Yes, I'm back and ready to move this fic forward, yahoo! Sorry for the looooong wait my lovelies! Now, a warning for this chapter: I have no idea what the law truly says about legal guardians in cases of orphans and all that, and to be honest, I didn't do any research. So whatever you may read here, I assure you it's merely for the purpose of making the story funnier and juicier!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own KnB.

Miss Tabata turned her head and her eyes focused only on Akira. Her gaze had warmed considerably. She even has a small smile pulling at her lips. "It's OK to let him see that you hurt. Mr. Kagami is a knucklehead, but he's a good man. I can tell. If there is anything he can do to help, he will without a moment's hesitation", she leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially.

"Hmph!", Akira frowned, turning his head to the side in a snobby way. "He only wants some monetary reward or something, for saving me".

And that part was killing him. Of course he hurt, of course he mourned for his parents. But he was well aware how others viewed him, despite his young age. Sole heir to loads of money. Land. Stocks. And so much more. No matter how kind a person, they always wanted something in return. So he refused to let them see him at his weakest. As long as he was alive, nobody would take advantage of his parents' fortune.

"Oi! You - ", the fireman started to protest, his face red with anger, but his pager chose that exact moment to interrupt. He looked at it hesitantly, like he wanted to go help whoever needed him this time, but still keep an eye on the boy in front of him. His red eyes stole a glance at the social worker, who nodded once and then turned back to Akira, already dismissing the man. With a resigned sigh, he ran out the door, his shoulders slumped but his stride determined.

The boy looked at the woman who was silently watching him, willing the slight pang in his chest to fade. Not all of them were bad, no. Miss Tabata had nothing in it for her, and yet she cared. And Haruko… That maid, back home, she cared for him unconditionally, too. Them, he could trust. The man who had just rushed out of the room? *No way!*

As if she had somehow guessed his thoughts, the social worker sighed "You need him, we both know that. If you wish for your parents' fortune to stay in your name, you need a legal guardian – two, to be exact".

This time, it was Akira's turn to slump in defeat. His parents had no close relatives. Unless someone offered to act as his parent, everything the Yamamotos owned would go to waste – and he'd end up in an orphanage. He knew that much, the woman at his side had told him so when they first met. He had just hoped she would find another way. Apparently not…

"Can't Haruko do it?", he asked, even though he already suspected the answer.

"I'm sorry", she replied sadly. "But as a member of the household staff, the law cannot accept her. It has to be someone who has never worked for your family, and who doesn't care for your money. And they have to be married. Singles cannot be accepted, either". She paused and looked at the door "He blames himself for not saving all of you. Firemen are like that, you know. I think he's hurting, too".

Was this a trap? No, it felt too genuine to be that. But Akira refused to let his heart hope or be happy at the thought that there was someone who didn't know him well enough and yet wished him happiness. "As if he's want to do it…", he mumbled, cheeks pink at the silent admission that, despite his bravado and tough guy act, he really wanted somebody in his corner.

Miss Tabata smiled at this. Her smile was bigger and warmer than he had ever seen before "I wouldn't be so sure about that… When I presented to him the possibility of you going to an orphanage if he refused to help, he was eager to do anything". She winked at him mischievously "Now we just need to find a woman willing to marry him in less than a month!"

PREVIEW:

"Do you happen to know him? Kagami-kun, that is..."

"Kurochin, leave Hayachin alone..."