Jia had made it no secret that if he had to, Adena would also be on the list. It left Kaji's woman afraid, if not for her own life, then for her husbands. Jia had no problem sending any one of us out to kill a woman, or children if they were in the way and were old enough to talk. After we made Kaji's woman leave, Tai and Jia had a conference. I stood there too along with Jo as Tai said,

"Jia, if this woman tells Kaji anything..."

"She won't. She's scared to death. The last thing she wants is her husband running in here like a damn fool and getting killed. She knows. I may not be all wise and all knowing when it comes to women, but I know fear and that woman, like Alexandra, like Lotus, she would do anything to keep the man she loves out of harms way."

Tai nodded as he said,

"You have a lot of faith in that."

"I know blind love when I see it."

Jo and I looked at each other as Jo then shrugged and Jia dismissed us for the night. It was close to four.

I went home right away and crashed soundlessly in the depth of my own dreams. I felt smothered slightly, my face turned into my pillow somewhat. When I woke up the next morning, I gasped for air, feeling as if I was suffocating though I was laying on my back. I stared up at my ceiling as I brought my hands over my face and swept my hair back. Having nightmares at my age, at this time was not what I needed. I got up shortly after and went to wash my face as I then looked up at my reflection. Sometimes, I expected to see something else there. Maybe I hope for light, for life...but I never saw either. I washed my face as I then dried it off and brushed my teeth then went to make some tea. Tea was about the only thing I kept in my apartments at all times. I drank entirely too much tea sometimes...choosing it over coffee almost always. Once my tea was done, I sat down at my counter, drinking it with a little lemon as I thought about going to work today. The sleeve of my pajama fell down my wrist as I saw my kanji for Ghost marked on my wrist. I looked at it for a little while before I went back to drinking my tea. After I enjoyed my cup of tea, I got off my counter and went to take a shower and get ready.

I arrived at headquarters a little earlier then usual, but if I know Tai, he's probably already working. I went to his office right away as I knocked on the door and waited for him to allow me. Once he did, I saw he was just settling in.

"Ohayo."

"Ohayo."

He took off his coat as he hung it up on a coat rack not too far from him as he sat down, opening the curtains behind him. Tai's office was the only room in the entire building that had curtains. He chose whether he would block out the light or welcome it inside. He sat down as he picked up a pen from the desk as he said,

"What time did you wake up today?"

"Around eight."

It was only quarter to nine when I got there.

"What about you?"

"About half an hour ago."

"Doesn't take you much to get ready does it?"

"This is routine for me. Getting up, showering, getting dressed, getting here. I could do it all blindfolded."

I sighed, tucking my hair back behind my ears as I said,

"What's going on with Kaji?"

"The lower heads pin pointed where Kaji's area is. Where his headquarters are actually."

"And?"

"I'll leave that up to Jia."

I nodded as I said,

"The Ryuujin no Chi and the Itto Ketsuen have been a big help."

"I know. Their own body count is making Kaji nervous."

"I haven't heard a word of him appearing anywhere."

Tai nodded, going through some papers as he said,

"Kaji's not afraid if you can believe it."

"I wouldn't think he would be."

"He has more to loose then Jia. He should be afraid."

"Maybe he feels he doesn't."

Tai shrugged as he set down he paper and closed the folder as I said,

"Tai...what exactly are you doing here everyday?"

"Going through paperwork. The amount that comes through is unbelievable. Since Jia doesn't trust many people, the top heads are usually given the work."

"Makes sense."

"Yeah so I usually have a lot to do."

I nodded as I said,

"Don't you ever wanna go out and do what the rest of us do?"

"Not really. I've been shot at once and that was bad enough. Besides I've seen the agony of the bullet wound. I rather stay here."

I nodded as I leaned back in my chair as he said,

"How's your arm?"

"Still tender."

He nodded as we then stayed silent for a while. I watched Tai do his paperwork as I sat in silence.

Later in the afternoon, a lot of the other heads started arriving. Jo, Aya, Gabriel and Jun were some of the first. I saw Jun's face, near his nose mostly was swollen, marked with a deep bruise. Others wondered about it since they weren't there for the argument but didn't ask. I overheard Jo asking Aya as Aya shrugged and said he didn't have a clue. Jun chose to act as if he had nothing on his face...dismissing everyone's questioning looks. I spoke to him that afternoon in the basement as he asked me how my arm was.

"Still tender."

"Let me see it."

I shrugged off my coat and rolled up my sleeve as far as it would go as he said,

"It's going to be a little tender for a while. Try not to strain your arm to much."

I nodded as I started rolling down my sleeve as I said,

"How's your face?"

"It's fine."

"It looks a little swollen."

"It's fine."

I knew he didn't want to talk about it and in a way I was pushing his buttons by asking him. I buttoned the cuff of my sleeve as I started getting my coat on and said,

"You going to have lunch later?"

"Sure."

Jun was throwing away something, his face down as the bruise stained his pale skin. I bet he wished Toki would have hit him on the other side of his face...the bruise was so visible since it was on the side of his face where Jun's hair was angled perfectly back to show his eye, his nose and most of his mouth. After I got my coat on I went back upstairs to do nothing. I got the paper for that morning and sat on the lobby sofa, listening to lower heads walk in and out, work not picking up until later that night. I heard Jo crash on the couch for some time, sound asleep as he laid on his side, curled up, his arm falling off the couch since he laid on his side on this odd angle. As the sun began to set, Jun found me to go have lunch. He had been checking lower heads that came in with wounds from going after Kaji's people. Now that he had a chance before his next injury came in, he left to go have lunch. The Ryuujin no Chi and Itto Ketsuen people were also coming in now and then, but none of their oyabuns. After Jun and I came back from lunch, the sky already darkening, I saw Kotei and Ren standing in the lobby, Sozaburo and Karasu on the lobby sofa as we walked in. Jun looked at them as he said,

"Is something wrong?"

Kotei turned to us as he said,

"No, nothing, we're just waiting for Jia to get back."

Jun sighed as he said,

"He'll be in soon. Did anyone talk to you?"

"Jo did." Said Sozaburo.

Jun nodded as he said,

"Well Jia should be here shortly."

Kotei nodded as Jun then said to me he would see me later since he was going to check in to see if anyone else was injured. Just then Jia and Toki came in. Jia greeted the Ryuujin no Chi and the Itto Ketsuen as he then said good evening to us. He noticed the bruise on Jun's face as he said,

"What happened to you?"

I saw the somewhat surprised and confused look on Jun's face as he glanced at Toki for a moment, surprised that he didn't tell Jia right after it happened. Toki didn't even bother looking at him, but kept smoking. Jun then said,

"Nothing."

"You got a huge almost black mark on your face and nothing happened? You run into Kaji's people?"

"No...."

"Then? You're not the one that gets into fist fights."

Jun brought his hand up to his face as he smoothed it over the bruise as he said,

"Toki did it."

Jia looked at Toki right away as Toki looked back and shrugged. Jia sighed as he said,

"I swear to God you two-"

"I deserved it."

We all looked at Jun as Jun shrugged and said,

"I said something that was out of line and obviously not true. So I deserved it. I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong."

Jia sighed as he said,

"Okay. Whatever as long as it stops between you two. Now is not the time for conflict. Toki don't hit Jun again."

Toki nodded as Jia then invited the three oyabuns to his office. Jun then went to his office downstairs as Toki looked at me. He smirked as he said,

"Hey Ghosto."

"Good evening."

"Whatcha gonna do tonight?"

"Working."

"Me too."

"You're actually going to work?"

"Hey....I don't like the way you said. It implies I dun do nothin."

"You don't."

He laughed a little as he put his arm around me as he said,

"Your partner workin?"

"I'm not sure. And if he wasn't I would go on my own."

"Aww...poor Ghosto gotta be by himself."

"I do a lot by myself."

"Interestin..."

I rolled my eyes as I said,

"Must you give me that look anytime a perverted idea comes in your head?"

"Yup. Lookin at you gives me a better mental picture."

I moved his arm off me as I started to go back to the lobby sofa. Jo was still sated on the couch as I walked around and Toki looked down at Jo who had fallen back asleep after speaking to the Itto Ketsuen.

"Aww....look at poor Baby-chu. He's exhausted huh?"

I shrugged as I went back to reading the paper though I had finished it about ten times earlier. Toki sat beside me as he said,

"What's going on?"

"Press is still talking about the war at hand. It's scaring people but obviously not enough."

"We need a dead body fallin from the buildings in Shibuya. We need that shit to happen again. That'll get'em scared."

"Now why would need to do that again?"

"Just for the idea of it."

I looked away as he sat quietly for a while before he put his hand on my thigh. I ignored it until his fingers started moving.

"You move them any higher and you loose them."

He laughed, resting his head on my shoulder as he said,

"You so serious."

"I know I am."

He kept his hand where it was, didn't bother moving it as he left his head where it was too. I kept reading, trying to not acknowledge him on me like he was when his cell phone rang. He didn't move his hand on my thigh at all, but reached into his pocket and got his cell phone with his free hand. He answered, spoke for a moment and then hung up as he said,

"Come on."

He squeezed my leg for a moment as he got to his feet. I looked at him as I said,

"Go where?"

"Li's office. He's got orders."

"Ah..."

I got up as I folded the paper and woke Jo. He yawned as he tried to stretch, hitting the other end of the sofa as he said,

"Nani?"

"Jia's calling us in. We got orders."

"Oh...sou ka."

He got up, adjusting his tie and buttoning his coat as we headed up to Jia's office.

After we waited for Aoki and Akio to show up, Jia began to let us know that all of Kaji's area was pin pointed and well known.

"His place of business is near the border of the Kabuki-Cho, near the Roppongi District just not quite close enough. He lives around here, him and his woman. Most of his associates are high school drop outs that didn't have the means to take it being a syndicate yakuza. Most don't have guns, but knives and have your typical basic street knowledge. In other words, Toki without the money or the nine."

Toki frowned as he said,

"Hey...I am a syndicate yakuza."

Jia nodded as he said,

"I know. I'm just using you as a physical example."

Toki nodded as Jia then picked up a map that was rolled up on the side of his desk as he stood up and unrolled it. He picked up a red pen as he circled the area Kaji was in.

"Here is where it would be considered danger. The Itto Ketsuen and Ryuujin no Chi have sought this place inside out. It's well guarded. The few that do have guns, use them here, guarding this area since it is Kaji's home. I want you all to go in, do some damage, but do not kill Kaji."

We looked at Jia is if he was mad as he then said,

"Kill his woman."

We all nodded as Jia then dismissed us and we left. Jo was tying his hair up again as he said,

"Why just his woman?"

Akio lit a cigarette as he then hit the button on the elevator and said,

"It would cause Kaji more damage."

Aoki nodded as he said,

"Dependency on people often causes you to loose more."

Jo nodded as he finished tying up his hair and as he brought his arms down, I noticed a dark mark on the side of his neck. He had seen Sozaburo it seemed. Once the elevator came up, we all got inside and Akio pressed the button to the lobby. Once at the lobby, we all left, pairing up and soon leaving.

Jun was still working leaving me alone while everyone else had paired up. Aoki and Toki and Akio and Jo went off in one direction as I went in the other. At the end of the Kabuki-Cho district, I noticed an apartment building, not quiet as tall as all the others, looking less flashy then the others. Outside stood a man smoking a cigarette, walking back and forth from across the door to the other side and back again. I tucked away my gun, checking for extra clips in my coat pocket as I made my way towards the building. It was in the area Jia had told us. I crossed the street, walking towards the building casually, watching the man move, then stop to flick away the cigarette. Just as I passed the alley on the side of the building, I heard a muffled groan. I ignored it, knowing it was probably my associates as I started walking past the door man. I then paused, tucking my hair behind my ears as I said,

"Sumimasen...do you have the time?"

The guard approached me as he pulled up the sleeve of his coat. He was about to say the time when he felt the end of my gun under his chin. He froze as I said,

"Don't move."

I reached into his coat as I withdrew his gun, some cheap piece of shit as I tossed it aside and said,

"Go inside."

He walked inside the building as I checked the silencer on my gun before I shot him. I pulled him off to the side of the lobby as I felt my phone vibrate against my coat. I reached in and got out the ear piece as I said,

"Hai."

"You in?"

It was Jo's voice.

"Hai. You?"

"We're on the roof. Working our way down. What floor is Kaji's woman on?"

"Jia said the tenth."

"Hai."

We hung up as I then saw someone walking towards the back. I moved out of the way as I then saw it was just Aoki and Toki. I started heading upstairs through the stairwell as they took the elevator. I went quietly, barely making a sound, as I met with Jo and Akio. They were quiet as well so the three of us opened the stairwell door to the tenth floor. We got inside and walked down the hallway, Jo armed well as Akio had his hands in his coat. As we were about to round the corner, we heard two people talking. The three of us leaned against the wall as I peered over seeing two guards at the elevator. They spoke amongst themselves, quietly, the sound of a lighter coming to my ears a moment later. I let Akio know that Toki and Aoki were on their way up the elevator as Akio then gestured us to sit and wait. We sat down on the floor against the wall as the conversation carried on. Just then the ring of the elevator door opening was heard as the two men got up.

"What the hell....it's empty..." One of them said.

Just then a gun shot was heard as the other one begin to panic. We started standing up as I looked down the hall and saw the two guards now dead. Aoki was getting out of the elevator, getting his coat on as he held the door open for Toki. Toki jumped down from the top of the elevator, adjusted his pants and walked out. Aoki saw me as he said,

"You know which door it would be?"

"Probably the one where the guard just noticed us." Said Jo.

We turned and looked down the hall as we noticed the guard aiming. We all ducked down as a shot rang out. I raised my arm as I took quick aim and shot the guard. He fell to his knees as Toki finished him off. We all got up as we walked to the door the guard came from as Toki took a step back and kicked at the door, cracking it. Jo and Aoki shoved it through the rest of the way as we entered the apartment. It was nothing special, simple, signs of living were scattered through the living room, the TV was on add noise and confusion, the lights were on except down the hall. Jo and Akio went towards the kitchen as the rest of us headed down the hall to where a small bedroom and a bathroom were. We heard water running from the bathroom and noise from the bedroom so Aoki and Toki went to the bedroom as I went to the bathroom. I pushed open the door and shut off the sink as I approached the small shower stall. I pulled back the curtains slowly as I saw the shower running and a window too small for anyone to get through. I shut off the shower as I then heard screams and a gun shot go off. I ran out of the bathroom and to the bedroom as Akio and Jo followed up close behind. I saw Toki pinning Adena to the floor as she screamed her head off, Aoki picking up her gun as I saw blood trickle down Toki's cheek.

"What happened?!" Shouted Jo over Adena's screams.

"She was hiding in the closet. The gun shot you heard was her's. It grazed Toki."

Toki finally started loosing his patience as he let go of her wrists and back handed hard enough to shut her up immediately.

"Damn fuckin female."

He got up as I noticed she was out cold. Toki touched his cheek as she said,

"Bitch tried to kill me."

"You tried to kill her Toki. It's obvious she would fight back." Akio said.

Toki shrugged as he picked up his gun from where he dropped it as he said,

"So, what we do with her."

"What Jia said." Aoki said.

He pulled back the clip of his gun as we stared down at Adena. Akio and myself picked her up from the floor as we put her in bed. We all then left the room except for Aoki who took the shot and killed her. We began leaving the apartment and decided to head back to Jia's building.

We waited for a few days, waiting to see what Kaji's anger would bring. We soon got our answer when I was going home. I was on the train as usual, counting the stops, thinking about nothing in particular when I felt a jab in my back. The train was practically empty so I knew it wasn't someone bumping into me by accident. I then heard Kaji's voice saying, "You move and I'll kill you now."

The sound of a gun clicking told me he was not kidding and I stayed still as he went into my coat and took out my gun and my cell phone. He threw the phone to the ground, breaking it right away as he said,

"We'll get off at the next stop."

I cursed myself for letting my guard down even if it was for just that moment.

"You killed a good friend of mine you know that right?"

"And your wife. What's your point."

I felt him get angry as he said,

"Don't test me boy."

"Just how old do you think I am?"

"Shut the fuck up. I don't want you talking. And besides...it doesn't matter how old you are. What does matter is how you look."

My skin crawled at his intentions as I said,

"If you have a brain in that head of yours...you would walk away now. You try anything and you might as well kill me."

He laughed as he said,

"Don't worry, you won't feel a thing."

The next stop approached as he motioned me off the train.