I accompanied Aya and Jia to pick up the owners of the game. Jia didn't trust Akio or Aoki to pick them up. Aya just wasn't comfortable with the idea of Aoki being in the same car with the owners of the game, so he went with Jia. Three lower heads that came with Jia for the single purpose of picking up luggage, remained in the background as the three of us stood in terminal, waiting for them as Jia sighed and said,

"I love seeing them."

"As if you don't have enough eye candy around you Jia." Said Aya.

Jia smirked as he said,

"I know. But Aoki might actually threaten me if I dared to lay a hand on your perfect ass."

Aya smiled slightly, his eyes narrowing as he swept a lock of hair behind his ear and said,

"I didn't mean me."

"I know, but you're what I'm referring to."

Aya smiled, flirting with our oyabun and loving it in the process. I turned away, keeping a watch out until I finally noticed Toshimasa, his black hair now slightly shorter, still falling over his eye as he wore a white suit, black shirt underneath it, his cane still helping him on his way. He had an aura around him, people going out of their way to avoid bumping into him or harming him. Xiao Tien followed, the pretty China Doll commanding just as much respect, his black thin coat over his slender frame, black hair around his perfect oval face, hazel eyes glowing like golden honey with each glimpse the light caught latch onto. People watched them as if they were models. Models, toys, dolls, mannequins, perfection that took flesh. Something that could be touched and toyed with. As they approached us, Jia held his hand out for Toshimasa, who took it and held it as he greeted Jia. Xiao Tien then shook Jia's hand, going a step further as he stepped closer, putting his hand on Jia's shoulder, leaning up and kissing his cheek. Jia smiled as he said,

"How was your flight?"

"Tiring." Said Xiao Tien as he stepped back, sweeping free strands of hair away from his cheek. Toshimasa nodded as he said,

"But not without it's comfort."

Xiao Tien and Toshimasa then greeted Aya and myself before we all left and caught the next cab out. Jia sat by the China Doll, flirting with him since Xiao Tien still had a bit of a crush on him. Toshimasa nudged him during the conversation as Xiao Tien blinked innocently at his partner as he then smiled and turned the conversation to business.

"So, the last time we came to London, we had to set up this make shift casino. Taylor said he would find someone to run it on our absence. I take it he has."

"Yes. Some guy named Murata Seiryo."

"And does he come with company?"

"Two others. A brother and his friend."

"Interesting. Brothers."

Toshimasa sighed as he said,

"What do they do? Business wise I mean?"

"Seiryo sorta does what the China Doll does. He runs the casino, makes sure everything is in proper order, that people are paying."

"And the other two?"

"Kohei is the muscle. That's Seiryo's brother. Yamamura Junzo, he's the law aspect. So they still need help with the books and such. Book keeping seems to be a task for everyone."

Toshimasa nodded as Xiao Tien then said,

"I'll watch over Seiryo I'm assuming."

"More or less. The casino is yours China Doll. You two are the only ones I fully trust to handle my money in such a way. So I want you two looking over anything Taylor's associates do."

The two nodded as the cab ride continued into the city. We arrived at Claridge's as the owners of the game stepped out from the cab. The cab with the three lower heads followed up behind us as they got out and helped the two with their luggage as they walked ahead. Xiao Tien then said,

"So, when do we meet these three new ones?"

"Tomorrow evening. I have flights coming in all night and most of tomorrow afternoon. Some of my other associates are stopping in to meet another part of my business."

"Oh? Who else is arriving?"

"Karasu, because Sozaburo couldn't attend and Tsubasa."

"And their flights are at different times?"

"Yes, Tsubasa had something else to do tonight, so he'll be in tomorrow afternoon."

Xiao Tien nodded as we took the elevator upstairs. Once the owners of the game were in their rooms, settling down for the night, Jia retired to his room. Aya and I stood in the hallway for a while as he looked at me and said,

"You play poker?"

"Yes."

"Oh right, I forgot for a minute. Want to play a game while we do nothing?"

"Sure."

We went to Aya's room where we both sat down and Aya cut the cards. He had brought a pack with him because he said he sometimes played with one of the Tachimines' if they were around or Akio. I didn't mind as long we had something to do. I was starting to get bored of watching London television all day anyway. We played for a few hours, me loosing each time since Aya was even better then Jun.

I went to bed after a few games. I was glad we weren't playing for money...Aya would have cleaned me out. I left his room and quietly, carefully made my way down the hall to my own room. I had avoided Kazuki and Toki since I got to London. Mostly because if they caught sight of each other, they would have gone at each other's throats. The last thing I ever wanted was Jia to be angry with me again because his guard and his associate were trying to kill each other over me. I sighed outloud in disgust as I kept going to my room, glad I had made it with no problems.

The next afternoon, I woke up slowly. I felt as if I had over slept, but I saw faintly there was light in the room. Once I started to gain focus, I saw two black things in front of my face. I jumped back as I reached my hand under my pillow as I saw it was Toki. He laughed as he said,

"Thas always fun to do."

"How'd you get in?"

"I got a key from one of the pretty girls at the desk."

I sighed as he got in my bed as I noticed he wore sweat pants and a wife beater. His hair was still flat as he then pounced on me, both of us falling on the bed as I gasped and said,

"What are you doing?"

"Attackin you."

I sighed, trying to push him off me as I said,

"Get off me. You're heavy."

He smiled as he leaned down, putting his arms around me, lifting me up slightly as he kissed me. I sighed, melting into his embrace as I then moved back and said,

"You need to get off me."

"Nah...I like it jus fine where I am. Open your legs though."

My eyes widened slightly as I started pushing him off me as I said,

"I will do no such thing! Get off me."

He laughed as he rolled us over so I would be on top. He smiled, his teeth showing slightly as I said,

"You're incorrigible."

He just smiled all the wider. His hand reached up to my hair as he said,

"Why you been avoidin me?"

"Because...Kazuki is here too or have you forgotten?"

"So? Like I give a fuck about that fuckin fox."

"I know but I do."

"Oh?"

He sat up on his elbows slightly as he looked at me and said,

"More then me?"

"No...never."

I leaned forward, kissing him as he kissed back, his arms coming around me as he pulled me down. My hair fell around us, darkening the area as I pulled back slightly and said,

"It's too early for this. I didn't even brush my teeth."

"I don't care."

His fingers stroked over my cheek as he looked up me, his mouth parted slightly, his eyes dark, lust but love filled as I sighed softly and said,

"How can you break me so easily?"

"Because you know in the end I'm right."

I nudged him as he laughed slightly and I smiled and I kissed him again. I straddled him, my hands on his face as he held my waist, when I pulled back again, he leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine as he said,

"You workin tonight?"

"I'm going to that dinner tonight yes."

"Yeah...me too. What about afterwards?"

"I don't know. Probably back here."

"Li's got his doll here...thas distraction for him."

"So what you want me to be your distraction?"

"It's been a while since I got with you."

"That's not an excuse to come running to my door to try to get in my pants Toki."

He smirked slightly as he said,

"I aint tryin to get in your pants. I'm tryin to get you out of em."

I laughed slightly as he smirked and I said,

"Pervert."

"One of the best."

I laughed a little before stopping myself. He then said,

"You always stop yourself."

"It's not me."

"I love when you smile though."

I put my arms around his neck as I sighed slightly and said,

"What are you thinking?"

"That was nice an female of you."

I moved away as he laughed and brought my arms back around his neck as he said,

"I'm thinkin about you actually. An how beautiful you are."

I rolled my eyes as I said,

"I'm not female just because I said a female like thing."

He laughed again as he said,

"Nah, I'm serious. I love lookin at you. You're one of the most beautiful things I eva saw in my whole sorry existence."

His fingers ran through my hair as I looked at him and said,

"You're so full of shit."

He laughed again as he rolled us over again, him landing on top of me as I looked up at him. I then said,

"Why did you even change your hair before?"

"I tried something new."

I ran my hand through is hair as he leaned on my palm and said,

"Tell me you love me."

"I love you."

He smiled slightly as he leaned back down to kiss me.

He stayed in my room for most of that morning. I discovered later on that Jia and Furukawa had gone to pick up Tsubasa at the airport. When I was ready to get out of bed and dress, Toki wouldn't let me. He kept pulling me back and making me fight with him to get out of bed. I laughed a lot of the time because he kept tickling me, hugging me and make me feel comfortable, but at the same time, I knew I wasn't on vacation and I shouldn't rest so easily so I did struggle. Eventually I got up and ran a brush through my hair as I tied it up and told Toki to leave. He didn't want though, which just made things all the more difficult. He was in my bed too so I wasn't about to risk trying to get him out. Instead I went to shower, bringing my clothes with me. Once I was done, I dressed and walked back out to my room where Toki was sitting up in my bed, having a cigarette, watching TV as he changed channels over and over again. I was now dressed, my hair pulled back except a few stray hairs as I said,

"How long you plan on staying there?"

He turned back to me as I saw his displeasure that I was dressed. He exhaled a cloud of smoke as he said,

"I'll go. You already got dressed."

I smiled slightly, seeing him pout. I loved to see him pout. It so childish, yet adorable. He got up, getting his sneakers on as he put out the cigarette in the ashtray beside my bed as he kissed me once more and then said,

"I hate when you tie your hair up."

He tugged on the back of it as I flinched and said,

"I can't have it down all the time."

He smiled, kissed my cheek and left.

That evening, we all gathered at St. James Street for dinner. Jia with us, Akio, Aya, Gabriel, Toki, Furukawa and myself, Tsubasa, Karasu, Xiao Tien Toshimasa, Taylor, Seiryo, Kohei and Junzo. We all sat down, getting comfortable as cigarette cases and cell phones were placed on top of the table. Toki set his pack of cigarette on the table beside his cell phone, Jia's platinum case beside his small cell phone, Akio's silver case engraved with a dragon sat on the table beside his phone which was encased in white. Furukawa had his case still in his hands, the kanji for Kitsune catching the light as he rubbed his thumb against the top before finally settling it down and then resting his phone on top of it. Seiryo and Kohei set their cigarette packs on the table, Kohei having a small white lighter with a sticker on the front of it, was stuck in the plastic of the pack. Junzo, Aya, Gabriel and myself did not smoke. Even the owners of the game had their cases out in front, cell phones resting on top. Everyone had something from the bar, even me as we then waited to order. As we waited, Jia said,

"Seiryo, this is my associate, Wu Xiao Tien. He does what you do at the casino."

Seiryo and Xiao Tien exchanged looks, Seiryo giving a nod as Xiao Tien smiled. Jia then continued.

"Toshimasa runs the books so Taylor, you, Seiryo and Junzo can fill in Toshimasa on this business thing so he can get some books in order."

Junzo gave Toshimasa a warm smile as Toshimasa smiled back. Jia then said,

"So now that we know who's working with who, tells us about yourselves."

Seiryo tucked a piece of dark reddish brown hair behind his ear as he said,

"I've been doin this game for a little while. When The Gun was alive, I couldn't do much of anything. Then Taylor started workin. I joined up when I could."

"Why couldn't you do anything when The Gun was around?" Asked Furukawa.

"He didn't like foreigners. He thought we should go back home and all that."

Seiryo waved it off with disgust as he took a sip of his drink. Taylor then said,

"That old man was a fool. Great promised worked right under our noses and he din' even recognize it."

Seiryo gave a slight smile as he said,

"My brother Kohei, he's not much for brains but he could snap your neck in two. Handy with a gun too he is."

Kohei nodded, agreeing with his brother. We then looked at Junzo as the cherub faced young man cleared his throat as he said,

"Oh, well I've been in school up until recently. Seiryo and Kohei were my only friends."

"I see a ring. You married?" Asked Akio.

Junzo nodded, looking at his hand with much adoration as he said,

"Yes. My wife, I met her when I moved here from the States."

It's why his accent was much weaker then Seiryo's and Kohei's. He wasn't a natural born Englishman. Jia smiled slightly as he said,

"I don't meet many married men in this game."

"I don't do this because I like to sir. I do it for my family. I earn more money doing this then anything else. I'm not proud, but if I wish to have all the finer things in life and give them to my wife, then I'll do this. And more."

"A blind man in love will find vision if he has to."

Jia raised his glass to him as Junzo bowed his head slightly, accepting the compliment. Jia then said,

"Taylor, how long before this casino is up to full functioning order?"

"A couple of days or so gov. This thing has been set and ready to go since you last left."

"How's your father taking all this?" Asked Aya.

"Not well. He din' know of anything till two nights ago. He found out where I had been spendin all my time and my effort. He thinks I tried backstabbin him. He also thinks it was me who killed The Gun. As if I had the minerals to pull a gun on someone!" He finished with a laugh.

Jia smiled slightly as he said,

"You never held a gun?"

"I've held one all right. It's jus not my thing. I can use words to get what I need. And when all else fails, is why I employed Kohei right?"

We all gave a laugh as the waitress came back and we ordered dinner.

The conversation shifted from topic to topic, business to personal. Toshimasa and Junzo spoke of organizing the books at one point, then Xiao Tien, as usual flirted with Seiryo. Seiryo responded lightly to it, but took it as a joke and laughed. Jia then brought the conversation back to business with Tsubasa as he explained how this would effect his New York property. Furukawa said it would affect the Japan property since it would be another large swell of money. Toshimasa calculated that his empire could double in worth because of London alone. With that Jia gave a smile as he raised his glass and gave a toast.

"Here's to me...king of the fucking universe."

Everyone gave a laugh but nonetheless agreed and toasted to Jia.

The next week, Jia and his business heads were going over Taylor's casino and booking joint. The grand opening of the casino was christened with a boxing match that was in an adjoining room along side the gambling. Bets were being placed as Jia was satisfied as the casino ran smoothly, a large crowd filling the entire area. After the opening night of the casino in London, Jia had to stay with Furukawa, Gabriel, Akio and Aya to clear up business ends with Taylor, Seiryo and Junzo. In that time, I wanted to take advantage of sleeping in as much as I could. One night however, after Jia explained the extra time we would be staying and dismissed everyone, he asked me to stay in his suite. He asked Toki to leave for a moment as he looked at Jia strangely. Jia then said,

"Humor me please Toki."

Toki sighed as he got up and went outside, saying he would go have a cigarette with Akio. I stood by myself in Jia's hotel suite as he got up and started getting his coat on. As he did he paused and said,

"I needed to talk to you for a moment."

I nodded as I went over to him and helped him get his coat on though he was taller then I was. As I did, he said,

"Let's cut all the bullshit and nonsense and stop tiptoeing around everything. I know you and Toki are fucking again."

I felt heat rise to my face. I cleared my throat, knowing I couldn't deny it as I said,

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

He turned to me, adjusting his lapel as I said,

"I know that you and he have...something."

He nodded as he searched his pockets as he said,

"We do. And I love him more then anyone can imagine. But he loves you too. I can't change that. I won't try to anymore. I love him enough to let him do whatever makes him happy. Even if that means pursuing you."

I nodded, somehow feeling embarrassed and unable to look Jia in the eye. He then found his cigarettes as he said,

"I gotta admit, I can't act like the victim all the time when I'm just as bad as he is fucking Tsubasa and Shikou and any other woman that happens to catch my interest. I'd fuck Xiao Tien too if Niikura wouldn't take my head off."

"Niikura and Xiao Tien...?"

"It's just my assumption. Niikura seems to have a thing for protecting the China Doll. Anyway, you get my drift."

I nodded as he then said,

"Keep him busy for me while I work."

I was a little surprised to hear him say that to me. I looked up as I raised an eyebrow and said,

"Jia...I..."

"Honestly, it's the only reason I brought you here. I take Toki with me wherever I go, but it bores him and since you're here...it can take his mind off it. Until we return to Tokyo."

I nodded as he said,

"Does it bother you I'm asking you to do this?"

"It's just...awkward."

"I know. I apologize. But I've come to a point in my life right now where I can't keep getting jealous and fall apart anytime he decides to chase you. I'm too old for jealousy anyway."

I nodded, understand him as he found a match book in the night stand beside his bed. He took it out as he struck a match and lit his cigarette. He then said,

"So...are you okay?"

I nodded as he said,

"Okay. We're still fine Mikkie. Whatever happened between us before, forget it. Petty emotions and stupid reactions on my behave okay?"

I nodded as he stroked my cheek very tenderly. I was surprised as he then said,

"Thank you."

He moved his hand as he then said,

"Okay I gotta go. I'm going to be late and I don't want that."

I nodded as we both left his hotel room and I accompanied him downstairs to the lobby. Akio and Toki were having a cigarette outside, watching people walk by since it was only early dusk. It was a little windy that night, so Akio and Toki were both wearing coats as they stood outside. Gabriel, Aya and Kazuki who were sitting in the lobby waiting soon got up as they saw Jia and walked outside. Kazuki kissed my cheek on his way out and they gathered Akio, who flicked his cigarette away and then turned, looked at me and waved. I waved back as they hailed a cab and soon left. Toki finished his cigarette and I stood in the lobby waiting for him. Once he was done, he turned and saw me as he came back inside. He walked over to me as I reached up to my hair and let it loose as he said,

"What you doin tonight?"

"Going to bed."

"Oh..."

I turned and walked to the elevator as I pressed the button and then looked over at him as I said,

"You coming?"

"You invitin?"

I nodded as he joined me once the elevator came down and we both got in.