Jia was calm, his thoughts collected as his hands rested inside his coat pockets. He walked at a slow, yet brisk pace, normal as if in no rush though I knew he was. His coat fell past his knees, flapping against the wind since he left it unbuttoned, his clean pressed suit of black Gucci underneath, blood red satin shirt with the matching tie resting on his chest, his dark hair neatly brushed back and well kempt. He was a man that looked like he could work on Wall Street or model somewhere else in the city. His face was young looking, still though he was now more then likely, close to forty but you couldn't even guess his age without saying twenty something. I admired the fact that he was one of the few yakuza's out there that was more of a business man then an oyabun. He felt, he cared for those around him and though he knew and considered love a taboo and a risk, he was in love. With none other then his body guard and best friend. Anyone else would have denied it, suppressed it, done anything to save themselves, the person they love and more importantly their reputation...but not Jia. Jia didn't care. Why would he care when he's got an empire that spread across the world like a virus? And the few years I've been working for him, I saw that he was immature still. He argued and yelled and threw fits with Toki and because of Toki in front of everyone. He answered with "Um's" and "I don't know's" a lot of the times when he wasn't sure of what he was doing. He laughed at stupid jokes and couldn't even light his own cigarettes because he still smoked, but didn't carry a lighter. Now, my slightly unprepared oyabun was about to go face his enemy head on.

He was unprepared. I knew he was, but he didn't seem to care. He came in through Central Park from a cab as he paid the driver. The driver looked at him as he said,

"Gotta be careful man. It's late. Lots of weirdos out there."

Jia nodded as he got out, me following as we walked across the wide field of dying grass. It made me wonder where we were going until I saw Eirinsu up ahead, sitting on a park bench, lighting a cigarette. Jia went over and sat down beside him as he patted his pockets down and took out his cigarette case. He then put one between his lips as he turned to Eirinsu and said,

"You got a light?"

Eirinsu turned to him as he took out his lighter and lit Jia's cigarette. Jia then thanked him with the bow of his head as he then leaned back and enjoyed his cigarette, ignoring the fact that his enemy was right next to him. Jia exhaled a cloud of smoke as I stood beside him, looking straight ahead, not really sure what else I should be doing. Eirinsu then said,

"You must be Jia-sama. Correct?"

"I am. You must Eirinsu."

"Yes. Glad to meet you face to face."

Eirinsu turned slightly as he held out his hand. Jia shook it as he said,

"Why are you here Eirinsu?"

"I came to take Nagashima's head and put it on a platter for my own amusement."

"I see. Why?"

"He came into my land. It's a case of territory."

"Why his kid though?"

"He's a Nagashima. Eventually he'll cause me problems later."

"He'll be in New York. Not California."

"Oh? I was not aware of that."

"They both moved here."

"I imaged to hide behind you."

"Probably. But listen, I rather make a deal with you then try and kill you."

"What kind of deal?"

"You go back to California, keep your land."

"You have control of Nagashima's land now though."

"I know. But only that part of the Japanese territory. I own mostly Korean based territory in California."

"And?"

"So if you leave without causing more bloodshed, I can guarantee that no one will dare to venture close to your land again."

"Promising offer. How do you plan on making that true?"

"I'm oyabun of the 36 Moons. That should be enough warning."

"And if it's not?"

"Then you can call on my associates to take care of the problem."

"You have ties in California?"

"I have ties everywhere."

Eirinsu nodded as he said,

"I usually can keep them away at my own will."

"So I heard. Running the Akai Fubuki and no one has fought with you in years."

"Yes. Though why Nagashima chose to battle with me is anyone's guess."

"Would you though?"

"I see why I should, yet I don't see why I should all the same. Nagashima is my fight. Your people choose to get involved. So, if they want to get in my way, I'll make them regret it. If you want to get in my way, that's your business."

"You realize you will die if you choose to go up against me."

"I'm aware."

"You don't care do you?"

"Not really."

Eirinsu then got up, flicking the last of his cigarette away as he said,

"I just want Nagashima."

"Just the old man?"

Jia stood up as well, flicking away his cigarette as he waited for an answer. Eirinsu's eyes seemed to glow from the lighting of the city streets not too far from him. He swept away his sandy blonde colored hair as he said,

"You willing to strike me a more seductive deal Jia?"

"You leave the younger Nagashima here and you can have the older one. The kid has nothing to do with it. Plus, he's not even in California."

Eirinsu then walked a little closer to Jia as he said,

"You would do that?"

"The simplest answer can often solve the biggest problem."

"That would mean killing this man."

"I wouldn't do it. You would. It's what you want isn't it?"

Eirinsu then extended his hand out to him as he said,

"I accept."

Jia shook his hand as he said,

"I'm a business man first and for most Eirinsu. Tell me how you would like this arranged."

"Send him back to California."

"Fine. I will not have his child seeing this."

"I don't care if the little emperor sees it or not, I just want to have it done where he dared to tread."

"Fine. I'll send him back."

Eirinsu nodded as he then turned and left.

I was surprised Jia had managed to take care of the entire situation so easily and with hardly any effort. I walked beside him as we began going back to his building. I was silent, mostly because I was in awe. When the amazement wore off, I said,

"Jia...?"

"Hm?"

"You're going to give Nagashima up?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Easiest way. I can't go around having more of my associates killed. Besides, Nagashima doesn't even want to work with me anymore since his damn kid got raped. So now the little emperor can grow up and take over. Eirinsu can stop coloring the streets in red and I can be done with Nagashima and his parenting."

I nodded as I said,

"You think Nagashima will go?"

"If he has a good enough reason. Which he will."

"Oh..."

Once we arrived back at his building, Jia got a call from Toki. Within the hour all the top heads were in the lobby. Toki sat beside Jia as he rested his head on his shoulder. Jia let him as he said,

"Eirinsu just wants Nagashima."

"We know of that Jia." Said Jun.

"So I gave him up."

"Want about Kotei?" Said Tai.

"Eirinsu decided that all he wants is Nagashima for pushing into land he had no business in anyway. Kotei will remain in New York. He'll take over as he's planned and prepared too."

"Isn't he too young to take over an entire syndicate?" Said Tai.

"Yeah but what can I do? Wait until he's over twenty so Eirinsu could kill off more then what I have? Whatever, I'll just give him Nagashima and work Kotei through my own terms until he knows what he's doing."

"So he'll be a figure head until he's old enough." Said Gabriel.

"Basically."

Jia inhaled his cigarette, letting a cloud of smoke out from his mouth a moment later as he said,

"Tai, call Tsu and Sozaburo and Karasu, let them know what we're planning. Tell them I'll need a conference with them tomorrow afternoon around three so tell them to come to my office."

Tai nodded as Jia got up, Toki sitting up as he followed I then said,

"I'll take you home Jia."

He nodded as he said good night to everyone else and left as I took them home.

Toki and Jia were back on their usual terms though Jia was probably still angry with Toki in some form since they weren't as affectionate as they use to be. After I dropped them off, I called Sozaburo to see if he wasn't too busy. After getting the okay I went to his apartment. Once I got there it looked as if he just arrived home himself since he was still in his suit and still had his choker on. He sat down on his bed as he ran his slender fingers through his hair as he said,

"I'm exhausted."

"I am too."

I sat beside him, undoing the clasp on his choker as I rubbed my hand on his pale neck. He sighed, leaning back into my touch as he said,

"You're so sweet."

"I try."

I kissed the base of his neck as I said,

"You'll have a meeting with Jia tomorrow around three."

"I heard. He finally has a way of getting rid of Eirinsu."

"Yeah."

He turned his head as he said,

"You know, he killed a few of the Itto Ketsuen."

"I know. I heard. Aside from shooting Akio, he got a couple of the 36 Moons."

"He didn't waste time did he?"

"No."

I planted a gentle kiss on his lips as he smiled and said,

"Jo.."

"Hm?"

"After this is over...will you be heading back to Tokyo?"

"Not for a while."

He laid down slowly as he took me into his arms.

The next afternoon, I woke up late. I had half an hour to get from Ichiro's apartment to Jia's building and I didn't have time to change...again. I woke Ichiro up as he rushed to get ready. We both then left and went to Jia's building for the meeting. Of course I stayed in the lobby while Ichiro went to have the meeting. The top heads were in the lobby, however. And I was no longer comfortable being around them in a non-business atmosphere. I only stayed there for a few minutes before I went upstairs and waited outside the doors of Jia's office. I sat out there for a while, mostly because I didn't want to be downstairs. Eventually, I was called inside and we waited for all the other top heads come in. Once we all arrived and settled in, Jia said,

"Tomorrow...or the day after, Nagashima will be going back to California and he will not be coming back. Kotei will wonder what happened and none of us will tell him the truth. He cannot know we set up his father to be killed."

We nodded as Jia then said,

"Within the week, Kotei will know and then he will continue in being schooled and trained in being the oyabun of his father's syndicate."

We were all then dismissed.