Disclaimer: I suddenly feel I am very long winded here... I don't own Hikaru No GO

Coiling Death: Well, Akari didn't feel like attending the ball in the first place. She would have thrown both tickets away if she didn't think it will be a waste. I kind of like the scene with Yuii too. I just thought Akari had to do something to help Touya...

Jamfase: You're very observant. But I am still not telling 'wink wink'. Yuii is different when she first met Touya, then her true colours started flashing. Remember, Touya's point of view about girls? 'They love to pretend' , 'fakes'. BTW, Hikaru will be coming into the picture sooner than anyone think. He is still after all Akari's best friend.

Xiar: Yeah KL the capital city of everything and also the polluted city... all the cars and smoke. The very busy town with jam, heavy traffic everyday. It's crazy! But Night Life in KL is a bomb LOL. More fluff will be coming up, 'wink wink'.

Kari55: LOL, everyone seemed very interested about that scar. Yeah it has to do with Akari's past and that is all I am telling for now. Her past will reveal soon... its coming.

Haruko Akira: Thanks for giving me advice. I'll try to write better next time and break up the sentences. Actually I had already break down the sentences in this chapter. I hope, it is much easier to read now! If there is anymore mistakes, don't hesitant to point them out. I really appreciate it alot.

Feely: A bit of fluff there the previous chapter and more to come up in following chapters... btw more surprises too.

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful reviews! Hope you enjoy this chapter... if there is time, pls don't hesitant to review

Chapter 9

Ring… ring...ring….

Akari opened her eyes gradually, feeling agitated towards that alien sound wrenching her out of her peaceful slumber. She remembered she didn't set the alarm, so why are there ringing sounds in her head. It was her off day and she didn't need to wake up early. Besides, she stayed up late last night watching some rented movies, pigging out with some popcorns.

It took her a few moments to get her bearing back and realized that it was the phone. Yanking the covers away from her, she practically stumbled out her room, to the only phone she had in the apartment, in the small living room on the television.

"Moshi moshi Fujisaki residence…" Akari croaked into the receiver her eyes still half close. "Fujisaki Akari speaking here…."

"Akari-chan, it's me…."

"Mitani-oneechan?" Akari eyes suddenly became wide opened at Mitani's panicky voice. "What's wrong…?"

"I think you should come down to the café right now!"

Akari sucked in her breath painfully when she arrived, then shut her eyes tight letting her breath go slowly. She stood a few feet away from the café feeling as if her heart had been pried out from her cruelly. It wasn't happening to her, not when everything was going so well!

Some police stood outside her café, her window and glass door smashed; broken pieces of glass everywhere. It took her ages to make her way closer to her café. The police looked up at her when she approached and one of them stopped her.

"Miss this is a crime scene…"

"I am the owner!" Akari replied in a dull rather lifeless voice. "When did this happen?"

"It had happened very early in the morning or maybe last night miss…."

"Fujisaki…." Akari offered. "Fujisaki Akari…."

"I'm sorry this had to happen, Fujisaki-san, but I have few questions I have to ask you."

"Sure…." Akari stared inside her café at Mitani, who was talking to one of the kitchen staff urgently.

The interrogation went for a few minutes and after the police had written down all the details she had told them, finally Akari could step into her chaotic café. She didn't even need to push the glass door opened, as she just stepped inside through the glassless frame. Her shoes crushed noisily on the broken glass strewn everywhere. She looked around slowly and her expression unreadable, examining the damage that was done to her beautiful working place.

Some chairs and table broken… the pot of plants decorating the place pushed over and pots broken. The cash register machine thrown on the floor, the drawer containing their money where visible for her to see. It was empty. A hand flew to her forehead and she suck in a deep breath before she retreat to the kitchens to see the damage inside. What she saw nearly made her faint. She never could imagine the kitchen could be that bad.

"Akari-chan… I think it's time to take a seat!" Mitani said softly behind her touching her shoulders gently.

"Why?" Akari frowned at the damaged they had done to the kitchen. "There was nothing for them to take in the kitchen! So why?"

Mitani was silent, as Akari moved away from her and walked into the kitchen where her staff stood aside, watching her rather sadly. She bent over to pick up a dented pot by its handle and looked at it, hands shaking slightly. The placed was littered with cabbage, broken eggs and broken plates. Some other utensils on the floor too. The freezer where they kept their frozen food were all opened and her stocks all thrown out to the floor.

"Like I would stash money in there!" Akari pointed the pot over to the freezer.

"Akari-chan…" Mitani opened her mouth but Akari held up her hand to stop her.

"Ok everyone," Akari took a deep breath. "Let's work together and clean up this mess!"

"YEAH!" Her employees shouted giving her hope.

Akari smiled softly, glad that her colleagues were so helpful. "So what are you all waiting for?" She cried out like a coach. She has to be strong no matter what. "We have a long day ahead of us!"

"Ok boys let's kick it!" Mitani joined in, giving Akari her stamina too.

"Yes, I need someone immediately." Akari spoke over the phone, tapping a pen on the notepad before her at the counter. "Well it is urgent you see… I want to reopen my café as soon as possible again!"

There was a pause, Akari listened over the receiver before her eyes widened with rage and surprise.

"You are charging me extra 100,000 yen just because I need someone now!"

She slammed the phone down, crossed out the renovation agent off her list swiftly, picked up the receiver again hastily and dialed another number quickly. She took a deep breath while waiting the person to pick up the line.

"Moshi moshi…."

"Right, I want to make some enquiries about…."

It was almost passed two hours she was on the phone trying to get a reasonable prizing to get her café renovated again. After crossing the final agent out her list she finally lean back her chair, pulling her leg up hugging them towards her front and her head bowed on her knees. She heard a soft tap, like a cup placed softly on the counter in front of her. She smiled softly and looked up.

"Don't work yourself out Akari-chan." Mitani said softly. "Yuuki is very worried about you too. He called you five times today but every time he did you were so busy."

"Thanks…" Akari whispered taking the mug of hot chocolate Mitani had made for her. "Tell him I doing fine, the café will be open soon again… tell him not to worry. I'll call him when I can."

Finally Akari had no choice but used her rent money for her apartment to start the renovation of her café. She couldn't afford halting and hesitating anymore, even her apartment rent was actually due almost two weeks ago. She wished with all her heart that the landlord would understand though she doubt it, but she didn't have a choice. She can't keep Eternal Snow close for too long. The longer it stayed close, it will cost her more funds.

Tired and worn out for the day, Akari dragged her feet up the stairs to her apartment that night to be greeted by a small note from her landlord stuck on her door. She read it slowly, tore it away from the door roughly and crushed it in her hand before she opened the apartment door, tossing the crumpled piece of paper to the corner of the room and staggered inside, tumbling onto her bean bag, falling asleep instantly.

Early next morning, Akari was yanked out from her slumber again. She looked up, wondering what woke her up and why her back hurt so much, only to realize that she practically skip dinner and fell asleep on the bean bag for the whole night. No wonder her whole body hurts. A sharp knock from the front door snapped her head to the direction. So that was what woke her up. Groggily she got up to her feet and opened the door. Instantaneously, all grogginess flushed down the toilet, blood drained from her face, she stared wide eyed at the person standing before her.

"Fujisaki I think you know why I am here." A huge man barked. He was three sizes bigger than Akari. Her landlord stood before her. "So you better cough up or you are out…."

It was like every morning, Touya woke very early, to read the papers at the dining area. A hot cup of tea and toast on the table still untouched. He scanned through the front page monotonously and flipped to the next. However a small picture at the corner of the second page of the papers caught his attention. He blinked staring at it properly. It was unmistaken; Akari was in that picture with two policemen talking to her. He frowned slightly and read the article quickly.

'Yesterday February 13, Fujisaki Akari the owner of Eternal Snow, stood before her café that was broken in the night before….'

Touya took a few minutes to finish reading the article, his mouth slightly ajar. He didn't go over there for breakfast yesterday. He had an early GO match and didn't have time to have breakfast at the café. Never in his life would he think something like this could happen when he wasn't around. He tossed the paper away and looked at his watch to show him that Akari should be still at her apartment. He dashed for the phone and dialed her number for the first time.

He waited silently and rather worriedly when Akari didn't answer. Still frowning, he wondered if she was still asleep or maybe she had gone to her shop early. When he was about to hang up the phone and thinking of trying her mobile, she picked it up.

"Moshi moshi…" he heard a quivering sort of voice which he could recognize as Akari, but he had no idea why she spoke that way, or did the break in of her café still upset her?

"Fujisaki-san…."

He could hear a pause of uncertainty from her side before she spoke. Well who could blame her, he never call her on the phone before.

"Touya-kun?"

Touya heard some shouting at the back ground that made his frown deepened. He couldn't make out what that person said or yelled, but he could recognize it as a male's voice.

"Is someone there with you?"

"Er… yeah… er… look Touya-kun, I'm busy at the moment…." There was a pause when he heard the man shouted again. "I'll call you back! Sorry…"

With that she hung up.

"Fujisaki-san wait…." He was greeted only by the line gone dead.

He put down the receiver slowly his mind racing. There was someone there shouting at her, and who could it be? She sound rather stressed out over the phone and she just hung up on him which was something he was sure Akari would never do to any of his friends. Unless, she didn't want to trouble anyone or let anyone know what she was doing at the moment. Something was terribly wrong and he could feel it nagging behind his head.

Quickly grabbing his car keys and coat, Touya left the house. He got into his car and sped out into the highway; with a speed that he never thought he would ever have to use. He was going over to her apartment and fast.

"You can't possibly just throw me out like that!" Akari kind of yelled back at a man almost three sizes bigger than her. "That was an agreement that says, you have to give me at least two weeks notice!"

"The contract also indicates that you have to leave if you can't pay up!" The man shouted back. "Now pack up, I already found someone else to take this lot if you can't!"

"You can't do that!" Akari screamed.

"Watch me!" The man yelled pushing her hard.

Akari lost her balance and fell to the floor harshly. She mouthed a silent 'ow', before got up to her feet again rather slowly. Her whole body screaming with pain from a bad way she slept last night, now plus some bruises for hitting the floor so hard.

"Now go pack up!"

"If you push Fujisaki-san ever again, you will find both your hands cuffed."

Akari whirled around to the door she had left opened, when the landlord just stormed into her apartment and blinked… was she dreaming? Touya dressed casually in a normal light brown jacket, stripped shirt inside and beige pants was standing at the frame of her apartment door.

"And who the hell are you?" The landlord shouted at him.

"I believe that is none of your concern." Touya replied coolly.

Touya remained collected in his usual stern expression, staring back at the man too big even to fit in Akari's small apartment. That cold stern expression only used in GO matches, and categories as most scary by Ashiwara and to many others too. He stepped inside calmly going over to Akari his stern eyes never leaving the overlarge man.

He arrived at the apartment in time to hear Akari's raised voice when he reached the first floor and followed by that male voice he heard over the phone. He quicken his steps over to her apartment to see her door left wide opened and looked in to see a huge intimidating man pushing her to the floor. At that point he could feel his blood boiling.

"Are you alright Fujisaki-san?" Touya finally tore his eyes away from him to look at Akari worriedly his features softened immediately.

Akari simply nodded, she had no idea Touya would rush over like that though she had no idea how happy she was to see him.

"How romantic," The man drawled. "I don't have time for this, now pack up or I'll do it for you."

Touya snapped his head back at him.

"If you think you can threaten Fujisaki-san again, I'll get my lawyers to write you a letter!"

The landlord stepped back slightly, but kept his furious and menacing look.

"I'll give you ten minutes, Fujisaki!" The landlord shouted at Akari ignoring Touya. He knew better than to retort to someone who was already in the edge of wanting to sue him.

"What makes you think Fujisaki-san has to leave her apartment…?" Touya challenged.

"It is in the contract she signed!" The landlord explained in a loud booming voice. "If you don't believe me, ask her."

Akari remained silent when Touya turned to her. She shut her eyes tight with a small frown on her face, taking a deep breath. She was not going to tell Touya she couldn't pay her rent. When she opened her eyes again, she looked right at the landlord her face defiant.

"Who need this place anyways?" She said furiously her chin raise slightly. "I'm leaving in ten minutes."

Touya watched Akari packing her clothes into a luggage on her bed rather quickly. She practically chucked every single clothes inside roughly. He realized she didn't really have lots of possessions that belong to her in this apartment. He looked around her room he had been inside once and something shinny caught his eyes on the dressing table. Something that wasn't there when he slept over in her room that night. It was the crystal snowman he had given her on New Year's Eve. He smiled at the sight. She had placed it next to the photo frame that held the photo of the GO club members.

However, Touya broke his gaze away from her dressing table when Akari whizzed passed him, grabbing the frame from the dresser and tossed it angrily into her luggage too. Finally she paused for a moment when she looked at the crystal snowman on the dresser. Unconsciously, she picked it up rather carefully, taking out a white handkerchief from her jeans, she wrapped the crystal snowman before she placed it in her luggage gently, unlike how she tossed all her possession in her luggage.

Touya could feel his heart warm up beautifully, to see Akari treating something he had gotten for her with so much care. When she finally clasped the luggage shut, she just took hold of the handle and flung it off the bed, turning to Touya and stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. Akari had totally forgotten that Touya was in the room with her.

"Where are you going to go Fujisaki-san?" Touya asked going closer to her.

Akari sighed and looked around her apartment one more time. It had almost been a year she moved in here after the previous place and kind of grow to like it here very much. She turned to Touya wearily and shook her head.

Now seeing her up close, Touya realized how tired Akari looked. She looked like she hadn't slept in days with dark smudges under her eyes. Her skin looked rather pale and her eyes didn't have that usual sparkle he always sees in them.

"Let me help you with your luggage." Touya said taking the bag from Akari. "If you don't have a place to go, if you don't mind, I have plenty of rooms to spare at my place."

Akari smiled softly at Touya's generous offer but shook her head again.

"Don't worry, I think I will go back to my parent's place for now…." Akari said and suddenly her mobile phone she kept in her jeans rang. She pulled it out and saw the name tag indicating it was her mother calling. She answered it quickly. "Okasan, is something a matter?"

"Akari are you alright, I read in the papers about your café!"

"The papers!" Akari nearly yelled, she haven't read the morning paper yet and looked over to Touya, just realizing why Touya called and why he came. He must have read about her café too. Calming herself down quickly, she spoke. "Okasan, calm down, I am fine!"

Touya watched Akari struggled to convince her mother that everything was alright with her. When she finally hung up she turned to Touya rather timidly.

"Erm, Touya-kun about staying over at your place…." Akari began slowly.

Now her mother knowing that she had problems with her café and if she found out she lost her apartment too, she was slightly worried her mother may do rather drastic measures like forcing her to marry someone to take care of her. So nobody should know she lost her apartment and she had to find another place soon, but before that she need a place to stay.

The moon was bright and round, splashing its moonlight splendor over the grounds of Touya's garden. Akari wrapped her arms around her waist, staring at the dark quiet neighbourhood. It was so unlike the neighbourhood she stayed in the city. Even at night, she could still hear the rumbling of car engines and sometimes the train. There was a soft knock and Akari turned to see Touya standing by the frame of the door.

"I thought I will find you here." Touya said softly.

Akari was roaming his house rather aimlessly and added up in the library a place which she had no idea why, but gave her comfort most. She smiled softly.

"Thank you Touya-kun for everything," Akari said her arms still clasped tightly around her waist. "I will pay for the rent, when I…"

"Fujisaki-san, how many times have I got to tell you that you don't have to pay me any rent!"

"But…."

Touya walked closer to her and placed a finger on her lips shutting her up. He shook his head gently. Akari could feel tears welling up her eyes; she sucked in her breath quickly holding them in check. She will not cry, no matter what kind of problems she was facing, she will not cry.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" Touya asked gently.

"No…" Akari replied shortly her voice cracked a little.

Even though it was only a little, Touya noticed her defeated and almost sad voice. Akari already turned from him and walked away. She headed for the kitchen and bent over the sink taking deep breaths. She just mustn't cry! After several minutes passed, her tears finally stop threatening to fall, only did she look up and scan around the kitchen. Suddenly remembering what day it was.

Touya smelt something that he hadn't for sometime and followed the scent to the kitchen to see Akari over the stove doing something. He inclined his head, watching her back as she worked on something. He had avoided her since he knew that she needed the space and some time to be alone, but he was curious at the suspicious scent coming from the stove.

"Fujisaki-san,"

"Do you know what day is it today Touya-kun?" She asked her back still on him. It was like she could sense that he was behind her.

"February 14," Touya replied.

"I just realized it is Valentine's Day…." Akari smiled softly, turning to him finally. "I was so occupied with things I totally forgot."

"Are you making rice wine?" Touya asked. That scent still spiked his nose.

"I always had these on Valentine with my friends." Akari explained. "But since I don't feel like going out, there is no way I could meet them right. So want to join me?"

Touya smiled gently and nod once. How could he refuse her?

Sake was usually made stronger than any alcohol there are. After only two small bottles Akari was totally zonked out. She lay on the Japanese dining table on the side of her cheek, her arms stretched out. Touya was at her side quite dizzy himself. It wasn't something he liked. He never really drink shots or beer but sake he didn't mind.

"Fujisaki-san, I think you should be going to bed now…." Touya said still much sober than Akari was.

"No…." Akari looked up and shook her head like a little girl. "I am not tired yet!"

"Come let me help you upstairs…." Touya said gently.

Akari remained still, her eyes closing and without a choice Touya lifted her up in his arms for the second time, carrying her bridal style. She looked up, opening her eyes slightly and smiled before she cuddled closer to Touya comfortably closing her eyes again. Touya smiled softly at how strongly she trusts him. She looked so innocent and delicate when she closed her eyes, snuggling her head closer to his torso. He would give anything then just to plant a kiss on her but held it back. It will be extremely rude to steal a kiss from someone unconscious or barely awake. He climbed the stairs slowly towards the guest room she was staying temporary, until she find another apartment or room to occupy.

Touya bent over to place her down the bed as gently as possible, careful not to hurt her and tugged her under the covers. When he was about to straightened up, only did he realize that Akari was gripping onto his front shirt tightly. He couldn't help himself but chuckled softly.

"Why are you laughing…?" Akari asked opening her eyes again, with a gentle smile on her lips.

"It's nothing…" Since she had no intentions of letting him go, with her hand tightly clasped on his shirt and since he had no intentions to move her hand away, he knelt down next to the bed, beside her, smiling gently. "You always celebrate Valentine like this?"

Akari was oblivion to what she was doing; remain holding onto Touya's front shirt.

"I hate Valentine…" Akari whispered so softly Touya thought he heard her wrongly, but he didn't.

"May I ask why?"

"Because never once I ever went out on Valentine with a date…." Akari said in a voice so soft Touya had to lean over closer to hear her speak. Their faces so close Touya could feel Akari's warm breath on his cheek. "Is always with friends… and… I would always watched couples being so happy together…. But I couldn't be happy because I am always scared…"

Touya was speechless, staring at Akari soft gentle features. He never thought Akari would have a day she hated in her life. She was always so happy celebrating all the special occasions with her friends and never did he thought she would be upset over it.

"Touya-kun," Akari released her hand from his shirt and touched the side of his cheek gently sending shivers down Touya's spine. "I always wanted to be out on a date but I am always so afraid, but do you know what? Today, I am really happy…."

"Why?" Touya asked softly memorizing every movement Akari make.

"It felt like a date with you…" Akari's eyes were drooping as she speaks. She removed the hand from his cheek and placed a finger on his lips in a feather like touch. "This will be our little secret date…. For the first time I wasn't afraid… arigatou Touya-kun…"

Finally Akari closed her eyes and she fell into a wonderful slumber, a small smile grazes her lips. Touya still had his face close to hers watched her momentarily before he threw all his conscious out the window and screw his courteous stance. He leaned closer, closing his eyes gradually and so slowly afraid any sudden movement may startle and wake Akari, he planted a gentle and lingering kiss on her forehead.

Touya could never imagine himself doing something like this, retreated back to his room wishing, with all his might that Akari may not remember a single thing that happened tonight. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable being with him if she found out.

TBC

YAY, Akari is beginning to show some feelings, hidden feelings inside too! I know I made Akari drunk two chapters in a row. If anyone is wondering, Akari is not an alcoholic. She just like to celebrate occasions with alcohol, that's all. Muahahaha! Well if she didn't have the alcohol she wouldn't speak the truth would she? Alright readers, till next chapter