Meanwhile, back at Miki's place, Akama was getting more and more worried. He kept checking the time. It was getting dark and he still hadn't heard from Miki. He had tried ringing Aoyama's place but there was nobody's home.

Hoping to take his mind off Miki, he decided to ring Kuroda to discuss the possibility of dark forces being the mastermind of the accident. But again, there was nobody home at Kuroda's place.

Frustrated, he muttered, "the Goggle braces would be very handy right now." The Goggle braces were what they used to communicate with each other during their sentai days. Unfortunately, they had to return all their gears to the lab when they had finished their mission of destroying Deathdark.

At the end Akama decided to go out to get some fresh air. Staying at Miki's place surrounded by everything pink just kept reminding him of the fact that he had not heard from her for a little while now and it started to drive him crazy.

Miki's place was right at the centre of the city so Akama just wandered to the nearest shopping mall. He had no destination, he just let his feet took him wherever they wanted to go.

Unknowingly he ended up at an electronic shop. He was checking out the latest gadgets when some pagers on display caught his attention. Akama had seen them around. They were getting really popular in Japan. He had seen a lot of business people have them so they can receive urgent messages whenever and wherever.

"Just like the Goggle braces except it's only one way," he thought to himself.

"May I help you, Sir?" a shop attendant approached him.

"How fast do pagers transmit messages?" he asked.

"Almost instantly, Sir," he replied. "You can simply ring the centre with your message and they will transmit your message straightaway."

"Hmm. What do they cost?" he asked curiously.

"Depending which model you wanted." The shop attendant took out several models to show Akama. "This is the most popular model," he pointed at one of them. "A lot of young people like them. It has all the latest features and you can also personalise the colour."

"Okay, so how much is that one?" he asked.

The shop attendant told him the price. It wasn't as expensive as he thought it would be.

"Okay, I'll take two, please," he decided.

"Sure, what colour would you like?"

"Red and Pink…" Then Akama suddenly had a brilliant idea. "Actually, I'll take five, please." He quickly made some calculation in his head. He should have enough money in his account to cover them.

The shop attendant was surprised. "Five, Sir?"

"Yes. In Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Pink."

-oOo-

On the outskirt of Tokyo, Aoyama and Miki had reached Aoyama's place. He lived at a defence housing complex close to where he works.

"Sorry, it isn't a big place," Aoyama told Miki as he opened the door. "I'm a bachelor so they gave me a small unit."

Miki just nodded. She observed Aoyama's place. It was a studio with a small kitchen, a living area and a sleeping area. It was an ordinary Japanese flat, unlike her apartment which had more modern facilities.

"Nice and cosy," Miki commented.

Aoyama smiled. "Thanks, I know you're just being polite."

"I wasn't just being polite!" she protested.

Aoyama let out a chuckle.

"Good to see you laugh again," she said nudging him on the waist.

Aoyama looked at her in the eyes. "Thanks for being here."

Miki smiled at her friend. "It's the least I could do."

"Come on in," he moved away from the door to give Miki space to go through with her crutches.

Miki put down her crutches and sat on the mat near the table on the floor in the living area.

"Some sake?" Aoyama opened his fridge and took out a bottle of sake and then proceeded to take two cups before Miki could say anything.

"Aoyama…it's been a long day. I don't think alcohol is a good idea," she said.

"Oh come on, Miki. Let's drink the sadness away," he said as he put down the cups and sake on the table and took a seat himself.

"Why don't you just go to bed?" Miki asked hoping to bring some sense into him.

"How can I sleep, Miki?" he said as he poured the sake into the cups. "The sake will help me sleep."

Miki used his hand to cover one of the cups. "I don't want any, thanks."

"Just one cup?" Aoyama pleaded.

"No, Aoyama," she persisted.

Aoyama did not want to take no as an answer. He removed Miki's hand from the cup and poured her some.

"Kampai," he held his cup up waiting for Miki to do the same.

Miki shook her head in disbelieve. "For what?"

"Oh just do it!" Aoyama said impatiently.

Reluctantly Miki did the same. Aoyama finished the whole cup in one gulp.

"You're not drinking," he said.

"One of us has to stay sober," she said firmly. "You go ahead. I need to make a phone call. Can I use your phone?"

"Sure," Aoyama said as he gulped down another cup. "It's over there." He pointed to the direction of the phone.

Miki stood up and walked to the other side of the room while Aoyama drank his third cup. Miki looked at him worriedly. "I think that's enough alcohol, Aoyama."

Aoyama just looked at her as he drank another cup. "Come have some with me," he said as he pulled Miki down.

"Ouch," Miki complained as she landed on his lap knocking her leg on the table in the process.

Aoyama took Miki's cup and passed it to her. "Here."

Miki took the cup and put it back on the table. "No. And that's enough for you," she said as she took the bottle away from him but Aoyamaquickly grabbed it back.

"Aoyama, please. It's not going to make your problems go away."

"Just tonight, Miki. Just tonight. Please let me. I'll be good tomorrow," he promised as he drank another cup.

Miki sighed. He proceeded to the phone and dialled her number but nobody picked up the phone. Sighing again she returned to her seat.

"Who are you calling?" Aoyama asked as he drank yet another cup.

"My place," she replied.

Aoyama frowned. "Why are you calling yourself?"

She realised Aoyama probably did not know Akama was staying with her so she explained, "Akama stayed with me at the hospital and he wanted to stay close by until I get well so I offered him to stay at my place rather than…"

"He's staying with you?" Aoyama cut her off.

Miki nodded.

"Wow," Aoyama exclaimed as he finished off his bottle of sake. "Uh, no more," he said as he drunkenly turned the bottle upside down.

"That's enough, Aoyama," Miki tried again to stop him from drinking more. "Look at you, you're drunk already."

"Well, lucky you that's the only bottle I have here," he said as he laughed loudly.

Miki let out a relieved sigh. "Good."

"Although…I think I have a bottle of wine somewhere…," he purposely dragged his sentence to wait for Miki's reaction.

As he predicted Miki yelled out, "No! That's enough!"

Aoyama laughed out loud. "I'm just kidding! You're so uptight!"

Miki was getting frustrated with him. She was rather offended being called uptight so she just sat there quietly.

"Ahh…," Aoyama moved closer to her as he noticed her angry expression. "Sorry, don't be mad, Miki."

"Aoyama," Miki said as she decided the apology might mean that he wasn't as drunk as she thought. "Go to bed, okay?" she said softly.

"Only if you come with me," Aoyama said as he put his arm around her.

Okay, so maybe he WAS as drunk as she thought he was.

"Don't be ridiculous, Aoyama," she said trying to get away but he wouldn't let her.

"Don't worry," he whispered to her ears. "I'm not going to do anything to you. I just need some company right now. Please?"

"Aoyama…," she hesitated. "I'll sit here and watch you."

"Why, Miki, why?" Aoyama suddenly yelled out which nearly made Miki jumped.

"Why what?" she asked.

"Are you in love with Akama? Is that why?" He accused.

"WHAT?" Miki didn't understand what he was talking about.

"I knew it. I knew it," he continued. "Since a long time ago you could not take your eyes off him. You're always looking at him even though I was the one standing next to you! And now he's even living with you!"

"Aoyama! What nonsense is this?" Miki was surprised at the sudden outburst.

"My parents left me today and the girl I've been in love with is in love with someone else," he cried out. "I should just die," he started banging his head on the table.

"Aoyama! Stop!" Miki tried to hold him back. "What on earth are you talking about? There's nothing going on between me and Akama!"

"Really?" he said as he looked at deep into her eyes as if trying to find some answers.

"Yes, really," Miki nodded firmly.

"So tell me Miki, who do you love more, Akama or me?" he asked.

"You're drunk, Aoyama. Stop talking nonsense and please go to bed," Miki said as she tried to drag Aoyama's arm hoping to take him to his bed.

Aoyama pulled his arm away bringing Miki with it. "You love Akama more, don't you?" Aoyama pouted like a little child "He's living with you."

"Aoyama!" Miki called out in frustration. She did wish Akama was there right then as he would know what to do. She felt like she was losing control of the situation with Aoyama so drunk like that.

Aoyama started to sob again. "I'm such a loser. Who am I to compete for your heart with someone like Akama? So strong, so wise, so selfless."

Miki's heart broke seeing how sad Aoyama was. There must be so much unsaid feelings and emotion within him. She never realised that he might have a feeling for her. "Aoyama," Miki said, this time softly. "Please. I'm here with you right now, aren't I?"

Aoyama paused hearing what Miki said. "Yes, but not for very long."

Miki wiped his wet face with her hands. "Why don't you go to bed, I'll hold your hand. I promise I will still be here when you wake up." She gently guided him to his bed. This time he seemed to agree.

Miki tucked Aoyama into his bed, sat on the empty side of the bed, and gently stroke one of his hands.

"Miki…," he whispered.

"Ssh, sleep," Miki whispered back.

"I'm in love with you," he continued ignoring what Miki said. "Will you stay by my side forever?"

Miki gently squeezed his hand. "Let's talk about it tomorrow and see if you still feel the same way."

"I will still feel the same way tomorrow, the day after, the week after, or the year after. I've felt this way for as long as I can remember."

"Thanks," Miki said. "I'm flattered. But I can't talk to you when you're drunk like this. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Promise you'll think about it?" he asked as he looked at her.

Miki nodded. "I promise."

Aoyama smiled at Miki's answer. He then closed his eyes and dozed off.

Miki let out a relieved sigh as she saw Aoyama's sleeping soundly. She suddenly felt tired herself. She had exhausted herself dealing with a drunken Aoyama plus her ankle started to hurt again a little from being overused and falling multiple times. The bed looked really inviting so she decided to lie down. Her mind drifted off to the past searching for any sign of Aoyama being in love with her. She couldn't remember him showing his feelings although she did remember him always hanging around her.

Slowly Miki dozed off herself.

-oOo-

Meanwhile, Akama went back to Miki's place as soon as he finished buying the pagers. He tried ringing Aoyama's place again but still nobody picked it up.

He hardly could sleep that night as he kept hoping the phone would ring and once in awhile he would try ringing Aoyama's. Finally when he couldn't stay awake anymore, he fell asleep on the couch next to the phone.

At dawn, he woke up in a slight panic remembering he still had not heard from Miki nor Aoyama. He wanted to kick himself for leaving the two alone as if dark forces were really behind the accident, the two of them would be a really easy target. One of them was emotionally unstable and the other was physically unstable. They would not be able to protect themselves.

Worried sick, Akama decided to drive out to Aoyama's place to check if they were okay.

-oOo-

Aoyama woke up to find Miki sleeping next to her. He sat up and panicked a little as he could not remember what had happened. He recalled the previous day. He remembered his parents, he remembered Miki accompanied him to his place but the rest of the night was pretty much a blur to him.

Miki felt Aoyama moved so she opened her eyes to check on him. When she found him sitting up on his bed, she sat up herself.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Aoyama just stared at her. "What happened last night?"

"You got drunk," Miki replied sleepily and yawned.

"Oh no." Aoyama covered his face in embarrassment. "I hope I didn't do anything inappropriate to you."

"No, you didn't," Miki said. "I got tired so I thought I lie down and I dozed off," she explained as she knew Aoyama was concerned that she was sleeping on his bed. "I hope that's okay."

"No, it's okay. Of course it's okay," he said nervously.

Miki smiled understandingly. "See, I'm still here when you wake up."

Aoyama gave her a puzzled look.

"I guess you don't remember much, huh?" Miki concluded.

"No, I don't," he admitted.

"Ah, good then," said Miki, relieved that she didn't have to deal with the whole 'I'm in love with you' thing.

Aoyama eyed her suspiciously. He didn't trust himself knowing he had so much feeling for Miki. "Did I say anything I shouldn't say?"

Miki laughed. "You did ask me to sleep with you," she teased.

"Whattt?" Aoyama was in shock.

"You said you'll only go to bed if I come with you," she winked teasingly.

"Gosh, I'm so sorry, Miki." Aoyama bowed to her repeatedly.

Miki laughed again. "Consider it forgiven and forgotten. I'm still really tired, it's still early, let's go back to sleep." She lay down and closed her eyes.

Aoyama could feel his heart beating really fast being so close to Miki like this. He knew there was no way he could sleep again. Then he remembered his parents and the fact that he was all alone now. A sad feeling clouded over him again. He decided to get up and made himself some warm drink.

As he was boiling some water in the kitchen, his doorbell rang. He wondered who came so early in the morning. He opened the door to find Akama standing there.

"Thank goodness you're okay. Where's Miki?" he demanded straightaway as Aoyama's opened the door.

"Chief! What brings you here so early in the morning?" Aoyama asked.

"The fact that neither you nor Miki let me know where you were all night! I thought Deathdark got you both," he said sternly.

"We banished them already, remember?" Aoyama tried to joke.

"Yes, but we still don't know who or what is behind the accident," he said sounding annoyed. "Where's Miki?"

"She's asleep," Aoyama said pointing to the bed.

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's okay."

Hearing Akama's voice, Miki quickly opened her eyes and sat up. "Akama…"

Akama let out a relieved sigh seeing Miki safe and sound. Although he was not too happy seeing her in Aoyama's bed but he was willing to let it slide for now. "Why didn't you ring me?" he asked.

"I did, but no one picked up," she said.

"Ah, I went out for a little while," he said remembering his shopping trip. "I tried to ring here when I came back but no one picked up either."

"We must be fast asleep and didn't hear the phone."

Akama eyed Aoyama and then back to Miki. He was unsure what to make of what she just told him. He remembered how Aoyama had always liked Miki since early on. He wondered if something went on with the two of them since they spent the night together. "I feel like I'm intruding now. I'll just go then." Akama walked out before anyone could say anything.

"Chief!" Aoyama called out. "It's okay, you can stay."

Akama turned around forcing a smile. "You two are safe, that's all that matters. Call me later."

Aoyama and Miki exchanged glance as Akama disappeared into the darkness. "Is he okay?" Aoyama asked Miki.

Miki shrugged. "I'm really tired. Let him be. We'll deal with him later," she said as she went back to sleep.