I wasn't sure what Jia was planning at this point. But I went to my hotel room and slept through the night. I thought about writing to Miya since time was just a big problem between us. I slept soundly through the night until the next morning when I heard someone knocking on my door. I yawned, rolling out of bed thinking it was room service but grabbing my gun just the same in case it wasn't. I went to the door as I leaned against the wall and said,

"Who is it?"

"Who the fuck you think?"

I sighed, setting my gun aside as I opened the door seeing Toki standing there. He was in some dark blue jeans that hung off his hips and a black wife beater, a black wrap around his head so only his bangs could be seen. On his pale thin but muscular arms besides the scars, was a black bandanna around his bicep. The ever present cigarette lingered on the side of his mouth as he said,

"Hey baby. Don't you look cute."

I frowned looking down seeing I was in my baby blue pajama bottoms and a white wife beater. I crossed my arms as I said

"What do you want?"

"Jia sent me to get ya. He wanted you at the office..."

He pushed his way in as he closed the door behind him and leaned against the door, that smirk on his face ever present as he leaned his head forward, his bangs falling over his face, darkening his eyes as he said,

"But me....I jus want ya here."

I only had that much of a warning as he took a step closer to me. Then he literally pounced and tackled me, making us both tumble to the ground. I started shoving him off me, struggling with him as he tried to catch my hands. I feared what would happen if I didn't get out of this situation. I looked over his shoulder to see the table where my gun was at and I quickly lifted my leg up and kicked the table, making it fall over, the gun falling not to far from us. I looked back up at him as he caught one of my hands and slammed it back on the floor as he said,

"Relax. It'll be fine."

"Get off me!"

"Not willing huh? It's okay...wouldn't be the first."

I started leaning over, trying to shove him off at me with my arm as I tried to reach for my weapon at the same time. We struggled for like five minutes until he turned me over on my stomach. That was his mistake. That gave me enough reach as I got my gun and turned back over, pointing the gun right at him. I felt him letting go of me slowly as he saw the gun pointed right between his eyes.

"I said get off me..."

He looked surprise for only a moment before he smirked and said,

"You got the balls to do it?"

"If I have to..."

My voice was soft as I said it. I started crawling back as he got on all fours and smirked. He took his cigarette out of his mouth as he then opened his mouth and licked the end of my gun, as he looked at me, then he took the tip in his mouth, giving a soft moan before he then pulled back and licked his lips and then reached to my gun, bringing it up slightly as he pressed it to his forehead and said,

"So go on then Aka-chan. Do it. You got the balls to do it...so go ahead."

He thought I was teasing him.

"Just remember what happens right afterwards."

I pulled the safety off as I said,

"Just get up and get out. I'll be at the office soon."

He smirked as he got back to his feet and then turned and left. I sighed, dropping the gun to my side as I got up and locked the door as I went to take a shower and get ready.

I got to the office rubbing my wrist. Toki had slammed it down on the floor way too hard so there was now a red mark on the back of my hand near the top of my wrist. He also left his finger prints there. I rubbed my hand as I walked to Jia's office, knocking on the door before coming in. Once I entered, I saw Toki sitting in his usual place, Jia talking to him as he said,

"Come in Joryu."

I walked in as I said,

"You called for me?"

"I did. Have a seat."

I sat down as he said,

"Right now, Tai and Gabriel are out in the city looking around for Sung Hyun. I wanted to know one thing."

"Hai?"

"If I sent you on a job with the rest of my best, would you be able to handle it?"

"Jia...you know that.."

"I know, I know. You've only been at this job a few months. Less then half a year. But you're good at what you do. By the end of the year you'll be too good just drive a car."

I put my hands behind my back as I said,

"What about Hisoka?"

Jia leaned back against his seat as he said,

"I know he's like your "big brother" but even you are better then him in the short time you've been here. And he's been here for almost ten years."

"But..."

"Joryu. Do you want to stay in his ranks or rise above this? It's up to you. I won't offer you this chance until much later. If you're alive by then."

I took a deep breath, thinking of Hisoka and Miya back home. Hisoka had taught me a lot of in the few months I've been here and Miya...Miya would be so upset if I didn't come home as often or if I wasn't there at all. But I wanted this job. I thought back to what Jia had said about me and my blood line. One of the best yakuza's genes was in me...and I could do this job. I already proved to myself I had the strength both in and out and the ruthlessness it took to take a life and not feel bad. I looked back at Jia as I said,

"What would you have me do?"

He smiled, his hair falling to the sides of his face as he said,

"I'm glad you'll take this job."

I gave a nod as he said,

"For now, Ai'iro will be here. Tsubasa will be keeping me company for a while since Jiki is out of action no one else will be around to keep guard for him. Toki will be actually working for a change. And you will be partnered with Akio and for the time being Ai'iro."

I nodded as I said,

"Okay."

"So, before you get started, I want you to check on Aya. One of the lower heads standing as guard should be there. Take Ai'iro and Akio with you and afterwards, I want you to get started in looking out for Sung Hyun."

"It's day out though Jia. Would he really make a move?"

"I'm not waiting for him to make a move. I'm out for him because I'm going to catch him when he least expects it."

I nodded as Jia then excused me and I went downstairs to the lobby. I saw Ai'iro standing, talking with Akio as I joined them. They notioned me to drive over to Aya's place, already knowing their orders. I got my keys out as we both then left the building.

Our first stop was Aya's place. One of the lower heads was sitting in a chair outside his door. I told him we had to see Aya and he could catch a break for a few minutes. He thanked us and then we knocked on the door. A moment later, Aya appeared, dressed in white silk pajamas, his hair cleaner then it was last time, a matching robe over it that reached his knees as he supported himself up with a crutch under his good arm.

"Yes?"

"Sorry to bother you. Jia sent us over. Wanted to make sure you were okay and if you needed anything?" said Akio.

Aya shook his head as he said,

"No, I'm fine. Tell Jia thank you for me though."

"You need help getting back to wherever you were?" I asked.

"Uh.."

He looked to the side as he said,

"No, I can manage."

He wobbled however so Akio reached out and caught him as he sighed and walked inside slightly, lifting Aya up as he said,

"Where were you?"

Aya smoothed his hair back as he said,

"Couch."

Akio walked over to the couch and gently set Aya down. He then said,

"How do you move around?"

"Slowly."

Akio smiled as he then left, closing the door behind him as we left and headed downtown, calling Jia to let him know Aya was fine. Then we went to work. We spent the rest of the morning in K-town in Manhattan, walking up and down the street, stopping to get some breakfast before going down to Penn Station, walking down that street, seeing some designer stores and small markets. People brushing by in a rush, some teenagers running around laughing, talking about which way to go so they could find a store to shop in, others on their cell phones. I looked away and ahead at Akio as I noticed girls checking both him and Ai'iro as they passed. Ai'iro with his baby face, his now short black hair bouncing as it flipped on the ends and since he was in semiformal wear rather then the usual suite and tie, it just made him look even younger then usual. Akio with his all around good looks, giving a smile to anyone who caught his eye, tucking his light brown hair behind his ear, putting his hands in his dress pants pockets as he walked slowly with Ai'iro. Those two were too cute and good looking for their own good. Anyway, we kept an eye out for anyone that might be suspicious to us. We sat down in front of Madison Square Garden, looking out for anyone around us each of us ready to get up at any minute. As I was sitting there, I took out my mp3 player, put one earphone in and played it as I looked around. Suddenly someone tapped my shoulder and I looked to see a girl. She was in designer jeans and a black halter top, her hair out as she clutched her designer bag. She smiled as she then giggled and said,

"I know this is really juvenile, but my friend over there..."

She pointed behind her to three other girls, one of them now blushing like mad.

"She thinks you're cute. She wants your number."

I blinked a few times surprised anyone would pay me attention with Ai'iro and Akio sitting not too far from me. Ai'iro nudged me telling me to go ahead as Akio nodded in agreement. I stood up and went over to the girl who was still turning red as I asked her for her name. We made small talk, all the while I kept looking around. Her friends were looking on excited as I said,

"So...can I have your number so I can call you sometime?"

She covered her mouth to laugh as her friends whispered among themselves, laughing all the while as the girl who I spoke to nodded, opening her designer bag and dug around for a pen. Once she got one her friends handed her a sheet of stationary paper and she wrote down her number and name. She then said in a soft voice,

"Can I have your number too?"

I nodded as I tore off the end of the paper and wrote my cell phone number on it and gave it back to her with the pen and she smiled as she said,

"Okay...bye."

I waved to her as I turned to walk away, her friends giving silent shrieks of happiness. I laughed as I went back to Akio and Ai'iro. Akio was smoking as he said,

"She was cute."

"Yeah."

"A bit too young for me."

Ai'iro laughed as he said,

"She's too young for both of us."

I shook my head as we continued watching out. Around six in the evening as people rushed from work to get home, we went back into K-town. We watched the crowds go by until Akio said,

"Right there."

He leaned back slightly as Ai'iro and I looked across the street. We recognized him to be one of Sung Hyun's guys. It was rare to see this guy alone, especially because he stuck to Sung Hyun like glue. But...sure enough his boss was nowhere around. Akio smiled as he said,

"I got this one."

Ai'iro and I nodded as we trailed behind as Akio crossed the street and followed Sung Hyun's guy. About a block later, in the middle of the crowd, Akio caught him and dragged him into an alley. Ai'iro and I looked at each other as I said,

"I don't think he'll talk."

"Me either. Count another dead body in the street."

And sure enough it was. We got random phone calls as the night wore on. Everyone in their areas were finding heads that worked for Sung Hyun and killed them. But no one could find Sung Hyun yet. It was almost twelve at night when Jia called Akio, telling us to come back. So we did. When we got back to the 36 Moons building, we saw everyone was back. We stood in Jia's office as Jia sat in the front of his desk on the top again, Tsubasa standing next to him rather then Toki because Toki was among us as he said,

"We found Sung Hyun."

Tai nodded as he said,

"He's staying in Manhattan. He's not leaving his apartment much but is sending out his people to come after us. He cannot mastermind his syndicate while his wife is pregnant and not close by."

"So Tai, be a good man and tell everyone where he is."

Tai told us Sung Hyun's street, which building, even down to the apartment number. Jia lit a cigarette as he said,

"And that's why he's second in command."

Toki tilted his head back as he said,

"So how we gonna go about this?" asked Toki.

Jia exhaled as he said,

"That is a good question. There are far too many of you to go after the one man. So, I'll break you into groups. I'm coming in Toki and Joryu you two are with me. Aoki, you stay close behind us. Akio, Jun you two at the entrance of the building, Tai and Gabriel you two stand in the lobby, prevent anyone from going any further once we get upstairs. Mikkie, you and Ai'iro will stand guard outside to prevent any guards that may already be on Sung Hyun's floor."

We all took the orders as Jia then got his coat and put it on as we all left his office. Tsubasa was taken back to see Jiki since he was not involved with this. Meanwhile the rest of us went into separate cars, me driving Jia, Toki and Aoki as everyone else took different means of getting there. We arrived at Sung Hyun's building later that night. We looked around before actually getting out of the car. We saw three guys outside, having a cigarette as they spoke. Aoki got out of the car first after checking his gun and then walked around. He seemed casual enough. As he walked past the three, he lit a cigarette and then turned, elbowing one of them in the face as he jumped over the one that fell and punched the other guy in the face as the third tried to take out his piece. But Aoki, who had been doing this for years turned in a quick fluid motion, gun drawn as he shot the guy in the face with a loud bang. I heard Toki looking up from his gun as he said,

"Show off."

Jia laughed as he said,

"Come on. Time to work."

I parked the car as we gradually all met up. Akio and Jun picked up the bodies of the three and tossed them in the alley as they stood guard outside, the rest of us going in. Gabriel and Tai were up. They looked around the lobby and shook their heads when they found nothing. Jia pressed the elevator for it to come down. As we waited, Tai looked around once more, Jia looking down into his coat pockets for his cigarette case as Toki smoked his own. Everyone else was looking around as Gabriel took his position on the other side of the lobby. As the doors to the elevator opened, I only had a split second to react. I saw one of Sung Hyun's guards, a gun in hand and Jia standing right in front it. As he looked up I dove at him and knocked Jia down as Toki and Aoki lunged at the guy in the elevator. They kicked the shit out of him as I quickly got up, helping Jia as I apologized. He shook his head, saying it was nothing as Toki dragged the guy out. Tai picked him up with ease and said,

"I'll get rid of him."

Once cleared out, we got into the elevator, Ai'iro and Mikkie were next up.

We went up to the eleventh floor, Ai'iro and Mikkie went ahead. They looked around the floor and then got back to the elevator as Mikkie said it was clear. Finally we were up. Jia led the way to Sung Hyun's apartment as we all got our guns out. I saw even Jia was armed, the gun firmly in his hand as he leaned against the door like the habit we all have as he knocked on the door. No one answered. Jia looked at Toki as he said,

"I hate when that happens. I come all this way for an empty apartment."

Toki smirked as he said,

"So...what now?"

"Be a dear and open it will you Toki?"

Toki nodded as he got in front of the door, took a step back and then suddenly kicked at the door. It cracked open right away, almost falling off the hinges as Toki said,

"Cheap ass door."

We walked inside, Jia behind us as Sung Hyun stood not to far from the living room. He was already armed and he aimed at us. Toki and I raised our weapons as Sung Hyun smirked and said,

"Jia...found me out I see."

"Took me a while I know."

Sung Hyun did not drop his weapon as he said,

"So Jia you came all this way. We gonna talk?"

"We are."

"This will never end you know that right?"

"I'm aware."

"You'll never get rid of me."

"I know."

"So...why even bother?"

"Because you don't scare me. I have too much power and strength behind me to ever think someone like you could come back to haunt me. You got a kid...so what? Your kid pisses me off I'll have him killed next. Don't make your woman a widow for the second time Sung Hyun."

He said nothing, his arm still up with the gun in his hand.

"You got too much compassion for a boss of a syndicate. That's your fuckin' downfall Jia! You should have killed me that night!"

He started shooting. We fired back, Toki ducking down as I did, Jia firing back as Sung Hyun ran towards the back of the apartment. I didn't feel anything at first...not until I stood up anyway. My arm cramped up in pain as I looked down to see a hole in my coat, blood coming from the wound. I had gotten shot. I didn't say anything but crossed my arm in front of me as I went with Toki to the back of the apartment where Toki was holding Sung Hyun off. I didn't say anything about my arm though it was starting to hurt like hell anytime I even moved. I got beside Toki as we heard Sung Hyun moving around in there. What he was doing I didn't know. Toki and I knelt down, looking around as Jia stayed behind slightly. Toki then pressed his hand against the door as he tried to push it back but felt it was locked. He cursed as he said,

"I don't know what he's doing."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Sung Hyun, running isn't going to do you any good."

"Shows what you know Jia."

It was then I realized what he was up to.

"The fire escape. He's getting out there."

Toki stood up, cursing as he broke down the second door and sure enough Sung Hyun was gone, the window open as he cursed loudly. He looked out the window as I started calling Jun and Akio outside. Toki started going out the fire escape himself, following Sung Hyun down so when Jun and Akio had him at the bottom there was no place he could go. Aoki was there by Jia's side as I turned around. Jia lit a cigarette as he said,

"How long you been hurt?"

"Huh?"

"You're leaving a puddle."

I looked down to see my coat was soaked through and there was a puddle beside me. I shook my head as I said,

"It's nothing."

Aoki walked over to me as he grabbed my arm and I clenched my eyes as he said,

"Bullet didn't go all the way through. Put some pressure on it."

I put my hand over it, feeling the pain as I did so. We then heard a couple of shouts, most of them from Toki and then Sung Hyun. A couple of gun shoots went off as Akio shouted back up to Toki. Jia sighed as he said,

"They'll kill him there. There's no way out."

We decided to leave the apartment, my hand still on my bicep as we left. Mikkie and Ai'iro went with us as we gradually started picking everyone back up. By the time we reached the lobby, I was feeling lightheaded. Everytime I blinked I saw more and more black spots and I felt as if I would tip over at any moment. I tried to focus more as we got outside. Toki, Jun and Akio came back around as Toki said,

"Got him. But we gotta get the fuck out of here before cops come."

Jun nodded as he said,

"Yeah someone made more of a racket then required."

Toki turned, flipped him off as he then turned back and said,

"What's up with the Aka-chan?"

They looked at me as I felt very dizzy and lightheaded. Jun went over to me as he said,

"Ah...shit. The kid got shot. And by looks of things, he lost some blood."

I felt my legs starting to shake as Jun then said,

"Jia we should get him back to the building so I could check him out."

That was the last thing I heard before I fell back, blacking out completely.

---------------------

Definitions:

Aka-chan: Baby

Big brother: In Japanese syndicates a big brother is someone who watches over a younger, newer member of the syndicate, teaching him the ways and is basically responsible for him. A new member of the syndicate must treat their big brother with the upmost respect almost like a second oyabun.