I anticipated the return of Sugihara to Tokyo. He and I still had old scores to settle. But imagine my anger when I found out Jia wouldn't let me be there when Sugihara arrived. I knew he had good reason not to want me there, but all the same, I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to show him I wasn't always going to be dumb and stupid. More over, I just wanted a chance to get Sugihara and made sure he died this time. But Jia said no and he was sticking to no. I tried talking to him about it.

"Joryu, you seriously think I would let you be anywhere near Sugihara?"

"I know what you're thinking-"

"So you know why I'm saying no."

"But this isn't fair on my behave. The first time I was too young, the second I acted out of emotion but now I know what I'm doing, a little older now and there's nothing of emotion here."

"If there was no emotion you wouldn't be so dead set on going."

He took out a cigarette. I sighed as I said,

"It's not a matter of revenge though."

"I know it is."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because Jo, he shot Miya. That's your whole reason for any of this."

"It's not anymore. I haven't seen Miya since that. Or spoken to him or bothered to get in contact with him."

Jia patted his pockets down as he looked for a lighter and then he said,

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why haven't you bothered seeing him?"

"I know he wouldn't want to see me. Not after this. This was more or less the final thing you know?"

"Oh...okay. I need a fucking lighter. Why don't I have one?"

I reached into my coat pocket as I then went over to Jia's desk and reached across as I flicked the lighter on. He thanked me as he had his cigarette and then said,

"So if it's not over Miya why do you want to go after him so badly?"

"He and I have unfinished scores. It's a fact of the matter that he always manages to get to me, making me look horrible in your eyes."

"So you just want to prove yourself."

"I want to prove I'm not as incompetent when it comes to Sugihara yeah."

Jia inhaled his cigarette, thinking for a moment as he then said,

"No."

I really wanted to keep arguing but I knew there was no changing Jia's mind at this point. I had to sit behind.

In two days, Aoki, Toki, Mikkie and Jia went to find Sugihara since Soryo called and let him know Sugihara had left Bangkok. I sat in the lobby like some of the lower heads as I waited for word to get back. Tai said I could go home, but I had nothing to do there either so I just waited. Waiting and doing nothing were the worse parts of being a yakuza. When you had nothing to do, you always felt as if you should be doing something. But there was nothing to be done except wait. I waited for most of the night until three in the morning. I had dozed off on the sofa out of boredom, listening to the lower heads come in and out every now and then. I heard a soft voice and I sat up as I saw Mikkie. He ran his hands through his short hair as I saw Toki arguing with Jun. Jia took off his coat as I said,

"Jia?"

He looked over at me as he said,

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting. How'd it go?"

"Not to well. Sugihara came alone, but he made sure he was well around people. It was hard to get him alone to dispose of him."

I noticed Toki was rubbing his arm, blood seeping through the cloth of his shirt as I said,

"What happened to Toki?"

"Oh, that's what took us so long, after Sugihara departed ways from us, they split up and went to look for him. Sugihara is not an easy man to take down. He and Toki got into a fight."

Toki moved back from Jun as he shouted,

"I'm fuckin fine! What did I just say Jun!?"

"Fine when you get gangrene and your fucking arm falls off don't you dare pick it up and look in my direction because I will take your stupid arm and beat you over the head with it!"

"I'd like to see you try because even with one fuckin arm I'll still kick your ass!"

"Toki!"

Jun and Toki looked at Jia as Jia exhaled as he said,

"Will you let Jun look at your arm for the love of God?"

"Why? I'm fine!"

"Toki! Just let him look! He's the fucking doctor not you."

"Bootleg ass doctor."

Jun rolled his eyes as he then took a look at Toki's arm. Jia then turned his attention back to me as he said,

"I know Sugihara is a dangerous man. He's going to have it rough going off against Toki and Aoki. The only reason Toki even stopped was because he was hurt and Aoki brought him back."

I nodded as Toki said,

"He shouldn't have either! I'm fine."

Jia looked at Jun as he said,

"Well?"

"Not a deep cut. Just needs a bandage. It looks worse then it is."

"See!"

"If you would have let it go though, you would have been worse off because of blood loss. Plus, the longer this stays open, the more risk of infection."

Toki sighed as Jia said,

"Go take care of him."

Toki and Jun disappeared to the basement as Aoki appeared. He lit a cigarette as he said,

"Jia, the lower heads are aware of Sugihara's presence. They're tracking him down now."

"Good. I'll call Nishiki and let him know as well."

Aoki nodded as Jia then said,

"You can go Joryu."

"Okay."

"But if you see Sugihara, you better call."

"I will. I don't need to be told twice."

He then nodded and allowed me to go.

The next evening, I went to the office to see what was going on. On my way there I stopped for a drink, having a cigarette as I smoked and looked out for Sugihara. I smoothed back my hair from my face as the wind caught a hold of it. I put my cigarette in my mouth as I reached up, tucking back a strand of hair that got away as I then checked my watch. I didn't have anything to do, but I shouldn't sit at home and do nothing there either. My walk was pleasant, brisk enough but also calming. It was then that I noticed a familiar swagger not too far in front of me. My first natural instinct was just to get him. But I had learned from past lessons well taught. I took out my cell phone, leaving my cigarette in my mouth as I then called up Akio.

"Hai."

"Akio, I 'm walking not too far from Sugihara."

"Where are you?"

"Ginza District."

"Trail him. But make sure he doesn't see you. We'll be there soon."

"Hai."

We hung up as I was sure Akio would call someone else. I meanwhile trailed him, making sure I didn't loose sight of him as he swaggered up ahead. I vaguely wondered why he didn't walk like a normal person. In a small measure, he reminded me of Ryuhei, recalling how he too didn't walk, but swayed with a switch of his hips. Then I realized both he and Sugihara have curved figures....anyway, I shook my head and returned to the task at hand. I must have followed him for a few blocks, always trailing far enough so he wouldn't notice me, but not so far so I could loose him. Eventually, Akio texted me and I let him know where I was. I then crossed the street, still keeping my eye on him as the familiar silver car pulled up. I saw Aoki driving as he then pushed his sunglasses back down as Akio got out, Mikkie close behind as Toki followed Aoki out from the other side. Aoki tossed me the keys as he said,

"Wait for us."

I nodded, getting in the car as I watched as Mikkie and Akio went in one direction. Toki and Aoki followed Sugihara close behind. I watched from the car until I lost sight of everyone. I sat back, rolling down the windows as I had a cigarette and left my cell phone out on the cup holder as I waited. I didn't bother to turn on the radio or anything just in case I got a call or a text message. I just waited. Pretty soon I heard people running from something, a crowd quickly thinning out as Mikkie opened the car door and got in the back seat. He then said,

"You may want to start the car."

I did as told as Akio then got in. We waited for a minute before Akio said,

"Move up a little."

I drove up the street slightly, following where the crowd thinned out from when I suddenly saw Toki and Aoki. They were both running down the street as they then crossed the street. Cars skidded to stop and not hit them as Toki slid across one of the car hoods as Aoki ran around it. Toki reached the car first, opening the door and jumping in as Aoki slid across the hood of the car and got in the passenger seat. They both shouted,

"Drive!"

So I did. I pulled out into the street and did a quick U-turn before going back towards Jia's building. Aoki took his gun out, removing the now empty clip as I said,

"Well?"

"No go. The fuckin bastard shot off a round first."

Toki reached into his pockets as he got his cigarettes out and Mikkie said,

"So why were you two running?"

"Like we're gonna stick around for the cops to show up so they can fuckin nail us."

I sighed as I said,

"So he's still around."

"Obviously."

Aoki then lit a cigarette as he said,

"We need to get him alone somewhere. But to lure him in..."

I thought the entire trip back to Jia's building.

Once we got there Toki and Aoki explained the situation to Jia. Aoki then said,

"We need for him to be alone somewhere...because public situations area always bad and he's here because he's accepting us to take him down, which is why he's making this harder."

Jia nodded as he said,

"He wouldn't follow a word I said though."

Toki then picked his head up from lighting his cigarette as he said,

"Sugihara is a reasonable man."

"What?" Said Jia as he looked at him surprised.

"He is. He likes what everyone else likes. Ass. Who wouldn't listen to their dick. Especially a guy like him."

I then said,

"You could have Aya bring him somewhere."

They all looked at me as I explained.

"In Yokohama, he hit on Aya. If he could be lured in by anything it would be him."

Jia looked up at Toki as he said,

'You'd follow Aya right?"

"I'd follow that pretty piece of ass anywhere."

He smirked as Jia said,

"I figured as much. But the question is would Aya do it."

Aoki didn't say a word. I could tell he was probably hating me for even suggesting that. But Jia agreed to it so he had no choice. Jia picked up his cell phone from his desk as he then called Aya into his office. A few minutes later, Pretty Aya showed up, his suit on in the elegant manner that only seemed to work for him. His coat was open, no tie around his neck as he tucked back his caramel colored hair. Aoki left the office and I soon followed. I stood outside the door as I watched Aoki go to the elevator and then went downstairs. So I did what I did best...eavesdrop.

"Aya, I was wondering you would do me a favor."

"What Jia?"

"I need to get Sugihara alone somewhere and have him killed."

"And you were wondering if I could lure him."

"Yes. I wouldn't ask but he's making shit difficult. I don't even know where he's staying since he keeps moving around so much. The lower heads can't keep track of him."

"I see. It's under dire circumstances."

"I wouldn't ask unless I really had to. And I want to end this now."

"I understand. I'll do it."

I moved back from the door as Jia went on to explain everything that had to happen.

The next night, Aya was sent out by himself, the lower heads for back up since Sugihara would recognize everyone else. No one was pleased about the situation. Even me. It was wrong for Aya to have to go do this on his own, but then again, he wasn't helpless. Just because he looked frail didn't mean he was. Aoki was not at all pleased with the measures Jia had to take so now more then ever, he took wanted Sugihara dead and done with. We waited almost all night before we got a word from Aya. When he did call, everyone who was there, which was myself, Jia, Aoki and Toki. Finally Aya called Jia and let him know he was on his way back to the building. We waited around for him and when he finally showed up, he had part of his hair over his face, his coat buttoned up and he looked as if he battled him. Jia went up to him as he said,

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Aya nodded as he let his coat go once he stepped inside as we saw his shirt was covered in blood. Jia was about to call Jun when Aya said,

"It's not mine."

"Is he dead?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

"It was a lot harder to convince him then anyone would have thought."

Aya reached up to his face as he pulled his hair back. Near his eye, around the top of his cheek where already the forming signs of bruises. He sighed as he said,

"I managed to get a shot in. But if he survives through the night then he might live on."

"He can't seek medical attention anyway. The police would find out." I said.

Jia nodded as he then said,

"He didn't..."

He gestured as if not to ask did he rape you.

"No. It's why I shot him in the first place because he was making the attempt."

Jia nodded as he said,

"I'm so sorry I asked you to do this."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not seriously hurt."

"You want Jun to take a look at you?"

"No, I'm fine."

Jia nodded as he allowed Aya to leave, Aoki following not too far behind. I was then allowed to leave.

We waited for a week to find out word from anyone on Sugihara's condition. If he lived or died or anything for that matter. News of the incident between Sugihara and Aya spread through the papers, stating how there was gun shots ringing out in the Love District of Tokyo. In a hotel, there was blood staining the floor and bed but who the two occupants of the room where, was not yet found out. But we waited to see if Sugihara had finally died. It seemed at least, that I was not the only one that had a hard time killing him. He was fast, clever and he would do anything to keep his life, even if that included killing someone else in his stead. I was amazed by that and at the same time, annoyed because he was like a roach. He couldn't be killed. It was as if a demon protected him...and it was frustrating to the rest of us that he just refused to die. Finally after about a week and three days of waiting, Hisoka finally came in with the news.

"He's still alive."