Jia and Toki headed back to Japan. I took them to the airport, not saying a word and then wished them well on their trip before I went back home. I didn't see any of the yakuza for a while. I didn't have to until I went back to Japan or went to work...whatever came first. At one point, Ichiro asked me to accompany him to his building since he had some loose ends to tie up with Nagashima. I shrugged, saying sure and headed on my way. There I saw someone I had not seen in a long time. Estuya was there with Yuki and I was so glad to see him. We spoke outside the doors of Ichiro's office for while, catching up.

"How you been Jo?"

"Working. Got shit all fucked up and fixed in my life. How about you?"

"I got a kid."

"You got a kid? When did that happen?"

"Like a couple a months back. My girlfriend Kristine got knocked up. We decided to keep it. Marry at a later time."

"How's the kid?"

"Healthy. Well fed, loved. All the shit that really matters."

"Boy or girl?"

"Boy. Named him Shinta. It was her idea."

I laughed slightly as I then said,

"Change you much?"

"I just see shit in a different light. I gotta be more careful."

"Man I didn't even know you had a girl!"

"You ever see me fucking around with all them ho's at the parties Jia has?"

"Nope."

"Because I'm faithful."

The word rang through my head. Faithful. All things I wasn't. No matter how hard I tried...I couldn't do it. I gave into Akio right after Miya walked out on me. It was no wonder that I could never get him back. I truly was my father's son. Aoki wasn't exactly known for his loyalty when it came to partners. If he had been loyal to Aya, I wouldn't be around. Anyway I smiled at Estuya's good fortune, happy for him and his starting family. I just hoped nothing would ever happen to change that.

We continued talking for a while until Yuki opened the door and said,

"Estuya, do me a favor. Pick up Nagashima's kid."

"What school he go to?"

"St. Teresa's."

"I have no idea where that is."

"I do." I said.

Yuki looked at me as I said,

"I picked up Kotei before. I can do it."

"Thanks Jo."

Yuki then went back inside as Estuya said,

"Thanks. Owe ya one."

"Don't worry about it. I'll be back soon."

I then left and went on my way to pick Kotei.

I had not seen the kid since the whole situation with Toki that night at Jia's celebration. I pulled up in front of the school just as the bell rang and the students came. I got out of the car, looking around for Kotei as I lit a cigarette. A little while later, the familiar blonde appeared and walked towards me. He stopped as he said,

"Ren working?"

"Yeah. Come on."

He got in the car as he lit a cigarette himself as I looked at him in the rear view mirror. I then said,

"How are you?"

"I'm fine."

His face was still a little swollen, the bruises fading slightly leaving yellow tints of color on his skin. He then said,

"I am. Really. I told you before, it's not the first time."

I started up the car and pulled out as I began driving back to Ichiro's building. I looked at him for a moment as I said,

"Kotei..?"

"Hm?"

"How many times has it happened?"

"Counting this one? Four."

"Four?"

"Yeah. The first time was my first. I don't really remember it. The second time the guy made me consent by saying he would slit my throat. The third time, someone slipped something into my drink while I was holding it. When I woke up...I was on my stomach...the guy just going at me. And now the fourth was Toki."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I put myself in all these situations."

"Don't you feel bad?"

"Should I? I deserve it."

"No one deserves that."

He shrugged as he looked out the window and smoked as he said,

"It's all I'm good for. Aside from running my father's syndicate...it's all I'll ever be good for."

He laughed slightly as he said,

"When I do take over, I'll be known as the only whore oyabun."

"You have no respect for yourself."

"Nope. None whatsoever."

"You really think Ren is worth all that?"

"Yup. And more."

I shook my head slightly as I continued on my way to Ichiro's place. Once there, Kotei took off his tie and blazer along with his sweater vest as he left his bag along with everything else in the car as he went inside with me. He went to meet with his father, Yuki, Tsubasa, Karasu and Ichiro to discuss business further. As for myself, I went to the lobby where Ai'iro met up with us. Then it was us talking for a while, catching up. It was a nice change from usually standing around in silence all day.

After a few hours, talking with Ai'iro and Estuya, Kotei, Ren and Nagashima came down and began to leave. The three of us stood up as Kotei said he was going to do something and for his father to go ahead. Nagashima left Ren with him and then left. Ren walked over to us, made small talk as Kotei lit a cigarette. Ren eventually turned to Kotei and said,

"Botchan where would you like to go?"

"I have to go shopping. I'm bored."

Ren nodded as he started to excuse himself from us as Kotei lovingly held onto Ren's arm as they walked out. I felt so bad for the kid...loving someone like Ren. He felt since he couldn't get Ren, he didn't deserve anyone else or anything better. I would shake my head at the thought and then I turned and went back to my conversation with Estuya and Ai'iro. I finally saw a picture of Estuya's baby. The small little boy which had now become his whole reason for living. It was cute. Kinda of round and squishy looking...anyway, Ai'iro looked at it as his violet eyes flickered at the picture and said,

"Estuya your kid is ugly."

Estuya punched him in the arm as we laughed, Ai'iro laughing as he said,

"I'm kidding! It's cute! It looks nothing like you that's why."

We laughed again as Estuya took the picture back and said,

"My kid is beautiful. He'll never have to do what I do. Ever."

I smiled slightly, listening to him say how he would never allow his child to follow in his footsteps. It was a nice change. Eventually Ichiro came downstairs with Yuki and Tsubasa, Jiki trailing behind Tsubasa as Ichiro escorted them out. Once at the door, Ai'iro got up and joined the ningyo as they said bye to Ichiro and Yuki. Yuki then gathered his coat, putting it on as he said,

"I'll probably call Jia later in the week, let him know how smoothly things are going."

Ichiro nodded as Yuki then checked his watch as he lit a cigarette and soon left, Estuya following him, saying bye to me on his way out. Then it was just me and Ichiro. He smiled at me as part of his swept away bangs fell over his eye as he said,

"Hi."

"Hey. Working all afternoon huh?"

"Yeah...I'm almost done though."

I went a little closer to him, risking someone catching us as he looked at me. He smiled slightly, our mouths close to each other as we leaned close to each other. He then said,

"I'm like your boss you know."

"I know. Kinda fucked up and scary if you ask me."

"Why fucked up and scary?"

"Because, it's fucked up because you're my boss....scary because if somehow I ever ended up hurting me, you could get me killed."

He laughed as he said,

"You plan on hurting me?"

"No, but it happens anyway. Seems like anything I take an interest in turns out very badly."

He frowned slightly, his lips brushing against mine as he said,

"We should be careful."

I nodded as we kissed gently and he then moved back and went into his pockets as he took out his house keys and said,

"You can go to my place and wait if you want."

"Like I don't have a home of my own."

"You don't act like it as much time you've been spending at my place!"

I laughed as I took his keys and said,

"When's Katie getting home?"

"Around now actually. She should be home when you get there."

I nodded as I kissed his cheek and went on my way.

I got to Ichiro's apartment a short time later. Katie and her nanny were home having a late lunch when Katie jumped out of her seat and ran over to me and I picked her up as she smiled and hugged me.

"Jo!"

"Hey Katie."

She kissed my cheek as I said,

"What are you doing?"

"Havin' lunch. Want some?"

"What are we having?"

"Peanut butter and banana sandwiches."

"Peanut butter and what?"

Her nanny sighed as she said,

"They're her favorite."

I couldn't imagine eating the two at the same time but Katie made me have one. She then held her little stuffed animal I brought her yesterday as she smiled at me and said,

"I love Snoopy! Did my uncle tell you?"

"No, I just thought it was cute."

She held the little dog close to her as she played with it's black ears and continued to eat, smearing peanut butter on her mouth as she rocked herself back and forth as she sat on her school uniform, her one knee sock falling down her leg. Once she was done and began drinking her milk she said,

"Where's my uncle?"

"Working still."

I had hardly ate the sandwich...it somehow disturbed me. She then said,

"Is he coming home?"

"Yeah."

"Sometimes he doesn't. And I miss him lots. But my nanny is here."

She smiled as she got up and called for her nanny as she went to go change. I spent the rest of the afternoon there, waiting for Ichiro to get back. Katie came out to join me in the living room, her small puppy in her arms as she sat beside me, putting her head on my shoulder as she smiled and watched TV with me. She would scold me everytime I wanted to have a cigarette because she said there was no smoking in the house. I had to go to the balcony for one. Around nine thirty, Ichiro got back and Katie, who was falling asleep, sprang back up and ran over to her uncle. Ichiro picked her up as he held her and said,

"What are you still doing up pumpkin?"

"Waiting for you."

Ichiro rocked her slightly as her nanny came out from the room. She apologized for having Katie up so late, but Ichiro said it was okay. He then kissed Katie good night as he put her in her nanny's arms and she went to bed. He took off his coat as he went to me and sighed, sitting down and resting his head on my lap. I laughed slightly as I said,

"Long day?"

"Yeah...very long. Wanna grab some dinner?"

"Sure."

He sat up as he brushed his hair back and we left.

I spent a good solid in month in New York with Ichiro. I enjoyed spending my time there, not having a care in the world other then him. Though he worked every now and then, for the most part it was us. By the end of the first month, I got a call from Tai. He let me know something was going on in lower Manhattan. He wasn't sure what and since a few of the top heads had stuck around, we were pretty much short handed if anything should happen. I told him I would go as I got up from Ichiro's bed but Tai said,

"Akio should meet you up somewhere."

"Where's Akio at?"

"He's probably with Takeo."

"I'm not going all the way to Queens if I have to go to lower Manhattan."

"Akio is on his way back from Queens so he should meet you down there."

"Okay. I'll be there soon."

I hung up as I started getting dressed, dragging my limbs up as I sighed, buttoning my shirt as Ichiro slept. I didn't want to wake him since he was so tired from the previous three rounds...I swear he was trying to kill me sometimes. I finished buttoning up my shirt as I tucked it into my pants and zipped them up as I got my tie and fumbled with the noose since I never learned how to tie it correctly and then got my jacket on. I picked up my phone and my gun as I put everything away and then picked up my wallet as I pulled up my hair. Once I snapped the elastic band in place, I started to leave. I got out from Ichiro's apartment as I closed the door behind me and left, going to work.

I got to lower Manhattan in a rush. Not because I was in a rush, it was because I loved driving fast again. I guess that was never going to leave my system. I got to lower Manhattan and parked down a street. It was relatively empty since a lot of businesses were located around here and it was around one in the morning. I began walking down the street, my hands in my pockets as my phone rang. I took it out as I answered, hearing Akio on the other end. He told me to meet him and Takeo in a restaurant about a few blocks from there so I got back in the car and drove up. Once there, I parked and got out, going inside the coffee shop and sat down with Akio and Takeo. Takeo took a drink from his coffee as I said,

"So, what's going on?"

Akio sighed as he said,

"Seems like there's something going on. Lower heads got word of something suspicious going on near here. So they called us. A lot of the top heads aren't here though. Jus me, you, Mikkie and Jun."

"Everyone else left already?"

"The couples did."

I nodded as Takeo said,

"I didn't hear anything though."

Akio shook his head as he said,

"We been here for like half an hour. The lower heads aren't even around. Whatever it might be, it's probably small."

"I hope so." I said.

Takeo then finished as he said,

"If I hear word of anything, I'll let you two know. Hope the other heads don't leave in case it is something."

"Hope so too. Later Takeo."

"Later Playboy. Bye Jo."

I waved to Takeo as he dropped down some money for his coffee and then left, hailing a cab once he was outside. Akio then said,

"Well, we should find out what's going on."

I nodded as I got up and went outside with him as we took a walk, getting calls from the lower heads who were finding nothing really. Around two, we were about to call it a night when my cell phone went off once more. I answered only to hear the frantic voice of a lower head. After calming him down, I heard him clearly say,

"They shot Nagashima's guard!"