Marama and Atsuko made it back to her house, collapsing lazily in a pile on the sofa.

"I'm sorry." Marama muttered breaking the comfortable silence. "I shouldn't have passed out, I shouldn't have left you in charge of both of us." Atsuko chuckled slightly.

"Even you aren't perfect, it sounds like some post traumatic stress disorder in my untrained opinion."

"Oh hey, you know the phone you gave me, could I use it to call my family back home? Vaas stole my phone along with all my things I guess when he buried me." Atsuko asked as she fished the phone out of her pocket.

"Go ahead." Atsuko grinned as she typed her mum's number in, she felt so homesick; she'd never been alone this long, especially in such stressful circumstances. After a few rings the phone clicked.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Mum, it's me, Atsuko."
"Honey I missed you so much! What happened to your phone? I've been trying to call you."

Her tone was kind but still had the same familiar nagging tone that she had when she was annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I had a problem and lost my things, but I made a friend and will be staying with her until I come back, I may be a while, some complicated things have come up." She realised it was a major understatement, but a full explanation would only worry her mum right now.

"Hang on a second Atsuko, Daisuke wants to talk to you."
"Hey little bro." Atsuko grinned happily, out of everyone she missed her little brother the most, he was always so happy and cheerful, that he never failed to make her feel better, no matter what the situation.

"Sister!" He cooed excitedly. "I miss you sooo much. When are you coming back home?"

"Oh I'm sorry, I really don't know, I'll try and be back as soon as possible okay?"

As Daisuke continued to chatter excitedly about school, and his friends, Kauri came in the house, followed by a tired looking Maako.

"Maako!" Marama shouted relieved, running over and crouching down to envelop him in a deep hug.

"What was that?" Daisuke asked curiously.

"It was my friend, bro I have to go, I'll call you tomorrow okay?"
"Bye sis!"

With that she hung up and left the phone next to her on the sofa. Smiling wistfully as she watched tears of happiness trickling down Marama's face, she was hugging him so tightly she was surprised he could still breathe. Kauri gestured over to Atsuko and lead her outside, Atsuko followed nervously, she guessed she was in for a lot of questions by this point. He sat down on hard ground with a deep sigh.

"You certainly have shaken things up a lot here, and Marama must like you a lot to keep putting up with you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause trouble.." Atsuko muttered apologetically, looking awkwardly down at the ground, she couldn't stand to look at him while she was being lectured, even though it was slightly reminiscent of being told off by a teacher at school.

"But while I am causing trouble, I might as well cause some more… right?"

Kauri started staring at her with a mix of disbelief, and horror, breaking into a hysteric laughter

"You're crazy you know that?"

"I aim to please." She grinned with a wry smile

"But there is reason behind the madness; I don't know how much you know about me."
"Literally nothing. I keep asking and nobody will tell me anything. You guys suck." He interjected with mock bitterness.

With a deep sigh Atsuko decided it was time to come clean about everything; from her dangerous cat and mouse game that was rapidly developing between her and Vaas, and her real reason for coming to the island. It was the latter which she used to explain her sudden desire:

"I want to sneak back to Amanaki outpost."

"No." Kauri looked away annoyed, apparently as far as he was concerned that was end of discussion, 'how naïve he must be' Atsuko thought with a small smile.

"But as soon as I do, I can go back home, you'll never have to see me again." Atsuko pointed out

"Duh why do you think I said no chick?" He replied with a sarcastic grin. "But seriously now, you are never going back there, it's way too dangerous, for you, for me, for Marama and Maako, and everyone else who's been unlucky enough to run into you."
"You don't have to come; I can do it myself, using stealth." He laughed again, harsh and cynical.

"Don't be ridiculous; You've had a lot of luck for not dying already, don't push it. Or people may get sick of saving your sorry ass."
"Hey! I saved Marama too aswell remember?"

"From a problem you caused her!" He shouted back, standing up and agressively storming towards her, stopping a few inches away, It gave her flashbacks of her encouter with Vaas, although Kauri was probably less likely to strangle her. She hoped.

"Do you even know about all the shit she's had to go through? You've come and wreaked havoc to this village with no consideration for anyone else!" a fiery anger flashed through his eyes.

"If you have any sense, you'll get the next plane back to Japan and leave us alone." He turned round, storming off annoyed

"Not without my grandfather's gift." Atsuko clenched her fists annoyed, she flushed bright red with frustration. Who was he to tell her what to do?

"You need the damn outposts to retake control of the island, we both have something to gain from this! You're supposed to be warriors for god's sake" She walked up to him and tightly gripped his arm, pulling up his sleeve, revealing the tattoo adorning his arms "The heron, the spider, and the shark right?" She asked, squeezing his arm tightly

"I learnt some things, this tatau is important, it isn't given to just anyone, you have to be strong, powerful; you have to be a fighter. I may not be able to protect myself, but you can teach me, and you can take back this island for yourselves as the rightful owners."

She let go of his arm, gently pushing him away. She turned away from him and stormed off back towards Marama's house. She slammed the door behind her sulkily, to the surprise of Maako and Marama who were still sitting on the sofa.

"Had a nice talk then?" Marama joked as Atsuko joined them on the sofa.

"That man is scary as hell." She grinned back.
"I'm going to get Maako to bed, look at him, and his little tired face." Marama chirped happily, squashing an irritable Maako's face up amused. He hit her off
"Mutu!" He whined, Atsuko beamed happily and she felt a twang of loneliness deep within her heart. She bitterly missed her brother; she'd do anything to see his face once more."

Marama carried Maako into the next room. "You coming to sleep too?" Marama called through the door. Burying her melancholy under a veil of apathy, Atsuko reluctantly stood up and followed her, leaning against the door frame.
"Sure, what are the sleeping arrangements?"
"Well I'll be in the bed, you can share that with me or sleep on the sofa, depending on what you feel more comfortable with."

"I'll take the sofa." Atsuko muttered with a slight blush, she had no idea what made her feel so embarrassed; but after Marama's accusation, she was nervous about her getting the wrong idea.

She had a pair of pajamas thrusted into her arms.

"Change into these." She instructed. "Good night, you really saved me today, and I want you to know how grateful I am for that. You're a good friend." Marama smiled warmly, turning the pale red tint on Atsuko's cheek into a deep crimson. She shrugged in response.

"What else could I do?" She muttered, turning around to find the bathroom and get changed. It wasn't until she laid down on the lumpy hard sofa that she realised just how tired she was, every muscle ached painfully to the point she felt like she would never be able to move again. She quickly drifted off into a fitful restless sleep.