Kenimin now knew that his children and grandchildren were dead. His last male line had disappeared a Lotus was now Jia's property. Now that Kenimin was quickly loosing footing in his own empire, he came to Jia one last time. During the next few days, we expected Kenimin to show up. Now, we all knew that Kenimin knew that we had killed his family, but he had no proof, it was just a guess he was going by. When he arrived in Tokyo, Jia received him and acted as if nothing changed though they were on thin ice with each other. Toki did not come with us when we went to receive Kenimin that afternoon. And I saw why. Once Jia greeted Kenimin, he took Lotus's hand. Everyone was surprised since months of being married and their brief kiss when they married, he has not touched her since. Lotus seemed surprised herself as she blushed at first. Jia then put his arm around her as he said,

"Hey Lotus."

He kissed her cheek as he then gestured Kenimin to follow. Aya, Aoki, Akio and myself looked at each other as we then followed Jia and his wife. He actually had someone under his arm that wasn't Toki or Tsubasa. When we got in the car, I got in the driver's seat, Akio beside me as Jia got in the back, Aoki and Aya following after Lotus. Kenimin had to go in another car. Lotus didn't say anything while in the car, she just kept her eyes to floor as her hand was in Jia's. Jia wasn't looking at her anymore and his focus was out the window. When I drove to headquarters and parked, Jia stepped out first, then reached for his wife's hand. Lotus was completely surprised the whole time and she still couldn't look up at Jia. We walked inside the building and headed to Jia's office, Kenimin and his people following us upstairs. Finally when we got to his office, Lotus stood beside Jia's desk as Kenimin then said,

"What are you planning Jia?"

"What do you mean?"

"You hardly paid any attention to Lotus before, now you take her to your warmth? Why?"

"She's my wife. She's mine as you said. I'm just getting use to her."

Kenimin's temper flared as he said,

"You're not taking my daughter."

"I already did. She's my wife."

Kenimin realized his little plan backfired on him.

"I know you have done something to my family."

"How so? If all of my people were here with no reason to go into Hong Kong."

"I know you had something to do with this."

"You can think all you want Kenimin. You have my deepest condolences."

"I still have one more son."

"Your fourth?"

"Yes. I will find him."

"If he hasn't been around for the past couple of years and your other children are dead, what makes you think the fourth one isn't as well?"

Kenimin didn't say anything but just looked at Jia with rage. Jia then stood up again as he said,

"Kenimin, you've crossed me. And anything you have done, I've reversed back on you."

The old man stayed still for a while, not sure what to say as Kenimin said,

"I'll grant you the divorce."

"It's not your choice to make anymore. I've taken what I wanted. You can't do battle against me Kenimin. I'll always win."

Kenimin then turned to leave as he walked away and then said,

"Come Lotus."

Jia grabbed her hand, making her stay in place as he said,

"She's not going anywhere."

Kenimin turned and looked at her before he looked Jia with an angry face. He turned and continued on his way out. Jia then let go of Lotus's hand once Kenimin left as he said,

"I'm sorry I had to pull you into this."

Lotus looked at him as she said,

"I'm your wife."

Jia nodded he then said,

"What needs to happen now is that I have more personal problems to attend to. So...Lotus, you'll have to stay somewhere."

She nodded as Jia then went into his pocket and looked at me as he said,

"Aka-chan, take her to the Imperial Hotel. Get her a room and stand guard okay?"

I took the money as I nodded and I escorted Lotus to the hotel.

I got her a room and took her there as she walked in. She removed her shoes as she undid her black hair, letting it fall to her elbows as she sat down. She looked at me with her innocent face as she said,

"Would you like to have a seat?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

She nodded as she clasped her hands together and then said,

"I feel terrible having to be in the middle of this conflicted between my father and my husband."

"It's not your fault."

"I feel it is. My father said Jia would never accept me unless it would benefit him somehow."

"Do you think he's right?"

"Yes. It doesn't bother me though. I was fully aware of the fact that he would never really want me. But I hoped nonetheless."

"Lotus, Kenimin told us you were well educated. Why don't you go somewhere with that?"

"I can't. My father asked of me to do this, to marry Jia and be his wife. And now Jia needs me to go against my father."

"When your father passes away...and if Jia were to give your a divorce?"

"I would accept it. I would have nothing else to do. I couldn't object to his wants."

"What about what you want?"

She didn't say anything as I then went into my pockets and took out my cigarettes as I said,

"You don't mind if I smoke do you?"

"No, it's okay."

So I lit one and then leaned against the door. After a while of her sitting there, she got up as she went to the bedroom and turned on the TV and laid down to watch until she fell asleep. I just stood guard, every now and then getting a call from Jia to see how things were going. I spent the night stand guard, one of the most boring things to do. Around three in the morning, Jun called and asked what room number I kept Lotus in, saying he was coming to relieve me. After I told him and waited for fifteen or so minutes, Jun came and took over for me while I went to get something to eat.

The next morning, after getting a little bit of sleep, I was called in. With my pocky in my pocket, my MP3 player in my ear, a can of Boss 7 coffee in my hand and a cigarette in my mouth, I went to Jia's building. I was yawning the whole way there even tough I tried not to. When I got to Jia's office, I saw everyone else had arrived as well. Accept Akio who was never on time for anything. I took a seat beside Mikkie as I smoked and Jia did as well. Toki was sitting on the corner of his desk, smoking as well as he had another shirt wrapped around his head like a bandanna, his khakis on low again with a fitted white shirt. Everyone else was in their suits and ties, even me as I leaned back against the wall, drinking my coffee. Jia was waiting for Akio to get there so he was just talking to Tai and Gabriel about Hong Kong before, everyone else talking among themselves. I just relaxed by myself, having my coffee, finishing my cigarette as I ate a stick of pocky every now and then. After ten minutes, Akio showed up, apologizing slightly as Jia had his cigarette lit and said,

"Well finally, now that the Playboy graced us with his presence, we can begin."

We all turned to look at him. Mikkie and myself standing up to face Jia as Jia said,

"Okay, Kenimin is pissed off, but he can't do much because I have his daughter."

"What you mean you have his daughter Li?" Said Toki.

"She's at the Imperial Hotel. I made her stay rather her going back with Kenimin the other night."

Toki rolled his eyes as Jia continued.

"Stephen is in Vegas, doing fine, Sozaburo's contacts have been watching him and he's not even doing anything illegal. He just wants to get away from everything having to do with his father. Now with everyone else dead and Kenimin himself dying, I'll be able to control Hong Kong before any other triads get the idea to do it themselves."

"We are well set and prepared." Said Tai.

He swept his hair back, the dark brown highlights spilling forward as he did that and then adjusted his white full length coat and said,

"Everything in Hong Kong is starting to pass over to you anyway. A lot of Kenimin's lower heads have left him out of fear because money can't hold you up against death. Only those that worked for Kenimin for a long time are staying around. But they see that his own kids were killed so they fear for their lives and family as well."

"Then all we have to do is lay back and wait for Kenimin to die and I'll be good." Said Jia.

Gabriel then tucked his hair back as I noticed he needed to get his roots done soon, as he said,

"What of Lotus now?"

"I'm keeping her here for the moment. Once things with Kenimin settle, I'll divorce her."

Toki got off the table as he leaned down and hugged Jia around his shoulders, kissing his cheek. Jia laughed slightly as he said,

"Toki, get off me."

"I love you."

Jia smiled slightly and almost got caught up in the moment before he cleared his throat and moved Toki's arm back as he said,

"So with that, we just have to watch out for Kenimin, make sure he doesn't try anything stupid. I'll have the lower heads watching him while he's here."

Jia then dismissed us as I finished my coffee, my cigarette long finished as I reached into my pocket for more pocky. I took out a stick as I heard,

"You eat all that crap and never gain an ounce."

I turned to see Akio walking towards me. I bit into it as I said,

"Hey stranger."

"Hey. How you been?"

"You know...around."

"I'm sorry I haven't been calling you lately."

"I understand."

"Nah, you don't see it's that-"

"Akio...relax. I know.

And I did know. I knew the reason Akio gradually got distant from me was because he had me, fucked me and was now bored of me. He was the Playboy, needs new things, new conquests. It wasn't a shock and there was no need for explanation. I didn't even care anymore. I then said,

"I'm gonna go find Hisoka, see if he's going on this assignment. What are you gonna do?"

He looked amazed at first, as if no one ever took THE Akio's rejection so lightly. He then collected himself as he said,

"I'm gonna see if Jia needs anything."

"Okay, later."

He went off to work and so did I.

I found Hisoka later before he left. I noticed how handsome he had gotten. Each time I see him he just seems to look better. His still soft sandy colored hair grew over part of his face, longer in the front then in the back, one green eye peering out as he wore his usual suit and tie. We talked for a little while as he was getting ready to leave.

"I have this assignment."

"I heard."

"What about you?"

"I'm off for now.

"Lucky."

"Yeah, but when you get back give me a call okay?"

"Sure. I'll see you later Jo."

"Later."

He smiled, going on his way as I was left alone for a while. Since Miya no longer wanted to see me, Akio and I were now just friends and I was in Tokyo, not New York, I decided to go get a drink. I sat at the bar for a while, drinking away, thinking a little. I hated to drink alone because the more I thought, the more I drank. I kept thinking about how I kept fucking things up with Miya and how I probably fucked things up so bad now there was just no repairing it. I had lost him for good. No more Miya, no longer my tsuki...hadn't been for some time. It's so stupid of me to take pleasure in minute moments when I could have had a lifetime of it. I love my tsuki, more then anyone, more then anything. And probably, over time, when I grew out of my stupid, hard headed ways, I probably would have quit, retired from the syndicate and just been with my tsuki. But no...I had to have things my way, I had to do this first. I was greedy. I was selfish and more over anything stupid. I fucked everything up. And now I was stuck with nothing. I had my job and like so many others, it too would have to become my everything. I had to let it sink in until one day I just didn't feel anything. I started to do that once and I think I would just have to start doing it more often.

After a couple of drinks and wallowing in thought, my cell phone rang and I answered it for it to be Jun.

"What's up. I need you to come in, take guard for me."

"Sure."

I hung up and went to the Imperial where I took over for Jun guarding Lotus. I stood outside, having a cigarette, thinking still, looking at nothing as I thought about Miya. I must have some of Aoki's stupid genes in me. Well duh. But that's not what I mean. I wondered what he was like when he was my age. I don't think he was as smart and smooth as he is now. No one's that lucky. So I might have just inherited Aoki's stupidity in the process...that's just great. Last thing I need was to worry about how I just screwed up my entire relationship because much like Aoki, who was just a lot more slick about it, I can't keep my dick in my pants. I pulled back my hair as I rubbed my cigarette out in the can of soda I had sitting beside me as I leaned my head back against the wall and just continued thinking. This was almost as bad as drinking alone...only I didn't have a drink. I held the empty soda can with my cigarette rolling around in it as I stood guard outside of Lotus's room. A one point, I saw someone coming in from the stairwell and I ignored it, thinking it was just someone going to their room, especially when he turned and went down the hall. I continued looking at my can shaking it a little when I heard something. I looked up as I looked around, seeing nothing, hearing nothing again though now I was listening carefully. Suddenly the lights on the floor went out and I reached into my pocket and withdrew my gun as I pointed into the dark. I heard a shot and the light from the bang lit up the position from where the guy shooting at me was. I fired back, falling to the floor as I stayed there and I reached into my pocket for my blade. I took both out as I heard another shot, the bullet flying over my head as I stayed there. I heard footsteps running closer to Lotus's door and I quickly got up slightly, keeping myself crouched down as I reached up to the knob of the door and held it as with my left hand, I flicked the blade out and waited for someone to touch the knob. Once someone's hand came to it, I lunged upwards, hearing someone groan in pain, their blood slipping on my hand as I shoved them off me and stood up again as I felt someone behind me. I turned, my hand never letting go of the knob as I elbowed them in the face, hearing their jaw crack against my elbow as they fell to the floor. I crouched back down and waited, listening for anyone else. My back to the wall as I finally knocked on Lotus's door. She naturally didn't answer so I put my blade back in my pocket and picked up my gun as the lights in the hallway flickered on and off again before they stayed on. I looked down as I recognize them to be Kenimin's guards from the Black Hand. I turned back to Lotus's door as I knocked on it and said,

"Lotus, open the door."

She opened it slightly as I pushed inside and then closed the door behind me. She gasped, putting her hands to her mouth as she said,

"You're hurt!"

I looked down at my hand as I saw blood all over it and said,

"No, it's not my blood."

I went to the bathroom as I put my gun back in my pocket and washed my hands clean. I then said,

"We're going to have to leave."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure."

Once I washed my hands, I dried them off and then called Jia. I told him what happened as he said,

"Get Lotus out of there and go somewhere."

"Where?"

"I don't know Aka-chan. Go to your place. Make sure no one follows you."

"My place?"

"Yeah I have no idea where you could possibly take her."

"What about yours?"

"That's out of the question."

"Oh...right. Okay fine...my place."

"I'll call you back soon."

He hung up as I turned to Lotus and said,

"You have anything in here?"

"Just some clothes I bought to change into."

"Leave it. Let's go."

She looked around the room for a moment as she picked up her sweater, pulling it over her black tanktop as she got her dress shoes on since she was wearing dress pants. She then followed me out the door as we went. She gasped once she saw the two guards I just killed as I put my arms around her and ushered her out of there as quickly as possible. We took the elevator down as I said,

"We have to go to my place. Jia says to take you there until further notice."

She nodded as tucked her hair behind her ears. Once we got to the lobby, I checked around and then we ran outside. I hailed a cab as we got in and I took her to my place.

It seemed I was forever baby-sitting for Jia and his needs. I didn't mind though. Unlike Ryuhei, Lotus wasn't so sexual. She quietly came into my apartment as I said,

"My room is down there. You can sleep there."

"I wouldn't want to discomfort you."

"No, it's okay. Go ahead."

She thanked me before going to the room and closing the door behind her. I called Jia back and when he answered he sounded tired.

"Jia?"

"Hai?"

"Sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't."

"Oh, well I just called to let you know that Lotus is at my place."

I heard someone breathe into the phone and I knew that wasn't Jia. I raised an eyebrow as Jia then said,

"That's fine, just make sure none of Kenimin's people..."

He paused for a minute as I said,

"None of Kenimin's people do what Jia?"

"That none of Kenimin's people get to her. I know he's probably trying to do."

I nodded as I said,

"We should be safe here until tomorrow. Then what?"

He paused for a long time again before he breathed and said,

"Tomorrow bring her to the building. I have to figure something out then."

"Okay, I'll talk to you tomorrow then."

"Uh huh. Bye."

He hung up before I did as I then leaned back on my couch and watched TV for a while. I had a cigarette as I ordered something to eat. While I waited for it, I went to my room where I knocked on t he door. I heard her soft voice allow me in as I opened the door slightly and peeked in as I said,

"Are you hungry? I just ordered some take out."

"A little."

"You can eat once it gets here. If you're bored you can watch TV out here. You're not a prisoner you know."

"Oh, thank you...I'm fine though."

"Okay."

I closed the door again as I then went to watch TV. Once the take out came, I let her know and we both sat down to eat. She had pulled her hair back and she ate slowly, reminding me of Tsubasa. She then looked up at me as she said,

"Joryu? Is that your name?"

"Yes."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How well do you know Jia?"

"Not very well. He's just my employer. I know he's not a big fan of food, he doesn't like to drink alone. He's smart and knows what he's doing. He's not all about bloodshed either."

"Maybe you know him better then you think."

I gave a small laugh as she said,

"He seems like such a sweet man."

"He's nice yeah...not really mean."

"He's cold sometimes though."

She looked down as I said,

"It's not your fault. Your father put so much pressure on him that he did it more to spite your father."

"He loves his guard doesn't he?"

I didn't say anything for a minute as I tried to think of what to say.

"I could tell. Just by how happy he is around him. How they act around each other. My father doesn't suspect it, but I do."

"They've been friends since they were little."

"All the more reason."

I didn't want to linger on the subject anymore and I went back to eating. Lotus was very pretty, so nice, kind...I admired her for a little while wondering Jia would ever pass someone like her up for someone like Toki. Considering how Toki was. But then again, Jia is a self proclaimed masochist so that's probably why. I didn't feel the need to tell Lotus that Jia was in love with Toki, that they've been together for God knows how long. I just didn't feel like crushing any hope she had any further.

The next day, I took her back to the building where Jia saw her again. He took her tiny hands in his as he kissed her cheek as he said,

"How are you?"

She nodded, softly saying,

"Good."

Jia nodded as he then said,

"My situation with Kenimin is almost done."

Everyone in the office that included myself, Aoki, Aya and Jun looked at Jia surprised as he then said,

"Lotus, could you step outside for a moment?"

She nodded as she turned and left, closing the door behind her. Jia then said,

"I got word last night that Kenimin went to a hospital. Like I said, I'm almost done."