A/N- wow! I've gotten a lot of reviews when this story has been up for only like two days!! Anyway, here's the next chapter! ;)

Kathryn awoke to find herself being carried by Sephiroth, the smell of his coat and the various food products they had gathered engulfing her senses. "You can take a shower first," he said, setting her feet down and she realized that they had just walked into his room. "There's towels in the lavatory closet, third shelf."

She nodded numbly as she left his embrace and went into the bathroom, kicking off her shoes just before stepping in and pushing the button to close and lock the door. Sephiroth stared at the door and her shoes for a long moment, then frowned down at his crotch, "This....is embarrassing," he muttered.

Kathryn wasn't long in the shower and the door opened, letting steam swirl out. Sephiroth lifted his eyes from writing in his journal to stare with wide eyes at her, his jaw somewhere near the floor. She blushed, having only a towel wrapped around her body. "I...forgot to get new clothes," she mumbled and swiped up her bag, diving back into the bathroom.

Sephiroth squeezed his eyes shut, grinding his teeth together, writing one more sentence into his journal. 'I don't think I'm going to last very long with her around... so much for the "mighty warrior" image.'

Kathryn stepped out of the bathroom once again, this time with the towel wrapped around her hair, carrying her bag, and dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a floppy tee-shirt. Sephiroth breezed past her with clean clothes in hand, locking the door before turning the water on to freezing cold.

She sat on the bed, staring at her teddy bear, blushing, "Was he?... He couldn't possibly be attracted to me. I think maybe it was just the 'naked girl' thought that had him like that, not the thought of me." She spoke to the bear, talking herself out of thinking there could be anything.

There was a tone and Kathryn realized it was the 'doorbell'. She got to her feet and pressed the button to open it. Staring at a skinny secretary who was holding a note. "Yes?" Kathryn asked hesitantly.

"This is for Sephiroth," the mousy woman said and the moment Kathryn had hold of the paper, she turned, hurrying away, sniffling. Kathryn leaned out the door to look down the hallway at the upset girl. Shrugging, she turned around and shrieked, jumping back. Sephiroth was standing right behind her, dressed, though his hair was wet.

He frowned slightly. "I- I- don't sneak up on me like that!" Kathryn finally snapped at him and handed him the note.

He unfolded it, reading quickly then crumpling the note with one hand. "Stay here, Shinra wants to talk to me." He said, turning to look down at his dirty leather coat. Tossing the crumpled note aside, he stalked out the door.

"Okay..." Kathryn said softly, scratching her neck some. "Did I do something wrong?" She closed the door with a push of a button and jumped when the tone sounded again. Her brows pulled together as she turned to open the door. It was a man, dressed in a SOLDIER's uniform.

"Come with me, Ma'am," he said somewhat stiffly.

"But..." she started to object then shook her head, taking the towel from her head and tossing it aside, "Let me get my hair brushed and my shoes on." The man nodded and watched from the open door as she did just that.

Sephiroth clomped his way up the stairs, his hair still dripping and making his black cotton shirt wet down the back. Taking his hair, he wrung it out some before tossing it back over his shoulder. He made his way into Shinra's office, the windows displaying an early evening sky. Scarlett and Heidiggar were standing near Shinra's desk, the president himself, leaning his elbows upon the desk.

"So what is it now?" Sephiroth warily asked.

"I've had unanimous reports that you....started a food fight with your Fiancée-" Shinra started.

"And you do realize that if I had my own house that there wouldn't be such occurrences at all because I wouldn't be around to start them," Sephiroth interrupted, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Shinra frowned, reaching over to a box on his desk to pull out a cigar, "Hojo wouldn't like that..."

"You said it yourself, Hojo's an idiot."

"It would cost money-"

"Shinra, you want me to breed or not? I may have lived here my entire life, but she hasn't and she will not be willing to do any such thing while under Hojo's microscope and your security cameras. You want the future of your company, I want my own place," Sephiroth said smoothly.

Scarlett spoke up, "But our new weaponry may make Sephiroth completely useless! We could simply BLOW UP any resistance to us!"

"And who would train the troops? I really don't think either of you have the experience or qualifications- or the force necessary to do it," Sephiroth replied to her.

"They would be taught how to use the new weapons," she argued.

"What about the new ones? They really wouldn't have the guts to actually kill someone. What you would have was an army of twits."

"Father... I'd have to agree with Sephiroth on this one. Having new weaponry would be nice, but without someone to train the troops on actually killing people and how to find your target and eliminate it quickly- would make the weapons completely useless," Rufus said as he ascended the stairs, having overheard the argument.

President Shinra rubbed his chin thoughtfully, chewing on his unlit cigar. Finally he nodded, "I see your point. No, Scarlett, I will not 'fire' Sephiroth, he is still our largest asset. As long as we have the threat of unleashing him upon any army that dares to gather, then we have control."

Sephiroth smiled slightly at Scarlett and bowed his head half mockingly and half politely to her as she stomped out, Heidiggar following, his fat bouncing. The war general turned back to Shinra, looking at him, "There was something else?" he prodded.

"Yes... I've taken the liberty of contacting the media and setting up an interview for them with your Fiancée. The world wants to see the woman you chose, after all," Shinra said, lighting his cigar finally.

Sephiroth growled, "ASK next time, Shinra." He turned, storming out of the open office, hearing Shinra's wheezing laugh echo.

Kathryn's eyes were blinded by the intense light of the cameras all pointed straight at her. She felt her heart was going to quit it was beating so fast, she reflected that at least she didn't have to sing for them. Rapid-fire questions were thrown at her from all directions. Finally her temper snapped and she stood up, grabbing the nearest camera and smashing it down on the table in front of her.

"Would you quit it! Just because Sephiroth picked me doesn't mean that I have the right to spill his secrets! I have no answers for you and I will not speak to any of you again! GOT THAT?!" She turned, stalking toward the door, finding Sephiroth standing there, his arms folded, expression blank. Kathryn paused then lifted her chin, shoving past him and out of sight of the cameras. Casting a look at the media people, Sephiroth turned, walking after Kathryn.

In the hall, Kathryn had fallen against the wall near a potted plant, her face in her hands. "You handled that well," Sephiroth murmured, coming to stand beside her, his arms still folded.

"I lost my temper... gods, right in front of all of them..." she moaned.

"So? They're scum. Bottom feeders. They'll eat anything you throw to them." Sephiroth shrugged slightly, his voice soft yet void of any emotion.

Slowly she turned to look up at him, "I didn't ask for this... I don't want to live here. I don't want to always be watched like this..." tears fell down her face and he slowly unfolded his arms to touch her tears, wiping them away with his fingers.

"Shinra will be giving us a house of our own. I've seen to that," he replied and was rewarded with a hopeful look and beginnings of a smile.

"Maybe...you're not so bad after all," she said softly, lifting one of her hands to touch his.

"It might take a few days to acquire the house, but if it takes more then a week, I'll do something about it."

"You mean start waving that big piece of metal around and do some glaring," Kathryn interpreted and he let himself smile at her.

"Yes.... that's exactly what I'd meant."