Disclaimer: Natsume owns all the real power anyway

Here we go. It's a long one. So please reward me with reviews! Okay, I don't want to sound desperate so I'm going to shut up.

Falling down into the grass, Akari had not apparently remembered how awful it was to farm sometimes. It'd been three days since she'd gotten back from the woods and she was up and running again, just as everyone else was. The initial earthquake had hit 6.9 on the Richter Scale, while the aftershocks had gotten to 5 on the scale. The whole town had been luckily well built, including her house which had been built for earthquakes, and remained relatively intact, but some structures hadn't been so lucky. The lighthouse's top had fallen off, and boats still couldn't dock and the Harmonica Town Fishery had been greatly damaged. Marimba farm had taken a hit too, as well as Julius's house, who was now staying with Candace and her grandmother. The mines had caved in too and while no one had been hurt, Owen was quite pissed about it. The belltower in the city square had taken a hit for the worst, and the clocks face had fallen off.

No one had been severely injured, beside a couple of people who had gotten scuffed up in the shakes. Akari hadn't even known this region even got earthquakes, but the fact that no one told her that didn't' grind her gears, it was Chase. Gill, in the very least, hadn't been that angry at Akari. He'd even ended up thanking Luke for his assistance in making sure Akari was alright. He had just asked Akari to forgive him and ended up hugging her for a very long time.

Chase, on the other, very annoying hand, had ignored her these whole three days, and she was feeling extra pissed. She'd tried, at least five times, to go to his house and talk to him, but he was like a broke man, avoiding the girl scouts. She could see him through the window, she had thought about breaking it, but just walked away. She couldn't go to his work yet and try and talk to him there, because none of the businesses had reopened yet. She was beyond pissed and to make it even worse, today, of all days, was Chase's birthday!

They were still friends after all (she assumed) and Akari had made Chase his gift long ago. So WHY? He was such a little girl and it was ridiculous really!

She ground her teeth just thinking about it. Chase was like a teenage girl when it came to grudges apparently and thought that the silent treatment was such an effective method of punishment. She could just imagine him pouting with his lip out like a five year old. The thought made her laugh to herself victoriously. Luke glanced over, who had been resting with her on the grass. Ever since their little escapade in the forest, he had come over every day to help her farm, even though she was well healed. She had tried to make him stop, since he was busy with repairing their town as well, but he would just not stop. Akari even gave the house key back to him.

"Ya' thinkin' 'bout somethin' awesome?" the bluenette asked in interest, an eager grin on his face. Akari waved her hand in dismissal. Luke was so adorable.

"It's nothin.' Just a stupid thought is all," Akari stood up, dusting the dirt from her clothing, "Let's just go get something to drink."

After offering a hand, Akari helped Luke to his feet and they both went inside her house. After a quick respite, Luke left, having to start repairs on the lighthouse, leaving Akari to her thoughts.

Eventually, after taking a shower, she found herself wondering about Chase again. It was killing her, really, her own brain was dying. Akari hit her forehead, trying to shake out any thoughts of that miserable man. Willing to forget about him Akari decided a nice little vacation to Gill's office might settle her thoughts. She quickly made two glasses of tomato juice and ran to the city hall.

Gill was on the front steps of the office. His head was securely in his hands, like he was nursing a wild hangover. Akari gingerly stepped over to him, sitting down with him on the steps as quietly and slowly as she could. She didn't know why but she felt like she was trying to sneak around an angry, rabid animal or something. Gill hadn't even looked up at her yet and Akari wondered if he was sleeping. She couldn't see his face or anything, so A) She was being fiercely ignored or B) He hadn't slept a wink since the earthquake. It was hard work doing all the work you're lazy father should be doing.

After weighing her options, the brunette decided not to wake the sleeping beast, half from respect and half from fear of the unknown. She could hear his soft snores now and knew he was sleeping.

She stood up in front of him and pumped her muscles. She was going to move him, to a more comfortable position. She could do it right? He only looked like he weighed three pounds... okay that was a bit of a hyperbole but still! He could be a very attractive girl if he wanted.

With that an image of Gill in high heels popped in her mind and she suppressed a hardy laugh. It wasn't even that funny, wow was she immature sometimes.

Akari nudged Gill in the shoulder, making sure of his deep sleep. She glanced around and propped the door of the City hall open. There was a small couch in there she was sure Gill would appreciate. Akari came to his side and slipped one hand under his leg and one behind his back. Another giggle bubbled in her throat. Wow, were the roles reversed or what! But she was no doubt much more manlier than the blonde little baby.

With a heave, Gill was off the ground and Akari had miscalculated. This guy was fricken' HEAVY! She would have never guessed. How could he even weigh this much? All he ate was tomatoes for goddess' sake!

Akari knew she must be going blue in the face but it was too late now. She was in deep. Her arms shook and so did her legs. Damn! Damn! Damn! Why did she decide this was a good idea! She definitely could not drop him and now that she thought about it, if he woke up like this, he was gonna be mega pissed.

Like a clumsy crab, Akari shuffled sideways up the stairs and into the door. Out of the potential public eye, she relaxed a bit, but not too much. She saw it, the promised couch and was thankful to the goddess they were almost there. Nothing could stop her! Nothing! Akari's face moved to reenact a mad 'MWAHAHA!' She was undefeatable to no one!.

Well... maybe only to a loose rug.

Her foot hit the rug quickly and she fell just as fast, though time in her own mind seemed to slow, as Gill's hair flew up around his soon to be enraged face. Akari would greatly miss his friendship.

Akari hit the ground unsurprisingly hard and Gill woke up in a flash. Akari felt really bad. He hadn't been sleeping for ages and here she was, waking him up like the douche she was. Shouldn't she learn by now she's accident prone?

"Akari? Wh-" Gill hadn't yet taken in their position. With her head and body flat on the ground, her arms out as Gill sat over them, but he did...

"WHAT? Akari! What were you doing to me?!" Gill obviously, just as she prophesied, did not like to be carried bridal style, "You were moving me!?"

Akari lifted her head from the wooden floor, "I thought you'd want to sleep on the couch... instead of in front of the city hall. Ah! Please don't yell!" Akari shut her eyes, ready for a lecture on how you should never disrupt someone's sleep, but it didn't come. She felt a hand in her hair, petting it gently. Akari was so confused right now.

She opened her eyes and was greeted with a soft smile. Gill ruffled her hair more slightly and his cold icy eyes didn't seem so... icy. It was really weird.

Suddenly, Gill pulled his hands away. His eyes shot back in a cold stare and his smile turned it's top. He was probably still just realizing he was still in her arms (kinda).

Like a stiff, unoiled robot, Gill stood up, looking away from her and walking to the main desk, "You shouldn't touch people while they are sleeping Akari. Just let them rest. And you should know by now, you're quite accident prone." Akari frowned. Well there was what she was expecting and at least someone knew she was accident prone. Gill's back was still to her as he moved some books, "You're accident prone, so you shouldn't try to do these things... you really worry some people. You'll become a burden on the people around you."

An olive branch was needed and Akari quickly took of her backpack, which housed the tomato juice. She shuffled through and took out the two containers. She walked up next to him and tapped him on the shoulder. She smiled largely at him, "Peace offering?"

Gill finally turned around to face her. His face was flushed and Akari only hoped that wasn't from anger. Well... it was sort of hot in there.

The two quietly enjoyed their cups of tomato juice enjoying each other's company. When they had finished, Akari packed up. 'Why can't making up with Chase be this easy?' Akari thought to herself and violently shook her head. Don't you think about him Akari! Don't you do it! You don't waste your time on asses. After receiving a strange look from Gill, Akari finished up and slid the backpack back on her back.

"Welp, you probably need to get back to work huh? Man... I wish your dad would help you," Akari looked sad.

Gill shook his head, "It's fine since I do care about this island."

Akari smiled, Gill had such a good head on his shoulders... unlike Ch-.

"Well, I have to go. I have an engagement I have to get too. If I can, can I come back later?"

Gill looked confused by the proposition, "Well of course you can...I mean... yes. If you don't have anything else on your plate."

"Great. I'll see you later than," Akari waved a quick goodbye, which Gill nodded to in response. He turned around and Akari did the same, heading for the door. As her hand reached the door knob she turned around to say something, but was halted. Gill was staring at her.

Gill's face whipped back to whatever he had been doing and robotically made himself look as natural as he could. Akari didn't know what was up, but she had to go. Chase's birthday was on the line.

Finally, Akari arrived at Chase's humble abode. It was only 5 o'clock pm, but they were already supposed to be out and about. Akari had planned with him what they were going to do, since Chase hated stupid little, forced get togethers. He told her they were going to go to lunch and then she was going to watch as he got wasted at the bar and then he was going to complain how he was closer to dying, and then he'd fall asleep. Akari could sense that Chase seemed to hold a resentment towards his own birthday, so who knows, maybe him sitting all alone in his house is a good time for him, but she still wanted to give him his present. She had packed that too.

She went to his door as she had already done several times before and knocked, eventually turning those knocks to kicks. "Don't be a little girl Chase! Come out! I don't even understand what you're so angry about!"

She finally halted her kicks and looked inside the window, like the creepy stalker she was turning herself into, "I'm going to destroy these beautiful flowers out here if you don't come out! Oh! These poor daisies!" She knocked on the glass, but this time she couldn't even see him. She could see the oven on, so he was obviously baking something but still. Is this what he did? Bake when he was angry. 'Welp, at least hes not doing cocaine or something...' Akari tried to improve the situation.

Akari was not going to walk away this time. She was going to stay put. Frick this stupid idiot. Pouting like a teenage girl who got her phone taken away or something! What is wrong with him. Ready to occupy his front steps as stubbornly as someone might occupy wall street she sat and waited. She could smell, whatever was in there. It was burning and Akari smiled.

Akari put her head between her knees and waited, for at least an hour, when a voice made her look up.

"Honey, I am sorry, but why exactly are you wasting your sweet time on this boy? You've been here for, oh Goddess who knows how long? Thirty minutes?"

Akari looked up and was greeted with flamboyant, well... everything. From purple hair to purple clothing, Akari knew in an instant who was standing in front of her. Julius, the hilarious metrosexual of Castanet Island.

"Julius?" Akari responded in a groggy voice. What was he doing here?

Julius gracefully bent over to meet his face was hers. Julius' earrings dangled around his face and his red eyes might have been very attractive, if not on Julius. Heck he'd probably be way more attractive than Akari... if he was a she. .

"Honey, I have watched, Goddess how I've watched, you fret around that peach haired loser's house for days! I may not know what's going on but you're wasting your time! Mayas been barking up that tree for years and nothing!" The man flipped his hair. Man, Akari wished she could do that. Maybe she should grow her hair out.

"Julius how did you se-"

"I live right over there sweetie," Julius chucked his fashionably manicured (where do you even get manicures on this island?) behind him, "Even if my house isn't quite as fashionable as I want to be, I can't leave my baby alone and I have seen you fight a battle your sweetness can't win."

'I'm not really sure what you're talking about? What does Maya have to do with this? Has she been coming to this house too?" Akari frowned. She'd only talked to Julius on several occasions before, he was funny but she felt strangely intimidated by him.

Julius put a hand over his lips in a shocked fashion, "Oh, is this not-. Either I was jumping to conclusions or you, babycheeks, have not noticed it yet!"

Akari was even more confused, "Notice what?"

"Don't you worry about it honey! It's nothing. I was just so sure! Well, maybe it's just him... but anyway cupcake, as far as I've seen it, that evil man hasn't left his house. I may be wrong though, since I do not currently live in my house and I don't think it's my job to babysit that rude little contraption."

"He's not rude! That's just his... way?"

"Oh, I'm sure sweetie! But let's get you off this lug's steps, alright?"

After straightening himself out, Julius offered Akari one baby soft hand. Akari was reluctant but accepted.

"Oh, I know! Why don't you come back with me babycakes? We can go to the tailor's and have a nice cup of tea with Candace and all them!"

Akari shook her head, "I can't.. I have to wait here. It's Chase's birthday and my dad always told me, you should never spend a day like today... alone." Akari didn't know where the sudden quote from her father came from but nonetheless, Julius gave her a pitying look.

"Well, alrighty sweetie, but my invitation stays open. Come over anytime you want to talk. I feel like you're going to need a lot of mentoring."

Akari didn't bother questioning that last part and only nodded, "Thanks Julius."

"No, problem. I'll see you later honey," Julius turned on his heel and began to strut away.

In the absence of Julius's strong cologne (perfume?) Akari sniffed the air, but did not like what she found. Akari shot back to Chase's window and her eyes shot open in terror.

Fire.

Chase must have left the oven on! Where was he!? Was he even inside!? Was he...Oh Goddess, please don't be asleep! But it's so unlike him to burn anything let alone let it catch fire!

Panic filled her and Akari banged the glass, screaming for Chase. Her next instinct was a succinct one and she picked up a nearby rock. The glass shattered and Akari reached in for the lock. Having unlocked it, she questioned her robbery skills, but soon pulled it open. She heard Julius yelling after her in the background, but she ignored it.

She ran for the kitchen and by now the fire had overtaken the stove and two nearby counters. She ran to the sink, grabbed a nearby bowl and filled it, throwing it on the flames, but it did nothing. She searched the nearby drawers for a quick second, hoping to find a fire extinguisher, but her search came up fruitless. She threw a nearby cloth over it, but again it only seemed to fuel the fire. She gave up trying to stop it... she just needed to get Chase out of here. She ran into his room nearby and found no one on his bed. Her heart dropped. Where was he? She ran back into the main room and found the fire had now blocked her escape. Thick smoke was floating to the top of the ceiling and she dropped on her knees, remembering the instructions from when she was back in school. She crawled her way over to the bathroom, again finding no one.

The fire was spreading like none she had ever seen before. Through the smoke she saw Julius screaming at the broken window, as well as other figures behind him. The smoke was quickly coming lower and she stumbled back into Chase's room, hoping for an escape. After crawling inside, she closed the door behind her. The main room was too far gone.

She coughed heavily in the room and saw the smoke begin to leak from under the door. She only prayed that Chase wasn't somewhere in the house she hadn't searched. She only hoped he was alive. Akari stumbled over to Chase's bed, wanting to climb up on it to get to the window, but the bedroom door fell in and a wave of smoke crashed in after it. It fill the room quickly and Akari stayed of the bed, choosing to grab a blanket instead and wrapped it around her head to keep the smoke out. She glanced at the window again, he only hope vanishing. She closed her eyes and coughed again, it switching to a regular heaving. What was she going to do? Everywhere she went, bad things seemed to follow.

Akari heard the crash of a window, similar to the one she had earlier made herself. She felt arms around her and soon she could breath again. The next thing she knew she was being doused in water and voices spun about her head. She opened her weary eyes and say Cain in a strange outfit. She looked to her side and saw the what looked like most of the community working to put the flame out.

"-ght?"

Akari finally regained her hearing and nodded to whatever Cain was asking her. His hand was behind her head and she shivered. Akari felt useless, yet again, she had been a burden, just as Gill had said she'd become. Then she remembered.

"Chase!?" She sputtered out. Her mouth tasted like ash and she didn't like it.

Cain looked down at her with kind eyes, "He wasn't in the house. He's fine."

A deep sigh left Akari, she had never been so relieved, but where was he.

"Akari!"

The brunette looked over. At first she only saw the fire which was being surely extinguished, the people had little pumps with green misty looking stuff in it... but it was working. Then she saw him, peach hair bobbing as he ran for what seemed like his life. Finally, he was over her, "Akari! Man! Why are you such an idiot?" Chase's face broke out into the brightest smile she'd seen on him yet. He bent down and hugged her tightly, the citrus smell she knew so well radiated off of him as well as heat.

"Wait, you'll get all wet," Akari tried to push him away.

"Because that's totally at the top of my list when you almost died. How shallow do you think I am?" Chase tried for a joke, but it came out flat.

"On a scale from an ocean of a glass of water... I'd say a kiddy pool," Akari laughed, happy to return to their banter, but Chase did not retort.

"Why are you so stupid Akari?" Chase continued to hug her. Akari felt embarrassed, they were surrounded by people. Julius, Renee, Cain and he was just hugging her like this. They must be shocked though, for Chase of all people to be showing emotions like this.

"I'm not stupid, you are," Akari replied sadly. Chase pulled away to look her straight in the face. His heart was still pumping wildly from the adrenaline from the news. When Julius had told him what had happened, he wanted to punch himself. He was the reason Akari had nearly been killed and you could even count this for the second time. The first time, he hadn't been able to stop her from going into those woods.

"What?"

Akari looked down and her eyes finally began to wet, like the situation had finally hit her. She had almost died, because of him. Did she hate him now?

"You wouldn't talk to me for three days! That was really weird you know! I talk to you everyday!" Akari didn't look at him, "Even today on your birthday!"

Chase was shocked, not only was she not at all angry about the whole, almost dying thing but she'd remembered his birthday even when he'd forgotten all about it. He'd just been thinking about Akari this whole entire time. He had finally made up his mind to go apologize and had left some bread in the oven.

"But now it's all wet too..." Akari seemed more upset at herself then at him and that made him really mad, at himself of course. "And now your house it burnt down."

Chase couldn't help but laugh, her priorities were all so screwed up. Who cared about his birthday, even his house wasn't as important as just having Akari in front of him, uninjured. A couple weeks ago, he wouldn't give a damn about Akari, so how could he in this short time something change within him.

"I don't care about my present. Who even cares about my birthday? All I was gonna do was get drunk remember? Not exactly a fun time, for you at least," Chase was still scared, and he hoped she couldn't see his eyes turn red. He felt like crying and he felt stupid. He never cried.

"I do."

Her answer was short and simple, but his chest burned when he heard it. It was-

"Akari!"

Cain and Renee had already left, while Julius hung around the side lines, smirking at the two with a suspicious smile. Luke, Gill, and Mayor Hamilton had all run up to her sides.

"'Kari!" Luke bent down next to Chase and the peach haired man did not like it. He didn't know exactly how to put it but he was having a moment with Akari, and this stupid bluenette was always fronting him. "'Kari! Are ya' okay!?"

Akari smiled and Chase felt angry. "I'm fine Luke. Just a bit cold," Akari laughed. She really didn't want anyone to be worried about her. Chase looked up at the sky. It was already six thirty and the sky was darkening. A cold wind blew again and Chase worried about Akari being cold, but when he looked down again Luke's jacket was already on her shoulders. Akari gripped it with needy fingers. "Thanks Luke," Akari laughed. Chase didn't like it at all.

The mayor tapped Chase on the shoulder as his son went to the other side of Akari. Akari was discussing something with them, which Chase chose to ignore and gave his attention to the mayor.

"Chase, may I ask, where are you planning to stay until repairs can be arranged?" The mayor looked worried and pointed over to his house, like he wasn't already in the now about that, but he hadn't thought about that. Where was he going to stay? He guessed his boss could probably let him stay there, or even Maya could convince her parents to let him stay there. Chase looked over to his house. He hadn't even noticed but the flames were all gone, everyone was gathered around his house, with the fire gone, patting each other on their backs in victory. His house looked badly burnt, salvageable, but burnt. His head racked with future plans.

He ran a hand through his hair in thought, "I guess-"

"He'll stay with me."

The mayor, Gill, Luke, and especially Chase looked to Akari. Under the stare of all of them Akari shifted, "What?"

"I'm sure we can get him a room in the inn Akari," Gill offered, obviously uncomfortable with the idea. Luke nodded in agreement. Chase was still trying to take in the offer.

"No. I want him to stay with me. Chase is my friend and besides, today is his birthday. He shouldn't be stuck in a hotel," Akari looked at Chase and smiled, "You can stay for as long as you need too."

"Really?" Chase heard himself say. The girl smiled at him.

"As long as you cook for me and oh man, is my inner fat kid gonna come raging out!" Akari laughed to herself. Chase enjoyed the nervous looks of Gill and Luke and pushed them aside to hug her. "You've gotta stop doing this Chase. It's getting creepy."

Chase hugged her tighter and was glad when she hugged back, "Shut up." No one ever did this kind of stuff for him, ever.

"Can we go somewhere warm now?" Akari pulled away, looking to all of the men around her.

"My house?" Chase smirked.

"That's not funny. You had some important stuff in the right?" Akari frowned.

"Not really," he helped her to stand up, "Just a lot of recipe books... and some burnt bread." He was happy Akari laughed again.

"Akari, we should probably get you to Dr. Jin,"Gill suggested. Akari nodded.

"'Kari, I'm so stoked you're okay!"

"Thanks Luke. Can I keep your jacket for a while?"

Luke patted her shoulder, "No problem!"

The mayor dusted himself off and his usual jolly deposition returned, "Gill could you come here? I need to talk to you."

Chase saw Gill glance at Akari one last time and Akari gave him a quick hug, before he galloped away. Eventually Bo asked for Luke's attention and Akari said goodbye to him too. Chase and Akari walked up to the front of his burnt to hell house. A random thought made Chase curious.

"So what did you get me for my birthday anyway?" Chase couldn't help. It may be bad timing for some, but he didn't care.

Akari looked depressed, "It got all wet."

"Better than burnt."

Akari looked like she didn't want to laugh but she did anyway. She slipped off her backpack still on her but soaked. Stopping Luke's jacket from falling off, she pulled the pack in front of her. From within the backpack she revealed a, what used to be, nicely wrapped, large package.

"I'm surprised...it's not as wet as I thought, but don't expect too much. It's just a bunch of random stuff I made and bought."

"Made?" Chase's eyebrow went up, "Now I'm really scared."

"Shut up!"

Chase pulled out a card first and Akari panicked, "Don't read that now!"

"Why not?"

"I just don't like it when people read notes I wrote in front of me. It's embarrassing..."

Chase's face lit up, "I'm reading it now."

"No!" Akari hid her face, "Don't..."

Chase opened the letter. It wasn't that wet, and while some words were illegible, he could get the majority out of it:

Oh, I hate writing his junk, but whatever. Um, happy birthday Chase. I know you said no gifts earlier, but I could care less. Really, I don't. I always write waaay too much in these things so I'll keep it short and rather un-embarrassing for the both of us. I know when we first met we may have hated each others guts, but now it's different right. I see you as a really close friend. Woah, that felt weird to write, but really. I get along with you really well. We have this sort of asshole relationship, but it's enjoyable and I'm really glad we met? Anyway you may not be thankful for your birthday, but I am and I hope your happy.

-Akari

Chase could feel his face heat up. He honestly didn't know what to say, so he decided to keep his asshole going, "You used the wrong youre in your last sentence."

"See I told you it's embarrassing," Akari did not look at him, scared at what she'd see, "Just open the stupid gift."

Chase ignored his burning in his stomach and obeyed her command. The first thing he pulled out was a smaller package, opening them up he unveiled three small bobby pins. He looked up to Akari and she beamed, "Titanium with your name inscribed on them. Here."

Akari took the bobby pins from his hand. She took the ones from his hair and chucked them towards his house. Chase didn't even argue as his bangs fell into his eyes. She held his hair in place as she finally positioned them. He could feel her breath on his face as she did his hair for him. It was really warm.

Akari motioned for him to go on and Chase reached back in pulling out a damp book. Which seemed put together by hand. Akari smiled, "It's all the orange recipes I could find, all handwritten. Though I hope the ink didn't run, but I called up all my relatives to see what they've got."

Flipping through the book, Chase was impressed. This seemed to be a lot of work for one gift. He may not admit it to Akari but he would have been perfectly fine with just this, but there was still one more thing. He reached in and pulled out a small tupperware container. Inside was a single piece of cake. Orange cake.

"All the rest of the cake was ruined... that was the only salvageable piece."

Chase took off the lid immediately, ready to eat with his hands. He needed some sweets after all of this, plus he couldn't think of anything to say to her and being an asshole this time didn't seem right. Chase was glad it was getting darker, because soon he wouldn't be able to stop blushing.

"Don't eat it with your hands!" Akari reached out, but Chase didn't care. He grabbed the cake by the back and dug in. He chewed it for a while, then began to laugh.

"It's delicious!"

"Then why are you laughing?"

Chase would rather die than tell her, but he's never gotten a gift like this before. Sure he's gotten cards and the cliche cooking supplies or food, but never a set of gifts so carefully thought out, so geared towards him and not just some random guy. He wanted to hug her again. Heck, he wanted to kis- no Chase... no.

"I'm sorry though."

His laughter died down in confusion. "Wh-why are you sorry? Woah, was there something in this cake?"

"No! No... I mean, this is all pretty useless... because I couldn't stop the fire. I was right there... I could've..."

With the cake in one hand, Chase took hold of one of her shoulders, "Akari you're letting me stay at your house, you're giving me these great gifts and you were in there because you wanted to save me. If anything I should be saying sorry to you, so sorry."

Akari laughed again, "You're getting in that creepy area again."

"Akari, we should get you to Dr. Jin," Gill came up from behind them.

"Okay, but wait," Akari turned to Chase, reaching into her pocket, "Chase take this key. It's mine personally so wait up to let me in, but you should go home. Eat ice cream or the rest of that cake," Akari motioned towards his hand, "You need it."

Chase was ready for another creepy moment and pulled her into a clumsy hug, making sure his cake didn't touch her.

"See you later Chase."

"Later Akari."

Chase watched as Gill escorted her away a hand on his shoulder. Mostly everyone had dissipated from around his house and he turned around when the two had disappeared over the bridge. He turned around to look at his house. The front of his home hadn't been badly hurt but his eyes were drawn to the glass window Chase had heard Akari had broken... to save him. Chase felt so over run with feelings he didn't know what was going on. He walked up to his house and touched the glass. Akari was willing to risk her life...for him. She was going to die... for him. Akari how did she feel ab-.

Chase shook his head and gave his house one last look up and down before turning around. He finished his cake and grasped his book and especially his card and headed towards Akari's house with her words resounding in his head.

"You should go home."

Okay, so was this... happier...? Well yeah something bad happened but it wasn't angry at the end at all. Can you feel the love tonight? Just kidding...or am I? Anyway, my dating sim is going all good. I've drawn all the main characters bodies and I'm working on the side characters and the eyes. UGGH I did NOT realize how much work it is, but it'll be worth it.

Anyway thank you for reading! AND REVIEW! I love it when you guys review! I said I was on a break but reviews brought me back. I actually really like this chapter because Chase got all softy in the end and it was so cute! Okay I'm done talking.

~Foxliax