The next morning I leaned back in my chair with my feet laid upon the windowsill My fedora tilted over my eyes. I was trying to catch a few winks because I didn't sleep worth a darn the night before. The case was like a puzzle. I have the pieces, but not all are fitting together. It's starting to aggravate me a bit. My past cases were no problem but this one felt different. It was hard to explain. But what bothered me the most was the last dream I had before waking, it was another fantasy with me and Kaye. After I woke up, I took another cold shower before coming into the office.

I must have dozed off for a bit because the next thing I knew, I felt someone trying to take my fedora from my head. Without even thinking about it. I reached up and grabbed the person's wrist and opened my eyes. I saw Kaye still having a hold of my fedora as she raised a brow towards me. I let go of her wrist and gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry..."

Kaye let go as she shook her head, "It's fine Kento. I'm surprised to see you here so early."

I pulled my feet away from the window and sat up in my chair. "Yeah, I had a short night so I decided to come in to see about getting some work done."

Kaye studied me, she could tell something else was on my mind. But I was grateful she didn't ask me. I wasn't sure who even talk to her about what I was dreaming. It would have been pretty awkward, the least. "When I was coming in, I noticed the damage to your car. What happened?"

I debated about telling her about what happened last night after I had dropped her off at home. But then I also learned a long time ago, it isn't a good idea to keep too many secrets from a dame. They seem to find out one way or another. I filled her in on what happened. To say the least, she wasn't too thrilled about what took place.

"So, are you going to take them on their offer? I know how much you want to have your chance to fight in the Dynasty."

I laced my fingers together and rested my chin on them, "I haven't decided. The offer they gave me was tempting. But I'm not sure if that's the way I want to have my chance in becoming a legit fighter. Besides, I'd miss my tangles in the streets. Fighting with the strict rules of the Dynasty wouldn't be as fun." I smirked at her as I held back a chuckle while she shook her head in amusement.

"I brought in more supplies for the first aid kit. I thought you'd be hungry so I stopped by and picked up some breakfast."

My stomach rumbled as I woke up a bit more at the mention of food. I heard her laugh at my reaction, I didn't care but Kaye did know me well. I did skip breakfast which was a rare thing for me to do, I guess I had too much on my mind to even think about food. That's when you know things are pretty serious. I waited until Kaye laid my food on my desk and then I readjusted myself as I started eating. I glanced up while wolfing down my breakfast. She was drinking her coffee while watching out the window. It didn't take long for me to finish, "Thanks, I appreciate you bringing me breakfast."

Kaye turned around and nodded, "You're welcome." She walked back to my desk and looked towards my bandaged hand. "How does it feel? Still hurt?"

I brought my bandaged hand in front of me and made a fist a few times. "A little sore, but nothing I can't handle. At least the bleeding stopped. We should redo the bandaging in case." I started to take it apart, but then stopped when I saw her hand on top of mine. I glanced up towards her as I drew my other hand away.

"I'll take care of it. Be right back," Kaye said as she put down her coffee and walked to the front of the office. She brought back the first aid kit and set it on my desk. I studied her. She kept her eyes on my bandaged hand, instead of trying to get eye contact with me. Kaye was being gentle with taking the bandaging off. Her gentle touch gave me a slight shiver up and down my spine. She took the blood-soaked bandage and threw it into the trash. Kaye looked over the stitching the doc did last night. She cleaned the wound and then reapplied the new bandaging.

"Thanks," I withdrew my hand. There was an awkward silence between us for a moment.

"So, what's our next move? Go and talk with Ryo and Sage about what you told me from the conversation between you and Rowen last night? Or go to the Dynasty for another visit?" Kaye asked as she was putting the kit back together.

"I was thinking we should get together with Ryo and Sage. They might have more information for us to go on. But I don't want to meet up with them at the station. I'm thinking someone from the Dynasty might be keeping closer tabs on us from here on out."

"Then I'm guessing your office is off the table as well for a meeting place." Kaye pointed out. "Were you thinking of going back to the Torrent?"

I shook my head as I picked up the phone and started dialing. I waited until Ryo picked up, "Hey Ryo..."

"Kento, hi what's with the early call?"

"Would you mind picking Kaye and me up at the shop? I have to take my car in to get it worked on."

"What happened to your car?"

"I'll tell you later. Look, I know you're busy, but I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

"It's fine Kento. When are you going to drop it off at the shop?"

"In about fifteen minutes. Does that work for you?"

"Yeah sure, we'll see the two of you then," Ryo answered as he hung up.

I hung up my phone and rose to my feet, "Ready?" I walked over to the safe and opened it. I reached in for some cash and then locked it again as I pocketed what I needed. I turned around and faced her. I saw she was ready to leave. The two of us left the office and made it to my car. We got in and took off towards the shop. Every so often we would glance back in the review mirror to see if we were being followed. So far, it hasn't seemed their interest in us this morning was high on their list. Which was fine by me, at least for now. It didn't take us long to arrive. I pulled into the shop and let them get to work on fixing my car. I walked with Kaye to the front of the shop, and we watched for Ryo and Sage to arrive.

It didn't take long for them to show. Ryo pulled up in an unmarked car, Kaye and I got in and then Ryo started to drive. He kept his eyes on the road as Sage looked back at us.

"Care to fill us in on why you pulled us from the station?"

"Does it look like you care? You should have told us. Then we would have been able to have everyone on the same page. Is there anything else you two are hiding from our investigation?"

"Come on Kento. How can you accuse us of hiding information from you? Besides, orders passed down to not to say anything about the feds being in town to anyone."

I sat back and crossed my arms in slight annoyance. I gave a quiet sigh as I looked back at Sage. "Fine, anyway, it seems we are working the same case. Rowen is already inside, while the rest of us are working it from out here. Kaye and I found out about Rowen when we went to the Dynasty a couple of days ago. Man, that place is something."

Sage raised a brow, "Wait, they let you in like that?"

I chuckled, "I told you two the other day, Kaye and I walked in right off the street. Not before we made ourselves look like the parts we were playing at the time. I had a chance to fight Cale in the ring. Of course, I won. After the fight, I asked Rowen to meet us at the Torrent. So we met up last night and exchanged information." I filled in Ryo and Sage on everything we talked about last night. Plus the events which lead up to the meet at the Torrent. I didn't tell them yet about what happened with my car and the offer.

Ryo glanced back at us as he parked, "Did Rowen say what he thought they were up to?"

"Rowen has his suspicions. Nothing concrete, so he's staying undercover a bit longer to see if he can find anything," Kaye replied.

"He must suspect something major going on behind the scenes. Otherwise, I doubt he'd hang around for much longer," Sage suggested.

"Rowen did mention he believes Kayura and the others might be behind the death of the Ancient. Turns out he was going to sell it instead of giving it to her after his death." I informed them as I uncrossed my arms and let them land on my lap.

"Sounds like it's going to be pretty hard to prove. I hope Rowen doesn't get in over his head."

"If anyone can take care of himself, it's Rowen. So you don't need to worry about him, Ryo." I pointed out in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Kento, what happened to your hand, and why is your car in the shop?" Sage asked.

I glanced over at Kaye because I wasn't sure how I wanted them to know how I injured my hand. If they knew the truth, they would never let me live it down.

"He got into another tangle. This guy called him out, and you know how Kento gets about these kinds of things. He took him up on it. The thing is, the guy had a knife and cut Kento's hand." Kaye explained.

To my surprise, Kaye came up with a story on such short notice. I glanced at Ryo and Sage they seem to believe her explanation. It was fine by me. "My car, well, after I dropped Kaye off at home. Anubis and the others decided to get my attention and ram my car off the road. They offered me an opportunity as a new fighter and then Anubis threw a bundle of cash at me to fix the damage."

Sage and Ryo glanced at one another and then back at me, "Are you going to take their offer?"

I shook my head, "No, you don't need to worry. I'm passing on it, I haven't told them my answer yet. Since it happened last night, they're giving me some time to think it over before I give them my answer." I replied.

"Hold on Kento, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for you to take them up on their offer." Sage started to say.

Kaye raised a brow at him, "You can't be serious. Come on Sage, Rowen is already inside..."

Sage raised his hand, "Hear me out, having Kento in would be a good thing. Then the investigation would go faster with two of them inside. When one is busy, the other can look around and find the proof needed to put them away. The sooner Kento gets in the better. We won't have time to give Rowen a head's up, but he's smart enough to figure it out."

Ryo studied me and then looked over at Kaye. He could see she was not so sure about Sage's suggestion. But this was my decision, "So Kento, what do you think?"

"It should work. Besides, Sage does have a point it would be quicker to close this case with both of us inside. I'll do it."

"Kento, they know what you do for a living." Kaye reminded me.

I looked over towards her. I could see the concern laced in her eyes. I gave her a small smile, "I know they do, and it's alright. Which is why I'll let Rowen do most of the snooping. I'm betting they'll keep me busy with training, so I won't be able to look around anyway. I can keep my eyes on the ones on the floor while Rowen does his thing. You have nothing to worry about. It'll work out. Besides, I'll need you to check out some things outside of the Dynasty. This way too, it'll them off of your back."

Kaye's eyes went soft as she looked away from me, "I don't know."

I reached towards her and cupped the side of her face and brought her attention back, "You trust me, right?"

"Of course I trust you. It doesn't mean I have to like it." Kaye replied.

"You know, Ryo and I can leave for a bit, and you two can be alone." Sage teased. He chuckled as we both blushed a bit and I withdrew my hand from her face.

I growled at Sage as I narrowed my eyes at him, he backed off from teasing us anymore.

Ryo started the car, "Let's see if they're finished working with your car Kento. Besides, Sage and I have to be back soon." It didn't take Ryo long to arrive at the shop. He dropped us off and then the two of them left.

Kaye and I walked to the service desk, and I asked about my car. Luckily they were almost done, so we stepped outside and waited for them to bring it around the front.

"Make sure you be careful when you're out there on your own."

Kaye looked at me, "Shouldn't I be the one telling you the same thing? Since you're the one walking into the lion's den."

"I'll be fine. Rowen will be there and we'll watch out for one another. You have nothing to worry about alright." I replied as I was trying to reassure her. If things get dangerous for you, get a hold of Ryo and Sage. I know you can handle yourself. Letting them in on what you're doing will help me feel better in knowing you're safe."

Before I got an answer from her, they had brought my car around and I paid for it in full. We got inside and I drove Kaye back to my office and dropped her off. I watched as she went inside and then I drove home to get my fighting clothes. I got what I needed, plus a few other things then headed to the Dynasty.