Tai soon called us in. Jia was ready to start a meeting.

We returned to headquarters just as all the other oyabuns and associates were coming in. Jun and I greeted them as each syndicate came in with their guards and saiko komon. Jia came downstairs a few moments later and greeted everyone. As he did, the last one to come in was Shikou. The taller elegant version of Tsubasa walked in, still dressed in black, his dark hair framing his pale face as he parted his lips again. He approached Jia as he leaned down to kiss our oyabun's lips. He then stepped back and said,

"Kon ba wa Jia."

"Kon ba wa."

Jia said it with a smile as he then invited everyone to come back to his office. As everyone left, Jun said he would attend the meeting as I went to sit on the lobby couch. Jo came around a few moments later and plopped down on the other couch in front of me. He yawned before he curled up and went to sleep for a while. Akio came in the lobby twenty minutes later and smoothed back his hair as he waved to me and said,

"You seen Baby-Chu?"

I pointed in front of me as Akio leaned over the couch as smiled at Jo as he ran his fingers through the wild, red hair. He smiled warmly before he asked,

"How late am I?"

"Twenty minutes...almost a half hour."

"Shit...better go."

He let go of Jo as he then went to the elevator to attend the meeting. I continued basking in the soft glow of the lamp light as Jo's deep breathing made me start feeling sleepy myself. I leaned my head back, getting ready to take a quick nap when I heard someone coming in. I opened my eyes as I saw Aya, his pretty caramel hair falling around his face as he said,

"Mikkie have you seen Jo?"

I pointed again as he said,

"Ah..."

He went around as he knelt down in front of Jo and said,

"Jo...wake up for a moment."

Jo grumbled as Aya then stood to his full height as he said,

"Jia needs you upstairs baby."

Jo smirked as he started sitting up and said,

"Tease."

"You love it."

Jo got up, putting his arm around Aya's slender waist as he then said,

"Let's go then."

They soon left. I stayed by myself for a while, dozing off for a while, lost in my thoughts until I smelled smoke. I picked my head up as I looked around and then turned to my side as I saw Toki sitting there. I looked at him surprised as I said,

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you to wake up."

"Why?"

"I'm bored. And I know you are too. So why this meetin is goin on, let's go do something."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Let's go play pool. I know you can."

"I don't want to. Not with you anyway."

"Come on...jus for a half hour."

"No."

"Ghosto..."

He put his head down on my lap as I tensed up. He looked up at me with his smirk as he said,

"Come on..."

"If I go will you leave me alone for a while?"

"Sure."

He got up right up away and said,

"Come on...before the meetin is over an they need ya."

I sighed, shaking my head as I got to my feet and followed him out.