A week later, Jia packed us up and we headed to London. I wasn't all too happy with the idea, but, like I said before, there wasn't much I could do about it. We took an afternoon flight nonstop to London but we decided to meet at Narita airport before we left. I got there first, pacing around for a while, a cup of tea in my hand as I waited for everyone else to join me. As I sat down, tucking my hair behind my ear, I looked up to see someone resembling Gabriel walking towards me. I faintly thought it wasn't Gabriel until the gaijin got close enough and I recognized those brilliant blue eyes slightly slanted and the now permeant scars around his neck. It made me touch my own neck, remembering I had a few fading scratches there. What made me reconsider that it was our little gaijin was his hair. Last I saw him, the blonde of his hair had grown out a lot from his busy schedule and his hospital stay, but now, the blonde was gone. All of his shoulder length hair was a jet black, scraping over his shoulders slightly, some tucked behind his ear, his ear pierced not once, but twice, a second hoop going through the top part of his ear lobe as he said,

"What?"

I didn't realize I was staring.

"Your hair is black."

He nodded, sitting beside me as he said,

"I didn't like the blonde anymore."

He paused, seeming to be lost in thought until he said,

"You know how it feels to have everyone look at you and think you're weak?"

I nodded. He continued.

"I have that too. People see the blonde hair, blue eyes, the fact that I'm named after an archangel and assume I could do no wrong. It's discouraging to be treated like you can't fend for yourself."

"It's even worse when you're out in the streets and people do that."

He nodded, both of us understanding each other for a moment as he said,

"It's part of the reason it's black. The other reason is that keeping it blonde was a lot of maintenance."

He gave a small laugh as I nodded and we continued waiting. Akio showed up sometime later, his carry on bag in hand as he set it down and said,

"Oh, look at me, I'm actually on time for something. Hey, gaijin...I like the hair."

"Thanks."

"You look sexy. I'd cop a feel but I think Tai would snap me in half."

Gabriel cleared his throat as Akio sat beside me and leaned back. Aya came in a short while later and then Furukawa, Jia and Toki. Jia looked at Gabriel as he said,

"I have a fallen angel in my group."

He said it with a smile as Gabriel smiled back slightly. Jia then said,

"Okay, we're all here...right?"

Akio nodded as he said,

"Yeah Jia, we're all here."

"Ah, sou ka."

Just then, the plane began to be boarded. We traveled first class, Jia and Furukawa discussing business as Toki fell asleep, his hat over his eyes as he leaned back in the seat, his hands on his stomach, his mouth closed, head to the side. Aya and Gabriel spoke among themselves as Akio had a drink. I was reading the paper as Akio said,

"How long is this flight?"

"A few hours."

"I need a cigarette."

"You'll have to wait."

He sighed in annoyance as he then picked up the small stirring utensil they give on the plane to stir coffee with as he began chewing on it. I looked at him from the side of my eye as I said,

"That's attractive."

He looked at me as he said,

"Oral fixation. It's really the only reason I smoke."

"Ah."

I dozed off during the flight, only waking up when I felt the plane landing. I sat up, rubbing my eye slightly as I checked my watch, then promptly stopped because I realized I was in a different time zone now. I yawned, leaning back in my seat as I looked beside me and saw Akio had chewed through at least four plastic stirrers. He was going through the fifth one when the plane landed and he set it down in the napkin among the others. I looked at him as I said,

"Ew."

He laughed as we waited for the plane to stop. Once it did, we began leaving, Toki already awake, yawning as he pulled his hat back in the same place. Aya and Gabriel began standing up once we were allowed to leave. We walked out into the airport terminal where I recognized Taylor, his sandy blonde spikes standing on end in a messy, bed head sort of way. Beside and behind him stood three other people. I assumed they were his associates. Jia was approached by Taylor as he said,

"Good evening Jia."

"Good evening." Jia shook his hand.

Taylor then said,

"Are you tired Jia? You could retire to your hotel if you wish."

Jia shook his head as he said,

"Nah, I'm fine. Who are these?"

"Oh...my associates I was telling you about."

The three walked over to us, the first one, who I assumed was the leader had reddish, brown hair, somewhat short, yet long enough to flare around his face, covering one eye partically. His lips puckered, his face was pale, his eyes dark and he wore an all black suit. Behind him was a slightly taller man, bleached blonde hair, a silver hoop in the side of his nose, a black suit on as well, less formal then the first man since he lacked a tie. The last one was shorter then the first two, his face made me think of a cherub since it looked as if he could do no wrong. Black, short hair framed his slightly chubby face, he too had a suit of black on. What stunned me the most about all three were that they were all of Asian decent. Taylor then said,

"Jia Li, this is Murata Seiryo, his brother Kohei and Yamamura Junzo. These are the associates I was telling you about."

Seiryo, the leader walked up to Jia and extended his hand out. Jia shook it as he said,

"All of you are Japanese."

"Yes. Born in England though. We don't speak much Japanese."

We all noticed the English accent from Seiryo's deep voice. His brother Kohei then shook Jia's hand and then Junzo, who was awfully quiet. Taylor then said,

"Let's have you checked in first. If you wish for anything else..."

"No, we can do business now."

Taylor nodded as we went to pick up our luggage and then went on our way. We checked into Claridge's like before and then Jia took his business heads and went to work. That left Toki and myself alone. However, Toki was exhausted and went to sleep right away, leaving me alone.

I went for a walk around London, gathering my hair up in a loose tail, twisting the knot around so the loose ends could fall over my shoulder. I tried the food, which wasn't so bad...just over fried and whatnot. I got a cup of tea as I continued my walk, getting to know the tourists sights. I knew this city pretty well already from previous times, I just never got the chance to see it during the day. It was a somewhat cool day, the air was light and only blew every now and then. I admired small shops that sold strange clothes rivaling the kogals in Japan, the loud techno music blasting from shops that had blinking, waving lights from the doorways, the smells of pastries from bakeries. I watched people go on with their normal lives and as I did, I felt as I was a ghost floating through, unnoticed with no actual purpose, wandering between earth and heaven. I was stuck in limbo I guess. Around five, my cell phone rang and I looked up from the river I was staring at as I moved back from the bridge railing and answered.

"Yes."

"Hey Ghosto, where is everyone?"

"Jia and the business heads are working with Taylor and the three new associates."

"Oh...where you at?"

"Nowhere. Why?"

"Come back here."

"Why?"

"I'm bored and lonely. Plus it's only...uh.."

I heard him moving around to check the time since his watch was still set for Japan time. He then said,

"It's only five."

"I know."

"Come on Ghosto..."

I sighed and said,

"Fine. I'll be there soon."

I hung up as I decided to take my time coming back.

It was close to six thirty by the time I arrived back at Claridge's. I didn't go as slow as I would have liked, but at least it took me well over an hour to return. Once I did get back however, Toki was in the lobby, looking very bored might I say. Once he saw me, he got up as he said,

"Damn you took fuckin foreva!"

"I was all the way on the other side of town. Sorry if I don't come running to your every beck and whim."

"Aww, Ghosto thas cold."

He hugged me from behind as I attempted to walk away. I almost fell if not for him grabbing me and keeping me on my feet. I sighed as he said,

"What time is everyone comin back?"

"I have no idea."

"Wanna head upstairs for a while...go to your room?"

"And do what?"

"Talk of life and weather."

I shook my head as he laughed. He then put his hand inside my coat as he said,

"No, seriously, I jus wanna be with you."

I sighed to myself as I moved away and said,

"We can't risk it. I'm not sure when Jia and everyone else would come back."

I turned around as he said,

"Aite...another time then."

I nodded as he said,

"You eat yet?"

"No."

"Let's go then."

We went into Claridge's restaurant and sat down for a light dinner.

Toki didn't eat much, but it was nice to even see him eat at all. We both sat down, him picking at some fresh rice and vegetables as I had some fish. I drank some tea, watching him eat slowly, eating less then half his plate before he claimed he was full. He lit a cigarette right afterwards as he finished his gin and tonic and then leaned back in his chair.

"You barely ate."

"It's too much."

I shook my head as my cell phone then rang and I set my fork down as I answered. It was Gabriel, letting me know everyone was returning for the night. I hung up after I thanked him and then told Toki. He checked his watch as he said,

"That would have been a good hour."

I sighed, finishing up my dinner and then went to wait for Jia and the rest of my associates. Forty-five minutes, Jia came back with Aya, Gabriel, Akio and Furukawa. Jia invited us back to his suite so we all went up. Jia invited us inside as he toed off his shoes and then took off his coat and tie as Toki sat down on the bed beside him. Jia then said,

"Okay, things are going well. I like these three. They know what they're doing. The Owners of the Game will be here in two days so...we'll have to over look all the casino ties and everything."

"The casino's did start getting set up last time you were here though right Jia?" Asked Gabriel.

"Yeah they were. Seiryo, who's more or less doing what Xiao Tien is going to start watching everything and Junzo, the law and order of the whole outfit is running things there to keep them out of trouble. Kohei is just the muscle. Taylor needs help running the books, that's when Toshimasa will come in. Xiao Tien will just watch over Seiryo, make sure he's not doing anything to screw up."

Jia sighed, running his hand through his hair as he shook his head out, black hair spilling around the sides of his face. He then sighed and said,

"We'll do this tomorrow. You can all go."

Jia dismissed us as I then found myself in front of Kazuki. He smiled at me as he said,

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. Meeting went well I see."

"Yes."

He kissed my cheek as he said,

"I'll walk you to your door."

We went down one floor to where my room was as I then stopped at my door, taking the keys out as he then said,

"I'll see you tomorrow Yuurei."

I nodded as he kissed me good night and I went inside my room.

The next afternoon, I got a phone call from Gabriel letting me know we had a dinner with Taylor's three associates and Taylor in two days. Meanwhile we had nothing else to do because Jia himself was just talking to the three with Taylor in his hotel room. I sighed and turned as I picked up the controller on the bed and turned on the TV. It's what I would do for the next two days until I was needed. If I stepped outside, I risked having Toki or Kazuki trying to take me somewhere and a confrontation between those two was not what I needed. I just stayed where I was and didn't leave until two more days.

During the two days, I had room service brought up, I watched a lot of TV and slept for most of the time. Gabriel and Akio occasionally called. So did Toki and Kazuki but I just said I was tired or sleeping and left it at that. By the time the two days were up, I got up again, showered, dressed and went out since we had to pick up the Owners of the Game.