Author's Note:

Okay, I should've posted this, like, a billion years ago but my life is busy sometimes…rarely. Anyway. Thank you to ever one who reviewed and please review again! I hope this chapter is very cute and an introduction to my character. Much more will come in the future! Next chapter will come within two weeks, promise!

This was beta-ed by my lovely friend xXDancerintheDarkXx!

Chapter One: The Naming Game

So, me, Reno, cold-hearted Turk who's killed tons of people…was holding the hand of a small, blonde girl. Yep, if anyone from work saw this, my reputation is dog food.

In my defense, she's the one who stuck her soft, hesitant hand in mine. And hey! It wasn't like I could just drop her hand and move on. I mean…I could have, but…but I didn't want to, so THERE! 'Sides, I was far too busy with my thoughts to really notice. I mean, me, Reno, taking in a homeless orphan for the night? How would I explain it to the other Turks? Well, I didn't have to! The girl would be gone by tomorrow and I'll have forgotten about this whole thing by next week.

"Umm, excuse me?" A tiny voice asked, and I snapped out of my thoughts. I glanced downwards.

"Yeah, kid?" I asked, wondering what she could possibly have to say to me.

"Umm, umm…what's your name?" the little girl finally managed to get out. I blinked and then chuckled, realizing I had forgotten the always important introduction! I guess ole' Shinra forgot to train their Turks in manners, eh?

"I'm Reno, kid, Reno the Turk at your service!" I exclaimed and bowed with flourish, my red ponytail falling across my shoulder. The girl held up a hand to stifle a giggle, which proved she was capable of actual happiness and not stuck in pathetic puppy mode all the time.

"What's a Turk?" she giggled and, yet again, that stopped me dead in my tracks.

"You don't know what a Turk is?" I asked incredulously, and she shook her head in a definite 'no'. "Good gosh… I'll explain it later, when we get back to my place." I mumbled, massaging my forehead a little. She didn't even know about the Turks! What kind of pathetically educated girl did I pick up, anyway?

Oh, well. Turk stories make great bedtimes stories. Heh, I still have my sarcasm. But as I walked back to my meager dwellings, something hit me, and I glanced down at the girl who still held my hand. Huh… names… I hadn't asked for hers, now had I?

"Kid, ya know, I didn't catch your name." I said and took a sharp turn down an alleyway, taking the back way home so I didn't run into anyone from work. That'd look bad, ya know.

Complete silence… and then, "I don't have a name," okay now, THAT stopped me dead in my tracks.

"What?" I exclaimed, my eyes bugging, "Ya don't have a name, kid? How can you be however old you are without having a name?" I shouted, flinging my hands up dramatically. Geez, was this kid the most pathetic thing in the world, or what? An orphan, lives on the streets, has no name…man, did her life bite, or what?

Little miss "no name" lowered her head and stood there, not looking up, as she made circles in the dirt with her foot.

"My mama and daddy… they died a really long time ago. They named me of course, but it… a really long time ago, but I can't remember. I grew up on the streets, so I don't know my name." She said softly, as I leaned against the brick wall; I crossed my arms. Hey, I could spare a few moments for this! 'Sides no way Rude, or anyone else for that matter, could ever find me out here.

"Well, what about your friends? What'd they call you?" I asked, my voice growing quiet, as I frowned a little.

"Don't got no friends. Don't got anyone, so nobody needs to call me anything. I managed all by myself." The girl said and raised her head suddenly. I was struck by something I saw in the depths of her eyes in that second. And NO! I haven't suddenly turned soft or poetic. I just… just could see it so clearly; there was no mistaking what it was.

It was a fiery brand of fierce determination, and heart breaking loneliness. I've seen it before in adults' eyes, adults who've been put through the ringer and come out stronger, sadder. I've seen it in the eyes of a lot of people, those who've lived through hell, who still managed to love and still fight for their right to be happy in this crazy, mixed up world. I've seen that look in many eyes.

I see it in my own… every morning.

That's enough about me, all right? Seeing THAT look in a little kid… well, it just didn't seem right, ya know? Yet there wasn't a single thing I could do, really. I can't change the past; I should know that by now, 'cause I've tried.

"Sorry," I mumbled and looked down, frowning fiercely. I had to get these stupid thoughts under control before I did something stupid, like care. But when I looked up, a thought hit me and I plastered on a silly little grin.

"Well, if you don't have a name, I'll just name you myself!" I said, nodding my head decisively. Immediately, the little girl's eyes lit up.

"Really, you'll give me my very own name?" she asked, practically bouncing up and down. I grinned at her apparent happiness, not being able to resist.

"Yep!" I said and pretended to think hard. "Hmm…how about 'squirt'?" I asked seriously, but she just wrinkled her nose and shook her head, "'Twinkle toes'? 'Midget'? 'Ankle biter'?" Hmm, seemed those names were making her laugh, but they didn't seem to fit her. Well, actually, they did, but she wasn't about to let me call her that from now on.

So, I decided to seriously think about what I could call the munchkin. Right off the bat, a name popped into my head.

"Reno," Unfortunately, that name was taken by yours truly. "Reno," I mused, and a sudden idea hit me. "Remo…Remon…Remona!" I exclaimed, and snapped my fingers. I glanced down at the little girl. Growing a little excited, I dropped down to one knee in front of her, never minding the dirty street.

"Remona, huh, How 'bout it, kid?" I asked eagerly, thinking I was brilliant. Remona and Reno…whoa, whoa, WHOA! Where did that thought come from? She wasn't going to be around long enough to be "Remona and Reno", Right?

But while I was going through the stress of having your heart jump ahead of your brain, the little girl smiled. And not just a normal smile, like most people smiled, or a superficial smile… well, like the ones I smile, but an honest to goodness, really happy, absolutely sweet and ecstatic type smile.

"Remona. My name…is Remona." She, Remona, whispered to herself, as though she could hardly believe it. But then, she raised her head and grinned at me.

"Remona. Thank you, Reno!" She cried and for, what, the second time today, threw her tiny arms around my neck in a giant hug. And, yet again, for the second time that day, I found myself nearly knocked off my feet as I "oomphed" and patted her back gently.

"No problem, kid. I mean… Remona," I chuckled and actually sounded sincere. This girl was… well, kinda cute and sweet, like some kind of angel or something.

Ick. An angel? Kill me now! I am SO going soft, and that is SO bad for my profession as a Turk!

Still, why did that phrase, Reno and Remona, sound so good and RIGHT to me? Ugh, I gotta get therapy.

Author's Note,

PLEASE REVIEW! If I get about five reviews, I'll update faster, kay?