After being chased down in the streets of Tokyo by a bunch of mad men trying to kill my boss, I was a little paranoid about driving. Plus, the next morning, the car was surveyed for damage. Akio looked at it as he walked around it and said,

"Man, what's this the third or fourth car you wrecked?"

"I did NOT wreck it. Or the others."

He laughed. I frowned. Another car lost. I sighed as I said,

"I love this car."

"You love anything that moves fast."

"I haven't felt it in a while."

Akio didn't say anything as I smoothed my hand over the scratches on the sides of the car and then stood up to my full height and stared at the broken back window. I then said,

"We'll have to get another car. This can't be repaired."

Akio nodded as he lit a cigarette and said,

"I guess so. What kind would you want?"

"Why me? I just drive it."

"Well you know about cars."

"I love a Bentley for style but I'm more incline to something for speed. Maybe a BMW Roadster or something."

He laughed as he said,

"You need something in between."

"I know. I guess I'll just ask Jia or something."

He nodded as I then said,

"I'm going up. You coming?"

"Nah. The guy who's coming to pick up what's left of the car is coming buy. I gotta talk to him so you go ahead."

"Okay."

I went inside as I lit a cigarette and saw Aya on the couch, going through the paper as he tucked his hair behind his ear. I went over to him as I said,

"Hey."

He looked up, his hazel eyes catching the light perfectly to make them look like amber as he said,

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

He nodded, letting me know he was fine. I then said,

"What are you looking for?"

"News on us. If we can stay out of the news, then that's always a good sign."

"Are we out of the news?"

"Other then speeding cars in the middle of the night, yes, we are out of the news."

He closed the paper as he began to fold it up again. Once he was done, his hair had fallen over his ear and surrounded his face again as he looked at me and then tugged on a loose strand of my hair as he said,

"Cut your hair. You look like Aoki."

I wasn't sure to take that as an insult or a compliment since it was coming from Aya. I then said,

"I like it this length."

"Then at least dye it a different color."

"You don't like the way it looks?"

"I do, but you're gonna get me in trouble. I might confuse you for him one day."

He gave me a wink as he stood up and began walking to the elevator. I felt like celebrating...Aya just flirted with me.

I later went to see Jia and let him know the total damage and he didn't even let me finish as he said,

"Just get a new one."

"What kind?"

"Whatever you want."

I gave a slight smile as I said,

"Jia...are you sure?"

"Hai. I don't have time to pick out a car so you do it."

"Okay."

Aya then said,

"Jia, he should have some knowledge of the dummy books we keep for things like the car and whatnot."

"Right...fuck I forgot about that."

He paused to think as he looked up at Toki and said,

"Toki you go with him."

"Man, it's a car. You tell him what he needs to know an he can do it. He's a big boy."

Aya sighed as he said,

"I'll go. Jia are we finished?"

"Hai."

Jia dismissed us as Toki got up from the desk and walked around, telling Jia he would be back later as he went outside with us. I then said,

"We have a different name we buy the car under right?"

"Hai. That way it goes under different names, we right it off as company cars and-"

He stopped as he looked beside him and smiled slightly and said,

"Toki...let go of me."

Toki smirked as he said,

"Soft and firm...like always."

He walked ahead, his hand sliding from around Aya's ass. He then turned around for a moment as he said,

"Akio still downstairs?"

I nodded as he said,

"Good. Be back soon."

Toki then went to the stairwell as he left. I looked at Aya as he sighed and said,

"Anyway..."

"Don't you care?"

"About?"

"That he just basically copped a feel off you."

"Actually it wasn't a feel. It was more like a grope."

I then shook my head as he said,

"I don't mind. I'm use to it from him. Anyone else would loose a hand."

I laughed as he continued explaining to me what I needed before I went to buy a car. I was somewhat excited at the prospect of buying a car for the 36 Moons. I knew it had to be for style yet at the same time have speed. Japan was known for it's style in killer cars and more over, speed. I loved speed. There was a point in my life where that's all I cared about. Going as fast as possible and getting away with it. So much so I bought a Ducati that now sits covered in plastic. I gave all that up when I moved on with myself. Yesterday though, I remembered why I loved the speed. I recalled scenes in New York at the Strip, watching as suped up cars raced, spraying NOS into their engines as they flew like blurs down a street. I remember thinking I had missed my calling. I thought of all this as I checked over Integras. I wasn't sure which one to get. Every other color that was bought was silver. Or black. I liked both and neither drew as much attention as say a red one would...or wouldn't as plain as a white one. I stuck with tradition in that sense bought a silver one. Once it was bought, all the paperwork filed under the dummy name like Aya had taught me, I brought it back to Jia's building. I stared at it for a while and since I had nothing better to do, I decided to supe it up. I educated myself on mechanical parts all that afternoon. By late that night I was on my back, under the car or under the hood just making this thing go faster. Akio finally came in as he said,

"What are you doing?"

"Workin on the car."

"You know, we can employ someone for that."

"I know. But I'm here...I didn't have shit to do all day. So...here I am."

He looked at me as if he was disgusted as he said,

"Well there goes that manicure I paid for."

I looked down at my hands as I noticed they were covered in grease. I shrugged as he said,

"Anyway, Jia wants you upstairs."

I nodded, picking up the towel I brought along with me as I started wiping my hands clean. I left my jacket in the car since I couldn't put it back on with dirty hands and left my hair where it was...tied up. I went upstairs, still doing my best to clean off my hands. I got to Jia's office and knocked as he allowed me in. He turned and looked at me from his chair as he said,

"Did you get the car?"

"Hai."

"Why are you a mess?"

"I was working on it all afternoon."

"What did you get a used one or what?"

"No, it's new. I just decided to make it better."

He sighed slightly as he said,

"Anyway, I was ready to leave. Where's Aoki?"

"I'm...not sure. I was in the garage all day."

"You know, we could have employed someone for that."

"Akio said the same thing."

"He's right. Anyway, go clean yourself off and then go find Aoki so I can leave."

I nodded as I went to the rest room and washed my hands off as best as I could. I still had some dirt under my nails but it didn't matter. I then took down my hair, smoothing it back as I then adjusted my shirt. I was glad nothing got on it as I buttoned it back up and got my tie back on. I then took out my cell phone, or rather, went to when I realized I left it in the car, in my coat. I sighed as I ran inside the stairwell and began running down the stairs. I got to the lobby as I pushed the door out and ran out, running across the lobby until I got to the other side. I got to the car I was done working on for now as I grabbed my coat from inside, got it on and then got my cell phone out. I called Aoki to let him know Jia was looking for him and he said he would be right there. I hung with him as I went back upstairs. I met Jia outside of his office as he got his coat on, Toki beside him yawning as he rubbed his eyes. I looked at him as I noticed he had a strange smell coming from him. It was almost feminine....like...vanilla or something. I then said,

"What are you wearing?"

"Huh?"

Jia shook his head as he said,

"Don't mind him, he was at Sakura's Touch all fucking afternoon."

Toki rolled his eyes as he said,

"You where here. You were fine."

"That's not the point Toki. You always leave when I say don't and you stay when I say leave."

"Man, I was at Sakura's Touch, you act like you didn't know where I was."

"That's not the point Toki!"

"God damnit Li, you wanna start this shit now!?"

They both looked at me as I widened my eyes and then looked off to the side and started picking imaginary lint off my coat. Toki and Jia then stopped as Aoki appeared. He was lighting a cigarette as he walked out of the elevator and then said,

"Okay, let's go."

We all then left. They got in the new Integra I just bought as Toki slouched back in the seat and sighed. Li sat beside him but not in his usual close place. Toki put his arm around him as he whispered something to him. Jia sighed as he nudged him and then leaned his head on his shoulder. Aoki rolled down the window as he exhaled a cloud of smoke and I started up the car. I drove them back to Jia's building, the ride was peaceful, my mind more on how the car handled. Every stop light that I didn't manage to pass, I kept checking, making sure no cars where near us and ones that did get close, everyone had their hands on their guns, ready just in case. When we finally got to Jia's building, they both got out first as Aoki then did. He looked around as he followed Toki and Jia inside the lobby. I waited until they got out of my sight before I pulled off and started going back home. Once I got to my apartment, I parked the car and started going upstairs. I got inside the lobby and pressed the button for the elevator as I yawned, checking my watch. I wondered what was going on with the Teo Chiu as of lately since they were quiet for a few. I know they hated failing and they were doing it consistently. As the elevator opened, I got inside and pressed the button for my floor. I waited, humming to myself, looking at my dirty hands again as I decided I would do harder work on this once all this shit blew over. The elevator stopped and I walked out to my floor. As I started taking out my keys and I reached my door, I noticed it was slightly open. I stopped and took out my gun instead. I then walked slowly to the door, crouching down as I then leaned against the door frame and listened for anything. Once I was sure that no one was there, I pushed the door back and looked around before stepping in. I went in and in the dark I could tell something had been moved. I went to turn on the lights and once I did I felt someone grab my wrist. I twisted out of their grip as I slammed them against a wall and put my arm against their throat, pinning them there and I put my gun to their forehead as I shouted,

"Turn on the fucking lights or I blow a hole in your fucking head!"

The lights flicked on as I was staring back into amber colored eyes. Eyes more radiant then Aya's. I almost felt bad for hurting someone with eyes so delicate looking but the feeling quickly passed in seconds as I said,

"Who are you?"

I moved back my arm from their throat as they said,

"I work for the Teo Chiu."

"That much I figured. What you want with me?"

"I had a job to do."

"And?"

"And it's not over yet."

He shoved me back from him as I looked at him. He was definitely what one would consider a China doll, powdered white skin like Tsubasa, dark red lips, almost as if painted, raven black hair...but he was no doll. He was out to kill my ass so admiration only went so far before I got pissed and when he came after me again, we fought. He wasn't weak as someone would think because he looks like a doll. He was in fact just as strong as anyone I had ever faced. He was always fast on his feet. But I knew the grounds, it was my apartment. So I was able to pin him down finally and I broke those rose red lips. As he coughed up his blood he stared up at me with those radiant eyes as he started rolling them slightly and finally his eyes shut. I wasn't sure if I should just leave him there or to even believe he had really passed out from the blow he received...though I did slam him down to the floor. I slowly stood back up, my gun still aimed at him as I took out my cell phone, my eyes never far from him as I called Akio.

"What?"

"I had a slight mishap."

"Which would be?"

"I got someone from the Teo Chiu waiting for me in my apartment."

"Oh fuck...you okay?"

"Yeah...you should ask him that though."

"I'll be right there."

"Hurry up."

I hung up as I stared at the China doll I just broke. He didn't move at all and for a moment I was worried I might have killed him without even knowing his intention other then trying to kill me. I went through his pockets, removing anything he had as a weapon and then took out his wallet. He had nothing in there such as ID, just a bunch of business cards, some money...well a chunk of money as all gangsters usually carry around and the oddest thing, a small, worn out picture of two children. The picture was too old for them to be his kids...but I could never assume. I put that back in it's place and returned his wallet as Akio came to my door. He came in as he said,

"That's him?"

"Hai."

"You kill him?"

"I don't think so..."

"You guys fought huh?"

He grabbed my chin as he turned my head side to side as he said,

"He got a few shots in."

"I didn't go down without a fight."

"You didn't go down at all."

Akio knelt down as he felt for a pulse as he said,

"Yeah he's alive. How long he been out?"

"Since I called. Like fifteen minutes?"

"I see."

Akio then stood up as he called Jun and then Gabriel.

After a while, Jun and Gabriel arrived. Jun and Akio picked up the China Doll from my floor as they rested him on the couch and Jun checked him.

"I think he's got some sort of head injury. You must have smacked him pretty hard Jo."

"Actually, I didn't. We fell to the floor."

"Surprised that didn't break his neck."

I shrugged as Gabriel said,

"So if this is one of the Teo Chiu's and he was sent to kill Jo, that means others could have a pretty good idea of where the rest of us are."

Akio looked at Gabriel as he said,

"What us? You're either at the office all day or with Tai regardlessly."

Gabriel cleared his throat as his pale face flushed to a soft pink before he said,

"That's not the point. The point is, that if the Teo Chiu know where we all are, then it's not stopping much from getting to Aoki, or to Jia."

"True." Said Akio.

Jun then clicked off his small flashlight he used to check the China Doll's radiant eyes as he said,

"So someone call and check. By the way, this guy will be out for sometime. The knock to the head made him pass out for sometime. Once he's up and about again, he'll be disoriented, but better. And he'll also be pissed."

I shrugged as I said,

"What's another head of the Teo Chiu after me?"

Gabriel then said,

"Where should we leave him?"

"On a roof top somewhere, I don't care. Just not here." I said.

Akio laughed as he said,

"He's cute though. Maybe we should let Toki have his way with him."

Gabriel shook his head as Jun rolled his eyes and said,

"God that's disgusting. If anything, we'll take him somewhere like a hotel and just leave him there."

"Okay. Let's go then."

Akio and Gabriel got him up and carried the China Doll out. On their way out, Jun turned to me as he said,

"You shouldn't stay here. If one of the Teo Chiu knows you're here, it's not too far that others will know."

I nodded and gathered some clothes and my usual items before I headed out.

I checked into a hotel and slept for a total of six hours. When I woke up, my head hurt like a bitch and my cell phone was ringing. I reached over to the night stand as I answered for it to be Aoki. He was calling me in. I said I would be there soon and got up and got dressed. On my way out the door, I took out some aspirin because my head was just killing me and I swallowed them as I leaned down over the sink and took a gulp of water. I then left and went to work. At the office, my head was still hurting and the pain wouldn't stop. I had been randomly feeling good and bad recently and I had no idea why. I stood against the wall, my head going in and out of circles as the room moved without me. I listened to the situation as Tai explained how one of the Teo Chiu had found me out.

"I don't know this sixth one. He was new to me. I'll have to do a check on him."

"China Doll."

They all looked at me as I looked up.

"I call him a China Doll. He looks like one. People like that aren't hard to find."

Jia nodded as he said,

"Where was he dropped off?"

"Love Hotel District in Shibuya." Said Akio.

Toki then looked up as he said,

"Why wasn't he killed?"

"Better not to. The Teo Chiu keep failing at every attempt so far." Said Jun.

Jia nodded as he said,

"This will piss them off more that their China Doll failed like the others. There's two others left correct Tai?"

"Hai. The heroin addict is being tracked down as of now. The others shouldn't be too hard after the China Doll."

That night, though my head ache had gone down some, though still lingered, Toki, Akio and myself were assigned to search some clubs for the junkie Tai managed to track to a location. I was tired and my head was still hurting but I was way past my point of complaining. I drove us to the club scene and we went inside. I almost fell to the floor in agonizing pain from the loud music, the incisive beat and the driving bass. I went to the bar for a drink as I decided to pop more aspirin. I sat at the bar and took a gin and tonic with my pills, though not the smartest idea. I needed something to stop the pain. I sat down for a moment, holding my forehead up as I felt really warm. I probably had a fever but I couldn't be certain until much later. I finished my drink when Akio came over to me as he said,

"Are you drunk?"

"No, why?"

"You look it."

"Nah, I'm fine."

He gave me another look before he then said,

"Toki found the junkie."

I got up, paying for my drink as we both walked through the crowd. I noticed Toki was in a group of people, surrounded by pretty girls and pretty boys. They all flirted, giggling smiling, holding his drink. It was disgusting because they treated him like a king when he was just a slob that could barely take care of a cat. In that crowd I notice the China Doll. He too was there, mingling with the crowd and pushing up on Toki. The China Doll was more aggersive and got closer to Toki then anyone else. Toki wasn't that stupid...he knew who the China Doll was...but he played along and acted as if the pretty little doll would be a new lay for the night. Just then Akio and Toki made eye contact as Toki moved the China Doll to the front and center of his attention. The small crowd around Toki got the hint and got discouraged as they started to leave. A few lingered around still and looked on as Toki let the China Doll get close, straddling his thigh as Toki reached up to his dark hair and made a hand gesture. Akio then grabbed me as he said,

"Come on."

I wasn't sure what Toki meant but Akio did. With that, we started going to the darker part of the club. The junkies there had broken the lights in a back room to get as little light in there as possible, yet enough so they could see a vein so the could stick a needle in it. Akio and I stood around the area for a while watching, waiting when Akio said,

"There he goes."

We saw him, a lot different then the other junkies surrounding him. He had style and had a girl prep his arm for him as he had a cigarette. As he rolled up his sleeve, the inside of his forearm was tattooed in black flames, Chinese characters and a red triangle. The girl, too stoned to notice any of this, continued prepping his arm as Akio said,

"Wait until he takes his dose."

Once the needle was injected into the tattooed skin, Akio nodded and we began to go forward.

------------------------------------------------

References

NOS- Nitrous Oxide System. A system designed to spray nitrous oxide into the engine, allowing the car to go a lot faster. Depending on the model of the car and the type of engine, horsepower can be shot from 150 to 250 in a matter of seconds. Used mostly in racing cars.

Love Hotel District- An area in Tokyo where a lot of love hotels are located. The biggest districts are in Ikebukuro, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Each has about 40 in clusters in a small area.

-Drug use in Japan in minimal so if there were a cluster of drug addicts using, they would do it in secret and only amongst other junkies, never out in the open.

-The red triangle tattoo mentioned on the Teo Chiu's arm is symbolic since triad, meaning three is referred to a triangle sometimes. It being red comes from an art reference. Also, some heroin junkies tattoo their arms in order to hide track marks.