Disclaimer. Once again, ccs is not mine and you all know that.

He brought her to his apartment after dinner. When he opened the door, Spinel jumped out of Nakuru's arms and into the sofa where it stretched himself and settled comfortably. Nakuru was jumping up and down like a little child who got what she wanted.

"Stop being so chirpy. You're here because I want to make sure you do your homework. You have a deadline tomorrow." He ruffled her hair.

"Thank you." He heard her say.

"For what?"

"For giving me this day."

He smiled.

"I was right!"

"What?" She says the most random of things.

"You really have a beautiful smile."

"Yeah, well. You too." He excused himself to his room to take a shower and instructed her that there are paper and pencils in the table if she needs it.

No other woman can make his heart beat so fast.

She was really in trouble. At first she was just playing with him because he truly looks like the prince from her dreams. She can't fall in love with a guy who will go away tomorrow to some faraway place. She can't let herself be close to another person who would leave her.

"Oh Suppi. " She cradled the cat in her arms with a very calm expression on her face. "What do I do? I really love him."

He finished showering and was already in T-shirt and jogging pants when he saw Nakuru sitting on the floor, papers scattered everywhere on the small table where she was sketching. He went to the refrigerator to get something to drink and handed her a can of juice.

"Who knew you can be this serious?" Was he this conversational before?

"I'm serious all the time. Thanks." She opened it and drank from it.

"You want to shower first before doing that? I can lend you some clothes. Doubt it will fit though."

"I'm good. Maybe later." Something was wrong or maybe she just didn't want to be disturbed while working.

"I'll go and pack my things. Make yourself comfortable and don't slack off."

"Okay." Was all she said. He couldn't brush off the feeling that there was something odd about her behavior.

There was not too much to pack. All he brought were some clothes and some papers and they were already placed neatly on the shelves. He packed them in his bags and he was all set. He lied down on the bed. Too much time. Bored.

He chuckled. This day was far from being boring. He never thought he could enjoy the company of anyone before let alone a girl who just popped out of nowhere and talked to him. He was dragged all over places and truth be told, he enjoyed every single time he spent with her. She was an odd girl, he thought. Suddenly confessing to a stranger because he looks like someone from a dream. He covered his face with his right arm. He felt himself blush because he remembered her face close to his. He must be out of his mind. He barely knew that woman. A very loud cheerful woman who freely speaks her mind. And then he thought of what Mr. Flint said. She must really be a very strong woman.

And then he had an odd thought. She may just be the woman for him.

That was commendable. In one day, she already reached his heart. The thought calmed him and he fell asleep.

He suddenly woke up because he felt heavy in the chest. Spinel was sitting on him staring at him and meowed softly when he saw him awake. He got up and placed the cat on his lap. Spinel licked his hand. Guess the cat's hungry.

He didn't know how much time had passed. It was already two in the morning. He carried the cat outside the room and noticed the lights still on with Nakuru still sketching the same way he left her with a bunch of papers scattered everywhere on the table. He placed the cat on the floor where it swayed its tail side to side waiting for his meal. He browsed his ref for something Spinel might eat and found some bread and chocolate milk. He fed the cat and walked to Nakuru. He sat beside her.

"You can rest, you know."

"I'm not done yet." Her smile was starting to look empty.

"What's wrong?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You are not yourself."

"Just because I'm working right now doesn't mean I'm not myself." She was not even looking at him.

"Why aren't you facing me?"

"Did you pack already?"

"There was nothing to pack really. I just fell asleep…" Then he realized something. "Are you sad because I'm leaving later?" For a very smart guy, he failed to consider this.

"Maybe. But I've disturbed you a lot already. I'm already happy I was able to spend the whole day with you." She was smiling. A very sad smile and it was very hard to bear. He hugged her.

"No you're not. You are sad."

"I can't help it. I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I was just…" She was speaking in a very soft voice. "My brother left and my father died. We're not blood-related but I really think of us as family. But they left me. My real parents. I told everyone I forgot but I never did." He was shocked to hear this. He can't see her expression but she must not be smiling anymore.

In a very low voice she continued. "There was a strange man with a knife. I saw my father lying on his back with blood everywhere. My mother, she was crying. She shouted for me to run away. I couldn't move. Another man was walking towards me. Something happened. It.. It was a blur. I remembered the man falling and my mother behind him with a broken vase. She carried me to the door and she suddenly dropped me shouting. It was a terrible scream and a gunshot and a loud thunder. My mom told me to run so I ran. I don't even know where I'm going. I just ran. I was drenched in the rain but I ran. I remembered getting tired but I just ran because she told me. The thunder never stops. That was when Clow found me. I bumped into him. I wasn't able to speak. I just cried. And then the thunder scared me. Clow was there and he covered my ears."

It broke his heart. He had to hug her tighter. He cannot imagine how scared she must be at that time. This girl was really lonely. She was speaking in a very soft voice devoid of any emotion and he couldn't stand it.

"Nakuru?"

"Yes?"

"You can cry."

There was a slight pause and then she burst into tears. She was sobbing uncontrollably. He placed her head under his chin holding her tightly close to him to control her shaking. "I was scared. I didn't talk for a while. I was scared. It was scary. Clow brought me to the orphanage but I didn't want to leave this person. He was the one who saved me from the thunder. I didn't talk for days. One day Clow asked me if I wanted to see where they were buried. I can't. I didn't want to think about it. I ran away from them! I was helpless."

"It's not your fault. You were young." He could not find the right words to say.

"I was scared. But then, Clow was there and he told me he can be my father and gradually I was able to get through every day. He made me promise to keep my smile and show it to everyone because it makes them happy so I did. A year later, Eriol came. And we were all happy but then I got home early from work one day because the rain scares me and he wasn't there and Clow was sitting on his table looking very troubled. He told me Eriol's real parents came and claimed him back. He just left so I ran outside hoping I could catch up with them. But… but the thunder scared me. I can't move. I was helpless. I could have run after him, I didn't even get to say goodbye!"

She was pouring her heart out. How many years was she enduring all this? He kissed the top of her head hoping to calm her down but she continued sobbing. "I just sat there at the door until Clow picked me up. Trying to calm me. I didn't want to worry him so I cheered up. I promised him my smile. I told him Eriol will come back. He'll always visit us. But he never did. He wrote letters for a while but then it eventually stopped after a year. I thought maybe, maybe he didn't care anymore! And then Clow left me two years ago too. He didn't even tell me he was sick. He just suddenly left telling me to forgive him because he will leave me. He told me to keep strong and always smile and I always did but nothing's happening. They all left!" She was gripping his shirt. "All I know is they all left me. I didn't want to cry. I don't know why I'm crying now. I don't want to cry. It makes me weak. It…"

"It's okay to cry. You have a reason to cry. You're a strong woman Nakuru. Crying doesn't make you any weaker."

She tightened her grip. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've been bothering you all day and now I'm telling you all this. You didn't have to know this. I was just… I'm scared. I was just fooling around at the beginning. When Clow died, I felt really alone. I had a dream. A silly dream about a prince who will come and save me from this loneliness. You just look so much like him so when I saw you, I was shocked. I was determined to be with you. I'm sorry. I…"

And he couldn't bear any more of it. He kissed her. He felt her shock so he slowed down. He wanted to let her know that it's alright. He kissed the tears on her cheeks, on her eyes and went back to her lips. She responded and the kiss deepened. She wrapped her hands around his neck and he felt her pull him closer. The kiss became more urgent, two people who desperately wants each other.

He released her because he needed to catch his breath. "It's alright. I'm here." He tucked her hair behind her ears. "I was bored and you came," he whispered between breaths. "I found you a little annoying at first, yes. You were very persistent." He kissed her on the cheek. "And it paid off. Because I think…" he kissed her lightly on the lips. "…you already have my heart." And then he kissed her again with deep longing. Yue very gently pushed Nakuru until they were down on the floor without releasing each other's lips. Silver hair mixed with dark brown. It was a long intimate kiss.

He was nuzzling her neck unbuttoning her vest when he suddenly shot backwards because of some foreign object on his hair. "HELL!" It was that stupid cat who jumped from his head and landed next to Nakuru who was at a loss of what was happening. Spinel was swinging his head side to side very fast and it went on jumping in place and into the table where it scattered the papers all over the floor covering Nakuru's face and it finally registered on her.

"Did you give Suppi sweets?"

He remembered the chocolate milk. "Chocolate milk."

"Oh no! Suppi gets drunk with sweets!" And then they heard sounds of clattering and saw Spinel knocked down the penholder. "Oh NO SUPPI!" And she stood up and followed her cat. It was chaos. The cat was dancing around the apartment like crazy and Yue joined in the chase when Spinel was dangerously near the cups and glasses.

Finally after a very big mess with Nakuru's dress tainted in chocolate milk because she suddenly jumped on the floor to catch Spinel accidentally knocking off the bowl of milk into her and Yue with colored pen marks on his shirt, Spinel was caught in the arms of a very exasperated Nakuru. The cat was even hiccupping!

"Suppi! You dumb cat! Oh look at this place! It's all messy! Oh no! All my work!"

Then the guy sitting next to her with his left palm on his face suddenly started laughing . She was startled by the sound more by the sight of a laughing Yue. Even he was startled by himself. It was the first time he laughed so hard.

"What's so funny? I'm not the only one with messy hair here mister!"

He kissed her on the cheek. "You are the most beautiful thing that happened to me." He stood up. "Now let's clean this up before I change my mind on that."

He went and arranged the scattered utensils.

"Suppi," she whispered to the grinning cat. "I'm happy." She smiled and stood up to help, placing the tipsy Spinel on the sofa where he curled himself to sleep.

It was half past 4 already. They were mostly done except for Nakuru's papers which was thankfully all safe so Yue took the shower first so she could arrange them. He threw the towel and some clothes to Nakuru when he was done. "That's enough for the time being. Wash up and go to sleep."

Yue was lying on his bed thinking about his day. He could not believe how meeting her would change him so much. In one day, she made him care for her. In just one day, she was able to invade his entire life. In one day, just one day. He could not believe it yet that was the case. He loves the girl. The thought was comforting.

And then a furry creature was rubbing his feet. He picked up Spinel who was still in his own euphoria grinning with a drunken smile and held it up above him.

"You! Miserable cat. Did you absolutely need to interrupt?"

"I don't want to go out looking like this! It's embarrassing." That was Nakuru from the bathroom.

"Either that or you sleep in the bathroom." Yue answered.

"But… Don't laugh!"

"You should be comforted that I only ever laugh at you."

"Just promise me!"

"Just go out." And it was hard not to laugh. The usually cheerful princess was lightly blushing pouting with arms crossed looking straight at him. She had his shirt on and the sleeves reached her elbows. The jogging pants he lent her was too long so it crumpled at her feet. He looked away from her petting the cat.

"You are laughing!"

He let out a chuckle. "It looks good on you."

"Liar! Since when did you become such a tease?"

Since when? The answer was quite obvious. "The cat's still drunk."

He heard her sigh. "He really can't take sweets."

He faced her again. He can't help it. She looked too cute. He laughed. She did the same.

"The sun is already rising. Let's get some sleep. Where are you going?" Nakuru was heading for the door.

"Going to sleep."

He tapped his side. "The bed's right here."

"B..but!"

"You're not thinking of naughty thoughts, aren't you?"

"Urghh! I don't like this Yue!" She stomped her foot but went to his side anyway, took the cat from him and faced the other way. He chuckled. He slept on his side too facing her back, wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her gently towards him. She was surprised by his sweet actions. She was a little thankful she was facing the other way because her face was most probably burning red by now.

"Let's just sleep."

"Nnnn…"

Yue closed his eyes. It felt so right to be with her.

"Hey Yue."

"Yes."

"I love you."

He smiled. He kissed her head. "Go to sleep princess."

…

…

"Yue, do you love me?"

She was scared of his reply. He was very nice to her and he even kissed her but she still can't be sure. She suddenly became very embarrassed at their little episode. She had never told anyone about her past. She hadn't cried to anyone before even to Clow nor to Eriol. She hadn't let anyone see her weak side. It was only to him because from the first time she saw him, she already knew he was special.

But there was no reply. She shifted carefully to face him. Spinel purred in her arms because of the movement. "Sshh."

He was sleeping. He was strikingly handsome especially with him this close with a very peaceful expression on his face in a slow breathing rhythm. She could stare at him forever!

"Suppi, I'm so scared," she whispered. "That when I sleep and I wake up, he won't be here anymore." She felt him pull her closer.

…

…

…

Awaken by Spinel's paw on her cheek, she sat on the bed with a blank expression on her eyes. The shelves were empty. The bags were gone. He was gone.

...

...

Oops. Before I know it, i becomes like this. I felt it needed the drama. Next one's the final chapter! I'm working on it.