head. "No, he won't. We're going out in a group, and we'll take security this time."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
Satoshi smiled. "I'm always nice to you, Cristal."
"Then why'd you send me off with Yi-jun?" She wished he'd stop smiling at her. It made her knees weak.
The smile left his face briefly. "Because he needed you?"
He walked away. "Be ready by eight and wear a dress."
Cristal frowned. "Arrogant dude."
"Ah, come on," Takumijo said, moving into the spot Satoshi had deserted. "It's going to be fun."
If Satoshi was the devil, Takumijo was one of his evil henchmen...a big fallen angel.
"Okay. You don't have to talk me into it. I said I'd go."
Takumijo ruffled her hair like she was a puppy, and then he rose. "And put on some makeup."
"You guys are worse than my father," she said as Takumijo walked away. She got up, gathered her paperwork for the upcoming China promotion she'd been working on and headed out of the room.
Shaundra stopped her. "It's going to be fun. These guys know how to dance."
"And drink," Cristal replied.
"Come on, we'll get all dressed up and show these locals how to party."
Cristal nodded. She did feel a bit stressed and down since she hadn't heard from Yi-jun. "Okay. I think I can dig up a suitable outfit and shoes. We'll do it up right."
"You'll do what up right?" Masaaki asked, entering the room.
"We're going out on the town tonight," Yori answered for her. "Satoshi's idea."
Masaaki stopped in his tracks. "And you didn't try to talk him out of it?"
"No. Apparently we're bringing security, and I can't talk Satoshi out of anything when he sets his mind on something."
Masaaki shook his finger in Yori's face. "Well, I'm counting on you as the leader to see that he stays out of trouble."
Yori bowed. "Yes, Masaaki."
Cristal smirked. Masaaki even had Yori in check.
Shaundra chuckled. "This is going to be fun, watch. Why don't you come with us, Masaaki?"
Takumijo made a face.
"I have plans," Masaaki announced.
"Okay, maybe next time."
Masaaki nodded briskly.
Cristal smiled. Shaundra had Masaaki in check. Cristal high-fived her. "I'll see you guys tonight. I have some more work to do on this promotion. I got to make them impress the hell of the Chinese and the Taiwanese."
Shaundra just shrugged, not having a clue what she was getting so worked up about. Her job was on the line if she couldn't make Aomori a household name in China before their tour. She sighed. Why did she get all the difficult jobs?
By six o'clock Cristal had pretty much decided what she was going to wear...an outfit Yi-jun had purchased for her just before they left Paris. Even though she'd asked him not to, the big lug went and did it anyway. She'd wear it and look good just to spite him for not calling her.
Everyone met downstairs in the foyer, except Ichiro, who had just returned home from an out-of-town business meeting. The expression on his face said he was tired, but he took one look at his wife's excited face and changed his mind and told her he'd meet her there later, after he had a nap.
Now that was love. Yi-jun probably would have sent her on her way, stayed home and got his beauty sleep.
Kenshin had the limousine gassed up and waiting when they exited. They piled in, and about fifteen or twenty minutes later Kenshin parked and assisted all of them out.
There was no way they all could enter inconspicuous, especially with another van load of security accompanying them.
"Come on, let's do this," Satoshi said, taking her hand and leading the way in.
The rest of their group followed them in two by two and met inside. Takumijo entered alone because Takumijo liked to make an entrance. Shaundra entered with Kenshin.
The place was jumping, Cristal discovered after they managed to regroup. Satoshi led her to the dance floor, where they danced to a couple of fast tunes before returning to the table to join the others for drinks.
Takumijo took the liberty of ordering: Shochu, Tanqueray, Patrone, champagne, beer and a soda for Shaundra.
"Let me guess, you don't drink alcohol," Cristal said to her.
Shaundra shook her head. "It makes me a bit wild."
Yori cleared his throat.
Shaundra ignored him. "Plus, I don't know if all that medication I took before I was hypnotized is out of my system yet."
Kenshin, being the youngest, poured drinks for his elder.
Yori poured champagne for Amaya and offered some to Cristal.
"She doesn't drink that sissy stuff," Takumijo said. He