A cool breeze hit Exylim as she step out of the portal and into a dark alley. She walked to the end of it and peeked around the corner. She could see the station tower from where she was standing. Nobody was out so she slipped into the street and made her way to a house. It looked so familiar but Exylim couldn't remember whose house it was. She climbed up the fire escape and pulled herself through a window. It was dark but moonlight illuminated most of the room. Exylim lied down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She grabbed one of the pictures and looked at it. It was a picture of her, well, her somebody, with two boys. Her somebody was pulling the blondes' mouth into a smile and the other boy was doing a peace sign.

Exylim sighed and set the picture down. Suddenly, she heard a voice and footsteps coming up the stairs. Exylim sprang off of the bed and out the window. She jumped to the next level of the fire escape and stepped into the shadows. A woman leaned out of the window and looked around. She looked down at Exylim who shut her eyes. Exylim heard the women close the window and released her breath which she had been holding in. She climbed down to the ground and once again slipped into the shadows.

--

Smoke drifted into Xemnas's office and he coughed, trying to ignore it. Finally he got up and looked out the window. The whole garden was in flames. Xemnas opened a portal and walked out into the garden. Roxas, Demyx, and Axel walked out of another one, curious to see why it was smoky. Demyx immediately started putting out the flames.

"Did you do this, Axel?" Roxas asked.

"No. Firyx didn't either. She was in her room," Axel replied.

"Marluxia, what happened here?" Xemnas asked the pink-haired man who was on his knees.

"Exylim," he said almost in a whisper. "She came through here and I stopped her to talk with her. She-"

"What did you do to her?" Roxas shouted at him.

"She burnt my garden and left," Marluxia replied.

"What?! Where did she go?" Demyx asked.

"I don't know but I don't care," Marluxia shouted. Demyx cringed and doused the rest of the flames.

"VIII, take XIII with you and look for her. Bring her to me when you find her," Xemnas ordered and then opened a portal and left.

"Let's go Roxas, the sooner we find her, the more sleep we can get. She probably hasn't gone too far," Axel said.

"Fine, let's check Twilight Town first. That's where she lived before, right?" Roxas asked. Axel nodded and opened a portal.

--

Exylim strolled into the sandlot and immediately ran into someone.

"Hey, watch it," he said angrily, shoving her back.

"You watch it," she growled at him. He wore a black beanie, a white cape like thing over a blue sleeveless vest, brown pants, and black boots. Exylim could recall him and his posse from her last life.

"What did you say to me? I think she needs to be disciplined," he said to the other two.

"Fight," the girl said.

"Seifer's gunna win, ya know?" the other boy said.

The boy, Seifer, grabbed a struggle weapon, the club-like one.

Exylim smirked and said, "Don't mess with me."

"And what if I do?"

"I'm warning you, leave me alone."

"It's too late. Back down or fight me," Seifer said.

"Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you," Exylim said. She stood with her arms crossed and waited him to move. He charged at her and at the last possible second she summoned her sword and blocked his attack. She threw him to the ground and charged at him. He swung his sword up at her but her sword cut through the club. His eyes widened as the top of his club fell to the ground. Exylim swung again and again until the he was only holding the hilt of the sword. Exylim pressed the blade against his neck and said, "You'll need a better weapon than that stick." She drew back and stepped away.

"Uh, Seifer's not feeling too good," the other boy said quickly, stepping between her and Seifer.

"Still using the lame excuse, I see," Exylim said.

"Lies," the girl said.

"What, you still can't say more than a word, Fuu?" Exylim growled.

Fuu and Rai looked at her, shocked.

"How do you know her name?" Seifer asked.

Exylim grabbed the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground. She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "I know everything about you and your 'posse'." She dropped him and walked away.

"Wait, who are you?" he called after her.

"You know who I am," she replied. Suddenly, Roxas and Axel walked into the sandlot. Exylim backed up and then turned and opened up a portal.

"There she is!" she heard one of them cry before she disappeared through the portal.

Exylim raced out of the portal and opened the nearest door she could find and looked back to see if anyone was following her. She ran into someone, hard, and they both fell, Exylim on top of the person.

--

"Let's go check on Yuffie and Aerith," Leon said, "They're probably back at the house."

"Sure," Cloud said. They got up and walked over to the door. Cloud reached to open it but it slammed open before he could, slamming into his face and squishing him behind the door. Leon looked back to see what happened to Cloud and something ran into him, knocking him over and then falling onto him. They landed in an awkward position, the person flat on top of him with their knee in between him legs and their head on his chest. They laid there for a few seconds, catching their breath.

"Uh," Leon said, looking down at the person. The person atop him was a girl in her teens. "Can you get off? You're knee is in a bad spot."

"Oh, sorry," she said, getting off of him and stood up. He stood up and dusted himself off. He looked around for Cloud but couldn't see him.

"I had someone with me before…" Leon said.

"I'm right here," came a muffled reply. Leon closed the door and the girl peeked around him. Cloud fell flat on his face at their feet.

"Sorry, did I do that?" she girl asked.

"Yes," both of the men replied.

"Sorry."

Leon pulled Cloud off of the floor then shook himself off. "Why did you come barging in here?" Leon asked the girl.

"Someone was following me. I needed to loose them," she replied.

"Who was following you?" Cloud asked, rubbing his nose.

"I don't know but they were making me nervous."

"You managed to hurt both of us, you know. And who are you?" Leon asked.

"Heh, yeah, sorry. My name's Exylim," she said.

--

"I'm Leon," the brunette that she had ran into said.

"Cloud," the blonde said.

Leon asked, "I've never seen you before. You new here?"

"Yeah, I guess," Exylim said.

"Where do you live?"

"I…" Exylim paused, thinking of a lie to tell them. She didn't want to tell them that she was with the organization. "I ran away from home two years ago."

"Why?" Leon asked, surprised.

"My parents were…abusing me. I left when it got too bad," Exylim lied. "I've been traveling the worlds since then. I never stayed on one world for more than a week or so. No one wanted me."

Leon and Cloud stayed silent for once. Exylim looked away, not liking the looks of pity for her lie.

"Cloud, can I talk to you outside?" Leon asked.

Cloud nodded and said to Exylim, "Stay here and don't touch anything."

"I'll try not to but I can't make any promises," she said. The two men walked outside and Exylim immediately began looking around. It was a cozy castle like room, a little cramped but homey. There was a large computer that was against the wall and to side of it was a chalkboard with some blue prints of something on it. A table and a couple chairs sat on a platform in the middle of the room. Bookshelves and cabinets were scattered through out the room. To one side of the room was a bed and against another was a small fireplace. The whole room was littered with books but one book was on a white cabinet and it was glowing a greenish color.

Exylim walked over to it and traced the cover. A boy was walking and holding the hand of a teddy bear like thing with a tiger thing hopping next to them. The boy looked familiar somehow. Suddenly, the door banged open, making Exylim jump. An older man with blonde hair stormed in. Cloud and Leon followed behind. The man stopped when he saw Exylim.

"Who the hell is she?" he shouted at Leon and Cloud who coward slightly.

"Can we talk to you outside?" Leon asked.

"Hell no!" the blonde shouted.

Cloud grabbed Exylim's arm and pulled her outside. "Stay here," he commanded then slammed the door shut. Exylim stood facing the door and stuck her tongue out at it before going and leaning against the wall. She began sliding down until she was sitting. She looked up at the stars until she heard two voices, one loud and the other quiet, coming toward her. Exylim looked in their direction and saw two girls, one in pink the other in black, coming towards her.

"Hey, who are you?" asked the girl wearing a black and white bandana, black vest over a blue and white shirt, short tan shorts with black pockets, and high lace up boots.

Suddenly, someone shouted inside followed by more shouting.

"What's going on in there?" asked the girl wearing a pink and white shirt and a lighter pink and white skirt with brown boots.

"I don't know. I'm not allowed to go in, apparently. Go ask Cloud or Leon," Exylim replied. The two girls went inside. Exylim sighed and stood up. She began banging her head on the door.

--

"I don't care if she has no home! There's no way that she's gunna be living with us!" Cid yelled.

"Calm down! She was abused and living on her own for 2 years! She needs a family!" Cloud argued, his voice rising too.

"No! We're not adopting her!"

"I never said that! She just needs a place to stay!"

"No!"

"Aerith and I agree with Leon and Cloud, Cid." Yuffie said.

"Not you too!" Cid shouted.

"It's 4 to 1. You're out ruled, Cid. She's staying with us," Leon said.

It stayed silent and they could finally hear the thump, thump.

"What the heck is that?" Cid asked.

Cloud opened the door and Exylim nearly fell forward into him.

"Gah! I have a frickin headache now," she muttered. Everyone stared at her. She stared back nervously then stepped inside. Cloud closed the door and walked over to Leon. An awkward silence hung over the room and Exylim shifted her weight to her other foot.

Finally, Leon said, "Well, we decided that you can stay with us in our house if you choose to."

"It took you that long to decide?" Exylim asked.

"Thanks to Cid, yeah, it did," Cloud replied.

The older blonde whacked the back of Cloud's head and sat down at the computer.

"I'm Yuffie! The grumpy one is Cid," the short black haired girl said cheerfully.

"My names Aerith," said the girl in pink.

Suddenly, a wizard appeared in a puff of blue smoke. "And I'm Merlin. This is my house, I might add," he said.

"Um, I'm Exylim," she said. Leon and Cloud walked over to the chairs on the platform and sat down. Yuffie bounded over and jumped on to Leon. He pushed her off of him and she ran off with his sword with out him noticing. Exylim followed Yuffie out the door and caught up to her. "What do you plan to do to that?" she asked the ninja.

"What? Leon's gunblade? Nothing. Just see how long it takes him to realize it's gone," she replied.

"Aw, that's no fun," Exylim said then smirked. She pulled out a can of spray-paint that she had grabbed from her old room. Yuffie laughed as Exylim took the blade and began spraying it hot pink.

--

Leon yawned and reached for his gunblade to polish it. It wasn't there. Leon frowned and tried to grab it again. He looked and then looked at Cloud with a look of panic.

"Yuffie took it. Exylim ran after her. And you're completely oblivious," Cloud said. Leon jumped up and raced out the door. Cloud rolled his eyes and put his feet up on the table.

Leon raced through the town and looked everywhere for his beloved gunblade. "Hey Leon, looking for this?" someone called down to him from the top of the bailey. He looked up and saw Yuffie and Exylim. Exylim was dangling the gunblade from her finger. Leon's jaw dropped when he saw the pink.

"I'm gunna kill you!" he shouted. Exylim threw the gunblade at him and she and Yuffie took off toward Merlin's house. Leon chased after, still yelling at them. They raced inside and slammed the door shut. Leon tried to open it but Exylim and Yuffie leaned against it. Leon pushed harder and the two girls slid back a little.

"On the count of three, let go," Yuffie whispered. Exylim nodded.

"One…Two…THREE!" Yuffie shouted. They jumped back as Leon flew through the door way and fell face flat on the floor. Yuffie and Exylim jumped into the extra chair and Exylim threw the empty bottle of spray-paint at Cloud. He caught it and threw it back. The can went back and forth through the air until Leon got up.

"Heh," Exylim said, grinning sheepishly as she threw the can back to Cloud. He threw it back and it hit her in the head. "Ow!" she cried and glared at Cloud. She grabbed the can and threw it at Leon. It hit him in the chest and sprayed a little bit of paint onto his jacket.

Leon looked up at them with rage in his eyes. Exylim squeaked and jumped under the table as Yuffie jumped behind Cloud. Leon dove for Exylim and grabbed her leg. He started to pull her out but she clung to the leg of the table.

"Noo!! I'm too young to die!" she shouted.

"I'll save you!" Yuffie shouted, jumping onto Leon's back. He let go of Exylim and tried to get Yuffie off. Exylim jumped onto his back and all three of them fell forward. She and Yuffie pinned Leon down by sitting on his back. He tried to get up but failed.

"Alright, I'm not gunna kill you. Just get off of me," he said.

"Nope!" Yuffie said.

"You're crushing my lungs," he wheezed.

"Good!" Exylim replied.

"Ugh! Get off of me!" he shouted. Exylim and Yuffie got up and sat back down in the chair. He jumped up and immediately started to brush himself off and try to act all cool and suave as usual.

--

Cloud raised an eyebrow at them but remained silent. Exylim turned away from him, got up, and leaned against the wall.

"Hey Exylim," Leon called to her. She looked up at him. "Come with me." She frowned then got up and followed him towards one of the houses. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door. He held it open for her and she walked in. Leon fumbled for something and switched on the lights. Exylim blinked and looked around. They were in a living room. Leon walked down the hall, motioning for her to follow. "This is where everyone's rooms are. This is Cids room," he said, pointing to the first door, "Aeriths room, then Yuffies room," he said pointing to the next two doors, "My room and then Clouds room," he pointed to the two doors on the other side of the hallway. "Hey wait, where are you go-no not in there!" he shouted as Exylim raced into his room. She closed the door and locked it. "Not funny! Open the door!"

"No way!" she replied, grinning evilly. She looked around the room, pulled out a few of his drawers, tossed the pillows across the room, opened the windows, and then walked into his bathroom. She grabbed the hair shampoo and conditioner and put pink dye in both of them and put both of them back.

"Open this door now!" Leon shouted again. Exylim snuck over to the door and unlocked it. "That's it! I'm breaking this door down on three. One," he threatened. Exylim got ready. "Two… Three!" he shouted. Exylim opened the door and Leon flew through. He did a face-plant and Exylim jumped over him and out the door. "You're dead!" he shouted, running after her. She giggled and raced down the hall and into a different room. She was in the kitchen. Leon charged in after her and chased her around the table. She stopped at one end, him at the other. She faked one way, then the other and then she ran out into the living room. Leon caught her and slung her over his shoulder. He spun around a few times then dropped her on the couch, then started tickling her. She giggled and squirmed then shouted, "Ah! Stop!"

"Nu-uh," he replied. She finally got out of his grip and sat down next to him. He gave her a noogie and then stood up again. "Come on. I'll show you to your room." She got up and followed him, fixing her hair as she walked. "Here," Leon said, opening the door across from Clouds room. Exylim walked in and looked around. The walls and ceiling were painted a sky blue. The pillows, sheets, and blankets on the bed matched the paint. White curtains flickered in the breeze and moonlight poured through the windows.

"It's beautiful!" Exylim finally said.

"I knew you'd like it," he said, leaning against the doorframe.

Suddenly, Exylim hugged him. "Thank you so much! I was starting to get sick of traveling all the time," she said.

Leon smiled then said, "Believe it or not, it was Cloud who told Cid and argued most of the time."

"Really? Remind me to thank him," she said.

"Let's go into the living room. The others will be back soon," Leon said, heading back toward the living room. Exylim followed behind him and they plopped down on the couch. A few seconds later, the others walked in. Cid stormed down the hall and they heard him slam the door to his room closed. Aerith sat down in the chair and Yuffie sat next to Leon. Cloud sat next to Exylim at the end of the couch. Yuffie grabbed the remote and began channel surfing.

After about 2 minutes of the channel changing, Leon finally shouted, "Pick a channel or I will!"

Yuffie stuck her tongue out at him and kept going. Leon tried to grab the remote from Yuffie who ran around the couch. Leon chased after her.

"Do they do this all the time?" Exylim asked Cloud.

"Unfortunately, yes," Cloud replied, his eyes half closed. Exylim sighed. Finally, Leon got the remote and flipped to a movie channel. By then, everyone was tired and one by one began to head to their rooms. Exylim stayed even after Leon turned off the TV and left. Cloud stayed behind too. They sat in silence until Leon started shouting at Exylim from in his room. She grinned sheepishly at Cloud who rolled his eyes. She then got up and walked over to the window. She looked out at the moon and stared at it for a few minutes. Cloud walked up behind her.

"Let's go to bed," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Kay," she said. They walked down the hall and stopped in front of Exylim's room.

"Goodnight," Cloud said.

Exylim hugged him. "Goodnight. And thanks for everything," she said, then pulled away and walked into her new room.

"You're welcome," Cloud whispered then walked into his room.

Exylim smiled and shut the door.