A/N: To everyone who reviewed the last chapter and to those who actually loved it, thank you so much. And I hope this 14th installment won't disappoint you... I had fun writing this as much as I enjoyed imagining this scene when I was still at work on my previous story. Happy reading. :)

Chapter 14: Fearless

2 Days Later...

She sat alone in the private den, watching another musical. This time though, she was actually in the mood but she was barely paying attention. Kadaj had promised her two days ago that their beach trip would be scheduled today, but from what Natalie had seen so far, he was pretty busy and he hadn't told her anything. She lay back down on the couch and stared at the wall clock: nearly three. She shrugged and hugged a pillow to her chest. There was still tomorrow right?

Apparently though, fate had other plans. Kadaj burst through the door, a laptop bag swung over his shoulder, making him look very business-like—a contrast to the black and white polo shirt, dark jeans, and black sneakers—and a beach ball under one arm. Seeing him slightly peaked her interest, and made her feel less enthusiastic at the same time.

"Doesn't that look kind of suspicious?" She asked, pointing at the ball. He glanced at it before turning back to her.

"I had Josie find me the damn thing," he said, inching the ball slightly higher. "So are you still up for it?"

"You've been pretty busy lately, Kadaj, and I don't want to be a bother. We can do it some other time," she said, sitting up with a smile and gesturing to the movie.

"This coming from the girl who practically begged for the trip forty-eight hours ago," he said, rolling his eyes as he tossed the ball and began a single volley.

"I really want too, but you look so busy and besides, I've got an imperial meeting tomorrow at noon," she smiled graciously, one of the perks for being a princess no doubt.

He shook his head, and smiled slightly. "Not busy enough to keep me from unraveling the unknown world to my charge."

Her face broke into a whole-hearted grin upon hearing his words. She considered him dangerous, but he was still a friend—and a future brother-in-law for that matter. She should really get acquainted. That incident was just as an accident, right?

"Is that a yes I'm getting?" He teased, one corner of his mouth twitching up into an undeniably sexy crooked smirk.

"A big one," she answered compliantly and shut off the media system before standing up.

He checked his watch and looked at her before tossing her the ball which pretty much hit her square in the face since she wasn't fast enough to react. This little mishap made Kadaj laugh slightly nonetheless. She stared at him like a gaping fish, her cheeks hinting a shade of pink. The look on her face was just so priceless. If this is how loose she could get around people she's comfortable with, then he could congratulate himself for making it to her 'People I Feel Comfortable With' list. She began to sputter but he cut her off. There was plenty of time for that later.

"Can you get ready in fifteen minutes? You won't really need to pack anything—just throw on some summer clothes and some sunscreen or swimwear if you feel like it. But that means bringing a towel. It's up to you, really." He jammed his hands into his jeans' pockets.

"The previous rendezvous?" She asked, stepping around some velvety cushions on the floor as she called out to the boy who already had his back turned to her.

"It's a given," he replied over his shoulder before swiftly disappearing around a corner in the hallway.

vVvVv

Ten minutes later, Natalie discreetly made her way to the gazebo in the middle of the garden; dressed in a spaghetti-strapped tank top and teal blue shorts with matching sandals, dark sunglasses perched on her nose—shielding her from immediate recognition and from the harsh summer sun, a medium-sized duffel bag—packed with extra clothes, sunscreen, towels, her swimwear, and her vanity kit, and her blonde hair swept up in a side ponytail.

She reached the meeting place and wasn't surprised to see Kadaj already waiting for her. He was still pretty much dressed the same, except he traded his polo shirt for a casual white t-shirt—with the words 'Ripped' written in fancy lettering on the front, black flip-flops were on his feet, and of course, dark sunglasses hiding his otherworldly blue-green eyes from sight. She stayed at the bottom of the steps, knowing that he'd come over anyway.

He grinned slyly at her and closed the distance between them and she followed as they began their secret route towards the garage.

"Where are your things?" She asked, head tilted to the side in curiosity.

"In the car... We should hurry," he whispered.

vVvVv

Needless to say, the trip to the beach was mostly an uneventful one, not counting the many times Kadaj was a fraction of an inch from colliding with a moving vehicle. It nearly damn gave our dear princess a hear attack, but the good news, they made it to their destination in one piece, all because she had pestered him to drive more carefully lest she be forced to hitch a cab—whether the citizens would recognize her or not.

Anyways, the beach was breath-taking to her sights. Anyone should think so if you're hauled up in your titanic palace for fifteen years, and only catching glimpses of the real world through the media. It was already a little bit of heaven. She was staring breathlessly at the crisp pine trees that lined the small sandy parking lot. At long last, Kadaj cut the engine once he found a space that was far from the others. For a summer day, you'd think the beach was supposed to be packed, but no. There were only fifteen cars in the lot—eight of them people carriers, and the rest were just the usual ones. But then again, it was three in the afternoon. Who knows what people had in mind and what keeps them so busy?

As excited as she was to set foot on the sand, she had to always keep in mind that she was a princess, and not just an ordinary girl who would squeal over nothing. Kadaj took his time, stepping out of the driver's side and into the back to open Natalie's door for her. It was the usual, and as much as Kadaj never preferred it, he had to stick to it, because she wouldn't be as keen as to breaking palace tradition so easily—though she'd already broken a whole lot of them after agreeing to sneak out with him.

She smiled primly as she stepped out, duffel bag slung on her shoulder. Kadaj scooted around her and reached for his belongings sitting in the backseat and closed the car door, making sure they were all locked before he began leading the way to find a good secluded spot. Natalie couldn't stop gawking everywhere as they walked. To say the least, she loved the way the loose sand sifted about her sandals, sometimes between her toes. It kind of felt ticklish in a weird way. There were children splashing and laughing in the crystal blue water. Some kids were making sand castles out of the moist sand near the sea. There were several mothers yelling about staying close to the shore. There were a couple of teenagers seated on a large blanket spread out on the sand, their multi-designed umbrellas planted on the ground to form a make-shift canopy that would shield them from the afternoon sun's heat. There were couples strolling near the shore, hand in hand, talking, laughing, kissing, and having fun.

There was also a big fat man lying on his stomach in the sand, probably trying to get a tan but to no avail. His skin was turning a crispy red—which was not a good sign. Letting her gaze travel ahead, she could see various steep rock surfaces, many of which were the tops of caves. And it looked like Kadaj was headed to climb one. She followed after him, quickening her pace a bit.

"Where are we going?" She asked, falling it step beside the silver-haired teen.

"Up there," he gestured his head towards a rocky path dusted with lots of sand going uphill, probably leading to those steep rocky places.

"Have you been there before?" She asked, shaking her right foot that had acquired far too much sand as they walked.

"I wouldn't be taking you there if I haven't." He said, beginning the easy climb.

A few minutes later, what greeted her was somewhat a bit expected but a little too overwhelming. The place had a few plants but the ground was mostly sand. Some pine trees made a shady canopy six feet from where she was standing—near the ledge. And the view was spectacular. The clear water glittered like jewels from her perch, the sun beating down gently as the waves lapped the shore in a steady rhythm.

"Like it?" Came Kadaj's voice in a steady purr.

"It's so beautiful," she breathed, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head.

He came to stand next to her, hands jammed into his jeans' pockets. "Every time I had a chance to visit Ceres, this place was one of the ones I regularly visited. I planned to come here again in a few days but it seems like you beat me to it," he smirked.

"No wonder you love it," she grinned, turning to him.

"Hm," he removed his sunglasses and tucked them into the neckline of his t-shirt. "I'm thinking of taking a swim."

Natalie blinked rapidly. He wasn't going to strip his shirt in front of her, was he? Sucking in a breath, she averted her gaze from his face. She had a vague impression that she was staring at him like he was crazy, but if he noticed this, he paid no heed. She stared out at the vast space before her once more, clutching her bag to her side and continuing to stare at the water, the kids playing, the mothers yelling, the couples strolling, and a whole of that lot. It was some semblance of normalcy, alright.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Kadaj walking back toward the rocky path—to reach the beach below perhaps.

"Where are you going?" She called out, half curious, half afraid of being left alone.

"To change into my swimming attire. Don't worry though. You'll see me submerged in water soon enough and I won't let you out of my sight. I'm responsible for you, Princess." He graced her with one of his cocky smirks.

She felt herself blush. "Take care to watch yourself."

He only continued on his way.

vVvVv

It had been fifteen minutes since Kadaj left, and she kept her eyes glued on the glittering surface of the water, unconsciously watching out for Kadaj's emergence. Fifteen minutes is far too long to change into swimwear. Where did he run off to this time? She sighed heavily, noticing how the beach population began to thin out. There were fewer people than before. Huffing, she plopped her bag on the dirt, pulling out her phone to check for messages first and then return to her privy view of the sea.

And there he was, wading through the water that swirled higher and higher. First up to his waist, and finally grazed the plane of his chest, leaving half of the top of his chest to the top of his head untouched by the water. He had his back turned to her, but he wasn't that hard to spot. The silver hair was a dead giveaway, along with his ethereal pale skin. Still continuing her oblivious stares, he submerged himself totally in water and came back up a few seconds after—hair dripping wet and torso glistening with clear water. Dare she say that he was...beautiful?

She shook her head and froze in her place when he turned to her direction, his face tilted up as he stared at her standing on the edge. She saw him raise an eyebrow, almost daring and then lifted a hand from the water, crooking his index finger twice—beckoning her to him. Natalie blinked, almost stunned when he smirked before going underwater again. Huffing, she knew he was daring her. To tell the truth, she wasn't afraid of the water. She knew how to swim—her parents made sure of that. But being alone in a secluded area of the sea with Kadaj was a different thing. It was something that made nerves twist into a knot in her stomach; something that sent all the butterflies fluttering.

She looked down at him again, seeing his limbs and body glide through the water in some sort of perfect dance. His silver hair appeared and disappeared through the shady area of water he was swimming in. If an outsider were to identify our dignified princess' face, one would say she was positively drugged at the sight of a gorgeous male gliding through the water. She continued to watch as he changed his strokes—going up and under like a dolphin.

Oh hell! Whatever happened to taking chances? Smiling to herself, she stepped back over to their duffel bags resting snuggly under the shade of pine trees. Good thing she put her swimwear on before putting on her actual clothes. Stripping off her tank top and shorts, she was left standing in her shorter shorts that were skin tight and modest two-piece top—a tube top that halted half an inch below her breasts and rides just enough to cover her cleavage. Modest as usual—even in the beach.

Once more, Natalie found herself standing on the edge, hesitating for a while and bit her lip when Kadaj reemerged from the blue depths. He didn't say anything; just stared up at her curiously, expecting her to do something, head tilted to the side. He nodded once, gave her an encouraging smile before disappearing into the water once more. She stared at the rocks dotting the shore that marked the entrance to the dark cave. Fewer people were hanging out at the beach now. From somewhere, she could see some people preparing to leave. It was nearly fifteen minutes after four. But upon returning her gaze to the view below, all she could think about was the water. The way it glistened gently whenever the sun managed to filter its way through the shade, and Kadaj's swimming strokes. It all seemed inviting.

And for the third time in her life, caution was once again thrown to the wind. Walking back to gain just the right amount of momentum, she ran, throwing herself over the edge and executing a perfect swan dive.

vVvVv

He was underwater but he could easily make out the sound of a splash—another body no doubt had just broken through the calmness of the crystal blue water. It was Natalie; that was for sure. He was a good ways away from her but he knew it she had broken the surface. He swam, letting his hands glide along the current, pushing as he made his way towards her. Faintly, he heard his name being called. Smirking despite the bubbles that rose to the surface, he continued his trail. Reaching her discreetly, he swiftly grabbed her ankle and pulled. She went under and he surfaced, grinning as she emerged, glaring at him exasperatedly and spitting out sea water from her mouth.

"What was that for?" She huffed, crossing her arms impatiently across her chest, ignoring the tingling sensation that had been caused by the touch of his bare hand on her ankle.

He shook his head, chuckling. "You know how to swim... I like that."

"My parents made sure," she smiled and laughed slightly, swimming towards him.

He let his feet plant firmly on the sand bed below and watched as she moved closer to him. Once he was close enough, he instantly launched his question in her face—without thinking it through. He thought back to the moment in that library when he nearly kissed her. She was staring at him now, silent, transfixed, gazing straight into his eyes. Kadaj distinctly had the impression that she was trying to peer into him, wanted to know what he was thinking.

In a slightly serious face, he spoke. "Are you afraid?" He mumbled.

Natalie was a bit taken aback but she didn't show it. He had asked the same question he had wailed on her face two days ago. Coincidence? She thought not. Hearing him say it again, she knew now what he was really talking about.

"Of you? No." She whispered in a voice that was just as quiet, the world seemingly distant now.

She saw his teeth clench through the tightening muscles on his jaw. "You sure?"

"I wouldn't be out here if I was, right?" She eyed him, wanting to break the enchantment but finding it impossible to do so.

He didn't answer; just let his gaze slide over her face, resisting the urge to bring his lifeless hands to touch her waist. She stared right back at him, eyeing him quite warily but mixed with a large amount of curiosity. Her gaze lingered over his pale skin and she distantly wondered if it was as smooth as it looked like. She wanted to know if she'd get those tingling sensations if she managed to lay a finger on him; if he was as warm as he always felt even in a small distance. Suddenly, her fingers were moving, a hand drifting out from underwater as she slowly approached him, drawing herself closer.

Biting her lip, she glanced up at him before dropping her gaze. Her fingers were merely centimeters away from touching his skin. She'd always worn her gloves and even if he did hold her hand before, she had know idea if it would feel good. Even at that time they danced at the party and ended up embracing in the corner of the room, she still didn't feel close enough. At the last second, she hesitated, drawing her hand back a little and daring a look at him. He stared back, eyes unwavering—betraying nothing, and those intense orbs of his flickered with intense light. She dropped her gaze and noticed for the first time that her hand was trembling slightly—uncertainty perhaps.

Grasping some courage, she reached out once more, letting her fingertips skim the solid plane of taut muscle, and skin—smooth, flawless skin. The touch was light, feathery. At that moment, she knew she only wanted more, and knowing he allowed this—to get close to him—gave her a spark of needed and wanted courage. Her other hand emerged from the water, dripping and she pressed the palms of her hands against his chest, her eyes lingering on the pale bare skin of his neck. He felt solid; warm. The heat he emitted was comforting and she let her gaze travel as she watched droplets of salt water cling to his ethereal complexion. His hair was damp, dried slightly from the wind and the sun. Chewing on her lip, her hands moved upwards, a finger traced his collarbone until her hands began to tinker with his hair, letting the soft silky strands spill through the spaces between her fingers.

The whole experience felt...different. It was entrancing, exhilarating even. The whole thing was just so new. It wasn't like she'd never touched a male before, but this was the first time she'd actually felt one. A small shudder rippled through Kadaj's lithe body and just the small sensation made her smile. And before she even knew what was happening, she felt herself being pulled closer to him. His arms were around her waist. Strangely though, it didn't feel odd like she expected it to. It was...comforting, safe. His hands felt warm against her skin and she found herself in the same placement as she had in the library: his face a mere inch away from hers, breaths mingling, noses brushing until he leaned his forehead against hers.

'This is wrong, this is wrong,' she chanted in her thoughts, eyes glued to his own. 'Sephiroth's brother. I shouldn't. He's dangerous, and...' She didn't get to finish her own line of thinking.

The only fact her brain was registering was that Kadaj's face was inching closer and closer to hers—closer than before. Letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, she let go. The world blurred into the background and only the quiet hum of nature reverberated in her ears. He wordlessly rested his lips against hers invoking a simple and inviting touch, a call to urge forward. Shocked at first she stared; his eyes were closed, long eyelashes casting pale shadows and her eyelids fluttered, giving in and brushing her mouth against his, curious for more.

He granted her wish as his lips slowly engaged hers in a gentle and chaste kiss, his hands caressing her sides, the water felt warm against her skin and left tingles as his hands skimmed over her sides. He slowly sucked her bottom lip, taking it gently between his teeth and nipping it slightly, leaving her to shiver. Sighing against his mouth, she knew she was closer to him now more than ever. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck, the same smooth skin against her own. It was...perfect; serene and almost unbreakable. Despite the hint of innocence in that kiss, neither could deny the slight tinge of passion lying underneath—controlled and tamed.

And to Natalie, she knew she'd never before felt freer in her entire life. Free to make her own choices. Free to learn. This moment with Kadaj kind of proved it after all...that she was capable.

A/N: Well...comments? Violent reactions? What do you think...?