Once we returned to Tokyo, I felt not only exhausted from jet lag, but confused and really upset. As it turns out, once we left the airport, it was raining. I watched the city street pass me by as I looked out the window. It was dark, the rain was coming down hard and even though it was four in the afternoon, it seemed as if it was ten at night. I kept looking out the window as Jun sat beside me, yawning as he said,

"I'm hungry."

"What a shock."

I heard him fidgeting beside me as I turned and looked at him. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the airplane bag of peanuts. He tore the packaging opening as he began to eat as I said,

"I figured you would have eaten those on the plane."

"I did. These are yours. I also took Jo's, Toki's, Jia's and Tai's."

"You glutton."

"What? They weren't gonna eat them."

I shook my head as he continued to eat until we got to Tokyo. Once I was back in my apartment, I went to bed after a quick change and fell asleep.

The next morning, I heard my phone ringing and opened my eyes just enough to see my phone on the night stand. I picked it up as I turned it on and answered.

"Good morning Yuurei."

I yawned as I said,

"Ohayo Kazuki."

"You still sound exhausted."

"What time is it?"

"Almost one."

"In the afternoon?"

"Yes."

I picked my head up and looked at the clock and yawned again as I said,

"Why am I still so tired then?"

"Not sure. You hungry?"

"I'm tired."

"You can't sleep all day Yuurei."

"Watch me."

"Then how would I be able to see today?"

I yawned as I said,

"Tomorrow...I'll see you tomorrow."

I then hung up without waiting for a reply and promptly fell asleep again. I didn't wake up until later when I heard a constant knocking sound. I picked my head up, dark hair falling everywhere as I yawned and got out of bed. I went to the door as I opened it and saw Kazuki standing there, take out in one hand and that damn smile on his face. I sighed as I said,

"I said tomorrow."

"I said you shouldn't sleep all day. Besides, you need something to eat."

I frowned as I said,

"I'm not a child. I can sleep all day if I want to."

"That's what children do Yuurei. Babies anyway."

"Shut up. Stupid fox."

He laughed slightly as I moved aside and let him in. As I did, I felt a draft and saw I had undone most of the buttons of my shirt before going to sleep and I had forgotten. After I closed the door, I started to button my shirt up again as Kazuki set the food down on the table. Once I was done, I ran my hand through my hair, pulling it back as he took off his suit coat and set it on a chair as he tucked some of his messy black hair behind his ear. He then said,

"You hungry?"

I sat down on the table, resting my chin on my hand as I rested my elbow on the flat surface. I then mumbled,

"I said I was tired. Stupid fox...you never listen."

I yawned as he said,

"You're cute when you're angry."

He set a plate of take out in front of me and gave me chopsticks as I began to eat. After a quiet meal as I fought back yawns and ate what I could, I gave up and said,

"I'm exhausted. I'm going back to bed. You can let yourself out."

I got up and went back to my room where I laid down after getting under my covers. I stayed still and started dozing off when I heard another yawn and then Kazuki laid down beside me. He got under my covers as he hugged me from behind and moved my hair back as he kissed my neck. I raised an eyebrow as I said,

"What are you doing?"

"Going to sleep."

He smoothed his hand over my hair as he said,

"Go to sleep."

I sighed and said nothing else as I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

When I woke up later that night, I saw Kazuki still sleeping beside me. He had a peaceful look on his face, his hair all a mess as usual. I sighed to myself, looking at him as I reached up and stroked his hair back. I was surprised at how happy he made me. As I admired him, I heard my phone and I picked it up before the tone could continue on.

"Hai."

"Hey Ghosto."

"Hi...what do you want?"

"Yeah, nice to hear from you too."

"I just saw you a few hours ago."

"Not the point. Anyway, you sleeping?"

"Not anymore."

"I wake you?"

"No...I woke up on my own."

I decided that for Kazuki's sake I would take my call outside and got up as I left the room, closing the door behind me. Toki yawned as he said,

"Wanna do something?"

"Now is not a good time."

"It neva is with you."

"What do you possibly have in mind that I should accompany you?"

"Damned if I know. I jus know that whatever we do, I should jus be beside you."

"Where's Jia?"

"Sleepin still. I'm gettin stir crazy. I need out."

"Where are your friends?"

"Akio's busy. Aoki's spendin the night in with Aya an I'm not in the mood to do shit by myself."

I moved my hair back from my face as I said,

"Seriously though, now is not a good time."

He got quiet for a moment as I wondered faintly if he fell asleep or just was about to hang up or what.

"Toki?"

"Is the fox boy there?"

I swear, it was almost as if he was standing in front of me at that point. So much so, I even looked up from the floor to straight ahead. I actually felt I should lie for that moment and say no Kazuki wasn't here. But then I caught myself and thought, who is he that I have to explain myself to him?

"Yes, he's here."

He sighed as he said,

"Oh...that's why it's a bad time."

I had never, in all my time heard Toki sound so down. I expected his anger, a slew of insults for Kazuki or just him immature temper tantrum so he would hang up on me. Instead, he comes off sounded as if I just wounded him deeply.

"Maybe some other time." I said.

"Yeah...aite later."

He hung up right after that and I felt so bad. He never did that before. It was a reaction I wasn't expecting, nor was I ready for. I went back to my room as I laid down again. Kazuki turned to me as he hugged me and said,

"Not leaving are you?"

"No, it wasn't work."

"Okay."

I held onto him for a little while, but I wasn't actually tired anymore and I started to sit up.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not tired."

He sat up as well as he said,

"We should go do something. It's only..."

He paused as he turned to the clock on my night stand and checked the time.

"Nine thirty. Feel like a movie? Dinner? Coffee?"

I felt like seeing Toki. But I didn't say that. I just gathered my hair back and started tying it back as I said,

"Coffee is fine."

He nodded as we got out of my bed as he smoothed down the front of his shirt as he picked up his black suit coat and put it on. He shook his hair out slightly, the bangs still falling over his eyes and over parts of his face as he waited for me. I changed my clothes as he stepped out of my room to allow me to do so. I got some black dress pants on and a black button down as I rolled up the sleeves and then pulled my hair half up half down again before grabbing my keys, my wallet and anything else I may need as I stepped out. Kazuki smiled as he said,

"You look so cute."

I stopped dead in my tracks as I said,

"Excuse me?"

"You look cute."

I turned right back around and changed. The last thing I ever needed to hear, was that I was cute.

After I went back to looking like myself, we both went out for coffee. Afterwards, we went for a walk, both of us quiet. I felt good when I was with him, but the same time, I just wanted to talk to Toki now. I was mad at myself for even thinking of him when I was with Kazuki. I also kept remembering my night in New York where he reminded me of old feelings that seems as if they would never go away. Later on, Jia and Mizui met a couple of times. Jia even went down to the Eiryo no Koshitsu to see just how successful business was. Furukawa, his allie in Tokyo, also went with him to check things out. Aya went for business purposes and so did Gabriel. Jia had forbid Toki, Aoki and Akio to go while he went to conduct business and so the trio had to stay behind and sulk because of course they wanted to go. I would never go to a place like that so Jia didn't ask me to accompany him. I stayed in the lobby as Akio and Toki tossed a small plastic ball back and forth to each other as they sat across from each other. Aoki smoked, leaning back in the larger sofa since Toki sat beside him and Jo sat in the love seat, yawning and falling asleep. I sat down across from Jo as I watched the little colored ball bounce back between the two as they spoke.

"I wanna get laid." Said Toki.

"So what else is new."

"I tried last night. Li was dead to the world."

Akio laughed as he said,

"What you didn't try elsewhere?"

"I didn't feel like leavin. I was all comfortable an shit. What you do last night anyway? I know Aoki did Aya."

Akio laughed as Aoki turned and looked at him for a moment as Akio said,

"I had dinner with a friend. Then brought said friend to my place. Made good use of my basket. That's it."

Toki sighed as he said,

"Lucky. What about you Baby. What you do?"

Jo picked his head up as he said,

"Got laid."

Toki sulked as he said,

"Okay everyone is havin this fuckin luck but me. Damnit. I'm so nailin someone soon."

"Feelin blue Toki?" Said Aoki.

Akio missed catching the ball as he then paused for a moment and started laughing hysterically. Jo soon followed as Toki looked at him and said,

"That's not even funny man."

Aoki soon started laughing as well. I leaned back in the sofa just watching al them laugh hysterically at Toki's expensive. Toki got up as he said,

"I hate you all."

He started leaving as Akio said,

"Awwww...Toki-chu, come back."

"Nah I'm out of cigarettes anyway. Be back in a sec."

He left as Aoki smiled, pushing his sunglasses up as Akio composed himself and picked up the ball again as he said,

"That was a good one."

Aoki nodded as he raised his hand up slightly and Akio tossed him the ball.

Mizui stopped by a few days later, the slender model figure, soft brown caramel hair around his face as he looked around with seductive eyes and said,

"Is Jia around?"

Jun, who was around with me at the moment said,

"Yeah, you're Mizui?"

He nodded as Jun took out his cell phone and stepped away to call Jia upstairs as Mizui looked at me with his seductive gaze and said,

"I saw you in Soho that day."

I nodded as he said,

"You liked that painting right?"

"Hai."

"So did I. I had to buy it the moment I saw it."

I nodded, not really sure what he was getting at. I then looked off to the side, waiting for anyone to come and take him away. I don't do well with chatty people. I wish they would keep to themselves sometimes. I do, why can't they? What is it with this incisive need to talk to anyone in the room? Anyway, Mizui then reached up to his hair as he swept back as he said,

"You don't look like the type to be in Kabuki-Cho."

"I'm not."

He gave a soft smile as he said,

"Any reason why? Can't be because you're too moral. If you were, you wouldn't be a yakuza."

"I'm not comfortable in places like that."

I had given away more information about myself in those seven words then I would have if I sat down and wrote a full paragraph about myself. Mizui smiled slightly, as if he just realized something as he said,

"Cute. How old are you...twenty..one? Nineteen?"

I inwardly cringed at listening to my age being dropped. I shook my head as I said,

"I'm well past my twenties."

He arched a finely done eyebrow as he said,

"Interesting."

I felt as if he was reading into to me too much and I felt as if I should quickly back away from the situation. Luckily, Jia came down a moment later as he came over to Mizui and shook his hand, leaning down slightly for Mizui who leaned up and kissed Jia's cheek. Mizui then said,

"Your allie seems comfortable with you dabbling in a whore house."

"Sure. Of all the things I do, why not mess with a whore house too."

Mizui laughed as he said,

"Well...if I could finalize everything with you today, that would be great."

"Of course, let me call my business associates in. If you could sit down over there, I'll be back soon."

Mizui nodded and walked over to the lobby as he asked Jun and myself to call Gabriel, Aya and Furukawa as he called Tai. About twenty minutes later, everyone gathered in the lobby as Mizui was called back over. Jia suggested they head to the Dragon Leaf to finalize everything and soon they were gone. Furukawa glanced over at me as he started to leave and gave me a slight smile before going out. Jun saw that as he nudged me and said,

"How cute."

"Don't start."

"What it's cute."

I rolled my eyes as I walked away.

The newest business tie that Jia now had with the Eiryo no Koshitsu. Much like Toshimasa and Xiao Tien's casinos, Jia received his cut of the profit. A fair, yet not overwhelming amount that would break Mizui, but enough. Jia, a business man to the extent that set prices where not the way to make money, often cut in on percentages. Like Toshimasa's casino cut, Jia asked for thirty percent of the profits, each and every time. Mizui agreed, since it was fair and not asking for half. Mizui also now had permeant fixtures at his door being lower heads working for the 36 Moons. Furukawa's employees where in charge of the books there who worked along side of Mizui's people and one of Tai's own lower heads collected the money for Jia. The threat was also issued that if Mizui should ever try to back stab, double cross or back out on Jia's deal with him, he would not only be robbed blind, but killed for his betrayal. Mizui was now completely off the market in which no one else could make him an offer for partnership or protection since the 36 Moons now owned him. Mizui was fine with that and stated no one else would even have the strength to do what Jia was doing. With that set, Jia was now making more pocket change.

However, Jia was in no mood to celebrate. Years back, Jia would throw a party for anything he just did. Business deals closed, countries taken over, new allies, a party would be thrown. But not lately. It seems as if Jia was loosing his taste for heavy partying. I for one, was not too upset about it. He seemed to be more concerned about his actual deals being steady and he sent some people to watch the lower heads who were watching Mizui already. Since the whole deal with Furukawa's ex, Jia had been shaken in his belief in Furukawa which is why he had more people looked on and made sure Aya and Akio went through any business papers that went through before they were given to Tai and Gabriel to look over them again before they told Jia anything. I knew Kazuki wanted to prove himself to Jia but the opportunity wasn't coming up any time soon and so he was left to have Jia look at him and double guess him. It started to wear on Kazuki as he worked late nights and I hardly got to see him anymore. At first I didn't care and then when I realized I hadn't seen him in almost two weeks, I understood. Another week went by before I just got plain frustrated and asked him why he was so busy. Not even Tai and Gabriel worked as much once the deal with Mizui was closed. He explained that he worked more then ever now to not have Jia double guess him but it wasn't working. He felt very useless all the sudden and it started to show with his actions. It was almost as if he lost his rights to the Kitsune name. I stood in his office after not seeing him for three weeks as I said,

"You know, showing Jia you can do paper work won't do much."

He looked up at me as he said,

"What do you suggest I do then? It's not like anything is happening right now."

"Don't get mad at me because you fucked up so quickly."

"You know...why don't you leave. You standing there isn't helping me either."

I looked at him for a moment as I turned and left without another word. As I started walking home, I decided to catch the subway instead. I wasn't in the mood to go home, but there wasn't much I could now either. Once I got on the train, I saw Toki sitting in the cart by himself, leaning his head back in the seat, an unlit cigarette in his mouth as he sat with his legs open, his hands clasped loosely between them and resting between his legs as he looked up. It was almost as if fate had put him there for me after my run in with Kazuki. I sat beside him as I reached up and took the cigarette from his mouth as he quickly turned and looked at me. He smiled as he said,

"Hey Ghosto."

"Hi."

"Goin home?"

"Hai."

"Me too."

"It's still early for you."

"I'm bored as fuck right now."

I remembered the last time he asked me to do something but I declined. I then said,

"You want to do something?"

I felt him looking at me as he put his arm around me and said,

"Anything you want Ghosto. Anything you want."