The next afternoon, I sat in the lobby chewing on my thumbnail as I held my head up with my other hand. My throat hurt from smoking so much with Jo the other night. Between us, we finished his brand new pack. I felt a little guilty that it was because of me he finished his cigarettes so quickly so I offered to buy him another pack. He declined, saying it was no big deal, that he would buy more later. Now I sat in the lobby with a scratchy throat and a slight hang over. My head ached slightly from drinking more of the alcohol I'm not use to consuming. I kept chewing my nail slightly until Jun came in, holding a cup of coffee as he said,

"Ew, stop that!"

I dropped my hand from my mouth as he said,

"What's wrong with you?"

"My head hurts."

He nodded as he gestured me to follow him as we went downstairs to his office. We walked down the dark staircase as Jun said,

"Close the door behind you."

I did as told and Jun flicked on a light switch that lead the rest of the way down. We walked into the medical area as Jun told me to sit on the table as he set his coffee down. He picked up his white lab coat as he buttoned the front and I said,

"Why do you wear that?"

"You think I wanna get blood or any other kind of bodily fluid on my suit? This is Valentino."

I nodded as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and then walked over to me as I said,

"It's just a headache."

"I'll be the judge of that. Shut up."

I glared at him as he checked my eyes and then my throat as he told me to open my mouth. He then said,

"Where does your head hurt?"

"Side...a little in the front."

"It almost sounds like a hang over."

I wanted to say, yeah I'm hung over but then I would have to see the look on his face and then tell him not to look at me like that. He then said,

"You can lay down for now if you want. If it's just a headache you should be fine in a little while."

I nodded as I got off the table and Jun took off his gloves and set them down on the table. He then picked up his cup of coffee as he took a sip and said,

"You gonna lay down here or go home?"

"I'll be in the lobby. In case anything happens."

Jun nodded as he said,

"You want some aspirin?"

"I didn't eat anything. I'll try to sleep it off."

He nodded as I went back upstairs and left Jun to do whatever he had.

I slept for a little while, most of the time I was undisturbed. I did feel exhausted from what little sleep I did get the previous night and my head was hurting so it didn't take much for me to sleep and to stay asleep. When I did wake up later that afternoon I saw Jo on the other couch, curled up as he usually was only Akio was his pillow. Akio played with Jo's hair, curling his fingers in the dark red locks as he watched over him. It was almost sweet and very unlike Akio. I picked my head up as Akio looked over at me and said,

"Hey Ghost. Rising from the dead I see."

I nodded as I said,

"What time is it?"

"Almost five."

"Sou ka."

I tucked my hair back behind my ears as I said,

"Anything happen?"

"The Kitsune came in to speak to Jia. He had to tell him something about Atshusi."

I nodded again as I stood up and stretched before I sat back down. I then leaned back in the sofa. I was grateful for the fact my headache was gone but now I was angry that Furukawa was here. I decided to disappear before he saw me and I got up as I said,

"I'm going to get some lunch. I should be back before dark."

Akio nodded as he continued stroking Jo's hair back and I left to get Jun downstairs. Only problem was, that Jun wasn't downstairs. I had to go back up as I called him, asking him where he was. He was in Tai's office which meant I had to go up there and get him. I took the elevator up and once I got to the floor, I peeked out and looked up and down the hall to make sure no one was around, I then got to Tai's office and knocked on his door as he allowed me in. I came inside as I closed the door behind me as Jun, Tai and Gabriel all were sitting, talking about something that I missed. I sighed and said,

"Gomen...didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's okay." Said Tai.

I then said,

"Is anything going on?"

"Iie. Jia is talking to Furukawa about Atshusi. Apparently Furukawa knows him and can control him."

I nodded as I said,

"Shouldn't be too much of a threat then."

"Probably not." Said Gabriel.

I then said,

"Jun, did you eat yet?"

"Even if I did, I would go again."

He got up as he said,

"Tai, Gabriel you guys wanna get some lunch?"

They both declined, saying they had work to do as Jun and I then left. I once again checked before leaving Tai's office and then briskly walked to the elevator as I pressed the button. Jun looked at me strangely as he said,

"What's wrong with you now?"

"Nothing why?"

"You're peering around corners and look paranoid."

"Oh...no reason."

Once the elevator came up, the doors opened and I walked in, only I hit someone. That someone being Toki. He grabbed my arm to steady me as he said,

"You okay?"

"Hai..."

I tucked my hair behind my ear as I looked up at him and saw blonde bangs falling around his face, black hair standing up in semi short spikes.

"You cut your hair."

"Oh yeah....I was getting tired of the red. I think it made me look like a girl."

Jun scoffed as he said,

"You made one ugly girl."

Toki smirked as he said,

"Thas jus cuz I'm a sexy man."

Jun shook his head, ignoring him as I said,

"Excuse me."

Toki moved out of the way, holding the doors open for me as he then asked,

"Hey, is Li here?"

"Hai, he's in a meeting with Furukawa." Said Jun.

"Ugh...damnit."

Toki quickly turned and went back in the elevator as Jun said,

"What's the matter?"

"I don't like him."

Toki adjusted the bandanna around his forehead slightly as Jun looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I shrugged. We went back down to the lobby with them as Toki went out first and walked over to the sofa as he leaned down beside Akio and looked at Jo sleeping. Akio commented on his hair as Toki smirked and then poked his cheek as he stood up and walked over to the other sofa. Jun and I then left to get some lunch.

I was thinking the whole time and I found myself still angry at Furukawa. I wasn't sure why though and because I couldn't figure out a reason why, I reasoned with myself to not be angry. I just started shutting all that off. Okay, so Furukawa wasn't as great as I thought he was. So he had someone else. Okay...fine. I shouldn't really be surprised. Not like it's never happened to me before. Jun noticed me in my deep thinking as he said,

"What's going through your mind?"

"I should go to Kamakura soon."

"What for?"

"Just to get away from Tokyo for a few days."

Jun nodded as he said,

"How do you feel about Furukawa knowing Atshusi?"

I shrugged as I said,

"I don't care. Furukawa was never anything of mine anyway."

Jun nodded, buying that as I finished my tea. After lunch, the sky began to darken, showing the evening to be very, very dark. I peered up at the sky, a cold chill blowing by, lifting my hair and spraying it across my face as I got a bad feeling. The last time I got a bad feeling like that, Kaji was around. I looked back down to Tokyo as Jun said,

"It's getting cold."

"Yeah...weird."

I buttoned the front of my coat as we took the subway back to Jia's building. After waiting in the lobby for a short while, Jia called me up to his office. I was wondering why since I didn't do anything recently but I went up anyway. I knocked on the door to his office as I heard him give me permission to come in. I came inside as Jia then pet Toki's knee since Toki was still sitting on the corner of Jia's desk as he said,

"Toki, go outside for a minute."

"How come?"

"I need a moment."

Toki sighed and got off his desk as he walked past me and left. Once the door closed behind me, Jia gestured me to come closer. I did as told as I said,

"Yes Jia?"

Jia tapped his cigarette against the ash tray as he said,

"I wanted to talk to you about this situation with Furukawa."

I frowned slightly as I said,

"There's nothing really to discuss."

"What do you mean?"

"Furukawa was nothing of mine. Nothing personal will come of this."

Jia looked a little concerned as I said that but he then said,

"Okay. I just wanted to be sure of where you stood."

I nodded as I was then excused.

Later that night, once we were let know by the lower heads that Atshusi was calmed and down for the night, I went home. On my way there, my phone rang and I checked to see it was Furukawa. I didn't bother to answer and just shut my phone off and continued on my way home. I avoided Furukawa for as long as I could. And as long as Atshusi kept quiet, there was no need for any of us to rise up. My cell phone was now on vibrate constantly because Furukawa kept calling. Anytime he came by to Jia's building for whatever reason, I pulled a disappearing act and stayed out of sight until he was gone. By any chance I did see him, it was because I was helping Jia or Tai with something and even then I would just get my work and vanish again. I started to find myself hiding if I couldn't do anything else. I just didn't want to face him again...I didn't want to hear what he had to say and I didn't want to even look at him. I rushed to the stairwell to make my escape one afternoon and started to jog down the steps, counting them mentally as I went along, knowing about two hundred or so steps lead me to the next two floors. As I reached the next floor, I saw Toki sitting by the stairwell entrance to the next floor. He was smoking, sitting there calmly until he heard me. He then turned and smirked as he said,

"Hey Ghosto."

"Hi...what are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you."

"How did you know I would be coming here?"

"Been watchin you do it for a couple of days now."

"Oh..."

"Why you coming through here?"

He got up and rest his hand on the railing as he put one foot up on the step and waited for me to answer.

"I...I'm avoiding Furukawa."

He smirked, happily I do believe, as he said,

"How come? Thought you were gettin with him."

I frowned as I started walking down the steps again and said,

"Yeah well....I don't need to be someone else's middle point too."

"What? He's playin you?"

"Not really. I'm not really with him to be playing me."

He sighed as met me half way on the staircase as he looked up at me and said,

"So who's the other one that he made you his middle point?"

"None of your business."

"You can't tell me?"

"I just don't want to."

"How come?"

I hated how he looked at me. As if he still held some power over me, his eyes still piercing through me, much stronger then Furukawa's. I looked down as I said,

"With Atshusi."

"Are you fuckin serious?!"

"Yes and don't yell. The stairwell echoes."

He sighed as he reached up to my face and stroked my cheek. I let him as he said,

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Everything."

I sighed as I said,

"I have to go."

"You still runnin from me."

I stayed still for a while as I let him put his arms around me and bring him closer to his body. I sighed to myself, feeling how nice it felt to be in his arms again. I felt him lean his head on me as I put my arms around his neck and held him in return. I didn't know what I was doing anymore. I ended up sitting down in the stairwell beside him, him with his arm around me as I leaned my head on his shoulder and just thought for a little while. It felt nice being there. All the while, my phone vibrated against my coat. It rang every other hour, which is how I knew the time. Finally after I felt I would fall asleep, I stood up and said I would leave. Toki nodded, letting me go, but not after he held my hand for a moment longer.

I couldn't pull my disappearing act for too long. Eventually Furukawa cornered me as I came out of Jia's office. He put his arm near my head as he leaned down and stared me in the eye as he said,

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

I couldn't really answer. Actually I could and I did.

"Because I don't want to see you anymore."

He moved back as he said,

"You wanna tell me why you're cutting me off like that?"

"You have Atshusi. I don't know why you would trifle with me."

He sighed, moving his hand away as he ran his fingers through his messy hair as he said,

"I knew you were going to say that. Maybe if you weren't so irrational you have let me explain."

"I don't care what you have to say."

The coldness had crept its way back into my voice and my eyes. He looked at me for a moment before he said,

"Can I at least say it for my own benefit?"

"I don't care what you do."

I started walking away as he said,

"Atshusi is nothing of mine. He use to be, key words, use to be. He couldn't let it go and even when I started working for Kotei back in New York, I couldn't shake him off no matter what I told him or if I told him I wanted nothing to do with him. I took off to Tokyo without letting him know. He came here to find me, that's it. But it's not because I want him to be here."

I kept going as I reached the elevator. He walked up behind me as he said,

"It's nothing I swear it Yuurei. He's nothing of mine."

I turned back to him as I said,

"Neither am I. And don't call me Yuurei."

He sighed, bringing his hand up to his face as I decided to skip the elevator and went back down the stairwell.

I found myself seeking comfort. It was something I never thought I would need or want, but I suddenly found myself seeking and nonetheless in Toki's presence. It was something about him being there, even if he didn't say anything that made me feel better. Anytime I would call him, even if it was just for him to say good night to me, he was willing to drop whatever he was doing to come see me. I felt better knowing that but also angry with myself that I was suddenly seeking his contact again. I was too emotionally weak. I couldn't believe it. I was also disgusted with myself. I tried not to go on thinking about it and I had my bed sheets changed, I had my entire apartment cleaned from top to bottom and I started thinking about heading to Kamakura again. My head started to hurt again and I found myself not being able to sleep again. I laid awake for hours and hours, just staring up at the dark ceiling until I just got bored and started getting ready for work. It had been quiet for the past few days since Furukawa was keeping a tight reign on Atshusi. That is, until all hell suddenly broke loose.

Atshusi was causing hell among Furukawa and finally, the Kitsune came to Jia to explain the situation.

"He wants to find out who I'm seeing."

Jia dismissed everyone from his office except me as Jun closed the door behind him. Jia then got up as he took a deep breath and then gestured Furukawa to stand up. Once he did, Jia motioned him closer and Furukawa leaned slightly across Jia's desk. Jia then grabbed the Kitsune's tie as he choked him and said,

"You mean to tell me I have some crazed psycho path loose in my city because he's JEALOUS?"

Furukawa gasped for a second as he reached up and held the noose back from his neck as he said,

"I'm sorry! I didn't know he would be capable of this!"

"You said you had a handle on it! Why am I trusting you to run my city when I'm gone when you CAN'T EVEN HANDLE A JEALOUS LOVER!?"

"He's an ex! An ex! And I can handle him! I'm just letting you know in case anything should happen!"

"What would happen Furukawa? You're pulling in my associate here. I thought I could trust you to keep a fine line of professionalism in this. He can but you're failing miserably."

"Jia, I can't sit here and lie and say I know exactly what he's going to do because I don't."

"WHY NOT?"

"Because I'm not a mind reader! I'm trying my hardest to find out what he wants and I'm trying to make him leave! I wouldn't have him in this city anymore then you Jia! I'm not trying to cause trouble, just contain it!"

Jia then let him go with a shove back as Furukawa fell back in his chair. He fussed uncomfortably with his tie as Jia said,

"You find out what he wants. You stop him before he gets anymore out of control. Some of my lower heads were already arrested because of his little temper tantrums. If he moves up any higher, we're going to have a problem."

Furukawa nodded as he properly adjusted his tie and then his coat as he said,

"I'll get on this Jia I swear it."

Jia then looked at me as he said,

"You keep your fair distance. Last thing I want is that jealous bitch to find out it's you and try something."

"Already done Jia."

Jia nodded as he then dismissed the both of us. I closed the door behind me as Furukawa looked at me, dark hair falling over his eyes slightly as he said,

"Mikkie...when are you going to let me speak to you?"

"I already told you what I thought."

He was about to say something again when I felt Toki's arms around me. He leaned his chin on my shoulder as he said,

"Come on, let's get somethin to drink."

I didn't even argue and I just started walking.

A few nights later, I was on my way home. I had just gotten dinner with Jun, the train was slightly crowded since it was a Friday evening. I had learned my lesson from Kaji and I was alert, looking around, watching anyone that came off or on the train. As I neared my stop I recognized Atshusi. He came on board the train, his short auburn hair sweeping past his soft hazel eyes. They seemed to be made of glass, shining brightly under the lights. He wore a knee length gray coat, black pants underneath with a black shirt. He looked so frail as if a child playing in adults clothes. He held onto the pole near the doors as his guards filed in not too far behind him. I kept my hand on the pole beside me, waiting for the train to stop when my phone rang. Since I told Furukawa I didn't want to see him anymore, he stopped calling as much. Every now and then he hoped to get me on the phone, but that was only if I answered by accident. I picked my cell phone out of my pocket and glanced at it seeing it was Furukawa and then I shut it off. After a moment, I looked up and saw Atshusi looking at me. I looked away, not wanting to draw any attention to myself as I looked ahead. A moment later, I felt him standing beside me as he said,

"You work for Jia don't you."

I looked over at him, letting my icy glare settle on him until he said,

"You do. I know, I've seen you that day that I saw Kazuki again."

"So what do you want from me?"

"I just wanted to make sure. You were there seeing Kazuki."

I didn't say anything but he smiled and said,

"I really care about Kazuki...it's why I came here to see him. To claim him once again. He's mine."

I looked at him and said,

"So? Why you telling me?"

"Just so the warning could be passed on."

He gave me a smile as the train then stopped and he turned and walked off. I still had another two stops.