Second Chances Chapter 4, a final fantasy vii fanfic

It's that time again! Time for another chapter of 'Second Chances' Aren't we EXCITED 8D To tell ya the truth..I was bullied into doing this today . Forced I say! FORCED!!….meh! What's done is done. Enjoy.

Standard news applies: I do NOT own ff7 or it's characters. All I own are Reno and Vincent action figures and those things are bendy! x3

Reno came trotting out of the bathroom a few moments later feeling happy and clean, dressed in a new uniform. He paused in the doorway to the living room and frowned. Had Vincent left already? Then he caught a whiff of something good and practically bounced into the kitchen. "What you makin!?"

Vincent looked up, quickly brushing away a single tear before turning round to face him with a smile. "I thought you could do with a proper breakfast. There's hardly anything edible in this house." He moved to the side, showing off the fried breakfast which he had almost finished.

"Fried eggs, bacon, toast... it was all I could find. I assume your not vegetarian, as there is bacon in your fridge." He grinned at Reno. "You look almost smart..now if you'd just do your shirt up properly, you might even look presentable."

Reno pouted and stuck his tongue out, skipping over to the table and snatched up a piece of toast, choosing to ignore Vincent's last comment. "So what if there's not much. I tend not to eat very much anyways." He took a bite of eggs and looked up at Vincent, surprise written across his face "This taste GREAT! Where did you learn how to cook yo?"

He took another big bite before glancing up to see that Vincent wasn't eating and he frowned, that wouldent do at all. Spearing some eggs on his fork he held them up to Vincent "Say "ahhh""

Vincent shrugged, a smile on his face. "When we went on missions we didn't just eat junk food. They found out I could cook reasonably well, and ended up responsible for cooking." He shook his head in mock despair, he had only been cooking for Reno. He rolled his eyes. "ahh"

Grinning, Reno popped the food into Vincent's mouth. "See? Yummy!" He said with a grin, as if addressing a two year old. He took another bite and practically shoved some bacon and toast into Vincent's mouth, determined to make the ex-Turk eat his fill. "Your such a good housewife!" He said, a teasing smirk on his face, and laughter in his eyes.

Vincent rolled his eyes, swallowed the mouthful of food and crossed his arms. "I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself, I just don't need to eat. And if you ever call me a housewife again, I'm not going to cook for you." He grinned. "Now, aren't you going to be late for work."

Reno snickered but held his tongue from the comment he so wanted to say. Vincent's cooking was good and he didn't want to loose it! He glanced at his watch and almost spit the milk out of his mouth. "Ahhhh shit yo! I'm gonna be late!" Reno sprung up from his seat and began running around collecting dishes and attempting to clean the table. "shitshitshitshitshit!"

Vincent sighed in exasperation at his friend. "Look, you go and sort out what you need to, I'll tidy up." He smiled, Reno had nearly finished the breakfast and he could always eat the leftovers. "Its going to be fine."

Reno stilled in his movements and smiled gratefully at his friend before putting the dishes down. "Ok, thanks!" He ran back into the bedroom real fast and snatched up his EMR and grabbed his blazer from the chair in the hall before bouncing over to Vincent to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before bonding out the door "BYE!"

Vincent smiled, tidying up quickly, shoving the dirty dishes in the sink and then heading off after where Reno had left. He was a few minutes behind, and kept the distance as he wasn't sure if Reno would want him to follow, even though he had said it would be ok. He strolled down the street calmly, still feeling warm after the night before.

Reno took off down the street at full speed, thanking Shiva once more that he choose an apartment only a few miles from the Shin Ra building. Rushing inside he quickly swiped his card that opened the door and hopped into the elevator

He paced up and down the small, confined space wishing that the stupid thing would move faster. He hate small spaces and he wanted out NOW! Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime to Reno, the doors opened and he rushed out and rushed into the meeting room where the Turks were given there assignments by Rufus.

Slamming the door open he took in the sight of his fellow Turks. Elena was by the coffee machine, Reno would be sure to throw that batch away, Tseng was with Rufus, of course, and there in the far right corner of the room was.

"RUDE!"

Reno sprinted happily up to his friend and jumped into his waiting arms, he learned the hard way that not catching Reno just lead to a hard landing on the floor, and hugged him, his legs immediately wrapping around his waist to keep him up "HI!"!

Rude gave no verbal greeting but the slight upturn of his lips showed Reno that he was happy to see him as well. That and he wasn't dropped on his ass yet. He grinned and hugged Rude around the shoulders "How is the family? Mama? Did she get the flowers I sent? Did you have a good time? Did you miss meeee?" And so the questions flew, met by either a nod or shake of the head but Reno was now fluent in Rude's silent speak and could properly translate him.

"Good! I was worried she wouldn't like them! I really miss them yo!" His rant was cut off by Rude's hand coming up to grasp Reno's chin and tilt his head to the side, revealing the dark bruise on his neck. Rude pulled Reno back until his was looking him in the eyes "...what happened?"

Reno gulped and laughed nervously "...I met him at a bad time.." Neither of them had to ask who 'He'. Rude just sighed and places Reno back on the floor, ruffling his hair.

"...be more careful." Reno's reply was cut off by the door opening, Rufus and Tseng walking in.

Vincent had reached the building by this time, and managed to get past the security on the door by using his cloaked form. He realized with some annoyance that he had no idea where in the building Reno was, but a lingering fear of the basement, combined with common sense, led to him deciding to search the building from the top floor down. He found the fire exit and slipped up to the top floor.

Rufus walked in, examining his Turks one by one until his eyes reached Reno. "...Reno..." Reno's head snapped up, looking at Rufus with surprise. "...yes sir?"

Rufus walked over to his desk and sat down, resting his elbows on the table, linking his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands. "...what were you doing last night?"

Reno blinked in false confusion. "...excuse me sir? I'm afraid I don't know what your talking about"

Rufus smiled, not a kind smile, but one full of malice, and leaned forward, his palms flat on the desk, one hand going under to press a button to call in the guards "I believe you know what I'm speaking of...who were you with last night?" Reno gulped, a shiver of fear running down his spine.

"I don't know what your talking about sir."

Rufus stood up and walked around his desk to stand in front of Reno, noticing Rude's shoulder stiffening as the door opened once more to permit about twenty or more SOILDERS to enter the room, blocking off all exits. Rufus smirked at Reno's frightened look "Really now? Because my spies have informed me that not only were you spotted around one Vincent Valentine but ALSO around Strife and his little groupies in the Ancients church. Do you deny this?"

Reno gulped and backed up into Rude's chest before nodding. Lying now would only get him in more trouble. He looked down, shaking, and nodded his head. "..yes sir.."

Rufus let out a huff of air "I'm disappointed in you Reno. Fraternizing with the enemy. Aren't you in enough trouble?"

Vincent had passed the 40th floor and carried on downwards, trying to find his friend. He was worried , and was having to travel slowly in order to ensure that no one saw him. He was sure he was recognizable and even if he wasn't, people would be sure to stop the unusually dressed pale man.

For a moment he actually looked a bit sorry but the look was quickly replaced with anger and malice.

"...take him away...solitary confinement until further notice."

Reno's head whipped up, pure unadulterated fear in his eyes "NO! Sir PLEASE!" He backed up, whipping out his EMR, he wouldn't go willingly. "

BACK OFF!" He yelled, fending off the advancing guards, but all to quickly, and easily he was subdued and pinned to the floor, his wrists quickly cuffed, kicks and punched aimed at his unprotected body, not stopping until he stilled. He was hauled up, hanging limply in the guards arms desperately trying to catch his breath, blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth

"RUDE!" He yelled desperately "RUDE HELP!"

Rude took a step forward, ready to do anything to save his friend but was halted by a look from Rufus. To move now would mean Reno's death. He removed his sunglasses, hurt and apologies written in his eyes, begging Reno for forgiveness.

Reno's tear-filled eyes met his and he slowly nodded his head "It's ok." And with that said he was dragged out of the room. Rufus stroad over to the door, looking back at his Turks horrified faces, "Dismissed" and was gone.

Vincent passed down more floors, suddenly hearing a scuffle. He sped downstairs as fast as he could, stopping as he reached the floor above. He heard Reno's terrified screams, completely unable to help. He waited until the sounds faded, before following them down the hallway. He watched as Reno was bundled in the lift, pressing himself behind a doorway as Rufus passed, followed by the ever-present Tseng.

There were no lights to say which floor the lift was headed to, so he thought his best chance would be finding someone else who could help. He walked back down the hall, head down in a mixture of shame and fear. He came to the doorway, in which he had heard the scuffle earlier, and he waited impatiently for someone to emerge so he could interrogate them and get his lover back.

Rude looked over at Elena, the poor girl was horrified. "..wha...what just happened?"

Rude's eyes softened, he always had a soar spot for Elena, she reminded him of his sister "..Reno gained a little happiness and Rufus just took it away." Elena's eyes turned sad for a moment, the look quickly taken over by determination.

"We have to help him!"

Rude nodded "Call Tseng and see is he will help. I'm going to Seventh Heaven to find Valentine and Strife." All of the Turks had a place for Reno in their hearts. He was like a little brother to them and there wasn't one person in the entire building that would not be upset to see him hurt. Rude left Elena to her own devices and walked out. Determination settling against his features.

Vincent heard the conversation, realized that he was among friends, even if they hated him for what had just happened to Reno. He smiled at Rude, holding his hands raised in the air in a surrendering gesture. "I want to help." He looked at the Turk , taking in the emotions on his face. "I'm sorry for what happened." He hoped Rude would let him help, if not then he would have to work alone to get Reno back. He wasn't going to let him stay trapped, not after the way he had whimpered and clung against him as memories from the time before filled his mind.

Rude started at Vincent's sudden appearance but he quickly composed himself and started down the hall, gesturing for Vincent to follow. "Were gonna need all the help we can get for this once. Rufus put him in solitary Confinement until further notice which could mean anytime between tomorrow or a year." He paused, turning to Vincent and holding up his hand. "We dislike each other but we have one thing in common. Reno. I need you and anybody else you can come up with to help me so until further notice." He extended his hand to Vincent. "Truce?"

Vincent nodded, lifting his metal hand to Rude's and grasping his hand firmly, being careful not to injure him. "Truce. Getting Reno back safely matters more."

He followed Rude, glad to now be accompanied by someone who knew his way around the building. He shuddered slightly at the way Rude spoke of Rufus. He was shocked despite himself. He knew Reno was afraid of Rufus, but couldn't imagine him leaving one of his best workers to die.

"He...he wouldn't actually leave him would he?" The look on Rude's face answered the question. He realized he had rarely heard Rude speak before, so it was shocking to hear so many words. It made him more aware of the serious situation he was in.

Rude nodded and took off down the hallway again, sticking to abandoned corridors and hallways to avoid anybody who they might come across. "Stay close, if anyone sees you were in trouble." He walked until they came across a partially hidden elevator. Without any hesitation Rude stepped in. "Get in. Its old but safe. This will take us to the back entrance no one uses."

Once in the elevator Rude took out his glock, checking the safety and number of bullets he had as he addressed Vincent. "How many of your friends do you think will help?"

Vincent shuddered. He hated that kind of gun, it reminded him of when Hojo shot him. His flesh hand fished in his pocket until it came in contact with Cerberus. He stroked the pommel gently to calm himself. "Tifa will, and I think Cloud might. Barret would rather die than help a Turk, Cid's almost certainly too intoxicated. Yuffie could help. but she isnt cut out for this kind of mission."

A faint smile crossed his lips at the thought of the hyperactive teenager who had managed to smuggle a camera into the shower when he was getting changed managing to calm down enough to help this. She'd probably see Reno as a rival though, so she was definitely no help. "What about the other Turks? Where was he taken?"

Rude paused for a moment before speaking. "Elena most definitely, Tseng will help as well, seeing as he has a crush on Reno, and myself most certainly will help...the entire kitchen staff, three quarters of SOILDER, the night guards, the day guards...we basically have the entire Shin Ra building on our side." He replaced his gun and turned to Vincent. "Will that be enough?"

Vincent smiled slightly and nodded. "Oh, and don't forget Chaos. He's going to help as well. did you say Tseng had a crush on Reno?" He shook his head slightly in disbelief. He had always thought that Rufus and Tseng were an item. "We'll get him back." He paused then in uncertainty. "What are we going to do after he's free? He cant stay here.. he told me you looked after him last time." He felt uncomfortable in such an enclosed space, and only knowledge of his own immortality stopped him from panicking at being trapped in an enclosed space with a man with a gun.

Rude looked over at Vincent in surprise. "...Chaos?" He knew Vincent'was the bearer of the demon but he never expected it to willingly help them.

"...you offered it a deal didn't you?" Rude shook his head. "You must really care for Reno. And yes, Tseng has had a thing for him ever since I brought him in about three years ago but he never acted on it."

Rude thought for a moment before reaching over to spin Vincent around so they were face to face. "...what are your intentions for him?"

Vincent nodded in answer. "I made a deal." He wondered if the fact Tseng liked Reno was the cause for the harshness with which Rufus treated the red-head, as it was clear that Rufus had feelings for the leader of the Turks. He looked Rude straight in the eye as he spoke, or at least, he stared fixedly at where he supposed Rude's eyes were behind the glasses.

"I wanted to date him. Now we are going to just be friends." He shook his head sadly, hoping he wouldn't be questioned further about his change of heart, but he suspected he would be. He decided if asked to tell Rude the truth, there was nothing he could do at the moment to hurt Vincent, he needed his help too much.

Rude smirked at Vincent's response. "I don't really think Reno is going to be satisfied with "Just Friends"...he likes you." And Rude should know, Reno told him everything so it was no surprise when he burst into his apartment a few weeks ago gushing over some guy he had spent the night with like a high school girl with a crush. "He really likes you..and I know you like him to." He reached up to adjust the glasses on his face. "You should tell him."

Vincent shook his head, pleased with what Reno had been saying about him. It was a relief to hear that he actually liked him, wasn't just pretending. "Its complicated." He sighed, trying to ignore the voice in his head saying they could share. "He really cares about you, you're like a brother to him."

Rude nodded "I know. and he's like a younger brother to me...you may not think telling him is the best thing to do but you better do SOMETHING to lay your claim to him. I overheard Tseng saying how he was going to tell Reno how he felt and make him his soon...you just better get to him first." The elevator opened and Rude took off down the empty street towards the bar, not stopping to see if Vincent would follow.

Vincent followed, sighing as he tried to explain. "I cant. If it was just me, if I was normal, I'd do anything to show him I loved him." This was hard to put into words, but he hoped Rude would see it from his view and agree with him, in order to help. "I cant give him the forever kind of love he deserves, and anyone who is close to me has to get close to Chaos. I cant let that happen again."

Rude halted for a moment turning towards Vincent and walked up to him, clasping his hands onto Vincent's shoulders, looking down at him and removing his glasses with one hand.

"Have you ever thought of what he wants? That maybe he doesn't care that you have Chaos, that he considers your normal, that he doesn't care if you cant give him forever because what you can give him makes you both happy?" He paused to take a breath "I'm going to be completely honest, when Reno came in the day after you spent the night with him he was ecstatic. Overjoyed, happy. I've never seen him like that. Ever. YOU make him happy Valentine. Don't make a mistake that will cost both of you happiness." He released Vincent shoulders and took off down the street once more.

Vincent followed in silence, thinking over what had been said. Rude made it sound so possible, so easy. He made it sound like they could be together. Then he remembered the pure terror and pain in Reno's eyes as Chaos had taken him, and thought of the torture of watching the one he loved growing old in front of him, himself being powerless to stop it. He wanted Reno to be happy, but that happiness could come far more easily from Tseng than from him. He sighed slowly, shaking his head. There was no guarantee that Reno had even meant him when he mentioned the guy he spent the night with.

Rude turned and saw the uncertainty in Vincent's eyes "Do you truly believe that you do not deserve happiness? I don't know what your going through and I don't know what kind of hardships you and Reno have faced but if he DIDNT care for you do you truly think that he would go to such great lengths to be with you? I don't know, and I cant judge, all I know is that the day he came in ranting about 'The beautiful crimson eyed man who loves the color red.' was the happiest I've ever seen him...you think that love is complicated but I have a question for you: Is it really or are you just making it hard?"

Vincent shook his head. He wanted so much to believe Rude, for it to be easy for him to stay with Reno. "Its not just me. Its everything. I'll have to watch him growing old. At any point i could lose control and he could get hurt again, and there will be nothing i could do to stop it. I want him to be happy. And that happiness wont be easy with me."

Rude sighed. "Look, I know you made a deal with that Chaos thing inside of you so I'm willing to bet part of it was to not hurt Reno. So all were faced with is the aspect of him getting old and you not...well...you actually never know..." Rude smiled and turned to walk away. "C'mon we go to go."

Vincent shook his head, wishing Rude was right. He spoke to the man in front of him, not daring to stay quiet. He wanted Rude to understand. "No. The deal was for him to help if he needed rescuing. I couldn't give him what he was asking for to not hurt Reno, it was too much. So he could attack him again." He kept walking, trying not to let his hurt show

Rude just hummed and nodded. After walking for a short time he addressed his companion once more. "Does Chaos have any weaknesses? Can anything repel him?" Rude could not believe he was doing this. He was about to give away the one secret that could either ruin his best friends life or let him have his happily ever after. Only time would tell on this one.

Vincent shook his head, then realized Rude couldn't see. "Not that I am aware of. If he does he keeps them well hidden. I never found any." He sighed. They were nearly at the bar. He promised himself he would free Reno before thinking of their future.

Rude paused, holding out a hand to grasp Vincent's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "I'm being completely serious...was there EVER anything that made his power lessen? An object? A person who seemed to subdue his power? Just tell me." There was slight desperation in his voice, a silent plea for Vincent to answer his question.

Vincent flinched slightly. His arm was being gripped too tightly, and it hurt. "If there was, don't you think I'd use it! there's no.." he trailed off, thinking of the church. It was so peaceful there, and Chaos was quiet unless he spoke first. "He's quieter in Aerith's church." He wondered how he hadn't seen it before.

Rude nodded, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes, but did not loosen his grip upon Vincent's arm. "The Ancient herself, Aerith, did she do the same as the church? Did she subdue the beast inside of you?" Rude wanted, no, needed the answer. The happiness and maybe life of his little brother depended on it.

Vincent nodded, his mind racing. If she had still been alive, she could have found a solution, given him a chance of humanity. "She's dead now." If she wasn't, there could have been a chance. He could have had his freedom, and could have stayed with the man he loved. Now though, it was hopeless.

Rude's seemed to melt. He heaved a giant sigh and let his arms slip from Vincent's shoulders. But when he looked up there was, for the first time, a smile across it. Not just an upturn of the lips but a full blown smile teeth and all. "There's hope for you yet then." He held up a hand to ward off Vincent's questions. "Not now I'll tell you when we get inside. Just know that its good news."

Vincent sighed, unable to meet Rude's happiness. He wished he was right, but he couldn't see any way that it could be all right. He shuddered slightly, imagining his lover in the solitary cell. He wondered if he knew he was going to find him. He stayed silent, not wanting to give Rude any more reason to worry.

Vincent walked in, smiling round at his friends. As he had expected, Cid was almost totally intoxicated. Barret was leaning back against the bar, polishing his metal arm, as Tifa was sitting next to him talking animatedly. Cloud was sitting next to Cid, highly amused by his friend's drunken state. They looked up when he walked in, and all welcomed him, aside from Cid who merely shakily waved a hand. Vincent smiled, then took a deep breath.

"I have a favor to ask." He signaled for Rude to walk into the room. "Rude's probably better at explaining than me." As soon as he walked in, Barrett growled hostily at the other man, whilst Tifa sighed. Cloud swore under his breath. Vincent choosing to take his Turk lover to the church was one thing, but him bringing another into HIS family home, where the children were playing peacefully in the next room, was too much of a violation of trust to cope with.

Rude noticed the looks he was receiving and immediately stood at attention out of instinct. He took a look around the room at the occupants and heaved a large sigh, lifting one hand to push his glasses out of the way so as to rub at his temples.

"Look I did not come here for a fight. I came to ask for your help...Reno is in trouble and i need your help getting him back"

Barret laughed and rolled his eyes. "Look, scum like him deserve whatever they get. Don't expect us to help him." Cid murmured something that made it clear he shared the same sentiment as Barret. Cloud sighed awkwardly. Vincent stepped forwards into the center of the room, a tinge of desperation in his voice.

"I dont like this any more than you do. But he needs our help, he might die if we do nothing."

Tifa looked at him in pity, about to offer her support, when the side door opened and two nervous looking children walked in. Denzel clung to Vincent's waist, looking up at him with fearful green eyes, whilst Marlene wrapped her arms around Barret's legs. It was Denzel who spoke.

"Reno? Is he going to be alright?" His voice trembled as he remembered the friend they had played with the day before. Vincent nodded, patting Denzel's hair gently. Barret looked down at Marlene in a mixture of anger and fear, anger at Reno and fear for his darling child.

"How the hell do they know him?" Tifa spoke slowly, feeling afraid as she was sure the answer she would give was not one Barret would want to hear. "They were playing together yesterday."

Rude smirked a bit at that. "Reno does love children...let me guess he made you a flower crown." He asked Marlene gently, crouching down to her level. Marlene giggled and nodded "Yea! It was really pretty!"

Rude smiled and nodded. "Thought so. He always has had a weak spot for children." He stood back up and addressed the adults that were staring at him. "Look I know you dislike us but believe me when I say that Reno did nothing to warrant being put where he is right now." He turned towards Tifa "He was caught being seen with you and that's a big "no" in Rufus's book...I need your help...please..."

Barret glared, pulling Marlene further away from Rude. She was his daughter, and the thought of her being near some Turk terrified him inside. Tifa was more sympathetic.

"I'll help you." Cloud shook his head, planning to say he would stay to look after the children. Denzel saw his expression. "I can look after Marlene, Cloud, and I think Barret's going to stay and look after us anyway."

Cid muttered something from the corner. Vincent looked at him curiously. "What did he say?" Cid repeated it, his voice slurred. "Its his fault for being seen with you, he shouldn't play with the kids, its wrong." Vincent sighed. Marlene started to cry then, clinging to Barret more tightly.

"Its my fault isn't it... I was playing with him and now he's in trouble." Barret patted her soft hair carefully with his human hand. "It isn't your fault Marlene, its his. Cloud and Tifa'll go and sort it out." Cloud sighed in irritation, realizing he had just been volunteered for this. "Fine. but I'm not meant to go in the Shinra building. Rufus wants me dead." Vincent kept trying to reassure Denzel.

Rude sighed. "Ok so we have two people to help. Thats better then none at all." He was about to walk out the door when he seemed to remember something "Oh yes...I suppose I owe you an explanation for my earlier behavior don't I" He looked around the room and back at the waiting Vincent "...I'll tell you on the way back lets go." And with that he was out the door

Cloud and Tifa sighed, Cloud grabbing his sword and Tifa pulling her gloves on. "We'll be back soon ok?" she asked, stroking Marlene's hair. "Its going to be ok, we'll get him back." She left then, followed by Cloud. Vincent carefully unclasped Denzel's arms from his waist, guiding him back toward Marlene. "Look after your sister for me." Denzel nodded, raising an arm in a tearful salute.

Vincent left the room with the others, heading back towards the Shinra building. Cloud broke the awkward silence. "Just because we are doing this, it doesn't make us your friends or mean we like you."

Rude just nodded in understanding. "And I don't expect you to. I just want to get Reno back and keep him safe." He wasn't going to show that he was scared. The last time Reno was locked up he almost lost his sanity and had attempted to kill himself several times in fits of hysteria. He coldest go through with that again. He just couldn't. In all his inner turmoil he has completely forgotten to explain to Vincent his reason for his harsh questioning earlier

Vincent looked at him curiously, then awkwardly placed his human hand on his shoulder, trying to offer comfort. "We'll get him back safe. Now, what was bothering you so much earlier?" He dropped his hand back down on his side, feeling uncomfortable. He thought of the Reno who had clung to him earlier, begging not to go back. He had no idea what even a short time would do to him. Cloud and Tifa remained silent, following the others but giving them a respectable distance to talk privately.

Rude stopped walking and turned to Vincent. "You most likely wont believe what I'm going to tell you...back when I first found Reno he was just a little punk with no family and nowhere to go. After I brought him in, and he was accepted into the Turks, I did the normal background check, standard procedure. Well when it came up it showed a list of family members and I was surprised to find that most of them, both children and adult, on his mothers side, were dead."

He paused to make sure his audience was still listing. They were "Well, I did a check on his mother side and i found something very surprising...Reno had three members on his mother side, all female." He took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment, he wasn't so sure about this anymore but there was no turning back now.

"Their names were Kayla, his mother. Anaya, his aunt. And Aerith Gainsborough, his cousin." Rude turned to his companions so as to see there reactions to his news.

Cloud glared at him, running forwards, and it was only Tifa's grip on his shoulders that stopped him stabbing Rude there and then. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT HER?" He wanted to kill Rude. He had helped kidnap her, and now he just stood there and destroyed their memories. Tifa sighed, dragging Cloud into a nearby alleyway to cool down before blood was shed.

Vincent listened in shock. "I knew he was on the streets...did you tell him. Does he know?" He shivered, thinking of what had happened. He suddenly felt sick if he realised what would happen if people realized, if Hojo had realized that Reno wasn't completely human. "I believe you." His voice shook as he spoke, understanding this was changing everything.

Rude nodded. "I knew you would. Reno had no clue and his mother kept quiet about it so he would not be found. For some odd reason Reno's Ancient blood is laying dormant until he matures, I'm guessing 23, and once it comes to the surface he will be the most powerful of his kind. It has something to do with the fact that he's male and all ancients up to him were all female."

Rude sighed and rubbed his temples again. "I destroyed the records and made up new one's but it's only a matter of time until Rufus finds out. And when he does he's going to re-open Hojo's project and I WONT let that happen...but there is some good news in all of this"

Rude smiled down at Vincent "It means he can subdue your inner demons..and because he is so unique he will age extremely slowly. What I'm basically saying is that when I'm 80 he'll look like he's 19 still."

BUM BUM BUUUUUUUUUM!! XD Well? How ya like it? Were finally getting the ball a rollin! Next chapter should be really exciting! Please read and review!!