They had so much fun looking at all the hidden treasures and when they had finished they sat down with a sigh of satisfaction to see a job well done, as all was spick and span and neat and tidy. They heard Mr Kita calling that it was supper time and Akari and Koji went their separate ways for supper and bed. The time had flown by. As Akari walk next door, she looked at the sky and it had turned very dark and a wind was making the trees in the woodland sway and creak as it blew.

Akari sat down for her tea and her Okaasan (mum) said ‘I think we are in for a bad arashi (storm) tonight ‘ ‘I hope not’ said Akari and started to think about Sakura (Cherry Blossom) and all her other woodland friends. Akari was fast asleep, as her busy day with Koji had tired her out so much. The storm outside became very bad with the wind howling in the trees and the rain heavily battering the windows. The lightening flashed with purple and blue zig zagged lines across the dark sky and you could not see a star through it all.

Akari was awoken by a bright flash and a loud crack from inside the woods. It really frightened Akari and she shot out of bed and ran to her Okaasan (mum) and Otousan (dad) s bed.

Akari was shaking with fear and crying, not for herself, but for her woodland friends, and when her parents calmed her down they told her that woodland inhabitants knew how to look after themselves and would find a safe place to hide away out of the storm probably in underground burrows. With that information Akari settled down and went back to her own bed, pulled up covers and went back to sleep.

Akari awoke at about six in the morning to the sun shining through her bedroom window, what a relief it was to see that all weather wise was quiet and settled and the sun was shining brightly. Akari ate her breakfast, did the washing up and made her bed, and asked her Okaasan (mum) if she could go into the woods with Koji to see what damage had occurred and if the woodland inhabitants were safe. “Yes you can but be aware of any broken tree branches and dorodarake no mizutamari (boggy puddles) from all the rain, you don’t want to have to pull Koji or you out of any holes again.” “Oh Okaasan (mum) you are funny, but you are right” said Akari remembering all that happened to Koji when he fell down the hole.