I was sick for almost three weeks. During that time, the only time I talked to Akio was over the phone and I only saw Jun out of everyone. Jun would only come to check on me and scold me if I wasn't doing what he said. He said it was the reason I didn't recover sooner.

"You're like a child Jo!"

"I am a child Jun."

He narrowed his eyes as he said,

"Don't get smart."

I gave a sheepish smile before I turned and coughed, my throat hurting each time I did. Jun saw I still smoked every now and then as he threw out my ashtray and picked up my pack of cigarettes as he said,

"That's why your throat hurts. Doesn't anyone listen me?"

He threw them back on my night stand as he settled the garbage can back down on the floor.

"Aren't you going to throw them out?"

"No, I'm content with watching you suffer if you wanna hurt yourself."

"Okay, I won't smoke anymore."

I sunk down in bed as he started putting all his things away as he said,

"Jia, Toki, Mikkie, Aoki and Aya are leaving for Tokyo in a few days."

"I figured they'd do it sometime soon. What about everyone else?"

"They already left."

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"Having to stay here just to check on me."

"Tokyo, New York, Hong Kong...whatever. I don't have a home anymore anyway."

"Oh..."

"So it's no big deal. I'll stay in New York until you're better. Get something to eat will you."

"My throat hurts when I swallow."

"Get something hot then. Soup."

I nodded as he closed his briefcase and picked up his coat as he put it on, taking his gloves out of his pocket as he said,

"I'll come back tomorrow. Meanwhile, call me if you need anything."

I nodded as Jun then left, the sound of my door closing behind him. I laid in bed for a while, curled up and half asleep, half drugged from the medication Jun told me to take as I finally fell asleep. I spent the next two days like that. On the second day, I heard someone ring the doorbell so I got out of bed, practically dragging myself to the door as I looked to see who it was. It was Jia, standing there so I opened the door as I said,

"Hi...something I can do?"

He shook his head as he raised his hand holding a bag as he said,

"Brought you some food."

I took the bag from him as I said,

"Thank you. You wanna come in?"

"Can't stay I have to go catch a flight."

"Okay. Going home?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to see how my Aka-chan was. Feeling any better?"

"Not really. My throat hurts."

"Drink some tea. A lot of it actually. And orange juice. You'll be fine soon. Are you going home when you feel better?"

"Yeah...probably."

He nodded as he ruffled my hair like I was five as he said,

"I'll see you later then."

I nodded as I thanked him again for the food as I closed the door and went back to my room to eat.

I spent three weeks suffering from a sore throat, stuffy nose and a bad headache every now and then. Not even mentioning the body ache I got everytime I moved. But, by the third week, Jun said the swelling in my throat had gone down and other then needing a tissue every now and then, I was feeling better. A few days later, I packed some minor things and decided to go back to Tokyo. I didn't miss anything, I just wanted to be back home in case Jia needed something. I called Jia once I got back in town, to let him know and after that was done, I called Akio. His line rang for a moment before he picked up.

"Yeah Baby-chu?"

"Hey Akio, thanks for leaving me to suffer all by myself for the last three weeks you fucker."

He laughed as he said,

"Sorry Baby-chu but if I got sick, I'm about as hundred times worse off then you."

"Yeah but you could have stopped by at least one."

"Where are you anyway?"

"Tokyo."

"You came back already?"

"Yeah I'm not sick anymore."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd care."

"That's cold Baby-chu."

"Yeah well so was not coming to see me in three weeks."

"I'll buy you lunch."

"Okay."

I hung up with him and when I got home, I only had a chance to set my bag down when the doorbell rang. I opened it as I saw Akio. He was in some casual clothes as he said,

"Hey Baby-chu. Did you seriously just get here?"

I nodded, rubbing my eyes as he said,

"Maybe you should get some sleep first."

"I'm hungry damnit."

He laughed so we went to eat instead of me going to sleep.

I spent a week back home doing nothing but hanging out with Akio and every now and then Hisoka. It was nice seeing my former partner. He was fine, his hair had grown over his scar so you couldn't even see it, or his other green eye anymore but he was still the same. I wondered about Miya and I wanted to see him but more then ever now I knew he held some hostility towards me and me seeing him was out of the question. I did miss him like crazy. And I hated being in Tokyo where he was the first thing on my mind, where ever I went. I kept myself busy with Akio other then that. I was always worried I would be nothing more then an annoying brat to him, especially after before but he got over it and just called me a brat every now and then. He said I was acting like a baby so no matter how old I got now, he would always call me Baby-chu. One night as I sat in his bed, wondering what to order for take out as Akio laid his head on my stomach, the phone rang. He reached over and picked up the cordless as he said,

"Yeah?"

He spoke for a few moments as he sat up and then nodded as he said something else and hung up.

"What did Jia want?" I asked.

I knew it was Jia by the way Akio spoke. He turned to me as he said,

"Gotta go to work."

"Something going on?"

"Not really. Jia is having a meeting and wants us to be there."

"Okay."

I wasn't sure what to wear since it was just a meeting so I borrowed one of Akio's dress shirts since I was wearing khakis and just went like that. Akio didn't bother to get too dressed up either. He just wore his dress pants and a button down with his winter coat over it as we left. We got to Jia's office a short time later. I noticed something strange once we walked in the lobby like more lower heads then there should be were sitting around. I ignored it as Akio and I took the elevator up to Jia's office. Once we got there, we walked in to see Tsubasa, Jiki and Ai'iro. But not just them. Sozaburo was there with some of his people along with Karasu and Nishiki. And the top heads of the 36 Moons. Needless to say, Jia's office was crowded. After everyone settled down, Jia, Tsubasa, Sozaburo, Karasu and Nishiki all sat down to speak. The other heads, included that of the Yami, Nishiki's and Karasu and Sozaburo's people were just standing with the rest of us. I looked at Akio as I said,

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. Must be something big if the other heads are here."

I saw Toki talking to Aoki as they both smoked, Jun and Mikkie silent as Aya stood next to Aoki. Even Tai and Gabriel stood among us without a word. Ai'iro eventually wandered over to me as he said,

"Hey Aka-chan."

"Hey Ai'iro. You know what's going on?"

"Not a clue and I'm second in command of the Yami."

I sighed wondering what now as the heads of each syndicate finally finished their meeting as they Jia stood, shaking everyone's hand as they turned to us and Jia said,

"Our newest allies, the Itto Ketsuen."

I noticed Sozaburo seemed to be in charge, Karasu working for him. Sozaburo reminded me a lot of someone that Miya knew, his hair way too young looking, even for one of the yakuza. He always had a choker on too, either a solid black one or a black one with a silver buckle near the side. His small, yet perfect beauty mark under the corner of his eye was something that drew attention to his face more. He wore no make up, yet still managed to look like he did. He had a white silk shirt on that was loosely done with a black coat that had a Celtic cross on the collar. It was nice...I liked his coat. Anyway I noticed he was looking at me...and I was embarrassed I was caught staring. I looked away as Jia explained to everyone else that the Itto Ketsuen was owned by Sozaburo and Karasu worked for him now. The Yami, who was also one of the 36 Moons allies was in a higher position and was more or less, in charge of the Itto Ketsuen and what they did in New York. Jia still controlled everything and everyone.

That night, there was a celebration where all the syndicates celebrated in the name of the alliance. Another yakuza party...fun. More booze, more girls running around, laughing and talking. It was great. I also had a first hand look at watching everyone slip in and out of the bathroom. And like Akio said, even Jun came out from the bathroom as some girl followed. And I got to try it myself, sneaking in with some girl, fucking her on the counter with her panties around her ankle and my pants still up. Anyway, I did that a few times, having a cigarette as I left the bathroom, looking around to see who saw as I mingled back in. Of course, Akio saw the whole thing and he would tease me about it and give it no rest. Through the night we partied, we talked, we celebrated the alliance and the strength Jia gained since he also had his hold on Okinawa and Yokohama now. Things picked up for all of us.

That same night, I stepped outside for some air since Akio was...busy and I needed a cigarette. I stood outside the balcony of the hotel and even though it was cold, I enjoyed the scene. I heard someone else coming in and I turned to see Sozaburo. He didn't even wear a coat, his swept aside bangs were moved and tousled around his face as he walked over to me with a cigarette in his mouth. He asked me for a light as I took out my lighter and cupped my hands around his cigarette as it lit and he thanked me for it. He then leaned down on the railing of the balcony as he said,

"What's your name?"

"Akui."

"I mean your real name."

"Joryu."

"Nice. I'm Ichiro."

"Hey."

We shook hands as I leaned down beside him. I realized since he's the oyabun of the Itto Ketsuen, he's practically one of my bosses. He smoked his cigarette as I smoked mine and he said,

"You worked for Jia long?"

"About a year...going onto my second."

"You don't look too old."

"I'm not. I'm gonna be twenty soon."

"How soon?"

"Like...a few weeks."

"Happy early birthday."

He gave a small smile as I smiled in return and said,

"Thanks."

"I remember you from the first meeting I had with Jia."

"Yeah...I was there."

"You all looked surprise to see me."

"Yeah, you don't look like most oyabuns."

"I'm not really. I just stumbled across this."

"How's your niece?"

"She's good. She's with her nanny."

"I see."

"You with someone?"

"Not anymore."

"Died?"

"Nah, he broke up with me. He got scared of me."

"That happens."

I nodded as I looked at him and said,

"You?"

"Nah. Only people that ever wanna get with me are ho's that think I'll protect them or big stupid playboys like your partner or Jia's boy that think I'll be their little uke because I look like this."

"Oh....yeah I heard you tell Akio off."

"I'm not weak because I'm pretty. It's a natural stereotype to make but not always right."

I nodded as he then stood up, flicking his cigarette over the side as he said,

"Don't you get tired of that assumption?"

"I'm not pretty."

"You're delicate looking sometimes. It's in your eyes."

I shrugged as he then said,

"Wanna come home with me?"

I felt a little surprised he asked me, of all people that question. Me, fuck Sozaburo Ichiro...not that it wasn't tempting. So I smiled slightly and said,

"If you want me to."

"If I didn't want you to, I wouldn't have asked."

"True."

"So, let's go."

I flicked my cigarette away as I followed him back inside and after sneaking past the party going on, I got in the elevator with Sozaburo and went back with him to his hotel. As I pressed the button for the lobby, I felt Sozaburo against me, his hands holding my face as he turned me towards him. I kissed those sweet full lips, a taste of his menthol cigarette lingering on his mouth as we kissed. Damn....he was a good kisser. I kissed back, brushing my tongue against as I held onto his wrists, leaning closer to him as the elevator went down to the lobby. When we got downstairs and the elevator stopped, he pulled back, licking my lips as he did. I smiled slightly, liking the way that felt as he gestured me to follow him. We both went outside as I pulled up my coat that I managed to grab before we left as he hailed a cab. We both got in as he said to the driver,

"Imperial Hotel ."

The driver gave a nod as he waited until I shut the door behind me before he pulled back out into the street. Ichiro and I call him Ichiro by this point because we went far beyond employer and employee at this point, put his leg over mine as he turned me towards him again. I started to kiss him, slipping my hands around his waist, feeling up his sides as he leaned towards me. We stayed like that for the majority of the cab ride, only pausing to breath every now and then. When we got to his hotel, he paid the fare and we got out. We took the elevator up to his floor and by this point I started to get nervous. How often was I fucking different people in the same night? Not very many...and this was someone Akio wanted. Akio, the Playboy, well known for his reputation for being able to nail everyone he wants, was rejected...because pretty Sozaburo Ichiro wanted...me. Once we got to his room and the door was closed behind him, we went to his bedroom where I laid down, Ichiro on top of me, straddling me as he kissed me, my hands working on the shirt he was wearing, unbuttoning it and touching his skin as he did the same to me. We broke apart from the kissing as he sat up, shrugging off his shirt as he tossed it aside somewhere and made me sit up as I did the same. I kissed him again, running my hands up and down his smooth back as he arched towards me. As he reached up to take off the choker he was wearing, I kissed his collar bones as I felt him rubbing against my lap. I couldn't remember last time someone turned me on that much...maybe Akio, but with him there was hardly any anticipation other then just waiting for so long. But with Ichiro, just waiting for him right now was driving me crazy. He undid the choker, throwing it on the bed as I kissed his neck, sucking on it as I heard him panting softly, his hands holding onto my shoulders as ever now and then they would go into my hair, pulling it back. It took a few moments, getting out of my pants and boxers as it did for Ichiro but once I had him naked, I was doing everything in my power not to jump him right there and then. He laid underneath me, rubbing against me as he kissed me, both of us breathing hard as I felt him opening his legs for me. I paused for a moment as I looked at him and said,

"You said you were no one's uke."

He smiled slightly as I noticed his teeth were straight and white. He then leaned up and kissed me for a moment as he said,

"I'm making an exception."

I spent the next two hours fucking Ichiro. And damn....was it good. We went a few more times again after the first and I apologized for not recovering quicker, explaining I was sick previously. I don't think Ichiro cared though. We eventually went to sleep around four in the morning. When I woke up a few hours later it was because of my cell phone. I picked my head up as I forgot where I was for a minute until I saw Ichiro laying under my arm. I moved away quickly as I got out of bed and picked up my pants, fishing out my cell phone as I answered.

"Moshi moshi."

"Hey Baby-chu."

"Hey Akio."

I sat back down, keeping my voice down since Ichiro was asleep still.

"Where did you disappear to last night?"

"Nowhere. I felt drunk."

"You hardly had a drink."

"I did."

"Seriously Baby-chu where'd you go? I lost track of you when I went to the bathroom."

"Nowhere, really. I wasn't up for staying at the party anymore."

Ichiro woke up a moment later when he turned and didn't feel me there. He sat up and crawled over to me as he put his arms around me, kissing my neck as he swept my hair aside. I sighed softly, loving how that felt as Akio said something.

"Hm?"

"You busy?"

"Uh...no...why?"

"You sounded...distracted."

"Ah...no. Just woke up what do you want from me?"

He laughed as Ichiro got back on my lap, kissing me again, his slender legs around me as he whispered in my ear,

"Fuck me again."

Shivers ran up and down my back as I said,

"Akio, I'm about to take a shower and then get something to eat."

"So early?"

I checked the clock on my cell phone as I saw it was ten in the morning. Meanwhile Ichiro had slid down my body, kissing my stomach, my lap and anything else he could get his mouth on.

"Yeah I'm always hungry."

I looked down as I watched him start giving me head. I sighed deeply as I interrupted Akio mid sentence and said,

"I'm sorry but I gotta go! I'll call you back later bye!"

I hung up and threw the phone side as I laid down, giving a deep moan, loving how that felt. After the morning fuck, I finally had to go since it was almost twelve and I was getting hungry. I kissed Ichiro's shoulder as I got out of bed, listening to him whimper and sigh softly as the sheets pulled back and I saw his back had a big tattoo. I was obviously not paying attention to that last night, but there it was. It was like a Buddhist deity only not since it had six arms, one holding a sword the other holding some other objects I wasn't sure of. That and the deity looked more like a demon. Above it were the phases of the moon from a clear circle, to the full moon. I ran my fingers over it, admiring the work of art inked into his soft skin before I turned and got out of bed. I got dressed quickly, getting everything on in a rush as Ichiro turned again, sitting up as he said,

"Leaving?"

"Yeah, I have to."

Once I got my shirt buttoned, I grabbed my phone, putting it in my pocket as I pulled my coat on over my shoulders. I went to say bye to Ichiro who kissed me again, as if to remind me and make me stay. Once we pulled away he smiled as he said,

"I'll see you around."

"Yeah..."

I kissed him again quickly before I left. I tucked my hair behind my ears as I checked my watch and got outside as I started walking. I took my cell phone out as I called Akio back.

"Where have you been?"

"Busy."

"With?"

"Someone."

"I knew it! You had that exasperated sigh going on. Who?"

"No one you know, anyway, sorry I hung up on you in such a rush."

"Understandable. How was it?"

"Oh...fuck it...was...damn..."

He laughed as he said,

"That good huh?"

"Yeah pretty much."

"Where you going now?"

"Get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Where at? I'll meet you up."

I told him where I was headed as I then went in and ordered some lunch. I was still a mess since I basically just finished fucking and rushed out. As I sat down, eating my lunch, Akio eventually came over to join me. We talked for a while as he commented on me sneaking out from the party, going to fuck someone else and the random bite marks I had on my neck. I rolled my eyes as he teased me about it.

"God you act like I'm five or something."

"No, but it's almost like you're growing up."

I shook my head as continued eating.

I didn't want to tell Akio that the person I had fucked was Ichiro...mostly because I know that would kill his ego. So I kept it to myself and just went on with my lunch without a single word on the subject.