I had a new job, a place of my own and a taste for power and I was only eighteen. Miya didn't seem to approve of my new lifestyle, I haven't spoken to my mother since she kicked me out and my father was no longer my father but Aoki. He didn't like being reminded he had a child, especially one who now worked along side him.

I wasn't privileged to learn anything about the 36 Moons. I wasn't asked to come and sit in Jia's office and I wasn't asked to do much of anything but stand outside and wait by the car. I got yelled at many times for wandering off to get something to eat or just by talking on my cell phone. I was told that I had to be ready at any moments notice and me fucking off, eating or talking on my phone wasn't being ready. I had to learn how to entertain myself by doing nothing. I hated that. Of course I never really listened and sat in the car to speak on my cell phone though I refrained from wandering off to get food though I would be dying of starvation and dehydration. I would speak to Miya a lot of the times making him take his break from studying as we spoke while I was suppost to be working and him studying. I missed Miya a lot. He was due to take his exams to get into Tokyo University in a week and I had to leave for New York soon. I was a little nervous yet so excited to finally be leaving Tokyo, even if it was just for a little while and I would be driving only. I told Miya one night as I sat outside, the cool summer nights finally coming in after such a sweltering day. I had rolled down the windows as I looked at the front of the building, checking to see if anyone was coming as I spoke to Miya.

"When you take exams, I'll be going to New York."

"Already leaving town huh?"

"Just for two weeks or so."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. It's just work."

"I'll miss you."

Miya had always been a more delicate person then I was. He was an only child so he was both pressured and adored by his parents. When he was younger his parents gave him all the affection he would ever want, urging him to do his best and as he got older, they pressured him to do his best in everything. Being the only child, their own source of pride, joy and hope everything was settled on Miya to be a success. Miya was starved for attention that didn't require him to open a book which is where I came in. Miya was my doting other half. He and I were close and I was the one he revealed his soft emotions too.

"I'll miss you too Miya. But...I'll be back in two weeks. Besides you'll be busy with exams and stuff. You won't have time to miss me."

He laughed as he then stayed silent taking a deep breath as he said,

"You're right...I haven't even studied half as much as I use to."

I looked over to the side as I saw Jia and Toki coming out. I slouched down in my seat as I said,

"Miya I gotta go, my boss is coming. I'll call you later."

"Okay bye."

We hung up as I cupped my phone in my palm as I sat up and got out of the car and bowed slightly towards Jia. He tucked his hair back as he lit a cigarette from Toki's lighter as he said,

"I figured I'd find you here."

I nodded.

"Pack your shit tonight. We gotta go."

"Go...where?"

"New York. Something's going on and I need to be there as soon as possible."

"Oh...okay."

I then opened the door for him as he got in, Toki following. I then started up the car and started driving home. One of the things still being trained into me was to not listen in on conversations that anyone in the back seat was having. I had yet to learn this trade. I drove as I listened to Jia and Toki argue back and forth about having to leave tonight for New York. Toki didn't want to go, saying he hated traveling and it was such a pain in the ass for him to get his things ready in such short notice. Jia told him it didn't matter anyway since they had a place over in New York anyway it's not like he would miss anything. I begin to wonder if they were closer then business partners and friends. Jia seemed very leant to Toki though everyone else was an employee. I dropped them both off at Jia's building as he then turned to me and said,

"Go home and get your things. Be at the airport no less then three hours."

"Hai...but which gate should I go to?"

"Call someone when you get there. They'll tell you. Also have cash on you."

I nodded as Jia turned and went to his apartment, Toki following. I had to wait to make sure they went in okay before I left. Habit I learned. Once they went in, I waited for a few more minutes before I then drove off to my own apartment. On my way I called Miya to let him know I was stopping by his place.

I got there after ten minutes, helped Miya sneak out as we both drove to my place. He was so cute, still in pajamas, his hair a little messy as he yawned. He was exhausted, it was almost one in the morning and he was still studying.

"What's going on?"

"I wanted to see you."

"Why what happened?"

"I have to leave for New York tonight."

"Why tonight?"

"I don't know. I just have to go. Which means I'm pulling double duty myself."

Double duty meant I was now adding another job to my resume. If I wasn't going to be driving, I would have to serve as a body guard. Everyone would be busy with a job of their own and I would have to stand in eventually. I was worried if anything happened, yet at the same time excited. I didn't tell Miya that. I think he knew already. He sighed as he said,

"So, why am I here?"

"I got three hours. Well...one to pack and one to get to the airport so I figured I have to see you before I go."

He smiled at me.

We got to my apartment where the both of us quickly packed as much clothes as I could fit in a suitcase. I wasn't sure how long we were staying now, so I also made some room for basic hygiene stuff. Once done, we both sat down in the living room. Miya had never been to my place so he was looking around. It was still pretty empty and I only had the basic stuff in. No decor or anything up yet. He stood in front of the flat screen TV as he said,

"It's a nice place."

"I haven't been home often enough to do anything to it."

"Is it nice to live alone?"

"I haven't really enjoyed it as thoroughly as I'd like to."

I then got an idea. I got up as I went to my room where I kept a spare key of my place and went back out as I said,

"Here."

"What's this?"

"Key to here. I trust you. You're not my best friend for no reason."

He smiled as he closed his palm and said,

"Thanks."

I kept checking the time as we talked since I knew I didn't have much of it. Once it was almost done, I took Miya back home then sped off to the airport. As I grabbed my bag out of the car, slamming the trunk shut, turning on the alarm, I took out my cell phone and called Aoki. I asked where I should meet and once he told me, I went towards the terminal. There stood Jia, his usually top heads and a few other guys that were on the same level I was on. I checked my bag and then bought a ticket. Hisoka, one of guys that worked on my level told me which ticket and class to buy as he stood beside me. Once I was done, he and I walked back over to the waiting area as he said,

"Nervous?"

"A little. I never left Tokyo before."

He smiled, nudging me slightly as he said,

"It'll be fine. You speak any English?"

"Hardly. Just stuff I learned in school."

"Oh...well then can I suggest that you not say a word and stick by me through the trip okay?"

I nodded as I said,

"Is it important I know English?"

"If you ever wanna stop being the chauffeur then yeah it would help."

I bit my lip as I realized I was just a chauffeur and I wasn't getting much done. I looked back at Hisoka as I said,

"What do you do?"

"Body guard mostly. Since Jia's close heads are busy a lot, he's only got one or two guards at his side. It's dangerous for him to be unprotected."

I understood. And I stuck to Hisoka's side for the entire plane ride.

It was there that Hisoka informed me of all he's known working for the 36 Moons for the past ten years. He told me how Toki can get away with everything and anything he wants to and practically owns Jia, even going as far as disrespecting him and calling him by his first name in front of everyone. There were rumors flying all over the place about them, but no one dared to ask the close ring much less Jia himself. There was word of how the alliance between the Yami and 36 Moons was because of someone called the ningyo, which was everyone's nickname for Tsubasa, oyabun of the Yami. It's said that Tsubasa is lusting after Jia. There was also word that Toki cut off his own finger in apology to Jia and that there so much more then what any one expected out of the top heads of the 36 Moons. Hisoka told me that he had been working there for ten years and probably a few more and he had never once seen Jiki, Tsubasa's guard speak, he had never seen Aoki without sunglasses because of a scar he hides and how he's never seen Toki dressed like everyone else. I was in my own semiformal attire, khakis and a button down while everyone else was in three piece suites except for Toki. He was in jeans and a wife beater, a matching denim coat on his lap as he lounged against the plane seat in first class. Jia sat beside him, looking over some paper, Mikkie sitting behind them as he pulled his hair up, twisted it and then snapped an elastic band there to keep it in place, Jun sat beside him, he was falling sleep as he read the paper, Akio next to him as he flipped through a magazine. Aoki was behind them, having what seemed to be his first drink as Aya sat next to him. Hisoka also told me of the rumor that Aoki's partner was his partner in just about everything which explained the talking without words relationship they had. I couldn't believe that Aoki, my father would actually...fuck a boy...and not just any boy, someone that wasn't all that much older then me and someone he worked with. It was...unprofessional. Tai sat next to Aya, speaking with Gabriel across the seat next to him. The rest of us sat in the middle of the plane, no windows but I got a lane seat so I was able to see everyone, Hisoka next to me. I turned to him and said,

"You've been doing this for ten years?"

"Yup. Ten years."

"Why did you even start?"

"Good money in the game kid. You think you're getting paid now, wait a few years if you get promoted."

"Is that the only reason? For money?"

"I had personal reasons for knockin' on the 36 Moons' door. Why'd you join up?"

I paused to think. I wasn't really sure. It was a job more or less to keep myself alive, to not go running back home to my momma...but it wasn't like I was tossing papers, or flipping burgers or selling clothes at the mall. I was driving a car for one of the most ruthless, evil, shadiest syndicate in Japan. It didn't seem like much, but when you get asked to travel, it could very well mean something. I didn't want to look too into it though. It could be nothing. I then looked up and said,

"I wanted a job."

He gave a smirk as he said,

"This isn't an after school kind of job Joryu. You know that this will harden you. You will grow up mighty fast. So any notions of remaining how you are, get rid of them now. You'll learn a thing or two about life now."

I didn't really expect to change all that much, but Hisoka was right. I wasn't going to stay the way I am...and maybe even a year from now, I would see the person I was and shake my head at the immaturity.

We arrived in New York almost half a day later. I was exhausted. It was almost three in the morning in Japan but it was four in the afternoon in New York so it fucked up my sleep pattern and I was exhausted. I was having a hard time staying awake but I saw everyone looking as refreshed as if they had just been there for a few minutes. I yawned and blinked and rubbed my watery eyes about a dozen times before I even left the plane. By the time we were in the airport, everyone spoke and then separated, leaving Aoki, Jia, Toki and myself along with Hisoka to do the last of the work. I had to drive, Aoki and Toki were standing in as bodyguards and Hisoka was just watching over me. I couldn't believe everyone was okay while I was falling unconscious just standing there. I walked over to the luggage claim where I had to pick up Jia's and my own luggage. But I was so tired. Hisoka helped me as he said,

"You better snap out of it."

"I'm trying."

"Don't try, do it."

I nodded, doing my best to stand at attention without yawning so much.

We did finally make into the city. I didn't drive though...thank God because in the condition I was in I don't think I could have driven anyone anywhere. I was awake enough to look out the window, admiring a city I've never seen before. I sat in a cab with Aoki and Hisoka while Jia and Toki rode in a separate one. I didn't say anything to Aoki, I just sat quietly as Aoki rolled down the window and had a cigarette. It made me wonder how he kept working like that...ever since I was little I've seen him smoking, never once had he actually not smoked in front of me...even when my mother yelled at him for it. Anyway Hisoka finally yawned beside me as he then rubbed his eyes carefully, minding the green contacts he always wore as he said,

"I'm exhausted."

I was glad to hear someone else say that. The cab we were in followed Jia all the way to his other apartment were he and Toki got out. The rest of us got out as well. Jia explained some plans to us before he sent us to go rest. I had no place to go so I went with Hisoka to his place to sleep. Before I fell into the deep slumber, I thought about Miya again and what Hisoka said to me on the plane. It was true...I would change. I would grow up. And I would learn that all too soon.