Jia plotted to have Toshimasa and Xiao Tien set up somewhere in Manhattan. Of course that would require more planning and Jia was growing bored. Finally as we all sat around his office, he put out his cigarette and said,

"Someone go get Takeo."

Toshimasa and Xiao Tien looked confused as Toshimasa said,

"Who's Takeo?"

"A pimp." Said Jo.

Jia smirked as he said,

"He's kidding. He's not just a pimp. He knows Queens inside out. If anyone would know where to start anything, he would."

"Sou ka." Said Toshimasa.

Jo and Aya got up as Jia said,

"Uh...Aya, maybe you should stay here."

"How come?"

"Because I rather not have you anywhere near Takeo."

Aya smiled, sitting back down, crossing his legs carefully as he winked at Jia. After Jia stopped smiling, he said,

"Mikkie...could you go?"

I nodded as I got up and Akio said,

"Why not me?"

"Because I rather not have you around Takeo either."

Akio smirked as Jo and I then left for Queens.

The drive was quick as Jo sped through Manhattan and into Queens. Once we got Jackson Heights, we found our way to Takeo's building. Going inside and to his floor we saw someone at Takeo's door. Sashi was answering, saying no over and over again. The man got angry as he said,

"Yo, that blonde haired, warped eye motherfucker promised me some shit!"

"He said before five in the afternoon! It's ten at night you illiterate motherfucker!"

"If he don't give me mah shit-"

"Then what? You'll do what!?"

"Don't think his chink ass can stay in there foreva!"

"It would be nip if you're going to insult him racially."

Jo then put his hands in his pockets as he said,

"Problem Sashi?"

Sashi saw us as he said,

"Hey. Nah just this dumb motherfucker trying to collect one of Takeo's goods when Takeo said five not five hours after five."

Jo and I walked past him as Sashi let us in. The guy then sighed and said,

"Can I come back tomorrow?"

Sashi shrugged as he looked over his shoulder and said,

"Takeo...he wants to come back at five tomorrow."

"It's double."

The pimp was laid out in his sofa as usual, silk pants on as he had on of his girls sitting on the floor, her head on his knee as Ryuhei laid his head on Takeo's lap, another girl sitting beside Takeo, being stroked like a cat. The floor was littered with lithe bodies, all watching TV as if they were all animals. Jo stepped over a couple of them as he said,

"Hey pimp."

"Hey Jo. What's up?"

"Aside from your dick? Not a damn thing."

Takeo laughed as he kissed the girl beside him then shooed her to the floor. He leaned back in his sofa as he said,

"Why'd you bring the corpse?"

"Discipline. Jia didn't think I could come here on my own."

I stayed standing as Takeo tapped Ryuhei. The young whore picked his head up as he saw he had company. He looked at Takeo as the pimp ran his fingers through Ryuhei's hair as he said,

"What can I do for Jia this time?"

"We got people setting up for a casino."

"A casino in the city? That's type illegal."

"Like all the other shit we do is, right?"

Takeo laughed as he said

"Good point. So what's he want from me?"

"It'll be harder to set up in Manhattan. So he wanted in on Queens."

"Ah...and he needs the space."

"Exactly."

"I didn't know Jia was in the gambling ring."

"He hooked up with the owners of the game in Tokyo a while back."

"Owners of the game?"

"Oh, yeah let me tell you."

Jo sat down as he said,

"The owners of the game happen to be nothing but eye candy."

"Go on."

"There's Toshimasa, finest gimp you'll ever see."

"He's a gimp?"

"He got his knee fucked up some time ago so he walks with a limp an a cane."

"Oh...well whatever I don't give about his walking as long as it dont fuck up his fucking. And the other one?"

"Known as the China Doll."

"Fuck...a doll like Shikou, Tsubasa and Aya?"

"Yup. Got pretty eyes, dark hair, softest skin you'll touch."

Takeo nodded as he said,

"When does Jia wanna see me?"

"I'm assuming sometime soon." I said.

Takeo and Jo looked up at me as Takeo said,

"Okay...I'll be getting dressed then."

He moved Ryuhei and the girl away as he got up and said,

"Sashi...I need to get dressed. I have a pressed suit I'm assuming."

"Of course you do."

Takeo went to get dressed as Ryuhei stretched his body out as he said,

"Hey Baby."

Jo smoothed his hair back as he said,

"You aint change much."

"Should I have?"

"Nah...if you did I wouldn't know you."

Ryuhei smiled, part of his dark brown hair feathering around his face as he gave a sensual smile. He laid on his stomach on the sofa and crossed his ankles one over the other as he held his chin up by his hand. He then said,

"How's my Shinkan?"

"Fine. Still being himself."

"Sexy thing that he is."

I rolled my eyes as Jo laughed and said,

"Still want him huh?"

"You know Baby, that aint never gonna change."

Jo shook his head as he said,

"How's it whoring for Takeo?"

"Not really whoring. Takeo takes good care of me."

Jo nodded as he said,

"So long as you stay out of trouble."

Ryuhei arched his back a little as he stuck his ass in the air and said,

"Want a piece?"

"Not in the mood right now. Besides, I wouldn't dare take anything Toki had his hands in."

"He had more then his hands in me." He said with a smirk.

After that Takeo came out of his room as he did his tie and said,

"Ryuhei, behave while I'm gone."

"I will. I promise."

Takeo nodded, smoothing his hair over his eye so the color wouldn't show as he chewed a piece gum. He then got his coat on by Sashi's assistance and then said,

"Okay...let's go."

He patted his pets around the floor as he went over to Ryuhei and rubbed his exposed stomach as he kissed him and then chewed his gum again as we left.

Once we returned to Jia's building, Toki was laying on the lobby sofa as Aoki sat on the other one across from him. Takeo saw them as he said,

"Sup Wrath, Silence."

Toki sat up as he said,

"Yo, pimp. What up? Bring anything?"

"Nah, not this time."

"Why you here?" Asked Aoki.

"Gonna see some whores upstairs. Owners of the game I think."

Toki and Aoki looked mad for a moment as Takeo laughed and said,

"I'm kidding! I got some business with Jia. I'll see you two later."

I took Takeo upstairs as Jo lingered downstairs. Once the pimp arrived, Jia stood up as he went to greet him. They shook hands as he said,

"Takeo, meet my associates from Japan. Wu Xiao Tien and Nabatone Toshimasa. He can't speak English."

Takeo nodded as he shook Xiao Tien's hand then Toshimasa's as he said,

"Damn, with a face like that he don't need to."

Toshimasa turned to Xiao Tien as he said,

"What did he say?"

"He said you were hot."

Toshimasa blushed as Takeo let go of his hand and said,

"Damn....kawaii."

Toshimasa turned away as he cleared his throat and Takeo laughed slightly as he said,

"China Doll's not bad either."

Jia smirked as he said,

"Don't compliment him. It goes to his head."

Xiao Tien smiled as Takeo took a seat and said,

"Okay, so what's all this then? You need in on Queens?"

"Manhattan requires planning I don't have the patience for. You know Queens, break a piece off for them."

Takeo thought about it for a moment as he said,

"A piece in Flushings might do it. There's too much left over space there. Most Asians love to play a game of cards there anyway. Angle it properly and it's yours."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Fine. How much I owe you for it?"

"Jia, shouldn't we be the ones paying?" Said Xiao Tien.

Takeo looked over at him as he said,

"You gonna pay me China Doll?"

"Sure."

Xiao Tien leaned back in his chair, dark hair falling around his face as light eyes peered over at the pimp. Takeo then looked over at Jia and said,

"I like him."

"He's not for sale."

The China Doll smirked slightly, sticking his tongue out past his lips slightly, running it along the edge of his mouth. Takeo, along with Jo and Akio watched intently as Takeo then said,

"I really like him."

Toshimasa was looking down the whole time as he then cleared his throat and said,

"Jia if we make this deal with him, do you include Takeo into the cut as well?"

Jia shook his head as he exhaled some smoke and said,

"No, I pay Takeo for using Queens. You just continue doing business with me."

"Sou ka."

Once Takeo, Jia and the Owners of the game organized a deal, everyone shook hands on it and Jia arranged for everyone to go into Queens tomorrow. I escorted Toshimasa and Xiao Tien to the elevator as Toshimasa said,

"You shouldn't flirt with him like that."

Xiao Tien sighed as he said,

"We go through this every single time."

"You shouldn't. It makes it seem like you are a whore. And I know you're not. But people will think we established this reputation by spreading to anyone who has power."

Xiao Tien rolled his eyes as he said,

"Totchi, you need to relax. I was in this game before I was ever an owner. I know how to deal with people like Takeo. Trust me okay?"

Toshimasa nodded as he swept his hair back from his eye as he brought his hand up to his lapel, fingers grazing over the red petals of the rose as he seemed to be lost in thought. Once the elevator showed up we got in as we went down to the lobby. When the doors opened, Toshimasa stepped out first, cane tapping the ground slightly as if alerting the two still downstairs. Aoki and Toki stood up as Aoki went over to them both as he said,

"I got it Mikkie."

I nodded as Aoki escorted them outside and hailed a cab for them.

One restless night later, I arrived back at Jia's building the next morning. Much to my shock I saw Toki, Aoki, Akio and Jo all in the lobby. Granted they were all sound asleep, but they were there. Aoki had the longest couch to himself, his height requiring it. Orange colored hair spilled off the couch as his sunglasses stayed in place as he laid on his side, slightly curled up, his black trench coat on him like a blanket. Toki and Akio shared the slightly smaller couch across from him, Toki had his feet up on the table, one pant leg of his sweats rolled up to his knee, boots undone as he wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, the hood over his face as his head was tilted back. Akio sat beside him, head back like Toki, his black suit on, sitting up for the most part, but dead asleep. Jo sat in the love seat by himself, his blood red hair falling out and undone as it fell past his shoulders, his head being held up by his hand as he rested his elbow on the arm of the seat. He too was in his suit, the jacket over the other arm of the seat. I checked my watch seeing it was eight thirty in the morning. Of course this is way too early for them. I went upstairs and to Tai's office, a cup of coffee in hand as he said,

"Good morning."

"Good morning. Did you see the trio and Jo laid out downstairs?"

"I did. I was in bit of a shock to see they all managed to get here in one piece."

"I am too. Is Jia here?"

"Yes, in his office. But he's asleep as well."

"Then why did he bother coming in?"

"Toshimasa and Xiao Tien are coming around nine."

"Oh...that makes sense."

"I was told to wake him before they got to his office since he's laid out on the sofa in there."

"That would explain why Toki is downstairs."

Tai nodded as he organized some folders and papers on his desk as he said,

"I felt bad but I had to send Gabriel out to buy some coffee for all of them."

"They do need it."

"I agree."

By the time Gabriel came back, I was already downstairs. I sat in the last love seat, reading the paper enjoying my cup of coffee. The gaijin came in, setting the small cardboard cup holder down on the table as he smacked Toki's feet off the table, waking him up and in turn waking Akio up. Akio complained as did Toki as he said,

"What the fuck gaijin...why you wakin me up."

"Coffee's here."

"I don't drink coffee." Said Toki.

He slouched back on the couch, pulling his hood over his face further as he said,

"Jia asked me to wake you."

Akio took one of the cups of coffee as he said,

"What kind is this?"

"Black."

"No I mean from where?"

"Starbucks."

"Okay. I need some sugar."

Gabriel emptied his coat pockets and threw packets of sugar on the table as he then went over to Jo and woke him up. Jo blinked a couple of times as he said,

"What?"

"Coffee. Get some and get up."

Jo yawned as he took the elastic band from his wrist and pulled his hair up as Gabriel went to wake Aoki. He was hesitant at first and finally he just nudged him and asked him to wake up. Aoki got up to his feet and got his coat on as he took his coffee and drank it black. Toki also drank his coffee black as he said,

"What time is it?"

"Nine."

"Ugh...too early. Sun hurts my eyes."

Akio yawned as he said,

"I know."

Jo was downing his coffee easily, stopping for a while as he then said,

"What time are they suppost to get here?"

"Any minute now." I said.

As I said that, I heard the doors behind me opening as the New York scene rushed in behind us and Gabriel said,

"Good morning Xiao Tien, Toshimasa."

I heard the click of the cane as Aoki, Toki and Akio suddenly were wide awake. Jo finished tying his hair up as he stood up as well. I continued staying seated as I got my ear piece out and called Tai upstairs to let him know that Xiao Tien and Toshimasa were here. The trio argued among themselves over who had the right to escort them up to Jia's office. In the end, Akio won the right and took the owners of the game upstairs. Takeo came in about twenty minutes later, Ryuhei on his arm, as he said,

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Here Toki, bought you something this time."

Toki smirked as he said,

"Hey Ryuhei."

"Hey Shinkan."

The whore crawled over to Toki once on the sofa and planted himself on Toki's lap as he began to kiss him right away. Takeo went upstairs to meet with the owners of the game as I was stuck in the lobby with Toki making out with a whore on his lap. Aoki had gone back to sleep so it wasn't bothering him any and Jo looked just as uncomfortable as I did.

"Want to get something to eat?" I asked.

Jo looked at me as he said,

"Yeah...let's go."

We both got up and went to get something to eat.

After getting some breakfast, Jo and I returned to headquarters. It was a half hour later so I was relieved to see Toki wasn't on the couch with Ryuhei anymore but Aoki was still asleep on the sofa. Once we walked in, the elevator doors opened as Jia, Tai, Takeo, Toshimasa and Xiao Tien stepped out. They spoke for a moment as Jia saw Jo and myself and said,

"Good, these two are here, Aoki's here and....Toki was here."

Takeo smirked slightly as he said,

"Sorry, I would be the reason Toki's not here."

Jia looked at him as he said,

"Doesn't matter. Aoki and Mikkie should be enough protection. Jo go with them would you? Take Toki's place."

Jo nodded as he said,

"But didn't you just say that-"

"I mean to accompany them while they looked around. Aoki and Mikkie will be watching your back."

"Oh okay. I'm set."

After waking Aoki again, we all left for Queens. Jo drove of course, me sitting in the passenger side, Toshimasa, Xiao Tien, Takeo and Aoki in the back as Jo sped through the city. Takeo lit a cigarette as he said,

"We being chased Baby?"

"Nah, I jus never learned to drive slowly."

Toshimasa then looked over at Takeo and said,

"Why is he called Baby?"

"Short for Baby-Chu. It's what Akio, his partner calls him. We all got use to calling him that but when he didn't want to be called that anymore, we just call him Baby."

Toshimasa nodded as he said,

"He's an adult though."

"Younger then most of us." Said Aoki.

Takeo then smiled as he said,

"Should I call you anything special?"

Toshimasa leaned back in his seat quietly. I assumed his face was flushed with color. Once we arrived in Flushings, Takeo stepped out of the car as most of the population in the borough looked over at us. Toshimasa stepped out as he said,

"This is it?"

Takeo nodded as he said,

"Nothing amazing I know."

"It's better conditions then what we usually started with."

The area was surrounded by abandoned buildings and warehouses most drug addicts came to find refuge in or where the homeless dwelled. Takeo then smoked as he said,

"One of the better ones. It's got a touch of everything. Including rats. But look, you and the China Doll got money and back to bring this place up to code. Law here will require this to be checked. Also...if it's going to be some kind of business....I suggest you tell them it's a private business. Gambling is illegal here."

Xiao Tien then said,

"What kind of business could this be?"

"I would say make it a tenant building...but that would require more pay offs then it's worth."

As Takeo thought, Jo said,

"Why not make it one of Jia's businesses, branching out to Queens. It can be put under one of his dummy books."

Takeo then nodded as he said,

"Kid's got a point. We can do that. You wanna see inside?"

"Yeah, we can start planning from now."

So the planning went underway. Having Jia's accountant take the money swell from Shikou's alliance and using dummy books for Jia's Queen's operation in Queens, the owners of the game began setting up. It took well over two months before the building even began to start resurfacing to a somewhat livable state since Toshimasa and Xiao Tien would not only work there, but live there once they added this to their rounds from Japan and Hong Kong. During that time, we were still in New York and I continued my long restless nights, not being able to sleep soundly unless I would collapse from complete exhaust. Jun checked me out once as he checked my arm, seeing everything was healing properly from my slice, though now a horrible, thick scar was left in it's wake. Jun sighed as he said,

"Not sleeping well?"

"Been almost two months. I've gotten maybe...a couple hours worth every night."

"It's starting to show. You got dark circles under your eyes."

I yawned as Jun said,

"We aren't even done working yet."

"I know. I can't do anything about it now though."

After I got my shirt buttoned back up and my tie on again, I pulled up my coat and tucked in my shirt into my pants as Jun and I went to get some lunch. We wouldn't be needed for a while yet.