Kumo left exactly two days later, though he cut it close by leaving for Hong Kong around eleven at night. Jia wanted to see him through but at the same time, he did not want to go back to Hong Kong. Setting foot there was the least of his priorities at the moment. Before he left, Kumo let Jia know that he contacted his people and they would meet him in Hong Kong. He also reassured Jia he knew Hong Kong inside out.

"It's like my second home Jia. No worries."

"That's your favorite phrase isn't it?"

Kumo smiled slightly, that childish look on his face again as he said,

"I'm just not sure how else to explain to you that everything is fine. You believe me right?"

"Sure. Besides, Soryo has faith in you. If I didn't trust him I wouldn't trust you. Besides, you fuck me over and I'll break that pretty face of yours."

Kumo looked at him slightly surprised as he said,

"A little harsh don't you think?"

"Not really. I trust few people. You betray me, you get what's coming to you."

Kumo nodded in agreement as he said,

"Understood."

"So these coworkers of yours....childhood friends you say?"

"More or less. I love them all dearly. They all mean something to me."

"What's the name of you syndicate anyway?"

"North Star. Long story. The name does mean something."

"Every name usually does."

"What about yours?"

"Damned if I know what the 36 Moons stands for. I took this over from my original oyabun who was doing this when I still a dream in my father's mind."

Kumo laughed as he tucked his hair behind his ear, pierced ear showing again as he said,

"Are these nine closest to you?"

"Yeah. Him the most."

Jia grabbed the sleeve of Toki's coat and yanked him over. Toki went with a smirk on his face and rested his chin on Jia's shoulder as he stood behind him. Kumo nodded as he said,

"Cute. Your best friend?"

"Yeah. Since middle school."

"You came a long way together."

"We do almost everything together." Said Toki.

Jia elbowed him slightly as Kumo said,

"Well, when you decided to check up on me in Hong Kong, I'll introduce you to my own people."

"Can't wait."

Kumo then lifted up the sleeve of his coat as he said,

"Aish...well I need to go if I want to catch my plane. It's been a pleasure Jia."

"Likewise."

They shook hands as Kumo then bowed his head slightly and went on his way to catch a cab and be on his way.

Jia was pleased with the turn of events. He was only slightly upset the New York heads couldn't stay in Tokyo longer. As we gathered in his office so he could explain what he and Kumo had gone over, he finished up and said,

"I wanted to celebrate. I actually have reason to."

He rested his chin on his hand as he looked at the rest of us. Aoki, Akio and Toki conferenced before Toki nodded and turned as he said,

"Li, why don't we go to New York then? Aint like shit is holdin us here."

Jia thought for a moment as he said,

"That's so logically I'm almost mad I didn't think of that."

Toki smirked as Akio and Aoki stood there, looking slightly smug as Jia said,

"Yeah we're all fine. Tai, Gabriel, Aya, Jun, Mikkie you guys are fine everywhere you go. Akio and Toki you both have some play things in the city...so does Jo...yeah I guess we could go. Have a small celebration, invite a few of my closest friends."

Toki laughed as he said,

"Your closest friends, that would jus be the nine of us."

Jia flipped him off as Akio and Aoki then laughed slightly. Tai said,

"We should go to New York Jia. It would be a change of pace."

"Like we're never changing paces Tai." Said Jia.

"True."

Aya then tucked his hair back as he said,

"More people to party with in New York."

"Ah true...but I feel sort of bad leaving Kumo in Hong Kong with all this work while I go party. But...not bad enough. Let's go to New York."

The trio was pleased with that decision, however, Jia was wrong about one thing. I actually had reason to not be okay when we left. Once we were dismissed, I went to see Kazuki, who was working at his own building. Once I arrived, I knocked on his office door and he allowed me in. When he saw me, he got up, walking over to me as he hugged me and said,

"Yuurei. I didn't expect to see you tonight."

"I know. I had to see you though."

"Something wrong?"

"We'll be going to New York soon."

"For what?"

"Jia is actually in the mood to celebrate and since most of his associates are in New York, he rather go there since they all just left."

"Oh...so you're entitled to go as well right?"

I nodded as Kazuki brushed his fingers over my hair and said,

"It's all right Yuurei. It's just a celebration. You'll be back soon."

I nodded again as I said,

"I just got back not to long ago too."

"It's work, what can you expect?"

"Everything."

He smiled slightly kissing my forehead as he said,

"You going home now?"

"Yes."

"I'll go to your place soon okay? I'm still finishing up everything with Kumo and whatnot."

I nodded as I then left.

I got home and showered and went to lay down for a while. Jun called me to ask to go play poker, but I let him know I wasn't really in the mood. I stayed in bed for the most part, dozing in and out of sleep until I heard my door. I got up, throwing my hair over my shoulder since it was down and picked up my bathrobe on my way out the door. I had on my pajama pants on and a wife beater and I was basically a mess. I got to the door and checked who it was. I expected Kazuki, I got Toki instead. I opened the door as he leaned against the door frame, smoking a cigarette, dark blue jeans on with a matching jean jacket on over a black wife beater. His hair was under a cap, blonde bangs left around his face as looked at me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I jus dropped by for a minute. I'm on my way to the Kabuki-Cho. I'm beyond late."

"Toki..."

"Jus for a second relax, I don't even have time to feel you up before I go."

"What a shame."

He smirked as he said,

"Listen, when we get to New York, you gotta make a day for me before the party."

"Why?"

"Jus...cuz. Can you jus do this for me?"

I looked down, sort of wondering why he would want to see me before the party. I then sighed and said,

"Okay. Just call me before hand."

He nodded as he checked his watch and said,

"I gotta go. I'll see you later."

I nodded as I went to close the door as he put his cigarette in his mouth and put his hand up against the door and said,

"Hey...that don't mean don't say bye."

"I did say bye."

He moved the cigarette as he leaned down and kissed me, his tongue licking at my lips as parted my mouth slightly and let him in. As I did, I felt smoke and I moved back as I exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. He smirked and said,

"Shot gun."

"Bye Toki."

He then left as I closed the door behind him. Sometime later, Kazuki did show up. I laid in bed beside him as he stroked my hair, his other hand holding mine as he said,

"You thinking about anything?"

"Not really."

"I was."

"Oh? What of?"

"How much I like this."

"You're entirely too sentimental."

He laughed softly as he said,

"You don't like this?"

"Yes. But I wasn't thinking about it."

He fingers curled in my hair as he said,

"You tired?"

"Not really."

He moved a little, letting go of my hand as he reached up and stroked his own hair back and said,

"You know when you're leaving yet?"

"No."

"Well aren't you well of information."

"Shut up. Stupid fox."

He laughed slightly as he kissed my forehead and I looked up at him and kissed him.

We didn't leave Tokyo for another two days. Jia was in no rush, but he didn't want to waste that much time either. After we made all our arrangements, we traveled to New York. Just after a day of rest, everyone was gone, vanished into the night of the city. I did manage to get a hold of Jun before he disappeared and asked him what he was going to do.

"Some things. I'm still trying to fix things with my cousins."

I nodded as I said,

"You know of this celebration we're due to have?"

"Not a clue. Ask Tai...or Baby at the least. One of them should know."

"Okay. Talk to you later."

I hung up as I then went to get something to eat. It was well over a week before Jia contacted us to let us know the celebration was tomorrow night. After I found out, I went home and got a call from Toki.

"It's tomorrow."

"I'm aware."

"So I'll stop by."

"You want to tell me what this is all about?"

"You'll find out."

He hung up as I then went to wait for him. As I watched TV, still dressed in my suit just lacking my coat, tie and shoes, sitting on my sofa with my hair tied up, I heard the door. I got up as I went to answer, checking only for a second to see Toki. Once I opened the door and allowed him in, he took off his shoes and sat down on the sofa. I didn't get too close as I said,

"What's this all about?"

"I missed you."

"You said you would give me space."

"I did."

"It hasn't even been a month."

"How much more space you want?"

"You're not making this easy for me."

"Like it's so fuckin easy for me."

"It's a lot easier for you then it is for me. You love Jia, you have him to come home to."

He didn't say anything for once. Mostly because I know he didn't want me coming home to Kazuki. He then turned slightly on the sofa, getting one knee up as he said,

"So you're seein the kitsune right?"

"More or less."

"And I'm seein Li."

"You've been."

"So we're even."

"Excuse me?"

He got up as he said,

"Look, we both know that I ain't givin up either one of you. Besides, aside from the other people I fuck when I'm on down time, hittin up clubs with Aoki and Akio, the fact that Li's got his own fuckin play things and the people he fucks when I'm not around, now you're in this mess and you got the fox."

"Wait a minute, so...what you want me to continue seeing you, while you see Jia and I see Furukawa?"

"Somethin like that."

"You're serious aren't you?"

"I was thinkin about it. It's why I wanted to see you today."

"Toki you're insane. What makes you think Jia or Furukawa would even agree to this if in some bizarre turn of events, I did agree?"

"It's jus a thought."

"I don't want to have to share you. I don't want to be shared myself. I have Furukawa for myself. It's all I ever really wanted."

He sighed as he said,

"So you're not gonna agree to this?"

"No."

"You jus rather stay with him, cut me off completely, just like that."

"Stop saying it like I'm never going to see you again."

"Well it feels like you're tossin me aside."

"You do it to me constantly."

He rolled his eyes as he said,

"You say that like I do it with intention."

"I can't believe you would even suggest that."

"Okay forget it then. Let's just carry on like we did before."

"No. You have to let go."

"Why! I love you, I love Li, in theory, they say it's not possible to love two people but fuck that cuz I do."

"But it's not even fair to the both of us."

"Fuck fair, it's love! All's fair in love in war. Shit, we always in war, that sayin makes more sense to me now."

"Only your logic, would see this as an all right thing to do. Why do you always have to find some way to come and fuck me up somehow?"

"I don't do with intention."

I sighed, not sure what to do with this situation anymore. I walked over to Toki, sitting him down as I said,

"This has to stop. All of it. I can't keep doing this anymore and you shouldn't. If you say I make you want to be a better man, then be one and stop this."

He frowned as he looked down and then suddenly dropped his head on top my lap as he got comfortable. I gave a heavy frustrated sigh as I said,

"Toki...."

"I love you. Thas all I know. You're askin me to stop lovin you."

I put my arms around him as I leaned down, holding him close to me as I closed my eyes and said nothing. I was thinking about this situation and how it doesn't seem to go anywhere, it doesn't improve, it doesn't change. The only way it probably would, would be if one of us got married. But Toki would sooner shoot himself then get married and I haven't touched a woman in God knows how many years. I knew that he loved me, because I loved him too. It's almost impossible to hate Toki if he wants to be forgiven. He's done one of the most horrible acts of violation to me and I fell in love with him...it shows the power of his charm and persona. I knew, in my head, in my heart and soul if Toki was willing to leave Jia to be with just me, I would stop seeing Kazuki in a heart beat. It was so sad and pathetic of me and I hated myself for it because it was not in my character to be so weak. I held Toki for a while as he reached up to my hair, rubbing the back of my head as he said,

"Tell me you love me."

I sighed, as my hair fell to one side since it was tied up as I said,

"I love you."

He turned his head towards me and we met for a kiss, his lips pressed gently on mine, mouths parting. It was a sweet kiss. I broke it off too soon however, as I looked at him and said,

"Toki...you should go."

He didn't listen, he just pushed my head back down for another kiss.

For the rest of that night, I kept him at bay. I wanted to let him have his way with me and came so close to it so many times, but I knew if I did, I could never, ever hear the end of it. It was almost like having sex with him though. We were both in my bed, jeans on him, my own dress pants on as he laid on top of me, my arms around his neck as he had gotten rid of his shirts and I could feel his bare skin. I could feel how hard he was and how much it had to hurt him for him to even do this without forcing me further. He did try a couple of times to persuade me to please let him go further. I couldn't say yes, no matter how badly I wanted to say it. When we moved, so I could lay on top of him, his hand was on the back of my neck, as he reached up, kissing my throat, biting every now and then as his free hand undid some of the buttons on my shirt. I allowed him to do so as I rested my hands on his shoulders, tilting my head to the side as my hair fell over to the side, some stray strands falling over the both us. I felt really warm as if his body heat was radiating to me and I reached up to my face, smoothing back some of the stray strands of hair. I looked at him slightly as I then moved down some. I sat on top of him and I felt him poking me through his jeans as he moaned slightly and told me to get off him. I moved down to his thighs as I undid his jeans and moved my hand inside as I leaned back down on top of him. His body tensed at first touch and his hand gripped my hair tightly, almost yanking it back as he closed his eyes. We kept kissing, his mouth bruising mine as he bit at the corner of my mouth every now and then when we broke apart. I kept at it until I felt him come and once he did, he fell back, boneless, spent but unsatisfied. I removed my hand, getting up as I went to the bathroom and washed my hands and then my face as I tied my hair back and returned. He was falling asleep on my bed, his eyes half closed as he breathed deeply. I sat beside him as he raised his hand up to his face and brushed back his hair and said,

"I need a cigarette."

He reached into his pockets as he got them out and lit one as I laid beside him and had one with him. I knew then as I smoked with him, watching my smoke and his rings float up towards my ceiling, that I was fucked. Nothing would ever, ever get solved.

The next day, I was with Jun, having lunch with him as he said,

"You're spacey."

I turned my attention from the window as I said,

"Hm?"

"Have you heard a word I said?"

I thought for a minute drawing a blank as I said,

"I'm sorry, no I haven't."

"I know, you were watching whatever was out there."

"I'm a little distracted."

"What happened to your lip?"

I shrugged, feeling it was a little swollen from the previous night.

"You okay?"

I nodded as I went back to my tea and picked it up to take a sip. We were quiet for a while, Jun eating as he said,

"You are going to Jia's celebration right?"

"Yes."

He nodded as he said,

"You know where it is?"

"Waldof top three floors."

Jun nodded as he said,

"Shouldn't be too bad."

"It never really is for you Jun."

He smirked slightly as he said,

"Ah...true. I can't help it."

"Uh huh."

He smiled slightly as he said,

"Give me a break. It's the only time I actually get to get laid. I am a man you know."

"I know, I didn't say anything about that."

He went back to eating as I then thought about yesterday. My problem with Toki would never get solved. I would never be at peace. I could never make him go away or make it stop. It wasn't as if I was completely powerless to stop it...I didn't want him to not be in my life...but things were so complicated because he was greedy. He had left my apartment early this morning, around six. I woke to him kissing me as he laid beside me, already dressed. He told me he had to go and he would see me tonight and that was it. I walked him to the door and he left and I went back to bed and I actually slept. It wasn't until noon that Jun called and I was up again. I set my cup down as Jun looked at me and said,

"I'm done. You ready?"

I nodded as we paid the bill and left.

That night, after a quick shower, I changed into my suit and went to the Waldof for the celebration.

----------------------------------------------

References

North Star- The syndicate, along with Kumo and his associates are

all borrowed characters from Spider, who gave me permission to use

them for the few following chapters.