The train stopped near Shibuya which was far off from the street I live on. Kaji urged me to walk and I thought of turning and just taking the gun and ending it there but with a crowd around me, even with Jia paying off the police, I could still be picked up. I decided to wait until it was less crowded...then I would break his nose in. He walked us for a while until we reached a love hotel called P&A Plaza. My stomach turned as I felt his hand graze my hair as he said nothing but shoved me towards the entrance. I turned and was about to throw my patience off to the side but he had that gun firmly planted in my back again. I went inside and up to a room that was already paid for. Once inside the room, I turned to him and he shoved me back. It was quick. I started getting back up, full intent of either walking out of this room with him dead, or me dead. I would not fall victim to someone like him. We fought because I would not go down and though I broke his lip, punched him a good couple of times and struggled, his height had my advantage and he tripped me up and soon climbed over me. I felt my eyes widen in horror as flashbacks of Toki's drunken state entered my mind. I was too young, so scared and even then I wasn't ready. I was never ready. Not even for Toki. And this was Kaji and I never wanted to be ready for him. I felt horror wash over me as I started to struggle more then before when I felt his hands come over me. I reached up quickly, clasping my hands around his neck as I strangled him. His face turned red for a moment as he then started to gasp and choke. I would not let go, sinking my nails into his skin as he tried to pry my hands off his neck. He choked and gasped loudly, trying to shove me off him as ignored his hands on my face, trying to make an attempt to get me to stop. I felt his weight coming off me as I started sitting up from the floor and I tumbled forward, my hands still latched around his neck as I wouldn't let go. I blanked until I felt something crack under my palms. When it did, I felt myself come back and I stopped and I let go as I saw Kaji now not moving under my own hands. I let go as I stood up and looked down at him still. I saw proof of my nails dug into his skin, blood running from the small wounds as the red from his face started evening out. I felt sick...and I ran to the bathroom as I threw up. When I stood back up and went to the sink to rinse my mouth out I gazed up at the mirror and saw my eyes. They were different. Fear filled them...I had never seen myself like that before and it was scary. I wash my mouth out then returned to Kaji and wondered faintly if he was dead. I leaned down reaching into his pockets as I got my gun out. I picked up his just in case as I checked the clip only to find out it was empty. I felt so angry all the sudden and I knew that if he wasn't dead now then I would kill him later. I went to the door as I went to turn the knob as I saw it was locked. I struggled with it only to discover it was completely locked and I had no way of getting out. I was trapped in this stupid love hotel with a possibly dead man who tried to rape me. I didn't even have my cell phone since Kaji took it and broke it on the train. I searched him for a cell phone only to find out he was still alive. His breathing was shallow meaning I stopped too soon. I didn't want to dare risk him getting up when I was looking for a way out of here so I took the cords from the curtains and tied his hands behind him. I then got him up and moved him out of my way as I found out there was no cell phone in his pockets. I sighed getting to the door and thinking about just shooting the stupid lock and getting out of there. The idea was tempting. I had my gun in hand and just as I aimed at the lock and knob, I heard a soft moan. I turned my head slightly as I saw Kaji starting to gain consciousness. My interest turned from the door to him as I went back over to him and put my gun to his forehead. He opened his eyes all the way as he said, in a harsh soft whisper,

"You still here?"

"I can't get out of this fucking room."

"It's locked...won't open till morning."

"I'm aware of that."

Kaji sighed, leaning back against the pillows since he was leaning against the bed. He then said,

"I wasn't going to do anything you know."

"I sincerely doubt that."

"It's not my style."

"I don't care."

I was about to just pull the trigger and forget my orders as I then moved away as I said,

"I'll have to deal with you later."

I walked away, going back to door as I was about to blow the lock and get out of here when I heard Kaji laugh and say,

"I never thought I would see fear in your eyes."

I lowered my gun and looked at him as he went on.

"You had that absolute look of terror like bad memories or something were comin back to you. What's the matter? Been raped before?"

I felt my heart race against my chest as my hand started to shake. He laughed again as he said,

"Damn....that's fucked up! Was it recent? Or when you were younger? Oh man...but you aint that old so that shit must have been recent!"

He kept laughing as I said,

"Shut up."

"Damn you look like a victim and everything....I hope it was good for the other guy!"

Without thinking I raised my gun and shot him. He fell back silently as I saw the gunshot wound in his neck. Blood gushed from his wound and began staining everything around right away. I blinked for a moment as I brought my hand up to my face and tried to pull myself together as I then finally blew the lock and left.

I was back at headquarters within the hour. I sat on the lobby sofa, my gun stored away again as I clasped my hands and looked into space. The lobby was empty, everyone working still as I sat by myself, the glow of the light on the table beside the sofa being my only company. I was lost in my own thoughts, repeating scenes of my situation before, glad nothing had come from it. I could only remember the feeling of the idea of Kaji's hands on my skin making my stomach turn. I was dazed out so much so that I didn't even noticed Aya and Aoki's presence when Aya began talking to me. It was only after he shook me a couple of times that I looked up and said,

"Nani?"

"Mikkie....I've been talking to you for the past few minutes. Are you okay?"

"Ano...no. I'm not."

"You hurt?"

"Iie...it's nothing."

"You don't look so well. Maybe you should go home."

I heard Aoki saying he had to leave anyway that Kaji's people were still about when I said,

"Kaji's dead."

They both looked at me as Aoki said,

"How?"

"I killed him."

Aoki cursed under his breath, knowing as well as I that those were not Jia's orders. Aya then sat down beside me as he said,

"You sure you okay? Jun's downstairs...I can get him for you."

I shook my head as I finally moved and said,

"No, I'm good. Thank you anyway."

I stood up as Aoki began calling Jia. I simply stood and watched having no excuse for my actions. None I wanted to explain anyway.

Jia was too tired and too lazy to leave his home now so I was expected to go see him at his apartment. I had never broken Jia's orders before. Whatever they were, whatever I thought of them I never broke them. This was the first time in all my years I had. I got into the center of Roppongi and then found Jia's building. Walking past the door man I took the elevator to the top floor. Once I arrived, I walked down the vacant hall and to Jia's apartment. I knocked as I waited, wondering what he would say. I never had reason to disappoint my oyabun before...and now I fear I had. The door opened a moment later by Jia himself as he allowed me in. I took off my shoes at the door and came inside, my hands in my pocket as Jia closed and locked the door behind me. He was in his night clothes, pajamas of black silk on his lithe frame. He wore just the pants and a robe over it as he held a cigarette. I thought he would scold me...hell I've seen him yell at Toki and talk down to Jo so many times in the past I knew he could do it. So I waited for it, standing in his living room, not holding my head down as I looked at Jia. He picked up an ash tray on his walk around the living room and then he said,

"Why'd you kill Kaji?"

I shrugged. He wasn't yelling. He was curious. He kept his normal tone with me as he then put out his cigarette and exhaled the last of his smoke. He set the ashtray down on the coffee table as he went to the kitchen and said,

"You want a drink?"

"No thanks."

He came back out with a glass full of liquor. Picking up one too many of Toki's habits I see. He still stood as he took a drink as he said,

"It's not like you."

I nodded as he went on.

"I know you well enough to know that you don't think without a reason. It takes a lot to push you. And whatever Kaji did...he must have pushed you hard enough."

I looked away as I said,

"Maybe I will have a drink."

He gave his glass without a second thought and I took a drink. It was strong...the kind of liquor Toki drinks. The only kind Toki drinks. Expensive, refined sake...the kind that if you weren't use to could burn holes in you. I swallowed it bitterly as he then said,

"He pushed you right?"

I nodded as I took another drink. Jia sighed as he eventually sat down and said,

"I don't want to ask because I know you won't say. But I'm curious. I'm curious as to what can make you snap like that."

I finished the glass as I said,

"Are you angry with me?"

"No. I'm more confused."

He asked me to sit as I tucked my hair behind my ears as I said,

"He got....a little too personal."

"Where'd you kill him?"

"P&A Plaza."

"Oh...."

He suddenly understood. He ran his hand through his hair as he said,

"I'm sorry."

"Nothing happened. But...what he said...it was too personal."

He nodded as he said,

"I'm relieved."

I nodded as I set the glass down on the coffee table.

"I'm sorry Jia. I didn't mean to jump orders like that."

He waved it off as he picked up his cigarette case. He brought the ashtray closer to him as he then opened the platinum case and took out a cigarette. He sighed in frustration as he figured out he didn't have a lighter or a book of matches to help him out. He stood up as he excused himself and went to his bedroom. I sat there for a little while, thinking, still feeling the burning feeling in the back of my throat from the sake when I felt something rub up against my leg. I jumped back into the sofa as I looked down to see a cat. A large yellow cat with light hazel eyes glaring up at me. It's tail twitched back and forth as it rubbed against my leg again. I stared at it to make it go away but it refused to budge. I pawed at me for attention and I was about to ignore it when I remembered Toki telling me got a cat and named it after me. I refused to believe it...I couldn't believe he would do that and much less, that Jia would allow him to keep it. I picked it up and rested the cat on my lap as I tilted it's head back to see a blue collar around it's neck. A small pendant caught my attention next as I saw the name engraved on the silver tag. Baby Mikkie. I looked at the cat as he purred against my hand and then started getting comfortable. I picked it up and set it on the floor again as I dusted off the cat hair as Jia came back out. He had his cigarette let as he then said,

"Sorry about that."

I shook my head as he said,

"So...are you okay?"

I nodded as Jia then said,

"I'll figure out what to do with Kaji now that he's dead. I'm sure there's a bit of an abrupt ending for everyone working here. Now his empire of the streets is up for grabs and all that...but don't worry about it."

I nodded as he then said,

"Get some rest."

I nodded again and walked away from the living room as I went to get my shoes on. As I did, the yellow named after me cat shot out from around me and ran towards the darkened hallway. I heard it purr as I turned slightly and saw Toki picking up the cat. He cradled it in his bare arms as he looked at me. I glanced over at him as I finished slipping my feet in my shoes and then I leave after bowing my head to Jia and thanking him for the drink as I left.

I got home late that night. I crawled into bed after a shower and promptly sank into my pillows with a soft sigh of pleasure. I slept soundly for a few hours, loving the rest I got. I actually slept soundly. I slept for the entire morning and the beginning of the afternoon. When I woke up around one thirty that afternoon I wondered what time it was and I reached out for my cell phone. When I didn't find it I picked my head up and wondered, just for a moment where it was before I remembered. Then I realized why I slept so long. I turned to the other side of my bed were I saw the clock on my dressed reading one thirty. One thirty-one. I cursed as I got out of bed and went to take a shower. As I yawned I felt my face tinge in pain. I checked the mirror seeing bruises and red marks lining my face. All thanks to Kaji. Most of them rested on the side of my face, near my right eye and a few scrapes from his ring were around the corner of my mouth. I sighed, annoyed I was so marked up as I washed my face gently and went on with my morning routine. As I got dressed, pulling up my pants, my shirt still undone, I heard someone at my door. I grabbed my gun off the night stand as I went to the door, buttoning my pants up as I closed a few of the buttons on my shirt. I took a glance through the peep hole to see who it was seeing it was just Jun. I sighed and opened the door as I said,

"Konichiwa."

"What happened to you?"

"Why?"

"It's one in the afternoon. You're always at the office in the morning."

"I over slept."

"What happened to your face?"

"Fight with Kaji."

"Oh...you killed him?"

"Hai."

"I heard of that this morning. I tried calling your phone...it said it didn't work anymore."

"Kaji broke it the other night. I have to get another one."

He nodded as I invited him inside. He went to my living room after taking off his shoes and sat down as I said,

"I'll be right back."

I closed the door behind him as I went to get ready. As I did my tie I noticed that I still had my earrings in. I grumbled under my breath as I reached up to take them out only to find out I couldn't. I sighed and turned as I grabbed my coat and got it on as I grabbed my things and said,

"I need a new phone."

Jun was still sitting in my living room as I announced that when I came out of my room. He got up as he said,

"Let's go then."

"What about-"

"Jia and everyone else is taking care of the shit with the Itto Ketsuen and the Ryuujin no Chi. So let's get you a new phone and then worry about that."

I nodded as we left to do that. A quick side trip to the Shibuya district got me a small little silver phone not much different from my previous one. I got another ear phone set with it and after having it activated, I began to punch in everyone's number, marking it under their syndicate name and then again with their New York numbers, Jia's home numbers, all three of them and then I was done. We returned to Jia's building that afternoon as I saw Aoki on the sofa, talking with Toki who sat across from him. Jun said he would go upstairs and check in with Jia as I then walked over to the small living room like area as I sat down. Aoki gave me a nod of the head as Toki smoked and said,

"Hey Ghosto."

"Konichiwa."

"You late."

"I know. I had to get a new cell phone."

"What happened to the old one?"

"Broke."

I gave them the new number right away as Aoki then stored his phone away and said,

"The shit with Kaji doesn't seem to be a big deal."

I nodded glad to hear that. Toki then said,

"All his street bullshit was there, a large empire but most of these kids...they couldn't hold their own against us. Let alone the Ryuujin no Chi and Itto Ketsuen."

Aoki nodded as he smoked as well and said,

"It's just a matter of time before Jia starts sorting all this shit."

As we sat there quietly, I saw Xiao Tien and Toshimasa walking. The soft click of Toshimasa's cane gave him away as Toki and Aoki looked at each other as Aoki said,

"You still game."

"Don't count if the Playboy not here."

Aoki nodded as I got up and bowed my head to the owners of the game and said,

"Konichiwa."

Xiao Tien bowed his head slightly as he said,

"Is Jia around?"

"In his office."

Toshimasa bowed his head to me in gratitude as they started leaving. Toki got up with Aoki as they both decided to escort them up to Jia's office. I sat back down on the sofa and waited.

Jia had to organize himself quickly after my little jump of the gun. But it wasn't that big a deal. After Jia sent his lower heads through the slums and the remains of Kaji's people, they began to either flee or offer services. Ren, Karasu, along with all of Jia's top business heads, they organized everything down to the last pebble on the Shibuya streets. What was left was us, going and cleaning up. The shop owners, the club owners, the salarymen that worked either for Kaji or paid him to keep him at a distance, all witnessed what was going on. A knock on the door from us and an unrefusable offer later, everything was once again cleared. The only problem left undone was the fact that there was no one to take care of the slums while he tended to the more important matter of Tokyo. Kotei and Ren, along with the Itto Ketsuen and the 36 Moons were discussing this with Jia one evening over dinner at the Dragon Leaf. Kotei set his cup down as he said,

"If you have no one in Tokyo Jia, why not just import someone in."

Jia sighed, exhaling smoke as he did so as he said,

"I wouldn't know who."

"I do."

Jia looked at the little emperor as he said,

"Who?"

"Worker of mine. He's well put together. He started about a year ago. He has yet to let me down."

"And you give him up?"

"Either way he's still in this game. And giving him to you would be like putting him in more capable hands. If I can make him work just as hard and he produced good results in New York, with your mind and skills...there's no telling what might come of it."

Jia thought about it as he said,

"What's his name?"

"Kazuki. Furukawa Kazuki. Known as the Kitsune."

"Why the Kitsune?"

"Just as fast and just as clever and if need be, just as devious."

Jia laughed a little as he said,

"He in New York?"

"Yup."

"I have to go to New York then."

---------------------------------

Definitions

P&A Plaza - A real Love Hotel located in the Shibuya District.

Kitsune- Japanese for fox.