It didn't take too long for the lower heads to track Mizui down. Once they did, they brought him to Jia's building and there, Jia met Mizui face to face. What surprised me was the fact that Mizui was the same person I saw in the art gallery a few days prior. The same model figure, the same eyes of seduction, the same hair. Mizui came in without a struggle, in front of the lower head in fact, as the rest of us waited in the lobby with Jia. When Mizui walked, wear a black silk suit with a white shirt underneath, his hair styled like before, he saw the trio right away and smiled as he said,

"Well if it isn't Silence, Phoenix and the Wrath of God."

The trio stood up and walked over to him as they shook his hand and greeted him. Mizui smiled, flirting slightly with Akio and Aoki, teasing Toki with promising looks. Jia then cleared his throat as Mizui said,

"You three didn't say who you worked for. Now I know."

"You should have known Mizui. Like the tattoo didn't give it away." Said Akio.

"I was looking at other things aside from you wrist Phoenix."

Akio smirked slightly as Jia then said,

"Well, if the orgy hasn't started yet, I'd like to talk to you."

Mizui smiled slightly as he adjusted his suit coat and said,

"Of course. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mizui Meiji. I run a pleasure house in the Kabuki-Cho district in Tokyo called the Eiryo no Koshitsu."

"So I hear. What are you doing in New York?"

"Looking for my employees. Relax Jia-sama..."

He did a quick bow of his head as he said,

"I'm not yakuza, I'm a pimp. Plain and simple."

"You know of Ryuhei?"

"Tall boy, slender, mostly legs, short dark brown hair?"

"Yeah you know him."

"Not well enough I'm afraid. I don't like sleeping with my whores. It gets me attached...but I'm so willing to make the exception for him."

Jia shook his head slightly as he said,

"So you have him?"

"Yes. He came to me after some trouble. He's in no rush to move anywhere. I let him know of what I do and what I would like him to do for me. He seemed, less then surprised."

"Nah, why would he be surprised. He use to be Takeo's whore."

"The Takeo? The owner of Queens?"

"You heard of him?"

"Anyone whoring anyone knows of Takeo. So Ryuhei belonged to him huh?"

"Yup."

"I could give him back. Though I'd be incline to actually pay Takeo for his services."

"Takeo is a friend of mine so I know what he wants at the moment. He won't accept Ryuhei unless he goes back on his own terms."

Mizui nodded as he said,

"Understandable. I'd like to see Takeo."

"If we could see Ryuhei. Don't take it personally but I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone. And not that I care about the whore...he could be dead in a gutter somewhere, it's the fact that Takeo is a friend."

Mizui nodded as he said,

"Sure, I don't mind. Though why anyone would wanna hurt that pretty little thing I will never understand."

After a few moments, Jia picked me, Toki and Jo to accompany him to see Ryuhei, then off to Queens to see Takeo.

We arrived at the Stanhope, Mizui's hotel of choice as we went to the top floor and into Mizui's suite. There, on the large bed, laid Ryuhei. He was on his stomach, sipping chilled champagne through a straw as he watched television, eating candy from a dish. He wore a black button down with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of binding black shorts and black thigh highs, all which did nothing to hide the figure he owned. It was very feminine, full of curves and lines that usually only women posses. Mizui threw his keys on a near by table as Ryuhei turned and saw us. He sat up, arching his back and accenting his body all the more as he got off the bed and walked over to us. He greeted Mizui first and then Jia. He then threw his arms around Toki and of course, Toki loved it. He took the chance to feel him up while he could as Jia said,

"You seem to be fine."

"I'm more then fine."

He clung to Toki as he spoke and smiled. Jia then shook his head as he said,

"How do you always find some people to tend to you?"

"Luck finds me."

"Nah with a body like this, you make your own luck." Said Toki.

Ryuhei laughed slightly as he said,

"How's my Toki-sama?"

Toki looked at Jo and smirked, as if saying I told you so. Jo shook his head as he said,

"I thought that didn't count."

"Who said?"

"Akio."

Toki still smirked as Mizui said,

"Ryuhei's doing well enough. Cute little thing he is. You wanna see Takeo?"

It was almost like Mizui spoke to Ryuhei as a child...or a small puppy anyway. Ryuhei untucked his head from under Toki's chin as he said,

"Takeo? Is he okay?"

Jia looked at him as he said,

"You knew what happened?"

"I knew."

"Why didn't you say something?"

I could tell Jia was angry. Ryuhei didn't seem to know, or care anyway as he continued to focus his attention back on Toki and said,

"I didn't exactly have time to call or tell anyone. I was lucky Mizui found me or I would probably be wandering homeless already."

"So Mizui has been watching you for all this time?"

"Not really. I stayed with a friend in Staten Island for a little while. When I went out to club, I met Mizui."

Jia nodded as Toki still held onto him. Mizui then said,

"It's up to you Ryuhei."

The young whore thought about it for a while, playing with Toki's bangs as he thought as Jia said,

"I don't have all night."

Ryuhei sighed and said,

"Okay, I'll see him."

He left Toki's embrace as he went to get his platform boots which he zipped up and then grabbed a coat. He flung it around his slender frame as Mizui picked up his keys and said,

"I appreciate you doing this Jia-sama."

Jia nodded as he said,

"You made me worry."

"I did?"

"I thought you would be a threat."

Mizui laughed slightly as he said,

"Honestly, I'm too much of a coward to be a yakuza."

Jia shook his head slightly as he said,

"Come on. Like I said, I don't have all night."

We got into Queens a while afterwards. Getting into Jackson Heights took another ten, almost twenty minutes as we got out from the parked car and went to Takeo's building. Sometimes, I expected Sashi's dry wit and sarcasm to open the door again, only for a different concubine to do so each time. It was strange I would get that feeling. Anyway, once one of the girls saw Ryuhei, she allowed us in right away and let Takeo know. Ryuhei seemed almost a little worried when it came to seeing someone who once owned him. Once he came face to face with his former pimp, he almost immediately fell to his knees as Takeo sat on the sofa, leaned back as always. Ryuhei rested his head on Takeo's knee and awaited for Takeo to react. The pimp sat up slightly as he ran his fingers through Ryuhei's soft brown hair and looked up at Jia. He then saw Mizui and said,

"Who are you?"

"Mizui Meiji. I run the Eiryo no Koshitsu in Tokyo."

"A pleasure house?"

"Yes."

Takeo looked down at Ryuhei who was practically purring by now as he said,

"You want him?"

"Only if he's willing."

Ryuhei looked up once Takeo stopped moving his hand as he said,

"What do you want Ryuhei?"

Ryuhei shrugged as he said,

"I don't know what I want."

Mizui sighed heavily, sweeping his hair away as Takeo then offered everyone a seat, his harem moving aside to allow us to sit. Takeo then leaned back in his sofa as he dismissed most of his harem aside from Ryuhei who was still kneeling on the floor, his head on Takeo's knee. The pimp brought Ryuhei up to the sofa as he stroked his hair back and said,

"So, Mizui, you own the Eiryo no Koshitsu?"

Mizui nodded as Takeo said,

"Why did you come here? I understand why the 36 Moons showed up..."

"I actually wanted to meet you. Even in Tokyo do people know of you and your harem here in Queens. You could say I'm in awe of you."

Takeo smiled a little, his face now healed though fading with yellow marks lingered near the corners of his mouth. His wrists and arms had also healed nicely, only fading marks from the welts remained.

"Tell me about the Eiryo no Koshitsu."

"It's my own little pride and joy. The reason I'm so successful is because anything you want, you can have there. Any fetish, any kinky, bizarre thing the dark corners of the human mind can conjure up I can deliver."

Takeo nodded as he said,

"So you are an actual pimp."

"Yes. And also very well pleased with the success of my work. I have clients from all over the world looking into my home."

Takeo nodded as he said,

"I have a close bond to my people. It's why I don't consider myself an actual pimp. I don't like to lend them out...only if business requires me to...or if I'm paid handsomely for their services. But even then I'm tempted to say no."

Mizui nodded as he said,

"That's why I don't sleep with my whores."

Takeo nodded, understanding as Ryuhei looked at Takeo for a moment, then at Mizui as he said,

"I don't actually wanna whore myself out."

Takeo looked at him as Mizui said,

"You don't whore him out do you?"

"No. He does what he pretty much pleases."

Mizui leaned back in his seat as he said,

"I guess that answers my question."

Ryuhei then looked at Mizui as he said,

"I'm sorry for everything..."

Takeo pet Ryuhei's head back as he said,

"I'll pay you for whatever his expensive taste and handling required."

Mizui waved it off as he said,

"No need. If you wish to pay me back though you could lend him to me for a while."

Takeo smiled slightly as he said,

"If you wish."

Jia then yawned as he took out his cigarette case and took a cigarette out as Toki lit it for him. Jia then said,

"So if we're all done here...I want to leave."

Mizui turned to Jia as he said,

"I'm surprised the oyabun himself hasn't been to my establishment."

Jia raised an eyebrow as he said,

"Mizui, I'm an oyabun. I wouldn't need to pay someone to sleep with me. Besides, I have two dolls, this one and a snap of my fingers that commands women to me."

He held Toki's face as Toki smirked and Mizui laughed slightly.

"Good point. But my three best customers are some of your employees and they seem to do just fine without my aid."

"They're just horny."

Everyone laughed as Mizui stood up as did Jia and Toki. Takeo stayed seated as Jo, Akio and myself got up as well. Mizui said to Takeo,

"I'll contact you later. It was a pleasure meeting you."

They shook hands as Takeo nodded and then we left.

Mizui ended up stopping to see Jia every now and then, mostly business wise since he found out that Aoki, Toki and Akio work for Jia. He liked the idea of having someone as powerful as Jia even remotely connecting to his pleasure house. Jia didn't seem to mind since he knew that anything having to do with that made Toki happy. Sometimes, I swear Jia lived to make Toki happy. Afterwards, we made short plans to travel back to Tokyo. I called Furukawa since I had been so busy lately. When I couldn't sleep, I got up and called him. Once he picked up, I actually found myself so glad to hear his voice.

"How is my Yuurei?"

"I'm well. Just unable to sleep."

"Poor thing. You must look a mess."

"What a charming thing to say. If I fell for you I could say I always fell for your charm."

"What? You didn't fall for me yet? I must not be that charming."

He laughed slightly as I shook my head and said,

"Stupid fox."

He laughed again as he said,

"I'm just stupid for you."

"That was insanely corny."

He laughed again as he said,

"I know. I always seem to make a fool of myself in front of you."

"I'm returning to Tokyo soon."

"How soon?"

"I'm not sure. You know the owner of a pleasure house is here?"

"Mizui?"

"How do you know?"

"I have employees that go to him. He's got one of the more popular ones in the Kabuki-Cho district."

"Oh...."

"What did you think I went there?"

"Well you said it so naturally."

"I don't need whores Yuurei. I'm not so insatiable that I couldn't wait for you."

"Someone has high hopes."

He laughed as he said,

"Even after many years Yuurei? You wouldn't sleep with me?"

"I don't know. I never thought that far ahead."

"I have."

"I can see that."

"I do miss you Yuurei. It feels like you've been for years."

"You're so over dramatic."

He laughed as he said,

"I can never get romantic with you can I?"

"Not really."

He laughed more as he said,

"It's okay. I can deal with your dry wit."

I sighed as we continued to talk through most of the night until the morning hours. When I started feeling tired, we hung up and I finally asleep.

I saw my associates a few times before we went to Tokyo, I remember one such incident as I was walking through Times Square on my way to meet Jun for lunch when I saw Jo and Sozaburo's niece. The little girl was in his arms as he carried her like a father would, the little girl holding onto Jo's tied up bangs and his coat as she wore a school uniform of a plaid skirt and dark blue sweater with knee socks. Her black hair fell past her shoulders and she spoke to Jo as Jo just walked. Once he saw me though, he paused as I said,

"Cute."

He sighed as he said,

"I'm doing a favor for Ichiro."

I lifted my hands slightly as I said,

"You don't have to explain anything to me."

The little girl turned to me as she said in her bright cheerful manner,

"Hi! I'm Katie. Are you Jo's friend?"

I looked at Jo as Jo said,

"Yes Katie. This is my friend from work. His name is Mikkie."

The little girl who resembled Sozaburo slightly looked at me as she blinked a few times and said,

"I'm eight."

I nodded as if I cared as she said,

"I never saw you before."

"I don't work with Sozaburo much."

"Jo likes my uncle!"

Jo looked upwards, clearly embarrassed by her outburst as he said,

"Katie, don't shout that."

"But you do! You come over all the time and you and my uncle always have kiss marks!"

I was actually surprised that child knew what a kiss mark was. Jo then said,

"How do you know that?"

"Cuz I see a bunch on your neck."

She pulled down the collar of his shirt revealing clear enough, Sozaburo's bite marks. I shook my head as I said,

"She's right Jo. You like her uncle."

"Thanks for siding with the kid."

"I follow the truth."

Katie then said,

"Are you gonna be around more?"

"No, I don't work that much with your uncle."

She frowned as she then said,

"You're pretty."

I raised an eyebrow as Jo laughed slightly and said,

"Okay we're gonna go. I still have to take her home."

She waved to me as I said bye to Jo and continued walking, shaking my head, amused by the whole situation.

We stayed in town for another day and soon we packed it up and went back to Tokyo. Mizui had promised to make further contact with Jia in Tokyo once he returned there and Jia agreed to it. Jia always stated he wasn't a drug dealer...but everything else you could accuse him of. I was glad to be returning, but the night before we left, I got a visit from Toki. I couldn't bring myself to invite him in because if I did, I knew I couldn't ask him to leave. He didn't even ask to come in which saved me from it, he was just dying for a moment alone with me, even if it was at my doorway. We exchanged minor conversation as he smoked, nothing too heavy until he exhaled a cloud of smoke and said,

"You seem off."

"I'm not. Or maybe I am but only around you."

He smiled slightly, leaning his head on the door frame as he said,

"I was thinking about you lately."

I sighed, looking down as I said,

"Why are you doing this again? You think I want to walk back into the rings of inferno with you?"

"Why not? What you love the fox now? Is that it?"

"No, I don't. If I did it would be none of your business."

"You know why you don't? Cuz you love me."

I couldn't say anything because he was right. I did love him. I hated myself for that. All these years, brutal damage, emotional scar tissue that had not even begun to heal and pain still as fresh as the day it was embedded and I loved him still. I was the greatest fool on the face of the universe. He didn't need me to say I loved him though. He could tell. He knew me better then most people...he knew me better then I would have liked him to. But nothing else was said on that subject as he finished his cigarette and pinched the end of it as he threw it down the hall. He then said,

"I think Li's bout to make a deal with Mizui."

"Why?"

"Because. I love the whore house he runs. It's also a good deal and a beautiful chunk of change."

"True..."

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

"We got a flight tomorrow. I'll let you sleep...or rest or whatever you do."

I nodded as I said,

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaned down and kissed my mouth gently and quickly before he then left. I then closed the door behind him and went to lay down for a few hours.