We stood around in Jia's new office, everything was still out of order and it didn't have the usual taste and class that Jia had in his offices in Tokyo and New York. Not yet anyway. Toshimasa and Xiao Tien sat across from Jia's desk as Jia himself sat back in his seat, a cigarette in his hand as papers and folders were scattered around the desk, an ashtray near Jia's hand. We all gathered around, Toki going over to the corner of Jia's desk, sitting down and looking over at the two sitting there. Eye candy if I ever saw it. Anyway Jia then said,

"Talking about it since yesterday, Toshimasa and I have talked about opening a casino here. Unfortunately, he can't do it alone."

He paused as he sat up and then put out the rest of his cigarette as he said,

"Xiao Tien, you know this city well I'm assuming right?"

"I grew up here but I doubt it changed dramatically."

"So, rather then making this drag out, waste a lot of time and money, I decided to pair these two up."

Tai then looked at Xiao Tien as he said,

"Jia..."

"I know, the whole trust issue. Xiao Tien knows better. With the price and sentence he's got over his head for the Teo Chiu I seriously doubt he'll do anything."

The China Doll looked at Jia as he said,

"I wouldn't dare."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Toshimasa's proven himself trustworthy."

Toshimasa nodded as he clasped his hands on his lap.

"So, from here, all we have to do is get organized and get started."

Tai nodded as he said,

"We would have to start the business aspect of this then."

"Yeah and the sooner started, the sooner I can go back home. So, Tai, Aya, Akio I see you're back. Welcome. Gabriel, all of you start getting to know these two, they'll be running our casino here."

Toshimasa started getting up, getting his cane as Xiao Tien got up and then said,

"You need some help?"

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Xiao Tien took Toshimasa's hand as he got up and then the China Doll let go as he said,

"Thank you Jia."

He bowed his head slightly as Jia said,

"You better stay out of a trouble. Ask Toshimasa what happened to his last partner that couldn't stop running his mouth."

The China Doll nodded as he then left with Toshimasa and the business heads. The rest of us, Mikkie, Toki, Aoki, Jun and myself looked at Jia as he said,

"All of you have time off. Aoki, Toki will you two please stay out of trouble? Don't bother the China Doll or Toshimasa. They're working now. I don't need you two chasing either one."

Aoki raised an eyebrow as he said,

"Hey, I don't need a warning."

Toki laughed as he said,

"Sure you do."

Aoki shook his head as Mikkie then excused himself and left, Jun going a few moments later as Toki said,

"So I got nothing to do?"

"I have work to do Toki so you go home."

"I don't wanna go home by myself."

"So don't go home. I just have work to do."

Toki sighed and got up as he went to Aoki as he said,

"Let's go make mischief."

Aoki shook his head as they left and then I left as well.

I had nothing to do again. While the business heads organized everything, the rest of us had nothing to do. I did however, stick around this time to learn what was happening rather then finding out through word of mouth. Best off, me sticking around gave Tai the chance to give me orders so I could stand in on the meetings. Which meant I got to oogle the China Doll and Toshimasa without getting in trouble. I liked looking at them both...like I said it's eye candy. But that also meant I got to find out what was going on. Jia was in on the meetings for the most part as well. They talked about setting up but the problem was they needed an area and then the hiring process of new lower heads in Victoria. Soon afterwards, the other heads got to work. The rest of us were in charge of searching through the city, finding a place to set up and start to find heads who wanted to be hired. Toki and Aoki, who use to bring in lower heads to hire were use to doing it. I even learned that it was Toki who brought in Jia to the 36 Moons...and Mikkie as well.

But I wouldn't really call what we did work. I had to go out with these guys to the clubs scenes, sit at bars, talk to people and see what they were like. Lots of teenagers thought that they were bad ass tried to look for work, but then they had to prove themselves. Toki and Aoki didn't even take them to meet Jia, they did it themselves, seeing if they kid was even worthy enough to meet Jia. Usually they just kicked the shit out of him and if he could still stand afterwards, they promised him a meeting. It rarely happened though. Most of them fell and couldn't get back up or they were knocked out after the first swing. The few that proved they could stand it were taken in for meetings. Jia met them for a moment and then had them prove their loyalty. This was all new to me since I just basically had a tie in. Aoki being my father and all. Anyway the few that made it past the beatings, had to now face Jia's test of loyalty. Some were given a switch blade and asked to stab their hand. The deeper they went the more loyalty it showed. Other's Jia fucked with their minds and told them to drop on their knees and give him head. Most couldn't do either. In the end there were about four that made it past everything. Jia nodded and within a few days put them to work. They were lower heads in Hong Kong so they weren't acquired much information, they were just there for extra protection. We continued hiring more heads the longer we stayed and even found a set up for a casino. Toshimasa and the China Doll got to work on that once the place was found. They worked almost as hard as the rest of the business heads who had to figure out accounts, set up's, dummy set up's and a way to keep drugs away from them. Drugs was never part of Jia's whole thing. He hated the idea of having to sell them since it made him feel like nothing better then a street thug, peddling drugs to the public. He was more refined then that. So when other triads came and tried to offer Jia that deal, he turned them away and said he wanted nothing to do with that. Prostitution, which had always been a part of Hong Kong's underworld also came into play. Jia wasn't really a pimp, he didn't care about people that damn much either so he didn't care when rings were set up around his area. He sent an overseer to make sure everything stayed clean and not connected to him in anyway. So anyone like that never even met Jia, or knew his name. Pimps just knew they were being watched by the 36 Moons. Nothing more. The overseer didn't even know Jia's name, he would report to one of us, whoever was in his sight and we would report to Jia. We were only known by syndicate name.

We stayed for a total of six months turning everything into Jia's property, getting set up, making everything stable, making sure everyone knew the 36 Moons owned and operated everything and to hire enough people to run the syndicate. The lower heads from Tokyo became mock top heads in Hong Kong. They were in charge of things once we were ready to go. Toshimasa and Xiao Tien, who were now employed by the 36 Moons, had the casino up and functioning. Much like Toshimasa's other casinos, this one also churned out a nice profit. The China Doll and Toshimasa did not stay in Hong Kong either. Toshimasa was still in charge of other casinos he was over seeing and needed to travel through Japan to check on each every now and then. With the China Doll as his newest partner, they would be able to do it quicker now. Finally after that sixth month, half the year gone in Hong Kong, we were able to go back home. I even picked up some Mandarin staying there so long. I was never more glad to be back in Tokyo. Also because of the hectic work, I hardly go to see anyone. When we were finally done, Jia let us know and we finally headed back to Hong Kong.

Home. I was home again. Not that I had much to look forward to here either. With Toshimasa being busy and for once, out of my league, the China Doll also busy and involved in work and having a crush on Jia anyway and Ichiro in New York, I had nothing to keep me busy. I didn't mind though. I went to get my hair fixed finally. I lost about two inches so it was above my shoulders again and I had the roots redone. I didn't want to cut it, but it looked weird when I tied it up. I also got to see Hisoka again who I was glad to see since it had been some time. He was fine, still going about as usual. He had an opportunity to go to Hong Kong when the offer was given since he had been working for the syndicate for almost fifteen years, but he passed it up, saying he rather stay in Tokyo. I was glad to be home for the most part. I felt more comfortable in Tokyo, though more active in New York. I was relaxed for a while. And I needed that too.

I was on my way home on night after going clubbing with Hisoka since I wasn't really talking to anyone else. I was tired, but well partied, semi-drunk and exhausted from fucking around with so many damn females who I snuck into the bathroom with. It checked my watch seeing it was about to be five thirty in the morning. I was surprised since I haven't partied that hard since I was about eighteen or so. I decided to walk back home since I didn't really live that far from the Kabuki-chu and I needed to get more tired since I was still up from all that. If I got too tired, then I would take a cab. Anyway, I was walking home, tying up my hair, having a cigarette as I made my way home, still hyped as I accidentally bumped into someone. First off I was shocked anyone was out this early/late depending on how you looked at it and secondly, I dropped my cigarette. A full blown nicotine addict was not pleased about that at all. I was about to just walk away when I saw it was Miya. Miya like a ghost haunting me and bumping into me too. He bowed his head before he realized it was me. He then looked at me and I looked at him as he said,

"Jo?"

I couldn't really deny it since he knew me better then anyone. Or at least once he did. I nodded as I said,

"Hey Miya."

I wasn't really sure what to expect. Aside from the fact that I had not seen him in almost two years and that it was my fault he was shot even though he had nothing to do with anything. But I felt the same as before. He no longer made me react. I looked at him for a moment before I started walking away when he said,

"That's all you have to say to me? After all that?"

"Yeah, that's all I got to say."

"You're such a bastard!"

"I know."

I continued walking as he took a few steps to follow me as he said,

"You were always selfish Joryu! Always! I have no idea why I even thought of you in anyway differently! I waited for you! I waited and you never came back! Never you didn't even try! You didn't care! You just let me almost die and that was it for you right? You had bigger and better things to fuck now! You didn't even....you don't even care..."

I heard him stop walking, but I kept going. I didn't look back, just as he never looked back for me. And he was right....I didn't care. At least...not anymore. And it had taken too much out of me and almost a chunk of my life for me not to. He still held all my emotions, my humanity...but he could keep them. I no longer wanted them.