I tried not to worry especially because I didn't want to show anyone I was afraid. I was scared for Miya, what would happen to him because of my job. He feared for me but I worried for him constantly. I wish Jia would take this battle out of Japan...that way Miya would be somewhat safer. I returned home that evening with Akio. He drove me this time since he was taking the car back. I leaned against the seat as he said,

"You okay Aka-chan? You've been quiet all night."

"I'm thinking."

"About?"

"Sugihara. Do you think he would really do something?"

"Yeah. More then likely."

"I wish I knew what."

"So does Jia."

"I'm a little worried."

"About Miya right?"

"Hai."

"It was gonna happen sooner or later Aka-chan. It's why we warned you about it."

I nodded, knowing they were right but I still refused to accept it because my stubborn heart wanted Miya. It wouldn't rest and now it wouldn't rest again because he could be in danger. I leaned against the seat as he said,

"Jia wouldn't allow this fight to stay in Tokyo. He'll hate doing it, but he'll follow Sugihara out of Japan if he has to."

I nodded as we reached my apartment. I kissed his cheek good night as I then got out of the car and went to my apartment.

I went back to the office the next morning, having a stick of pocky on Miya's insistence that I have some breakfast since I had to go the same time he was awake. I went inside, leaving my coat on since it was still kinda cold and my hands didn't warm up yet as my mp3 player blared in my ear, Crazy about You by Luna Sea strumming in my mind as I chewed on my pocky. I felt someone tap me and I turned, taking the ear phone out as I saw Akio.

"Hey Aka-chan."

"Ohayo. What's going on?"

"Hm, nothing right now. Jia just wants everyone to make sure everyone's here this morning."

I nodded as I then turned off my mp3 player as I finished up one of the sticks I had in my mouth as Akio said,

"That's your breakfast?"

"I had to have something."

He nudged me as we went to the elevator, wanting to go to Jia's office. As we called the elevator down, we noticed it didn't come down. Akio sighed as he said,

"What the fuck is wrong with this thing?"

I shrugged noticing the light was on but it was stuck on the tenth floor. Akio sighed as he said,

"Forget it. Let's just take the stairs."

So we headed to the stairwell and climbed a few flights of stairs. Lucky for us, we're in okay shape...well...Akio is anyway. We got to Jia's office where some where already inside, Aoki and Aya already there, Aya sitting on a small couch against the wall as Aoki stood beside him, Jun standing near Jia's desk as Tai and Gabriel sat in the seats across from Jia himself. Akio and myself went in as I noticed Mikkie and Toki were absent. Jun crossed his arms as he looked at Jia as he said,

"My partner's missing."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Wouldn't be surprised if he was caught on his way in here by Toki."

I bit my tongue back wanting to say some smart ass comment but I decided it was best not to. We waited for five more minutes before Mikkie came in. He was tying his hair up in a messy bun like he's been doing as he snapped the hair band in place and then bowed his head slightly as he said,

"Gomen, traffic on the way in."

Jia nodded as he then said,

"Toki's not here."

"Toki's never on time." Said Jun.

Jia sighed as we waited for a few more minutes and Toki finally showed up. He yawned as he pulled the brim of his hat down and lit a cigarette. He walked past us as he stood next to Jia and Jia looked up at him as he said,

"Where you been?"

"Had to buy cigarettes. I missed Japanese cigarettes. Besides, I ran out of Newports."

"You're gonna kill yourself smoking those."

"I got more important things to worry about."

Jia then said,

"Okay, now that everyone's here and I won't have to repeat myself, I want everyone to know that despite the fact that we may be walking into an ambush...if Sugihara leaves Tokyo we will follow him."

Everyone nodded, knowing full well what may happen. I spoke.

"What about this last thing Sugihara might do here?"

"I still don't know what that is. Whatever it may be, I want everyone to be careful. No more traveling alone I don't care where you're going."

Toki exhaled as he gave up on standing and sat on the corner of Jia's desk as he said,

"So you got nothing on this guy Li?"

"Nothing. Tai can't seem to find anything worth going on."

Toki sighed as he said,

"Neither can I. This Sugihara guy has few to nothing of connections here."

Jia leaned back in his seat as he went into his coat pocket and got out a medium sized cigarette case out and opened it as he got a cigarette out. He didn't even take his lighter out because Toki lit it for him. Jia then sighed as he said,

"You can all go. Just be careful."

We nodded, bowing slightly as we left. I went into my pocket, opening the box of pocky I had in there as I took a stick out and began chewing on it thoughtfully as I watched everyone leave. Mikkie stuck around for a moment before checking his watch and then followed Jun out. Aoki and Aya stayed at the building for a while longer as Toki remained in Jia's office. I then looked at Akio as I said,

"You going home?"

He checked his watch as he said,

"I don't know...kinda thinking about hitting up a spa. Ever been to Sakura's Touch?"

I had heard about it. Sakura's Touch was nothing more but an over romanticized whore house where geisha's were now in kimonos that barely covered their thighs and anything above it and offered more then gracious massages. I shook my head as I said,

"Never really wanted to go."

"It'll be fun. We'll sit in the sauna. Come on."

I sighed and finally agreed. Not like I could go home to Miya. Since he wasn't at class, he was studying for all the things he missed, including the tests he would have to make up so I couldn't even bother him.

Once at Sakura's Touch I couldn't stop staring at the ground. The girls there escorted the both of us around, loving Akio as they clung to his arms and helped him take off his coat and tie. I politely declined being undressed, insisting I was fine on my own. After getting into nothing but a towel, we were escorted to the sauna where we sat down in the steam. I was getting sleepy by the minutes the warmth of the sauna making it hard to do anything but sweat. Akio leaned back on the wall, comfortable, as his hair soon was slicked back since he started to sweat. I was uncomfortable sitting beside him mostly because I just looked so scrawny in comparison. Akio was well defined, his stomach flat and defined in a six pack, his arms thick but not like disgustingly big. He reminded me more of a model then a yakuza. But his yakuza roots showed when he leaned forward and I could see the markings of a tattoo on his broad shoulder. I looked curiously as he noticed me.

"It's a phoenix."

"Your syndicate name?"

"Hai. A bird that rises from the ashes of a fire. The name means a lot to me."

"How come?"

"Long story."

I leaned back looking at the bird's flamed wings covering the back of his shoulder, curled like real fire the reds and oranges mingling as if you would touch his back and you could feel the heat. I admired the work for a while before he said,

"If you get a syndicate name, would you get a tattoo? Besides the obvious I mean."

"Hai. I always wanted one. I was just never sure what to get one of."

He smiled as he said,

"I'll take you to get one once you decide."

I smiled as I thanked him. I did eventually fall asleep just sitting in steam. Akio woke me up when he was thirsty enough. We left, got some robes on and sat down for some tea the girls bought for us. They sat around us, most flocking to Akio as they flirted with him, some sitting beside him and crossing their legs so their skirts could go higher, leaning forward undoing their kimonos as they held his cup when he wasn't drinking from it. They tried doing the same to me but it felt awkward having a girl offering me all this. They flirted with me, telling me I was handsome as they held my tea cup. Akio finally sent them away and we were left alone for a while. We sat across from each other as we drank our tea. I then said,

"Do you come here a lot?"

"I use to more back in the day. But I sorta stopped because I was always busy."

"They know you."

"They know all of the 36 Moons here."

"Everyone?"

"Yup. We use this spa more then anyone else. Other yakuza are allowed to use it too, but the girls don't whore themselves as much to them as they do to us."

"Oh...sou ka."

I drank my tea as he then smiled and said,

"They'll pay you more mind once you get that tattoo on your wrist."

"What makes you so sure Jia would even make me one of the top heads?"

"You're spending a lot of time here. You proved yourself so many times already. Plus Jia gave you an apartment."

"Yeah but for all my good I screwed up already."

Akio shrugged.

"Jia's not too mad about that. Yeah it'll cause some problems but either we kill Sugihara now or later don't matter as long as we do it."

I nodded as I finished my tea and Akio notioned me to go so we could get dressed and leave.

I felt a lot more relaxed. That sauna really worked. Anyway, I didn't go home just yet. I didn't feel like bothering Miya just yet so I forced Akio to walk around with me. He finally sighed and said,

"Wanna go back to my place?"

I blushed when I remembered that basket hanging in his bathroom. I cleared my throat as I said,

"If you're tired I could go home."

"Do you want to go home?"

"Iie...I'd just be bothering Miya."

"Then come to my place. We'll chill for a while."

So we did. He ordered fresh sushi from one of the best sushi houses in Tokyo and as we waited, we watched TV for while. I got to eat some of those chocolates sitting on his coffee table and I was bored. I hated waiting nowadays. I just sat on edge, wondering what Sugihara would do...or might do. I wasn't sure. I fell asleep before the sushi arrived and Akio let me sleep. I woke up a little later, cuddling his pillow as I slept on his couch. I couldn't find Akio but I was sure he was still there...not like he would leave me in his apartment. I sat up as I rubbed my eyes and I heard the shower running from his bathroom. I checked my watch seeing it was well into four in the afternoon. I checked my cell phone seeing no calls had come in as I got up, stretching as I went to the kitchen. I started poking around the fridge, hoping I could find something. All I did find was that Akio kept good wine and food that wouldn't spoil. Guess he wasn't home much either. I found some of the sushi he didn't eat as I began to eat some, starving since all I had to eat was pocky since that morning. I waited until Akio had come out from the shower as I put away some of the sushi I didn't eat and called out to him.

"Akio, I'm going home okay! It's later then I thought."

"You can't go by yourself. Give me a minute and I'll take you home."

I didn't really wanna inconvenience him so I sighed and said,

"I don't live too far from here."

"Don't argue."

I gave up fighting with him as I waited for him to get dressed again. Different suite and tie this time as he came out and we went back to my apartment. He ended taking a cab back home and I got home to Miya.

"Where have you been all morning?"

That was the first thing I received as a greeting from Miya once I walked through the door.

"I went to work."

"You said you weren't going to stay out long."

I could tell he was more concerned and scared rather then being whinny and naggy. I put my arms around him as he settled down, his body fitting perfectly against mine as he said,

"Jo I was worried about you."

"Don't be. I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner."

I held him close for a while before we started to kiss. I brought him back to our room, fully intent on using some of this free time. I had him under me, undressing him slowly when I heard my cell phone ringing. I opened my eyes and looked to the side as I felt my lips slipping away from Miya's. He pouted as his hands came back to my face and he kissed me again.

"Don't answer it."

I did my best to ignore it especially when Miya's legs came around my waist, my hands still on his body as he kissed me, his lips so soft and warm I almost ignored my phone. But it rang and it kept ringing so much so that I had to answer. I pulled my coat close to us as I went into my pocket and took out my cell phone. I still had Miya under me as I answered.

"Moshi, moshi?"

"Aka-chan what are you doing?"

"Uh...nothing."

"Need you to come in."

"Hai...I'll be there soon."

I hung up as Miya frowned at me, his pouty lips downwards as I took a deep breath and said,

"I'm sorry."

He reached up to my face as he sat up, his legs slowly falling from my sides as he said,

"It's okay Jo. I'll be here when you get back."

I kissed him once more before I grabbed my coat and adjusted my pants and my shirt and went back to the office.

Once there Jia explained to everyone that Sugihara was moving tonight.

"Tai found out. Finally we caught a break."

Tai nodded as he said,

"It was almost easy so I wasn't sure if we should follow the lead. From what I gathered, Sugihara is moving and he will move tonight."

He didn't skip a beat.

Jia went over everything with us before he assigned us to different parts of Tokyo and we went on our way. Akio and I were assigned to the warehouse district where most of Jia's shipments came in. Shipments of what I didn't know. Jia wasn't a big drug dealer but he made money in other ways which made him and us rich. Akio and I walked through one warehouse at a time, in no rush though we checked everything quickly. Near the end of the warehouse district, we noticed something off. There were more people around then there should have been and Akio and myself began to look it over. We watched them go back into a warehouse so Akio called Aoki and Aya to let them know what was going on as I went on ahead. I snuck inside, ducking behind some of the crates as I noticed two of them being Sugihara's men. They were there that night at Tokyo Tower. I looked at them as I then looked around at what they were doing. They were about to start a fire in there that would destroy everything in that warehouse. I noticed Akio behind me as I whispered to him they were gonna start a fire and that it was Sugihara's men. Akio nodded, saying he knew as he notioned me we should get out of here. We didn't want to be caught in the fire. So we snuck back out as we waited for Sugihara's men to come out. Once they did, we got into a fight with them, shooting all of them dead and throwing them back in the fire they started. There was no way we could have saved the warehouse. Once it was over, Aoki and Aya came to join us. They asked what happened and once we told them, we got out of there and went to another part of Tokyo.

"I don't think this is what Sugihara was planning." I said,

Akio and Aya agreed with me as Aoki drove, his sunglasses up since he couldn't see in the dark. I was curious to see his face but at the same time I knew that was far from important.

"If Sugihara wanted to get Jia's attention he would have done more then set a warehouse on fire." Said Aya.

Aoki nodded as he went into his pocket and got out a cigarette as he said,

"Whatever he's planning then he'll do it sometime soon. It's not guaranteed that he was gonna do it tonight."

"What about Tai's information?" said Akio.

"Even he said it's not something he's sure on."

I nodded to agree as Aya smoothed his hair back as he said,

"We should go back to our assigned part of Tokyo."

"Hai. We will."

So Aoki drove us to their part of Tokyo. Akio and I split up from them as we went down the street, passing buildings and stores still open because it was only about ten at night. We walked into the Shibuya district seeing New York's Time Square translated as we walked, the glow of the neon signs and the noise of a busy center. As a car peeled out into traffic, I heard a loud noise coming from above me so I looked up only to see something large falling, a rain storm of glass falling down and Akio grabbed my hand and pulled us out into the street, cars missing us by inches as a scream was heard. A thud came a few moments later as everyone began looking, wondering what that was as the glasses rained down. Once it stopped people screamed in terror once they realized it was a dead body. Akio recognized him as he looked up and said to me,

"That was one of ours. A lower head."

We ran into the building, Akio calling Aoki and Aya back to our location. We headed inside seeing it was an apartment building, but where that body came from was anyone's guess. Cops would be here soon and we did not want to get involved with that. As we neared the final floor, going in and out of stairwells, one of Sugihara's men was spotted. He stopped and shot at us as Akio and I split up and ran after him. I went up the stairs to the roof and stopped at the door, listening carefully as I then opened it. I heard nothing and then looked in. Nothing was there...not even Akio. I thought about backtracking and looking for him but I couldn't. I went out on the roof as Akio came through the door. He saw me as I said,

"Where is he?"

"Got him in the stairwell."

We looked around for a moment before turning around and seeing someone else. Akio and I raised our guns up as I heard,

"Step closer and you loose another one."

Akio looked at him as he said,

"You work for Sugihara."

"That I do."

"So what you're gonna make us loose another head?"

"Hai...counting tonight you lost six already...seven with this one."

I didn't see who it was that Sugihara's man had. I didn't bother to look as Akio said,

"You do anything to him, you'll be dead next."

The guy shrugged as he said,

"It's my job. Faithful to the end."

He shot the lower head as Akio and I then shot him. His body fell over the ledge as Akio and I went to the lower head. It was then I realized who it was.

"Hisoka?"

He was still alive, barely breathing. There was a hole in the side of his face about an inch across, blood pouring all over the place. I wish I had known it was Hisoka and not someone else. Akio looked at me, knowing this was someone that was close to me before I rose above him. I said,

"We can't leave him. He's still breathing."

"Shit he lived?"

I nodded as Akio called Jia and let him know what happened. By this point Jia was aware of Sugihara's intention to put as much pressure on the top head because of lacking head below us. Once Jia found out Hisoka was alive he told Akio what to do and then they hung up.

"Jia said to leave him."

"But we can't! He's still alive!"

"He said to leave him downstairs so he could be attended to. We'll pick him up later. Cops are about to get here if they're not here already. Two dead bodies dropping from Shibuya are bound to call attention."

I nodded taking off my coat but grabbing my important things out of it as I put it over Hisoka and then stood up. Akio told me to jump over to the next roof while he brought Hisoka down to another floor where he could be found. I nodded as we both stood up, Akio taking Hisoka, my coat around him as he quickly went back through the entrance to the roof as I ran across and jumped across to the next building, barely making it as I then ran inside and headed down to the lobby to meet with Akio outside.

We returned to the building with the tally. Tai and Gabriel took count as Nishiki paid us a visit. He too was suffering from Sugihara's blows. Once Tai and Gabriel came back, Gabriel swept back his now black hair and said,

"Twenty-four heads have been counted as dead. Four missing. One survivor for now."

I looked down, the sleeves of my shirt still soaked in Hisoka's blood as Akio stood beside me. Jia then leaned back in his seat as he said,

"We're suffering blows here."

Nishiki then said,

"It's not done yet Jia. I finally found out why this guy has little to no connections in Japan."

"Why?" asked Jia.

Nishiki sat down as he said,

"Because my friend, he's dealing with your equivalent. In Bangkok."

"What's that mean?"

"He's allies with the Teo Chiu."

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

Definitions

Ohayo: Good morning

Sou ka: I see

Moshi moshi: Greeting when answering the phone

Sakura's Touch: The same bath house used in 36 Moons. Not a real bath house. Made up for the purpose of this story.

Hai: yes

- References

Shibuya District: Just as Joryu said, it's New York's Time Square translated into Japanese. Also the major shopping district in Tokyo.

Teo Chiu: A real triad organization in Bangkok.