Alicia was sitting in a chair as Nobori stood in front of her. He had rattled on for twenty minutes about how Alicia was expected to present herself as a member of the Yamaguchi Yakuza Family.

She had gone to him for help in settling the score between her and her old family.

“We can trace our family back to a Kamakura shogun in Japan during the 1100s. We were the keepers of the peace and justice in old Japan. It is our family that presently keeps to the old code of protecting the innocent while corrupt public officials steal from them and let real criminals run free. But our family fled Japan during the war. Politicians are the same in Japan as they are in the United States. You've just witnessed a judge let your family loose after overwhelming evidence they had you molested and abused. After all of that they would consider you a criminal for wanting retribution. Do you see the hypocrisy of the officials in power?”

Alicia nodded, “Yes I understand and I’m sorry.”

“That’s good, Alicia. You thought the police could get you justice and they are unable to. And unwilling. Now you are asking me for help after they failed to give you justice?” he shook his head, “Why didn’t you go to me first. You have a true friend in me. The police and the law courts can't protect you like I can. They won't guard you, but I will. But you thought you had them to guard you so you didn't need Nobori. Now that they have failed, you ask, ‘give me justice, Nobori.”

Alicia whimpered sadly, “Yes, Please Nobori. I trust you more than the courts. They are useless. Only you can give me what I need.”

He smiled at her, “Yes, yes. Do you give me your allegiance?”

“Yes, “ Alicia said.

“Then it is done, Alicia. “

She spoke up boldly, “I have another request to ask of you, Nobori. “

There was no answer. He just looked at her and she spoke, “I want to participate. What ever you decide to do, I want in on it. You know, to go along. I want them to see me there. I want to personally make them feel how they made me feel. “

“Sure Alicia, you can go along but first you need to learn how to handle yourself. Let me make a few calls to some of my friends. They will meet you later today and give you some training in that area. Are you sure about this, Alicia? To go along on a job?”

Alicia nodded confidently. “Absolutely. I want to take part in business of the family.”

“As you wish, Alicia. Now you may go. I have things to arrange and will call on you when I’m ready."

She walked out of his large office wondering what the hell she got herself into now. She walked along the hallway going to the direction of Haruki’s bedroom. The sight that greeted her was nothing she had expected before. The woman was topless and she saw very colorful elaborate tattoos covering her arms and her entire upper body. She was facing her and covered up gasping. “Alicia, I didn’t see you there.”

Then she relaxed when she realized it was just Alicia. However Alicia was embarrassed and started saying, “I am sorry Haruki. I didn’t mean to barge in on you like that.”

Haruki giggled, “That’s alright, Alicia. We are all girls here. We’re sisters.”

Alicia blushed and covered her face. Haruki laughed, “Alicia, lighten up. I am kidding. Now, I am sorry if I hurt you.”

She shrugged her shoulders, “It isn't you, Haruki. Its just, only, I look like a girl, I must be a girl but I’m not a girl. I am a boy inside my head. This look isn’t one I chose for myself. I hope you can understand. I am still Allen.”

Thinking on the issue for a few long minutes she said, “Yes, I understand. That was insensitive of me. Do you know what you need, Allen?”

Alicia looked confused, “No, what?”

“You need a new life. You need to put Allen and Alicia in the past. They are just haunting identities of your past. You have a future here and people that love you for who you are. Boy or girl doesn’t matter. So you’re a boy that looks like a girl but feels like a boy. There women exactly like that. Don’t let it destroy you. Please.”

“I will try hard, Haruki. “

“Do you know what you also need?”

“What, sister?”

“To lighten up and have some fun. Lets go shopping. I was getting dressed to go to the mall. I’m taking you with me now.”

Alicia’s face brightened up and to Haruki, it seemed to lighten up the room in some angelic glow. Alicia said eagerly, “Whoa, thanks. Let me get dressed. “

Haruki laughed “You’re such a girl, Alicia.”

Alicia tried hard but she just started laughing. She liked Haruki and knew it was true. Kathy must have seen it too or she wouldn’t have thought Alicia was better as a girl. Alicia herself disagreed but it must be there for everyone around her to see this.

She went into her bedroom and slide the doors shut. She choose what the thought was appropriate for a shopping trip. She couldn’t stop thinking about that statement, “You’re such a girl.”

Kathy told her over and over again, “You should have been born a girl.”

Haruki didn’t mean it in a mean spirited degrading way the way Kathy did. The meaning behind it was the same. Alicia made a better girl than she did a boy. It didn’t change the fact that she knew better. The fact that she was born a boy, inside it all she felt like a boy and she was perfectly happy as a boy before she was forced to change.

“Haruki can you help me pick something out, “ Alicia yelled out in frustration. “I do not know what to wear.”

Haruki sighed, “I’ll be right there, Alicia.”

She had finished dressing and went over to Alicia’s bedroom to see her looking at several pairs of nylons, trying to decide which one of those to wear and trying to choose out of several tight short skirts also. She frowned at the pair of spiked five inch stiletto heels.

Alicia looked very frustrated. Her eyes met Haruki. She was simply wearing loose blue jeans and a pink sweater with some tennis shoes. She said to Alicia, “Girl, we are just going to the freaking mall, we aren’t going on a fancy date. Lets pick out something casual. I don’t want my sister looking like a prostitute. I think all those will go in a garbage bag when we return. That’s how your former sister dressed you, isn’t it?”

Alicia nodded sadly.

“That is the past. You can wear what you please. “

She helped Alicia choose a pair of jeans and a loose fitting pink tee shirt that said princess on it. Alicia started toward her makeup counter when Haruki stopped her, “Hey stop being so self conscious about your looks. You don’t need to look like a runway model all of the time. I don’t give a damn if boys like how I look. Now lets go. “

Alicia started describing on the way over how her mistress would beat her if a strand of hair was out of place, if part of her makeup was smudged or even if her nylons was on misaligned.

Haruki said shocked, “My god Alicia. I promise you that I will help you put that part of your life in the past.”

“So where do you want to go first.” Haruki asked Alicia.

“I want to get some stuff that doesn’t make me look like a whore.”

“Good. Lets go to some clothing stores.”

Alicia thought and asked, “Can you afford anything?”

Haruki shrugged, “Yes of course. I have a lot of money. “

“From your dad, right? Will he be upset?”

“No, no you silly girl. I have my own job here. It pays me a lot.“

Alicia asked, “What do you do?”

Haruki looked seriously at Alicia, “Do you know what the Consigliere is?”

She shrugged her shoulders, “No, what is a Consigliere?”

She stood in front of Alicia, “Its me. I am THE Consigliere for my families business. That means that in important matters, he relies on me. I represent him in important business, I direct some jobs. That was why when he went to Kyoto this week; he called me to stay with you to keep you safe. Do you understand, Alicia?”

Alicia understand alright. She started looking at Haruki in a new way now. In some way, She know Haruki wasn’t a woman to get angry. This woman commanded a great deal of respect. Her sister was a idiot but this woman had something underneath her. Something really sinister and brilliance. She knew that this was a woman whom she didn’t want to be on her ‘bad side’ She still didn’t know exactly what the business of the family was.

She didn’t fear Haruki at all. She should but she felt perfect safe with the woman. There was something that made her feel, ‘at ease’ with Haruki.

They went to several stores and she helped Alicia pick out several jeans and blouses. They were visiting a nice dress shop when it happened. She saw Arcadia. She was in the arms of a guy.

They were walking in the store and his arm was around her waist. Alicia thought in disgust, ‘She is such a skank.’

Haruki saw Alicia tense up and saw the look of disgust on her face. She looked in the direction and saw it also. “Yes Alicia, I disapprove also of such obvious displays. That girl is a slut. “

She didn’t understand the problem. “Haruki, That is Arcadia. She is a friend of my sisters. She pretended to like me but she liked being mean to boys.”

“What, it doesn’t look like she is being at all mean to that guy.”

Alicia laughed, “He is bigger. Arcadia is a slut to bigger guys. She was cruel to me.”

Haruki called a few guys over that were watching. She whispered something to the guy and he nodded and just stood. Haruki strode over to Arcadia, “Hey, I heard about you. I thought you were my friends girlfriend so what are you doing with this guy, slut?”

The guy started toward Haruki but thought otherwise when one of the men stepped in front of him. The man was tall, very strong and looked very capable of defending himself.

Arcadia said in anger, “Who are you? What friend.”

She motioned for Alicia, “Alicia come over here. “

Alicia wasn’t sure about this but she went over and stood there. Haruki said, “You had sex with my friend here. You called her your boyfriend and now your in this guys arms like a trashy slut. You’re trash. And I’m going to kick your ass right in this store. “

Arcadia was afraid now. She looked around for help but with this woman’s friends here making sure no one did help her, it didn’t seem any help would come.

Haruki said, “You just leave my friend alone for now on or there will be trouble. “ She walked out of the store with Alicia. “Lets go buy you a new sexy dress at another place, Alicia.”

“Sure sis. Anything for you.”

They passed a hair salon and Alicia said, “that is Jennifer's place, Haruki. I have a idea. Can your friends make sure no one comes in. I just want to talk to Jennifer. I will reason with her.” Alicia smiled.

The smile took her by surprise and made her inhale sharply. It wasn’t a smile of menace or shown any ill intent. But it still disturbed her. She nodded, “Alright Alicia. Lets go have a talk with the bitch. “

She walked into the salon and saw several people there getting their hair done. Alicia and Haruki walked in together and motioned for Jennifer.

She saw and wasn’t sure what this was all about. She recognized Alicia but not this other Asian woman beside her. She could only guess the other woman was her new Mistress. She walked over to them, “Can I help you?” She smiled at Alicia, “How are you doing, is this lady your new Mistress?”

Alicia held her anger in check but it wasn’t easy. “She isn't my mistress Jennifer. I don’t have a mistress. I am here to have a talk with you.”

She frowned, “All little sissies need a mistress.”

Alicia asked, “I wonder what your customers would think if they knew what you really did. How you like to beat children. We can talk here in view of them, or we can go in the back and talk in private. This here is my sister, Haruki. She is here to keep me safe. The choice is yours’ where can we talk?”

Jennifer was stunned. She started walking to the back room. They sat down and Alicia asked, “How would you like the police to know what you used this room for. Setting up sexual assaults on minors. Should I make a call? Or how would you like it known that you gave girls hairdos to boys while the boys were tied up. ”

Haruki held a cell phone in her hand. Alicia laughed as the blood drained from Jennifer’s face.

“Okay Alicia, what do you want?”

Alicia said, “The title to your business. You will move away and never come back. "