Jun and Mikkie argued slightly, Jun saying that nothing could happen to Jia since he was with Toki and Aoki but Mikkie was persistent. Usually, his expression doesn't break, except that one time Toki surprised him by picking him up, Mikkie has the same stonic look on his face. But as he spoke to Jun, he got more and more animated, trying to make his point until he finally just held his hand out as if he was pointing with his whole hand as he shouted,

"Jun! If you don't think I'm serious why don't you just call Jia yourself and ask him if he's okay!"

Jun looked at him, as if use to his little mini, random outbursts. I wasn't use to it so I was in shock to know Mikkie could even raise his voice. I had always gotten in the impression that Mikkie's throat would shatter if he did. After all he did look fragile as hell. Anyway, Jun did as Mikkie said and gave me a gesture to walk. The three of us started walking to the subway as Jun said,

"All right....bye Jia."

He hung up as he said,

"See, Jia's fine. Toki's there with him and they got there with no trouble."

"What about Aoki?"

"Aoki dropped them off. No big deal. What would make you think that they'd go after Jia?"

"I don't know...a feeling maybe."

Jun shrugged as Mikkie's expression went back to normal. The three of us finally went to get something to eat.

I was starving for one. I couldn't wait to eat. We just went to a near by diner where we finally had some American food. I didn't notice until then but, Jun was a heavy, heavy eater. He almost as much as I did. No wait, forget that, he ate more then I did. Having some bread at first when we got there, then soup, then pasta, then a piece of cake, his drink and three cups of coffee and then more bread. Jun ate it all without pausing for a single moment to stop and think about how full he was. I on the other hand, had a sandwich, fries, a drink, two pieces of cake and a cup coffee. Mikkie was the only one that ate less. He just had a small bowl of soup. He watched with this look on his face, as if amazed, yet disgusted. As he took a drink of his ice water, he said,

"You two are gluttonous."

Jun laughed as he stuffed yet another piece of bread in his mouth and said,

"You're not new."

"I didn't know Aka-chan ate so much."

I looked up from the cake I was currently placing in my mouth as I shrugged and went back to eating. Once I was done, I lit a cigarette as Jun finished his final piece of bread. Mikkie tucked his bangs behind his ear as he said,

"So what now?"

"We're not having any luck finding these guys." I said.

They both looked at me as if that was not what they wanted to hear. I didn't hesitate though. It was true. We weren't finding these guys. Just the information the lower heads had given us about getting Jia when he was at his weakest moment. Which of course Mikkie pinned as him being home. But with Toki there risking life and limb...I doubt it would happen. So did Jun, but Mikkie was probably thinking he was right. I didn't want to doubt him but the chances seemed odd. Although the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Jia was most vulnerable when he was home. There was hardly anyone around him...just Toki. I thought about it as we walked through the cold, my hands in my pockets, covered in cashmere gloves as I held onto my phone. I was always worried it would fall out so when my hands went in my pockets, I held my phone. Finally I said,

"Jun, what if Mikkie's right?"

Jun looked at me, half his face hidden by his hair as he said,

"Not you too."

"Think about it. It's when Jia's defenses are down the most. Any other time he's surrounded by more then one person."

Jun shook his head as he said,

"If something were to happen-"

"How would we know? Not like Jia would have time to call and say he's in trouble."

I think that was what got to Jun as he hailed a cab and said,

"Fine, let's go to his place."

We got in cab and drove towards Jia's apartment.

Once we got there, Jun paid the fare as we got out and I looked up at Jia's building. It was a beautiful Park Ave building that reached towards the sky. Balconies sticking out from the side of the building. We went inside the lobby as I took out my phone, taking off my gloves before I dialed anything. Mikkie looked at me as he said,

"If he doesn't answer, we're going up."

I nodded as I called Jia's cell phone and it rung. It rung again and again with no answer. Jun and Mikkie didn't even need me to say anything, they ran towards the stairwell as I followed. They both had their guns out as I switched my phone to vibrate as I took out my own piece and backed them up. I ran up behind them as we raced up each floor. Mikkie and Jun called up Akio and Aoki as back up as we finally reached Jia's floor. We stopped at the stairwell entrances as we listened, going in after we were sure the silence was through everything. We went into the hallway as they neared Jia's apartment door. I looked behind us, making sure no one was following as Jun and Mikkie stood on the side of the door frame and Jun pressed his hand against the door as he pushed. It slid open with ease. That's when we knew something was really wrong. Mikkie took a peek inside, seeing it was completely dark. Jun and I then went in, Mikkie backing us as we looked around. It was really dark, only the light of the evening coming through partially open window curtains. I didn't hear anything, not a single sound. Jun headed towards Jia's bedroom as Mikkie went towards the bathroom and I went to the living room. After making sure nothing was there, I saw the bathroom light click on, so I turned on the living room lamp. I saw nothing but a disaster. The carpet had been moved around, lumps sticking up, one of the other lamps there was thrown over, broken on the floor, the reason the curtains were partially open was because they were torn off the rods. I then heard Jun say,

"Oh shit...."

I ran towards the bedroom as Mikkie already stood there. I saw Toki laying on the floor on his side, his arm holding his stomach, his gun not too far from him, but just out of reach. What was worse was that where he was holding his stomach, was where he was laying in blood. Jun took off his coat as Mikkie knelt down beside him I looked around, seeing there had been a major struggle here as well. I didn't see Jia anywhere though. But that was not major concern. I turned back to Jun and Mikkie as Jun turned Toki on his back, moving his arm aside as he said,

"Shit....he's hurt bad."

"Was he shot?" I asked.

"No....he was cut."

Pieces of the wife beater were sticking up from an upward slice across his stomach, his arms and shirt and parts of his face were now covered in his blood. I saw Mikkie soften for the first time since I've known him, though I'm sure he didn't mean to in front of anyone. His hands held onto Toki's limp fingers as Jun did his best to stop the bleeding. He then said,

"I can't do this without any medical things."

Mikkie looked up at him as he said,

"Like what?"

"I need surgical thread...and a needle. And something to make this bleeding stop."

I ran around them as I went to the bathroom and grabbed some towels as I handed them to Jun. He pressed them down on Toki's wound as Mikkie softly said,

"If you would have just listened to me..."

Jun stopped for a moment as he pointed at Mikkie and said,

"Do not blame this on me and do not do this now. NOW is not the time Mikkie. You wanna break down and get all soft on me because of fucking Toki, then WAIT till I save his God damn life."

Mikkie instantly hardened again as he looked back down at Toki, Jun working. A little while later, Akio and Aoki showed up. They took one look around as Aoki cursed and said,

"Shit! Shit! I knew I shouldn't have left!"

Akio shook his head as he said,

"What's up?"

"Jia's gone. Toki's hurt....we have no idea when and where they took him."

Akio sighed deeply as Jun lifted up the last of the thread he used to hold Toki's wound together for a while as he bit off the string and said,

"Okay, that should hold him for a while. We gotta get this shit treated for real or he'll bleed to death."

Jun grabbed a near by shirt wrapping it over the towels he left to stop the bleeding as he threw his coat over him and asked Aoki to help him up. Aoki picked Toki up carefully as Jun checked his pulse on the way out. Akio motioned me to follow as I did, carefully stepping over the puddle of blood. I took one more look around, wondering how they could have gotten the drop on both of them...and why was there a struggle in the living room, but not a drop of blood there? I turned and left, following everyone else out the door.

As we got in the car, Aoki threw me the keys as he got in the back seat, pulling Toki in with him as Jun followed. Akio went to the other side as Mikkie got in the front seat. I said,

"So...?"

"Back to headquarters. I gotta treat him. At a hospital here they'll question it and he can't afford to have anything on his record."

I then pulled out quickly and sped towards headquarters. On our way there, Mikkie got a phone call from Jia. After talking with him, Mikkie said,

"Jia's okay."

We didn't have time to find out how or why, since I got to the building in record time. Aoki, with help from Jun picked Toki up and we carried him inside and down to the basement where Jun quickly went to work on him. Aoki came back up a few minutes later as Akio and me stood by Mikkie. He then said,

"One of us should go get him."

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He's at Tsubasa's. He didn't explain anything other then he's fine and he got to Tsubasa's place."

I sighed as I said,

"I'll get him."

"I'll come with you." Said Akio as he started walking outside.

We both got back in the car as Akio leaned against the seat and said,

"Tough night."

"Yeah."

"You find anything?"

"I got to see Toki almost bleed to death. What about you?"

"Not much. These American heads are not so easy to get. We're gonna have to pull Takeo, Karasu and the Yami into this. The more people we got looking out for them the better."

I nodded as I said,

"We stopping by Takeo's place?"

"Yeah after we pick up Jia. Let's find out where Karasu is afterwards and see if we can't get a pick up on him. I bet Jia already let the Yami know what happened."

I drove on to Tsubasa's building where Ai'iro was waiting for us. He explained that Jia was okay, other then cold because he had to walk to Tsubasa's place which isn't too close.

"But he's resting now. Jiki is up there with another guy. They know you're coming."

We both nodded as we went to Tsubasa's floor. I didn't know which one it was but Akio did. We walked down the dim hallway where we saw Jiki and another guard. I noticed Jiki's hair was slightly shorter then before, now reaching his chin rather then passing his shoulders. He let us in Tsubasa's apartment as I stood by the door way. Akio didn't want to go any further either since this was not his friend's apartment. This was almost like an employer so he didn't want to intrude. We didn't wait too long though, Tsubasa appeared a moment later from his bedroom. He was in black silk pajamas, a long black matching robe over it as his hair was tied up so a few strands were falling down. He sighed as he said,

"Jia's here. He's getting dressed so he'll be out soon."

Akio nodded as I looked at Tsubasa. I noticed that he usually wore eye make up...I don't know why..maybe to show he's more radiant? But even without it his face was beautiful, his eyes distracting, his pale skin high lighted by the material of his clothes. A few moments later Jia came out in some casual, borrowed clothes of Tsubasa's as he said,

"I figured you two would come."

Akio gave a laugh as Jia then leaned over to Tsubasa and kissed his cheek. Akio grabbed my wrist as he dragged me outside. We closed the door behind us as we waited in the hall way as I said,

"Why'd you make us leave? Jia was just saying bye."

"Baby-chu, after you fuck someone you don't just say okay bye."

"Oh......right."

I cleared my throat as we waited around. The other guard of the Yami was just as quiet as Jiki was so there was no conversation. After a few moments, Jia came out and we left.

On our way down, Jia explained what happened.

"I was in the living room, Toki was in the bedroom changing. I heard a noise and thought nothing of it since Toki's forever making a mess. But he told me to get out and I wasn't about to leave him. As I got to the door, someone else came out, we got into a fight. They probably got in through the balcony since I'm on the top floor it's easy for them to sneak in. Anyway, I wasn't prepared since I was just getting ready to go to sleep. I didn't have my gun with me. I fought for a while, but I led the fight outside. I fucking ran out of the apartment, he followed me and I shoved him down the stairs. I got rid of one. But a second was following so I had to go. I was worried about Toki and I didn't know how many people were there. I didn't have my fucking phone...fuck. Tell me he's okay."

Akio shook his head as he said,

"He was nearly gutted. Jun is takin care of him."

Jia brought his hands up to his face as he said,

"Fuck....fuck. I knew I shouldn't have left."

"Jun took care of him Jia. Don't worry about it." I said.

Jia got in the car as he leaned back. He took a deep breath as he said,

"Akio...got a cigarette?"

Akio opened his cigarette case as he handed it towards Jia. He took one as Akio lit it for him and I drove us back to his building. Once we arrived again, Jia went straight downstairs. He found Toki was fine. He was passed out from blood loss though. Jia felt guilty right away. He didn't want to leave Toki but he had to..and now he felt bad. He stood by his side for a long time not moving or anything. Just looking at him. As for Mikkie, he sat in the lobby as he looked at nothing, his eyes focused on nothing as he held his clasped hands together. Akio then nudged me as he said,

"Let's get Takeo."

I nodded as we told Mikkie we were leaving as we headed to Queens.

We got to Takeo's apartment later, his harem or whatever, still around him as they laid around his couch. It was like he was running a whore house...for just him. Anyway we walked in after Sashi let us in and Takeo light a cigarette as he seemed to have more of his harem around. He waved us in as he said,

"Glad you guys are here."

Akio sat down as I sat beside him and three girls two boys wandered over to us. I saw Ryuhei still there, his head resting on Takeo's knee. Akio said,

"What you know?"

"I know that American heads have coming looking for Jia's on a platter. They have legit businesses here and are currently looking for some pleasure of the female kind. They do have allies with the other syndicates around here and from California. Anyone who Jia made an enemy out of is now on the side of these heads. One is from Russia, the other from Italy, one is Irish. They don't fuck around. They're looking to skin and kill."

"How'd you find this out?"

"One of my girls was one of their pleasure girls. She over heard while pretending to sleep."

The girl he spoke of had her head down on Akio's knee, her cheeks turning a soft pink as she hid her face behind her hair. Akio smoothed her hair back with a soft touch as he said,

"You send your people out?"

"When I have to. You shouldn't complain."

"I'm not."

"So, besides that, I think I should introduce you to one of my friends."

"Takeo, you have friends?"

Takeo laughed, his blonde hair falling over his deformed eye as he said,

"Hai. He's a good man. He can find out more information for you, especially because he's one of the so called allies these people are working with."

Akio and I looked at each other as Akio turned back to Takeo and said,

"Are you serious?"

Takeo nodded, stroking Ryuhei's hair as he said,

"Hai. He's not really doing much, but these people have all their trust in him. They think they can use him to get to Jia because he's Japanese. They're also a bit naive if you haven't noticed. Cut throat they are, but ignorant as a motherfucker."

I laughed slightly as Akio did too and then he said,

"So what's this guys name?"

"Sozaburo Ichiro. He runs a much smaller syndicate that the Yami probably took over. Ask one of the Yami if they know about him. In the mean time, I'd get Karasu in this too. He might know something about Ichiro."

Akio nodded as he said,

"Thanks."

"No problem. When's Jia planning to pay me back on all this? I don't work for free you know."

"You call this working?"

"Someone's gotta do it."

Akio shook his head as he said,

"Come see Jia tomorrow."

"Okay."

Sashi escorted us out as we went to see Karasu next once we found out where he lived. He was surprised to see us and not Jia as he allowed in his home. We told him of the situation as he said,

"So...Jia would like me to assist him?"

"Hai. It would be quicker if we found these people and got it over with." I said.

Karasu nodded, his light brown hair falling over his eyes again as he said,

"I'll help. I owe Jia anyway. I'll have some of my people go into the city now."

He went to pick up his phone as Akio said

"Oh... do you know someone named Sozaburo Ichiro?"

Karasu looked back at us as he said,

"Yes. He use to work for me after the Yami took over. He runs his syndicate along side mine now."

"He allies with you?" I asked.

"Yes. He's got a specialty. But you'd have to ask him yourself about that one."

Akio then said,

"Where can we find him?"

"Usually he's around the city. The way to contact him is on his cell phone. I'll call him for Jia. I'll set up the meeting."

"Thanks. One more thing." Said Akio.

"Yes?"

"Do you know if he's allied with these people out to harm Jia?"

"Not so much so. He's more or less using them. He will turn against them if Jia needs him to."

Akio nodded as he said,

"It's appreciated Karasu. I'll let Jia know tonight."

Karasu nodded as we left his apartment and went back to see Jia. We found him still sitting beside Toki downstairs in the basement. After we told him of what Takeo and Karasu had let us know, Jia nodded and said,

"All right. Tomorrow I'll meet this Sozaburo Ichiro. Then...I'll find these motherfuckers...and I'll gut them alive."

Jia then allowed us to leave. It had been a long, rough night.