Niikura made contact shortly after. He apologized to Jia profusely once he realized that a few days had gone by in between the five month waiting period. He explained he was in the middle of tying up loose ends on a war he started to prove his point. Jia didn't mind and told him he was glad he was tying up loose ends. He asked Niikura to come into Tokyo once more if he could. Niikura explained he couldn't really leave the city at the moment, everything being too tender and raw from the recent bouts of battle. Jia then said he would go to Kyoto instead. Of course once he told Toki it was nothing but a big fussing, whinny mess because Toki hated to travel to anywhere that didn't already have an apartment waiting for him. Jia had to calm him down in the lobby as Toki threw his usual tantrum and said,

"Toki will you stop whining?! It'll only be for the day!"

Toki looked up from the sofa he had thrown himself back into as he peered up from his messy red air and said,

"Just for a day?"

"Yes. Just one day. We'll leave early in the morning and come back at night."

"Oh...why didn't you say so in the first place?"

"I was trying to!"

Toki smirked as he tugged on Jia's hand in a playful manner. Jia looked off to the side as he sighed and puffed a stray strand of hair away from his face. He then looked at the rest of the trio as he said,

"You two wanna come?"

Akio and Aoki looked at each other as Akio said,

"Am I the business head going?"

"Iie, Aya is."

"I'll go." Said Aoki.

Akio sighed and said,

"How we getting there?"

"Train. Yes, Akio Jo is coming."

Akio waved his hand off as he said,

"That wasn't what I was getting at."

"Right Playboy...riiiight..." Said Toki.

Akio flipped him off as Jia then turned to me and said,

"You tagging along?"

"If you need me."

"Sure I can never have too many guards. Especially going into Kyoto right now."

I nodded as I said,

"When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. At eight."

"In the morning?!?" Asked the trio.

Jia sighed as he said,

"Yes....in the morning."

Toki sighed a he said,

"I hate that word."

Jia then pat his hair and went to his office as I then excused myself and went to see Jun in his office downstairs.

Jun's medical area was becoming more and more cluttered since he often just took new shipments of supply and just stacked them on top of each other. He didn't organize anything until he actually needed something. He sat on the medical table when I came downstairs as he read something to himself, half his hair covered his face as always as I said,

"Hey Jun."

"Hey Mikkie. What's going on?"

"Nothing much. I'm going to Kyoto tomorrow."

"Sou ka. Does Furukawa know?"

"No. Why should he?"

"No reason."

He went back to reading whatever was in his hands as I sat down in a near by chair and waited for him to finished. Once he did, he folded up the paper and looked at me as he said,

"My cousin wrote to me."

"Sou ka."

"My aunt is in failing health."

"Oh..."

"I can't do anything about it."

"Why not?"

"She's in New York. And Jia is busy with things here I can't just pick up and leave now."

"Why not just tell Jia you need personal time?"

"I never have. Besides, I don't think he should know of anything of my family. Or whatevers left of it."

I nodded as he then folded the envelope and stuffed it in his coat pocket as he said,

"Lunch?"

"Sure."

He got off the table as he took off his lab coat and got his usual coat on and we went to eat.

I spoke with Furukawa later that evening after he had finished his own work. Since I was leaving for Kyoto the next morning I didn't want him coming to my apartment. So we spoke on the phone.

"Work has been frantic. You know Niikura was right about Iida. That woman was a complete and total idiot. What did you know of her?"

"She was pretty...she acted as if she knew what she was doing and approached Jia head on. She didn't last too long though. In a shoot out, she was shot and dragged back to headquarters where Toki raped her and then shot her. Later the body was dumped and that was it."

"Damn bad way to go."

"She should have known better."

"Jia didn't hold that much power back then. It was safe to underestimate him back then."

"True."

I started to tuck my hair back as I said,

"I didn't cut my hair."

"You're going to?"

"Just a trim."

"I like it long."

"You're not the one wearing it."

"Hey, I have my own hair remember."

I paused as I felt him smiling.

"Stupid fox."

He laughed as he said,

"I love when you say that."

"You are so strange."

He laughed more as he then said,

"What are your plans tomorrow?"

"I'm heading to Kyoto with Jia. He has to see Niikura. I'll be back at night though."

"You know what time at night?"

"Iie. Just at night."

"I'll wait for you then. Call me when you get in."

"For what?"

"Just so I know you're home."

"You are so strange."

I felt his smile as he said,

"I'll hear from you tomorrow then Yuurei."

"Hai...good night."

"Good night."

We hung up as I then went to bed and fell asleep. And I actually slept for the night.

The next morning, after a quick shower and a change of clothes, I grabbed my things and headed to Tokyo central train station. There, I waited for a moment or so until a cab pulled up and Aya stepped out. Ever the graceful and beautiful Aya, he stepped out in a black suit, dark gray silk shirt underneath his buttoned coat as the first few buttons where undone. His caramel trimmed hair fell around his face, the longer part of his bangs framing the oval structure as he wore his Dior sunglasses. He looked around for a moment before he saw me and walked over to join me.

"Ohayo."

"Ohayo."

We both waited for a moment as he tucked his slender hands inside his pants pockets until the next cab pulled up. Akio stepped out next, black suit on as well, the coat of his suit however, was down to his knees and he wore a dark, wine colored shirt underneath the coat. He also had a matching fedora hat, tilted slightly to the side as his shoulder length chocolate brown hair fell a little past his shoulders. He walked over to us as he took out his cigarettes and said,

"It's too fuckin early. What time does the train get here?"

"In twenty minutes." Said Aya.

Akio lit a cigarette as he then held his case in his hand, toying with it for a moment before he reached into his pocket and took out a small cloth and began wiping the case clean of any finger prints. Ten minutes later, another cab pulled up as Jo got out. Our youngest member wore black dress pants and a white button down shirt that was tucked in. He reached up to his hair as he gathered it all back and tied it up as he held a cigarette in the side of his mouth. He then walked over to us as he nudged Akio, said hi to me and kissed Aya on the cheek.

"Ohayo."

We all responded as he then finished his cigarette and flicked it aside. Aoki joined up a moment later as he kissed Aya on the mouth. Aya smiled and leaned his head on Aoki's shoulder as Aoki said,

"Where's Jia and Toki?"

"On their way I'm assuming." Said Akio.

"Why didn't you drive them Jo?" Asked Aya.

"Jia said we needed to have someone take the car back since he didn't wanna leave it here. I wouldn't either. I love that car."

Akio shook his head as he said,

"Oh finally, there they are."

I turned as well as Aya and we saw Jia and Toki leaving from a cab. Toki had his usual hat pulled down so you couldn't see his blood shot eyes, his red hair sticking out in the ends as he wore dark blue jeans, his unlaced boots and a black sweatshirt that he stuck his hands in. Jia, as always looked professional and clean cut in his black suit, black shirt and black tie with his white Gucci coat over everything. His hair was slicked back except a few stray strands as he said,

"Everyone here?"

"Hai." Aya said.

The trio, Aya, Jo and myself where present and once we heard the call for Kyoto, we boarded the train and waited. Toki fell asleep there as usual as Aya sat beside Aoki, holding onto his arm as he rested his head on his shoulder. Akio and Jo exchanged conversation as Jia looked pretty bored. I then said,

"You almost missed the train Jia."

He looked over at me as he said,

"I know. I almost didn't make it because of this one."

He gestured to Toki who was already sound asleep against his seat.

"I imagined as much."

Jia nodded as he said,

"The train ride is only about an hour."

I nodded as he said,

"It's okay, he'll need it."

"You think Niikura's war effected much?"

"The whole city probably. Niikura took drastic measures to get done. I'm glad he did. Otherwise he would have failed to impress me."

I nodded as got comfortable in his seat, crossing his legs as the train jolted slightly and Toki fell towards him, resting his head on Jia's shoulder as he said,

"God, Toki get off me. This is my Gucci coat."

Toki mumbled slightly as he picked his head up and yawned in his cat like manner as he said,

"We there yet?"

"We've been moving for about twenty minutes."

Toki sighed as he leaned back in his seat and went back to sleep.

When we arrived in Kyoto, we all left the train station and Jia called Niikura to let him know they arrived. Niikura said he would meet up with us soon and Jia hung up. We waited around the train station for a while until that familiar spiked head came to view. He came up to Jia, his hair which was usually coiled and then spiked out was undone today, just in a high tail at the base of his head. The ends stuck slightly and his bangs were the only thing that were spiked. He escorted us outside to an awaiting car a she said,

"The car behind me also works for me. Whoever doesn't fit here can go there."

We nodded as Niikura got in the passenger seat and Jia, Toki and Jo got in the back. Aoki, Akio, Aya and myself got in the following car and traveled through Kyoto. Aya sat on Aoki's lap as he looked out the window. He then said,

"The city looks calm today."

Aoki looked as well as he said,

"It's early still."

Aya nodded as Akio said,

"It's too early man. I'm still tired."

"And yet somehow you managed to look good in the morning." Said Aya.

Akio smirked as he said,

"Hey, I take great care in how I look."

"We all know Akio." Said Aoki.

After a few minutes, we arrived in Niikura's building. Once we regrouped in the lobby, he started to take us up to his office.

"The whole building is brand new to us. Iida use to run the syndicate out of her apartment so that's why nothing was ever organized. I recently got this building about...maybe a little after I took over. Tai, Gabriel and Furukawa helped me greatly as I organized myself these past few months. But as you can tell, everything is still getting organized."

We got into an elevator as Jia said,

"Seems to me that Iida just ran this as a free lance yakuza syndicate."

"She did. She didn't know what she was doing. She just wanted the power and the title of oyabun."

"As long as ties are cut."

"Ties are cut. That's why I had to start a war the past two months. Some of the free lance yakuza didn't want to let go of any kind of power they had. So I had to take matters into my own hands."

Once the elevator stopped on the fourteenth floor, we stepped out as we saw a smaller man. He was slightly taller then me by a few inches and had short soft brown hair with red streaks. Once he looked up his face could break your heart. He had sad, deep eyes the color of an endless evening sky, so black, they looked inked in. His complexion was pale but unlike me or Tsubasa, did not give off that feeling of ice. His cheeks were speckled with soft pinks and his full lips were shaded in dark reds and hues of wine. Now that was a living doll. Niikura then said,

"Ah, Jia, this is my second in command Masao. Satoru Masao. Don't let the innocent face fool you. He could break your hand if he had to."

Jia nodded as he shook his hand and said,

"I know. I learned over the years never to underestimate a pretty or delicate looking face. You know of Mikkie and Aya."

Niikura looked over at the both of as he said,

"Then you know exactly Masao's type."

Jia nodded as he said,

"What's he do?"

"Mostly, he's my second set of eyes. He sees what I don't. His instinct is sharper also and he's got good aim."

"He's a lot like my Ghost over there."

Masao's deep eyes fell on me as he then turned away as Niikura said,

"Sou ka. Masao's shy though. That's why he doesn't talk."

It was then we noticed Masao had his eyes cast down on his hands the entire time Jia and Niikura spoke. Jia then went to Niikura's office for business which meant Aya, Akio and if needed Jo would go. But Jo wasn't needed so Toki, myself, Jo and Aoki went to the lobby to wait. As we left the elevator, Toki licked his lips as he said,

"That is the finest little young thing I've seen in a minute."

Aoki nudged him as he said,

"Chill back. He's Niikura's second in command."

"So? Never stopped me before."

Jo nodded as he said,

"He is cute though."

Aoki shook his head as Toki said,

"Like you don't agree."

"I do but I'm not going after this one."

"And why not?"

"One. That's Niikura's second. Two, only you could get away with fucking him against his will. Three, Aya's here and I just made amends with him."

Toki scoffed as he said,

"Eh, to hell with you, Baby you up for it?"

"I'm not competing against you."

Toki waved his hand, dismissing him as he said,

"Good, better for me."

Jo fell back in his seat a she said

"If it wasn't for his rank maybe I would."

Aoki nodded as I paid them no mind. We spent the rest of the morning there as well as the early part of the afternoon. Jo fell asleep a little while later as Aoki seemed to have fallen asleep. I could never tell since he always had sunglasses on. Toki sat across from me, bored, getting up every now and then or bothering Jo while he slept. He loved to play with Jo since he thought Jo was still attractive but once Jo woke up like a child and started yelling at him, Toki left him alone. He looked at me as he said,

"Hey Ghosto."

"Hi."

"How you been?"

"Same as always."

He nodded as he reached into his pockets and got his cigarettes out. Just then the elevator opened and Masao walked out. He bit his bottom lip as he walked over to me and leaned down as he said,

"Sumimasen but Niikura-sama wanted to know if anyone was hungry."

Toki perked up as he said,

"I am."

He got up as he walked over to Masao. I saw the towering height difference between them since Toki was pretty tall as he said,

"Did Niikura say we could get lunch?"

"H-hai...Jia-sama said it was all right for you all to go eat if you so choose to."

Toki nodded as he said,

"Did you eat yet?"

"Iie."

"Good come with us then."

Toki woke Aoki up as Aoki said,

"Nani?"

"Come on, time for lunch."

He nodded as Jo woke up next and he stood up, stretching as he said,

"I'm starving."

"Good, Masao will show us a place to eat. Is that all right?" Asked Toki.

Masao nodded as he cast his eyes downwards.

As we had lunch that afternoon, I noticed how sickeningly sweet Toki could be when he wanted in. And of course, Masao, who he wanted in on, was just his type. Sweet face, docile, it was everything Toki loved. I suddenly found myself disgusted at that, thinking I must have once looked like that as Toki neared me and used his height and confidence to render me insecure and nervous yet at the same time, curious. Masao looked intimidated by Toki but by the end of lunch, Toki was already touching him, sweeping his hair back with gentle strokes and smirking at him as he watched his cheeks puddle with heat. Aoki and Jo were not surprised since they've obviously seen it done a million times. As for me, I was surprised, mostly because I saw myself there once. And I suddenly started to wonder of that's what Jun saw. No, couldn't be. I never allowed myself to blush and shy away like some high school girl for Toki. I would never give him that satisfaction, even when I did feel something for him. After we had lunch, we resumed in waiting in Niikura's building, as Toki continued flirting with Masao, still wanting in. I took a nap eventually, bored out of my mind with nothing else to do. When I woke up, it was almost eight at night and Jia, Aya, Akio and Niikura were coming from the elevator as they decided to get some dinner.

We all sat at a table sometime later, Jia and Niikura still discussing the city as Niikura said,

"I noticed your guard has an affection for Masao."

Jia looked over at Toki as he tugged on his hair. Toki flinched and said,

"What was that for?"

"Will you stop? We're in the middle of a business meeting."

Toki rolled his eyes as Niikura said,

"It's all right."

Jia however was not amused. Akio and Aoki exchanged conversation as Aoki filled him in on what happened as I spoke to Aya.

"We were discussing the city and the prospect of Kyoto becoming Jia's second power city. In case anything were to happen that was getting out of hand, Niikura would come in. Not just Furukawa."

"Sou ka. It would mean getting a situation done quicker."

"Hai. Also more loopholes, ways to get out of things, more alibis in case any one was arrested for whatever reason."

I nodded as I said,

"What does Niikura think of this?"

"He loves the idea. He feels overwhelmed though and is worried he may not come through for Jia. Jia is a huge power point in Japan so if anything should happen...but Jia told him not worry. There would be Niikura, Furukawa, the New York heads if need be, the lower heads of the 36 Moons, the top heads and then Jia himself would be in the center to get to. He really doubts any enemy could be strong enough to pierce through all those layers."

I nodded as I said,

"No one's smart enough to find ways through."

"Exactly. We're too well prepared and armed."

I continued eating my dinner as Aya said,

"Toki's trying to get in with Masao I see."

"Hai. He's been trying all afternoon."

"The little one seems to be buying into it."

I nodded as Aya smiled slightly and then shook his head.

After dinner, we returned to Niikura's building. We noticed the city had erupted into chaos after the sun set. Many free lance yakuza were still running around, causing petty crimes and not doing much of anything but being a nuisance. Niikura let us know that those were petty ones. He had taken care of major free lance yakuza that could have done some damage.

"After displaying a head in public, others tend to think you're insane. Which works to my benefit."

Jia nodded as he said,

"We'll work up the loose ends then I'll return to Tokyo."

Niikura nodded as the business heads followed Jia back to Niikura's office. Akio and Jo switched places for the evening as Jo went to work and the rest of us stayed in the lobby. I noticed Niikura's syndicate wasn't as busy as ours and most of his employees were already out in the street working and had been working since late afternoon. We found out later on that most of them don't show up to Niikura's building, they just get up and go to work and report back if anything happens. Niikura was trying to break them of that habit since he wanted to know who was trustworthy and who wasn't. Masao seemed to be the only one that Niikura fully trusted and he seemed to know everything anyway. Of course Toki was trying to see what else he knew but that was another story. Around two in the morning when most of us were awake anyway, Jia came downstairs announcing he was ready to go back to Tokyo. Niikura and Masao accompanied us to the train station and as we waited for our train, Niikura said,

"This means a great deal to me Jia. I will do everything in my power to never fail you."

"I know. That's why I'm giving you this chance. But you know that all it takes is one screw up, be it minor or major and I take everything back."

Niikura nodded as he said,

"I know. It's fair."

Jia nodded as our train then arrived. He looked back at Niikura and said,

"I'll be in touch soon. Organize yourself meanwhile."

Niikura nodded as he said,

"Arigato Jia-sama."

He and Masao bowed their heads as Jia nodded and then they shook hands as we boarded our train and headed back to Tokyo.