Sorry that I haven't updated in the last few days...I caught a nasty head cold (that's, what, like, 3 colds this year? GEEZ!!!), but I'm feeling much better!
Thank you all who have read/favorite/reviewed;it means a lot!
Special box of pocky to my friend Red-chan (you rock!!!).
Alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer, so here we go!

Disclaimer:I own nothing in this story, except for the original characters and the storyline (of course).
Oh, and I don't own Cloud or Kadaj (though I wish I owned the latter...er, former...I mean...~sigh~ I'm so special...)

Cloud and I quickly ran to the kitchen. Lindsey (poor Lindsey, but, I have to admit, it was a sight) was standing in the kitchen holding a wooden spoon and a brass pot like they were weapons. An unconscious figure dressed all in black was lying sprawled out at her feet. Cloud picked up his sword from where it was lying next to the table.

"What the HELL, Christina!!! DON'T YOU THINK I'VE GONE THROUGH ENOUGH FOR YOU TODAY?!" Lindsey screamed, throwing down the spoon and the pot. She marched right up to Cloud. Poking him in the chest she yelled, "And you! You owe me big time mister! I have broken the law and if I'm caught I will end up jail and I would not do well as anybody's bitch! AND I GAVE UP MY DAMN BED FOR YOU!!!!!"

Cloud looked down his nose at her. "What is this thing and can I kill it?," he asked, pointing at her and looking at me. I almost giggled, but managed to stifle it. Wow...I've never heard him be so...silly. Except for that time with Barret and 'the marshmallow bear' sailor outfit...

Lindsey reached for the spoon once again. Snapping from my thoughts, I quickly stepped in between them.

"That's enough. Cloud, this is Lindsey, the friend I was telling you about." I gestured to her. I was pretty sure she was glaring, though who she was glaring at I couldn't tell. "You're staying at her house. So no you can't kill her." I turned to my friend, taking the spoon from her. "Lindsey, what the hell happened in here? And put the damn spoon down!"

"I was just making myself something to eat when this guy comes in through the window!...so I hit him over the head. Fell down like a ton of bricks. Gosh, if you two walked any slower he could've came in, slit my throat, stole my food, and left before you two were even halfway here!"

Cloud snorted. I giggled at my friend's enthusiam...but partly at Cloud's response, too. There was a moan from the man on the floor. I jumped, Lindsey looked down in alarm, and Cloud reached for his sword, pushing me behind him. ...Did he just...push me out of the way...? Was he trying to protect me...? I wondered. But I didn't wonder for long;the man started to rise again. Lindsey hit him over the head with the spoon again.

"WOULD YOU STOP HITTING ME WITH THAT DAMN SPOON?!!" the guy yelled looking up.

Lindsey abruptly stopped her second motion to hit him again and her eyes grew wide. "It's you..." she whispered.

"Who?" I asked, stepping around Lindsey—and Cloud, though I still couldn't believe he did that--to get a better look at the intruder. "Who is he?" I asked, still not recognizing him.

"The guy from Gamestop," Lindsey said, helping him to his feet. "You know, the one I was talking to. Or, at least, I'm pretty sure it was him. The guy I was talking to had brown hair; he has silver."

"It was a wig," said the guy, nonchalantly brushing off his outfit.

There was a flash of silver in front of my face, and the next thing I knew, Cloud's sword was at the guy's neck. I backed up a little;Cloud stepped in front of me and Lindsey, more in my direction then hers, I quickly noted, looking back at the guy. The mysterious stranger smiled. "Are you going to kill me, Cloud?"

I glanced at him;Cloud stayed silent.

"Go ahead, there's no one stopping you. Actually, my death would save me the trouble of doing a few things, so by all means, slice away."

Again, Cloud was silent.

With a cry of frustration, Lindsey leaped in front of the silver haired man. I reached to pull her away from him, but a strong hand stopped me-Cloud's. Lindsey pointed at me and said, "Stop. Remember, I said you owed me! I'm risking being thrown in jail, and I'm giving up my bed for him; you could at least repay me for that by sparing this man's life...." she looked over her shoulder and continued, "...at least until he has his say and then if you still want to you can kill him."

Cloud stared for a moment more, then stepped away. I breathed a sigh of relief;I seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Sheathing his sword, he said, "What is it that you want, Kadaj?"

"Kadaj...?," I said quietly, causing Cloud to glance at me. I had never heard that name before, and I was one of the biggest Final Fantasy VII fans around!

The man, Kadaj, smiled. "Simple. I came to see you, big brother."

I looked from one man to the other, completely shocked, and said the thing both me, and I'm pretty sure Lindsey as well, were thinking. "Are you two related?"

"No. We're not," Cloud quickly replied. I could tell it was a sore subject, but I made a mental note to ask him later. "Now spit out what you really want Kadaj, before I get impatient."

Kadaj smiled and leaned back against the table. "You've met the man Lucian I suppose." Lucian...? I wondered. The guy that Cloud was chasing...?

Cloud looked confused for a moment and then his face cleared back to its original unreadable expression. "Yeah."

Kadaj smiled enigmatically. "And yet, you got away. Amazing."

Cloud shrugged. "I had help," he said, glancing at Lindsey, then at me. Did his eyes...linger on me...? Nah, I'm just being silly... Cloud turned back to Kadaj.

"Yes, well, you'll need a little more help next time than two inexperienced girls who used pots and spoons as weapons. No offense," he looked at me and Lindsey with a smile. "Hey...!", my friend retorted;he just laughed.

Cloud snorted. "Is that all you have to say?"

"Yes and no." His smile evaporated from his face just as quickly as it had came. "He's coming for you, Cloud. He won't take kindly to your escape. And you're going to need more than just that sword to protect you this time, no matter how mighty it is."

"So that's what you've come for."

"Yes. I've come to save you."

Needless to say, I was shocked.

Save him....how?

Woot! Another chapter done.
I will post another chapter today as well (simply because I was shocked at how many favorites alerts I got in my inbox in the last few days!) You guys rock!
Please review!!!