Sumi was shocked with the reception they received on arrival in port. She had thought they'd be attacked, but the sight of Enishi, had most of the dock workers saying hello, bowing with respect and others turning away in fear. She could feel that Enishi was also expecting trouble, he had his hands on the knives in his sleeves. Sumi became nervous as they walked down the dock, because there was a number of policemen coming towards them. Her surprise almost made her stumble, when they bowed and welcomed him back. For the most part, Enishi ignored everyone, or so it seemed. His eyes took in everything around them.

"Welcome back sir! We have a carriage coming to take you home. Also tomorrow the Commissioner would like to have a meeting with you."

"Have him come in the afternoon," Enishi said.

Two men came and the police stepped aside, to make room for them too. They both bowed to Enishi. "Boss! We have a lot to report."

"Hu, Bolin, get the crew chiefs together. I want updates on everything. Also any word on Heishin?"

The Chief Inspector answered, "he was taken into custody as soon as he arrived here. We are waiting on your instructions."

Enishi nodded, "I'll discuss things with the Commissioner tomorrow." He turned to the two men, "tonight I want an update."

The carriage arrived and Enishi lifted Sumi into it, before climbing in himself. "Pudong District house."

The horse-drawn carriage moved off and the police followed behind it. Sumi was looking at all the activity surrounding the ships and then the people of Shanghai, as they travelled down the street.

"I think since you're in the thick of it, I should be dressed in something more suitable to fight in," Sumi observed quietly in Chinese.

"At the end of the week, we'll get married. I don't want to wait, nor get distracted by business. Once things have settled, we'll go visit the other houses." Enishi, took her hand in his and laced his fingers through hers.

"Do you want me by your side during the meetings?" Sumi asked cautiously.

"I want you always by my side or in the shadows as you prefer, unless you don't want to. There's no one I trust, but you."

She turned his face and gave him a kiss. "You say the sweetest things sometimes. And yes I'll be by your side, always."

"At home I'll fill you in on my plans and our future."

To her that meant he didn't want anyone else to hear, what he had to say. Sumi already knew he was the Boss of the Shanghai Mafia and controlled the government in that area. She wondered how far his influence reached in China. Whether they lived in a shack or a mansion, mattered little to her, as long as they were together. Arriving at his house, Enishi helped Sumi out of the carriage and they walked through a gate. His thugs that guarded the entrance, greeted their boss and bowed deeply. Opening the front door, they entered. Sumi took in the high ceilings and art on the walls, along with the ornate carvings on the furniture and railings. She had thought he would have a more minimalistic interior.

"Those swords on the wall, are they just decoration or usable?" Sumi asked admiring the art.

"All of them I've used at one point or another."

"I've never seen these ones," she observed.

"Those are German, next are Russian, some are Chinese and you know the Japanese ones. These are British." He pointed to each country's swords. Come upstairs and I'll show you our bedroom and bathroom."

The bed could have fit five full grown men, it was that big. Again the carvings on the frame, were intricate. There was a sitting area around a fireplace and on the mantle was a picture of his sister.

"She's beautiful. Is that Tomoe?"

"Yes. The bathroom is through this door. The bath is European styled, with water piped through to fill the tub. That stopper in the bottom of the tub, releases the water when you're done bathing. This tap is hot water and this one is cold."

"I've never seen anything like it. A very smart design."

"I'll send someone to bring you a few Cheongsam and Manchu fashion pieces. As for your fighting clothing or day to day wear, you can discuss that also with the woman that comes. Order whatever you want and as much as you want. Here, I have an abundance of money."

"Thank you Enishi. Do you want me to get a traditional wedding outfit?"

"Your choice, you'll look beautiful in anything."

Sumi blushed. "You're spoiling me."

Enishi smiled, "you deserve it and much more Sumi."

Changing the topic, because she was embarrassed by all the flattery, she asked, "so what are your plans for our future?"

"Once I know how things have progressed with the Shanghai Mafia's control on salt, opium and weapons, in regards to the government operations, I will work on a way for us to leave this life behind. So we can live in peace."

"Do you want out of the mafia or you're saying that for my benefit?"

"The opium, weapons and assassinations I know are wrong and my sister would never forgive me for continuing all of that. The salt smuggling is something the Chinese government doesn't know about and is to help those who can't afford the salt tax. I might branch off from our main business and appoint someone else to become the boss. Heishin who use to control the opium in Tientsin, was supposed to take over all operations, but after he betrayed me, he won't get out of jail while I'm alive."

"I think that whatever you put full effort into, you'll achieve."

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**

The next day it just so happened that Enishi's meeting with the Commissioner and the arrival of the fashion wear woman, came at the same time. The man he had answering the door, introduced them both to Enishi.

"Is Miss Sumi upstairs?" Enishi's door man asked.

"No, she's behind you three."

"What?"

Enishi apologized. "Commissioner, I'm sorry about your two policemen, but they weren't invited inside. She only put them to sleep, they're not dead."

The door man, the Police Commissioner and fashion woman all slowly turned around and saw Sumi standing in front of two bodies. She ignored their gasps and asked, "Enishi do you want me to stay here or go up stairs?"

"You can go, I'll be fine. Also make sure you make arrangements to have your hair done for our wedding too."

"Okay, I'll leave you to your meeting then. If you would please follow me upstairs, we can discuss fashion," Sumi added and smiled invitingly to the woman.

The woman immediately followed her, leaving the men behind. Sumi showed her to the bedroom. "Mr. Yukishiro said that you'll need day wear and a wedding dress?"

"Yes. Excuse me for just one moment, I need to ask Enishi what our budget is. I'll be right back. Have a seat by the fireplace."

Sumi quietly closed the door and made her way stealthily down the stairs. She snuck up behind the door man, who was standing beside the Commissioner. When her hand landed on the shoulder of the Commissioner they both shuddered in surprised fear.

"Enishi do you mind if your door man brings us ladies something to drink? I wasn't sure who else to ask."

"He'll bring some iced tea shortly," Enishi smiled, knowing why she had really come back downstairs.

**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**

"You should've seen their faces when you put your hand on their shoulders. They barely kept from screaming and I almost laughed."

"Do you think word will spread that no one uninvited is to come in this house?"

"After today's performance, word will spread through the police, government and everyone in the mafia. They'll all fear you."

"Then it was successful. Anyway the woman took my measurements and sketched out the clothing I wanted. She'll be back once the clothing has been made, to do my fitting. On that day she'll also bring a hairstylist, so you can tell them how you want my hair."

He nodded in agreement and then added, "I forgot to introduce you to the house staff. I'll do that tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

"I'm going to take a bath, since it looks like you already have."

"Yeah, my hair is almost dry. And I love how you can control the temperature of the water... Um.... Do you want me to scrub your back?"

"Sure. I'll call you in when I'm ready." Enishi left for the bathroom.

Sumi knew she needed to get more comfortable with him in an intimate way. They would be married soon and she was sure he'd want her to be a proper wife. That would mean doing more than just sleeping beside each other once in bed.

"You can come now," Enishi called out.

Sumi went to him and kneeled beside the tub. He leaned forward and handed her a cloth to wash his back. She used it to get the water on his back and then scrubbed.

"Let me know if I'm rubbing too hard."

"It's fine."

The scrubbing was a bit of a workout for her arms. She scooped water up with her hands to wash away the loosened skin. Next she ran her hands from his neck out to the shoulders and down his arms.

"I'm finished. I'll go so you can soak."

As she stood up to leave, he held on to her hand. "You're the only person, other than my sister, I have had scrub my back. I was a kid the last time Tomoe did it for me.... Thank you."

She grinned, "it's what a wife should do right?"

"You don't have to do anything a wife should, unless you want to."

"I know." Sumi retreated before her face got red.

While he bathed, she changed into his white hanfu that he'd given her to sleep in. This time she removed the sarashi (chest wrap). It was so freeing. Sumi got into bed, under the blanket. Enishi returned eventually, wearing a robe and changed into his grey hanfu sleepwear.

"Do you want me to light the fire?"

"No, it's not cold here. Unless you want it on."

"You're like a fire, the way your body is at night. One blanket is all I need with you by my side."

"Oh... does it bother you? I didn't know that."

"No... I like it."

"Okay."

He got into bed, leaving one light on that was across the room. She was lying on her back, so he went on his side facing her. "The Commissioner is a greedy man, which I already knew. He will make sure Heishin never leaves the jail."

"What happens to all his wealth? Heishin sold opium, so he's got to be extra rich."

"The government takes it."

"So that's the same here as it is in Japan, I guess."

"Tomorrow after I introduce you to the staff, I have to go down to the port and talk to the dock crews. Do you want to come?"

"As long as you don't think I'd be in the way."

"Hardly, I won't have to be hyper-aware of what's behind me, with you around."

"Sure, I'll keep the knifes in my sleeves, unless you want to teach me how to use a sword."

"I should do that too and finish your fight training, but it can wait. Bring your knives, but don't kill anyone."

"I have only killed when it was in self defence."

Enishi rolled onto his back and sighed, "I wasn't implying anything."

They lay side by side for a while in silence. "When I first came to the brothel, Kana taught me how to give massages to earn my keep. It's how I met... the man I killed.... I can do that for you, I just need to buy some ginseng oil."

"We can go to the shops near the port."

"Okay."

"Will you teach me how to do it for you too?"

"If you want to, sure." Sumi moved a little closer to him. "I might have a nightmare tonight."

"Because of remembering him from your past?"

"Yeah... maybe."

"Roll on to your side, back facing me. I'll put an arm over you, so you'll feel safe. Your back will be against my front."

She lay on her side and waited. It was like being back to back, but it felt almost like a hug. Doing her breathing exercises Sumi fell asleep. Enishi noticed how perfectly she fit against him, which almost woke his manly desire, but then her nightmare came. Her body twitched, but she didn't wake and then it seemed to pass.

He liked that she was trying to share things about herself. It seemed like slowly Sumi was opening her heart to him. It was one thing to say words like 'I love you' and 'I trust you', but only actions proved it.