Upon returning back to New York, Mikkie brought us up to Jia's office right away. I was jet lagged and exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep, but Mikkie didn't even give us a chance to go to our apartments. I gathered my bag over my shoulder and with Mikkie went to Jia's office. Mikkie knocked gently before hearing permission to come in. I yawned and rubbed my eyes as we went inside. I stood up straight, trying to remain professional as I set my bag down beside Mikkie's as I bowed and said,

"Good afternoon Jia."

Jia turned around from his chair as he rubbed his cigarette out in the ash tray as he said,

"Joryu, Mikkie nice to see you both. How was Seoul?"

I shrugged as I said,

"It was there."

Jia laughed as he said,

"I understand you're both jet lagged so tell me your information and then both of you have the day off to sleep."

Mikkie looked at me as he gave me the go ahead to speak.

"Sung Hyun did in fact kill his wife. His business is also legit which lets him get away with everything."

"A legit business?"

"A straight laced, suite and tie business. Real employees and everything."

Jia sighed as he said,

"Figures. And a real cut throat."

"Does his own dirty work Jia." Said Mikkie.

Jia sat back against his chair, pulling back his hair from his face, thinking for a moment as he said,

"Already has his scars. He won't hesitate to kill anyone that stands in his way."

Mikkie and I looked at each other as I said,

"What would you have me do Jia?"

He smiled at me as he said,

"Willing to jump into the fray already?"

I tilted my head back slightly as I said,

"Gotta start somewhere."

He laughed as he said,

"Okay. Stay in New York. Leave your phone on. If I need you, I'll call you."

I nodded and Jia then excused us both. I picked up my bag after Mikkie and we headed out Jia's office.

I was excited to actually be wanted to stick around. Last time I was just sent back home...but now. I had walked blindly into this, not knowing what to expect but now, I wanted to stay and find out my own limits. As we waited for the elevator to reach the floor, the doors opened and Toki stood inside, a cigarette in his mouth as usual. He smirked at the two of us as he said,

"Going down?"

"Don't start Toki. We're both jet lagged."

"Works for me."

We both got in, expecting Toki to leave but he didn't. He slid up next to Mikkie as he said,

"Ne, Little Ghost, how you been?"

Mikkie ignored him, reaching up to tuck his hair behind his ear instead. Toki smiled as he said,

"Want me to blow in your ear huh? I can do that...among other things."

He actual went to grope Mikkie, but instead, Mikkie shoved him back and said,

"Don't fucking touch me Toki."

Toki laughed as he said,

"Oh, I get it. Not in front of the kid."

Mikkie narrowed his eyes at him as Toki turned to me and I, like a rat up against a wall, backed into it further. He smiled as he walked beside me and said,

"Hey you."

"Hi."

He leaned in close to my ear as he whispered,

"How you like to be fucked kid?"

My jaw dropped as I turned and looked at him and said,

"I'm only eighteen."

"So, you're legal."

He had this predatory gleam in his eye as the bell rang out, indication we were at the lobby. Mikkie grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from Toki as we both got out. As I looked over my shoulder I saw Toki still smirking at me. I quickly turned back around. As we got outside, I said,

"What's his problem?"

"He's a walking hard on."

I laughed as he turned and looked at me as he said,

"I'm serious. All he can do is think about fucking."

"Oh."

"Don't pay him any attention. That's the best advice I can give you. The minute you start paying attention to him, he'll take it as a signal to advance."

"Advance?"

"You're not stupid."

I blushed as I said,

"Are you kidding?"

"His reputation follows him."

We took a cab as I was dropped off at my apartment.

It was my apartment for now. Hisoka was not here so I had it all to myself. When I got to the bedroom I set my bag and looked around, seeing how lonely I suddenly felt. I didn't have anyone to talk to and Miya was probably sleeping since there was that huge time difference. So I changed and went to sleep, my cell phone sitting on the night stand near my head. I was out for the whole day and most of the night. I woke up again around eleven when I had to use the bathroom. Once I was up though, I got hungry. I checked to see how much money I had on me and then changed into some of my clean clothes and then went out to get something to eat. I knew the city by memory at this point so I stopped by a small diner and ate. Afterwards, I decided to go for a walk, memorizing more of the city, sipping on my drink as I stopped to do some window shopping. I checked my cell phone for the time as I kept walking, stopping by 34th street as I passed a Japanese music store. I paused once I saw a poster of Ayumi Hamasaki on the front of the window, standing in green vines with a white dove on her shoulder as the crown of leaves surrounded her head. I felt a little at home all the sudden and decided to see what I could get. I just walked into the small, room like store, seeing a collection of Japanese CD's. I searched the shelves, not looking for anything special until I saw a band called Due le Quartz which is of course Miya's favorite band since the guitarist has the same name as him. I bought that, Glay's single for Heavy Gauge and Luna Sea's collection of best songs. As I paid for it, I heard my cell phone going off and I quickly answered.

"Hai."

"Joryu where are you?"

It was Akio.

"34th street. Buying some CD's."

"Good. There's a couple of Sung Hyun's guys in that area."

"I would imagine since it's Korean populated around here."

I paid for my CD's then bowed as I left the store, the phone to my ear as I put the receipt away in my pocket. I looked around as I said,

"Where at?"

"Jia said not to go alone. Wait for me and Mikkie. We'll be there soon."

"Okay."

I hung up as I walked down the street again, looking around for signs of anything suspicious. Ten minutes later, my cell phone rang again and it was Akio. He told me where he was and I went up to meet him. He was in front of a small store called Opane where some girls were walking causally by him and Mikkie and going inside and then peering out at him from behind the glass door, giggling and turning red as Akio turned and looked at them. I went over to them as I said,

"So?"

Akio turned from the girls as he said,

"We got word they were here, so more then likely around a restaurant or one of those bars."

We went slowly through the crowded area where people just my age or younger were going by in packs of their friends, smoking, laughing talking on their cell phones telling more friends to meet up. I suddenly felt so grown because I was working. We stood across the street from one of the bigger restaurants in the section as we suddenly saw Sung Hyun himself. Dressed in his formal best, Alexandra at his side, all dolled up like a mobsters wife should be. Three guards trailed them as they went inside. Mikkie looked up at Akio and said,

"Sung Hyun is here. Call Jia."

Akio did just that. He explained that not just some of his men where here, Sung Hyun himself was. Jia said to keep a watch out, he would be there soon. So that's what we did. As we waited, Akio kept the girls looking back at him, Mikkie watched the restaurant and I wished I had brought my CD player along. After about twenty minutes, Jia, Toki and Aoki showed up by cab and they stepped out, looking at us as Jia said,

"Where is he?"

I pointed across the street at the second floor restaurant window were Jia looked at Toki as he lit a cigarette and said,

"I'm suddenly hungry. How about you?"

"I could go for a drink."

Aoki smirked slightly as Jia said,

"Okay, let's go get some dinner then. Joryu, Mikkie, Akio you guys hungry? I know Aoki is."

Akio laughed a little as he said,

"Ne, but shouldn't some of stay outside just in case."

"So I guess you're not that hungry. Mikkie?"

"Not hungry Jia. Thanks."

"So, Joryu?"

"I'm starving."

He smiled as he said,

"Come on then."

We crossed the street as we went inside the restaurant, Aoki trailing behind us as Akio and Mikkie stayed outside. Jia led the way, Toki behind him and me behind him. We got the entrance were a waiter stopped us and said,

"Can I help you?"

Jia went into his pocket where he got a hundred out and said,

"Tip. For you if you seat me upstairs."

The waiter gathered some menus as he said,

"How many to the table sir?"

"Three."

We went up stairs, Aoki still lingering behind as we sat at a table. Toki lit a cigarette as he sat down and then opened the menu as he said,

"What is this bullshit?"

"Korean food."

"I'm not hungry. I need a drink. How do you say drink in Korean? Let's see...I fucked a Korean girl once..."

He paused to think as Jia raised an eyebrow and said,

"You fucked a Korean girl?"

"She was half. She had a figure."

Jia laughed as Toki then said,

"Ah, soju."

"He looked on the menu until he found the liquor section and said he would order that. Jia looked around the room as he saw Sung Hyun and said,

"Joryu what are you ordering?"

I looked down as I started thinking. I wasn't hungry since I had eaten a half hour earlier so I said,

"I'm not really hungry."

"Get a drink then."

"I'm only eighteen. In this country you have to be twenty-one to drink."

Toki looked up as he said,

"No shit, for real? How come eighteen is the legal age then?"

I shrugged as Toki looked back down, his bangs shadowing his face as he said,

"Fucked up country."

Jia raised his head back as he said,

"Order a drink anyway. You gotta start drinking if you work for me. There's no such thing as a meal with booze at this table."

I gave a slight laugh and decided to order a drink. Jia then said,

"He's behind Joryu's left shoulder."

Toki causally looked over as he said,

"Alexandra got hotter."

"That's far from important Toki."

"To you maybe."

I didn't dare look over as I said,

"How many people are with him Jia? I saw him with three before."

"Two are there now. I don't know where the third went."

He picked up his cell phone as he started dialing it and then set it back down. A moment later it beeped and he looked at it as he said,

"Akio said no one else is outside. I'll ask Aoki."

He was texting everyone to find out where the third guard was. When Aoki responded, he said,

"He's on the first floor."

The waiter came and took our orders, Jia being the only one eating as they smoked. They also both watched Sung Hyun and Alexandra over my shoulder as I lifted up my water glass to pretend to have a drink when it was really to see behind me. The waiter came back with the drinks and I had to have my first taste of liquor. I wasn't a real big drinker...even with a crowd of girls behind me. I never even smoked. I sipped part of it as Toki smiled and said,

"Good shit. Korean booze can get you nice and wasted."

"Don't get drunk on me Toki."

Toki smiled as he said,

"I won't."

As Jia ate later on, he was texting back and forth with Akio, Mikkie and Aoki to see if any of the guards were coming in or if anyone else was coming in. Then, the problem started. One of the guards recognized Toki. He leaned down to say something to Sung Hyun. I noticed this from my glass as I said,

"Jia, someone recognized Toki."

Jia set his chopsticks down as he said,

"Figures. Toki I can't take you anywhere."

"I know and yet you continue to drag me everywhere."

They exchanged a smile between them as Alexandra turned and looked over at the table. Sung Hyun did not look too pleased. He sent one of his guards over as Toki got up right away stood beside him.

"Mr. Lee would like to know if it would be too much trouble for you gentlemen to leave."

Toki shook his head as he said,

"Can't you see we havin' dinner here?"

"This is Mr. Lee's restaurant."

"Yeah well this is Mr. Jia's fuckin' city and if he don't like he can fuck off and you can tell him I said that."

Toki smirked as the guard narrowed his eyes and then back off as he returned to Sung Hyun side. I by this point had turned around as Sung Hyun stood up, taking Alexandra's hand as he shouted across the room,

"Jia, you have a lot of gaul coming in here."

Jia stood up he said,

"And you got gaul coming to this city Lee."

Sung Hyun simply smiled as he crossed fingers with Alexandra and then said,

"I'll see you soon Jia."

"Not soon enough."

They walked out of the restaurant and Jia sat back down to finish eating. A moment later, Akio text messaged Jia, letting him know that Sung Hyun had left with Alexandra.

We stayed a while longer until Jia finished and so did Toki. I had as well, now having alcohol in my system made me a little tired, but I still felt alert. We walked out of the restaurant and Akio said,

"Anything?"

"Nah, nothing. Lee is up to something."

He nodded as Mikkie then said,

"We'll be looking out for him Jia."

They hailed a cab for Jia as he and Toki got in. After they took off, Aoki left, walking to the subway as Akio, Mikkie and I stayed, about to get a cab for ourselves. As the cab pulled up, I realized that I didn't live too far from here and since I walked, I could walk back. I told them I would be fine and I was going to walk and they warned me to be careful. I nodded, saying I would and started to walk away. I still had my CD's in hand that I paid way too much for when I could have bought them a lot cheaper in Japan but oh well...at least I had something to listen to. I walked about a block away from 34th street to go to my street when I was suddenly stopped, someone got in my way and as I turned, I bumped into someone, I recognized them from the restaurant and without a second flash of thought, I withdrew my gun and fired a shot at the guy in front of me. When I turned, the guy swung at me and we started to fight. I kneed him once before shoving him away and said,

"Come near me again and I'll shot you like your boy there."

He stopped as he said,

"Your boss got a lot of nerve talking shit like that to our boss."

"He knows what he's doing."

I still had my gun raised as I leaned against the wall. The guy kept looking at me wondering what I would do next.

"What do you want from me?"

He looked at me as he said,

"Boss said you were the newest, therefor weakest link. You're the first to die."

I narrowed my eyes as I said,

"Yeah well...your boss was wrong wasn't he."

I shot him without another word and walked away.