Jia was no longer on fine terms with Kenimin. It's one thing to annoy Jia and to raise your voice at him, but to smack Toki like he was a common yakuza was a big mistake. I had already learned once I started, Toki was not your common everyday yakuza. Syndicate or even free lance. Toki liked to do things his way no matter what which is why I think Jia was his best friend and Jia was oyabun of the 36 Moons. After Kenimin left Jia didn't even scold Toki for it. In fact he had to calm him down, stroke his cheek and tell him it was okay. Toki rubbed his face angrily as he said,

"Fuckin old bastard hit me..."

He looked really pissed as if he had never been smacked like that before. Or maybe he had and that's what got him so mad. Jia nodded as he made him sit down as he said,

"I know Toki. Just relax."

"No one fuckin smacks me!"

"I know, you got him back though."

I was starting to see Toki was taking this hit a little more personally then he should have but it really wasn't my place to say anything, especially now when Toki was pissed. I just excused myself and got out of the way.

When I got out of Jia's office, I walked around for a minute before I went to a board room where I found Akio, Tai and Gabriel all working on Hong Kong. I knocked on the door as they looked up and Akio gestured me inside.

"Didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't Baby-chu. Come in."

I walked in, sitting down as Akio looked at me and said,

"What was all the shouting about?"

"Kenimin was pushing Jia about Lotus again and Toki got fed and started saying to him, in his own way, back the fuck off and Kenimin smacked him."

They looked at me with wide eyes as Gabriel said,

"Excuse me, he smacked him?"

"Yeah. Right across the face."

"I know Toki didn't just take that." Said Tai.

"Nope. He lunged at Kenimin. Both of them went to the ground but Jia stopped him before he swung a punch at him."

"Damn...Toki just tried to take a swing at the owner of Hong Kong. That's defiantly gonna fuck some shit up." Said Akio.

I nodded as Tai smoothed back his hair as he said,

"I hope not. We've been busting our asses over Hong Kong for all this time for Toki just to come in and screw it all up because he can't control his temper."

"You know Toki. And Jia. Jia will do everything to smooth things over." Said Gabriel.

Akio nodded as he took out his cigarette case and then took out a cigarette as he lit it and said,

"So what now?"

Tai sighed, standing up to his full height as he buttoned the front of his coat with one hand as he gathered some papers in a folder and closed it with the other as he said,

"I'm going to go speak to Jia. You two can take a break."

Tai the picked up the folder as he left and Gabriel leaned back in the chair as he said,

"God I hope all this work didn't go to waste."

Akio nodded, enjoying his cigarette as I said,

"What would happen if Kenimin broke off all ties with Jia?"

"Well...nothing really."

Akio and I looked at Gabriel as I said,

"Why nothing?"

"Kenimin gave everything to Jia as his son in law. By law, Kenimin owns nothing now. Jia does. Of course yakuza don't follow laws so Kenimin could try and say he still does own Hong Kong. Of course, him not having any proof and the proof he does have shows Jia owns everything might lead to his own problems. His own support could try and give Kenimin back, but we outweigh Kenimin in power, more then ever. Plus, Jia has Lotus, his leverage and more proof that Kenimin struck and made a deal with Jia for Hong Kong. A small battle could start, but nothing we couldn't handle."

"Oh..." I said feeling dumb for not seeing all that earlier.

Akio nodded as he said,

"Yeah but Kenimin could defiantly cause some trouble."

Gabriel nodded, part of his hair falling over his eye as he said,

"Yeah defiantly. Since Hong Kong is still use to Kenimin as being it's owner, it will reject us."

Akio nodded as he then said,

"Well, I'm going to get something to eat. Baby-chu? Coming with?"

I nodded as I got up and before we left, Akio looked over his shoulder as he said,

"Ne, Gabriel, you coming with?"

"No, I'm good. I'm just going to get something later with Tai."

We nodded as we said bye to him. After making a quick check with Jia, we were free to go.

We got something to eat that night at a near by stand. We got some sushi and tea while we sat outside, watching the people walk by. I sighed, smoothing my hair back as Akio said,

"You okay Baby-chu?"

"Yeah. I just haven't had the chance to see Miya yet."

Akio didn't say anything, but he turned back to his tea as he picked up the cup and took a drink. He set it down as he said,

"For a minute, you were being a real yakuza."

"What do you mean, for a minute?"

"Before you were being what a yakuza should be, cold, hard, not giving a fuck about anything. Miya makes you soft Baby-chu."

I frowned as I no longer wanted to talk about it. I finished the last of my tea as I leaned over to Akio and whispered,

"Wanna make me hard then Akio?"

He looked at me as he smirked as he said,

"You're gettin fresh."

"You like it."

So before we headed back to the office, we snuck a quick fuck. Once we got back to the office, I was surprised to see Aoki and Aya standing in the lobby. Akio and I were well dressed so he had nothing to suspect. I greeted them both and so did Akio. Aya then let us know that Jia was about to leave for the day.

"Oh so we didn't have to come back?" Asked Akio.

Aya shook his head, his pretty eyes looking back up at Akio as he said,

"I don't know about all that. But Jia will be here soon so, just ask him. Tai and Gabriel are still working upstairs."

"Okay."

A moment later, the elevator doors opened as Toki and Jia came out. Toki still looked pissed off but at least not as badly as before.

"Jia, do you need us for anything else?"

"No, you two can go for the night."

So Akio and I did go. It was awkward leaving in front of Aoki...I didn't want him to know. But then again, Akio and I always left together since I drove. Aoki was driving tonight however so Akio and I took the subway back to his apartment where I spent the night. I loved spending the night at Akio's place because his bed was always a lot softer then mine. Plus, his was always made. His apartment looked so clean everytime...mine looked dirty and lived in. I guess because Akio employed someone to keep it clean while he was away. Anyway I got to nothing but my boxers and crawled into bed that night, Akio beside me with nothing but his bed sheets on as hugged him. I loved sleeping in his arms too...it was warm there. That night though I wasn't very tired. I stayed up thinking a little about the usual things. I thought of work mostly and then Miya came in there somewhere. I missed him a lot. I sometimes wish I had my relationship back. Other times, I was glad I was able to just fuck whoever I so choose...like today for instance. I couldn't be here now if I was with Miya. There were ups and downs with relationships. I guess, the bottom line here is, if you want a happy relationship that lasts through anything, you have to be a sadist and masochist...in other words Toki and Jia.

The next morning, we were called into the office because Jia was going to hold a meeting with Kenimin. After going home to changed, I went to headquarters where I saw Toki sulking on the couch in the lobby. I wondered what that was all about so I just asked. I patted down my pockets as I took out my empty cigarette case and sat down in front of Toki.

"You got another cigarette?"

He nodded, taking out his cigarettes and giving me one as I said,

"Thanks."

I lit it as I said,

"Why are you downstairs?"

"Jia won't have me in his office when Kenimin comes."

"Oh.."

"I can't believe he fuckin listened to him."

"Well...you knocked over the owner of Hong Kong and almost kicked his ass. I think Jia has the right idea."

"That fucker smacked me! No one fuckin smacks me like that!"

"I know, he didn't have to put his hands on you but you know...wait till stuff is over then you can knock Kenimin around all you want."

Toki laughed slightly as he slouched down on the couch. Any further and he'd slide right off it. Anyway he then sighed as he said,

"Fuck....I have to stay here though. I'm bored as fuck."

"Why don't you go home?"

"I should."

He sat up slightly as the doors then opened and I saw the Black Hand, Kenimin and his daughter walking in. I stood up as I went to them and bowed my head slightly as I said,

"Jia's in his office. I'll take you to him."

Kenimin nodded as we started to walk towards the elevator. Kenimin then said,

"Glad to see Jia kept that mongrel animal guard of his down here."

Toki glared at him before he actually growled at him. I think he did it to be funny especially because he smirked right afterwards. Kenimin didn't find it amusing and just turned and went inside the elevator once it arrive at the lobby. I did my best to hide my smile.

Kenimin was not pleased at all with Toki being around Jia anymore. He called him an animal, unfit to be anyone's guard and he would not have his daughter around such a person.

"He's unfit to be a guard."

"Kenimin you can't judge my syndicate. It's not your place."

"I do have some say in who my daughter is around."

"Your daughter is a grown woman. And by your deals standards, she's not even your daughter anymore. She's my wife."

Kenimin suddenly looked flustered as if he never imaged Jia being able to pick up on anything. Jia smirked slightly, sitting up in his chair as he went into his pockets and withdrew his cigarette case. He took out a cigarette as he put it between his lips and then Aoki, who was standing in as Jia's guard, leaned down and lit the cigarette for him. Jia inhaled, exhaling slowly as he moved the cigarette away from his lips as he said,

"Why do you look so surprised Kenimin? Did you not tell me to marry your daughter, take Hong Kong over for you when you die? All that? Am I not your son in law?"

Kenimin nodded as he said,

"Yes, of course I did but-"

"But you expected me to somehow fall in your lap, do as you say, bow my head and simply be done with it right? Tell me Kenimin, you said you had four sons. Which one will actually be taking over Hong Kong?"

Kenimin looked shocked, his mouth dropping slightly as Jia stood up, tucking his hair behind his ears as he said,

"You don't think I'm really all that stupid do you? Like a man of your power would hand his daughter over to me so I could get Hong Kong. I know what you plan to do. Have me marry into your family, that way your son could take over everything, including Japan, New York and anything I have in California. I would never get to touch Hong Kong. Everything you gave me was minor lands and properties, just to make me feel safe."

"How could you even think....I would never-"

"Never do me wrong, never ever try to back stab me, never ever even think about doing that right?"

Jia was in charge of this whole situation. He took it calmly as he walked around and sat in the front of his desk. A moment later, Tai and Gabriel walked in, Tai with a folder in hand as he walked over to Jia and handed him the folder. Jia opened it as he said,

"Property in Hong Kong, Victoria to be more exact goes to prove I own, one apartment building flat."

Tai nodded as he said,

"Which in fact shows that's it's a slum."

Jia went on reading.

"A club in the downtown district."

"It's not actually in the downtown district but the red light district that is currently being reviewed and about to be shut down."

Jia looked up at Kenimin as he said,

"Trying to make me feel comfortable right? If my people weren't so careful, I might have fallen into your little trap. But lucky for me, my people now know Hong Kong inside and out. As if we've lived there the whole time."

Kenimin looked too shock and as if he was about to just die right there. He then backed a step away as he said,

"I didn't..."

"You have four sons Kenimin. And the entire time I thought, why would a man with four boys before his girl pass on his empire to an outsider. It all made sense once I sat down and thought about it."

Kenimin stood still, silent, his daughter looking at him as the rest of the Black Hand looked at Jia. Jia brought his hand up to his cigarette as he moved it back from his mouth, a cloud of smoke leaving as he said,

"You call my guard an animal, but that animal knows enough to know a scheme when he sees it."

Kenimin then gathered himself as he said,

"It's too late now anyway Jia. You've signed over everything."

"I signed over jack shit Kenimin. What did I have to give to you? You gave me everything. Your land and your daughter."

"My sons will take my place."

"Take what place? I own everything. I'd like to see them dispute me. All four of them...I'll take them all down."

"You can't do anything now anyway. I'm still alive."

"Yeah?"

Jia got that look in his eye as if he would do something. He then smirked and started to count.

"Let's see...four of your guards, plus your daughter and I doubt you or her are packing plus, two, three four including myself. And let's say for arguments sake you managed to get out of here by killing everyone in this room, you'd never set foot outside alive."

Kenimin stood still as he looked at Jia. Jia seriously looked like he would do it if he had to. As for myself, I put my hand in my pocket just in case it did come to that. Kenimin then stood up straight as he said,

"This isn't the end Jia."

"I doubt it is."

Kenimin turned and left as Lotus went with him. She kept looking at Jia with longing in her eyes and I could tell she wanted to do something. She was still, by law, Jia's wife. Jia didn't do anything though. He let her go as he turned and looked at Tai as he said,

"Make sure they leave. And once they did, call Toki up here please."

Tai nodded, as he left the office as Aoki, Gabriel and I were left with Jia. I looked at Jia for a moment as he then said,

"I got shit to deal with. Aka-chan, do me a favor, call Akio up here. Gabriel when Tai comes back, you three along with Aya get to work on Hong Kong. Legal matters, land all that shit. See if I can avoid going to Hong Kong again."

Gabriel nodded as Aoki took out his cell phone and called Aya. I then called Akio and within a matter of moments everyone was back in his office. I, however was dismissed. I wandered outside as I stretched my arms over my head as I remembered I had to go buy more cigarettes and decided to just go do that. It was late afternoon and since I was already dismissed, I decided to go see Miya. I took the subway to his job as I walked into the store and went around looking for him. I found him near the back as he organized some books, putting everything in order as he always did. I went over to him as I said,

"Don't you ever do anything else?"

He looked up at me as he said,

"Don't you have a job?"

I laughed as I said,

"Hey you."

He smiled, picking up a stack of books as he said,

"Hi Jo. How are you?"

"I'm good. Just working."

"When do you get off?"

"Like in another hour."

"Wanna get some dinner?"

"I have some homework."

"Is that a no?"

"No, I'll still have dinner with you."

I smiled, feeling glad he accepted. After I bought my copy of Gravitation for the day, I said I would be back to pick him up after the hour was up and went to go read. Once the hour was up and I was done, I went to pick up Miya. We had a brief dinner before I walked him home. Once at the lobby of his apartment, he smiled at me before he kissed me good night. I kissed back, loving how his mouth felt against mine as he then said,

"I love you."

"Love you too."

I kissed him once more before he went back home. I was feeling glad, happy that I got a chance to see Miya again, glad he still loves me, glad he let me take him to dinner. I felt glad...though my high quickly wore off when I realized it was almost one in the morning and I haven't heard anything from Akio. I decided to give him a call later to see how he was. He was still working, though he was a little tired and hungry. So I did him a favor and picked up some take out. Of course when I was buying it, I thought it wouldn't fair of me to just buy something for Akio when Gabriel, Tai and Aya where there too. So I bought extra stuff in case they wanted to eat. I made the stop over to headquarters and brought out the stuff to eat, which all of them gladly excepted. I then sat down as I said,

"How's everything going?"

Akio picked up the chopsticks as he took off the paper from them as he said,

"Pretty well. Everything that Kenimin gave Jia is a gateway to other things."

Tai nodded as he said,

"With Kenimin dying, Jia has four men to go up against. Kenimin's children."

"We should do a check on them." Said Gabriel.

Aya nodded as he said,

"Yes, but we're all busy. Tai's the best at back checking but..."

Tai nodded as he then said,

"Get Aoki to do it."

Akio shook his head as he said,

"No good. Aoki busy guarding Jia with Toki. Mikkie's not as good and Jun wouldn't know where to start."

Gabriel sighed, tucking his hair behind his ear as he picked up his can of coffee as he then looked at me and said,

"What about you Aka-chan?"

"Me?"

Tai looked at me as he said,

"Hai, you can start doing back ground checks. You won't be as busy like Jun or Mikkie would be if we sent them out, the rest of us are busy so...looks like your the last one left."

"I wouldn't know where to begin either."

Akio tucked my hair behind my ear as he said,

"Bout time you learned something in this syndicate besides how to bust off a cap Baby-chu."

I nodded as Aya then said,

"We'll give you the information we know, then the rest is up to you."

"We made it easy for you this time around Aka-chan." Said Tai.

I nodded as the four of them stood up and began opening and closing folders, taking out papers, checking them with each other before finally giving me a folder full of papers and notes as Tai said,

"This should give you the better start. If you need any help, ask Mikkie or Jun. They're not too good at it, but they'll tell you what they can."

I nodded as I took the folder and said,

"Do I have to start tonight?"

"No, but look over it tonight. Tomorrow you start."

I nodded as I was then dismissed again.

I actually had work to do.