A.N. I'd like to thank all those who reviewed, and yes, there IS a reason on how they found Touma so fast *grin*

She ran as fast as she could, the sand flying behind her and her heart hammering. But she did not stop; she did not stop in fear she would wake up from this hopeful dream.

"Stop! Dang it, Cloud, stop!" she vaguely heard her friend, 0015, screaming at her from behind. She couldn't stop, she wouldn't stop, she had to reach him. Just to see his face. To feel safe in his arms again.

Touma…she thought. She was nearing a large sand dune and she stopped on top of it, her eyes watering at the sight bellow. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at 0015.

"I've never seen you so irrational like this… you really do love him?" 0014 wiped at her eyes.

"I'm sorry." 0015 gave her a playful shove.

"go, I'll make sure they don't spy on you two." She gave her friend a confused look, making her laugh.

"You run out like a hungry woman bent on getting some food and you don't think they'd follow you?" 0014 blushed and 0015 pushed her.

"Go on, just make sure to tell him hi if it really is him, k?" 001 nodded and wiped at her eyes, her tail swishing again as she steadied her breathing once more and began to walk slowly to the vehicle, hoping against the odds that is really WAS him.

But why would he be in Japan? She asked herself.

0015 was waiting at the bottom of the sand dune when the red convertible pulled up next to her, spraying dust at the ocean.

"Where is 0014?" 003 asked.

"Checking to see if it really is Touma." 0015 beamed.

"Aren't you going to see if she's alright?"

"They need their privacy 003." 004 smiled and reclined in the passenger seat.

"Oh how romantic." 007 grinned, also leaning back and closing his eyes.

"Waste of time of you ask me." 002 sniffed, turning up his nose. 0015 rolled her eyes and leaned on the back of the car.

"It's just like a remember." She smiled.

"What is?" 007 asked, opening his eyes and sitting up, now interested.

"Well, this is sorta how they first met, or so 0014 tells me. It was raining and she had caught a slight cold walking the streets of the city. She ran across the street and almost got crushed by a car, a stranger jumped and saved her."

"Was that stranger Touma?" 003 asked.

"Yes, exactly. He then took her to his house since she was unconscious, nursed her back to health, and they sorta bonded. We've been the three musketeers since then."

"That's a really pretty story."

"Thanks, made it up myself."

"What?" 0015 grinned.

"Actually, that is only how I envisioned it. 0014 has never told me how they met." She laughed.

"But the last part IS true, we had been inseparable since then. We did almost everything together." She grinned.

"How long is this gonna take?" 002 asked in his usual 'bored as hell' monotone.

"Patience is a virtue."

"And it's something I don't have. See ya later." 002 casually got out of the car and activated the jets in his feet, speeding into the sky.

"How rude, he needs lessons on manners."

"Don't mind him, he's always that way." 004 stated as he moved over to the driver's side and 0015 hopped in the passenger side.

"Well, shall we stay here or leave them alone and go back to the house?"

"I say we should leave them alone for a while." 007 smiled, leaning over the seat and smiling at 0015. She could only grin and gave him a peck on the cheek and winked as he fell back, face red.

"Good choice Romeo." She grinned.

"Aright then, let's get going." 004 smiled and turned the car on, turned it around and began driving back at the house.

0014 paused a little ways away from the car, and grabbed her heart. It was pounding so hard it almost hurt. She was, in a way, scared half to death. What could she say about what happened? What would he think about her new appendages?

Do I even have the courage to face him? She asked herself. A few moments passed and she gulped, and set her face into a mask of determination.

I…I can and will do it… she thought and took another step, her face immediately relaxing and her hand fell down. It was becoming easier and easier with each step she took. Finally she was by the car, and she could hear Touma on the other side. She took a few more steps and was suddenly staring directly at him.

His dusty hair, his soft eyes, his face.. everything was as she remembered.

They stood that way for a few moments before his eyes went wide and filled with tears.

"Cloud-chan?" he asked, barely over a whisper. She nodded, her own eyes spilling over with tears. She suddenly found herself rushing into his arms, and feeling warmth close over her as his arms folded around her. She began to sob.

"Tou-chan!" she cried, burring her face into his chest as his hold tightened.

"Oh god.. oh god is it really you?" they spent so much time in each other's arms before they pulled away, looking into each other's eyes.

"T-Touma…"

"They said you were dead! You had been destroyed in the fire! B-but I didn't believe it, I knew you were a live. Something must have happened. I've been looking all this time. I never gave up." Everything began to gush out and soon both stories had been shared.

"Oh my god.. I'm so sorry!" they hugged again as 0014 let loose some more tears and Touma held her close.

"I-I had no idea.. it's not your fault."

"Touma?" he pulled away a little and he smiled, wiping at her tears.

"Hm?"

"Do you still love me? Even though I look. So…so… horrible?" she asked, eyes welling up with new tears. Touma chuckled.

"No more tears love. I will always, always love you, no matter how you look. I actually think it's cute, kitten." He said softly, petting her and using the old nickname he had had for her.

"You journeyed across the ice…" 0014 began.

"You journeyed across the snow," Touma continued.

"Together we parted and came back," Touma hugged 0014 to his chest and spoke the next line.

"With only love to show."

"Love always finds a way."

"Whether it be shallow or deep,"

"Remember to never give up,"

"And to your love walk your feet." They said the last line in unison and hugged each other closely.

"You're birthday was the other day, kitten." Touma said suddenly and hugged her even close.

"Happy birthday." He added and 0014 blushed softly, making Touma smile. He leaned close and she looked up at him.

"I have a present for you." He smiled and captured her lips in a small kiss. She blushed softly but leaned against him. They pulled away and he smiled.

"So, where is Mitty?"

"Back at the house…" she trailed off, she had told them about their upcoming surgery.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be there for you."

"Thank you… Touma."

"Let's head out then, you said it was about half a mile up this beach?"

"Yes, lets go. The sooner this is over with the sooner I can relax." Touma chuckled and opened the car door for and she gingerly sat down as he ran around and got in himself.

"I still can't believe you got a tiger, a wolf, and a fox kit already!" he laughed, starting the car.

"You'd be surprised, Touma, that you would." Se said softly, leaning back a little and looking at the sky which was beginning to show signs of stars.

TBC

A.N. who thinks I should update this every day? Lol.