Interest. He had interest in me. What the hell was that suppost to mean? Flashing, brief images of Toki came to mind as I laid in bed. I thought about him and he had interest. What did that amount to in the end? Nothing I want to recall or ever experience again. I didn't need to be toyed with like that again. I had to eventually admit to myself that after my whole ordeal with Toki, it left me emotionally ruined. I couldn't deal with anything like that ever again. It's why I was grateful for the distance and space he put between us...it's why I was falling apart again at the idea that he missed me. I sat up from my bed, pulling back my hair as I decided to get a drink. I sat on my counter like usual after my tea was done. I couldn't sleep, it was four in the morning and my flight to Tokyo was tomorrow at seven in the evening. Out of boredom, temporary insanity, I don't know, I picked up my cell phone from off the counter since I brought it with me and called Toki. The line rang for a moment before he answered.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then why you callin?"

"I thought you would be glad to have me call you."

"I'm jus surprised. You neva call. Not unless something happen."

"No, nothing happened."

"So what you doin up so late?"

"I can't sleep. What about you?"

"I'm goin home. I jus got done clubbin."

"How was it?"

"Same shit as always."

"Who's with you?"

"No one. Aoki took a different cab home. Jo and Akio caught the subway with Takeo."

"Oh..."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"I'm not over this whole you callin me thing."

"I guess I needed to hear someone's voice."

He sighed, moving around for a moment as he said,

"You lonely?"

"No...just lost in thought."

"I could stop by. Is on the way."

"Ah...no. I didn't ask for that. I asked for your voice."

"You could always get more from me. You know that."

"All too well."

"So what's got mah Ghosto lost in thought that I need to get him out?"

I thought of telling him. Then I realized how insane that would be. Letting someone like Toki know someone was interested in me. I would be better off telling Jun.

"Nothing. I just having a hard time falling asleep."

"You never did with me."

I sighed heavily, not wanting to think about that as I said,

"I know."

"I should stop by."

"It's late Toki. You should go home...get some rest."

I stirred my tea now going cold beside me as I spoke with him. I heard a door slamming as Toki said,

"I know. I'm home. I knew you wouldn't say yes."

"Then why did you even ask?"

"It never hurts to dream. Well...I'm home. Imma go aite. You call me if you need anythin."

"Okay. Thank you. Good night."

"Night Ghosto."

We hung up as I picked up my tea and continued to drink it until I was done. I eventually went back to bed, but slept for a few more hours until I woke up and then continued laying in bed.

The next afternoon, I showered, dressed and ordered some take out since I wasn't in the mood to leave my apartment. When I heard the knock on my door I assumed it was my lunch, only when I opened the door, I got the surprise of seeing Toki stand there. He smoked as he wore his usual rugged looking attire, today's outfit being a khaki jumpsuit, the zipper not pulled up all the way, hanging down so you could see the start of his wife beater, some skin and the brim of his boxers. I sighed as I said,

"What are you doing here?"

"We got like...three hours before we gotta head to JFK and back to Tokyo. Li's busy...I'm bored it's too early to do anythin. Then I remembered you called me. So I came to see how you were."

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Bye Toki, I'll see you later."

"Hey, I jus came all this way an thas all I get?"

"What else do you want?"

"You could at least pretend to be a nice host an invite me in."

I stepped back and allowed him inside. He sat down right away as finished the last of his cigarette and picked up a napkin on the coffee table as he pinched the end of the cigarette and then crunched it up in the napkin. He then looked at me as I shut the door and said,

"What you up to?"

"About to eat."

"You cookin something?"

"No. I ordered out."

He nodded as he said,

"Come here."

"For what?"

"Will you jus come here?"

I sighed, going over to the sofa and sitting beside him. He put his arm around me as he said,

"I missed this."

I unconsciously put my head on his shoulder, relaxing into the embrace as I said,

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you miss this?"

"Cuz it's been forever."

"You're never satisfied."

"Nope."

I got up again when my take out came for real and I paid for it and then sat down to eat. Toki sat with me at the small table as he said,

"Once we get to Tokyo, it'll be harder for me to find you."

"I guess."

He watched me for a moment before I offered some take out to him. He refused to it take the first time, but I pushed, knowing he doesn't much and that was unhealthy. He chewed some of the rice I gave him on the fork as he said,

"I hate this shit."

"It's rice."

"No I mean eating."

I shook my head as I went back to eating as I said,

"This can't be any more fun for you."

"I don't care. I'm with you."

I looked at him, seeing he did look happy. It was a rare look for him since more of the time he just looks like he's making mischief. Like a disobedient child he often looked like he was about to do something, or just did and got away with it. I shook my head at him as he put his head down on his folded arms as he looked at me, watching me eat as he said,

"You wanna do something?"

"Like?"

"Go for a walk. See a movie, have wild passionate sex. Something."

I gave him a look as he smirked. I then said,

"You have a one track mind."

"Yup."

I then continued to eat my lunch.

Toki stayed the entire three hours. Not once did he put his hands on me or make any move. We enjoyed each other's company, the silence only filled by the TV in my living room. When it was time for us to get on our way to JFK, he still had to go back to pick up Jia so he stood at my door, saying he would see me in a while before he leaned down, kissing the side of my mouth. I still didn't turn though I still found myself wanting to. He then left. I changed and got to the airport myself within the hour and met up with everyone there. Jo and Aya where already there, Aya had his head down on Jo's shoulder, half asleep as Jo read through the paper. Akio was also there, yawning every now and then as Tai and Gabriel awaited everyone. Once the other heads started to show, Tai took account for them, making sure everyone would catch the flight. Aoki showed up later, looked at Aya and where he was sitting as he turned away and sat next to Akio. He was sulking in his own anger but he knew he did it to himself so he said nothing. Jia later arrived with Toki and then Jun showed up. Last to show up was Furukawa as he apologized, saying he was taking care of some last minute things and he was held back. Jia waved it off as we then waited for the plane to start boarding. As it did Furukawa gave me that look again, sitting beside me as he made small talk. I looked at him as I realized how charming he was being. The Kitsune for obvious reasons. I then looked away as I said,

"You're boring me."

"So direct."

"I don't have time to be anything else."

He laughed as he said,

"I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

I gave him a look as I said,

"If my color is black, then why would you want to know someone who's so two dimensional?"

"Because...I know you're not. There's more to you. I can tell in your actions."

I was glad he said my actions and not my eyes. Then I would have known he was lying. I turned away once I heard the boarding call. I got up and buttoned my coat as I saw everyone starting to get on the plane. As I did, I saw Toki looking over at me and then at Furukawa. He glared at him and Furukawa just smiled pleasantly in return.

I slept on the flight back to Tokyo only to be woken by Jo as he asked me if I wanted a drink. I woke up for a moment to have some water as Jo knocked back a shot of gin. He then scrunched up his face as he said,

"Uh...this shit is nasty."

I almost laughed but shook my head as he then said,

"Could I get a sip of your water?"

I nodded, giving him the bottle as up a few seats I saw Aoki and Aya were still not speaking to each other, Aya contented himself by working on some paper work and Aoki was actually awake. Jia was sound asleep, his hand being held by Toki's who was asleep himself on Jia's shoulder. Tai and Gabriel shared whispered conversation as Akio, Jun and Furukawa were asleep as well. Jo continued drinking his gin before he finally was content and went back to sleep. After finishing my own drink, I went to sleep myself. When we landed in Tokyo, I felt the bump of the plane landing, jolting me up as I rubbed my eyes and tucked my hair behind my ears. I saw Jo was still out, if not drunk then a heavy sleeper as Akio was fixing his hair. He looked over at Jo as he said,

"Baby-chu...wake up."

He shook him a good couple of times before Jo finally picked his head up and yawned.

"He's a heavy sleeper isn't he?" I asked.

Akio nodded as he said,

"Yup. Takes a lot to wake him."

Jo glared at him as he said,

"Shut up."

Akio laughed as the plane finally came to a complete stop. After a few minutes we got off the plane and into the airport. I had to set my watch to Tokyo time as I did with my cell phone. Jia yawned as he then looked at us and said,

"Uh...okay...someone's gonna have to do me the favor of escorting Furukawa to the Shibuya district. His place is there. Get to know it. For whatever reason it may be, we may have to get familiar with the area. Later...uh...like tomorrow, we'll have a dinner, introduce him to Nishiki's people...get him use to things here. Furukawa you can speak Japanese right?"

"I can."

"Good. So that's the plan for now. Everyone get some rest. We'll meet up tomorrow."

With that, Tai offered to take Furukawa to the Shibuya district. As we started leaving, I saw Toki glare at him once more before he turned and left with Jia as the Kitsune still just smiled back.