Right, have finished writing all 6 chapters now so will edit them and have them up over the next few days. This Chapter completes the middle arc of this story at Yuna's house. The final arc will then jump forwards to the Christmas Hols (for the 5th Chapter and Epilogue).

Sony Ninja: Ahhh, right - that's interesting. Is the US name for them 'pants' then? Glad you liked it :D - 'fraid, despite the title, there's not much lemony stuff in this Chapter but I'm hoping the end of 5 and the epilogue will more than make up for it.

xxWfCPxx: Glad you enjoyed it :D. Ladder, well maybe :S I'm not hugely knowledgeable on the Japanese fire service or hospital system unfortunately; but I was fairly sure fire engines carried 'trampolines' for people to escape burning buildings - and here it was more practical to use a trampoline than a ladder & yep this will be a Chapter focusing on Akira's homelife.


Chapter 4: A Tempestuous Tongue

They had half an hour to wait after the doctor finished a quick check of Akira's back. Once he had gone Yuna entered the curtained chamber and sat on the bed by Akira looking abashed. Another emotion I rarely see in her. Also cute. Finally Yuna spoke.

"I'm sorry Akira. I was so worried about my dad that I didn't even check how you were doing. And I owe you so much." Akira's heartbeat jumped.

"Don't worry Yuna! I'm fine! And it's only right you were completely focused on your dad last night; but I'm glad you're concerned."

Yuna wondered if it was her imagination or was Akira talking more than usual and seemed happier? Still she couldn't move on till she was satisfied Akira was fine.

"Does it hurt much?"

Akira paused and once again found herself unable to lie. Even to tell a white lie.

"Yeah, a bit. It itches and stings but apparently that will die down in a few days time." She was both gratified and troubled to see Yuna's brows furrow with consternation, then as though a light bulb had gone off in Yuna's head her face cleared and she shot off a question.

"So what's your home like?"

Akira spent some time talking about her house, the gardens and her room and Yuna drank it all in eagerly.

As Akira talked about her back I remembered that the best thing I could do to help her is to be energetic and happy myself. There are times when I fall so low I can't and then I need someone to keep me afloat, but when I reach the surface I can support others again. Akira's house sounds amazing with its large tennis courts and both an outdoor pool and indoor pool! Her parents must be rich. Come to think of it she hasn't mentioned her parents once! Or siblings, but I assume she doesn't have any.

Before she could pry further the curtain opened and the doctor emerged with a tall blonde woman wearing a smart white shirt and black trousers.

"Ah, Akira," she said crisply handing Akira a bundle of neatly pressed clothes. "Your mother could not make it so she sent me to give you your clothes and drive you home." Akira sighed and took them whilst Yuna sat with her mouth wide open. Akira gave her an odd glance and then remembered her manners.

"Oh, Yuna this is Tina our housekeeper. Tina this is Yuna my school friend whose dad was caught up in the fire. Is it okay if she stays at ours over the weekend?" Tina gave Yuna a brief uninterested glance and nodded.

"Sure, that won't be a problem."

Tina and Yuna slipped out of the curtained enclosure to allow Akira time to change. Outside Yuna felt tongue tied and awkward. Inside she was seething.

Their daughter's seriously burnt and not only do they not rush to the hospital but they send a fudging maidservant because they're too busy! Too busy, grrrr…

"What do Akira's parents do?" She found herself asking. Tina stopped glancing at the white wall and the ticking clock above the door to focus a pair of grey-green eyes on her, replying flatly.

"Akira's dad works as a top city stockbroker and her mum works as an inner city solicitor. She had a new case come up this morning so couldn't come. They should both be home tonight though. Her father will be returning from two months work in China."

"Oh." Yuna managed and stalled as her mind began racing furiously. Her father is away for several months at a time and her mother is a lawyer who puts her work first. I'm also pretty sure Akira's an only child. No wonder she's so quiet.

The stiff silence between them was broken by Akira's emergence in dark jeans and a plain blue polo neck top. As she emerged Tina rose and began striding off, beckoning them to follow.

The drive to Akira's house, the baths taken to wash away the smoky smell and lunchtime all passed peacefully. With her father safe and her body replenished Yuna had returned to her normal self and after lunch suggested exploring the grounds. Akira was happy to oblige and so they set off having been told dinner was to be at 6pm. The day was cold with more cloud than blue sky and the leaves on the trees were awash with bright autumnal colors. Yuna often skipped on ahead or off to the side as she explored the huge grounds in excitement but always returned quickly to Akira's side, usually shooting off a ream of questions about the grounds.

On reaching a clump of trees with rafts of branches spiraling upwards Yuna began climbing, then stopped.

"Is your back okay for climbing?" Akira nodded.

"Yeah. It only stings and hurts if I lie on it, it's not seriously damaged." Yuna grinned.

"Then let's see who can climb the highest!" Akira hesitated. Her parents would never ban this sort of thing but she could see their disapproving faces on the few times they had gone out into the garden together and she had suddenly run off into the bushes or started climbing the lower branches of a tree. Tina definitely wouldn't approve either. Yuna stopped a few more branches up and pouted.

"C'mon Akira!" The pleading voice shattered her wavering doubts and seconds later Akira found herself chasing Yuna up the tree. Branches scratched her hands and arms and twigs tangled her hair but she didn't care because she'd found something, no someone worth being with. They clambered up and up until the branches started to thin out. The sky had brightened and as Akira reached the top where Yuna was perched she found Yuna gazing out over the town to the distant sea and singing happily as she swung her legs to and fro.

"I see the sea and the sea sees me!"

Akira sat down on a branch a little below and in front of Yuna and gazed out at the incredible view. The wind whipped her hair and a fresh wild smell of cut grass and pine needle flooded her nose. Behind her Yuna had stopped singing and was simply humming the tune instead. It was somewhat childish but it made her smile because to her it made everything somehow whole and complete.

If I'd climbed this tree without her and looked out on this view alone would I have enjoyed it anywhere near as much? The answer's obvious.

"This is A-mazing Akira!" Yuna exclaimed. "I never realised you had such a fantastic place!"

"I didn't," Akira replied automatically and then realised that that would make no sense to Yuna so stuttered. "I mean yeah, it is big." Her voice became lifeless as she finished. She couldn't manage to infuse something positive into a place that had for so long felt empty. She didn't realise however how much Yuna read from her replies.

"You haven't got any siblings have you?" Yuna asked. Akira looked up in surprise.

"No."

"Ah, thought so..." Dammit! Why does my confidence always fail around now! You'd make a useless detective Yuna. At least say what you're hedging around this time. Try going direct!

"So you grew up fairly isolated?" Eep! I'm sure that sounded horrendous!

"Ahhh," Akira sighed working out where Yuna was going. Usually she would have ignored the question or given a one word answer as the pain was too deep. Besides which she didn't like burdening others with her problems.

But she did ask directly and it's probably better to try and give her more of an answer than merely yes. I just have to ignore the pain and speak. Her voice was flat and toneless when she spoke but at least for once she did manage to speak her thoughts.

"Yeah, a little. I mean its not like I've not been well cared for or anything. Quite the opposite. Just my parents never really spoke much when they were here and so I never really spoke much at school or tried to make many friends. Besides which the few that did come round found the house more exciting anyway." She leanrf against the trunk of the tree and shut her eyes as memories trickled through, memories seen through the eyes of a much younger self.

A young boy named Hakase who couldn't stop playing on my dads games console when he came whilst I sat next to him and watched. A girl who came round and spent most of the time riding a pony I'd been given for my last birthday. I had a tantrum after that and the pony was sold soon afterwards. Not that those kids were uncaring or cold but they just weren't interested in me but my wealth.

There was a scrambling noise and then a warm arm wrapped around her shoulder.

"I don't know why! Without you this would just be a boring, old and empty garden and house." Yuna said pouting. "And I, we, everyone in 4A thinks you're special and important." Akira gave her a sharp sideways look.

"Everyone?" Yuna blinked and noticed her mistake.

"Well okay maybe just the cool people. And I'm ashamed to think that I took you for granted until recently but it's hard when you seem so strong and quiet and try to handle everything by yourself. You have to learn to trust others a little, though I know that's hard given the past...but you can start by trusting me right?"

Akira glanced down into Yuna's chocolate eyes and felt her heartbeat soar yet again. For a second it felt as though there was no one else but her and Yuna in the world.

"Yes," she whispered with a certainty that surprised even her. She wondered if she was imagining Yuna's head moving closer, or was it her own drawing nearer? Her heart was starting to sound like it was made of metal with her blood a zillion small crystal hammers inside. A loud snapping sound brought them both back to the real world.

Yuna was falling backwards and Akira only just managed to catch her in time and guide her onto a lower branch.

"Oops!" Yuna giggled red faced and catching her breath. "That was close!" Akira laughed too, partly to release some of the tension flowing through her system. Did we almost? They scrambled back down and at the bottom Yuna asked.

"What time do we have to be back by?" Akira glanced at her watch and paled.

"Ah, about ten minutes ago. Dinners served in about five minutes." They climbed down and dashed back, reaching the house as a maid was putting out bowls of soup on an exquisite oak table. On entering through the glass patio door Yuna saw for the first time Akira's father and mother.

Akira's mother looked a lot like Akira with long dark hair and a thin curving figure. Unlike Akira her eyes were hazel and she wore a business suit. Akira's father cut a stern but quiet figure sitting opposite Akira's mother and browsing through a financial newspaper, wearing a light grey suit. As Yuna turned and slid the glass door shut behind her she heard Akira's father say.

"You're late Akira," in a disapproving tone. It was followed by a weary sigh from Akira's mum.

"Akira dear what have you been doing to yourself to get so messy? Go up, have a wash and come down changed and the same for your friend."

Yuna had turned now enough to see Akira's mums spotless face, a thing of beauty which an endless stream of trying clients had yet to dull. Inside Yuna was once again seething. She hadn't been this mad since she'd thought her dad had been dating behind her back. Back then she had actually made an effort to spy on him to try and confirm the story but right now she was feeling far more volatile.

Not now! A voice pleaded in her head. It's not a good time to upset Akira's blasted parents! What drove her over the edge though weren't the comments by Akira's parents but Akira's reaction. Akira went beet red when her mum told Yuna to bath before dinner and let out a sad, soft sigh when she finished. A sigh that stirred Yuna's heart more than a thousand words could.

Yuna knew her face was going red and knew she probably shouldn't say what she was about to say but couldn't stop.

They're embarrassing her in front of me. They're treating her like a piece of furniture, their own daughter!

"Is that all you have to say to her!"

Akira's mother looked at her startled, Akira's father put down his paper and Akira's head turned towards her with wide, wide eyes.

Oh God I've done it now. Chuckle. So like me. Well better make it good.

"She dove into a burning building, saved my dad, badly burnt her back and the first things you say to her are 'you're late' and 'go take a BATH!' She's your daughter for crying out loud! Not a bloody SERVANT!"

Yuna ran out of words and emotion choked her throat. Akira's father was frowning and Akira's mother looked dazed. Akira remained rooted to the spot like a ghost in superglue.

Ahhhh awkward. Did I really just shout at her parents? Now the enormity of what she'd done hit Yuna, turning her face an even brighter shade of red. Her feet suddenly found they could move really fast in tense air and before she knew it they'd carried her upstairs and into Akira's room where she flung herself sobbing onto the bed.

What an idiot I am! I think what happened yesterday took too much of a toll on my system and now they'll probably take Akira away from me. Her hands gripped Akira's bed cover so tightly that she was surprised it didn't rip.

Downstairs the silence lasted a full half a minute. Akira's father had reached for his paper awkwardly and then thought better of it before glancing helplessly at his wife. Dealing with his daughter had never been his strong point so he'd left that to his wife and concentrated on his work. Akira's mum gaped, stammered and her fingers fiddled with the air as she tried to think of something to say.

Akira watched on, partly amused by her parents discomfort and partly wondering where Yuna had gone and if she was okay. Her mother finally broke the silence with a concerned look at Akira.

"Umm, Akira darling you know...I mean we do try very hard for you darling. We both work very hard for you and we've never failed to give you what you want right?" There was a subtle silent plea behind it and Akira finally understood. Before she might have just nodded and gone on silently but this time inspired by Yuna's courage she decided to go against the grain.

"I am grateful for all the stuff you and dad have provided me with but I'd willingly give it all up for you actually spending time and love on me. I've never needed a ton of luxury. All I've ever needed is you and dad, at least a little, in my life. It doesn't matter if you don't know how or are worried that you'll make a mess of it. Love doesn't work like that. If you genuinely care and make time it's bound to be good."

For the second time in a minute Akira's mum's mouth remained open and gaping.

"Now I'm going to go and find my friend and we'll wash and change before lunch. We should be down in half an hour if that's ok." Her mum nodded weakly and Akira managed to make it out the room and up the stairs before collapsing on the landing.

Of course its no guarantee things will improve. Maybe they'll stay the same or worsen but it feels good to have finally told them how I feel. Their faces when Yuna yelled at them! Now it was over she couldn't stop laughter bubbling up within her and she stumbled into her room in a fit of giggles to find Yuna sobbing her heart out on her blue and white striped quilt.

Yuna didn't look up when Akira entered, terrified of seeing her face. What if she hates me for shouting at them? At her parents! She buried her head deeper into the quilt as though the darker it was the less chance Akira had of finding her. Somewhere distant she thought she heard someone laughing, Akira laughing. That clearly wasn't possible, certainly not plausible, and yet it definitely sounded like Akira laughing.

Yuna blinked and lifted her head up to see Akira drop down onto the bed next to her still shaking with suppressed laughter. As she stared at her friend in amazement Akira looked back at her merrily.

"Geez Yuna. I seriously don't know what to expect with you sometimes. I definitely did not expect you to blow my parents out of the water the first time you met them, that's for sure." Yuna blinked, and began to wonder if the world had gone crazy and that somehow she wasn't in Akira's bad books. Akira read her look,

"No, it worked out fine. Thanks to you I was able to tell them how I truly felt. I don't know how they'll take it but it's good to get it off my chest. And the faces they pulled were priceless." At the mention of faces Yuna's smile returned.

"Ahh, well I certainly didn't pull any punches," she said. "I'd better go down and apologise."

"Um," Akira agreed. "I said we'd get ourselves cleaned up first and be down in half an hour but saying sorry is probably a good idea when we do." As an afterthought she added, "but I'm glad you said what you said Yuna. I've never had anyone stand up for me like that before, I was impressed." She blushed and hastily scooped up some clothes.

"I baggsie the far shower. There's another one down the hall and on the left. Oh and there are some more clothes in that drawer, though the drawer down might be better as that has some of my older clothes when I was a bit smaller." Then she was gone leaving a much happier Yuna behind her.

The rest of the evening passed in a whirl. Yuna apologised to her hosts for her rude and impromptu manner and the meal passed peacefully if a touch awkwardly. Akira's parents looking abashed if anything rather than mad. Clearly they'd done some talking though because they called Akira away later that evening for a talk during which Yuna spent an anxious half hour in Akira's room wondering if they were banning their friendship after all. When Akira came upstairs though she was radiant.

"My parents said they'd thought about things and decided to try and take at least one day off a week to be together! And to try and spend more time with me although they're still pretty stiff and nervous. I tried hugging them which they weren't used to at all but it was a start." Yuna brightened considerably at this news and at the joyous look that Akira's face held, leaping up to celebrate with her and embracing her tightly. Her head resting on Akira's shoulder.

"I'm so glad," she whispered.

"It was your doing," Akira whispered back and Yuna couldn't help, for the second time in twenty-four hours, thinking that she wanted to spend the rest of her life in those arms.

Eventually they pulled away and got ready for bed. Akira had had a second bed brought into her room which was almost the size of a normal living room.

"Lights out?" Akira asked holding the pull switch.

"Ah-ha," Yuna responded. "It's been some day and a half hasn't it?" Akira had pulled the chord so answered from the darkness,

"Yeah and some. Considering how tense the first part was though I never expected it to end so happily or to have enjoyed it so much."

"Um!" Yuna happily agreed with a typical teenage grunt of approval. There was a pause followed by a warm,

"Goodnight Yuna."

"G'night Akira."