Though Jia knew it was mass chaos outside of his apartment, he did very little, or nothing to stop it. He didn't care. He understood Kaoru's rage. But that wouldn't mean he would lift a finger to stop it. He would teach him once and for all what it means to cross someone like Jia and the 36 Moons. The rest of us stayed put in our apartments for the most part, letting the lower heads deal with the minor work and the rest of us waited. Kaoru was not a fool, he waited long enough before he finally realized what Jia wanted. He wanted for Kaoru to show up himself. When Kaoru realized that, he began to show up at every other scene until the Yuuki twins let us know that Kaoru was there.

"He was spotted a good couple times. And no one can mistake him with that tattoo on his face." Said Yasuhiro.

Tai nodded as he said,

"Next time, we'll be ready for him."

Tai then let us all know about the impeding danger of Kaoru now showing up in every other fight. With Jia's permission, he sent us out on the next battlefield.

The Yuuki twins stayed with Jo, Jun and myself on the next run. Akio didn't come since he was backing up the Aoki and Toki. Aya stayed with Gabriel and Tai, preparing the next phase in battle as Jia stayed home, awaiting the next part as Tsubasa kept him company. The rest of the Yami along with the Itto Ketsuen and Ryuujin no Chi lurked in the shadows, not being known and not letting Kaoru be aware of just how outnumbered he suddenly was. Yasuhiro, the older, more dominate twin stayed with us outside as Jun and I stood outside one of the bars in Kowloon. Jo and Toshihiro stayed in the car, ready to back us up. I was unaware of where anyone else was. Yasuhiro let his black bangs be shown as he wore a fedora, tilted slightly downwards, the color matching his black suit. The brim around it was a dark blue, matching the silk shirt under his coat. His brother wore something similar though he lacked a fedora. Jun checked his watch as he said,

"I'm hungry."

I sighed knowing those were Jun's most often used words. Yasuhiro looked at him as he said,

"There's a noodle place right across the street."

Jun sighed as he said,

"I shouldn't be listening to my stomach on the job."

"Go, I got you covered." I said.

Jun thanked me as he carefully crossed the street and went into the noodle shop. Yasuhiro tipped his hat upwards as he said,

"I need a cigarette. You don't smoke do you?"

"No."

He sighed as he pat his side as I said,

"Jo smokes. You could ask him for one."

"I can't. Toshihiro's there. He doesn't like me smoking."

"Ah."

We waited for about ten minutes until Jun came back. My partner was now quite content as he ate his carry out of noodles. He had something else in his pocket as he carried a bottle of water under one of his arms. It was quiet for the most part, many people walking back and forth the streets filled with cars. It was only about ten at night. I looked up at the dark sky, seeing it was completely clear. A gust of wind blew by, my hair falling over my eyes slightly as Jun continued eating. Yasuhiro leaned against the wall behind us as we continued waiting. Around midnight, after almost two hours of standings, Jun long finished his dinner and water, all of us growing board and tired, we heard a car racing up the street, the tires screeching against the asphalt, horns blaring as it cut other drivers off. Jo got out of the car as he said,

"I just got a call, we have to move!"

Everyone got in the car as we saw the car rush by and Jo chased after it. Jo was already insane when he drove normally. In a car chase, it was about ten times worse. Jo missed people by fractions of millimeters, but he seemed just as calm as always. The Yuuki twins asked what happened as Jo said,

"The trio caught sight of him. They started the chase, but lost it after Kaoru got in his car. Akio called to let me know they were coming our way."

Jun held his hand against the window as he almost banged against it as Jo went over a pothole as he said,

"Kaoru's in that car right?"

"Yeah."

"Then we need to let everyone else know."

"Once I stop."

The chase for Kaoru led us to the waterfront where warehouses and such near where the docks stood. Not too far was the entry way for the ferry to cross over to the New Territories since Kowloon itself was an island. Jo stopped the car not to far as Jun and I called everyone else. The Yuuki twins looked at each other as we sat in the car and watched as three of Kaoru's people got out of the car, then Kaoru himself. As he stepped out, he raised his arm and aimed at us as Jo said,

"Oh shit."

And we all ducked down. We heard the bullets hit the windshield a couple of times and suddenly it stopped. Jo opened the driver's side door as he got out, his gun in hand as Toshihiro stepped out. Jun, Yasuhiro and I followed as we all aimed and we saw some of the Itto Ketsuen and the Ryuujin no Chi surrounding Kaoru. His men aimed back but Kaoru just continued aiming at us. He then said,

"I can take one of you out...one of Jia's valuable employees and I have a good thirty something percent chance of making it out. But that doesn't count that I have other people watching out all over Hong Kong. They could take out one more employee...until that leaves Jia with nothing. I want my child back. And if I don't get my child back, even after my death will Jia have to deal with the consequences of his actions."

"Are you threatening him?" Asked Jo.

"I'm more then threatening him. I'll put his name on a curse. I want my child back."

The Yuuki twins stood by as Jo looked at Jun and myself and said,

"So?"

Jun thought for a moment as he said,

"I can pick off his first two guards on the left."

"I got the right." I said.

A moment later, we fired off four shots, two each as the guards went down. Kaoru turned his aim and shot one of the Itto Ketsuen as he ducked back in the car, slamming the door. The other guards began to shoot at the car but the headlight beamed and the engine roared as everyone got out of the way as the car pulled off. We got back in the car as Jo got in and once we were all back inside, following Kaoru. However, by the time we reached the main streets of Kowloon, we lost him. Jo hit his closed fist against the steering wheel, cursing as he called Akio and let him know what happened. Akio let him know they would keep a watch out.

By four in the morning, as Jo slept at the wheel of the parked car, Toshihiro sitting beside him about to doze off and Yasuhiro laid out in the back seat while Jun and I stood outside, I concluded that our chase with Kaoru was done for the night. I nudged Jun, who was resting his arms on the hood of the car as he had his head down. He picked his head up right away as I said,

"I think we're done."

He nodded as he opened the door of the car and tapped Yasuhiro to get up. We woke Jo and then went on our way. I slept for the rest of the morning once I got back to my apartment. It wasn't until three that afternoon that I woke up, feeling slightly more refreshed when I heard my phone ring. I picked up my head, reaching for my phone as I heard Jun. He told me that Aoki had been shot and to come to the hospital. Upon receiving the name of the hospital, I hung up, showered, changed and caught a cab there. I went to the floor Jun told me as I met up with Akio, Toki, Jia and Aya, all sitting in the waiting room. Akio had his head leaned back against the wall, his hair tied back and he was a mess, very unlike him which proved the serious concern he had. Akio who never left his apartment unless he was dressed to model somewhere now wore his usual dress pants but his button down shirt was untucked, he lacked a tie and he didn't have his coat on. Toki sat beside him, his head down as he held his clasped hands against his forehead. He was in jeans and a zip up hoodie with a wife beater under it, his hair flat, falling around his face, shielding it. Jia was in similar dress as Akio, only he stood his hair unslicked and making him look so young. They all looked as if they had been tore out of sleep. Aya was the last one I set eyes on. And I thought I would see him in some sort of panicked state. Instead, he looked calm, just glancing over at a wall, his suit in place, his hair done, his arms clasped loosely over his slender frame. He looked more bored then anyone else, though he should have more reason to be worried. I tapped Jia's shoulder, breaking him from thought as I said good afternoon to him and then asked what happened.

"I don't know. Police found Aoki as he sat on a street corner bleeding. I don't know why he was even out."

"He was...just sitting there?"

"They said he was in too much pain to even speak. It's actually a miracle he walked as far as he did."

I nodded, tucking a stray hair loose behind my ear as I said,

"Where's Jun?"

"Bothering the staff to get some answers."

"Jia...last night, when we encountered Kaoru, he said that he would try to take out your valuable employees."

"I know. Toki told me. He said the same thing to them."

"What's his condition?"

"Don't know yet. That's why Jun's annoying people."

I nodded and sat down to wait beside Aya as Jia continued standing, to tense to sit for long periods of times. I looked over at Aya who sat very emotionless beside me. He moved every now and then to move his hair away from his face as he then sighed and crossed his legs. A little while later, Jo came in as he got the same information from Jia. He nodded and stood near the doors, waiting like everyone else.

By five, Jun was settled in with the rest of us as Gabriel and Tai eventually came in. The doctors finally arrived with news, stating Aoki was in stable condition. Alive, but unconscious from lack of blood and overwhelming injury. They claimed that for a man his age, he was in remarkable health aside from his chronic smoking. When they stated 'a man his age' it made me wonder just old Aoki was. Jia nodded, thanking them for the news as he turned to us and told Akio to stay guard. Aya who had been calm the whole time, stood up gracefully and listened for his orders. Jia sent us all out but told us to be careful. For the second time that week, Jun and I walked around Kowloon, waiting for any sudden action, my ear piece in my ear in case my phone rang. It was growing to be another long night when the glass beside us broke. We were standing by a Chinese restaurant, contemplating on eating now since it was ten at night, when the window not too far from us broke, a chair spilling out into the street. We both looked over as one of Kaoru's men jumped out and looked at us. He was unlike all the others and turned and started to run after a quick look. Jun and I decided to go after him, knowing he could lead us to Kaoru. He ducked into an alley and we went after him. But from the dark and the fact he was not too far ahead of us, when the alley split to one of the back ways, Jun and I weren't sure which way he went. We split up, knowing it was a dangerous choice given the circumstances, but we called our associates on the way, letting them know what happened. I couldn't hear anything aside from my own running as I took my part of the back way, so I slowed down as I listened for anything. I eventually stopped moving all together as I tried to hear for anything. I kept walking, my hand in my pockets as I wondered if I had taken the wrong turn. As I decided to head back, my phone rang. I answered for it to be Jun, letting me know he had the one we chased and to meet him where we split up. I said I'd be there soon and hung up as I turned and ran right into Kaoru himself. The sudden moment caught me off guard as he raised his hand and with the side of his gun, struck me across the face. I stumbled back, trying to stop myself from falling as I hit a wall. I went to reach for my gun as he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me forward, threatening to rip out each strand by the root if I didn't follow. I felt the tip of his gun against my forehead as I looked at him, one of my hands on my hair as I tried to dull the pain of him yanking it as I again went to reach for my gun. I heard the click, knowing he would kill me as I stopped moving. I glared at him, hating him for putting me in such an awkward position, wondering why I didn't hear him. He then told me to start walking as he shoved me forward, letting go of my hair but kept the gun not too far from the back of my head. I walked only for a moment before I moved slightly, hearing the bullet shoot off, hitting the metal of the garbage cans as I went into my pockets, getting my gun out and turning quickly as I grabbed Kaoru's wrist and went to snap it. Instead, he went with it and leaned forward as he then swept my feet from under me. He landed on top of me as he put his gun to my face, as I had mine to his. We glared at each other as he said,

"Interesting moves."

"I'll kill you first if you even think of pulling that trigger."

"What do you have to loose?"

"Less then you."

We glared at each other for what seemed to be hours. It was only a matter of minutes though. I questioned what he wanted to do and if he would really kill me since it was obvious to me that if he wanted to do so, he would have done it by now. Maybe he was afraid of the fact that I could kill him before he could kill me and that's why neither one of us moved. I made the choice to finally move when I heard another click of a gun and saw Toki leaning over Kaoru as he said,

"You shot him, I shot you and then what will become of your kid?"

Kaoru froze as Toki led him up off me as I started getting back up. Kaoru dropped his gun as he said,

"I want an audience with Jia."

"I want a lot of things too don't mean you gonna get em."

"He has my child. I'll do whatever it takes to get him back."

"Your kid's ugly by the way."

"Go to hell."

"Been there, done that."

"I want to speak with Jia."

Toki looked at me as he gave me the chance to call Jia and let him know that Kaoru wanted to speak to him.

Almost an hour later, we stood in the lobby of Jia's building as Kaoru stood face to face with Jia. Our oyabun had his arms crossed as the rest of his top heads stood not too far behind him.

"Talk."

Kaoru moved aside some of his hair as he said,

"I'll give you whatever you want in exchange for my child's life."

"What makes you think your kid is even alive? You shot one of my employees. Besides, you talk a lot of shit for someone who wanted to bring me down."

"If you killed my child, tell me now. Don't make me waste my time."

"If I did, what then?"

"You'll see."

Jia scoffed as he said,

"I already killed the kid. What the hell am I gonna do with a baby? I just did it to bring your ass out of hiding."

We all had our guns in hand as Kaoru nodded calmly and said,

"It's all I needed to know."

He didn't move to reach for his weapon, even if he had one since Toki took it from him back in the alley. Jia then said,

"I should kill you now."

"By all means do so."

Kaoru raised his arms out to the side, giving us a perfect shot as he said,

"My death won't mean the ends of your problems in Hong Kong Jia. It will just mean the beginning of them."

Jia got angry suddenly as he said,

"You can't haunt me. I've already died three times. You're gonna do something, do it now."

Kaoru then nodded as he reached into his pockets and withdrew his phone. He dialed a number as he waited. A moment later he said,

"Who does a tall, slender, dark haired with lighter bangs, pretty faced man belong to?"

"That could be anyone." Said Jia.

"He has a distinguishing beauty mark near the corner of his right eye."

Jo stood up as Jia said,

"The oyabun of the Itto Ketsuen."

"Oh yes. That's him."

Jia narrowed his eyes as he said,

"What about him?"

"My associates have him. They're ready to do as they please with him then kill him. All I have to say is yes."

"You call them off right now."

"Why should I? I'll be dead anyway. My child is gone. So nothing is stopping me from saying yes."

"Where is he?"

"Damned if I know."

Jia was stuck and he knew it. By saying Kaoru's child was dead it put Sozaburo in the next place in line to die. He could kill Kaoru now, but that would just result in Sozaburo's demise next. Tai stepped away for a moment, Kaoru watching him as he said,

"So...are we in agreement? My death or my life is going to cost you and associate."

"And your wife?"

"I'll miss her...she knows it's just business."

Jia couldn't risk Sozaburo's death. He sighed and said,

"Your kid's not dead."

Kaoru looked at him, still holding the phone to his ear as he said,

"Oh?"

"My associate was watching him. I'll trade your kid for him."

It was then Kaoru cracked a smile. An evil, sinister smile as he said,

"I know. My wife is already holding the child in her arms as we speak. Don't bother going after her, she's on a plane right now. As for your associate..."

He shrugged, closing his eyes slightly as he said,

"Oh well. Pretty face he has...it'll serve my own workers well."

Jia turned as he grabbed Gabriel's gun and aimed at Kaoru and shot him. With a single blow to his head, Kaoru fell back, landing on his back, his arms out to the side as he dropped his phone. Toki picked it up as listened and then said,

"They just hung up."

Jia sighed, giving Gabriel back his gun as he said,

"Fuck!"

He brought his hands up to his face, pulling back his hair as Tai came back and said,

"Don't panic yet Jia. The Yuuki twins know where Sozaburo is. They'll contact one of us..."

Just then Jo's phone rang as he answered and got directions. He rushed out of the door, Jun, Toki and myself following.