The Itto Ketsuen checked in on Stephen. Stephen had been leading his normal life since he arrived in Vegas and didn't cause a bit of trouble since. He was in fact, surprised when the Itto Ketsuen in California sought him out. Jia was left with the obvious answer.

"Lotus? She would blush when I looked at her and now over a few years time she's managed to grow from that to a woman who wants me dead?"

Tai looked at Jia as he said,

"It's still possible the name could just be used. After all, the Black Hand was known through the underground."

"I'm more willing to believe that then anything else."

I went downstairs to the basement since Jun was still tending to the twins who were now more injured then before. Toki was down there with him, keeping him company and watching his back just in case one of the two decided to be stupid and attack. I came in as I said,

"Jun, did either one say anything?"

Jun shook his head as he threw away some of the used medical supply in the trash as he said,

"Not a word."

I went over to Toshihiro who leaned back against the wall at the end of the couch were Yasuhiro was as I said,

"I have to talk to you."

My once perfect uke looked at me as he still blushed, but looked away as he clasped his hand up to his chest. It was bandaged around completely, his pinky finger now missing from where Aoki cut it off as red spots dotted the white bandage. I sighed as I said,

"You said Kenimin hired you. But the only two Kenimin's alive are Kenimin's youngest boy who's been in California for the past couple of years and Kenimin's only female child, Lotus."

"A man hired us."

"Did you see who?"

"Some middle aged man. Has...black hair but it was turning white in areas."

"So it couldn't have been Stephen."

"No, it wasn't anyone named Stephen."

"Then...why would someone use Kenimin's name?"

He looked back at me as he said,

"I don't ask question. I just take the contract."

I looked back at him as I tried to think and he looked at my face, but not in my eyes. I then said,

"Where were you employed?"

"In Hong Kong."

"Okay..."

I was about to stand up when he said,

"You...you work for these people?"

I looked back down at him as I pulled up my sleeve and showed him my wrist and said,

"Hai. For life."

"I didn't know."

"I didn't know about you either."

I then went to leave as Jun said,

"You can tell Jia that Toshihiro is fine. Other then some superficial cuts, he's good. Yasuhiro still has some problems. Plus, we gotta go check on Akio soon."

Akio had been out of the hospital for a while but due to internal injuries, he has not returned to work yet.

"But, Toshihiro refuses to leave without his brother."

I nodded as I went to relay the message to Jia upstairs. He then nodded and looked at Tai as he said,

"We still gotta figure out what's with this Kenimin bullshit."

"Oh...I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt but I spoke to Toshihiro, he said a man did employ him, but it wasn't Stephen and it was in Hong Kong."

Tai looked over at me as he said,

"He said that?"

"Yeah."

Tai nodded as he excused him from Jia and went to do some work. I then said,

"Jia, Jun also said that Toshihiro is fine but won't leave without Yasuhiro. Yasuhiro still has some problems with his wound though."

Jia sighed as he put his head down on his desk as he said,

"I figured as much. I can't keep them both here though."

I nodded as I said,

"Jia...? You okay?"

"Tired a little. I don't wanna get sick so I'm trying to take care of myself this time."

"Okay. What should we do about the twins?"

"Uh...I don't know. Ask Tai."

"Want me to call Jun here?"

"Yeah. Also get someone to watch the two before Jun and Toki leave."

"Okay."

I then excused myself and left.

Over the next few days, Jia was being taken care of by Jun, making sure Jia wasn't getting sick though he was slowly getting there. The twins didn't leave our care at all until Yasuhiro felt he was fine enough to go. Meanwhile, Tai, Gabriel and Aya looked into Hong Kong, trying to find out who employed to the two as they called in everyone from everywhere. Ren even got involved again and I got to see Kotei again. He seemed happier when I did see him and he was dressed in his school uniform when I did see him. He would follow me as I walked around the lobby trying to figure out what to do for now. He was happier about the fact that he was in charge, he started studying Japanese which was hard for him but he tried anyway because he knew he had to learn it and he was picking up being an oyabun even when Ren wasn't teaching him. And he finally said what I've been waiting for.

"He loves me."

I looked at him over my shoulder as I said,

"Yeah and?"

"Well..nothings happened."

I pat his shoulder as I said,

"Give it time."

He looked at me with a confused expression as he said,

"Anyway, what's been going on?"

"Someone hired contract killers to get everyone around Jia. Then eventually us. They killed Nishiki, wounded Tsubasa and tried after Sozaburo. We eventually got them and tried to figure out who hired them in the first place. Turns out old memories haunt."

"Oh, so that's why Ren's involved right, because they could have gone after him next right?"

"Yeah and your father had contacts in California that could know something. Anything that helps."

"Yeah, Ren knows those guys. He's worked with them before."

I pat his head as I humored him for stating the obvious. I then said,

"What do you know?"

"I know some of the guys that my father worked with were disgusting and if not for Ren I would have been violated in more ways then one."

"Ew."

"I know. But they run syndicates in California and all feared that guy from the Akai Fubuki."

"Yeah I imagine they would."

"Otherwise, my father never allowed me to work around him when he was doing something big."

"How'd you learn anything then?"

"I listened to Ren."

I sighed, throwing my hair back over my shoulder as Kotei said,

"Your hair is so long. You gonna cut it?"

"I doubt it."

"It's nice though."

"Thanks."

"You working now?"

"Not really. With Jia and everyone else talking upstairs, trying to figure out what's going on and people already standing guard over the twins, I don't have much to do but keep you company."

"What twins?"

"The contract killers."

"They were twins?"

"Yeah."

"The Yuuki twins?"

"You know about them?"

"Yeah. They use to live in California. They worked with the Akai Fubuki, but not contracted by them or anything. They just worked for that syndicate mostly. They traveled back and forth from Cali to Hong Kong a lot."

"So they were employed in Hong Kong."

"Yeah it was all the more reason that everyone stayed away from the Akai Fubuki. They had ties with the Black Hand."

"The Black Hand was collapsed some years ago though."

"So we heard. Which is why it made no sense the Yuuki twins continued traveling there."

It was making no sense. If the Black Hand was collapsed and the Yuuki twins kept going there anyway, it seemed our problem was still in Hong Kong.

When I was taking Jia to see Tsubasa, I let him know what Kotei told me.

"Ren told me the same thing. It seems like we're heading back to Hong Kong."

"Jia?"

"Hm?"

"You really think it could be Lotus?"

"I'm starting to think so yeah. But why now is what I wanna know. If she wanted to have me killed she should have done so when I destroyed her whole family line during our marriage."

"She couldn't then Jia."

"True."

He said nothing for a while as he had his cigarette, blowing the smoke out the window. He rubbed his gloved hands together once he was finished. I then said,

"Toki working tonight?"

"Yeah. It's why I decided to go see Tsubasa."

"Oh. Makes sense."

"I should see Akio too now that he's home."

"I can stop by."

"Okay."

We got to Tsubasa's place a few moments later. Jia and I walked to his apartment and saw Jiki standing there. His light brown and orange hair had grown a great deal and he too, like everyone else who had long hair, tied it back. He didn't care about the scars on his neck. Anyway, he allowed Jia inside as Ai'iro greeted us. He let us know Tsubasa was not well, mentally. He had gotten a look at his face that was in fact ruined. When someone like Tsubasa has been forever complimented on how he looks, to have it taken away is a shock. Jia nodded as he went in to see the former doll anyway. I then talked to Ai'iro while Jia was there.

"Is it really that bad?"

"It's a deep cut. It could get fixed with maybe plastic surgery. I don't know. Tsu's upset about it, but not devastated. He knows he has to continue on running the Yami."

I nodded as I said,

"I read that it cut across his face."

"Yeah, his cheek mostly, near his mouth....it looks bad but that's only because the stitches are still there and it hasn't healed all the way yet."

I nodded as I said,

"As long as he's alive though right?"

"That's what I tell him."

We waited for a while before Jia finally emerged and thanked Ai'iro and then we left to see Akio. Akio was still unable to work, he was in pain still and he was angry with himself for being unable to work yet. Jia told him to take his time, nothing major was going on just yet and to enjoy the time he had off that soon he would put him to work. Akio laughed, thanking Jia and then we left. Jia was thinking about something, I could tell he was. I then said,

"Jia?"

"Hm?"

"Your mind on something?"

"My mind is always on something. When it's not I worry."

"Do you need to go some place else?"

"No. I just want to go home now. Get something to eat."

"You're hungry?"

"More thirsty but I could use something to bite on."

I brought Jia home and I was about to leave when he said,

"Do me a favor Jo."

"Yeah?"

"Find Toki for me. Tell him to come home already."

I nodded as Jia left and went to his apartment. I then called Toki as I said,

"Where are you?"

"Headquarters. Why?"

"Jia wanted me to tell you to come home."

"Good cuz I was gonna come home anyway."

"I'll pick you up."

I hung up as I continued on my way. I arrived a few moments later and saw Toki standing there, talking with Aoki as he held something in his arms. I knew that hold so I got out of the car as I went inside the lobby and announced I was ready to take him home. In the folds of Toki's parka was a dark orange colored kitten, purring with each stroke of Toki's hand.

"You got another one?"

"Yup. I found it today when I was with Aoki."

"You think Jia's gonna let you keep that?"

"He let me keep Baby Mikkie. I don't see why he wouldn't let me keep this one."

Aoki exhaled smoke as he said,

"What you gonna name this one?"

"It's a girl...and...hm..."

He thought about it for a moment before he said,

"Baby Emy."

"Who's Emy?" I asked.

"Cute girl I met some time back."

"She must have been real cute for you to name your cat after her."

"Actually, I was just reminded of her cuz of the color of the fur."

Aoki shook his head as he said,

"Go home. I'll see you later."

Toki and I then walked outside and got back in the car as I took him home.

The next day, Jia finally made the announcement.

"We have to go to Hong Kong."

"The problem is in Hong Kong and so whoever wants Jia dead is there." Said Tai.

"So we meet them head on?" Said Toki.

Jia nodded as he said,

"I can't hide or wait. Better to see why they want me dead and to see who. If it is Lotus, I'll be damned surprised."

"I wouldn't be. I already tol ya, a bitch's wrath is worse then what a man can come up with." Said Toki.

Jia sighed as he said,

"You sound like a misogynist."

"I don't care what females do. As long as they do me first."

Jia shook his head, laughing slightly as he hit Toki lightly on his arm and said,

"Anyway, going to Hong Kong now, before anything else happens seems like the best lead. Besides, with the Yuuki twins now out of action and away from me, I can go and not worry about anyone in New York."

We all knew that Jia was right and going was now part of the plan. Jun then said,

"And Akio?"

"He'll be fine on his own. He can take care of himself."

Jun then said,

"His wounds are extensive Jia. I don't know if leaving him alone would be sound medical advice."

Jia sighed as he said,

"You wanna stay with him?"

"No one else is going to take care of him."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Okay Jun, stay in New York until Akio is well enough to be alone. Then, if we haven't come back yet, meet us in Hong Kong. The rest of us will go."

And we had to go and soon.

A couple of days later, we all left for Hong Kong except Akio and Jun who stayed in New York. Jia had made his final ties with the Itto Ketsuen and the Yami while he was away and now we traveled back into what is Jia's land, but we are still considered enemies to anyone who once worked for the Black hand. Many of the triads know who the 36 Moons are and often back away without a second word. They knew that if the Black Hand could be crushed, so could anything else. Once in Hong Kong after a day of rest, we got to work. We had no allies or connections in Hong Kong so we had to do everything the old fashioned way. By digging. Tai led the way business wise while the rest of us worked the streets. Jia had to meet a few of the other triads around but he didn't trust any of them since they were all shady, but he had to find out if anyone knew of the Kenimin name still being used. No one told us anything that could suffice. As I walked the streets, picking up whatever I could on information by word of mouth, rumor or just plain bribery, I remembered that Lotus told me she was going back home. So she should have been in Hong Kong. Everything was still pointing back to the former Mrs. Jia. So instead of searching for the Kenimin name being used, I asked if anyone knew of Kenimin Lotus. Finally, around three that morning, someone told me something valuable.

"Kenimin Lotus...yeah, I know her. She lives uptown from here. In the place her older brother once lived."

The one who told me that was a gangster from the street. He was pushing heroin on the streets and I just paid him for the information. He then said,

"I wouldn't fuck around with her though."

"Why not?"

"Well one, she's Kenimin's child. Female or not that's one bitter, angry woman. She also holds power."

"I thought women here weren't holding much of that."

"Money and a good last name can get anyone anywhere."

"She married?"

"Not that I know of. But she's up there."

I thanked the guy as I started to leave and I called Jia. I told him what I just learned as he said,

"Yeah, Tai just found out that apparently whatever I didn't take over here yet, she did. She used my name for leverage, her own for the hold. People would break for the Kenimin name not mine."

"So...she just said she was your wife, then Kenimin's daughter to keep the position?"

"Yeah basically. I don't like having my name being used like that. At any rate at least we know now it is Lotus behind all this."

I nodded as I said,

"So what now?"

"So now, we wait until tomorrow and have a meeting with the bitter little girl and see what we can't do about that."