A/N: Heyoz minna-san! From now on, I'll try to write more for the fic than the A/N, okay? So, again, thanks to those who reviewed and a bigger thanks for those who took time to email me and all.

And again, there will be similarities to the manga, okay?

Hm, I think I might use the "-chan" suffix. Sorry—no translation available. I just took it straight from Kodocha anime and manga itself, so, yeah. 

Anyway, enjoy~

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Yamaaki Keiichi yawned as he kicked a pebble to the street. As his friends were talking about the fun-filled weekend on the way to the Hayama house, Keiichi thought about his own. I still can't get that horrible feeling to go away…

"Yo 'eiichi, ya okay, dude?" Yuta waved his hand in front of Keiichi. Keiichi blinked and smiled slightly.

"I'm fine…"

"You look like your best friend just died," Tsuyoshi said sympathetically.

Keiichi let his smile drop and racked his brain for an excuse. "Yeah… my, uh, granddad died this Sunday… I was kinda close to him, so…"

"Whoa, we're sorry, man," Naozumi ran his hand through his hair, frowning.  "We wouldn't have talked so much about the whole visit with Sana, yanno?"

"It's ok," Keiichi smiled once more, this time it looked more real. "Nice to hear ya guys had a good time."

"Yeah, it was." Naozumi smiled lazily as he was reminded of what happened when he took Yumi home. "Its too bad you couldn't come."

Technically, I was there… "Yeah, it was."

"That's okay, you can always come next time, ne, 'zumi?" Yuta grinned at Keiichi and waited for his other friend to reply.

"Hell yeah—and if you have another excuse on why you can't go, I'm gonna go find you and drag you over to come with us," Naozumi punched Keiichi lightly on the shoulder. Keiichi winced gently and managed a smile.

"You need to work out," Tsuyoshi commented, pushing his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.

"Seriously, now." Yuta looked Keiichi over and placed a hand on Keiichi's stomach. "I don't even feel a six-pack." He withdrew his hand and shook his head sadly.

"Yeah, well…" Keiichi coughed and looked away. "Gee, isn't this, uh, 'yama's house?"

"Yep, here we are." Naozumi nodded and looked at the doorbell, then Yuta. "'kaishi."

"'yoshi," Yuta said, instead, and nudged the brown-haired boy.

"'zumi, why don't you?" Tsuyoshi took a step back.

"Well, I would, but I'm feeling so nice, so I decided to let ya do it," Naozumi said, a bit too quickly.

"And I decided that 'kaishi should do it."

"Well, what about 'eiichi?"

"Right after his first week? That's too mean, man," Tsuyoshi shook his head. "C'mon 'kaishi, its your turn."

"I wouldn't dare. Besides, you're the closest to 'yama."

"Yeah, but--" Tsuyoshi stopped short after hearing the doorbell ring. The three original members of their small gang looked in surprise at Keiichi who looked bored as hell.

"'eiichi, you're a brave man," Naozumi said, giving him a salute.

"What?" Keiichi looked at his friends and was about to ask another question when the door opened.

"Akito's not going today," a curt voice said quickly as a head popped out. The four boys looked wearily at the female of the Hayama family.

"He sick?" Tsuyoshi asked from where he stood, a frown creasing on his forehead.

"No, I'm just held hostage in the f—king house," an answer came from the house. The door was jerked back and Natsumi fell to the ground with a yelp.

"AKITO!" Akito slammed the door shut in his sister's face and walked forward. Tsuyoshi ran up to him.

"Another one?" Tsuyoshi asked, carefully checking his words.

"Yeah," Akito said, shrugging.

"About…?" Tsuyoshi tried again.

"Some shit about me not doing my own laundry," Akito rolled his eyes and he stopped when the green light switched to red. Naozumi, Yuta, and Keiichi were listening quietly in the back and the three exchanged looks.

"I thought you guys had this argument already," Tsuyoshi reminded him.

"Your point being…?"

"Nothing," Tsuyoshi replied, frowning slightly. Akito looked at him briefly and walked across the street, not waiting for the rest of the boys.

"What's wrong?" inquired Keiichi.

"He's lying," Naozumi replied for Tsuyoshi.

"Doesn't he always?"

"Nah. That's what's cool about 'yama—he hardly lies. Surprising, ne?" Yuta smiled at Keiichi's shocked expression.

So he did want to die—he wasn't playing at all. "Then what really happened?"

"Not sure… might have been something with Sana."

"What do you mean?" Keiichi avoided the puddle in the middle of the road, his eyes never leaving the ground.

"When we were hanging out with her, we went to lunch. Then we all went to the arcade and 'yama and Sana were left behind," Naozumi recalled.

"Yeah, and after a while, we went to go find them, and they were gone. When we went back to the studio, Sana was there with a red mark on her cheek, frowning."

"So we asked her about 'yama," Yuta continued after Tsuyoshi stopped. "She muttered something under her breath—I remember hearing 'jerk' quite a few times."

Naozumi laughed, despite the serious situation. "First time I heard her say those words, even though she is 17."

"Yeah, and she told us he went home early. Luckily, she was in a better mood by the end of the day, but when we called 'yama the next day, he wasn't home at all."

"I think they got into an argument," Tsuyoshi said. "After all, no offense to him, but 'yama has the tendency to fight with everyone."

"I'll say," Keiichi muttered.

"What?"

"I was just wondering what happened, that's all."

"Well, should hurry and get to school, or we'll be late," Naozumi checked his watched and picked up his pace. "We'll figure it out soon."

"I hope so," Tsuyoshi said, worry dripped heavily in his voice.

"Me too," Yuta commented, "After all, a pissed-off 'yama means trouble—or worse."

"At least there will be something interesting happening today," Naozumi said, pointing out the silver lining.

"Not too interesting, or else he'll get suspended again," Tsuyoshi frowned.

"Stop worrying already and let's go!" Yuta smacked Tsuyoshi's backpack and started to run. "Hurry up slow-asses!"

"Hey!" Naozumi took off angrily after that remark.

Tsuyoshi followed.  "Hurry 'eiichi!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

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"Well, I'm glad you all did pretty well on your tests," Tejuki-sensei said, passing out the papers back to everyone. "As usual, Soma-san came in third, Sasaki-san second, and Hayama-san first." He dropped a paper on Akito's desk and took off the earphones. "Now if you'd do your homework, maybe you might actually be at the top of the class."

"Who wants to be first, anyway," snorted Akito, grabbing his earphones back. Tejuki-sensei sighed and moved on. As he passed Keiichi's desk, he looked at the paper with a small frown and bent over.

"Make sure you try harder, Yamaaki-san," he whispered, handing over the paper. Keiichi colored slightly and nodded weakly. Tejuki-sensei walked to the back and gave out the remaining papers.

"Laiier-san, please memorize the equations' formula," Tejuki-sensei said to Kirk, in a low voice. Kirk scowled, crumbling the paper up and throwing it in the back, as the teacher turned away.

"The homework for tonight is to correct your tests and do numbers #16-20 on page 259," Tejuki-sensei announced before the bell rang. "See you all tomorrow," he waved to the students and began packing up his things.

"Tejuki-sensei is the best," Naozumi hooted as he walked to Keiichi's desk. "Five problems only, along with some test corrections~oh yeah!"

Keiichi groaned and banged his head on the desk. "Whoa, did you do that bad?" Yuta asked, picking up his math book. Keiichi laid there, mumbling a few words and continued to lay there.

"I'm guessing you did," Yuta held back a laugh.

"Its okay, 'eiichi." Tsuyoshi went over to stand next to Naozumi, waiting for their orange-haired friend. "I can help you." Keiichi straightened immediately.

"Ya will?!" Keiichi grabbed his things and dumped it all in his backpack. "Let's go, then!"

"Quick mood swing," laughed Naozumi.

"Well, he's right, we should go. My house tonight?" Yuta asked, walking to the door.

"Any objections?" Tsuyoshi asked, looking for a nod. When he found none, he smiled cheerfully and said, "Your house, 'kaishi!"

"Are ya gonna go, 'yama?" Yuta asked the silent golden-haired boy who moved his shoulder up so gently, it barely looked like a shrug.

"And the whole gang sets off to 'kaishi's house—will they encounter any troubles on the way?" Naozumi dropped his voice lower than usual as he continued to pretend to be an announcer. "Stay tuned and watch!"

"Move already!" laughed Tsuyoshi, shoving Naozumi forward.

"Going~" Naozumi saluted Tsuyoshi and walked on briskly like a soldier.

"Whatever Yumi did to him, I'm glad," Tsuyoshi remarked, smirking.

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Sana fingered her pillow as she snuggled deep in her blankets. Her mind wandered around today's events and stopped on the memory of this morning. What did Akito and his sister fight about? She sighed and rolled over to her other side. I'll never figure this family out. How can they be so cold to each other and not try to make an effort to stop all of it? I just don't understand why some people are this way… Should I just give up…? She frowned at the thought. Forget it—I don't give a bloody damn if I am a nuisance, I'm not freaking quitting!  Sana's eyes drooped and she yawned. I honestly should quit cussing so much.

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"Fridays are the best," Naozumi stretched as they all walked home, without the familiar face of Akito.

"After Saturday, of course," Tsuyoshi nodded.

"Yeah, but tomorrow I have to act again. Though its great and all, its super tiring," moaned Naozumi.

"I can't believe a whole week passed and 'yama's still acting the same," Yuta said.

"Seriously…" the mood of the atmosphere changed and the four walked in silence. It was broken when Keiichi's phone rang.

"Hello?" Keiichi bowed his head a little to his friends and walked a few feet away. "Hai, hai… whoa! …Okay, be there soon as I can. Ja," he closed the phone and frowned at his friends. "I have to go."

"Damn, already?"

"Yeah, my family's going to some springs this weekend and we, uh, gotta head out tonight."

"Springs?"

"Yeah… my granddad wanted to be buried there…"

"Oh—OH!" Naozumi dropped his hand from his head. "Well… um, good… good… luck, I guess…"

"Thanks," Keiichi smiled briefly. "And I'm sorry," he added.

"For what?" Tsuyoshi wondered.

Lying to all of you. "Um, not being able to go see Naozumi act." 

"Nah, its not your fault. We should be sorry," Naozumi waved his hand around. "We'll say 'hi' to Sana for ya, k?"

"Thanks," Keiichi waved to his friends and ran off. Don't you dare do anything crazy, Mama…

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"Sana!" a mini-red car zoomed past as Keiichi opened the door to the Kurata household from the back. In the front, reporters were everywhere, trying to get a few words from the teen actress.

"Mama, shhh! I'm still Keiichi right now!"

"Tee hee~ you sure are!"

Sana watched her mom drive in circles around the poor man who was her mother's editor, on his hands and knees.

"Sensei—please!" The man meekly reached a hand out, "I need the documents!"

"Hohohoho, you'll have to catch me first!" She whizzed past again, with her editor frantically scrambling up and chasing after the writer.

"She still has so much energy," a dotted-eye Rei spoke up, as he walked over to the slumped Keiichi.

"I'll say… ne, what's the matter, anyway?"

"Some reporter claims he saw you with some boy," Rei's voice dropped in disgust, but continued to talk normally, after, "sometime last weekend… there's so many reporters who are wondering who he is."

"Were there any pictures?!" panic was all over Keiichi's face.

"No, but they—wait, so you were with a boy?!"

"There were no pictures? Oh good," Keiichi smiled in relief and shrugged at Rei. "Well, then, this should be easy to clear up. I'll tell them to go home now, okay? Be back soon," Keiichi ran upstairs.

"You were with a boy?!"

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Sana walked slowly to Akito's house and stopped at the front. Somehow, the reporters, unknowingly gave the actress an idea. She reached over to ring the doorbell, but hesitated. She looked behind her to check if there were any reporters following her and looked back at the door again. This time, she rang the doorbell and waited bravely for someone to open the door.

"Kurata-san?" Natsumi's voice was heard as the door opened.

"Just call me Sana, please!" Sana smiled and greeted the older woman who greeted her back, happily.

"So, what are you doing here, late at night? Not that I mind…"

"Ah, yes! I got you this--" Sana handed over a picture of Rei's girlfriend where an signature and some words was signed underneath.

"Ah! Thank you so much!" Natsumi grinned as she took the autograph and examined it with stars in her eyes.

"Its no problem! By the way, are the Hayama males home?"

"My dad is, but Akito took off," Natsumi scowled and grumbled a few curses. "Is there something you needed?"

"Actually, there is. Mind if I come in?"

"Oh, please do!" Natsumi closed the door after Sana came in and called out, "Look who's here, dad!"

The dark-haired man appeared and looked at the two girls. "Kurata-san?"

"Sana's just fine, sir! And yes, I've come to give you two something."

"Not just the autograph?" Natsumi asked.

"Nope, there's also this video tape…" Sana took out a black cassette and gave it to Natsumi who looked at it curiously.

"Isn't this the movie you made when you were twelve or so?"

Sana nodded. "I was hoping the stupid Hayama family would watch it."

"Stupid…?" Natsumi blinked and looked at her father, than back at Sana.

"I'm sorry—did I say stupid? I meant morons! You both are morons!" Sana pointed an accusing finger at the surprised two. "Akito is too, but that's your fault!"

"Our fault…?"

"You always yell at him, kick him out of the house, give him the cold shoulder—all the things an enemy would do to another! But you're not enemies—you guys are family! Plus—this can cause serious psychological problems! Akito's always so cruel, harasses everyone—including teachers—and he doesn't open up to anyone, not even his own best friends! You treat him like crap and he treats the rest of the world like crap too! AND HE WANTS TO DIE!" Sana put her arms up for effect, her eyes huge and wide.

"Is this true?" Akito's dad asked Sana quietly.

"Don't act like you don't know! If my own family treated me this way, I'd act the same too! You idiots better do something about it!" Sana ran to the door but stopped. She turned around briskly and bowed her head a little. "And uh, please watch the movie," she added in a small whisper, then walking out the door.

"The storm's gone," remarked the Hayama male. The Hayama female nodded, her eyes still dotted.

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Sana walked away from the household and to the park where she and Akito were last weekend. She quietly looked around her surroundings as she pondered on the frustrating question that wouldn't stop bugging her. Why do I insist on helping him?

She stopped when she came upon a bench and a familiar figure sitting there. "Akito…?"

The person turned around and frowned. Bingo, I found my victim. Sana walked slowly over to the bench, hoping Akito wouldn't run. She sat down next to him when she reached her destination and looked at her somewhat companion. 

"What do you want now?"

"Did your mother die?"

"And the prize goes to the genius to my right," Akito said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"How did she die?" Sana continued.

"Giving birth to me. Aren't I such a demon?" smirked Akito, looking at the ground.

"Are you sad you didn't have a mom when you were growing up?"

"Am I going through another round of twenty questions?" Akito looked at Sana, a frown stuck on his face. Sana turned away and looked at the stars. Akito sighed. "There's no way I could possibly be sad over a person who I didn't even know." He turned his head to his left, not really bothering to look at anything in particular.

"I think I understand…" Sana said softly. "Well… why don't I be your mom?"

"What are you talking about?" Akito started to get annoyed again.

"Just for tonight! You'll see!" Sana pulled off her hair band and let her hair loose. "Now, come on, lay here," she scooted over so Akito could lie down and patted her lap.

"Are you kidding me?"

"C'mon!"

"You've gone mental," he commented, ready to walk away.

"Come here!" Sana grabbed his hand and pulled him down. Akito fell to the bench and onto Sana's lap. "Aw, did Aa-chan get a bruise?" She rolled him so that he was looking at her and then grabbed his arm. She examined it and shook her head. "You should be careful," she tsked and started to rub his wound.

"You're the one who made me crash!"

"Now, now, don't talk to your mother this way," she soothed him. She rubbed a little bit more and then began to speak again. "Dearest Aa-chan," she whispered, trying to remember the lines from her movie. "I loved you before you were born… I loved you more than anything…" She stopped rubbing his wound and laid his arm back down. Smoothing down his hair now, she continued. "That's why I gave birth to you…" She rested her fingers and touched his cheek. "You must live… live for me…"

"And if I die?" came Akito's reply. Sana groaned inwardly.

"Then I'll be sure to spank you a million times and more in heaven, cause I know you would have done it on purpose." Sana retorted, rolling her eyes. "Stupid Akito, try, won't you?"

"…I'm living right now, aren't I?"

Sana grinned and looked down at her 'son'. "Yes you are." She patted his cheek and gestured for him to get up. "C'mon now, let's take you home."

"You walk me home?" He got up and snorted. "You ought to be kidding."

"Was I kidding about the whole mother thing?"

Akito shook his head and sighed. "Let's get you away from me. Which way is your house?"

"Awwww, does Aa-chan want to walk his mommy home?"

"Can we stop with the mom business?"

"Answer my question and I'll think about it," she said teasingly.

"I'll leave you in an alley if you don't point the way right now," Akito threatened.

"Then I'll just follow you home," Sana grinned.

"Point. The. Way."

"Wow, no cussing! You're improving, my little Aa-chan!" Sana giggled at his exasperated expression and she pinched his cheek. He glared at her once more and prepared to leave again. "Hey! Don't leave me here!" She chased after him and grasped his arm.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Back to cussing again, I see," Sana nodded sadly. "Its okay, 'mother' can handle it!"

"Quit being my mom already!"

"You're are no fun," Sana made a face and shrugged. "Ah well, at least you're not pushing me away, tee hee!"

"There's no point since you'd find a way to latch onto me again," grumbled Akito.

"And what's that supposed to mean?!"

"It means you can't keep your hands off me," smirked Akito. Veins popped out of Sana's head. She was ready to take her mallet out but changed her mind.

"Of course, after all, mothers must always be careful, so that their precious, little baby won't be taken away!" She patted his arm after pinching his cheek again.

"I hate you," Akito muttered.

"I love you too," sang Sana, letting go of Akito and twirling around. Akito rolled his eyes and walked away. "Hey! Come back!"

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A/N: Hohohohohohohoho! Nine pages~! Yay!

Yeah, so that might not be a lot to some authors, but it is to me and I can't wait to get cracking on chapter 6, now that our cutie, Akito-chan is warming up to our miracle-worker, Sana-chan!

Therefore R/R if you want the next chapter out soon as possible! Domo arigato, minna-san!