Here we go again! Two chapters in one night/day for this story! I am trying to make this story last a little while before they make it to Altissia, trust me, I have big plans. I might just do four chapters of this before they go to the SHINRA facility (maybe even before), we will see, please, I hope you enjoy!

Before I forget, I have skipped a bit of the story (game, whatever), remember; we're following Bella's story(:

~

Groaning awake, Bella opens her eyes looking overseeing Cloud's chest heaving up and down as if he was having a nightmare, but she knew better. Bella slightly gets up with Kirara behind her as she stretches her back feeling her shoulders pop along with her back. Putting her boots on quietly, she grabs the handle and begins walking out with Kirara in tow.

"Oh, what a Happy Thirteenth Birthday to me..." sighs Bella as Kirara shifts to her form as Bella gets on her. "Might as well head off and see what the day brings me..." Kirara then takes off and gets ready for the day. The fresh air felt nice against her skin as they flew, her scarf around her waist hugging against her. "Let's see what today brings me..."

~'*'~

After several hours of being by herself, Kirara lands on the ground near Seventh Heaven after seeing Cloud and Tifa walk in, smiling, Bella hops off and quickly rushes in finding him at the bar. She knew better than to interrupt people while they were talking. Walking to the booth, she sat there while Kirara, still in her sabertooth form, sat next to her while Bella sat there. When she was done making his drinks, Tifa left to go underground.

"Cloud-Cloud..."

"I know..." Cloud said taking a drink of his alcohol staring blankly ahead of him. "I told Tifa we would stay a little while longer, get our savings up, and then we'll head out."

"Alright..." Bella sighs standing up and walking up to him touching his forearm. "Play some Darts with me?"

Cloud looks at her and smirks her way. The only time she sees anything but a stern look on his face is when she challenges him. Cloud gets up walking with her to the Dartboard and begins playing with her. Kirara sits behind them watching them have fun with their competition. Bella laughs a little bit when she hits the bullseye, jumping for joy making Cloud chuckle while he tries to beat her.

After a little bit, Bella won making her jump for joy once again. Cloud chuckles again, as he looks at her and touches her head. "Why don't you head outside and get some fresh air, I'll catch up with you here in a bit,"

Bella smiles and nods while rushing off with Kirara behind her. Opening the doors and went down the steps, Kirara in tow. After turning right, she made up her mind to talk to Marle to see if anything needed to be done.

Before she went further down the street, a few men stepped in front of her making her glide to a stop. Kirara letting out a warning growl at the unwanted men. Bella swallowed thickly, keeping her composure. She knew better. After all... She was trained by Cloud in case anything like this happened.

"Mm, so tough," said the leader looking at Bella who glares at him. "Say, little girl, where's the man with the gun on his arm." He points to his arm where Barrett's gun was located. The young girl kept her mouth shut while Kirara continues growling at them, looking around. "I'm not gonna ask again, girl, where is he?"

"I was told to never talk to strangers or dumbasses like you," retorted the young girl standing close to Kirara who growls louder when the men began approaching her. "So, could you kindly leave me alone?"

The leader and goons began laughing while he stops his walking towards the young girl, "really, who said?"

A step from behind startled Bella. "That would be me," said a familiar voice as the men look up seeing Cloud behind her seeing the irritated look on his face. "Now, get away from her."

Bella steps back but before she could move one of the goons grabbed her by the arm making her wince, Kirara getting ready to pounce on him.

The leader went up to Cloud and got into his face. "Hey, brother you from around the way?"

"I guess," Cloud shrugs off.

The leader scoffs and holds up his right arm; "I already asked her, but I'll ask you anyway – know a big man with a big gun strapped to his arm?" The leader motions to his arm and then looks back at Bella who glares at him, trying to get out of her captor's grip. "Heard he's set up shop somewhere around the neighborhood."

"That depends, you gonna let her go?"

The leader shakes his head with a smirk on his face. "Clever. Smell an opportunity to make some scratch, do ya?"

"Five hundred."

"Two hundred."

"Mm, three."

"Whatever man, let's go somewhere quiet to talk,"

"Fine but leave her out of this."

Leader shakes his head. "No can do my man, she's leverage in case you fail to deliver."

As they all began walking, Kirara trails behind with Cloud while Bella just walks with them. Bella grunts when the goon grips tighter on her arm and pulls her hard making Kirara growl even louder. Bella really wanted to get out of the situation, but thanks to Cloud, she learned to keep calm and wait for an opportunity to strike and run.

After going somewhere quiet, the goon tossed Bella to the ground and stood by her with a foot to her side while she groaned in pain.

"Now, spill it, you know where the bastards hiding!"

Cloud sighs turning to them. "I told you... That depends."

"Oh yeah? Wastin' my time?"

"SHINRA's time, you mean?"

The leader takes out a knife and points it at Cloud while Bella looks up, seeing an opportunity, but she knew when to go. As soon as Cloud brings out his sword, Bella looks up using her legs to wrap around his torso and swung him to the ground while she pushes herself up while Kirara slams him against the ground again and roars in his face making him pass out.

Standing up, she sees another goon rushing her way. Smirking, she shifts her weight and then pushes her leg into his neck, knocking him out cold. She turns seeing Cloud wiping his hands and looks at Bella while she trots in front of him. After stopping in front of him, she gives him a grin.

"You okay?"

Bella nods. "I'm alright, a bit bruised here and there but nothing I can't handle."

"Alright, as long you're okay," Cloud touches her head. "Let's go home and get you cleaned up, by the way, Happy Birthday."

Bella smiles and nods walking with him back to the apartment. When they walked up to their door, Bella saw Jessie standing there with a smile on her face. Pinching her lips together, Bella steps beside Cloud, rubbing her arm gently.

"Welcome home honey!" Jessie jokes making Cloud sigh and Bella rolls her eyes. Cloud turns to her and she nods gently walking by Jessie and into the apartment with Kirara behind her ignoring the conversation they were having.

"I don't know about her, but whatever – Cloud always told me to never judge a person," Bella whispers to herself taking a rag cleaning the dirt off her. When she heard the door open, she looked overseeing Jessie and Cloud walking in.

"Guess I'll get right to the point then," started Jessie looking at him without acknowledging the girl sitting on the bed. Bella looks up when Jessie brings out a Materia. "An apology, for not getting you on the mission." She went to hand it to him but quickly pulled it back. "What do you think it is?"

Cloud sighs heavily. "A proposition..."

Bella stands up and puts the rag up, walking to Cloud touching his forearm gently keeping it close to her. Cloud didn't think much of it, he always let her do that when she wasn't comfortable.

"Nailed it in one," Jessie responds with a smile. "Gonna have to ask you to keep this a secret from the others though, her too." Jessie points at Bella who keeps her posture.

Cloud nods his head gently while Jessie continues. "It's a personal matter – one that needs to be sorted out tonight."

Bella looks at Cloud with a pleading look, hoping he would let her go with him. Cloud ignores the look while asking her. "Tonight?"

Jessie nods; "Tonight – you and me together. I want you to come with me to the Sector 7 plate. I'll give you the details on the way,"

"That sounds fine by me, but don't you have a big day tomorrow?"

Jessie nods and responds that if she doesn't do it, it'll get harder. Jessie asks Cloud if she could count on him, making him nod. She then tosses the Materia at him and tells him to meet her somewhere and rushes off.

"Cloud, can I come this time. I promise I'll help!" Bella begs him pulling on his forearm. "I won't get in the way, please!"

Cloud looks at her seeing the pleading look in her eyes. Cloud sighs looking away, knowing he may lose this battle with her. "Mm..." He sighs, looking back at her. "I guess you and Kirara can come tonight, I know you can defend yourself."

Bella lets go of his forearm and jumps for joy, rushing to the bathroom opening a cabinet bringing out her weapon of choice, her two pistols.

"So, let me get this straight, Rose," Cloud stated holding his head seeing her walk outputting the pistols behind her. "You have two pistols, how?"

"Uuhhhhh..." Bella pauses and thinks for a minute. "Let us be honest here, Cloud-Cloud, I have no idea, I randomly found them when we were doing that one mission on Sector 4, so I just kinda took them and practiced with them. I'm a really good shot,"

Cloud lets out a heavier sigh making Bella sigh, knowing she may be in trouble. Cloud touches her head and she looked at him. "You... You're not mad?"

"No, as long as you can fight, that's what matters," Cloud told her, rubbing her head again. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah!"

~'*'~

Walking with him and Jessie to the place where they were meeting, Kirara trailing behind her in her sabertooth form. Kirara heard shifting on the right of them, and they turn seeing Biggs and Wedge walking towards them with two bikes.

"Tough luck, they changed the times on the train. They already left." Stated Biggs looking at everyone. Bella moves towards Kirara holding onto her fur, Biggs and Wedge stopped in front of Cloud and Jessie looking at them. "Which is why we borrowed these bikes. Need a lift to the plate?"

Pinching her lips together, she looks at Kirara who looks back at her. Kirara shakes her body as Bella released her. Bella then walks up to Cloud leaning against him, he let her. Biggs and Wedge as soon as everyone was done talking, Bella's eyes widen a bit going behind Cloud a bit.

"Who's that?"

Bella gulps looking at Cloud who looks down at her, he nods his head signaling her to speak. Bella looks back at them and opens her mouth. "I'm Bella, a pleasure to meet you."

"You're coming with us? You do realize it's gonna be dangerous for a little girl like you." Biggs told her making her frown at him.

"I know! But you don't know what I'm capable of," Bella snaps back going behind Cloud. "Besides, I have Cloud and Kirara with me if anything goes wrong."

Biggs and Wedge raise their brows and look to the right of Bella seeing a huge animal sitting there snapping her tails back and forth, glaring at them. They jump in fear and yelp, Cloud snorts, looking back at Bella who looks back at him.

"You gonna be okay?"

Bella grins his way and nods. "With you and Kirara with me, yes."

"Good," Cloud steps away from her grabbing the bike, and looks at her. "Can Kirara keep up?"

Bella smiles widely nodding viciously, rushing to Kirara as she stands up while Bella hops on her back. Cloud nods to her way while Bella nods back as they sped off with Kirara flying behind them quickly. Kirara sees the I.D scan and shifts her fur to where it doesn't scan Bella or her. After the I.D scan, Kirara heard something behind them, Kirara turns her head, roaring loudly for Cloud to hear.

Cloud looks back seeing two bikes heading their way. Bella feels Kirara shift higher to the ground, making her yelp in surprise and hold on tight.

~'*'~

After beating them, something came up quickly after getting topside a bike came up to Kirara's level scaring Bella. Kirara roars towards him while knocks them out of the sky.

Cloud looks back and widens his eyes seeing the SOLDIER coming their way.

"Oh, no!" Jessie gasps. "Bella!"

"She'll be fine," Cloud states looking ahead avoiding the damage being caused by the man in front of them now. "They'll catch up, Kirara knows where to go, she'll meet us there. Let's focus on this guy in front of us,"

"I've been needing a new dance partner! Too bad for one of your friends!"

Way back behind them, Kirara slowly gets up and looks overseeing Bella sitting on her knees coughing up the dust. Bella shakes her head and attempts to stand up but falls back down with a hiss escaping her lips.

"You alright?" asks Kirara helping her up.

Bella slowly nods, looking down seeing her leg seeing it sprained, sighing, Kirara puts her head against it as she healed it quickly. Bella smiles standing up stretching her leg, they both nod to one another quickly running towards the Warehouse.

"Do you remember where the Warehouse was?"

Bella nods at Kirara's question jumping on Kirara's back as they flew off to the Warehouse. Letting out a deep sigh, Kirara looks back at Bella and Bella looks down with a raised brow. "What?" asks the young girl.

"What's going on with you?" asks Kirara looking ahead seeing the Warehouse close. "Every time someone new comes around, you turn into this shy little thing, you're more open than this."

"I just have a feeling something is going on; I can't trust anyone but you and Cloud," Bella says with a shrug. "If I get close to anyone else, who says they won't leave me, too."

"Fair enough," sighs Kirara seeing the Warehouse. "The plan is stay put until we see Cloud."

Bella nods.

~'*'~

After everything was said and done, Bella stayed on Kirara's back with a look on her face. Her arm hurt a little bit, nothing she couldn't handle. Roche attacked her before he attacked Cloud, Cloud wasn't happy about it and took care of him. After getting everything they needed, they appeared back, and Cloud looks at Bella and Kirara.

Kirara stops after as the three continued walking. "Rose,"

"Hm?"

Bella looked at him, wondering what he wanted from her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a scratch," Bella grins his way showing him her arm. Cloud looked at it, seeing the cut on her arm, it looked worse than what she was letting on, but – he didn't press on. "Don't worry, Cloud-Cloud, once I get home, I'm gonna take care of it."

"I'm proud of you,"

Bella blinks in shock. "What...?"

Cloud crosses his arms and snorts. "You heard me, Rose."

"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it again, Cloud-Cloud, I told you I can handle myself. Thanks to your training and..." Bella at the end began faltering.

Cloud nods, touching her arm gently. "I want you to head back and go get some sleep, we need to keep you on a schedule or else you're mean."

Bella pouts crossing her arms, wincing as she touches the wound on her arm and turns away. "I don't get mean, just tired."

"Yeah, mean," Cloud chuckles rubbing her head, and then lightly pushes Kirara towards the apartment. "Go to bed, I'll be there soon."

Bella hops off Kirara and looks back at Cloud, "... Alright, you promise?"

"Don't worry, I'll be there,"

Bella nods walking out with Kirara behind her, snapping her tails behind her.

~'*'~

As Bella was walking back to the apartments, she stops when a strange pain hits her head. She winces grabbing her head. She saw images of her facing against an enemy but couldn't quite put a finger on who it was, she then saw ahead of something and then it flashed back to reality. She was on the ground panting on her knees. Kirara's head was on her shoulder wondering if she was okay, Kirara put her head under Bella's right arm and lifted her up, Bella holds her head and gently shakes it, closing her eyes.

"What just happened, Bella?" asks Kirara as Bella fixed her composure, "you paused and looked into nothing."

"Honestly, I don't know," Bella whispers, looking up at the sky feeling a chill behind her. "I feel like we're being watched, let's go."

Kirara nods as they both rushed off before something happened. Kirara had a feeling something was happening with Bella, and something was pushing them to do something, but she could not figure it out. But – she remembered what Bella's brother had always told her.

"Take care of her, protect her from anything that is dangerous, and make sure she stays safe – even when I'm not there, please."

After getting into the apartment, Bella sat on the bed with a huff while she closed her eyes. Kirara shut the door with her snout and walked towards Bella while she regained herself; Bella couldn't quite put a finger on what was going on, something about this didn't seem right – she'd get to the bottom of it, she knows she will. Bella was smart about it.

Wincing against her arm, she looks down seeing the cut scabbing over making her sigh. Bella then felt something wet hit her lap and she looks at Kirara with an amused smile on her snout making Bella chuckle.

"Okay, let's clean it."