We waited for at least an hour until Tai was brave enough to venture upstairs and check what was going on...that and to make sure Jia didn't actually kill Toki for real this time. After a few minutes, Tai called us all up and we all braved the walk to Jia's office. None of us like being around Jia when he was mad..because when he got mad....he got MAD and it was like watching a massive volcano erupt and fuck a woman's fury when scorned....watch Jia's wrath. Once we got to Jia's office, we all filed in and walked around, most of us lingering near the door as we say papers were scattered around the floor and Jia was sitting in his chair, his back facing us as Toki sat on the small sofa against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest like a child who had been scolded. Once the door was closed, Jia turned slightly as he said,

"We have something of a problem as you all are aware. You see, I had always been the paranoid one, worried about being back stabbed and whatnot by Nagashima, but ha, jokes on me. This time I was the one who double crossed an allie. Not that I meant to."

He turned and glared at Toki with such anger, it was almost amazing to see that Jia could very well get mad at Toki like that. Toki kept his eyes on the floor. Jia then looked at us and said,

"So...because of this...situation, I now have no choice but to tell Nagashima something..."

"Something?" Questioned Jun which is the bravest thing I had ever seen.

Jia looked at him and narrowed his eyes as he answered in an angry tone,

"Yes Jun, something."

Jun put his hands behind his back as Jia then said,

"I can't tell Nagashima who actually did this. He would expect something to occur and it would piss him off to no end if I just dismissed it as saying it's Toki's way."

Toki finally sat up, uncrossing his arms as he said,

"I didn't realize what was goin on Li. I told you."

"Toki shut the fuck up. You are no longer allowed to speak for the rest of the time that everyone is my office."

Toki rolled his eyes and slouched back against the sofa as Jia then went into his pockets and got out his cigarette case. As he did, he stopped and looked up at me as he said,

"Jo...didn't you find Toki for me?"

"Uh...yes. I sent him upstairs then left."

"Where did you find him?"

Fuck...I cursed in my head over and over again as I wished for lighting to strike me dead at that moment. Of course it didn't happen so I cleared my throat and said,

"After Toki...was done."

"You saw Kotei."

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"Nothing. He told me not to tell Ren. That's it."

"So you knew Toki did this since the beginning."

"Um...yes."

Jia raised an eyebrow slightly as he said,

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"Uh...ah..."

I couldn't think of a logical answer to say to save my life. I felt that if I said anything else it would be like quicksand because I was somehow sinking into this further and further and I didn't even do anything! Finally I just said,

"Because...I didn't know it was going to be this much of a problem."

"You didn't know? Jo how could you not know?"

"I mean I knew, but not like this. I mean you let Toki get away with everything anyway-"

I cut myself, biting my tongue and mentally kicking myself for saying something so brash and basically rude to Jia fucking Li, oyabun of the 36 Moons, who was so pissed he might have shot me dead then and there. Jia didn't say anything. I thought he might have slapped me had I been closer to him...and I don't think I was too far off thought because he looked mighty pissed off. I then cleared my throat as I said,

"I'm sorry."

Jia turned in his chair as he said,

"No...I can't even be mad at that. It's true. I do let him get away with everything. And now...this is so much more trouble then anything else he might have done. Nagashima won't forgive this...and he won't let it go unpunished. But I just can't very well hand Toki over to his demise."

Tai then said,

"But you have to tell Nagashima something."

Jia nodded, finally getting his cigarette in his mouth as Akio went over and lit it for him. Once he was done, Jia leaned back against his chair as he held up his chin with his hand as he said,

"I'm not exactly sure what I could say. And it was my celebration and it was my responsibility thought his kid isn't. And since only 36 Moons, Yami and Itto Ketsuen heads were there, even if I said someone else did it, he would expect me to find out and then worse, I turn heat onto Tsubasa, Sozaburo and Karasu and they had nothing to do with it."

"You could just stick the blame on someone else and be done with it." Said Jun.

Jia looked up as he said,

"That's not a bad idea...."

He sat up straight as Toki then said,

"Damn just stick it on Jo. He was there, he should have said some shit. Besides, he had been taking care of the kid before."

I turned and looked at him in shock as my jaw dropped a little. What was worse was that when I looked back at Jia, that he seemed to be considering it!

"No! I can't take the blame for this! I would never do that to Kotei! I was taking care of him yeah, but I wouldn't do that to him!"

"Shit you saw my ass last night." Said Toki.

"That doesn't mean anything!!"

"You're the baby Jo. You could have."

I started getting mad. There was no way in hell I could take the wrap for this.

"Jia, I wouldn't do that. You can't tell Nagashima that!"

"Calm down Jo. Look if I tell Nagashima that, then I could tell him I would deal with you in my own way."

"Why can't you say that with Toki then!"

"Because he might actually expect me to do something to Toki."

"This isn't fair! I have to take the wrap for some bullshit your stupid ass friend did! Everyone fucking knows he's a psycho rapist anyway! I don't see why I should be the one to fall because he couldn't keep his dick in his pants! Besides he was harassing Kotei since the beginning!"

I wasn't scared. I was too mad. I was mad that my boss and even one of my associates were so quick to put me in harms way. And just because it was Jia...just because it was Toki and just because Jia would do anything to save Toki's dumb ass even if meant tossing one of his own to the fire. It wasn't fair. And I wasn't going to just bow my head and say sure, I'll jump in the fire for you. It could cost me my life. And it wasn't even for something that was legit. It was Toki's mistake and his stupidity. It wasn't even something major that I would gladly take the wrap for. Jia stood up as he said,

"Joryu...shut up."

I clamped my mouth shut though I wanted to go on. What made me more mad was how no one else objected. They let me stand there basically on my own and be hung because who were they to oppose Jia and his decision. Some fucking associates...I would have given my life to save them if the need should rise and it had so many times before and now they would let me die. I had never felt so betrayed in my life. I stayed quiet as Jia dismissed everyone else and told me to stay. Toki stayed as well as everyone quietly left the room. Once we were by ourselves, Jia then said,

"I know this is not easy...and it's not a simple favor. But Jo, Toki is much more then my body guard. More then my best friend and you know that."

I hung my head as he went on.

"Nagashima would be angry, but he wouldn't break my deal if I told him I took care of you in my way. He wouldn't expect me to do anything else but reprimand you unlike if it was Toki. Because he knows Toki is much older at this game then you. He is bound to let some minor incidents slid. And if we tell him it wasn't as bad as it seems...he might let it go completely."

"I still don't see why I should have to be blamed for this."

"It's a small business deal. Jo, I'll make it up to you. For now, just let this be. Nothing will happen to you, I swear it."

I looked back up as I said,

"You're gonna do it anyway. The most I could do is bow my head and say hai, Jia-sama. As you wish."

He frowned as I then asked for permission to leave. He let me go and I turned and left the office.

I couldn't believe the trouble I was about to get into...I wish I had never found Toki yesterday. It would have been better off and at least that way Toki could get in trouble by his damn self. I had no choice in this anymore. As I went down to the lobby, I saw some of the top heads that had stood there and let me crucified. Of course...why should they care? What am I to them but expandable. I didn't look at any of them as I started leaving. I managed to get outside as I started to walk down the street when I heard someone call my name. I turned to see Akio walking towards me. I didn't stop, I kept going. He was probably the last person I wanted to see right now.

"Damn Jo, slow down."

"Get away from me."

I went to hail a cab as he said,

"Look, Jia-"

"Fuck you! Jia is gonna blame me so don't you say he won't because he might as well have already! I might as well have done it my damn self since I'm being treated like I did it anyway!"

"He's going through with it?"

"Yeah he is. And thank you so much for your concern."

"Jo, listen to me. We weren't going to let this happen. It is unfair for you."

"Oh, but all of you were quick to not say a damn word as I was being nailed to my cross right? Yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't have let it happen. I bet if it was someone else like Aya, or Jun or anyone but me you and everyone else would have jumped in right away!"

"It's not even like that!"

"Yes it is! I know I'm new, I'm expendable, I'm just the fucking baby to all of you so sure why not, blame it on the new one, on the young one who has no idea what he's doing! That's just fine with me."

"What makes you think Tai's not up there trying to talk some sense into Jia right now?"

"Fuck that! Fuck him and fuck you too! I'm already getting in trouble for it so just leave me alone!"

I walked away again and didn't stop at all this time. I didn't stop until I quickly ran down the subway entrance and onto the next train boarding. I didn't care where it went, as long as it took me away from there.

I had been sacrificed like a lamb to the slaughter. I didn't matter and I knew that now. So I would get in trouble for something I didn't do and add a third mistake to my already failing nature of this job. They said I was meant to do this, that it's in my genes, that my genes were some of the best among yakuza...but what purpose they did serve me now? I went home that evening as I sulked, letting my hair down as I just thought about the consequences laying ahead of me. I would surely gain the hate from the Yami and worst, the Itto Ketsuen...from Ichiro who would probably be surprised. So there goes that fling. Fun for a while at least. It was unfair but I saw I could do nothing about it and I left it at that. I was also surrounded by people who really didn't give a fuck about me. Though I could give one about them, they didn't about me. My own partner left me out to dry and even Tai, Tai who I thought might say something, anything to prevent the idea from traveling further, sat back and shut up. I could only wait to see what was to come.

The next morning, I stayed in my room. I wasn't called in and I wasn't going in so I stayed in bed. I wouldn't run but I would face it head on either. Around one that afternoon, after I took my hair and tied up my hair and changed into clean clothes, someone knocked on my door. I got out of bed as I picked up my gun on the way out and went to check who it was. I saw it was Ichiro. I opened the door as I saw him in his black pants, black short sleeve shirt that was open around the collar since he wore his usual choker. His blondish red bangs were swept aside from his face as they always were, his eye catching beauty mark still alluring. I welcomed him inside as he came in. As he came in, he said,

"I got word today of Kotei's rape."

"Oh...heard who did it?"

"No, but I already know who did."

He turned to me as he said,

"Jia told me what he planned to say to Nagashima. I told him if he said that, then I would break the Itto Ketsuen alliance with him. We wouldn't be enemies...but we wouldn't be allies either."

I was a little surprised as I said,

"Why did you say that?"

"Because...it's not fair to you. It's not fair to anyone to take the fall for something they didn't do. This isn't some honorable thing either where someone is taking the blame for something much higher and nobel then what it is. It's a rape. It was Toki's rape and his mistake. If Toki was anything of a yakuza, he would know at least that much. If you fuck up, you take the blame for your own mistakes."

"What did Jia say?"

"He said he would find some other way to explain what happened."

I took Ichiro in my arms as I said,

"You were the only who did anything to even defend me."

He laughed slightly as he said,

"Don't get yourself all flattered now. I would have done it regardless of who it was. Like I said, it's not fair."

I laughed slightly as I said,

"Thank you anyway."

He smiled slightly as he said,

"You would have done it too, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah. I would have taken the fall. I really had no choice in the matter."

He then hugged me as he said,

"Did you at least fight it?"

"I tried."

He then held my hands as he suggested going back to my room.

That night, I was called back to Jia's building. I didn't want to go, but I knew I had to. I dressed in my suit and tie and went on my way, pulling up my hair as I went inside. Some of the lower heads were inside, wandering around just waiting I guess. I went to Jia's office where Jia was himself, Tai, Aya and Toki. They watched me come in as Jia asked me to sit. I sat down as I rested my hands on my lap as Jia said,

"I'm sure you heard."

"Of?"

"That I won't go through with it."

"I heard."

He dismissed Tai, Aya and Toki. Once they were gone, Jia rested his hands on his desk as he said,

"I know you can't be too glad with my previous choice."

"I don't care anymore. I accepted it. I understand why you were going to tell Nagashima that I did it."

"It was wrong of me. I know. I'm sorry I even considered it. Besides, now with all the anger gone from my system, I realized it would have never worked."

"Why's that?"

"Kotei could say something. And then I would be in trouble myself for lying to Nagashima."

"Oh...I see."

I nodded as Jia then sighed and said,

"I'm always wronging you somehow Jo. And though at the time it seems like it's a good idea, I realize I take much of my anger out on you since you're young."

I didn't say anything. I just looked down at my lap and waited for Jia to dismiss me. When he did, I got up and bowed my head slightly as I left his office. As I closed the door behind me, I saw Tai and Aya still there. They looked at me for a moment as Tai opened his mouth to say something. Instead of waiting to find out what it was, I walked away and didn't bother to wait for the elevator. I just ran downstairs and out to the lobby as I went outside and hailed a cab as I headed over to Ichiro's place.

I had no place among them. I was really outcasted. And I questioned my being there at all. Maybe it would be better if I was dropped back down to a lower head...it's what they all treated me like anyway. I should start seriously considering that now...more then ever.