The months rolled ahead. And from that time, other then a few fights, some major arguments and some minor set backs, nothing major happened. Jia was settling back, all the while planning something he let no one else know about. Only Toki knew. I over heard them talking one night as I took them home. They assumed I couldn't hear anything because they were basically whispering to each other and I didn't hear much, just the fact that Toki was being impatient and he thought Jia was waiting too long to do whatever he was planning. Jia said nothing and shut him up by hugging him and putting his head on Toki's shoulder. I didn't bother to ask since I figured no one else was suppost to know. The weeks turned into months and as I did, I found myself not thinking about the shit I use to. My CD collection and stereo started collecting dust, my Ducati, the one thing I called my new lover at some point now sat in a garage, a plastic covering over it, the keys still laying on my dining room table from the last time I tossed them down there. My helmet sat beside it, the leather gloves wrinkling inside of it, my casual clothes also starting to sit in the back of my closet. My appetite also diminished and I started surviving on a cup of coffee or a drink all day, only eating when someone reminded me or if I felt the need to. I smoked a lot more so instead of food, I found myself holding a cigarette more often. I started carrying an ashtray in my apartment since I couldn't keep still sometimes. As a result of me not eating, but walking, running a lot more, I lost a lot of weight but gained some tone. I didn't speak to Akio as much anymore. He and I gave each other the occasional head nod, made small talk but it seemed as if we only spoke because we were cornered into it like if we were in the elevator, or in the office by ourselves. It was more of a business relationship now. And finally, everyone stopped calling me Aka-chan. Even Toki who had given me the name originally. Akio didn't call me Baby-chu anymore either.

I picked up some skill by hanging around the business heads more. Mostly Tai since he seemed to be the only one with his head on straight and not constantly thinking about sex twenty-four hours a day. I hung around him, listening to him when he spoke, when he designed some new plans. When he went over accounting, numbers, books from Jia's establishments, I listened and learned. He didn't mind me being there because I helped rather then get in the way. He and Gabriel, who I now knew had an intimate relationship didn't even seem like it when they worked. They kept their distance from each other, spoke only about business and even when they were alone, I was sure they would at least take the chance to look at each other, or sneak a touch or sweet word but they only worked. Which was all new to me from hanging around Jia and Akio so much. Anyway, one evening, Tai was finishing up the last of the account that Toshimasa's casino had brought in. Since Jia and him cut a deal, Toshimasa worked for the 36 Moons as an outside contact much like Takeo did in New York. Tai was now working on the last bit of the account as I sat on the other side of his desk. He had sent Gabriel home ahead of him saying he would be done soon and not to wait because he knew Gabriel was tired. As for myself, he didn't send me home because he knew I wouldn't listen anyway. I sat there, reading over the account number, seeing Jia was far more then rich...he was like a billionaire...he could literally buy anything he wanted. I suddenly felt so poor. Though I realized that was probably our paychecks mostly. Anyway, I was doing that when I heard Tai say,

"You look sick."

I put the paper down as I looked at Tai, who was still working. He didn't look up or stop working as I said,

"Excuse me?"

"I said you look sick. Like you lost a lot of weight and you weren't that big to begin with."

"Oh, I know."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Haven't been eating much."

"You're getting to be like Toki."

"I guess. It's okay though. I don't feel hungry as much anymore anyway."

"I see."

I didn't say much, I just went back to reading as Tai said,

"You changed."

"I have?"

"Yeah. You don't seem like yourself anymore."

I shrugged, not really knowing how to respond to that. Then I said,

"Seems like myself was getting me into trouble."

"I see."

He finished up, closing the folder as he stood to his full height and then said,

"You're becoming too much like everyone around here."

"I thought that would be a good thing."

"Not in your case Joryu."

I sighed, standing up as I left the papers on the desk and said,

"Well, Tai, it's better for me this way."

He nodded, leaving it at that as I pulled up my coat and finally went home.

The next afternoon, Jia called us in to let us know he was heading to New York for a break.

"I've got partners there I haven't seen since the new year so...I'm going there for a while since things are calm. If anything should happen, you all know what to do, plus Tai is in charge while I'm away."

He paused to light a cigarette as the office door opened and closed and much to everyone's shock, Mikkie stepped in. The shock was that Mikkie's once strawberry blonde waist length hair was now gone, replaced by short semi-spikey black hair that barely reached the top of his eyes. He didn't seem to surprised by it as he looked at us as he said,

"What?"

Even Jia was surprised to see him like that as he stopped his actions of lighting his cigarette as he then cleared his throat and said,

"Anyway, I'll be gone for just a few weeks at the most. So, all of you, be on your best behavior while I'm away."

Everyone gave slight laughs as Jia then dismissed us. I walked with Mikkie as I said,

"That's a change."

"It's just hair. Not like it won't grow back."

He ran his hand through it and he seemed different as well, like something had been taken away from him. As long as I've known Mikkie, he always had long hair, be it black or blonde. He told me some months back that he would cut it soon and he did trim a few inches off but now he just got rid of it all. He looked more grown up almost, but his eyes still told the same story. Cold, evil, malicious, face of a child but all the more reason to fear him. When Toki came out from the office, he looked at Mikkie for just a moment before he turned and caught up with Aoki. Mikkie didn't even notice since his back was facing the door. I saw it though and it seemed as if Toki didn't even care about him anymore. Had he moved on? My guess was that, yeah he finally did.

Jia and Toki then headed off to New York while the rest of us had free time. I started to hate any free time I had because it left me bored. I thought about cutting my hair off as well, but the most I did was trim it to my shoulders so it wouldn't fall over anymore and then I sat around and did nothing. I hung out with Hisoka for a while, getting to know him better since he was the only one I really hung out with nowadays. He asked me what happened to my bike and I just said,

"It's stored away."

He nodded, smoothing his blonde hair back as he said,

"You seem more quiet lately."

"I know. Just tired I guess."

"For almost a year?"

"Not even a year Hisoka."

"Close enough."

I shrugged, taking a drink from my glass as we had dinner. I barely ate, most of my dinner was still on my plate. I just concentrated on having a drink. Hisoka then peered up at me, one green eye visible as he said,

"How did you spend your holidays?"

"Drunk."

He shook his head slightly as I said,

"What? I did. I had nothing else to do."

"You're so young to be like this."

"So everyone tells me. Yet my youth was not an excuse for me fucking up."

"You didn't fuck-"

He stopped himself as I looked at him with one eyebrow raised, waiting for him to say I didn't fuck up that badly when I know I did. He then sighed and said,

"You barely ate."

"I'm not hungry."

He shook his head at me again as I said,

"Will you stop shaking your head like a disapproving parent please?"

"Sorry, I just knew you this different person two years ago."

"So everyone keeps telling me."

"You have changed though Joryu."

"I know."

And I have, but I don't sit there and recollect everything anymore. I didn't have time to.

During my time off, I basically stayed home. Doing all the things I did before no longer called my attention. I didn't want to go for a ride, call Akio, go shopping, eat or think about Miya. I even left Gravitation where it was, not bothering to finish the series. I didn't want to leave my apartment unless I really had to. The thought of having fun didn't even enter my mind anymore. After three weeks, Jia came back from New York letting us know everything was fine and things were good. And finally, anything Jia was planning, he finally let us know what it was.

"I have a few syndicates in my power and I never threw my power around unless I really had to. But now I will. I want Sugihara delivered to me and the Teo Chiu won't give him up."

Tai nodded as he said,

"The Teo Chiu wouldn't dare. He makes them money in some form or another. And us being in Bangkok will draw attention to the Teo Chiu in a matter of hours."

"I know this Tai. But I plan on going there and making my presence known."

"Why? It's dangerous and unnecessary."

"I have more power then before Tai. I have the Black Hand, Japan, New York...and so on. What's a little tiff with the Teo Chiu going to effect me."

"You would underestimate them?"

"Never. I learned that lesson a long time ago. All I am saying is, that I will not walk into a battle with them unprepared."

"So you are prepared."

"I'm more then prepared. I have scores to settle with Sugihara for trying to come into my territory and we weren't even done from last time."

Tai nodded as Aoki said,

"We'd be dealing with the Teo Chiu head on if we travel to their land."

"I'm aware. But I'm not stupid. I'll use the same tactics Sugihara used on me. He came to Japan to lure me to Bangkok so I will use the same thing on and lure him to Japan. Only this time the moment he sets foot on my land I'll kill him."

Toki sighed as he said,

"Who the fuck is gonna go to Bangkok now Jia."

"You are."

He tapped Toki's nose as Toki said,

"I hate Bangkok."

"You hate everything."

"I just hate Bangkok all the more."

Jia smiled slightly as he said,

"Also, Aoki you'll come with me and for some leverage, Mikkie you too."

They nodded as he said

"The rest of you can stay here. Be prepared for our return."

He then dismissed us as I went down to the lobby and just lingered around, having a cigarette as I wanted a drink. I pulled my hair back from my face as I heard Mikkie say,

"You should have gone."

I looked over at him as he sat down in the sofa across from me. I then said,

"Gone where?"

"To Bangkok. You deserve to. Sugihara caused you more damage then any of us."

"Jia wouldn't dare send me. Not after my two major screw ups with him."

Mikkie nodded as he then said,

"What about when we return?"

"I guess that would be different. Though I'd have to wait and see."

Mikkie nodded as he got up and checked his watch.

"I have to go."

I nodded, watching him go as I then got up myself and went to see if Tai needed anything.

Jia then left for Bangkok with Toki, Aoki and Mikkie while the rest of us waited for the events to unfold. Only short of a week, everyone returned. I picked Jia up from the airport Friday night as he said,

"We should expect Sugihara here soon enough."

And with that Jia walked outside as he lit a cigarette and then got in the car