Authors Note: heh…. So… it's been a long time. This story has been long long overdue for a revamp and a continuation. Since this is the first chapter I must issue the warnings "this story is M/M with a lot of M/M pairings, don't like it, don't read it. This is also set in a modern time Alternate Universe." with that said and done, let's goooo!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of these characters used in this story! Seriously if I did this wouldn't be on fanfiction, this would probably be the game itself ^^;

In the Dark

My body felt heavy, each step more difficult than the last.

Gotta keep running!

My breath escaped in heavy clouds of white, muscles screaming for me to stop, aching, begging.

Can't stop, keep running!

My uncharacteristically loud footsteps pounded the hard floor, the hollow thumping of my heavy boots echo around me, a dim light shone around a corner.

Keep going! Almost there!

The light grew brighter and brighter hope swelled in my chest as I pushed my ever growing lethargic body. I can't hear them anymore over the blood rushing through my ears. All at once my world spins as I slip in some unknown substance, a sickening crunch seals my fate.

Don't stop!

Pain courses through my leg as I now crawl around the corner to-

"FUCK! NO!" I swear as sickening defeat crushes what's left of my hope, a blank room before me, there's no escape. I look back for the first time, a flickering light throws their shadow menacingly over me and shrouds that twisted grin in darkness, all I can see are those toxic green eyes.

'I'm going to die..'

1 month earlier

I woke up abruptly with my face firmly planted on the ground and a raging headache. A cold sweat had settled on my exposed skin making me shiver, I tried to get up but the sheets were tangled around my hips covering up my more indecent bits. After righting myself I vaguely recognized the sound of my ringing phone.

I cleared my throat before answering the phone but it did nothing to mask the yawn and obvious 'just-woke-up' tone, so a groggy "Yo…" was all that I cared to manage.

"Reno? ….did I wake you?"

A quiet yet undeniable voice, typical of Cloud Strife flowed from the phone. My interest was immediately peaked as soon as I heard him.

"S'aight, was planning on getting up anyway." I said with a stretch and another yawn.

"Oh, ok good." He sounded distracted and I shake my head, again, typical Cloud. There was a small awkward silence as I waited for him to say what he called for.

"Whats up, Blondie? You just call to say hi or…?" The open question and prompting did not go unnoticed.

"S-sorry. I-… Reno can I come over?" He sounded nervous, and that made me pause, not typical Cloud.

"Yeah, o'course!" I said quickly, too quickly for my liking. "I mean, when have I ever said no?" I cringed a little at my own failed cover up.

"I just need to talk to you, I'll be over shortly." I had no time to respond before the call ended.

'Interesting…' I thought to myself as I stood up. I scrubbed a hand through my bright red locks and grabbed a pair of pants that were on the floor, I gave them a quick once over and decided they were clean enough to wear for a second… or was it the third time? I grabbed a clean shirt from the pile of laundry in the corner and made my way to the bathroom.

A knock at the door echoed through my apartment and I poked my head out to yell a quick "come in" but it was garbled by the toothbrush in my mouth so I repeated myself but this time without the brush. The lock clicked into the disengaged position and I could hear it opening and closing gently. I quickly finished brushing and came out of the bathroom wiping my face on my shirt.

I looked him over carefully when I entered the living room, taking in his posture and his face, blonde spikes and clear blue eyes that were spaced out in thought, a small frown thinned his pouty lips. He clearly was not paying attention, lost in his own brooding thoughts. I cleared my throat and he jumped slightly. Odd.

"Hey…" he greeted, he ran a hand through his hair and smiled slightly embarrassed noticing that he had spaced out and was unaware.

"What's up, Spike?" I asked casually walking into the kitchen that was connected by a wide doorway to the living room. I hadn't eaten today and by looking at the stove and noticing the time was passed 12 I was rightfully so. Cloud had followed me the short steps to the kitchen, leaning against the doorway. I decided not to address the worn and tired look on his face, the bags under his abnormally bright blue eyes. Instead, I deemed that breakfast was the most important issue to tackle at-the-moment and my stomach agreed. I glanced through my mostly barren cabinets and inwardly sighed to myself, 'Right, I was supposed to go shopping today' I found a single slice of bread and a bit of jam in the fridge making a weird jelly taco. I was about to devour the entire thing before I felt a small twinge that made me remember what my momma had taught me.

"You hungry?" He twitched and looked up at my meager meal with a skeptical look and shook his head. I shrugged and shoved half of it in my mouth. He cleared his throat and nodded his head towards the living room. I followed him savoring the last bite of my food.

"Reno," the sound of his voice, nervous but firm, like he had just tried to reassure himself. I looked at him curiously. "Can you sit please?" He asked politely but with a tone that made me feel like I was not going to like what he had to say next.

I did as he asked, "Yo, if you're planning on giving a lap-dance I have a better place to do that." His face scrunched up and a hint of a smile ghosted his face for a second. He shook his head in an amused way and the gloom that had previously hovered around him lightened a little.

His face was serious, however, when he asked this next question, "Do you remember when I told you the lore about the 'Kyodaina Okami'?"

This question shocked me, I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees and resting my chin on my clasped hands, I looked down at the hardwood floor as I remembered.

-Flashback-

The girl screamed in a wild terrified way as the monster slowly creeped up to her, a large furry creature flashed on the screen for a minute and more dramatized screaming and gory excessive blood squirts came as she was mangled by the creature. I yawned boredly, this movie was highly rated in its own time but is clearly passed its prime.

"Hey, Reno…" Cloud absently, lounging on his side of the couch feet propped up absently on a plastic tote that had Reno's belongings still unpacked from the move. I grunted in acknowledgement not taking my eyes from the scene that had gotten progressively more and more fake looking.

"Have you ever heard of the 'Kyodaina Okami'?" He glanced at me as if looking for a reaction.

I hummed to myself, "Can't say I have... why?" I answered with a question of my own, the blonde shrugged and continued,

"It means 'giant wolves' in Japanese," he paused for a second searching for his next words carefully, "in ancient lore, it is told that these wolves were actually people with the ability to transform into wolves." my interest was taken from the movie as I listened to Cloud, this is one of those rare times where he would talk about something without being talked to first. "They used to be fiercely loyal to the royal families, and were the protectors of the ancient cities of Japan." I noticed how he talked about this so animatedly, his normally quiet stoic nature dismissed for this brief amount of time.

"Tha's cool, sorta like… werewolf guard dogs?"

Cloud smiled a little at my crude depiction, "Pretty much." he confirmed.

"How come I've never heard of them before?" I joked, having been to Japan many times for work I've never heard anything about this lore.

'Sounds like something Tseng would put in a briefing not that I ever pay attention.' I thought to myself.

Cloud shifted a bit, seemingly uncomfortable for a moment. "Well, actually there's apparently a reason for that. They say it's because the Alpha of the Kyodaina Okami attacked the capital city, killing everyone in it including the ones sworn to protect it, except the emperor, who barely escaped. Even though he did escape he was fatally wounded, so with his dying breath he was able to issue a last order to his soldiers," he paused clearing his throat. "He ordered them to kill all of the Kyo Wolves, women, children, everyone. He wanted to make sure that this would never happen again."

I shook my head, "Did they actually kill them all even though the wolves own Alpha turned against them? They obviously were as confused as everyone else."

He nodded, "The Kyo Wolves were so loyal to the royal family and were sworn to protect so they did not fight back."

I furrowed my brows, "What happened to that Prick Alpha, this was all his fault."

He shrugged absently, "No one knows, there are stories where he jumped off a cliff to escape Japanese soldiers, but it's also said that he escaped Japan and swam to one of the American continents." he looked at me and I caught a strange glint in his eye for a split second before he turned his head away and dismissed it with a quick "-but it's just lore."

I twitched, and looked back to the tv but didn't pay attention, 'wow, I wonder if that could actually be true… probably not' I thought dismissively, but when an eerie howl sounded from the tv it sent a cold shiver up my spine.

-End Flashback-

"Yeah I remember…." I confirmed, oh wow do I remember, I had nightmares about that for weeks!

"Good…" he said and chewed on his lip. I looked at him suspiciously, I opened my mouth to ask what he meant but he beat me to it with an abrupt "it's-true-and-I'm-one-of-them"

I blinked a couple times, trying to absorb what was said in such a rushed and garbled way "what in the fuck did you jus' say?" I finally managed to spit out after getting my bearings back.

He didn't respond, he knew I heard him. I gaped at him unable to speak, "Tha's crazy, Yo! Didja hit yer head blondie?" I sputtered disbelievingly. He just stood there. I stood quickly and started pacing thinking it all over. The room felt hot and I felt like I was being suffocated by my own thoughts. I quickly grabbed my boots and slipped on a jacket, I needed time to think.

"I need air." I bit out quickly, Cloud tried to protest but i was already out the door and down the adjacent ally before he could respond.

Thoughts ran through my head so fast as I walked into the brisk cold January air, that I did not even noticed where I had walked into. 'Damn it's dark' I thought and shivered, finally feeling the cold. I had been outside for hours, and walked so far that I had only recognized that I was in a very dangerous part of the city, many gangs liked to congregate in this area. I paused in the crisis that I was previously overwhelmed with to take in the surrounding area 'good to be home' I mused, living in this part of town for much of my life had made me the slummy street rat I am today. The ever-growing amount of graffiti and closed businesses made this part of the city look shittier and shittier every time I visit here. I continued to walk shivering slightly, 'what happens now?' I thought as I walked the dark deserted streets. My even steps echoed around me, I absently noticed that the echo became farther apart, when I stopped the echo continued. I was confused for a moment before I felt something press up against my back that felt suspiciously gun shaped.

A low gruff voice whispered "give me your wallet and I won't hurt you, much."

I smirked, "Oh? Is that a gun or are you just happy to see me?" I taunted and clicked my tongue, "I don't do freebies, sorry" he sputtered for a second and that was all I needed making an opening for me to turn, clock him in the temple and run. I was very aware of how unprepared I was for this, I had left without my EMR and pistol, hell I didn't even grab my phone! I ran down an ally so that I was out of his line of sight, I hoped that I could use the back alleys to escape but I was wrong.

"Fuck… " I whispered to myself, the sound of boots crunching behind me stole my attention away from the newly built wall between two buildings that currently blocked my path. I readied my stance, ready to fight if I needed to. The man sauntered down the alley along with two other idiots.

"I was going to just let you go, but I don't think I'll be so nice now." he said tauntingly and took another step towards me, chuckling menacingly. I rolled my eyes and glared ahead nerves tightened to a hairpin trigger. I was about to respond when I felt more than heard a deep rumble. All at once there was a huge golden blur of fur and movement in front of me. I fell back and gaped at what I was seeing a huge beast like creature fell from the sky and started to fight my attackers, a gunshot drew me into reality, a scream and a crunch cut through the brisk air then running footsteps. The creature turned to face me, it was taller than me even on all four paws. I swallowed and backed up slowly. I tried to calmly get around the beast, the darkness of the ally did nothing to hide glowing eyes that were focused only on me.

Author's note: woo, I hope that this is an improvement on the chapter, some things were cut, some things were added. I really hope that this improves the story for y'all. I'm going to be working on the next chapter shortly. Leave a review, it really helps me out. Special shout out to seto dickinson for being there since the beginning! Also my program does not recognize 'I' as a word so it does not capitalize it automatically, excuse any mistakes but don't be afraid to tell me.