Cloud heard the sad howling of his inner beast. Then all he heard were whines. Suddenly there was a sharp high pitched cry that ended abruptly with silence. Following the silence there was a deep cold feeling wash over his entire body.

Blood tasted his tongue and Cloud subconsciously sucked. He knew blood meant life. Some part of him understood he was dying. He didn't want to leave Sephiroth alone.

So he had to survive. Cloud wanted to share the rest of his life with his mate. There were so many memories he wanted to share with Sephiroth. So much more than their brief time together.

A part of him rationalized this was unhealthy. This attachment. But Cloud didn't care. He knew what he wanted and so he was going for it.

His thoughts slowed into a crawl and then there was nothing.

Sephiroth never left Cloud's side. For the first time in perhaps hundreds of years, he prayed. He prayed that it will work. His blood was pure and his family line among the strongest. He hoped that it was enough to cancel the werewolf curse.

He felt a little guilty that he never explained that detail to Cloud before. He wanted Cloud to have the choice if he wanted to spend eternity with him. Now that choice was made for him.

Sephiroth recognized he was being selfish. But he wanted Cloud. He never thought he would ever find the one, for he was particularly picky. And yet by some miracle Cloud was his. He wasn't interested in this blessing being taken away by some nobody vampire hunters.

And so Sephiroth waited.

Cloud slowly came to several days later. The night was fresh as the last of the sun began its descent in the horizon. He was first aware of a familiar body clinging to him dearly. He felt so comfortable he didn't want to move.

Then he realized his senses changed.

His nose wasn't as potent as before. He could still smell strongly. But what terrified him a little was that his nose very quickly sought out the scent of blood.

And so Cloud opened his eyes.

Sensing his distress Sephiroth stirred. And Cloud turned to meet his gaze. Sephiroth felt saddened at the sight of green infected blues.

"Sephiroth? How? What did you do?" Cloud panicked. His thoughts raced. He remembered the shot that should have killed him. Then the blood in his mouth. In a panic he unzipped his vest to see the scar of the bullet wound completely healed.

"Calm yourself. You have nothing to fear." Sephiroth whispered in assurance. Something in his voice lulled the panic and Cloud could focus.

"I'm...I'm one of you, aren't I?" He concluded.

"My blood is one of the strongest of my species. I had a theory it could cancel out the werewolf curse in your blood."

"And if I became a monster!?"

"Then I would have allowed you the finishing blow as I killed you." Sephiroth stated so calmly that Cloud couldn't be mad.

"You would die with me? Just like that?" He asked.

"Call me selfish if you will, but I wanted you for the rest of eternity."

Cloud felt so moved he leaned up for a kiss. Sephiroth hesitated a moment before deepening it. In that moment Cloud felt a shift of warmth spread over his cold body. Tentatively he raised his hands up to feel over Sephiroth's muscled chest, and to his surprise he felt the same warmth spread over his pale skin. Sephiroth pulled away and the lust burning in his eyes made Cloud shudder.

"Do you want all of me here and now?"

"I..." Cloud blushed as he hesitated.

"Then we should stop before things get too heated." Sephiroth chuckled, leaning for a kiss on Cloud's forehead. It was so tender that it soothed the new vampire's anxieties.

"I'm grateful to you doing what you did." Cloud smiled. "Although I am a bit scared."

"I will teach you the ropes. Firstly, are you hungry? You can feed from me if you wish." Sephiroth offered.

Cloud didn't realize how starving he was. His eyes were on the pale neck and he felt his mouth water. This was all a little strange, the fact his diet changed from regular foods to blood. But he knew better than to deny this part of him.

So the blonde leaned in and gently bit down. The taste was wonderful on his tongue. Suddenly the taste changed and it was warm and reminded him of aged wine. Sephiroth moans softly.

The sound drove Cloud a little crazy. And he found he couldn't hold back his own member hardening the more he sucked. Sephiroth was just as turned on judging by the sounds he was making.

Eventually Cloud was too embarrassed and pulled away. His face was flushed. Sephiroth clung onto him and he was the first to calm down. Then Cloud noticed how pale the other was.

"Are you okay? Did you need a feeding? I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have - "

Lips clained his and that was enough. Sephiroth pulled away with a chuckle.

"I don't mind. Your first feeding needed to happen soon. But I thank you for not draining all of me. Now, do you want to hunt with me, or are you full?"

"I'm - I'm full." Cloud stammered.

"Then I will be back in a few hours." Sephiroth promised.

"You better be safe! Wait, where are we?" Cloud looked around, not familiar with their surroundings.

"An abandoned house outside of another village."

"Are we safe?" Cloud thought of the vampire hunters that caught them. Although they were dead, vampire hunters was a popular choice of profession out there.

"Don't worry, we have been safe here thus far. I do not intend to engage with any hunters unless I have to." Sephiroth assured with confidence.

"Are you sure?" Maybe Cloud was being paranoid.

"Perhaps you should come with me, so rest assured you don't go insane by yourself."

"I think I'll be fine. I almost died. I need to process what happened."

"If you're really sure."

"Yes." Cloud nods. "You be safe."

"I always am." Sephiroth smiled.

Cloud watched him go with a heavy heart. But he knew the man will always return. So he stared up at the stars when a thought came to him.

"Huh? Where's Zack?"