It was time to head back to New York. After packing quickly from Okinawa, we headed back out that same night to New York City. I wasn't planning on going so soon and it being just us, but Jia called everyone back in Tokyo and let them know what was going on and to meet up with us back in New York. I slept on the trip there, my head resting against the seat as I dozed in and out of sleep. When I woke up again, we were landing already. Aya was resting his head on my shoulder, sound asleep. I felt like smiling all the sudden...and I couldn't control it so I did. I started smiling like I had won the lottery or something. I kept looking down at Aya's pretty features, watching as his hair fell over his pretty face, near his perfect, full lips. I kept smiling until we landed completely and even that didn't jolt Aya up. Toki turned around as he saw me smiling as he said,

"Ne, Aka-chan...you excited or what?"

"What? No...why?"

"You got a big fuckin smile on your face cuz Pretty Aya's on your shoulder."

I felt my face get warm but I refused to blush heavily as I said,

"You would be more then smiling if it was you Toki."

Toki laughed slightly as I reached up and touched Aya's shoulder, motioning him awake up. He picked his head up slowly as his hair fell back in place as he said,

"We're here?"

I nodded as he said,

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"I didn't mind."

Toki turned back around as he said,

"Nah he really didn't."

I flipped him off as Toki laughed and stood up, walking with Jia as Aya and I followed, Tai close behind. We all got off the plane and in the airport as Toki went to light a cigarette but couldn't since we were still in the airport. Jia set his cell phone to New York time as he said,

"Okay, we have to get to work now. I'm sorry if you're jet lagged but we don't have time. It'd mid afternoon here."

We nodded as we took a cab to the Yami's head quarters and we went inside and up to Tsubasa's office. His office echoed him in every way, beautiful marble pieces of art, lovely paintings of exquisite taste that could be only him. I looked around, as he turned from his black leather chair and stood up. Again, the ningyo in all black as always, his white blonde hair falling slightly longer as he shook Tai's hand and received his kiss from Jia on his cheek. Toki rolled his eyes as he lit a cigarette and then sat down in the chair in front Tsubasa's desk. Jia took the next chair as Tai stood next to him as I stood beside Toki and Aya behind both of them. Tsubasa touched his cheek as he then said,

"We have some problems Jia. Some unknown heads are ripping though the city. They're not yakuza or triad. I have no idea who they could be."

"They might be the same ones who killed Seta."

"I heard about that. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Seta knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I'm just sorry it had to happen before we could see each other again."

Tsubasa nodded as he went into his coat pockets and got out a silver cigarette case, the etching on the lid was unclear to me as he snapped it open and took out a cigarette and lit it. He smoothed back his hair as he said,

"We have to find out who these people are Jia. They'll destroy everything unless we found out who they are."

"I know. We'll find out. My people should be here soon and when they are, this will be settled. In the mean time, how's Jiki and Ai'iro?"

"They're both fine. Since the accident by Jigoku, they've recovered well. I was relieved by that."

"I'm glad to know it. I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner."

Tsubasa waved his hand as he said,

"Doesn't matter as long as they're fine now. Until your people get here Jia, you can always rest."

"No, my people can. I still have work to do."

He started to rub the side of his nose again. The same pain returning to him as Toki said,

"Sleep for a fuckin while Jia geez. You won't miss anything."

Tsubasa nodded as he said,

"Yes, sleep would be better right now.. It's only the afternoon."

Jia finally agreed and we all parted ways. I got to go back to my semi empty apartment, more filled then the one in Hong Kong as I changed and got in bed. I had to sleep for a few hours.

Around ten that evening, I felt a little nudge on my shoulder and I woke up slightly to see what it is. I turned my head as I felt something on my waist and I turned to my back as I saw it was Akio. I smiled as I saw he was sound asleep, he was in some casual clothes, the sheets pulled over him slightly. I hugged him in return as he kept sleeping. The peace only lasted for a while before I heard my phone ringing. Akio's phone went off a moment later and he sat up as I turned to answer my phone. We both answered, mine being a phone call from Jun. He let me know that he, along with everyone else was back in the city and we all had to meet up soon. I let him know I was on my way as Akio hung up his phone too. He turned to me as I said,

"Why are you here?"

"Nice to see you too Baby-chu."

"No, I mean I'm glad you're here, but why?"

"Your place was closer then mine."

"Oh. Okay."

He got up as he picked up his keys from the night stand and said,

"I'm gonna go home. I gotta change."

"You can change here."

"I don't have my clothes here."

"No luggage?"

"Nah. I have everything here and in Tokyo. No need for luggage."

"Oh...okay I'll see you later then."

He kissed my cheek before he left and I went to get ready myself.

I went to the office a little while later, my earphone in my ear listening to Fragrance by Gackt. I went to Jia's office right away and sat down once Jia let me in. He was busy, talking on the phone as Toki sat on the corner of his desk smoking a cigarette. I sat down on the small couch against the wall not too far from Jia's desk as Aya came in a little while later with Aoki. They stood by Jia's desk until Tai and Gabriel came in. Tai sat down in the seat across from Jia's desk as Gabriel stood behind Tai. After a while Jun and Mikkie came in, Mikkie gathering his hair in his hands as he twisted it and then pulled it up to the back of his head as he snapped in place like he always did. He stood by Jia's desk, Toki turning around as he faced him, a well worn smirk on his face as always. I stood up as I went over to them and the last person to come in was Akio. He was late as usual but he looked good, as usual. Jia then hung up as he said,

"Okay, so here's what we know so far. The people that are fucking shit up here are the same people that killed Seta. They're not triad, they're not yakuza. What they want with me I don't know."

"No clue what they are Li?"

Jia shook his head.

"Couldn't be Koreans. Not after the shit we went through with them earlier."

Tai swept his hair aside as he said,

"Could be another syndicate. Maybe someone who's not pleased with you getting so much power Jia. You are, after all, on your way to dominating the world here."

Jia gave a smirk as he said,

"A little over exaggerated?"

"Not really. With Japan, Hong Kong and New York, parts of California well in your pocket and you even have an undercover footing in Thailand, you are set to control some of the biggest money making plots ever. Money makes the world go round. Be it in yen or dollars."

Gabriel nodded as he said,

"It's true Jia. Anyone now, not just yakuza or triad can be after your blood."

"Oh good....international enemies."

He took out a cigarette case as he took one out as Toki lit it for him and then he leaned back in his seat and said,

"Okay well...same jobs as usual. Everyone find out what you can. Watch your backs. And don't make me fucking repeat myself, do NOT travel alone."

Everyone nodded as we left Jia's office and went downstairs. Akio and I took the elevator down as he tucked his hair behind his ears for a moment as he fixed his suit. He then said,

"So, wanna get some dinner? I know you're hungry."

"Yeah. Come on."

So we left to get something to eat.

There was nothing worse then having an enemy, then having an enemy as winter approached. Changing climates fucked up everything and as it started getting colder, we had to go out anyway. I had never braved a New York winter. I thought Tokyo winters were bad but oh my God...I nearly fell apart when I first felt the winter rolling in. Akio had warned me before hand but I had never dealt with such a cold, ripping wind. I didn't get sick right away which was always good. Though I felt cold really easily a lot of the times. Within a week Gabriel finally came to Jia and said,

"They are an American syndicate. Working themselves to get rid of you."

Jia looked a little surprised as he said,

"Wait a minute...an American syndicate? Meaning what?"

"A well organized Mafia Jia. They're not Italian...well not all of them. Some are Russian."

"I'm dealing with pissed off Italians and Russians?"

"Yes. They're not pleased about someone like you taking over so much. What Tai said about you setting out to rule the world was true. And everyone else is not happy about it."

Jia slouched back in his seat as he said,

"Wonderful."

Toki looked at him, bringing his foot up and resting it on the arm rest of Jia's chair as he said,

"Fuck it, we'll put them in they place."

Tai shook his head coming up beside Gabriel as he said,

"Not as easy it would seem. These people are just as organized as us. Worst off, whatever enemy Jia may have be used now to get in even further. Which is how they probably got into Okinawa and got Seta. And it's probably why they killed Seta's guards. Anyone would notice a bunch of foreigners."

Jia nodded as he said.

"Great...okay, Akio, Aya, you two make a list of my enemies. All of them. Even the dead ones. Find out what possible connection they could have now to get to me. Tai, Gabriel you two find out if any of these fuckers are in New York now. If they are, get rid of them if possible. Aoki, Toki, you two will stand in as my guards. Aka-chan, Jun, Mikkie, you three go around the city, see if you hear or see anything."

We nodded as we were dismissed and went out to work.

A walk around the city without my partner. That reacquired me to have one ear phone on. Jun and Mikkie didn't really talk to me and they didn't baby me, but they ordered me because they were much older then me in the syndicate so I had to listen to them. We went around the city, listening out for anything, talking to the lower heads who had been standing in the cold for hours, watching places, building, stores, clubs, making sure that the usuals came in. Anyone new was suspected and watched. I lit a cigarette as I exhaled, stuffing my hands in my pockets as I tried not to die from the freezing cold. Jun and Mikkie were fine, Mikkie didn't even wear gloves though Jun did. I sighed, wishing I could get something to eat though I knew Jun and Mikkie wouldn't stop if I asked them to. I was getting colder the longer we stayed out, but I didn't dare complain and kept going. It was almost eleven at night when we finally found out some information. One of the lower heads came back to Jun and Mikkie as he explained what he found out. The American syndicate here was lurking in the city, but since they were hard to find, they were going to take advantage of that.

"They'll try to get Jia when he's at his weakest moment."

We all looked at each other, wondering when that could be since he's being guarded by Aoki and Toki. Mikkie then thought, looking down as he said,

"When he's home."

"They don't know where he lives." Said Jun.

"It's when he's home Jun, I know it is. Jia is vulnerable when he's home because he's got his defense down."

Jun then turned and hailed a cab as Mikkie called Jia to let him know. We had to get him before he got home.