I wasn't sure what Jia meant by this whole political thing. But the next day at the office, I sat in with on the meeting, listening to Tai and Jia go over things with Aya, Akio and Gabriel. I listened in, just because I didn't want to be branded a killer all my life. I wasn't stupid...I just did stupid things. Anyway, I listened to most of this be directed to Aya. I knew that Aya was the political expert and that he could pick apart anything having to do with either the Japanese or American government. But I didn't know just how much of an expert he was until he started talking about the newest candidate.

"He's all smoke and mirrors. He's got some personal vendetta against yakuza. Why or what I don't know. He makes all these glorified promises...but I just think he wants in on the Diet to pull us apart."

Jia nodded as he smoked and said,

"I can't deal with this government again. It's why I started hiring all the fucking Dietmen in the first place so they could leave me alone while I did my thing here."

"Well if this Dietman gets in the Diet, we're going to have start pulling major strings. We could start looking at types like Johnson, and Oakaden all over again."

Jia cursed as I said,

"Who's Oakaden and Johnson?"

"Former cops that while Jia was trying to establish himself came in and tried to take him down. There were two Oakdens actually. The younger brother took a shot at Gabriel, then older one actually arrested Jia." Said Akio.

"The only cop that ever let us get away with anything was Ryuunen."

They laughed as I then remembered it was Akio they meant and I more or less just looked away. I missed the joke anyway. Jia then sighed as he smoothed his hair back and said,

"So, Aya just how far along on the polls is he?"

"All these promises he's making is getting him high up. The other candidates...they're not as high up."

"So if he wins, we'll be in trouble?" I asked.

"Not in trouble so much as having trouble." Said Akio.

I nodded as Aya then said,

"So, we'll have to watch who wins. Jia why don't you invest money in the opposing candidate?"

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea." Said Tai.

Jia nodded as he said,

"True. If the opposing candidate looses then I just threw money away. Plus if anyone were to find out that a yakuza was supporting him that turns heat on us."

Aya nodded as he said,

"True, but I meant like getting one of the past, bought Dietmen and getting them to show support?"

Jia thought for a moment as he said,

"That might work."

"Who was the favorable candidate last time?" Said Tai.

"I don't remember but I can find out." Said Aya.

Akio then said,

"So what happens now Jia?"

"Well, we first find out if we can't push some support towards the other to win this election. If not, we start preparing for the worst."

Jia then said for us to get started on finding out on who the preferred candidate was last time.

It wasn't a monumental task to do so Aya and Tai did it themselves and found out who it was in the next two days. They also found out he was on Jia's political pay roll. Jia had him called in. The former Dietman was as crooked as they came. He only granted promises and wishes to those that had enough money to make them happened. Since Jia was well above the highest standards of wealthy living in Japan, he paid off the Dietman to keep the 36 Moons above the law. Which is why for many years, we managed to get arrested yet have nothing stick. Jia was able to monopolize everything and keep it as well as set up dummy books and have foreign money flow through establishments. Clubs with reps for drug use and selling were kept open and never touched, Jia's businesses and fronts were never examined and the police turned a blind eye to the killings that happened when minor mishaps happened in Jia's business. This Dietman was being paid off well enough by Jia to make all that happened. When the Dietman retired, his protege took over and he was on Jia's payroll as well. The Dietman we were looking was named Takakura Souichiro. He was a fat old man, his hair a black and white color and he walked slowly because of his belly. He reminded me a lot of the old fashioned type yakuza dons that still sat in power somewhere. Anyway he walked into Jia's office one afternoon, his over coat on his shoulders as he came in and sat down in front of Jia's desk. The old Dietman coughed slightly as Jia said,

"Konichiwa."

"Konichiwa Jia-sama. What can I do for you?"

"I'm sure you heard of the upcoming elections."

"I have. Worried about Kemuri?"

"Yeah. The bastard could cause some serious problems for me if he wins."

"I know that. So what would you have me do Jia-sama?"

"I need you to lend support to the opposing candidate."

"Oh...I see."

"You would be paid Takakura."

"I know. I trust a man of your services wouldn't let someone like me do their services for free."

"I know. Same fee?"

"All I have to do is lend support?"

"Yeah that's all. Use some of that lying charm to win over the voters."

Takakura laughed as he then said,

"When should I be expected to be paid?"

"Come on now Takakura. You know I always pay before hand that way you have no excuse not to do the job."

He called Tai into his office and a few moments later, Tai came in, his usual white leather coat on as he closed the door behind him. He set a brief case in front of Takakura on Jia's desk as he then said,

"Your payment."

The Dietman took the briefcase as he then got up and then Jia got up and walked around his desk as he shook Takakura's hand as he said,

"I expect to see you in a few days on the news."

"Count on it Jia-sama. Good day."

He then left.

We then waited and watched the news intently as the races started drawing closer and closer. The opposing candidate against Kemuri began picking up voters because of Takakura's support and Jia was happy about that. The opposing candidate was seen out making speeches on top of his van with Takakura sitting in the background and that made tremendous impact. The races were coming close near the half way point. Jia figured the opposing candidate could use more help but he wasn't sure what else he could do without short of killing Kemuri. The only reason he didn't was because Kemuri was being so closely scrutinized, that anything on our behave could have drawn attention to us. Jia decided not to do anything so drastic. At least not now. Tai and Aya watched and read about the elections, each candidates promises and so on. The opposing candidate seemed to know more of what he was doing, but Kemuri stayed on top because he had more of a flair to speak and his promises were amazing. As I watched the news with Aya, Aya said

"This guy is so full of shit. He couldn't do half of what he's promising with the rest of the Diet agreeing."

"Then why is he so advanced in the polls?"

"Because he makes it seem like he can come through. People will believe anything that can promise them a brighter future."

"We're not really that bad are we?"

"Nah, not really. We're actually better then politics and government. At least we don't lie and we show what we really are."

Aya sat up as he brushed his hair aside and as I said,

"You were in the Diet once right?"

"Yup. It's how I got my syndicate name."

"Not what you seem...how did you manage to fake all that?"

"I didn't have to fake it. I know too much about government. I have a cure for everything. I can fix any economic problem, any downfall in this country or the States. But I won't get into it because people aren't interested in that. Much like Takakura, Dietmen are interested in making their pockets fat, their bellies full and their old dicks hard."

I nodded as I said,

"So...who do you think will win?"

"It's too close to call it now. Anything could make the election turn. We'll have to wait and see until the final day."

I nodded as Aya got up and turned off the small TV in the empty board room as he got up and stretched. He then sighed and said,

"This is just like when I was starting out over here."

"So I hear."

"Yeah, When Jia started this, he had me run in the elections. Every night I had to call Jia and report my status and how other candidates were doing."

"So, how'd you get out of the Diet?"

"For re election, I was assassinated."

"Oh..."

"I know. Sounds complex."

I nodded as Aya then put his suit coat on and then buttoned the front of it as he looked at me and said,

"You'll never have short hair again will you?"

"Do I really look like Aoki?"

"A little. It's the color. Or maybe the fact that you two have similar facial features."

I then paused to think for a moment as I said,

"Aya...can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do..you love Aoki?"

"About as much as one is allowed."

"Huh?"

"Aoki is a difficult person to love. I've been working with him for many years and I hardly know anything about him. I know him intimately, but not even that much. He doesn't let anyone in. So...I guess what I do know I love. But it's not enough."

"Oh..so it's not some deep spiritual thing."

He laughed as he said,

"I'd be a fool to love someone like Aoki. I'd be an even bigger fool to believe he could love me back."

"Oh..."

"What brought that on anyway?"

"Just wondering."

He winked at me, sweeping his fingers under my chin as he said,

"You're so cute."

"You're gonna get me in trouble."

He laughed again as he then left the room.

The final day after all the votes were tallied and the winner was announced we found out by Takakura that the opposing candidate had won which meant Kemuri was out of the Diet. We celebrated knowing Jia could easily pay him off and add another Dietman to his pay roll. The night the winning speeches, we all watched in that board room. Except Toki who was downstairs in the lobby sleeping. He had been there all afternoon anyway, dead to the world. He was hung over from the previous night's partying he did with Akio and Aoki which is why Aoki still had his sunglasses on despite the darkness and sat in the far corner of the room and Akio kept yawning all day. Jia and Tai sat down, Aya behind him as Akio and I stood behind them as well. Jun and Mikkie awaited for the speeches to start as the knelt beside Tai and Jia to see the screen. Jia smoked as he said,

"Someone will have to call Takakura after this."

" I will Jia." Said Tai.

The opposing candidate soon came into view as he began his speech, Takakura in the background, applauding the new Dietman as a woman stood close by too. People were cheering as the new Dietman began his speech. Jia listened for a while as he then said,

"I'm glad this guy won. I should go home soon. I'll have to have a meeting with this guy tomorrow morning."

Just as Jia started getting up, we all heard loud noise coming from the screen. Jia turned his attention back to the TV as we saw the new Dietman had been shot. Jia sat back down as he said,

"Fuck....."

Insanity broke out all over, people screaming and panicking as the news reporters continued to cover the story that the newest Dietman had been shot. We saw Takakura was fine and he was looking out for the new Dietman as the woman beside him was screaming, covered in blood as she got hysterical. Jia then stood up again as he cursed and knew that Kemuri had something to do with this. Tai got up as we all did and we started leaving to find out what was going on. Seems Kemuri was more willing to get into the Diet by any means. Even killing his opposing running mate.