A/N: Meh, it took a while, but now I'm finally a Cree/Chad fan. xD So yeah, I decided to write a fanfic about them. The title is Japanese, it means: "Because you're here". Hope you enjoy. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: Dun own anything, just this fic.

Kimi Ga Iru Kara

He heard the sound of the bell enter his mind, and left the classroom in less than 5 seconds. There had been many afternoons he had spent by rushing outside school and waiting for her, hoping to at least receive a glance from her charming eyes. This day was no difference. Almost tripping off the stairs at the entrance Chad managed to regain his balance and landed on his feet. He turned around when he heard an amused chuckle behind him.

"Hi Chad," Cree answered his surprised glance.

"… Cree," he managed to get over his lips. He felt his cheeks turn slightly red, hoping she wouldn't see that. He felt ashamed, but at the same time disappointed. Were these small words all she could say? A greeting, and his name, as if she didn't know any other words to talk to him with. As if this was usual for her to do. But it was actually the first time she did. All the other times she just walked by without even noticing him. Had she never known he always used to wait for her here?

"You're here quite often, aren't you?"

… She had known.

"Yeah, so?" Chad tried to smile, but knew that his happy mood had gone all along.

"I know we're supposed to meet here, but I just don't understand why you're just standing at this place like a rock other times," Cree explained, still amused.

Her words reminded Chad of something he had totally forgotten. They were supposed to meet up at the entrance of school and then walk over to Father's Mansion. He had told them yesterday he'd need them for a special mission.

"… Let's just go," he grumbled, pulling his schoolbag on his back some more. "Father must be waiting for us."

"That's a lame excuse and you know that," Cree answered, but didn't continue about her question. She didn't even want to anymore when Chad didn't answer, let alone look at her. She wondered what's wrong with him.

"You're late, my apprentices," a low voice welcomed them into a familiar room. It was dark and warm as always, but Chad felt so absentminded he rather thought it was chilly, for a change.

"But let's get to the point," Father added, walking closer to them from his chair.

Even though he felt warmer with every step Father took to get closer to him, Chad couldn't manage to realize that. He kept feeling the opposite, cold inside. Cold as ice, ice hard as stone. Just as hard as the way Cree had treated him 10 minutes ago. I thought I was more to you than just your… teammate…

Cree apparently didn't notice what was troubling him, if she noticed something was troubling him at all. She was looking at Father with some weird look in her eyes. She always used that look when she felt like fighting.

"We're ready for our mission, Father," she said.

"Just tell us what it is," Chad added hurried, hoping this wouldn't take too long. Cree may have hurt him in some weird way, but beating the Kids Next Door's butts could maybe crack him up.

"Patience, Chad," Father simply answered, looking at him. Chad noticed it was the first time he did since he'd entered this room. The rest of the time he had been looking at Cree, which he now continued to do.

"Listen up," Father started, more impatiently this time. "I suppose you remember I told about my Delightful Children, when they travelled to Rainbow Monkey Island to obtain the precious tablet for their contest. Those Kids Next Dorks tried to hold them off, saying they wanted to win the contest as well. But… I think there's more behind it."

"What do you think they're hiding, Father?" Cree immediately asked, looking at him interested. Too interested in Chad's opinion. Apparently she did notice his glance at her this time, and glanced back. "I'm just curious, that's all," she snapped when she saw his upset face. "What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing," Chad snarled back, shortly. If there was one thing he didn't want right now, it was a fight. At least not with her.

"Stop wrangling!" Father ordered them as flames of anger appeared around his dark body.

Chad could immediately feel the heat now, and looked away, wishing Father hadn't asked him to do whatever he wanted them to do.

"Now, as I was saying," Father continued, "the Kids Next Door wouldn't travel all the way to Rainbow Monkey Island for a stupid contest, even Global Command told them to. So my guess is that there's a hidden base they wanted to visit as well. Your mission," he pointed from Cree to Chad and back to Cree, "is to find this base and destroy it."

"Rest assured, Father," Cree answered not even 2 seconds after he was done. "We'll complete this mission successfully."

Chad started to get annoyed by her way of acting in front of Father, but felt the opposite when he looked at her face. It looked serious, convinced, faithful… and charming.

"That's good to hear," Father answered. He turned around and walked back to his chair. "Now leave, and don't come back before you've completed your mission."

"Yes, Father," Cree and Chad answered at the same time, exchanging looks for a few seconds.

Cree turned away from him and headed for the exit, while Chad was way behind and thinking about her eyes again. It'd been a long time since he saw her look at him like that. The last time she did was probably the time when she saved him from the Moonbase. He wished he could relive that moment again before he made his way to the door as well.

"One more thing, Chad," Father's voice caught his attention before he even got through the doorstep. Chad turned around and said: "Yes?"

Father was looking at him, difficultly. As if something serious was bothering him. It had to be really serious, since he didn't continue to speak.

Just when Chad was about to repeat himself Father finally answered: "Don't get too distracted."

"Distracted? By what?" Chad raised an eyebrow.

"By her."

Chad gulped and his eyes widened, as his cheeks got a pinkish colour. He decided not to say anything and turned around again, hurrying out of the room.

A/N: Hope you liked it. Next chapter will be up soon. 3