The next morning I woke up to my phone ringing. I turned over on my side as I saw my cell phone was sitting on my night stand and I picked it up.

"Hai.."

"Hey Aka-chan."

It was Jia, I sat up as I looked at my clock seeing it was almost one in the afternoon."

"Konichiwa..."

"Just wondering where you were."

"Um...home?"

He laughed as he said,

"I won't scold you relax. We don't have a job until much later tonight, just wanted to make sure you would be able to work."

"Oh, yeah I'm ready to work whenever you need me to."

"Good. I'll give you a call later tonight. Around....I don't know...nine or ten."

"I'll probably at the office by then."

"Well if you are good, saves me the trouble of calling you. If not I'll just call you then. Sozaburo will have probably set up his appointment with the Russian by then. If it's any earlier, I'll call you."

"Okay, bye Jia."

We hung up as I yawned, rubbing my eyes when I felt something soft creep up the side of my arm. I turned to see Akio laying there beside me. He hugged me, pulling me back down as he kissed my ear and said,

"What'd Jia want?"

"I have to work around nine or ten."

"Did Jia say I have to go?"

"Nah...but I guess you do?"

"Mm...okay."

I turned my head slightly, looking at him as I said,

"You sleepy?"

"Exhausted."

I smiled as I said,

"If Sozaburo establishes the meeting earlier we might-"

"Baby-chu can you please not talk to me about work when I'm half asleep?"

"Oh...sorry."

I got a little more comfortable in his arms as he started falling asleep again. But I wasn't tired anymore. I wanted to get out of bed so I moved away, sliding out from his arms as he said,

"Stop fidgeting."

"I'm getting up."

"Why are you so full of energy? I thought I wore you out."

"Nah...I'm young, I recover quickly."

I smacked the back of my arm as I got out of bed and went to take a shower. I got dressed later as I went to get something to eat. Of course, not like I had anything to eat since I never have time to go shopping for anything so I ordered something. Akio was still asleep in my bedroom as I just had to sit quietly in my house for a while. When my take out came, I ran to get the door so it wouldn't ring more then once. I pulled up my sleeve of my sweatshirt as I paid the man and took my food. I thought I should have ordered something for Akio...but it would get cold. I guess if he woke up now he could eat but it didn't seem like that would happen so oh well. More food for me. I sat down and began to eat, my ear phone in my ear as I finally filled my stomach. Damn I was hungry. Tired no, but defiantly hungry. After I ate, I wandered around my living room seeing it was two thirty. I was bored and I hated being quiet for so long. The empty cartons of food were now long gone as was the food in them as I walked around my sweats and sweatshirt, my earphones in my ear as I looked out the window. I found myself glancing outside, admiring the view. It was so beautiful this time of day, you would think that there's no way this was New York. I had a view near the park so it over looked everything. I sighed, wanting to go out but I had a feeling I shouldn't leave Akio alone in my apartment. He would get mad leaving me there anyway....that or just leave. Anyway, I went back to my bedroom, turning off my MP3 player as I saw him still sleeping. I pulled up the sleeves of my sweatshirt again as I got on the bed and crawled over to him. I laid beside him as I brushed his hair back from his face and said,

"Akio....Akio wake up."

He didn't move for a little while and I finally gave a big sigh as I said,

"Wake up Akio...I'm bored."

His eyes opened slightly as he said,

"What time is it?"

"Almost three."

He rubbed his eyes as he sat up and reached over to the night stand as he pushed off his cell phone and picked up his cigarette case and opened it, taking a cigarette out as he lit it. He then inhaled and laid back down as he said,

"I need an ashtray."

"You should have thought of that before you lit a cigarette in my bed."

He frowned at me as I smiled. He poked me as he said,

"Can you get me an ashtray please?"

I nodded as I turned and picked up the ash tray on my night stand as I gave it to him. He set near him as he said,

"I gotta get home."

"Gotta change?"

"Yeah. Did you eat yet?"

"Yeah a while ago."

"Thanks for waking me."

"I tried to."

He looked at me disbelieving as he then smoked again. I then sat up as I said,

"You doing anything today?"

"After I go home and change I'll probably do some shit at the office."

"Okay."

"Why did you want to do something?"

"No...just asking."

He nodded, putting out the last of cigarette as he got out of bed and got dressed. Once he was done, he said,

"I'll call you later Baby-chu."

"Okay. Bye."

So after he left, I grabbed my wallet and left myself.

I went for a walk, stopping to get something to eat before I went and sat at the park for a while. I contemplated a few things, wondering about what I should do. I was also bored. New York had a lot of stuff to do, but I didn't feel like hitting up anything by myself. Besides, I had to go to work soon. I checked my cell phone for the time seeing I had spent two hours walking around so it was almost five. I got back home twenty minutes later as I changed again and went to Jia's building. I went to his office where I saw Ai'iro and Jiki. I said hi to Ai'iro glad to see someone who would talk in return. Ai'iro's violet eyes turned to me as he said,

"Hey Aka-chan."

"Hey Ai'iro, what's going on?"

"Meeting with everyone. Sozaburo got a meeting with the Russian and he's giving Jia the details. Takeo, Yuki, Karasu and Tsubasa are in there too."

I nodded as I asked,

"Are any of the other heads around?"

"Nah, haven't seen any of them all day."

I sighed, leaning against the wall as I waited, not sure what else to do. After about twenty minutes, the doors opened as Sozaburo stepped out in his elegance, all black pants and coat, his shirt white this time, no tie and around his slender neck he wore a choker. He greeted me with a slight bow of his head as Takeo followed him, giving me a slight wave a he lit his cigarette and left behind Sozaburo. I waited until Yuki walked out and I saw Tsubasa still lingering around Jia's desk. I sighed, waiting still as I said to Ai'iro,

"Does Tsubasa have to go somewhere after this?"

"Hai, he's still got a meeting with Karasu himself."

"I see."

After a few minutes, Tsubasa came out, pulling up his winter coat as Jia kissed his cheek and the Yami left. I went into Jia's office as he stretched his arms over his head, yawning as he said,

"The Russian has a meeting with Sozaburo around nine. I have to go see Toki since I have nothing to do for the time being and....I need a pack of cigarettes."

"I'll drive you home Jia. I'll get you a pack of cigarettes too."

"Thanks Aka-chan."

He got his coat on as I pulled on my gloves again and took out the keys to the car as we both left. After stopping at the corner store for Jia's brand being Marlboro menthol lights 100s, I took him back home. I looked over at him as I said,

"Should I go or stay?"

He checked his watch as he said,

"Too close for you to leave. Might as well come up."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

I parked the car as I followed Jia up to his apartment. After he opened the door and walked inside, he toed off his shoes and then took off his coat as he saw his apartment was a mess. But a Toki made mess. Clothes everywhere, six or seven glasses on the table all half filled or drying out. Toki was on the couch watching TV wearing his drawstrings and a robe which he had open and falling around him, a cigarette in his hand as he dropped ashes everywhere. Jia sighed as he said,

"Toki, I brought you an ashtray around here. Use it damnit."

"Eh...too far from me. What's Aka-chan doing here?"

"He can't go yet. I have to leave at nine."

"Fucking Jun said I wasn't ready yet."

I noticed the bandages around Toki's stomach as Jia said,

"Toki you got sliced open of course you're not ready!"

"Yeah but I'm fucking bored of sitting around here all day!"

"Well unless you want move around and fuck up your stitches..."

Jia was going through some of the mail as he spoke, standing near the dining room as Toki finally stood up, being careful of his stomach as he walked over to Jia and put his arms around him as he said,

"Let me work, I'm bored."

"When I actually ask you to work you never want to. How come the only time you want to work is when you're fucked up?"

Toki leaned his head on Jia's shoulder as he held his cigarette carefully. He pleaded Jia to let him do something as Jia said,

"You wanna do something? How abut you clean up this fucking mess you left in my apartment."

"Our apartment and why should I since the cleaning woman is gonna be here soon anyway."

"You left a disaster for her here. Look at this shit. And why is it you're the only person I know that can't drink from one glass?"

He held up one of the glasses on the table as Toki shrugged and Jia went over to the couch as he said,

"You leave a fucking mess everywhere you go. Geez Toki...you act like a kid."

He started picking up Toki's clothes that had gathered on the couch when Jia suddenly flinched back and said,

"What the fuck is that!?"

Toki walked over as he said,

"That's where he went off too."

He leaned down as he picked up a small yellow fluff of fur and held it. Jia looked like he was about to kill him. I then saw it was a small cat. I looked over as I said,

"You got a cat?"

"I never had a cat in my apartment! Toki where did you find that thing!?"

"Street. Aint it cute?"

"You're not keeping it."

"But it's a stray."

"So?"

"It could die."

"And?"

"You know of all times to be heartless Li..."

"It's a dirty fucking animal. I have more shit in here that's worth more then it and I don't want it here."

I kind of laughed since Jia didn't seem like the type to reject a cute little animal. I walked over as I saw how affectionate Toki was to the small kitten. It was....weird. Anyway, Jia threw down Toki's clothes on the couch again as he went into his pockets and took out his cigarette case and said,

"I don't want that dirty animal in my house."

"It's cute."

I looked at Toki as I said,

"What did you name him?"

"Baby Mikkie."

Jia's lighter snapped shut as he said,

"Now you're really not keeping it."

"It's because of the yellow! Look, look, Ghosto has yellow hair. It makes sense."

"So does Gabriel."

"His is more white then yellow."

"Toki get rid of it."

Toki ignored him, turning and going into the kitchen as Jia seemed like he would snap. He checked his watch as he said,

"I don't need this right now....not when I have a meeting in two hours."

He started to rub the side of his nose in pain as he then inhaled his cigarette as I said,

"Jia?"

He looked over at me as I said,

"It's just a little cat..."

"Don't encourage him."

I gave a sheepish smile as Jia turned and went to his bedroom. Toki came back out without his cat as I said,

"Where's the kitten?"

"Eatin. Where's Li?"

I pointed to his bedroom as Toki went to the room.

I sat down on the couch to sit and wait as I saw Toki's kitten wander out. He looked around for a moment as I slid down to the floor and called it over. The small little animal walked over to me as I stroked it's ears, listening to him purr as I noticed it's color of fur really was like Mikkie's hair color. Freaky. I checked my watch seeing it was a little past seven as I then picked up the cat. I sat back down on the couch, wondering why Toki of all people would take care of animal. By the looks of things around here, he can barely take care of himself. I smoothed the kitten's fur back as I waited for Toki to come back out. Or for Jia anyway. After a while I set the cat down as I stood back up and walked around the living room, looking out the window to Jia's apartment. His view was even better then mine. I sighed wanting to do something and I wasn't sure if I should be just sitting around here. A few minutes later, my cell phone rang as I answered.

"Hey Baby-chu."

"Hey Akio."

"Where you at?"

"Jia's apartment."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, he just didn't want me leaving yet. The meeting is at nine."

"Yeah I was calling about that."

"What about it?"

"It's not at nine. It's in about half an hour."

"Why pushed forward?"

"I don't know Sozaburo called Takeo about it. Takeo said he couldn't get a hold of Jia so I thought you might know where he is since you drove."

"Yeah he's home. Need to talk to him?"

"Yeah, I don't know why he didn't pick up his cell phone."

"I'll get him."

I approached his bedroom door since it was slightly closed. I didn't hear anything but that worried me too. I knocked on the door frame rather then the door as I said,

"Jia?"

I heard some movement before the door opened and Jia swept his hair back from his face as he said,

"Yeah?"

"Akio was trying to get in contact with you."

I gave him my cell phone as I saw Toki laying in bed, no longer wearing his robe. I noticed Jia's suit coat was on the floor. Toki sat up, being careful of his bandages as he stood up, getting his bathrobe as Jia hung up and gave me back my phone.

"I have to go."

"Now? You said you didn't have to leave till nine." Said Toki.

Jia shrugged as he picked up his coat as he said,

"Meeting got pushed forward. Sozaburo says the Russian was getting paranoid."

Toki sighed as he said,

"That's why I need my little neko."

Jia rolled his eyes as he said,

"I want that cat gone by the time I get back Toki."

He frowned as Jia picked up his keys and walked out of the room, me following as he picked up his winter coat, pulling it on as he tugged his gloves on and we left.

Jia called Sozaburo as he found out that he had to go to a restaurant called La Primavara near Rockefeller Center. I drove us over there right away as Jia sat in the car, waiting as I saw Sozaburo walk in the restaurant, two guards with him. Jia waited a while longer as he lit a cigarette and said,

"Sozaburo is going to talk to him for a while."

I nodded, concentrating on watching the door as Jia said,

"Akio is inside already."

"I know. I see him."

Jia exhaled as he said,

"God, I'm tired."

"Not enough sleep?"

"Not since this shit started. That and I need to get laid."

I felt a little embarrassed about hearing my boss say that to me. He laughed as he said,

"I'm a man after all."

"I thought...you and Tsubasa last time.."

"Nah. I wish. I had just gotten out of fight Aka-chan. My concern was on Toki, not getting my dick sucked."

"Oh...right."

I cleared my throat slightly as I looked down and Jia said,

"Don't worry about it. Everyone would assume that."

I sighed slightly, leaning back as I looked into the restaurant, not being able to see too well into because it was hard to see. I sighed as I sat up again and then said,

"How long do you plan on waiting?"

When I didn't get an answer, I looked over to see the door slamming and I quickly got out as well. Jia walked ahead, pushing his coat back as the wind took it along with the smoke of his cigarette. We walked ahead as we went inside, pushing through the oak doors as we walked inside. The host stopped us as he said,

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

Jia put his cigarette out as he said,

"Looking for my party. It's here already."

"I see. Who's your party sir?"

Jia looked over the shoulder of the host as he said,

"They're over there."

Jia walked past them as I did and I looked along the people in the restaurant. I saw a guests since it was not so early, but not so late. I guess it was just a slow evening. I saw Aoki and Aya having something to drink, as they ate slowly, Aoki still wearing his sunglasses. I saw Akio on the other side of the room as he had dinner by himself as he had a cigarette. Jia and I walked ahead as he stopped at Sozaburo's table where he was having dinner with the Russian, a much, much older man stuffed into a designer suite, almost bald, dark gray eyes, a thick ring of gold on his chunky fingers. Jia looked over at them as he said,

"Good evening."

He sat down as the Russian looked over at Sozaburo and said,

"What is this?"

Sozaburo looked over at him, brushing some of the blondish, red bangs from the corners of his eyes as he said,

"This is an associate of mine."

The Russian looked at Jia suspiciously as he said,

"What do you want?"

"To join in on the conversation."

I held my hands behind my back as Jia smiled slightly as he said,

"So, what's your name?"

"Mikale Strob. You?"

"Jia Li. Head of the 36 Moons."

I watched Strob's eyes get wide as Jia gave me a gesture I knew well enough. I withdrew my gun as I aimed and fired. Sozaburo stood up quickly as did Jia after the shot was taken and everyone else started screaming and hiding as Akio, Aoki and Aya all stood up. It was a quick replay of the death of the Italian and the Irish but Strob didn't die right away. He went to reach for his gun as he started dying. I aimed again and fired as we finally turned and left the restaurant, the host trying to stop us as Aoki raised his hand, grabbed the guys face and shoved back, until he hit the wall with force. We all got outside as I got in the driver's seat, everyone else in the back and Jia in the passenger as I started the car and pulled off quickly and drove back to Jia's building.

After Jia told Tai and Gabriel about the situation, he checked his watch and said,

"Early tonight. After everyone's done, we'll go relax for a while. Hopefully, nothing will happen for a while. We need the break."

I still held the keys in my hand as Jia and I started going to the lobby. On our way there, I heard a slight argument as I recognized Sozaburo's voice.

"Fuck off. I'm nobodies uke."

Once we arrived downstairs, Jia and I saw Akio looking stunned slightly as Sozaburo pulled up his coat, sweeping his hair back from the corner of his eyes as he turned and saw Jia. He gave a slight smile towards me as Sozaburo said,

"Jia, it was nice working with you. I'll be going home now. I'll contact you with whatever details are left later."

They shook hands as Sozaburo then left. Jia looked over at Akio as he said,

"What was all that about?"

Akio shrugged as he said,

"Nothing...don't worry about it."

He waved his hand off as I looked over at him and said,

"Going home Baby-chu?"

"Yeah..."

I then looked at Jia and said,

"You need a ride home?"

"Nah, I still have some things to do around here. You two can go."

Akio and I then left. I didn't say anything to him about the rejection but I was actually kinda glad it happened.

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Definitions

Konichiwa: Hello

La Primavara: A real restaurant located in New York City

Uke: In a male x male relationship, the uke is the bottom. Also meaning "To receive"