I'm now pretty sure this is gonna be a 5 Chapter + Epilogue story, which I'm aiming to churn out over the course of this week so that its all wrapped up before I start my course. Hopefully there will be enough fluff etc. Writing this pairing's felt a little different to the last two as I've included more family background and made the build up a bit slower but hopefully it will make the ending that much better.

Sony Ninja: Hope it wasn't too long a wait. I think this is the first Chapter with some fluff although it won't get really hot until the 5th Chapters and Epilogue.

xxWfCPxx: Thanks for the edit checks :) - And yes but probably/hopefully not quite as you anticipate. Yeah we should go to the zoo or a forest again soon, or Kew Gardens. I went to smaller botanical gardens in Sheffield recently and it reminded me of it.

I'm digressing though, so without further ado here's Chapter 3!


Chapter 3: Saving Arms

The next month passed fairly uneventfully with only slight changes in their relationship. Makie and Ako were spending far more time with each other leaving Akira and Yuna free to do more stuff on their own although the four of them still met up quite often. Yuna enjoyed nearly all the stuff they did when the four of them went out but kept her eye on Akira and when it looked like Akira was starting to zone out would sometimes go over and talk to her rather than haring off with Ako and Makie.

During the times they were by themselves Yuna learnt what Akira did and didn't like and did her best to steer their time together to the former. Akira in return seemed more willing to help Yuna out with swimming and schoolwork.

However despite these positives there still remained a wall between them. Yuna, for all her energy and confidence in trying stuff out found it evaporating faster than Saharan water when it came to asking Akira anything about her past or deep questions about Akira's life. She was still determined to help and Akira did seem a lot less depressed but Akira's lack of responsiveness and startled looks when she did manage to ask slightly deeper questions was frustrating her.

Akira on the other hand wasn't sure, outside of being slightly obsessive about her dad, that Yuna had any problems, let alone what they were or how she could help. In addition she was having to come to terms with the fact that she was the one pushing Yuna and others away. It seemed paradoxical as she'd only ever wanted to be strong friends, so she had thought, but she couldn't deny that her heart was reluctant to trust Yuna with her feelings: Her subconscious mind perversely scared of the possibility of achieving what she wanted, true closeness with someone.

For both, occasional thoughts of the other in a less than modest position buzzed about their minds from time to time but the idea of asking the other out remained a hazy dream dismissed as unrealistic. The unspoken cries and thoughts of the two may have ended with Akira withdrawing into herself again and Yuna defeated by the ice about Akira's heart had not a tragedy mid-way through term shattered the wall between them.

It was a Friday evening mid-term when Akira came in after an evening swim to find Yuna packing a small suitcase with clothes. She stopped and blinked before remembering what was happening. Yuuna looked up and confirmed her analysis.

"Heya Akira! I'm gonna be going to my dad's for the weekend. I should be getting a call any minute now to confirm its fine."

"Ah, ok," Akira replied as she went into the kitchen to get lunch. Yuna's dad. The person she goes on about the most. He must be an amazing person and a very lucky guy. She ate her lunch in silence, a little put out that Yuna would be gone the whole weekend but determined not to show it. As she finished her ham salad she noticed Yuna had moved to the chair and was keying in numbers on her phone with a worried expression. Yuna put her phone to her ear for a few seconds before her brow furrowed and she cancelled the call.

"What's wrong?" Akira asked.

"My dad was supposed to ring me at six but he didn't so I thought I'd ring him and when I did his home phone went dead part way through the call." Akira glanced at the plain white clock above Yuna's head. It was six-fifteen. Yuna tried to call again but this time hardly waited anytime at all before snapping the phone shut. Her hands are shaking! Akira noted in shock.

"Maybe he just forgot?" She said trying to console Yuna. It seemed to have the opposite effect.

"He never forgets! He can't forget me! He needs me! Besides the phones dead." Yuna snapped back.

Are those tears forming under her eyes? It was the first time Akira had ever seen Yuna so shaken. Given how much time Yuna had spent with her recently ensuring she was happy she instinctively sought to try and do all she could to help. Rising she said,

"Do you want me to come with you to your dad's? I'm sure it's nothing but having two there will be better, right?" Yuna blinked away the threatening teardrops.

"Uhh, sure. But, I mean it's half an hours ride each way. Are you sure?" Akira gripped Yuna's suitcase and walked towards the door.

"Perfectly sure!" She said and feeling she needed to justify her strange behavior added, "I hate to see you worrying." Ack! This is why I remain silent. So I don't start saying strange things like that. She opened the door and glanced back. Yuna was sliding her trainers on and when she looked up there was a faint smile among the worry etched in her face.

"Thanks," Yuna said simply and suddenly Akira felt like her day had improved immeasurably. Shoot! Focus Akira! Now is not the time for spacing out.

"Kay, ready?" She asked and Yuna nodded as she walked over to the door.

"Yeah," but her reply lacked its usual vigor.

They rode by train to the small town where Yuna's dad lived in near silence. Yuna looking increasingly worried as they drew closer, nothing like her normal happy self. Ten minutes from the station she whispered,

"I'm scared Akira. Something isn't right. I know it! I felt like this when mum..." Akira felt a strong urge to pull Yuna close and comfort her.

I know that pain Yuna although I've never physically lost my parents. Damn! Why didn't I realise from your devotion to your dad that losing your mum must have hurt you so much, and now something might be wrong with your dad! I'm so blind to your troubles! Yuna looked so tense and ghost like that Akira wrapped her left arm around her shoulders and drew her to her side, surprised that Yuna offered no resistance.

"I'm here for you Yuna. I'll do my best to ensure nothing happens to him. I promise!" Yuna's only answer was to remain attached to her side for the rest of the journey until they reached the station stop. There they grabbed the first taxi and made good time to Yuna's dad's house, a second floor apartment in a traditional rectangular housing block. As the taxi approached the turning into the close a small white van screeched out from it and shot off up the highway at speed, its number plate a mess of mud.

"Oh!" Yuuna gasped as she grasped what that might mean. The taxi rolled down the drive and ahead they could see tendrils of smoke drifting from the second floor of the nearest block. Yuna turned even paler and tears pricked her eyes. The sight stirred such a deep longing to help in Akira that she was out of the taxi in a flash.

"Yuna, phone the emergency services! Which room would your dad be in?" Yuna didn't grasp quite why Akira wanted to know but she was still in control enough to obey directions. Shakily she began pulling out her phone.

"His study's the second window of the second floor along the right side of the block." Akira glanced at the building; the smoke was thickest at the front where the stairs ran up to the second floor. I'll have to try the back anyway! No time to ponder if it's the right choice.

"Have them bring a trampoline round the back," she yelled and sprinted to the rear of the block with her black hair flowing loose in a dark glistening stream and her long legs effortlessly eating up the distance. Each footstep thudded on the tarmac like the sound of a counter on a ticking time bomb. Akira kept her eyes focused upwards to the second floor as she rounded the corner of the building only briefly glancing down to ensure she didn't trip up.

The back had a drainpipe which was a promising start and although the study window was closed the first window on the second floor was wide open. If it was a burglary then that's probably how they got in. Adrenaline was flowing freely through her veins and everything she was doing felt like it was in slow motion. Beneath it all though and driving her unhesitatingly forward was the look on Yuna's face and how much worse it would become if she wasn't in time.

She tore off her shoes and socks to give her purchase on the drainpipe and pulled herself up level with the window in seconds thanks to her strong arms and legs. The open sill was a few centimeters to her left but the gap between the pipe and sill was a lot further apart than she had thought from below. Desperation pushed her to override her fear and she managed to swing herself through in one go, tumbling into the bathroom. Her bottom caught the sink as she tumbled in and she landed on all fours on the tiled floor.

Ouch! That's going to hurt tomorrow. Woah! So much smoke and heat even here. Smoke already covered the top half of the bathroom and the air was dry and hot. Grimacing Akira crawled to the door, which was slightly ajar, and pulled it open from the bottom. As she did more smoke billowed into the room and the heat increased, clawing at her face. Choking in the smoky air she pulled her T-shirt up and over her face and wriggled out into the blackening passageway.

Yuna's dads study should be ahead on the right. I might be able to reach it, just. She used her knees and jacket covered elbows to edge along the passage and avoid touching the scorching floor with her bare skin. As she approached the sliding study door she saw, through the thin smoky haze about the floor, flickering, dancing, hungry light crackling and even as she stared at it, it grew taller and bigger as it ate away the weak wooden walls.

No choice. I have to get into the study now! Akira threw herself through the wood and paper-mache partition that broke apart easily. Her hands and feet making contact with the carpeted study floor and her T-shirt slipping from her face, causing her to choke and her skin to burn.

"Ahhh!" Hastily she pulled the T-Shirt back over her face.

Must find him! There! Straight ahead! Professor Akashi was lying on the floor tied up and with a gash to the side of his head. Akira crawled forwards fearing the worst. Reaching him she checked for a pulse and breathed a small sigh of relief, it was faint but still there. Now what?

Glancing behind her she could see the fire was well on its way to closing off any escape back to the bathroom, and had started to feed on the books in the study. No choice. Must get him to the window. Taking a deep breath through her T-Shirt she then let it fall and grabbed Yuna's dad under his shoulders. Standing up she winced at the pain that seared through her feet. As quickly as she could she moved towards where the window should be, dragging Yuna's dad with her. Soon she bumped into a desk that she slid onto and shuffled backwards along, scattering books and a computer until her back hit a solid glass wall. The crackling roar of the fire was deafening and it was growing much, much hotter now it had entered the fuel packed library; rushing closer with terrifying speed.

Must find the latch! Come on! So hot and lungs are dry and need to breathe but can't cos of the smoke. Latch! Owww hot! But it's open!

She thrust the square window open allowing the smoke and heat to funnel out of the room but at the same time allowing oxygen in to stoke the fire. She turned her head and gasped in some fairly clean air as she pulled Yuna's dad up to the sill entrance. Thank God my muscles are so strong from swimming. Without them I'm not sure I'd have made it.

She turned round so that her back was to the fire and her legs were outside: Yuna's dad stretched across her lap unconscious with a nasty gash to his head. He needs to get to hospital quickly! Smoke washed over her in rolling waves, stinging her eyes and clouding her view. The only consolation was that the whipping breeze blew it quickly away and offered some relief from the burning behind. The fire, with new life breathed into it from the wind, had reached the desk and the entire study was a scorching furnace. In the distance Akira thought she heard the faint jangling sound of the fire service and Yuna's voice shouting something.

Must hold onto those things and ignore the pain to my back. I must hold on a little while longer for Yuna and her dad. She turned her attention to Yuna's dad. Such a kindly looking face. So this is the man Yuna admires so much. Hmph! He's spilt food on his suit. Well maybe he did that when the muggers came. I guess I can give him the benefit of the doubt.

It was such an odd train of thought to be having that she chuckled, then gasped in pain as a flame licked her stinging back and her top caught fire. She heard running footsteps but the smoke obscured her view to the right, where the wind was blowing it. Then a trampoline started unfurling itself from the haze directly below and Yuna also appeared, using the wall for support.

The fire was spreading across her back bringing painful tears to her eyes. She gritted her teeth and held on, keeping her eyes fixed on Yuna's face. For Yuna! Just wait until the trampolines fully unfurled. Arrgh!

The trampoline tightened and she heard Yuna yell 'Jump' so she let herself fall with the pain, keeping an arm beneath the professor to ensure he landed safely on the trampoline with her. They bounced and now all she could see was the sky clouded by a stream of smoke, all she could feel was the burning on her back and all she could think of was Yuna's face and how she longed for it to be happy. She passed out.

Lights. Bright lights. Oh no, am I dead? There was a fire. I don't feel dead, just sore. Blink. No, they're normal lights above my head and soft sheets and white walls. Ah, this must be the hospital.

Akira let her mind re-orientate and then slowly eased herself up to look round. She was in a cubicle made of white curtain with a wall behind her and a small dresser to her left. Clinical and tidy. She noticed that she was covered in bandages from the waist up and that she was simply wearing plain white knickers with a white hospital gown over the top. She also smelled of smoke. These thoughts flashed through her mind in seconds but the thought of smoke finally triggered the memory of why she had been involved with the fire.

"Ah!" She gasped, sitting bolt upright. "Yuna!"

Is her dad all-right? She glanced about anxiously and checked no weird tubes were attached to her body. They weren't so she slipped from the bed. On the floor a pair of fluffed white slippers sat by the bedside, which she gratefully slipped on and then shuffled to the curtains. Her back throbbed painfully but otherwise she felt fine.

Peeking outside the curtain she noted all was quiet in the ward. This was probably where low risk patients were kept overnight. Pulling the dressing gown tight about her she grimaced and stepped out. She wasn't sure what time it was but she couldn't wait. She needed to find Yuna.

Yuna sat outside the operating theater in a bleak empty corridor on a green plastic seat as she had done for a while now. My dad's in a critical condition. No more house either though at least it was insured. My life's gonna be somewhat different in the future. And the future is so uncertain. What if, what if he...Who could I turn to for help, care for?

As she asked the question her heart replied with crystal firmness. Akira of course! Who else? But, but, but why the buts? She risked everything to save the person you care for most and burnt her back in the process. Caring for a girl still feels a little strange though and could she ever care about me in that way? Anyway dad hasn't di...gone away yet...

Tears welled up within her and the huge gnawing pain and emptiness that she hadn't felt since her mother had died churned her insides to mush. Sobs shook her frame and she buried her head in her hands.

Why? What if they do come out and say, and say…What if Akira's only a friend and nothing more? How will I go on? How can I be strong and energetic mother?

She was so lost in her own pain she didn't hear the quiet footsteps approach her or hear Akira sliding into the plastic seat next to hers. The first she knew of Akira's presence was when a strong right arm wrapped about her shoulder and drew her head into Akira's bosom.

So warm. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. The smell and shape was all too familiar, be it smoke tainted. All the same she sobbed out,

"Akira?" Akira's left hand ran gently through her hair.

"Shhh, I'm here Yuna so don't be scared." Yuna felt her doubts and fears melting in Akira's hold. Silly! How could I not feel safe in her arms? Here I am safe. Here I am given rest from the world's heartbreaks. Her own arms wrapped tighter about Akira and she buried her head as close as she could to Akira, her sobs lessening but tears still flowing.

"Don't leave me alone Akira, please?"

Akira gazed down at Yuna clinging to her and trembling in her arms. At that moment Akira realised just how much she wanted to protect her, to keep her safe and to be there for her.

As she is my life so I shall be her strength! How can I care for her this much? If this isn't love then I don't know what is. Even if she never sees me in such a light I will be there for her.

"Of course Yuna." Her hand continued stroking Yuna's hair gently as she remembered all the moments they'd been together in the past month or so and sighed happily. They had definitely been the best few weeks of her life. Yuna's sobbing had died down now and she mumbled from the dressing gown.

"Why the sigh?" Akira flushed.

"Ah. I was just thinking back on how much happier I've been these last few weeks." Yuna's body stopped trembling.

"Why?" she whispered, looking up wide eyed.

"Because..." Oh what the hell, I can't think of a good lie anyway. "Because of you..." Akira held her breath in case Yuna jerked away but instead she snuggled up closer into Akira's lap, Akira now holding her head in the crook of her right arm whilst Yuna's legs stretched across her lap.

"Goodie..." Yuna whispered and then reached up and kissed Akira on the cheek before falling back into Akira's right arm with eyes closed. Seconds later she was sleeping soundly, worn out from the days events and trying to forget the terror lurking at the back of her mind. Akira smiled as the warm press of Yuna's lips on her cheek lingered long after Yuna had drifted away.

Even if she doesn't love me like boy at least I know she loves me, Akira thought contentedly. Now please live Professor Akashi! For your daughter's sake, please stay alive! Also exhausted her head slipped down on top of Yuna's and she drifted into a deep sleep.

Morning arrived with birdsong and sunlight streaking along the corridor from a window at the far end. Yuna was first to wake, opening her eyes to find herself staring at a white wall. A second later she realised Akira's head was next to hers. She turned bright red for a second as she remained staring into Akira's eyes and red lips, so kissable. But before such thoughts could play more havoc with her mind she remembered what was troubling the back of her mind.

"Dad!" She gasped, waking Akira who opened her eyes blearily, then raised her own head as everything flooded back.

"How is he?" She asked instinctively. Yuna was about to say she didn't know when they both noticed a young doctor sitting on the seats along from them, watching them. Rising he walked over holding a clipboard.

"Professor Akashi's daughter?"

"Yes," Yuna managed to choke out.

"I thought I'd wait until you woke before I told you. Your father's condition is now stable. He'll be alright." Yuna didn't even have the mental energy to cheer or punch the air. She merely slumped in the seat with relief.

"When can we visit him?" Akira asked. The doctor smiled.

"Probably not for a couple of days but if you give me a phone number I'll contact you when he can." Akira nodded and gave him Yuna's number. He in turn took it down and then gave Akira a searching glance.

"And you young lady, Akira I believe, shouldn't you have been resting in the upper ward? You have burns to your back."

Akira coloured a little, "but I had..." The doctor waved her protests away.

"It's no matter. You're fine to go anyway. The burning will leave a scar though. Actually I think your mums gonna come by and pick you up with a spare change of clothes at ten and take you home."

"Ah, right," Akira said in a neutral tone. That's my parents down to the bone. They hear I've been burned and instead of rushing round they drop by the next morning with clothes and a lift. Well I guess its caring in a way. She glanced down at Yuna who was still looking a little frayed. I can't just let her go back to school alone like this.

"You're welcome to come back to mine and stay for the weekend," Akira said to Yuna whose face relaxed considerably.

"Are you sure your parents won't mind?" Yuna asked.

"Perfectly sure," Akira said a touch tritely. It was all she could do not to add on afterwards, "I could bring a 12 foot crocodile home and they wouldn't care so long as it didn't disrupt their routine."

"Then I'd like that," Yuna said and for the first time since making the phone call home excitement crept back into her voice and her eyes danced a little.

"Then if you'd like to follow me I can show you back to Miss Akira's ward where I'll guide your mother to when she comes," the doctor said pleasantly.

"Thank you," Akira answered back with a smile as Yuna slid from her lap to stand up and stretch. Her T-shirt rising over her belly making Akira blush then shake her head.

We're best friends! I'm her support! Not a pervert! She shook her head and stood up. Thank goodness her dad's safe though! And for her to say what she said last night, it really does feel like a new dawn...