It was down time. I loved down time in New York City. Mostly because it meant hanging around Ichiro for long periods of time and getting to hang out with Takeo, the closest thing to a pimp that I know of. Once Jia gave the okay for some down time, I went right over to Ichiro's place. He was expecting me. After picking him up and leaning back against the closed door he smiled as I told him I had down time. He smiled, smoothing back his blondish red bangs as he said,

"I am so glad to hear that."

And to his bedroom we went. I didn't wake up until the next morning. I felt his slender hand on the back of my shoulder, stroking me softly until I finally picked my head up and I saw him laying there. He was half asleep, his arm over my back as he had his eyes closed, a small smile played upon his mouth. I turned slightly as he woke up, his eyes looking up at me as he swept his hair aside, his small perfect beauty mark visible as he said,

"How'd you sleep?"

"Good. You?"

"Perfect. Why don't you take your hair down?"

"I don't know."

I shrugged as I reached up and uncoiled the elastic band form it and let it fall. He smiled as he took one of the strands and said,

"Oh, now I know."

"Everyone keeps telling me to cut it."

"You do and I will never fuck you again."

I laughed as I put my head closer to him as I said,

"What a threat. Now my hair will be down to the floor."

He laughed as he then sat up and checked the clock on the night stand. He got out of bed, picking up his robe as he got it on and said,

"You should at least get some boxers on."

"Why?"

"Katie remember."

"Oh, right."

So I got my boxers on along with my pants as Ichiro opened the door and then waited. A few moments later, the little bundle of energy came running in. Ichiro picked her up for a kiss and when she saw me she started cheering as she was put down and she ran over to me. She hugged as she said,

"You came back!"

"Yup."

"You said before you were gonna and you didn't!"

"I couldn't. I'm sorry."

I she pouted before then she said,

"Your hair is pretty."

She tugged on a strand really hard as I went with it as I said,

"Ow.."

"Sorry!"

She continued playing with my hair, climbing on the bed as she stood behind me, running her little hands through my head as Ichiro said,

"Katie, don't you have some place to go?"

"Nope. Nanny said the weather is bad so no going out for me."

"No play dates?"

"Nah uh."

I could almost feel Ichiro give an exasperated sigh as he said,

"Darling, don't pull on Jo's hair."

"I'm not. I can make it pretty. See!"

I felt horrible pain as she gathered all my hair in her hands and pulled upwards. I did my best not to curse as I said,

"Sweetie, you're pulling really hard."

She then let go as Ichiro picked her up and set her on the floor and said,

"Did you eat yet?"

"Nope."

"Shouldn't you?"

"Um...come with me!"

She took his hand as he looked at me and said,

"Feel like breakfast?"

"I guess."

I said as I rubbed my head.

I spent the day there, not really having anything better to do. Every now and then I was left to entertain Katie while Ichiro spoke to Jia about California and how Nagashima completed the alliance. I never entertained a child before so I really had no idea of what to do or what to say so I just mostly listened as she talked. And talked...and talked, going on and on for minutes at a time, wondering how she breathed like that. In the middle of her conversation, I started spacing out and watched the TV behind her as she sat on my lap. She then suddenly said,

"You like my uncle right?"

"Huh?"

"You like him right?"

"Yeah...I do."

"You love my uncle?"

I laughed slightly as I said,

"No, I don't. I just like your uncle a lot."

I couldn't very well say, no I don't love your uncle, I just like to fuck him because he's sexy as all hell. She looked up at me confused for a moment as she said,

"Why don't you love him?"

It was a hard question to answer. I really didn't know why I didn't. Probably because I knew it was better for me and for him not to love one and other. Besides, the word "love" for me right now made me sick to my stomach. The idea that I could fall hard and fast all over again made me nervous. So nervous, my palms began to sweat and my stomach began tying itself in knots. The very idea sent me shaking. I smiled at Katie as I set her down and said,

"Aren't you going to watch TV?"

She gave me this look, as if saying "I'm not that stupid and I know you're avoiding my question" kind of look. It had to be annoying to have a child that smart around you. Imagine when she gets older. Anyway, Ichiro came to save me a moment later as he picked up his niece and sat down with her as he sat beside me. Katie then went on to talk some more. By the end of the night, when she finally fell asleep and Ichiro put her to bed, I said to him,

"That kid talks a lot."

"I know. Constantly and in large portions."

"Doesn't she get tired?"

"When she does, she goes to bed."

I laughed as he then said,

"You hungry?"

"Not really..."

"Weren't you always hungry?"

"I was. I just stopped. Teenage thing I guess."

He smirked as he poked me and said,

"You're not that much older now."

I put my arms around him as I said,

"Why are you hungry?"

"Yeah. But I don't want to eat in front of you."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. It feels rude."

I ended up taking him out to dinner and them coming back to his place for the usual activities.

A little bit less then a week later, Jia had a celebration. A "small" celebration in honor of the merger between Nagashima and Jia. The two had just enough trust between them to had said celebration and to merge. And it was enough I guess. Jia had let the Yami, the Itto Ketsuen and Yuki know about Nagashima, his son and Ren and about their syndicate that just relocated from California to New York. In case Nagashima planned anything, he was already covered from every side so there was no way he could get out of anything. But Nagashima wasn't worried. He had the calmness that only a man that wasn't planning anything had. He even introduced everyone to Kotei, his son. So it was almost obvious that Nagashima didn't want any kind of trouble. Still, Jia kept an eye out for him. At the party, it was the usual scene. The top three floors of the Waldof were rented out for the party and then it was filled with liquor, loud music and women everywhere. Takeo did his job best of all, bringing forth his own delicate touches as he drank and smoked with the rest of us. Yuki, who was a married man, had his share of fine women around him, but didn't touch any of them. It was more like they were there for decoration purposes. Jia was still talking to Tsubasa, Yuki, Karasu, Ichiro, Nagashima and Tai about business and even though they all had a drink in hand and a cigarette if they smoked, women still hung around them, leaning back looking pretty for them. Toki and Aoki were off at a table doing their usual drinking game, seeing who can drink the most. I don't know why Aoki ever played, he has yet to win against Toki. Jun and Aya were still on Aoki's side, cheering for him as Akio stood on Toki's side, cheering him on. Women were still around all of them, clinging to them waiting for them as they smiled and gave stupid giggles. I spotted Gabriel by himself for once near one side of the room, Mikkie on the other. As for myself, I stood near a doorway, lurking in the shadows, also on my own as I had a cigarette. I wasn't in the mood to party as I usually would have been. I wasn't in the mood to get laid since I just basically came from that and I wasn't too fond of getting drunk. I had built a tolerance to it over the years, so it was taking more to get me drunk. Since Ichiro was still busy, I just stood in the balcony door way, having a cigarette. Eventually, the little emperor came over to me. He asked me for a light as I gave him my lighter. He lit up as he then gave it back to me and said,

"You look bored."

"I am."

"Me too."

"I thought you would be in your element here."

"I'm not. This is weird."

"Why?"

"I don't know...just is."

"Probably because your father is here."

"So is yours."

"Yeah but mine never gave a fuck about me or about what I did. Yours does."

He shook his head as he inhaled and then said,

"Doing anything tonight?"

"After this party? I'm not sure. You?"

"Going clubbing. I'm just waiting for the right time to sneak out of here."

"You shouldn't go anywhere by yourself."

"I really doubt anyone would be here now, when my father and Jia made an alliance."

"You never know."

"If you're so worried why don't you come with me?"

"I'm not on duty today."

"So you won't come with me? Even as a friend?"

"We're not exactly friends."

"Don't you wanna be?"

He gave me his usual smirk of seduction as I looked away and said,

"I'm trying to keep all ten fingers thanks."

He laughed as he said,

"Come on. I know you're bored too."

"Not that bored."

I then saw Ichiro setting his glass down on the closest table as he reached up to his hair and swept aside his bangs as he then buttoned his coat in the front. He then shook Jia and Tai's hands, said bye to Karasu and Nagashima and began to leave. He looked at me quickly before smiling slightly and then turned as he left. I looked at Kotei as I then flicked my cigarette out the window and said,

"I'm gonna go."

"Where?"

"Damn why do you care?"

"Because I'm bored! And I don't want to stay and since your so insistent that I don't go by myself..."

"I'm not your baby-sitter man. Go ask Ren to keep you company."

He frowned as I remembered I hit a sore spot. I sighed as I said,

"Look, I'm actually on my way to do something personal."

"What their name?"

"None of your business."

He smiled again as he said,

"Okay...I understand. So..have fun."

"You stay here."

"I will."

He pouted as I then turned and left to go after Ichiro. The kid was not my responsibility...I was not in charge of him now. I had down time. There was just no way in hell I could get in trouble if he decided to do anything.

I followed Ichiro the to the third floor where he found an empty room and we made some time together. In case anything should happen, I couldn't get undressed all the way so I only had my coat off and my pants undone as Ichiro straddled me, his pants off as rode me. Damn that felt so good and even though I couldn't feel his skin because of his shirt, it was still damn good fucking. When we were done, I checked my cell phone seeing it was close to three. I decided I should head home but after I checked on Jia, seeing if he needed a ride home or something. I was never sure of what he would need. I fixed myself up as Ichiro said he would see me tomorrow morning. I agreed, kissing him good bye as I went back upstairs. I found the party was still going on like before as I made my way around the room, looking for Jia. I eventually found him, sitting like only a true pimp would, a cigarette in his mouth, two girls on each side, the table full of glasses and bottles as Tai and Gabriel sat at the end of the table. Jia pulled back his hair as he took a drink and I looked at him.

"Jia, I'm about to leave. Do you need anything?"

He shook his head as he said,

"Oh wait...no I do need something."

"Hm?"

"I keep calling Toki...I wanna leave myself but he won't answer his phone which is only leaving me to assume he maybe passed out some place. Could you check to see if anyone saw him?"

I nodded as I said I would be back. So I circled the room, asking everyone if they saw Toki. Of course they had, just all at different times and no one had seen him last. I saw Nagashima was still around, talking with Karasu so I asked them if they saw Toki. Once they said they hadn't I left that floor to go check the bathrooms, the balconies and asked the lower heads wandering around if they had seen him anywhere. I went through the second floor like that when I finally got to one of the Yami's heads and asked if he had seen him.

"Oh...Jia's main head right? Tall guy black and blonde hair?"

"Yeah him. You seen him?"

"Yeah he went down the hall like....twenty minutes ago. He seemed kinda wasted."

"So what else is new."

I started going when I heard him say,

"Yeah you might wanna knock if you go in one of those rooms."

I turned as I said,

"Why?"

"He wasn't alone."

I rolled my eyes as I said,

"Okay thanks."

I kept going, hating to have to intrude on Toki's sex life...again. In another hotel room...geez again. I shook it off as I went down the hall, listening to every other door, hoping to hear something that could give it away. I figured Toki had found one of his many flavors in women upstairs since he was pretty much all over a new woman every twenty minutes so I wouldn't be surprised if he found a favorite to take to a room. I finally stopped once I heard sounds from behind a door. I could only hope it was him since I really didn't want to continue on said search so I waited outside for the next ten minutes. The door suddenly opened as Toki stumbled out. He caught a hold of the doorknob as he slammed the door behind him and then stood up straight as his glassy, watery eyes looked at me and he said,

"Hey...it's Aka-chan..."

"Don't call me that."

"Oh...right...my bad..."

He laughed as he leaned against the door as he started sliding down. I caught him as I said,

"Don't you dare. Jia's looking for you. He's ready to leave."

"Oooo...Li's lookin' for me. Better go...he's gonna be mad I didn't...get there sooner."

I got him back to his feet as he then said,

"I know where I'm goin."

"You sure?"

"Yeeeah....just go help what's his face."

"Who?"

"Blonde kid."

"Takeo?"

"Nooo...not that blonde kid. The other one. Little one. The minor."

"Kotei?"

"Yeah...him..."

He stumbled back, almost tripping over his own feet as he laughed and said,

"I almost fell...you didn't see that."

"Right..."

"Imma go upstairs."

"Where is Kotei?"

"In the room...duh."

He started walking away as I smacked my forehead, praying that Kotei was willing. I knew that feeling and that pain all too well and I remembered it horribly as I went inside the room and looked around. I saw the small table near the door had been knocked over and the further I walked in, I saw the bed had been messed up, pillows tossed about, the comforter nearly pulled off and the curtain from the window was torn off the rod. I didn't see Kotei though. I was about to call his name as I headed towards the bathroom when I saw his foot hide beside the bed. I walked over there slowly, peering around the corner from the bed as Kotei laid there. He was scrunched up slightly, like he didn't want to be seen. I knew, just by that, that Toki had not taken no for an answer. I bit my bottom lip slightly as I went over to him and said,

"Hey...Kotei...it's me. Can you get up?"

I pulled the comforter away from him as I moved the curtain that was torn off as I saw the damage. Not only had Toki raped him, but he had also managed to smack the shit out of him. His bottom lip was broken, dribbling blood down his skin as the red mark still lingered around his cheek and eye. He didn't look at me as I reached for his hand and started getting him to his feet. He groaned slightly as got up and then promptly sat down on the bed but crying out and laying down on his side instead. I cursed as I said,

"Damn...you are all fucked up."

He didn't say anything as he just laid there, breathing hard as I said,

"Are you okay? You need to say something to me."

I waited for a moment as I heard him say,

"Don't...don't tell Ren."

"I think he's gonna notice on his own."

"He will but...don't tell him what happened."

I shook my head as I went to the bathroom and pulled off one of the hand towels as I damped it slightly and came back out as I said,

"You're going to have to sit up."

"It hurts."

"Well, sit up a little."

I started to pat at his mouth, not bothering to turn on the lights since I could see pretty well from the light coming inside the room. He looked down as I said,

"How did you end up here?"

"I don't know actually. Just talking to him then...here we were. Doesn't like hearing no does he?"

"Not really."

"I found out the hard way."

"Maybe I should take you to a hospital."

"Nah...it'll heal. Besides...wouldn't be the first time."

I was a little surprised to hear him say that. I then moved back that shield of blonde hair he always had over his eye as I checked if he was okay there. He seemed fine enough as I then said,

"I'll take you home."

"You don't have to."

"Yeah right and leave you alone again? I don't think so."

He started getting dressed again, fixing himself up as best as he could as he then slowly started leaving with me. He looked so much worse in the light then in the dark...bruises were all over his wrists and there were red lines around his neck as well as more forming bruises there. I didn't say anything else though as I took him outside and took him home.

The next morning, before stopping over to Ichiro's place, I got a phone call. It was Akio. I was surprised to hear from him since nothing was really going on lately. So I asked him what was up.

"Some serious, serious shit happened."

"What?"

"Someone raped Nagashima's kid at the party."

I brought my hand up to my face as I said,

"Yeah? They know who?"

"Not yet."

"How'd Nagashima find out?"

"Ren found out first. He saw that his bon was all fucked up. His lip was cracked open and shit, had strangle marks around his neck and what not. He made Kotei tell him what happened and Ren told Nagashima. Now, Nagashima is pissed off since it happened at Jia's party."

"But Jia can't be held responsible for everyone's actions there. It was a party."

"Yeah but Nagashima isn't seeing that way."

"Damn....who do you think did it?"

"I don't know. I really don't. Anyway, I called you in because we're having a meeting in about an hour so be there."

"Okay."

I hung up as I started getting ready, calling Ichiro to let him know I would be a little held back as he understood. I then went on my way. When I got to Jia's building, I found everyone in the lobby instead of Jia's office. I went over to Akio as I said,

"What's going on?"

"We found out who did it."

"Who?"

"Toki."

"Naturally. Who else would be so fucking stupid to rape the son of our allie." Said Jun.

"Give him the benefit of the doubt Jun. He was drunk." Said Tai.

"Same old sorry ass excuse. That's what it is, an excuse. Him being drunk is a reason, not an excuse. Besides, even if he wasn't drunk he would have raped the kid anyway. Not like it's a secret about what a fucking walking hard on he is."

I sighed as Akio said,

"Yeah...Jia and him are having it out right now so...we're staying clear until further notice."

I nodded as Jun then said,

"That fucking idiot really went too far this time."

I sat back in the sofa next to Akio while Tai sat on the other side of me, Gabriel on the other side of him as the rest of the top heads filled out the rest of the waiting space in the lobby. I only sat back and sulked, wondering if I could somehow get in trouble for this since I was the one who found Toki after he raped Kotei...and I took Kotei home. But then again, I didn't do anything I wasn't suppost to. There was just no way I could get in trouble for this.

At least...that's what I thought.