As a whole I am only the writer. Wraith may be mine but the rest of the characters in this story and the rights there of are not of my thinking and they belong to square enix. So as always don't sue me.

This is a continuation of the bright eyes story. The stranger has only spoken to tifa could this be a sign of something to come? Cloud is recovering and will soon learn of the mysterious man who insists on being referred to as wraith. Yet in spite of all that is happening cloud is still trying to find a way to properly win tifa over. What will happen well read and you'll figure it out.

What are you:

Tifa awoke to a gentle pull at the back of her head and rough fingers gracefully brushing the back of her neck. She at any other moment would have assumed she were being groomed by Marlene who would often use her as a life sized doll when she found a moment alone with her. But the large fingers running through her hair testified a difference. Cloud had never struck her as the type to play with hair. What with the insane lack of Newton's laws of physics his own portrayed she would have thought he couldn't have cared less.

"Morning sleeping beauty." His deep blue eyes looked into hers as they opened sleepily.

"Cloud why are you playing with my hair?" she said with a coarse voice still weakened from not being awake long.

"You don't want me to?"

"No…. don't stop……." She whimpered as if the lack of his touch hurt her.

"Tifa what's wrong……… you seem upset………"

"It's nothing…….. What time is it?" She said as she unwittingly snuggled into his arms.

"Just a little after five. Why? Did you need to do something today? I can help now…. See all healed up……" he attempted to fool her with a show of strength.

"Really" a small grin came over her face as she realized her golden opportunity "well we'll see about that"

She waited for him to notice her eyes before she pounced on him and returned his impassioned confession from before. Like the previous this kiss was long and slow. Giving her an ample opportunity to explore his muscular features. Yet again she let her hands take a mind of their own as they sweetly explored the vast mountains of clouds physique.

She took time to let her fingers flow over his shoulders. To feel the tension in his neck and chest. To observe the frame of his face. All the while allowing him to taste her emotions from her lips. She had waited a long time for this moment. Far too long.

Her base instinct finally took over after a long moment of allowing her partner to caress the back of her neck. She knew the only way to get him to move was to move him herself and thus she set forth to do so. Running her graceful hands delicately up his powerful arms, and guiding his hands in almost the same path she had taken upon him mere moments before. Down her neck and back. Across her hips and around her abdomen. Finally up beneath her shirt to her supple breasts. And then just as she was about to go a step further she felt him hesitate. His hands were nervous and not anxious like her own. His lips were almost reluctant. She had gone too far.

"What's wrong?" she said hoping he would not be upset "don't you want me?"

"Yes but that's the problem….. Tifa…. I can't do this yet……… its "

Feeling defeated and selfish tifa held up her hands in surrender "it's okay cloud I shouldn't have rushed….. You have my consent to move around if that's what you were looking for. Just don't leave for a few days. Natural healing is much slower than mako. Remember?"

"Yeah I……." he attempted to complete his sentence but tifa rushed out of the room looking slightly irritated. "I love you" he said to the quiet empty space that she once inhabited.

She walked outside to see yuffie and the children aggravating Vincent with their antics once again. And oddly enough wraith sat perched like an animal upon a crate that had been left on the side walk.

He looked strange with his gaudy armor and odd stance but he appeared to pay the passerby's little attention as he swapped his focus from occasionally reading a book to studying the play of the kids and yuffie. He obviously took a great deal of interest in the children. This unnerved tifa slightly but he seemed harmless enough. He never spoke or even registered that he heard them until yuffie practically dragged him into playing with the children. He was like Vincent but less irritable.

Vincent took the moment as a grand opportunity to escape the onslaught of questions jokes and hopscotch that he was sure would ensue. And he was proud for leaving. Mostly due to the fact that yuffie had taken out the chalk and proceeded drawing the board.

"So 'sultan of the socially challenged' what's with wraith" she spoke humorously attempting to dash any hope Vincent had of escaping the maw of merriment " why is he here"

Vincent rolled his eyes at the mention that he may be socially dysfunctional "I don't know. He seems very interested in that book though. He gives me a bad feeling. Like maybe trouble follows him."

Vincent soon felt like he had predicted the future as wraiths eyes immediately averted themselves upward before he grabbed Marlene and jumped to the side.

"What the" tifa said as she momentarily doubted wraiths intentions.

Almost as soon as wraith jumped an explosion rocked the street.

"Get inside all of you" tifa warned yuffie and the kids.

"Alright guys time to go…… Denzel……Denzel mooove." Yuffie was screaming as man appeared from the smoke rifle at the ready.

Time was too short and yuffie was mentally stabbing herself for not bringing her weapons. The man in the smoke loaded the gun and Vincent fired a blind shot. Then another and another before the man's weapon was wrenched from his hand by the hail of bullets.

"Vince get out of there" more men appeared as tifa began to panic.

They opened fire and Vincent rushed to defend Denzel content that he would at least die defending the boy. He wrapped his cloak around Denzel and prepared for the impact.

Like the night before wraiths eyes took their ebony sheen. And like the night before the bullets stopped and fell to the ground like raindrops.

"Denzel return to tifa" Vincent said as he stood and raised Cerberus.

"Save your bullets their souls mine." Wraith said as his left arm began to resonate with an ominous light.

A roar erupted from the man's throat and he rushed the armed gunmen. Slashing and tearing at them with the strength of a demon. Throwing men who easily weighed two hundred pounds as though they were toys. The bullets they fired being useless to aid in their defense.

Vincent watched in horror as the men were stricken down like animals by this monster he had saved. Granted it had been in his defense. He still felt that the cruelty wraith used in battle was an example of things to come in the future. None of the battle however seemed to hold water to the end when wraith gripped one of the men by the throat.

"Where is your leader" he spoke as if telling the man he would suffer without end until an answer came from him. "Speak…. You try my patience."

"Screw you buddy" the man said as he spat blood in wraiths face.

He apparently took this offensively. For as soon as the blood reached him wraith shocked Vincent yet again as he sank his teeth deep into the neck of the offender. Then as if tossing an empty bottle aside he dropped the man in a bloody heap on the ground.

"What are you?" Vincent spoke quietly thinking wraith would not hear him

"I have been a great many things….. You find me a loathsome creature? Perhaps you are right."

"Are you a vampire?" he asked him as if not believing his own question

"I'm complicated" wraith turned as he investigated one of the corpses.

"I just saw you drink that man. Tell me the truth what are you."

"I am what you may perceive as a vampire. I do not drink blood because it is nourishment. I drink blood because it gives me power. "

"Power. How would……"

"By drinking the life's blood of my victims I take a part of their soul. In exchange for the sin of murder and the taboo of what humans consider cannibalism I am given the strength of their souls. The blood is simply a medium. It is a complicated story and would take an extensive amount of time to explain. Time of which I simply cannot afford. But no I am not a vampire. I can still feel the warmth of the sun. And water obviously doesn't hold any grudges with me…… do you fear me valentine?"

"No…. but what about that arm of yours……"

"You lie" he spoke somberly "you are afraid I will come to harm Miss Lockhart and Miss Kisaragi……. I assure you I mean them no harm."

"You just tore these men apart bare handed and even drank one. And you expect me to believe you wouldn't do the same to them….. Answer me. Give me a reason not to put you out of your misery and my own"

"You believe you can…." His voice returned to that of a young man "please if you can do so….. If not then don't get my hopes up"

He continued for a time to dig in the pockets of the corpses. Not caring that people had returned to the streets and were eying him suspiciously. Vincent all the while wandered what tifa was doing. The experience was at best troubling and he knew how the barmaid felt about people who were around the children.

"There it is the lithium decoder….. An item carried only by lithium company mercenaries. Vincent I fear that by me being here I have put you all in danger. You are all very strong but even I have had trouble dealing with these heartless bastards. I fear that I am unable to leave now."

"Well isn't that convenient." He spoke as if questioning wraiths intentions "would you have even left to begin with."

"Vincent do not mistake my being here as an intention after all you did bring me here if I remember correctly even against my will….. So as a return of your kindness you can accept the fact that I have now become the 'family guardian' I will leave as soon as I am sure you are all safe from this threat. On my honor I swear."

"To be quite honest I don't care. Tifa was the one who decided to let you stay. But I promise you if you harm a hair on either her head or yuffies, clouds, or either of the children's you will come to regret it. As long as we are clear on that do as you wish. Your business is your own. And no I don't trust you but I do not fear you either."

"Then we are on the same page." The men parted words at that and returned to the bar

Tifa sat inside the bar worried that the men she had left outside had been injured. She had found a nice stool to rest upon when suddenly wraith accompanied by Vincent came through the door.

"Tifa…." Wraith spoke with authority but quietly "I need to know where you found me… it's a matter of life and death…."

This wasn't going to end well but tifa was sure that if wraith had said it he meant it. So noting she led him on foot. The journey would take hours but she had taken the day off so that she didn't have to worry about cloud beating on the regular patrons for getting too friendly. This in tow she yielded to wraiths request for an escort and they left.

"Wraith?" tifa was growing bored with the extensive walk and decided that conversation would be best.

"Hmm" he acknowledged her presence "what is it?"

"I was just wandering. What is Kara?"

"……….."

"Come on tell me. It may do you some good to talk about it."

"Miss Lockhart if only you knew what you were asking your compassion would tell you to cease." He stared at the ground beneath him.

"Compassion is why I'm asking. I barely have any clue who you are and no offense I don't exactly trust you."

"Please if you really are a considerate human you will not ask again."

"No if I were I would ask again because it bothers you. It's also something I would like to know. And I'm a curious person. So come on just spill."

"…………."

"What is it with you and silence? Damit talk to me. I will keep asking until you either give in or leave." Her resolve stood firm as she halted the man whom remained in silence to the point of making her raise her voice. "Who are you? How do magically stop bullets and why defend us. What is Kara? Who are these men that keep attacking our home? Where are you from? I'm going to keep talking until you answer."

"…….. I would rather show you………" he said ominously as he pointed to the horizon where the crater could be seen.

"NO!!! Telling will suffice for now. Tell me what I want to know. Wraith…… wraith Gaia damit all tell me." She was obviously very vexed with wraiths incessant silence "speak or were not leaving."

"You are so hard pressed to know of monsters. Sit and allow me to tell you what I remember. It may take some time."

"I've got the time to listen."

"Very well then…. My real name is koty. I am from a world not too unlike this one. I'm from a place called America…… I've been blessed and cursed with this." He held his left arm aloft to reveal a brightly glowing light resonating from him. "It is known as the hand of death. The god hand. The infernal. Many names for a simple freak accident. It allows me to traverse the ethereal plain and cross over between the worlds. It also allows me to drain the blood of my victims and use the essence of their souls to empower my own."

"So that's why your arm was covered in blood when we found you?!!!!" she interrupted

"Yes…… and no…… as I was saying this is a unique talent. But it comes at a price. My humanity has been stripped from me………. My own world has labeled me a monster and a murderer. In my youth I thought to myself 'if they want a monster I will give them one.' But my foolishness led me into despair."

"Wait in your youth….. You don't really look like you should say that."

"Well that comes from a lack of knowledge I'm sure." He rolled his eyes jokingly "in my world I would barely be in my twenties however time here flows far differently than where I am from. I would be around six hundred years of age in your world give or take a few decades. Off topic yet again. I had first learned to use this power under the tutelage of my dear friend Andrew Maspeth. Andrew was a kind one he was. Very knowledgeable but traitorous as they come. He had taken prisoner a young woman. We were the products of many years experimentation. The department of paranormal research and defense the DPRD. Had been experimenting with summoning demons and spirits of the underworld. A goal fitting for science. They tortured people. And I became their prized pet. A guinea pig for their so said scientific expedition…… one night I heard someone come in it was a female. Young in her late teens. She was to be my next victim……… it was not unusual…….. I was use to being fed animals still alive. But humans were another story. I could feel the essence of the scientists around the door waiting to see if I would indeed devour the young woman…………. Quickly I advised her to let out a scream and go hide in the shadows……………… she did and thankfully neither of us were afflicted…. The scientists rushed in to see my progress and then it occurred to me. I was not here because it was safe to be in this place. They were using me….. For a weapon……… when they left I pondered to myself for a long time. I had learned to cross into the ethereal plain and re emerge miles from my confines. But with nowhere to go I always came back to my holding cell….. I had thought at first that these scientists were helping me to control the infernal. But to my dismay they sought to use me as a weapon of biomechanical warfare. Then with almost a studious approach I slaughtered them. I killed them in exchange of the girl……… it was after that when Andrew appeared and offered me an escape…… this girl it seemed was part of the project called life bringer. She was to be tested on the field as a spiritual healer. Her abilities were far advanced compared to my own and the scientists wanted to see what would happen if I consumed her soul….."

"Wrai…… I mean koty…….. I'm sorry……….. What did they do to you…..?"

"This and that……. I was to be part of a project called devourer………. But unlike the girl who's powers were given to her as a scientific experiment I was born with my power. Either way…….. Andrew insisted that I leave and so I did. But as you can imagine……… once the DPRD has lost something valuable to them they spare no expense retrieving it. You see it would be bad for business should I join the enemy……. If they cannot acquire me willingly then I am expendable……… so we ran ……… jumping back and forth between the realms. Until one day several years after my departure we began seeing mercenaries…….. They were not like the DPRD research guards……. They would take us back in body bags If necessary……….. We tried to escape and in the process we destroyed the phoenix company mercenaries. A second rate collection of buffoons with guns…… still this meant that lithium company would come looking for us…….."

"And that's who's hunting you now?"

"Yes……. To be honest I don't know how I got here…….. The last thing I remember outside of how the lithium mercs became interested in me was……. Her……."

"Kara I take it……"

"…………." He silenced himself as he stared at the ground.

"Were you close? "

"We had journeyed together for nearly six years. We were almost inseparable. She was kind……… and selfless……. My polar opposite to be certain….. But I fell in love with her eyes and her voice……. I fell in love with her essence…… but lithium was simply to strong….. One day they unleashed a battalion of their biotech soldiers upon our position in eastern Tibet……… Kara always had wanted to go to the mountains there…………. So I took her……….. But when they found us even I was too weak to stop them all. We were cornered in a mountain pass and with nowhere to run and not enough power in me left to jump between realms I attempted to fight my way out…… the prowess I had been given by the god hand had given me great strength of both body and mind. It had given me the power of telekinesis…. That should at least answer a few of you questions….. Now can we proceed I have very little time if I hope to execute my plan."

She took a moment to register his haste and made a mental note that questions could wait until later. The sun was going down and that meant that the monsters would be stirring soon. The thought of going home to a worried cloud bothered her with a sense of irony as she remembered all of the times he had come home to her injured or exhausted. She at first chuckled at the idea that cloud might call her telling her to eat and sleep and stay out of trouble. As they neared the crater though a different air was taken as koty's eyes became a vibrant blue in the dark.

"Why do your eyes change color like that?" she said with a refined curiosity

"It is a result of my power and one of the many mysteries of my past that I have not the knowledge to unravel….. Tifa?

"Yeah what is it………?"

"Would you like to see my world?"

"Umm….. Okay…… but I need to get back soon."

The ground in front of them suddenly was illuminated by a piercing white light. And koty stood at its threshold beckoning tifa forward. This was promising to be an interesting event.

Back at seventh heaven cloud was sitting in the bar waiting and worrying for his beloved tifa. Vincent had said that the stranger had needed tifa's assistance but her being gone simply didn't click with him well. For a moment he took a tinge of jealousy. 'What does he got that I don't anyway' he thought out loud as he remembered that it was Vincent that came to check on him and not his beloved tifa the night previous.

"I don't like this guy." He spoke to Vincent as his arms crossed and his glare lowered to the floor

"Jealous much" Vincent smirked " I don't either if it helps he spells trouble."

"Oh you two are just mad because he's the only one of the three of you that even looks like he can get laid." Yuffie interrupted as she fumbled with her headband.

Vincent had taken this comment with a grain of salt. But clouds moral ego had apparently been damaged.

"Aw come on spikey what's wrong did tifa turn you down….. Look at the bright side when you do finally get in her pants it'll be a blast" she laughed hysterically at the expression of defeat on clouds face.

It was going to get rough if it was even obvious to yuffie that he had feelings for tifa. Vincent had his Turk training to help profile people and Denzel was always really cleaver but yuffie was the last person he expected to realize his affections.

"Look cloud" she was being serious for once which surprised both of the men as she strode over to the blonde and shoved him against the wall he had been leaning against. "Girls like confidence. As sexy as shy guys can be confidence is the leg opener. If you really want tifa you have to be willing to get out there and embarrass yourself. And for gaias sake you've dressed as a girl before embarrassment should be behind you…… although I have to say that dress did look really sexy… phwa ha ha" yuffie obviously could not contain her laughter at this thought.

Cloud was trying to think of a comeback or at least an escape that didn't damage his dignity any further. He looked to Vincent in hopes that his general somber attitude would put some weight to the situation.

"Well it did look rather good on you cloud" Vincent mocked as he hid his face beneath his cloak.

"Oh for the love of leviathan. Vincent not you too. Come on can we just drop this topic?" he attempted to protect his honor by changing the subject.

"You should really consider a strapless next time….grrrrrrarrrr……."

"No no no no and a thousand times no. shut up." He was venting at the thought of even being in a dress to begin with. "Seriously where did they go……… it's been nearly four hours"

"Yuffie." Vincent requested her attention in a serious fashion.

"Watcha want vinvin."

"Tifa will be home soon. Go help cloud get ready to properly greet her…. Preferably nothing strapless.. I'm going to scan the parameter"

"Gotcha" she said before she turned an evil grin to cloud "come' ere spikey we gona make you really sexy."


okay so its a little long but it makes more sense of the random guy and also gives a little insight into the reason he is where he is. its a little chopy i know but still i needed an ice breaker. itll come together in the next chap i promise please r&r dont hold back.... =) i can take it.