I had to take care of Kotei while Ren was working. It made me mad because now that made me the glorified baby-sitter. Kotei wasn't too much of a handful when he was at work. He was on point. He paid attention, he didn't slack or fall asleep, he spoke with respect and grace to Jia, his voice was always stern, yet soft, serious and he was well spoken. He wore either his school uniform or semi-casual wear when he met with Jia and his father and for the most part he smoked only when Jia did. He sat up straight, put his own thoughts in the conversation and showed he knew what he was doing. He was also a well educated young man. But like I said, this was him when he was around Jia and his father. Once he left work, he was a completely different person. He liked to sleep a lot and often, before he got to his meeting with Jia he would fall asleep in the back seat of the car. When we spoke, he was vulgar, swearing like Toki and speaking slang and he was loud. That school uniform and semi-casual wear was just part time clothes. Most of the time he wore low rise loose jeans and fitted shirts with coats so that every time he could raised his arms you could see the lower part of his stomach. He wore a seductive grin on his face most of the time, drawing attention to himself with his bright blonde hair. He also smoked every chance he got. The only thing that never changed was the necklace he wore. That never came off. Ren couldn't baby-sit after Kotei since he was busy with Nagashima and Jia as they were learning to trust each other and become allies. Since Kotei was just learning a thing or two and the aliment wasn't official just yet, he didn't always have to be there so I got stuck with him since everyone else of the top heads was either too busy or just couldn't be trusted with an attractive young man, or the thought of baby sitting said young man was beneath them and the lower heads were not trusted with such an important job, I was stuck with him.

I wasn't too angry with the job though. Kotei wasn't too bad though sometimes he was when he just had to have things his way. He had to do what he wanted when he wanted because he was use to it. If I couldn't take him somewhere or do what he asked, he would get mad and pout and get really fussy. It was annoying to deal with a little boy who thought he was an emperor just because his name said so. But most of the time he wasn't so bad. He got me talking a lot more which was strange because before I would have wished for anyone to talk to me. Now that I don't do it as often, Kotei comes around, harping at me because I don't talk enough. Aish, where was this kid a year ago? I picked him up from school one afternoon as I waited outside as always. He came up to me as he said,

"When is Ren gonna come back to doing this?"

"I don't know. When your old man and Jia work shit out?"

He sighed, getting in the car as I did as well. He then said,

"What we doing today?"

"I'm taking you home."

"I don't want to go home."

"I don't care what you want."

"Let's go somewhere else."

"Like?"

"I don't know this city well. Show me around."

"What makes you think I know it that well?"

"You're a yakuza. It's your job."

"You're gonna be one why don't you know it?"

"Because I'm GONNA be one."

I frowned as I said,

"Fine. Anything you want to do?"

He thought for a moment before he went into his bag and got out his cigarettes as he lit it and said,

"I'm hungry. Let's go to that pearl house."

"You want to go there?"

"Yeah. Food was good."

"Let's not and say we did."

He frowned as he said,

"Where do you think we should go?"

"To your place."

"Ooo...Jo....if you were interested just say so."

"What? NO! Not like that! Don't make me loose my temper or I'll run us off this road!"

He laughed as he said,

"Sounds like you already lost it."

I shook my head as I kept driving. I then said,

"A kid like you shouldn't make jokes like that. You say that to the wrong person and they might take you up on it."

I heard him scoff as he said,

"Kid like me? Please. It's a little to late for that."

"What do you mean?"

"If had more people pass through me then the Lincoln Tunnel. Let's it just put it that way."

"Damn you're only eighteen."

"And I started at sixteen."

"That's nothing to be proud of. Just makes you a-"

I stopped myself, knowing it would be a bad thing to insult some oyabun's kid. But he sat up and leaned over the shoulder of my seat as he said,

"A what? A whore? A slut? What?"

"Nothing."

"It's okay. I know what I am."

"Why do you do that?"

"Because...I just do."

"There's always a reason for shit like that."

He didn't say anything. He just looked out the window as he had his cigarette. I decided to take him to get something to eat but not at the Pearl Tea House. I would never forgive myself if I brought Kotei in there with his school uniform on. Anyway, I got him some take out instead and he frowned when it was given to him. He ate it anyway as I parked near Rockefeller Center. I sat on the hood of the car as he in the back, the door open so the car wouldn't smell like food. Once he was done, he got out as he went to join me, lighting a cigarette as he said,

"So, tell me about you."

"Nothing to tell."

"Yeah right. Come on tell me something."

"Like?"

"Like...uh...your last name."

"Tachimine."

"Nice. So simple yet...not."

I gave him a weird look as I went back to having my cigarette.

"You got any kids?"

"Fuck no."

"You got a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Boyfriend?"

"No. Not anymore."

"You had one?"

"Yeah. A long time ago and no I don't wanna talk about it."

"Okay fine. What about um...why are you so quiet?"

"Because talking to damn much gets you in trouble."

"Talking from experience huh?"

"Pretty much."

"How'd you get that scar on your neck?"

"Almost had my throat slit."

"Ow...got any other scars?"

"Yeah. On my arm."

"From?"

"Being shot."

"Damn you're all fucked up. You got any tattoos?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because, I'm curious. So do you?"

"Yeah. Two."

"Of and where?"

I rolled my eyes as I said,

"On my wrist, my syndicate name on my lower back a black widow."

"Why a black widow."

"Akui means poison. A bite of a black widow is poisonous."

"Makes sense."

He smiled as he then said,

"So I'm done eating."

"I figured."

"Let's go somewhere else."

"Like?"

"I don't know."

"I'm taking you home then."

"I don't wanna go home."

"Why?"

"Because no one will be there when I get there. If Ren's working then that means I'm on my own."

"Not, really. I have to watch out after your ass until further notice."

"Oh..okay let's go back home then."

I had a bad feeling about being anywhere in private with this kid. Regardlessly, I took him back home.

Kotei invited me inside but I stayed near the door, way too worried on making anything look bad on my behave. I've already screwed up enough for this lifetime. He went to his room where he threw his bag inside and pretty soon I heard music blasting out. He came back out to the living as he said,

"You can come in you know."

"I'm good."

He went to the kitchen where he made some noise and then came back out, disappeared into his room and changed into his usual low rise loose jeans and fitted shirt as he smoked a cigarette. He looked at me again as he said,

"Relax. I won't bite."

He gestured me in again as he went to the balcony over looking the view. I followed him out as he rested against the guard rail and looked out. The wind moved his hair back slightly as he flicked the ash away from the cigarette and said,

"I miss Ren. I hate when he works so much."

"He been your guard since you were little?"

"Yeah. Since I was like...ten or something."

He paused, frowning slightly as he said,

"You know what?"

"What?"

"When I was little, I trusted Ren with everything. Because he was the only one that ever took care of me. One time when I was in school, the power got knocked out because of a storm. All the kids were sent home or had their parents pick them up. Ren always picked me up...but that day he was late. I waited for hours and my teachers said maybe I should call my dad or something. I told them no because I knew Ren would come. Finally he just took so long, I didn't want any teachers to know I was the only there, so they wouldn't call my dad so I started to leave. When I got to the gates of my school, Ren just showed up. And he picked me up and he told me he was sorry...that he didn't know I was being dismissed early. I trusted him even more since then."

"You seem like you don't like him now though."

"I do...but I don't at the same time."

He move away as he sat down on the floor and drew his knees up. He looked up at me as I stood on the other side of the balcony as he said,

"You're the first person I'm gonna tell...but I guess I gotta tell someone. When I was sixteen, I wanted Ren so badly. Not just like my guard or nothing, but like mine, to be with me and me alone. But he's married and got two brats of his own. I hinted to him that I wanted him, that I wanted to sleep with him, but he never made a move. Finally I just got so tired of tip toeing around the situation that I just poured my heart out to him, that I loved him and I wanted him to be with me only. And I tried to kiss him and at first he went along with it, but then he stopped me. Said he couldn't and that it wasn't right and all this other self righteous bullshit. Then I told him I was saving myself for him and he said not to because it would never happen."

He frowned, looking away as he inhaled some of his cigarette and then exhaled.

"So I got mad at his rejection...because it's my heart and soul right here and he just crushed me. So I got mad at him and I ran off and got myself into a situation I knew I couldn't handle. So instead of fighting it, I remembered, I shouldn't save myself anyway. Waiting for him would be like holding my breath so why bother. So I just fucked some random person. I got with anything with a pulse. It's been like that since then."

"Does Ren know that?"

"Yeah...I made sure he knew. So he could see how much he hurt me."

"Did it work?"

"Made him feel guilty as hell. Plus he got in major trouble with my old man for loosing me."

"Damn...you haven't had trauma but that's definitely upsetting."

He looked up at me as he quirked his mouth slightly and said,

"It's just a spoiled brats temper tantrum. So tell me something about you."

"Like?"

"Something personal. Aside from your work."

"Aoki's my father."

"Oh...no wonder you two look alike. You really, really look like him. And that's a good thing because your old man is sexy."

I scrunched up my nose as I said,

"Ew...don't say that."

"Why?"

"It sounds weird. And anyway everyone always says I look like him. I don't see it."

"You do. You tight with your dad? You cool an shit?"

I scoffed as I said,

"Yeah, we're tight. Our DNA matches."

He laughed as he put out his cigarette and then said,

"I'm sorta close with my dad. He's not affentionate and shit but he's encouraging of me going to school and learning this business. He never says anything bad to me or about me. Other then me smoking. He's not bad."

"What happened to your mother?"

"She died when I was about ten. She had some...weird blood disorder. It killed her slowly."

"Oh...I'm sorry."

"Me too."

A moment later, we heard the door opening as I looked and saw Ren coming inside. He set the keys down as I got up and bowed my head to him as he said,

"Is Kotei okay?"

"He's fine. He's outside."

He nodded as Kotei came inside as he looked at Ren. Ren then said,

"Joryu, you can go now. Jia asked me to send you back."

"Okay. Thanks."

Kotei then said,

"Wait, are you working tomorrow Ren?"

"Yes."

"Fine...I'll see you tomorrow then."

I nodded as he looked at my direction and I then left.

I got back to Jia's building as I went to his office since everyone was there. Jia then said,

"How was the kid?"

"Fine."

"Is he ever." Said Toki.

Jia smacked his arm as he said,

"I already told you, no touching the minor."

"He's not a minor."

"Still a baby compared to you Toki."

Toki smirked as he said,

"What can I say? I like em young."

"There's a word for people like you." Said Jun as he crossed his arms.

Toki glared at him as he said,

"Shut up. I know what I am."

"Pedophile."

"Way to state the obvious Jun." Said Toki.

Jia then said,

"Anyway...my alliance with Nagashima is going well. Very well. I guess he's serious about this. Of course, I can't completely trust him either. Since I hate California, more then any place else and I wouldn't dare send any of you there, I'll just have connections do my work over there. I think Sozaburo has connections right?"

"Yes, the Itto Ketsuen has connections in California." Said Tai.

"Perfect. Less work for me. Jo, have Sozaburo call me soon okay."

I nodded as Jia then dismissed us. That was another thing about baby-sitting the kid. Since I got here, I had not had a free moment to see Ichiro. However, Jia was kind enough to assign me this so I went well on my way to do it. I knocked on Ichiro's door as he answered. He was surprised then he hugged me as he kissed me, pulling me inside as he said,

"What are you doing here?"

"One of Jia's new soon to be allie has land in California. Jia knows you have connections there so he rather work those then go to California since he hates it."

"Hmm...I see. I'll get on that right away."

He then put his arms around me as he said,

"Is that all?"

"Yup...I'm done working for tonight."

"No you're not."

He gave me his seductive smile as he pulled me to his room. He warned me on the way that his niece was asleep so we had to be quiet.

I woke up the next morning as I heard Ichiro talking. I turned to my side and then picked up my head as I saw my pretty young thing walking back and forth as he had a cigarette and wore his boxers. He stopped pacing as he saw me and then got on the bed as I turned to my side. He straddled me as he then said,

"Yes, Jia. I understand. I'll contact my connections in the afternoon. Or should I wait until you finish things with Nagashima?"

He paused to listen for Jia's answer as he leaned down and kissed me, his fingers on my chest as I ran my hands through his hair. He then pulled back as he said,

"Okay...I'll wait then. Just say the word when you're ready. Good bye."

He hung up as he tossed the phone aside and laid down on top of me as he said,

"Hi."

"Hi. How are you?"

"Well fucked. How about yourself?"

I laughed as he smiled and then said,

"Jia called so I woke up. Otherwise I'd still be dead asleep."

I stroked his hair back as said,

"You seemed so upset when we had that meeting when you first got here."

"I'm not. I'm just more serious."

"More serious? Like...how?"

"I stopped fucking around. I'm doing my job better."

"That explains the scar."

He stroked my neck as I said,

"Yeah..."

He sat back up as he said,

"God I want you so badly. But another round right now is bad."

"Why?"

"Katie's nanny will be here soon to take her to school. And Katie should be lurking about any minute now."

"Oh...I see."

We kissed a while longer before we heard that knock on his door and Ichiro got up as he got some drawstring pants on and I started getting dressed. Once I got my shirt on and started to button it, he opened the door as Katie came in. She jumped up as Ichiro caught her and she said good morning to him. She then flipped out when she saw me and was put down as she ran over to me and I knelt down to say hi to her. She smiled as she hugged me and said,

"Where were you!?"

"In Japan."

"Is that far?"

"Very."

"You should have called!"

She put her small hand on her hip as she pointed at me.

"I know I'm sorry."

She then smiled and said,

"Are you going to take me to school?"

"No Katie that's what your nanny is for."

She pouted as Ichiro then pat her head and said,

"If Jo can, he'll be back later okay?"

"Okay!"

She sprinted off as I finished getting dressed and said I had to go. I kissed him bye before I left and went back to my apartment. As I drove, my cell phone rang so I answered as I heard Jia on the other end. He was calling me in.

"Um...can I be there in like twenty minutes?"

"Now would be better Jo."

"Okay.."

Without much of a choice, I hung up and made the turn to get to the building. Damn, I was gonna hear it for being in the same suit I was in yesterday. I then parked and started going inside.