Kemuri was dead. It was all that could be done now. Jia was relaxed and since Watashi did not know what to do with himself for the moment, Jia took a few days break. Which meant the rest of us took a few days break. I got to catch up on my sleep, sleeping for a full fourteen hours the first day. I got up in the middle of the night, rubbing my eyes as I ordered some take out then called Hisoka. He wasn't busy since it was one in the morning so I invited him over for a late dinner. Once the take out came, Hisoka arrived a few moments later. I invited him as we went to my living room where we sat down on the couch and began to eat.

"Things been going okay?"

"Hai...a little slow now."

"You heard about Kemuri right?"

"Of course."

"Where you involved?"

"No, I wish though. I was guarding Jia for the rest of the night."

He nodded, his blonde hair covering half his face, reminding me of Jun's style for a moment only Hisoka's hair was shorter. I then said,

"You always gonna wear your hair like that?"

"Yeah."

"You could have the scar removed."

He shook his head as he said,

"Why should I?"

"Well..it obviously bothers you if you cover it up."

"It's hair not a face shield. I don't mind it. Yeah it bothers me, but not a lot."

I nodded as he went on eating and then said,

"You know what's going now that Kemuri is dead?"

"Not a clue."

He sighed as he said,

"I can't wait until Watashi is out. He's brought in a lot of lower heads for questioning."

"Did you go?"

"No, I don't have a record but a few friend of mine had to go."

I nodded as I said,

"I went in."

"Why?"

"I had a record. Plus someone sold me out to connect me to the 36 Moons."

"Did Jia find out who it was?"

"Yeah. They took care of him."

"Good. I'm sorry I didn't find out myself."

"It's okay."

We went on having dinner, changing the subject from work to regular life. We usually hung out when we had down time, but this time I couldn't because I wasn't sure how much time I would have off. I wanted to just do nothing for a while, but Watashi wasn't taken care of. Plus I had to go to New York right after it was taken care of. I told Hisoka and he shrugged saying he was use to me being gone for a long period of time.

"We'll just do something when you get back."

I nodded and we went on having dinner.

I spent three days in and out of sleep, talking with Hisoka and doing little things to pass the time. It wasn't until Jia called us in after five days that I went back to work. By then, my sleeping pattern was thrown off again and I was tired around five in the afternoon when I should have been wide awake. I had a can of coffee in my hand and a cigarette in the other as I rubbed my eyes and tried to wake up a little. No one understood how I could be tired at five in the afternoon, but once we saw Toki still asleep on the couch in Jia's office, they all laid off me. Jia saw how tired I was once we were in his office and he looked at me as he said,

"What's wrong? Long night?"

"My sleeping pattern's thrown off."

He nodded as he then looked at Toki and said,

"Anyway, I decided that tonight would be as good a night as any."

"Any reason why tonight Jia?" Asked Jun.

"No, no reason. Tonight just feels good."

Jia then got up as he walked over to Akio and had his cigarette lit as he then said,

"I decided to wait for a while and make Watashi wait, make him panic and wonder what we were up to. He knows that it won't be long until something happens. And I wouldn't want to disappoint."

Jia assigned Aoki, Akio and Mikkie to the job, telling them to be discreet and quiet. He didn't want too much of a racket to be brought up. Tai and Aya went to run a check to see how much Jia could bribe the next head that came up and the rest of us went to wait. Except Toki who was still asleep.

Aoki, Akio and Mikkie were working. I wish I could have gone but I was exhausted anyway. So exhausted that I fell asleep on the couch on the lobby as I waited for something to do. Jun was sitting on the other couch, reading the paper, Aya and Tai were still working upstairs, Gabriel was speaking to Jia and Toki was asleep in Jia's office. So I was able to crash asleep without a problem. I slept for about two hours, lost in my comfort of the soft sofa, my hair acting as a shield from any kind of light as I floated through dreamless sleep. I was eventually woke up after two hours by Jun. He shook my shoulder as I sat up slightly, pulling back my hair and looking up confused as Jun said,

"Time to go."

"Go where?"

"Go home Jo. Aoki, Akio and Mikkie came back."

"Oh...okay."

I sat up as Jun went on his way out the door. I sat up as I saw Akio looking at me. He pat my head as he said,

"Hey Jo."

"Hey. How'd it go?"

"Plain and simple. Just killed the guy. Aoki did it, I backed him, Mikkie backed me."

"Where'd you do it?"

"We waited until the guy left for work. We followed him and once he got out of his car, we took care of it."

I nodded as I yawned and heard Akio aww me as he said,

"That's cute."

"What?"

"The way you yawn."

I scoffed, about to ignore it when I realized his hand was still on my head. I looked up at him as he leaned down on the sofa slightly and said,

"It's been a while Jo."

"What you that desperate?"

"Nah, never. You know I don't have any problems gettin someone. I'm just saying...it's been a while with us."

"There was no us Akio. You made that perfectly clear sometime ago."

"Actually you blew me off. You said I was the Playboy and this and that."

"Yeah but you didn't bother with me after that."

"So I needed a break. I didn't want to get bored too easily. I have a tendency to."

"I know."

His fingers curled in my hair for a moment as he said,

"So...?"

"So what? What makes you think I would be interested again?"

He laughed as he said,

"Because I know you. You're gonna refuse me?"

"Why not? Sozaburo did."

He tugged on the end of my hair rather hard as I laughed slightly. He then said,

"Not funny."

I looked at him, slightly amused as I said,

"I don't know...maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Maybe."

We kissed for a moment and he pulled back, a slight smile on his face as he then started to stand back up to his normal height. Just then I saw Aoki standing not too far from the elevator. I wasn't sure just how long he'd been there and how much he heard. I remembered back when Aoki threatened Akio and I had a feeling that warnings never expire. Akio's hand quickly slid from my hair as he saw Aoki there too. Aoki began to walk, lighting a cigarette as he did so and I worried for a moment, not sure what he was going to do. As he walked behind me, out of my eye sight, I turned around to the other side to see as he exhaled a cloud of smoke and then clapped his hand down on Akio's shoulder and said,

"Let's go for a walk."

Akio looked a little worried. He had good reason to look worried and I was about to say something but Akio went with him. They both then left as I bit my bottom lip, worried about what Aoki was going to do. I started getting up to my feet, pulling my coat on properly as I adjusted my tie and buttoned the front of my coat as I decided to go home. I was wide awake now...plus I would have to call Akio later to find out what happened.

I went home, taking a walk rather then the car, a cab or the subway. I just needed to walk. I found myself standing in front of a window again. I kept staring at my reflection, so grown up now. I was twenty-one, shy of twenty-two, much more in control of my emotions. My heart was under lock and key now and I remembered the last time I looked at myself like this...I was younger. Not much had changed although I suddenly recalled something someone said to me when I first started out...you will never be the same two years from now. And I'm not. Though it took a little more then two years. I sighed, moving back and going home. I called Hisoka later that night instead of Akio and went to hang out with him. Something told me my interest was no longer sparked with Akio...not that I was surprised.

Since Watashi was taken care of, Jia only waited for the next head to be put in place and for a new Dietman to be in charge. After a few quick words and some promises, Jia bought both of them. He had everyone right back where they belonged and so, he was able to leave for New York with no problems. Toshimasa, who was still running casinos with Xiao Tien, was asked by Jia to keep an eye out for anything that might be going on. Toshimasa agreed and promised to do that. Since he traveled through Japan and now Hong Kong more then anyone else, I could see why Jia asked him to do such a favor. After four weeks, my sleeping pattern thrown off completely, we all left for New York. While everyone crashed on their way there, I was wide awake. I guess my sleeping pattern was fine there.

The next day, we all headed to the Yami's headquarters where we all got to see Tsubasa. The former ningyo had his hair colored black, falling over his shoulders slightly as he wore a suite of all black, the shirt silk, the matching tie resting on his chest. The faint trace of a scar was still on the side of his face, you couldn't see much of it from a distance, at a space between him and myself which would be between his desk and a chair, you could see faint traces of it, a deep groove near the side of his mouth was the only truly noticeable line. Jia and him greeted each other, their hands clasping gently, yet firmly as Jia leaned down slightly, kissing his cheek. Tsubasa allowed us all inside his office as he said,

"You have been absent for some time."

"Work forbade me to do much of anything else." Said Jia.

"How was Hong Kong?"

"It's mine, locked and buried. There's no one anyone could take it unless they rip it from my cold, dead, lifeless fingers."

Tsubasa smiled slightly as he moved his hair back from the left side of his face which was unscarred. Jia then said,

"It cleared up greatly."

The ningyo nodded as he said,

"It left a few traces."

"Nothing that can be paid attention to."

Tsubasa smiled slightly, and as he did I noted the dark red color on the corner of his lips, more towards the right where the deep groove was. Jia and the ningyo continued to speak, Aoki near the door talking with Toki and Akio as they both had a cigarette. Since Akio said he had not touched me in forever, him and Aoki were still cool. Aya was around the desk with Gabriel and Tai. Mikkie, Jun and myself were somewhere in the middle of the office as I stood next to Jiki. Jiki was as silent as ever, only glancing up every now and then as he had a cigarette. I lit a cigarette as I saw Mikkie cross his arms and bring his hand up to his mouth where he proceed to chew on his thumbnail. His thumb nail, unlike the rest of his fingernails, was slightly longer. It went over his actual finger tip and he chewed on it lightly. Jun nudged him as he said,

"You're still doing that?"

"Habit."

"It's disgusting."

"I can't help it."

I then injected my own words into the conversation.

"That's like a smoker who's trying to quit."

They both looked at me as Jun sighed and said,

"It's exactly what it is."

I looked at Mikkie in surprise as I said,

"You smoked?"

"No. Well..sometimes. But I tried not to."

I never saw that in Mikkie. The idea was hard to grasp. Anyway after about half an hour of standing there, I heard Jia say,

"We plan on heading to California soon."

"Why California?"

"To take over the Korean land there and also to work around Nagashima's land and work around Eirinsu."

"You and Eirinsu have a deal don't you?"

"Hai. That we do. But I figure if I'm going to California again, I might as well bring Ren."

"He has Kotei to watch doesn't he?"

"I know. That's my other problem. Kotei can't come to California, in fear that if Eirinsu finds out he might think my word worthless and I can't have that."

"Would you want the Yami to watch over him?"

"Yeah. I doubt he needs a baby sitter twenty-four hours a day. He's what...nineteen now right?"

Jia looked over at me as I said,

"Yeah he's like nineteen now."

"Yeah so he should know what he's doing now. He's grown. He knows better. But all in all, when Ren comes with us, he'll be alone and I'd like an eye to be kept on him."

Tsubasa nodded as he said,

"We can arrange that. He is a young man after all."

Jia nodded having his cigarette lit by the ningyo as he then exhaled and said,

"Before I go I need to speak with Sozaburo and Karasu and of course Ren."

Tsubasa nodded as he lit his own cigarette as he said,

"Of course. Dinner tonight?"

"Pearl Tea House at ten."

Tsubasa nodded as he got up once Jia did and Tsubasa walked around his desk as he escorted Jia to the door as Jiki followed. The two oyabun's said good bye to each other as we all then left.

I got to go home that afternoon, have a brief lunch and then get ready for tonight's dinner. I was going to see Ichiro after almost a year or so and I had missed his presence greatly. I got dressed quickly, leaving a little time for my hair, I was about to just snap it up in it's usual way but I decided to leave it down and wrapped the usual elastic band around my wrist and I went on my way. I met up with the other heads of the 36 Moons there along with Ichiro and Karasu, Tsubasa, Ai'iro and Jiki along with Yuki and Estuya, Ren and Kotei. We all gathered inside Jia's private room and sat down. The traditional kneeling table that was usually present was removed and a normal, much longer table was place to accommodate all of us. Each of us, out of habit, removed our shoes before we reached the carpeted area of the dinning table as we each took our seats around Jia, who sat at the head of the table. When Kotei and Ren arrived, Kotei almost walked ahead without bothering with his shoes, but Ren grabbed his wrist gently and pulled him back, reminding him to remove his shoes. The young emperor sighed, kneeling down to unlace his boots as he toed them off and walked over to his chair, Ren close behind him. The little emperor hand not changed much aside from his hair length which was slightly longer then I remembered it. Ren's thick black hair was still tied back, his dark gray suit covering his large frame as he sat beside Kotei. Ichiro and Karasu arrived next. Karasu's light brown hair had been clipped short, almost spiked upwards now and he had some uneven grow of facial hair around his chin, mouth and upper lip. He still looked proper however and took a seat as Ichiro followed. My personal pleasure looking as beautiful as ever. His dark hair had grown out more towards the back while his reddish blonde bangs were still swept aside in wayward angles, cleared away from his eye so the distracting birthmark could be seen. He wore all black with a white shirt underneath, a black tie resting on his chest. He sat beside Karasu, a few seats away from me and across from me. Yuki and Estuya arrived last, Yuki claming there was traffic and he apologized as he took off his coat and sat down, tucking back loose strands of dyed yellow hair behind his ear as I saw his roots had grown in. He sighed, taking the second to last chair as Estuya took the final chair at the end.

Dinner began soon afterwards. Waitresses came in the room, setting clean cups down and pouring tea. Once that was done, they set the tea pot in the middle of the table as another waitress came in and asked what we would be ordering. Jia ordered dinner for the entire table, a variety of sushi on a single platter so everyone could get everything and also sake. The waitresses left as Jia began to conversation of business. He explained how we needed Sozaburo's contacts and Ren's knowledge of Nagashima's territory to come with us when we go to California. Kotei looked over as he said,

"When are we going to California?"

"Not we as in all of us, we as in a select few of us and Ren."

"Why can't I go?"

"Eirinsu and I made a deal that you never set a foot in Cali again."

Kotei looked frustrated but he understood and left it at that. He nodded as he said,

"So I'm to be left alone in New York?"

"For a short amount of time."

Kotei nodded as he drank his tea. Yuki then lit a cigarette as he said,

"What do you plan on doing in Cali Jia?"

"Organizing myself properly before shit can continue getting out of hand there like it did in Hong Kong. I put off things long enough." Jia said with a slight hold of his mouth.

He then exhaled a cloud of smoke as he rested his chin on his hand, his elbow on the table. We continued to have tea and cigarettes for a while until the platters of sushi came into the room. Everyone picked up their chopsticks, separating them with a soft crack as we began to eat. Toki and Jia didn't eat, neither did Jiki myself and Yuki. Everyone else did. Eventually Jia picked at some rice, making Toki eat as well. Toki didn't want to, his lips pursed tight as he turned his head away like a disobedient child. He brought his cup of sake up to his mouth instead and Jia urged him a moment later to eat. Toki finally gave in, parting his mouth as he took in the tips of the chopstick and eat the rice. I finally picked at some sushi myself, watching as Ichiro sat a few seats down and across from me, ate his food gracefully. He made eye contact with me, a small smile on his face as he turned away and had a talk with Karasu. Dinner went well and towards the end I had some of it myself. I then filled up on sake and dessert. I watched Toki make lewd sexual acts with a peach slice, nudging Jia in the process as Jia rolled his eyes but laughed nonetheless. Aya bit through the end of a strawberry, feeding the rest to Aoki who sat beside him having a cigarette already. Everyone else had their share of dessert being fruit and ice cream before we served the last of the tea and sake and Jia, along with the other oyabuns made plans to see each other the next evening to discuss Jia going to California.

After dinner, we all left, Jia picking up the bill as we stood outside the Pearl Tea House saying bye to each other. Ichiro looked at me slightly from the corner of his eye as he then left with Karasu. I smiled slightly, excited to be with my own instrument of pleasure again. I then waited until the oyabuns had parted ways, Kotei saying bye to me as he caught a cab with Ren. Then, once the syndicates parted ways and Yuki left, the 36 Moons began going home. Jia and Toki left first this time so I didn't have to wait around for anything. I walked towards the subway, ready to go home, expecting a call from Ichiro before I got there.