Since we found out about Sugihara being part of the Teo Chiu, Jia was a little more paranoid. After we were dismissed, I sat in the lobby with Akio, sitting in the dark beside him always made me think. It was like being back in Korea sometimes. Like that time we were in our hotel room and he kissed me for the first time. I sat in the middle of the couch, Akio beside me as he had a cigarette. He offered me one from his silver cigarette case. He snapped it shut after I got my cigarette and he lit it for me, his lighter matching the clawing dragon on the case. I exhaled as I said,

"Akio...what's gonna happen now?"

He leaned back on the couch as he said,

"Sugihara did his deed. We'll probably have to go to Bangkok."

"What's in Bangkok?"

"A lot of problems."

"I don't want to go."

I could feel him looking at me even though I didn't turn my head away from looking at my cigarette. I heard him asking,

"Why not?"

"I just...I don't want to."

I felt him sitting up as he said,

"Joryu...listen. How badly do you want this job?"

"I don't know."

"If you ever wanna rise above being Jia's chauffeur then you gotta do what you have to do now."

"Maybe I don't want to. I took this job blindly Akio. I didn't know I would be anything more then a driver anyway."

"But you went with it. You did what you did and now it's too late to go back. You could always be a driver, but it won't take away the blood on your hands."

I looked down as I brought my cigarette to my mouth as I inhaled and said,

"Why did you do this...? You were something good once."

"I may have been something good once, but that wasn't me. I'm me now. And I'm content."

"Content living like this? Looking over you shoulder, being paranoid, having the finest things in life but never enjoying them? Never being able to love someone?"

Akio tucked his hair back behind his ear as he said,

"That's what this is about. You love Miya and you're scared of what would happen if you left again. You're scared about what would happen to him."

I looked away as I inhaled my cigarette again. He stood up from the couch as he said,

"That's why we all told you. We're not saying this for any other reason then to protect you from any pain you would suffer."

"Being without him or loosing him is almost the same thing."

"Almost. The difference is if you're not with him, you could always see him again. If you loose him, the only place you could see him again is in your mind."

He then walked away as I sighed, hating those options in my life. I looked over at him, walking away as I said,

"Akio..."

He turned to me as I got up and walked over to him, the cigarette still in my hands as I said,

"I don't want to go because I am scared...but not for myself. For Miya and you're right. I have nightmares of coming home and finding him gone or worse...and I don't want it to be because of me and what I do."

"It happens though."

"And I don't want to get more involved in my job more then I have to. As much as I would be honored to be one of the top heads of the 36 Moons...I couldn't risk Miya like that."

Akio nodded as he said,

"Understandable. I'll see you later Baby-chu."

I gave a slight smile at the nickname given to me as Akio then left. I took a cab and went back home.

I stayed asleep the next morning, my cell phone not ringing at all. Miya slept beside me as I held him in my arms. When I did wake up, I stayed where I was, smoothing back Miya's hair from his slender, pretty face, kissing him softly. I thought back to last night, about what I was doing to my job, but looking at Miya and knowing it was worth it. When he did wake up, his dark eyes peering up at me, he smiled and said,

"Ohayo."

"Ohayo."

"Don't you have to go to work?"

I shook my head, smoothing back his hair again as he smiled and said,

"Good. I wanted to stay home with you today. I was getting lonely being here by myself all day. It was like you left town again."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. As long as you're here now."

We kissed, his full lips pressed against me again as I felt his tongue brush against my mouth as he said,

"What's the matter Jo?"

"Nothing. Just happy to be home now."

He smiled, his hair falling over his eye like it was meant to go there as he said,

"Glad you're home too."

Later that afternoon, I got up and got dressed as I told Miya I was going to pick up some take out. He nodded and I grabbed my keys and went to see Hisoka. Miya didn't know about the problems last night and I didn't want to tell him just how involved I am....I was. Before I went to get some food, I went to see Hisoka, wondering how he was. I went to the hospital nearest to Shibuya since I knew they wouldn't take him far and I went in and asked to see him. I was taken to his room but I was told not to stay long since Hisoka was not exactly in his best condition. I had already seen him in his worse so I wasn't expecting anything much worse. I walked in his room and pulled a chair close to his bed as I sat beside him seeing how his face was bandaged on one whole side, his jaw wired shut and he was breathing through a respirator. It was there I realized how lucky he was to even be alive. The bullet could have hit anywhere else...it could have killed him. But he was alive...barely. I sat beside him for a long time, thinking about where I was in my life, reflecting back on everything I did so far and how I was setting my job aside because I wanted to be normal. I realized that from birth I would never be normal. My father already a born and bred yakuza, my mother a concubine that would have done anything to have a chance at him...or any other member of the 36 Moons for that matter. I could have been anybody's kid. I would never be normal...and what Jia said was right. Sooner or later I would want to be a yakuza. I just got into it early. Hisoka stirred a little and I watched him, his whole body tired and he seemed to be in pain as he gave soft groans. A nurse came in after a little while. She asked me to move so I got out of her way and watched her checking Hisoka. I then said,

"When will he be okay?"

"In about a week or so. Depending on how strong his will is."

He had a strong will. He would be okay. I nodded as I then left and went to get some dinner.

I found out later that week that every one of the 36 Moons had left for Bangkok. I was not asked to go...Akio probably told Jia what I said and Jia probably thought it was for the best anyway. I began to wonder if what I did was a mistake or perfect. I wasn't sure anymore. Jia going to Bangkok to face the Teo Chiu was bad enough but him going with half of what he usually goes with was worse. I felt guilty all the sudden as if leaving him to his own defenses. Granted Jia has been doing this for longer then I was born and sure as hell didn't need my help but every little bit helps. A few days later I was considering going to Bangkok myself...but I kept thinking about Miya, who was happy with me being home. Who was happy in general. I hated making him worry and having him be scared because he fears for me. But I couldn't take it anymore. After a week and almost four days of them being in Bangkok, I finally packed my bags and told Miya I was going.

"You were called?"

His eyes were sad and they broke my heart. I sighed, nodding as I said,

"I have too. The situation is too serious."

"Why do you have to go?"

"They need more help."

"I'm scared for you Jo."

"I know. I'll do my best to call you when I can okay?"

"Jo...do you have to go?"

I nodded as I started folding my suits in carefully. Miya then helped me as I went to call the airport to get a ticket on the first flight out of there. It would leave in two hours so I had enough time to get packed and get out of there and leave some time so I could say bye to Miya. Once I finished, Miya held me close, kissing me with so much passion as I held him as tightly as I could without hurting him, feeling his body up against mine as I held onto his tiny waist, rubbing my thumb against the bare skin provided when he lifted up his arms to put them around me and since his pants were low rise, I was able to touch him more. Once we pulled away, he licked his lips, telling me he loved me before I responded and left to catch my flight.

I arrived a short time later, my body not ready to handle the heat riding through. It may have been late March but the weather was like a blazing day in August. I pulled on my sunglasses as I grabbed my luggage and saw the traffic this city had. I rolled my eyes, thinking taking a cab would be would be a bad idea. I decided to walk a little until I caught a bus. I wasn't sure where to go so I did the easiest thing and called Akio. His phone rang for a moment as I checked my watch.

"What?"

"Akio, it's me."

"Baby-chu? What's up?"

"What hotel are you staying in?"

"Shangri-La Hotel. Why?"

"I'm on my way."

"Baby-chu where are you?"

"On a bus from the airport in Bangkok."

I heard him give a laugh as he said,

"Okay...I'll see you soon."

We hung up as the bus took me to the hotel, a beautiful view of the whole thing made me almost gasp as I went into the lobby and saw Akio there. He smiled as he had a cigarette and said,

"Hey. I thought you wouldn't come."

"I wanted to. I knew I had to."

I saw Jia walk down stairs as he said,

"Aka-chan...I'm glad you showed up."

"I'm sorry it took so long."

Jia waved it off as he said,

"We haven't found anything so we followed Sugihara here. Been a week and nothing."

I sighed, thankful nothing happened. I then said,

"What about the city itself?"

"Well, I got Tai and Aoki looking into that. This city isn't too hard to understand. It's not nearly as complicated as New York or Tokyo."

I nodded as I reached up and took off my sunglasses, feeling the air conditioning as Akio said,

"Come on, let's go to our room. Get you settled."

I agreed and followed Akio. I set my things down beside a twin bed as I said,

"Where you expecting me?"

Akio shook his head as he said,

"Nah, I just got stuck with the double since my partner was missing for a moment."

He nudged me as I smiled and we both went back downstairs were we met up with everyone else. Jia gave orders to look through the city for Sugihara, he shouldn't be too hard to find and to also watch out backs for the Teo Chiu.

"The Teo Chiu is what we are in Bangkok. We're on their turf, but we have an advantage since Sugihara doesn't know all of us and the Teo Chiu doesn't know what we all look like. Around...eight everyone regroup here. I want everyone changed and dressed to their best."

Toki looked at him as he lit a cigarette and said,

"How come?"

"We're going to a boxing match tonight."

We nodded as we went on our ways.

Jia was not cruel enough to make us wear three piece suits in this blazing heat so we were in regular clothes, jeans and shirt and whatnot. I was in my baggy jeans and a regular white shirt with my sunglasses, looking very much my age. However, Akio was looking so much better then I was. In his low rise fitted jeans he said were not meant to be low rise he just didn't wear a belt with and a fitted black sleeveless shirt. He also wore dark sunglasses as we walked around the city. There was major drug use in the city, open prostitution and filth. Girls as young as fourteen or less were flirting, asking if they wanted a date to the both of us as Akio and I walked around them. We did buy cheap cigarettes from the children that sold them as we walked around, keeping an eye out for anything. We spent the entire day in the city, buying some food though I was wary of it all since I never had anything but Japanese food...even in New York. Akio told me what was good as asked me to trust him as he fed me. I felt hotter then usual when I realized he fed me something spicier then wasbi that nearly burned a hole in me. I drank a lot of liquor that day. Akio smiled, brushing my cheek with his fingers as he said,

"Glad you came."

"I thought I should. It's my job and I want it badly enough."

"What did Miya say?"

"He was upset I had to go. But he understood."

Akio nodded as he ate and then said,

"You look tired."

"No, I'm just hot. I'm not use to this heat. You look like you been here before."

"First time actually."

"Oh.."

He smiled as he checked his watch and said,

"Hm...we should start back."

I noticed the darkening scene already as I said,

"Time to go back?"

"Yeah we should get moving."

We got up and left to go back to the hotel.

Twenty minutes later, we got back, changed into some semi casual, yet fashionable clothes and met up with the rest of the 36 Moons. Traffic was still deadly in Bangkok so traveling wise by car was a bad idea. We had to take a small cab which was like an ancient traveling basket so all ten of us piled into two of them and headed for the boxing match. Boxing in Thailand is famous, but illegal boxing is even more popular because of the more violent bloodshed and gambling. Loan sharkes and mob bosses controlled the gambling here, which is what made it illegal. We got to the small arena where we sat front row, the more money one has, the more special treatment we received. Jia was so fucking rich that it was on him even if he didn't mean to show it. They sat him down front row, gave him a drink and lit his cigarette as the rest of us got the same treatment. I had my cigarette lit by some girl who decided to stand beside me. I started to notice a lot of woman were surrounding us and for once Toki was not bothering any of them. I nudged Akio as I said over the growing roar of the crowd,

"What's with Toki?"

Akio smoothed back his coat as he said,

"He doesn't like Asian woman. Just the boys."

"Oh..."

The boxing match soon started as the announcer came on and began announcing tonight's fighters. The gambling started and even Toki placed a bet from the loudest cheer for the one that was suppost to win. The match soon started afterwards, everyone cheering, screaming for the blood to spill as they fought. I was starting to get into the match as I shouted for the one boxer to win as the rounds started going by. As Akio and I cheered in the fourth round, standing to our feet as we shouted for our boxer to stand up again, I noticed across the ring that Sugihara was sitting there, a cigarette in his hand as he had two girls sitting beside him. I nudged Akio as I said,

"Sugihara is across the ring."

"I noticed. Jia and Toki probably did too."

Toki was standing, shouting as he notioned with his hand for the boxer to get up as Aoki and Jun were also shouting. I stood up and walking around casually as I knelt down beside Jia in his seat as I said,

"Jia...you see him."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Take Akio and go around the back."

I nodded as I went back to my seat and told Akio. He nodded as we slowly got out during another round as the crowds cheered and screamed as our boxer knocked down his opponent. We went around back as we waited, seeing some other people there. They spoke some off language, something that sounded like Mandarin but wasn't so Akio and I hid as Akio said,

"It's the Teo Chiu."

"How do you know?"

"Teo Chiu only speak one language to communicate with each other."

I leaned back against the wall as we waited for a while until I saw Aoki and Aya coming further down the hall from us. Aoki notioned us to go ahead as Akio and I went to the two guys as they aimed at us. We shot first as they went down, the roar of the crowd outside keeping the gun shots quiet. When they went down, we checked who was alive as Aoki looked over them. They were both dead so we kept going. We kept going further down the hall, Aoki and Aya backing us up as we then reached the end of the hallway. It was dark and we couldn't see well so Akio took out his lighter as the hallway lit up and we saw a door. We noticed a door and it would more then likely lead to the head of the Teo Chiu. Akio notioned it to Aoki who then told us to go back. I texted Jun and Mikkie for back up and as a response, Jia texted me and said for us to come back out in the front. When we did, we were back outside and Jia stood there with Toki, Tai, Gabriel, Jun, Mikkie and Sugihara and his men. We stood over by Jia as Jia said to Sugihara,

"We're here. We followed you."

Sugihara's pink hair fell over his eye as he said,

"Yeah I see...foolish of you."

Jia said nothing as he said,

"Working for the Teo Chiu? Couldn't make it on your own huh?"

"I have more then what I need. And there is no better way to take you out then by teaming up with your equivalent."

"The Teo Chiu and I have no bad blood between us."

"There will be soon enough. They are aware of your growing conquests."

"I heard all this once before. The Ketto, Kanpeki and Jade all said the same."

"We're not a bunch of tired triad and yakuza Jia. And we are more then what you think. Don't assume because the Teo Chiu took arms with this yakuza that they are growing weak. I paid my dues."

He flicked his cigarette to the ground as he turned and looked over his shoulder and said,

"We'll see each other Jia. Hope you're not planning on leaving Bangkok soon."

"I never leave minor problems unattended. They could always lead to something greater."

Sugihara stopped as he turned slightly and smirked as he said,

"Great confidence in yourself."

"You don't own an empire without having some."

"I'll see you soon."

He turned back, his men following him, the swagger I saw before still there as he walked away, getting into a car as he drove off.