Miki dozed off without realising. She was awaken by the bright light peeking through the curtains. She tried to move her arms to stretch but something was holding one of them down. She looked down and found Akama asleep sitting up on the chair next to the bed with one hand holding hers. She dared not move as she was afraid to wake him. She watched him sleeping from her bed and felt grateful to have known this man who cared so much about her. She was even more grateful that after all these years he had not changed. He was still the same man he admired and respected. She always felt safe and protected whenever he was around. Sometimes she wondered what she had done to deserve him as a friend.

Probably felt that he was being watched, Akama opened his eyes. Being caught starring at him, Miki quickly looked elsewhere.

"Morning, pinku," he greeted her with a smile.

"Morning, Chief," she greeted back. "I'm so sorry, it must not be comfortable sleeping on a chair," she said regretfully.

He shrugged, "I've had worse." He stood up and playfully shuffled Miki's hair. "Stop feeling bad."

"But you wouldn't be stuck in the hospital if it wasn't for me…"

"Miki, stop it." Akama requested in a serious tone that it sounded more like an order. "If you don't, I will be the one who feel bad," he said in a softer voice.

"Eh?"

"Here's the truth. I'm here not because I feel sorry for you."

"I know. Because it's your job to protect me," Miki tried to finish his sentence.

"No," Akama cut her off. "I'm here because I've missed you," he confessed.

"You've….missed me?" Miki repeated carefully. She wasn't sure what Akama meant.

"When I met you again I realised how much I've missed you. I wasn't about to let you go just like that after I found you," he said reaching for her hand.

Seeing the confused face on Miki, he shut his eyes for a little while and took a deep breath. He was getting confused himself. He wanted to tell her what he felt about her but he wasn't sure if it was a good time given the time and place.

He sighed, squeezed her hand and pleaded, "bottom line is, just stop it, please."

"Chief…I..."

"Ssh…," he put one finger of his free hand on her lips. "Stop." and drew his face closer to hers.

Akama's face was so close Miki could feel his breathing. She could also feel her heart suddenly raced. She looked away to avoid Akama's glance and tried to control her emotion. What did he mean he missed her? And what did all these small but intimate gestures mean? Yes, they had not seen each other for a long time but the way he talked to her and touched her, it was more than what a friend would say or do.

Akama had never felt so strongly about anyone before. All he wanted to do then was to take her in his arms and tell her how much he cared for her and how much he had been thinking about her. But he restrained himself. He did not want to confuse Miki any further. He moved back a step when he realised they were only an inch apart.

"Sorry," he apologised as he released her hand.

"No, that's okay," Miki said and used her other hand to feel where Akama's touch was.

"How's your ankle?" Akama tried to change the subject.

Miki tried to move her hurt leg, "feels a bit better actually."

"Ah good. I spoke to the doctor last night. He said if the swelling has subsided today, you can go home."

Miki lighted up. "Really?"

"Yes, he'll come again this morning to check and decide then."

"Awesome. I hope I can go home today," she said hopefully.

Akama nodded.

"Hey Chief," Miki called.

"Mmhmm?"

"I would just say this once more and I won't say again."

"Yes?"

"Thanks. From the bottom of my heart."

Akama smiled and nodded. "The pleasure is mine."

"Can I give you a hug?" Miki suddenly asked.

Akama chuckled. "Sure, why not?" He moved closer to her and took her in his arm.

"I've missed you, too," whispered Miki, barely audible.

Akama did not say anything but inside he was happy and hopeful that maybe she felt the same way.

Miki rested her head on Akama's shoulder. Akama stroked her head gently and tightened his embrace.

They hugged for a little while until they heard a knock on the door. Like two teenagers caught making out, the two broke apart.

"Sorry, am I interrupting something?" It was the doctor coming to check on Miki.

Both Miki and Akama blushed but quickly composed themselves.

"Morning, doc!" Miki greeted him cheerfully. "I heard I can go home today?"

The doctor smiled. "Well, let's see…" He started checking Miki's ankle.

"Hmm, it heals faster than I expected. You're a trooper, Momozono. At least your ankle is."

"Oh, she's a trooper alright," Akama chimed in remembering their sentai days. Miki wasn't the type who would give up so quickly.

"The swelling is pretty much gone. If you rest well and not use this ankle, you may be able to walk in two weeks." The doctor's prediction cheered Miki up. She was expecting to be wheelchair bound for months at least.

"I will go and sign your discharge letter. You make sure you look after her well," he said to Akama.

Akama nodded. "I will."

"You take it easy, Momozono. Your boyfriend here had been really worried about you," he continued.

Miki once again blushed. "He's not my boyfriend." Akama somehow slightly disappointed at that remark.

The doctor raised his eyebrows. "Oh he's not?"

"I'm an old friend of hers," Akama clarified.

"He's like a family," Miki added.

"I see." The doctor didn't sound convinced. "But you'll be with her until she's well, won't you?" the doctor voiced his concerned as he was aware of Miki's family history and the fact that she lived on her own. "Because she will need someone to be with her until she recovers as she won't be able to move around. If not I will have to keep her here."

"I will be with her at all times," Akama reassured him before Miki could say anything. "Don't worry, Doc."

"Good. Well, whenever you're ready to go, see the nurse at the front counter. You still haven't done your paperwork," the doctor said and left.

"I thought you did my paperwork yesterday?" Miki asked Akama.

"I did try, but I realised I don't even know your address, let alone your health insurance details," he said.

Miki laughed. "Ah, of course."

"By the way, where do you live, Miki?" asked Akama. "Do you live in a dorm or own your own?"

"I have my own place," she answered. "I used to dorm with the other gymnasts when I started but I'm pretty senior now so they let me live outside."

"Right…," Akama hesitated.

"What's wrong?" she asked sensing his concern.

"Well, the doctor said you would need someone to be with you since you won't be able to move," he explained.

"Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

"I'm happy to keep you company until you get well," Akama said. "I could stay in a motel nearby so I can be with you during the day."

"Akama…you've done so much already." Miki couldn't stand having to trouble him further.

"I have nowhere to go anyway, please let me," he tried to convince her. He was planning to stay in Tokyo for awhile anyway as after Mt Everest, he did not feel like climbing anymore. He wanted to have a break. "Plus we have a lot to catch up on," he winked at her.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Miki pretended to be annoyed.

Akama chuckled. "You said you've missed me!"

"I did?" Miki didn't realise she said that out loud. She thought she was just saying it in her head.

"You did."

"Err…"

"So is that a yes?"

"Err…"

"It's either that or you're staying in the hospital because I will tell the doctor you have nobody to look after you," Akama reasoned.

"So now you start blackmailing me, huh?" Miki couldn't help but laugh at Akama's determination to care for her.

"I guess."

"Okay, fine. But it will be too costly for you to stay in a motel for two weeks or who knows how long. I have a spare bedroom, come stay with me," invited Miki.

"Are you sure? What would people say?" Akama hesitated.

"What people?" Miki didn't understand.

"You're an Olympic champion, a pretty high profile person. Some people may take it the wrong way when they see you living with a man…"

"Huh? Again, what people?" Miki became more confused. "I don't think anybody would care about me."

"Do you not read papers?" asked Akama wondering.

"Yes, but they don't care about my personal life."

"Well, you obviously don't read gossip tabloids then."

"Are you telling me you read tabloids?" Miki chuckled at the thought.

Akama's face reddened.

Miki laughed out loud. "You do!"

"The sport ones! And only if I see your name on it!" he defended.

"Sure…..," Miki teased.

"Oh come on, I'm being serious," he said hoping to avoid more teasing. "It can damage your reputation."

Miki laughed again. "I'm serious, too. I don't think anybody cares. Even if they do, I can't care less. What sort of reputation do I currently have anyway?"

"Err…"

"And it's really not so bad being seen with someone like you." This time it was Miki's turn to give him a flirty wink.

Akama scratched his non itchy head. "If you say so…"