Let me brighten up your Independence Day weekend.

With a rousing victory over Jack, Akiza's knack for dueling was shaping up faster than Yusei thought possible. It was almost assured that anyone who took on Jack when he was New Domino's champion would be thoroughly beaten. However, the dancer didn't give it a second thought. She was able to beat Jack and hopefully win over his companionship.

After the twins had gone home for the night and everyone else was ready to call a day, Atlas stood looking down at Akiza, brushing her hair and deconstructing whatever makeup she had on.

"Akiza, might I have a word with you?" he said to get her attention as he trotted down to her.

"Um….sure," she quickly agreed, setting down her makeup tools and turning to face him. "What's up?"

"I've come to extend an olive branch," Jack writ. "The guys were right; you're a kind person who wants to improve her life. The three of us know how you feel."

"What do you mean by that?" the dancer questioned back.

"We all came from the Satellite, back when it was separate from the city," Atlas explained solemnly. "There wasn't a single day that went by that reminded us that we were at the bottom."

"I….didn't know that," she answered, taken aback.

"Yeah, well, now you do," the once-champ spelled quickly. "Learn what you can from defeating me and you will go far." He turned around to head back upstairs, only to be stopped by Akiza.

"What happened to that arrogant attitude of yours?" she pointed out.

"It's a little thing called humility," Jack summarized. "There are people that shouldn't be ridiculed for any apparent reason. They're just living their lives and I shouldn't say anything to take that away from them." He didn't say anything else as he walked up and through the kitchen, passing by an eavesdropping and silent Yusei in the process.

"Looks like Jack's patched things up with her," the marked mechanic thought to himself. "May as well see what Akiza has to say about it." The guy came down the staircase as he saw Akiza taking off her robe, revealing the tank top she surprised him with before.

"Hey, uh….you got a second?" Yusei asked after knocking on the wall.

"I can always find time for you," the dancer replied cheerfully. "What's on your mind?"

"I overheard you and Jack just now," he revealed. "Even though he didn't directly admit it, I'm guessing Jack trusts you now."

"Yeah, I kinda picked up on that," Akiza hummed. "How are you feeling after your….ordeal with Slick?"

"I've been through worse," Yusei waved off. "Granted, I haven't endured a thrashing in some time now." The dancer sat on the couch and requested, with her hands, for him to sit next to her.

"That's a big relief," she sighed. "The last thing I want to have happen is for you to get hurt."

"Don't worry about it," the guy assured her. "If I have to stand up for you, so be it."

"Your kindness is infectious," Akiza compared hastily. "I just…..don't…..eh…." Her thoughts ran short and without thinking, she grabbed Yusei's shoulders, brought him close, and laid her lips over his. The kiss may have lasted an instant, but it was the only way Akiza could get her point across.

"Well, I'll just be….going to bed now," Yusei stammered, standing up after their lips separated. "Sleep tight now." He didn't say anything else as Akiza fidgeted without end, afraid she might've set things back.

"Please don't hate me," she mentally begged while dozing off.

As the night wore on for Akiza and Yusei, they continued to replay that scene in their dreams over and over. After all, who could really blame Akiza for acting like that? Here she was, taken in by a helpful soul who found the time to talk to her when they met at the strip club. Yusei continued to show her act upon act of kindness. Was it sexual tension or something else? Whatever it was, the two of them knew they had to address it.

When morning came, it felt like an eternity, what with all the thinking and simultaneous dream messages Yusei and Akiza had.

"Anyone awake?" the mechanic yawned, still half-asleep. "I know you're here, Akiza. I can smell your perfume or whatever it is."

"I can hear you, Yusei," she answered back in a straight voice. "Still stuck on last night?"

"Pretty much," he answered back. "But I don't see it as a…bad thing."

"You don't?" the dancer wondered.

"It was getting to be too much for you," Yusei explained. "You wanted to give back after being shown the lighter side of life and you just acted on impulse." Akiza felt lighter from his words, floated over to him, and wrapped her arms around him in relief.

"You have no idea how much weight you just lifted off me," the dancer listed. "I honestly thought you wouldn't talk to me anymore. As for the kiss, I…..um….." Yusei quieted her by placing his index finger over her lips.

"You don't have to apologize," he tried to reassure her. "Nothing changes what I think about you. Given time, I might change my opinion of you…in a good way."

"And maybe I'll do the same," she replied in a smooth and seducing tone. "I've noticed how you look when you go up and down the stairs." To add emphasis, she grabbed and squeezed one of his buttocks.

"Keep working on 'em," she whispered in his ear before letting go and tending to her morning routine.

"That is some woman," Yusei contemplated, heading back up before he heard a whistle stop him. He turned to see Akiza blow him a kiss and wink at him as well. She clicked her tongue a few times like a dolphin and waved each of her fingers at him.

"I'll say it again: that is some woman," he repeated in his mind. Who'd have thought one small kiss could do so much? There was more to be had between them, much more.

I'll leave it at that for now. For the American readers, I wish you an eventful Fourth of July weekend. I hope this cliffhanger makes you want to keep reading. Just stay patient. One more note: for the reviews, no short choppy ones or I will delete them. I'm tired of 'em.