Toshimasa didn't wake for the next two days. I had Jun come check on him because I didn't know if he just died on my bed or what and I wasn't about to touch him for any reason whatsoever. Jun checked on him both days, saying I should at least be considerate enough to move him every now and then so his limbs didn't fall asleep. I shook my head, saying I didn't give a fuck if all of him fell asleep I wasn't touching him. On the second night, while Toshimasa took up residence on my bed and I slept on my couch outside in the living room where I had a cigarette, I heard a noise. I put my cigarette out in the ashtray as I got up and went to my room and pushed the door open all the way. I saw Toshimasa sitting up, the pillow had fallen off the bed, taking my cell phone with it which is what made the noise. He looked up at me, afraid for a moment as he said,

"Joryu..?"

"Yeah. How are you?"

"Where are we?"

"My apartment."

I picked up the pillow and my cell phone as I made him lay back down. He didn't want to though and said his back hurt from laying down so much. I nodded as he stayed sitting and I said,

"You need anything?"

He shook his head as he said,

"Why are we here?"

"I didn't know where you lived and I wasn't about to leave you lying on a table in the basement of Jia's building for the past two days."

"Two days?"

"Hai."

"I don't remember much of anything."

"I wouldn't be surprised. You hungry or something?"

"No..thanks."

I nodded, picking up my phone and called Jun to let him know Toshimasa woke up. A little over half an hour later, Jun showed up. He pulled up a chair in front of Toshimasa as he said,

"How do you feel?"

"Like shit."

"Well you look it."

I saw Toshimasa frown and look down slightly as Jun checked his eyes and then his arms. As he checked how everything was he said,

"You know the Teo Chiu pumped you full of something."

"Sedatives."

"What?"

"It was sedatives that they injected in me."

"Why would they inject you with sedatives?"

"So I wouldn't be in the way and I wouldn't hear anything."

"They could have killed you with that."

"I know."

"So how's you get the cigarette burns?"

"It's how they woke me up."

Jun nodded as he then said,

"Lift you knee out."

Toshimasa tried as he flinched in pain. He then shook his head and said he couldn't. Jun nodded as he said,

"Yeah, I figured you couldn't. It's permeant damage."

"What happened?"

"Well whatever the Teo Chiu decided to punish you with, they broke off the side of your knee cap. It continued tearing at your flesh, excess wounds on top of that caused it to rip open. Days without treatment caused an infection to set in and that ate away at you nerves, muscles and all that. So when I finally got to treat you, it was too much damage. Most I could do was clean it out and sew you back up."

"So..I can't walk anymore?"

"Yeah you can. You'll just do it with a limp."

Toshimasa sighed as he looked at his hands as Jun got up and said,

"Anywhere you need to be?"

"No...is Jia okay?"

"Jia's fine."

Jun then untucked his hair as he said,

"Try walking around on that leg. You have to get use to it. If you're in any pain take some pain killers for it. I can't prescribe anything. You should be fine though."

He buttoned his coat up as he left and I was once again left with Toshimasa to baby sit. He didn't say much. He didn't even ask for much. I was a little worried about him but it didn't see like he went through anything too horrible. Whatever chastity he had left seemed to still be his. Jia stopped by that night, his hand still wrapped up as Toki followed him in. Toshimasa and Jia spoke a little about the casino and how about Jia needed to get everything organized now that he had Toshimasa back. Toshimasa just thanked him for not letting him be killed. Jia nodded, saying he would give him a few days to rest and whenever he felt ready to just show up at his building. Jia then got up and said,

"Jo, you could take him home if he wants."

"He hasn't said much about going anywhere. I will take him home though."

Toki then looked at Toshimasa and then me as he said,

"You know Jo's got a thing for pretty young things like that."

"I don't have a thing for anything. I'm not you."

Toki laughed as he said,

"Hey if you wanna fuck Toshimasa that's none of my business...actually it is. You should let me know if he lets you call him Totchi."

I smacked his arm as he laughed and then Jia smirked, pushing Toki out the door as they left. I went back to my room as I said,

"Toshimasa...I could take you home if you want. I know it's not good for you to be here all day."

"Oh...right. Gomen...I didn't mean to be a bother for you. I've been here two days, taking up your bed and space."

He started standing, only he was about to just fall over again so I reached for his hand and held him steady as he said,

"I feel like one leg is shorter then the other."

"Nah, you're not use to it yet."

He nodded as he reached up to his face and swept back his light brown hair as he started to walk. I said I would take him home so I grabbed my wallet and my cell phone along with my keys and gun just in case as I helped him out. He was in pain but he didn't want to say so. I guess he didn't want to be any more of a bother then he thought he was. Once he was sitting in the car, he took a deep breath and I got in. I asked him where his apartment was and soon we were on our way. After parking in front of his building, I got out and helped him out of the car and all the way to his apartment. He didn't look at me but rather at the floor or the wall if he stumbled or flinched in pain. He was embarrassed...but it wasn't like it was anything so serious. But nonetheless I could understand the embarrassment he could have of feeling so weak and helpless. Once he got home, he thanked me and I then left.

Within the same week, Jia called us all in we had a meeting. It was mostly to discuss how things with the Teo Chiu were settled but not over. For the time being they couldn't come into Japan since they already lost a couple of their best and Sugihara was sent back to them full of holes. More over, they really hated Jia now because he walked into their land and managed to take back one of his associates and all Jia left with was a cut on a hand that he didn't even feel with. He leaned back in his chair as he had a cigarette and said,

"Shit is calm but I wouldn't get comfortable in it. Everyone needs to be aware of any of the Teo Chiu coming in and watch for the China Doll. He might turn on the Teo Chiu since he was pretty much afraid of them before."

He yawned as he then smoked his cigarette. As he was about to say something else, there was a soft knock on the door. Mikkie turned and answered as he then looked back at Jia and said,

"Toshimasa is here."

Jia allowed him in as I watched Toshimasa walk in with his usual elegance and even some of his grace. His hair was clean and done again, falling around his face as his eyes were outlined with black. He wore an all black suit, white shirt underneath that revealed his collar bones again, that small pendant floating between them as always. On his lapel, that same red rose that I always saw. To help him balance, he had a cane and he walked slowly. He sat down in front of Jia's desk as Jia bowed his head slightly as did Toshimasa.

"How do you feel?"

"Better. Rested as well."

"You look better."

"Arigato."

Jia dismissed us since he was about to just discuss about the casino with Toshimasa so the rest of us left.

Things did settle a little afterwards. The 24K called to let Jia know that it was Sodom in Bangkok, the Teo Chiu were pissed and knew it had to be one of their own that betrayed them so Jia could get into Bangkok and stay there for as long as he was without anyone noticing. Xiao Tien had skipped out of Bangkok and for the moment being, was missing. Jia wasn't at all too surprised and warned the 24K not to get caught in anything they couldn't handle. But the 24K had a stable set up with the Teo Chiu and as long as they weren't doing anything against them, then the 24K had nothing to worry about. Toshimasa went back to doing his job and although he now walked with a limp, he was still graceful and just as attractive. Even more then so now I think because anytime he just stood normally, his hip would come out to the side as if he was posing. It was very cute. Anyway, things somewhat settled as we watched our backs and waited for all this shit to be over and done with. The 36 Moons had gained a definite enemy now in the Teo Chiu. There was no doubt about that at all anymore. By the end of the months, a silence fell over the 36 Moons and we continued to stalk in the shadows for something new.

Xiao Tien did eventually show up at Jia's door. He didn't want to admit he needed help though. Jia came down from his office to see Xiao Tien as he said,

"Why are you here?"

Xiao Tien then crossed his arms, smoothing back his dark hair as he said,

"I'm fucked with the Teo Chiu. They're threatening to kill me."

"And?"

"And...it's your fault."

"You could have taken my other option."

The China Doll looked at Toki as he narrowed his eyes and said,

"I rather go back to the Teo Chiu."

Jia laughed slightly as he said,

"He's not bad. Better then you would imagine."

Xiao Tien shook his head as he said,

"Look, I'm in this mess and I need out."

"I can't do anything for you. I'm a business man not a charity. You chose to help me."

"With a gun to my head of course anyone would help."

"Not someone like the Teo Chiu. They would have chosen the bullet."

"I'm too arrogant to die by the means of rape and then a gun shot to the head."

Jia laughed again as he said,

"Arrogance is a downfall. Hear that Akio?"

Akio, who was sitting on the couch having a cigarette nodded as he said,

"I heard."

He laughed slightly as Jia then looked back at Xiao Tien and said,

"Okay China Doll....if I do help you...what do I get in return?"

"How much you want?"

"Money is probably the only thing you can't tempt me with."

Xiao Tien sighed as he said,

"What do you want?"

"Ooo...and open invitation..."

He looked at Toki as they both smirked at each other. I could tell Xiao Tien was starting to regret ever saying that. Jia then looked back at him as he laughed and said,

"Relax. I'm not that type of person."

I could tell Xiao Tien was relieved as he said,

"So you'll help me?"

"Hell no. I don't have a damn thing to do with you. You used up your value."

He sighed in a frustrated tone as he said,

"God I almost wish you were that way!"

"You that desperate to be saved?"

"I don't think many people look forward to being killed."

"You should have some kind of honor and at least take your bullet. You did betray the Teo Chiu."

"I already told you, I'm too arrogant to die in that manner."

Jia then sighed and said,

"I'm already in deep with the Teo Chiu myself. You think I should get in deeper by assisting you? Besides, why don't you just do the logical thing and go to the States? You speak English."

"I rather not."

"Don't tell me your in trouble there too."

"I would have to go somewhere like...Florida for the Teo Chiu not to spot me in a place like New York or California."

"Damn...I'm not helping you China Doll."

Xiao Tien dropped his arms as he finally gave up and decided to go to another part of Japan to hide out. Jia didn't care as long as he wasn't getting involved himself.

Things went steady from time to time. Minor incidents that popped up were taken care of, Jia went on with his usual business and we had some free time now and then. I took the time to call Ichiro back in New York to see how he was. Truth be told, I started to miss him. I had not seen him in almost a year. When I heard his voice again, I smiled for the first time in...forever. We made small talk and after making it clear that I wasn't calling for business he said,

"So when are you coming back to New York?"

"I'm not sure. Why? Do you actually wanna see me?"

"Of course I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked."

Someone who actually wanted to see me...it's been a while.

I sighed as I said,

"How's Katie?"

"She's fine. Asking about you nonstop since you left."

"Really?"

"Yeah...I guess she missed you."

I smiled again as I said,

"I wish I could just drop everything and head to New York. Things just calmed down here. I can't risk leaving and then something happening."

"I know. The Teo Chiu and the 36 Moons...the two biggest syndicates are at each other's throats. It's not safe grounds."

"I know. But...what can I do?"

"Just be careful I guess. If anything else, I could just go there."

"You'd come to Tokyo?"

"Sure, you've come to New York I don't see why it would be such a stretch for me to come there."

"What about your niece?"

"It's what she's got a nanny for."

I laughed slightly as I said,

"Let's wait for at least another week. See if anything happens, then I'll tell you if it's okay."

"That's fine."

"What would you tell Karasu?"

"It's none of his business what I do."

"What if Jia or anyone else sees you?"

"Doesn't matter. It's none of their business either don't you think?"

"True."

We continued to talk for a while longer until he finally had some business to attend to. I then promised to call him later and we hung up. I felt a little better, mostly because I was glad to know at least one person wanted to see me and like I said before....it had been a while.

...On any and every account it had been way too long.