Andou was gone. After making sure that he boarded that plane, the lower heads came back and let Tai know. Tai called Jia and let him know. Jia then later called Eirinsu to let him know Andou was on his way and then we just had to wait. Jia was still worried about Andou going crazy over in California...and it wasn't like Andou couldn't leave San Francisco. Jia worried on that a lot. But he wouldn't know what Andou's twisted mind would come up with until much later so he decided to leave those thoughts elsewhere. After Andou was gone, Jia gave us down time once more. After I walked out of Jia's office, I was surprised to see Furukawa stepping out of an elevator. Jun was with me as all the other heads started to leave Jia's office. Up until then, I didn't know what this thing with Furukawa and myself was. I didn't have to hide it because there was nothing to hide. But he didn't shy away from touching me in public and I did not want a repeat of my past actions with Toki but I wasn't all too comfortable with the idea of everyone seeing him kiss me. As he approached me, he smiled at me as I bowed my head. He then said good afternoon to Jun as he excused himself past us and went inside Jia's office. I sighed in relief, knowing he wouldn't embarrass me like that.

Once we were in Jun's office, my partner looked over at me and said,

"He just basically ignored you."

"He knows better then to jump on me like a dog in heat."

Jun laughed as he said,

"Most didn't."

I gave him a look as he just smiled, since we both knew who he meant. I tucked my hair behind my ears as I said,

"Ka-...I mean Furukawa is different."

Jun's smile got all the wider as he said,

"Did you just almost address him by his first name?"

"Don't start Jun."

He laughed a little as he said,

"I'm actually happy for you if you get with Furukawa. It would be a nice change for you. Maybe someone worth while could breathe some life into you."

I sat down on top of the table Jun uses to tend to everyone as I said,

"Am I really that dead Jun?"

"Yes. Without a doubt or hesitation. Staring at you is like staring into a corpse's eyes."

"I hear that a lot."

"It's true."

Once Jun finished up he locked up some cabinet and said,

"Come on. Let's get some dinner."

After Jun and I went to eat, I accompanied him home and then took the cab back to my own apartment. On my way there, my cell phone rang and I answered only to hear Kazuki on the other end.

"Things have finally calmed down Yuurei. When can I have your company?"

"What about your work?"

"It's my syndicate. I can be a little behind on some paper work. I've already taken care of everything else of importance."

"I could be there tonight."

"Perfect. Where are you now?"

"In a cab on my way home in Ueno."

"I'm still at my building."

"I'll be there soon."

I hung up as I told the driver to turn and go back to Roppongi. The driver didn't seem to care knowing he would be paid well enough. Once we got to Furukawa's building, Kazuki got in the cab since he was waiting outside. He sat beside me, putting his arm around me as he said,

"Where were you going?"

"Home."

"Sounds good."

"What you wanna come to my place?"

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior."

I nodded and told the driver my street and soon we were on the way to my home.

Kazuki's attitude changed again once we stepped inside my apartment. He didn't touch me right away, kept a clear distance between us and sat down on my sofa right away after taking off his shoes.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Iie, I'm good."

He gestured me to sit beside him as I did, taking off my coat quickly as he then kissed me gently. I sighed to myself, kissing back as his hands cupped my face, sweeping back my hair. When he pulled back, he smiled slightly and said,

"You okay?"

I nodded as his fingers touched my cheek, under my eye as the pads of his fingertips stroked over the side of my nose while his thumb brushed over my lips. He looked at my face, all of me as if examining me and said,

"Kirei na..."

I scoffed as I said,

"There are others far more beautiful."

"Not to me. They all pale in comparison."

I kissed him once without waiting for him to start as he said,

"You've gotten better."

"Better at what?" I said defensively, ready to pull back right away.

"Better at participating Yuurei."

"Oh..."

He smiled, still holding my face as he said,

"How old are you?"

"Why?"

"You said you were over thirty but I swear I don't believe you."

"Don't worry about it."

He smiled as he kissed me again and hugged me. I stayed in his arms for the most part of the night. I fell asleep at one point, my head on his shoulder as I stayed still and slept. I woke up only when I heard Kazuki yawn. I picked my head up as I said,

"What time is it?"

"Almost three."

"God, you must be so tired."

"I just woke up when I felt you move."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry."

I sat up as I rubbed my cheek and then pulled back my hair as I said,

"Are you going to leave?"

"Yes. It's late. And you need as much rest as you can get."

I nodded as we both got up and I walked him to the door. He got his shoes and coat on as I opened the door for him and he stepped out. Before he left, he leaned down for one more kiss before he said good night and left.

I spoke to Tai after a week of down time. And it was done by accident. I bumped into him and Gabriel as Gabriel walked his dog, a small white thing on four legs. The dog bounced around for a moment as Tai said,

"How are you Mikkie?"

"Doing well. You?"

"Not working. And I'm grateful for it."

I nodded as I looked down at the little fluff of fur now sniffing my shoes. I looked back up at Gabriel as I said,

"Yours?"

"Hai. I got him a while ago. I decided I needed the company."

He knelt down and picked the dog up as I said,

"He's so small."

"I know. He's cute though."

Tai then said,

"I spoke to Jia the other evening. Andou got to California okay. Eirinsu sent his people out to watch him. So far everything is fine."

I nodded as I said,

"Good to know. Jia was worried about that for a while."

"I know. He's settled for now. As long as Andou stays put, we should be fine."

I nodded before we changed the subject and talked about other things. Gabriel spoke every now and then but mostly his attention was on the small white dog that ran around him every now and then. Once we finished, Tai said,

"We should have dinner sometime Mikkie."

I nodded as I said,

"Just give me a call."

Tai nodded as I then said bye to the both of them and went on my way.

Things were slow now and with nothing to do, I was left with nothing else but to face Kazuki every other day. I was worried about seeing him so often since it would almost be like letting him in. I didn't want anyone that close to me anymore. I couldn't afford to go through it again. My mind often circled and re-circled the same thoughts of him, wondering what the hell was wrong with me? I am so better put together then this. I was stressing out too much over something very trivial. I noticed that any time I woke, right afterwards, I would lay on my back and stare at my ceiling, my thoughts circling high above me in patterns I couldn't follow. I was lost, but I didn't know how I got lost in the first place so I couldn't even back out to find myself. Eventually, I told myself to stop and the thoughts did stop. Even if it was just for a while. So while Jia checked and ran checks through his city, took in meetings with Toshimasa and Xiao Tien before they left for the rest of Japan, Hong Kong and now New York and finally was able to settle down and rest, the rest of us took our time off and disappeared into the city. Kazuki even took some days off to be with me. It was strange for me to have someone who constantly wanted to see me, wanted to be around me and even though I didn't talk much, Kazuki didn't mind. He seemed to enjoy our silence and more often, he had a peaceful look on his face. I was more social because of him, which was also new for me. He liked to take me out, mostly to eat or go see a movie. He knew I wouldn't do much of anything else. I grew to enjoy kissing him, something else that was new to me. I never liked kissing anyone but Toki but Kazuki was different. Though he smoked, he didn't smoke that often. Only after a meal or if we were in one place too long, so he never had that harsh taste of menthol cigarettes on his tongue or breath. He was cultured, well educated but he had a sense of humor. More over, he acted his age. Not over it or under it...and that was fine with me. I started getting worried I was seeing too much of him when I had lunch with Jun one afternoon.

"I haven't seen you in a while. Been busy?"

"I...yeah."

He looked at me strangely as he said,

"Did you go out of town?"

"Iie, I've been here. I'm never quick to rush off in my family's need."

"Spending time with Furukawa?"

"Something like that."

"So you have a thing with him now."

"It's not really anything. He's just...there."

"Do you even like the man?"

"He doesn't annoy me."

Jun sighed, shaking his head a little as he said,

"That could mean anything."

"I don't know what it is Jun. I don't know what you expect of me."

"I don't expect much. Maybe I am hoping for a little happiness for you."

"What makes you think I need it?"

He gave me this look as I looked down and I said,

"I'm not unhappy."

"You're not anything. And in a way that's good. But you can't be the job all the time. You have to find a balance in between."

I sighed, tucking my hair back as I said,

"I just...I don't want to."

"Well wanting to and not wanting to are two different things."

I nodded as I said,

"Kazuki is different. I guess I'm use to being around people like our associates too much."

"Yeah, Furukawa doesn't seem like the kind that would set foot in the Kabuki-Cho."

I nodded, as Jun said,

"You know, you can start tying that back."

"Tying what back?"

"Your hair."

"Oh...it's not long enough."

It was only scraping to the top of my shoulder. Anyway, later that evening, Jun called Jo in to check his arm. He was taking extra precaution since last time Jo was shot, the wound didn't heal properly and he ended up having a useless arm for longer then he wanted. Jun checked his stitching, making Jo raise his arm up and down as he said,

"How's it feel?"

"Weak. But it doesn't hurt as much."

"Yeah. You haven't used it in a few weeks. It's bound to feel weak. Okay, you can start using it. Just go easy on it. I'll take the stitches out next week."

Jo nodded as he got his shirt back on and said,

"That's gonna scar right?"

"More then likely."

Jo nodded as he pulled his sweatshirt back on and said,

"Figures. Okay. Thanks Jun. See you later. Bye Mikkie."

I waved to him as Jo then left as he finally tied his hair up. Jun and I then left for a walk.

Out of boredom or what, I don't know, Jia called a party. It had been about two months since our situation with Andou and everything was calm and collected. Jia was also called to travel to Osaka soon to meet with all the other heads among Japan and see who was new if any. But first, there would be a party. I was never a big fan of Jia's parties. Mostly because it was never my scene. They were filled to the brim with women, smoke and loud music. Three floors of a hotel were often taken up and it got boring really quickly unless you either talked business or drank. Most of my associates knew how to do one or the other. Some knew how to do both. After Jia rented out the top three floors of the Imperial, let word out on the celebration and the owners of the game returned, there was a party. After only the first hour, I was on the last floor by myself, nursing the same drink I had since the beginning. My associates, lowers heads and oyabuns were still having a good time, even Jun so I didn't mind the solitude. I sat there, drinking from my glass as I tucked my hair behind my ear when I heard someone walking down the hall. I looked up from the floor I was sitting on as I saw Kazuki. He smiled at me slightly as he said,

"Hey you."

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"Bored."

"The party has only been going on for an hour."

"I know."

He sat down beside me as he said,

"You wanna go somewhere?"

"Where?"

"Private room."

He gave him a look as I said,

"Anything to get in huh?"

He laughed as he said,

"I mean to talk."

"Right."

He smiled as he kissed my cheek and said,

"Okay not to talk but some of that."

"Why didn't you just say that then."

"Like you would go with me if I said, hey Mikkie, let's sneak into one of these hotel rooms for a few hours alone."

"You never know."

He laughed as he got up and then helped me up to my feet and we went into one of the vacant rooms.

We locked the door as we took off our shoes and coats and laid down on the bed. I was actually a little nervous though I knew he wouldn't try anything. The feeling of it was just different. I looked at him for a long time, getting use to the feeling of sleeping beside him. That's when my thoughts finally came full circle and I realized that's why I was so confused. Everything was new...everything is different. And I had to accept that.