disclaimer: FANfiction. think about it. all i own is the plot. i would never have had the pure genius for all that is kingdom hearts--like putting disney and ff characters in there.

please don't flame. and thx to Gamet Kauum Gekxoum for pointing out some errors. yeah i think that's it so READ!!!!

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Ch. 3

Cloud's POV

Ah, Damn! Who knocks on someone's door at 10:00 in the morning on a Saturday! Slowly walking over I got to the door, opening it only to see a blond head before me. "Nami?!" Was this for real? I rubbed my eyes.

She grabbed me tightly, "Cloud I've missed you so much. It's not fair, you don't work at the same place anymore; I couldn't find you." Oww. That was her bear hug alright. Returning the embrace I looked guiltily down at her. "Sorry." I'd missed her, but it seemed she'd missed me more. I'd always been there for her… until now at least. "Why are you here?"

"I ran away."

"Why?"

"Mother."

"It's that bad now?"

"Yes. It's always been bad, as you well know, but ever since…since Kairi's death it's only gotten worse." She looked to me, eyes filled with tears, and I hated that spiteful woman so much. The woman who despised her own daughter, and hated me, the woman who was the reason I hadn't been able to talk to Naminé for so long, because once she'd gotten a hold of my number I'd been faced with a choice: to either hear from both or neither. I'd chosen neither. Yes it was that bad.

My grip around her arm tightened, my eyes narrowing as I saw a man nearby, behind her. "The man behind you, who is he?"

She turned "Oh. That's Axel. He's the one who helped me find you," she added brightly.

"Is he?" my eyebrows raised as the redhead began to walk away.

"Why isn't he coming over? I didn't say goodbye yet. Not really," she murmured confusedly.

"I wouldn't worry about it." You're better off that way, I thought wryly. That was not the type of man it would be good for her to know.

She stomped her foot, "But he took care of me while I was looking for you. I need to say thank you at least."

"Then go ahead." I relented, keeping a watchful eye on her as she ran over to the man and they exchanged a few words. She came back a little glumly. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." she smiled up at me.

Namine's POV

He didn't fall for the look, but he did usher me into the apartment's entrance.

"So do I need to worry about some search brigade being sent out for you? Or the entire police force?" he asked dryly. I snorted, trying to suppress my laughter. "Seriously. Is that woman going to come looking for you?" I glared at him; I knew he didn't like her, but really 'that woman'?

"No. I didn't bother worrying about it. Not really. She'd be too afraid it might be publicized. So instead she'll make up a convenient lie."

"You sure?"

"It's been a week. What do you think?"

"What?!"

Oh. Crap. Something told me that I really, really shouldn't have said that. "Um, yeah. Actually I ran away like a week ago…" I began, avoiding looking him in the face, playing with my hair, and looking absorbed in the floor.

"So where were you during that time?"

"Ummm… looking for you. It's not my fault you changed jobs and didn't tell me or anything!" I stood, my hands waving around me wildly as I spoke. I knew that wasn't what he meant, but I really was annoyed about that and hoping to distract him.

He winced a little at that accusation, but he refused to be distracted. "Where did you stay?"

"Well I tried calling you, and finding you in the phonebook, but those didn't work so I decided to stay in a hotel." No need to tell him I wasn't able to actually stay there and I did try.

"So you stayed in a hotel for a week?" He eyed me not believing me.

Ah crap. I knew better than to lie to him, that was a very bad idea, but I didn't want to tell him because he would overreact. I had no problem letting him jump to other conclusions, but the problem was he refused to do so, my hedging wasn't working. "Ummm… well, you see there were some problems with that. So…" I saw his 'stop-stalling-and-talk-or-else' look. I gulped. He didn't give that look unless extremely irritated; this would not go well. "Ummm, well, you see I… kindastayedwithAxelbecauseIhadnowhereelsetogoandOhcrapI'mdeadaren'tI?" I watched his eyes narrow as I spoke I knew he hadn't caught probably more than four words, but that was enough.

"Slow down and repeat that."

"Well, I had nowhere to go, and then Axel saw something was wrong and offered to help and helped me try to find you and let me use his cell phone and everything! But I couldn't reach you so I tried to stay at a hotel, but they wouldn't let me." I paused for breath, taking stock of his expression. He mainly looked impatient and I could tell he didn't like what I was saying so far or whatever he expected might follow, but his eyebrows were slightly drawn so he was, for now, more worried than angry.

I continued when he didn't say anything, looking up him earnestly as I spoke and feeling immensely like some puppy with its tail between its legs awaiting a well-deserved scolding yet hoping against hope, logic, and all things rational for a reprieve. "So then I was in some big trouble and Axel offered me a place to stay and I know it was really, really stupid, but he was so nice and he…he reminded me of her…" his eyes softened slightly at the mention of Kairi, but his face remained schooled and emotionless. "And… I agreed so I stayed with Axel for a few days. It was fine. I was perfectly safe and he was perfectly nice." I quickly added as he heroically struggled to remain calm and collected. "I guess that's all your training" I remarked softly without thinking. I looked up quickly when I realized I'd spoken that aloud.

"So you agreed to stay with a strange man," he flatly stated and I shrank back from the force of those words. "What if something had happened to you? No buts." he silenced my protests, continuing more gently, "I wouldn't have been able to be there for you. I wouldn't have been able to do anything. It doesn't matter what did happen. It's enough that it could have happened. What would I have done?" he pulled me into a tight embrace and I leaned up against him, supported by his strength. He was always there when I needed him and I loved him for that.

"Then you would have kicked the guy into next Tuesday. AND he would probably hurt so bad his grandkids would feel it." I teased, desperately trying to keep the situation light. It was a little unnerving and uncomfortable. I'd never seen him this openly emotional. Ever. I didn't know how to deal with the man before me. He'd always been the strong one I could turn to. I felt some relief at seeing this side of him because he'd hidden his emotions for so long, but it felt so wrong like he was exposed and naked or something, I'd never seen him this… vulnerable. It seemed wrong to even consider him like that. Was he really that worried about me? I felt I could drown under a load of guilt now.

He recovered enough to remember himself, flushing a little at this display of affection, quietly leading me into his apartment and showing me around. It was pretty sweet. He even had a guest room where I could stay. And he hadn't killed me, so it was going better than I'd thought.

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That night as I changed I felt something in my pocket. Quickly taking it out I saw it was the note from Axel and the number he gave me should I need to contact me. I chuckled, remembering the joke he'd made about that. But did he really mean that? I'd like to call, but… He probably just gave it to be polite or something. I bit my lip, not wanting to make myself even more of a nuisance, so I put the note away where it would be safe.

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A/N: I really hope ppl don't seem ooc here but they're kinda in an arguement and he's worried abt her and all so i thought it would be weird if she seemed too passive and he's not the type to blow up and tries to seem emotionless so... I figured she'd desperately try to reassure him and all. and she seems like while she wouldn't outright lie, she could be very manipulative and he'd refuse to budge. much plot development and suspense from here on out i hope.