Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII…

Summary: Cloud Strife joined SOLDIER for the sake of his younger twin sister and childhood friend. Unfortunately, an unknown event happened to him which caused for his sister to join SOLDIER to uncover the truth. There was one problem though… Girls are not accepted in SOLDIER.

Unseen Veracity

Chapter 1: Boy or Girl?

In a small town called Nibelheim, there lived the Strife Family who was shunned by the villagers due to their appearance. The Strife family was composed of three people the mother and her two children who were twins. The boy was the older one who goes by the name Cloud Strife. He was the only boy in the family and loved his mom and sister a lot. In a young age, he's already responsible enough to take care of his family. He kept on protecting his sister who rarely speaks and has a weak body. The kids in the town kept on bullying them especially his sister. There was one time where Cloud found his sister being surrounded by a lot of kids. They were throwing stones at her. They kept on calling her witch and monster which caused for Cloud's Sister to cry. Cloud ran towards his sister to help her. He swore that he was going to kill those kids.

"Stay away from my sister!" Cloud screamed at the top of his lungs angrily.

One of the kids turned around only to meet Cloud's fist. The kid stumbled back and Cloud stood protectively in front of his sister. The other kids gathered around the kid whom Cloud punched.

"Your sister is a witch! My father told me so!" One of the kids told Cloud angrily while helping his friend to his feet.

"No! She's not! Just only because she has a different appearance to all of you, that doesn't mean that, she's a witch!" Cloud countered back.

"Yes! She is! Her appearance attracts everyone in the town like a succubus! It's not just her! You and your mother… Your entire family are like monsters!" Another kid shouted and threw more insults to Cloud and his family.

Cloud could accept if he was insulted and hurt but if his sister and mother was involved, that's another story.

"Why you…!" Cloud charged towards the kid who called his family a monster.

"Brother! Please stop!" Cloud's sister tried to grab the back of his shirt.

A fighting brawl between the kids happened. The kid who was two times larger than Cloud pinned him to the ground. As a result, Cloud used his knee to hit the bigger kid and free himself. Their fight stopped when the mayor's daughter namely Tifa Lockhart appeared to the scene and stopped the fight. The kids left leaving Cloud, who was completely filled with bruise, kneeling on the ground. Cloud panted as he wiped the blood from his mouth.

"Are you alright, Cloud?" Tifa asked Cloud as she helped him to his feet.

Tifa Lockhart was the only kid in Nibelheim who was nice enough to make friends with Cloud and his twin. Apparently, it was only the Lockhart Family who was nice to them. Even if her father was the mayor, she can't stop the citizens from hurting the Strife Family, not even her father can stop the citizens.

Cloud swatted Tifa's hand and walked towards his sister who was crying non-stop. Tifa sighed and watched the two interact.

"Hey… It's alright… They are already gone so don't cry, sis. I'll be here… I promise that I'm going to protect you." Cloud said to his sister as he patted her head.

His sister raised her teary face at Cloud and smiled. During that time, Cloud swore that he will get stronger to protect his sister who was the most important person to him. After that event, his sister collapsed in his arms due to a high fever. Cloud panicked as his sister's breathing was uneven.

It was a good thing that Tifa was there to help him. They went to Cloud's house and placed his twin on the bed. Mrs. Strife, Cloud's mother, was completely worried at her children's state. She left the house to call a doctor which left Cloud and Tifa inside the room of Cloud's sister.

Cloud took a stool and sat beside the bed. Tifa dipped the small towel in a basin that was filled with cold water. She dried off the excess water on the towel and placed it on top of the forehead of Cloud's sister.

"Don't worry, Cloud… I'm sure she will recover. She always does…" Tifa said to Cloud gently and full of affection. She was afraid that Cloud might break if she said the wrong words.

Cloud looked at Tifa and smiled. His smile made the said girl blush. "Thank you, Tifa… And… I'm sorry about swatting your hand before. I was just…"

Tifa shook her head. "Don't worry, Cloud. It's alright. I understand why you did that… You can be overprotective when it comes to her."

Cloud remained quiet at that remark. Tifa took a first aid kit and approached Cloud. She opened it and began treating Cloud's wound. The two remained quiet, enjoying the company with each other. The silence broke when Cloud began to speak.

"Tifa… I'm going to join SOLDIER. I'll become stronger so that no one could hurt the people that I love…" Cloud announced with a look of determination on his face.

Tifa paused for a moment then she smiled at him. She looked at Cloud's eyes directly. She didn't like it when he said that to her. She wanted him to stay in Nibelhein forever together with her but she knew that, that would be impossible. Stopping him on his decision was completely impossible.

"Alright… I won't stop you but promise me that if I get in danger, you will come and save me. You'll become my hero." Tifa said while cupping his face in her palms.

Cloud nodded and promised. "Yeah… I promise…"

The two remained quiet again. Tifa resumed in treating Cloud's wounds and bruises. The two didn't notice the other twin waking up. She looked at her brother and Tifa's interactions and went back to sleep. She didn't want her brother to leave them someday but she knew that if Cloud finally decided on one thing, stopping or changing his mind would be impossible.

Time quickly passed by. Cloud finally reached the age of 16 and decided to leave Nibelheim to join SOLDIER. He grew up quite a man and no one tried to bully him but there were still some people who kept on bullying his sister in the shadows. His sister grew up quite a lady even though she doesn't have that breathtaking body like the typical girl has. It was a good thing that her health improved compared to when she was younger. Her hair reached mid back and quite tamed unlike her brother who got a messy spike. The twins looked and sound so much alike that the only difference between the two was their gender.

"Mom… Sis… Tifa… Mr. Lockhart… I have to go now. I promise that I'll keep contact with all of you." Cloud told everyone. All of his belongings were already with him.

Mrs. Strife didn't want her son to leave. It took half a year for Cloud to convince his mom to let him go. Mrs. Strife's decision, on not to let him go, shattered when her daughter convinced her to let Cloud go to Midgar so that he could join SOLDIER.

A small whisper of "Take Care" was heard from Cloud's sister. She has a sad look on her face which made Cloud pat her head.

"Don't worry; it's going to be alright, sis… I'll try to visit here whenever I can." Cloud assured his sister.

Mr. Lockhart promised Cloud that he will protect his mother and sister from the town's citizens. Tifa promised him as well that she will watch over his sister while he was gone. With that, Cloud finally left Nibelheim and went to Midgar to become a SOLDIER. He will show those people who hurt his family on how strong he really is. He will prove to them on how wrong they are.

Two years have passed and Cloud never returned in Nibelheim. On the first year, it was quite alright because he kept on sending letters to them but on the second year, that was where all their worry came. Not even a single letter came from Cloud which made Mrs. Strife worried. His sister finally decided to go to Midgar in search of her brother. If it keeps on, their mother will surely die because of worry. The first person that she informed with this decision was Tifa.

"Are you sure about that? What about your mom and your body?" Tifa asked her childhood friend who was Cloud's twin sister as well.

"That is why I'm leaving mom in your care, Tifa… and about my body… I'm no longer as weak as before. I've already overcome my weak self. I didn't learn all those martial arts together with you for nothing." Cloud's twin sister answered Tifa.

Tifa crossed her arms and sighed. "Well, if you say so… but how are you going to tell this to your mother?"

"I'll leave a letter… That's all…"

"But I'm getting worried… It's not that you are mean or anything but with your attitude…" Tifa can't continue what she was about to say.

"I know… I rarely speak and hate to associate myself with others. In other words, I'm completely unsociable but it doesn't matter. I'll just find brother and ask him on why he didn't return for two years. He even stopped sending letters a year ago. Mom is getting worried… so do I…"

"I'm glad that you realized that but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter. Whether you like it or not, you will have to associate yourself with others. Besides, SOLDIERs do not accept women as their recruit."

Cloud's sister brought out a scissors from her pocket and gave it to Tifa. "Cut my hair then. Make it that it will only reach the middle part of my neck."

"Are you nuts? But you're…" Tifa's eyes widen on the order.

"So what if I'm a girl? I'll just change my hairstyle and clothing. That will solve the problem, right?"

"But…"

"I don't have your big breast so that's a blessing." Cloud's sister teased Tifa while her face was completely void of emotion.

Tifa blushed and took the scissors. She smacked the other's left shoulder gently. "Shut up!

An hour passed and Tifa finished cutting her friend's hair. When her friend turned around to look at her, she turned red like a tomato. Tifa was reminded of Cloud (her first love until now) minus the spikes. "Whaa…?"

Tifa's friend took a mirror and looked at her face. "Hm… Not bad, Tifa… You could ask your father to build you a parlor."

Tifa smacked the top of her friend's head. "Really! How could you tease me emotionlessly?"

Her friend began to change her clothes. From her blue dress, she was now wearing a white shirt with a black vest on, black pants, and black knee-high boots. She also wore a black glove that showed her fingertips. All in all from head to foot, she looked like a man but in reality, with her appearance and age, no one can tell her gender.

"You know what? If I didn't know you since we were still young, I would be doing my best trying to figure out your gender." Tifa commented while smirking.

"Thanks for the compliment…" Tifa's friend countered back. "Well, got to go now…"

"Wait, what about your mom?" Tifa asked again.

"I already left a letter in the house. Please kindly explain to her everything. I'm afraid that if I tell her about it, she won't let me go."

"It's understandable though… Anyway, promise me that you'll come back here safe and sound together with Cloud, okay?"

Cloud's sister nodded on the promise and left Tifa's house. She will find her brother no matter what it takes.

In the Shinra Headquarters, Midgar, an entrance examination for the cadets were being held. Before a certain man could enter the cadet program, they must pass the entrance examination first. Most of the SOLDIERs from First Class to Third Class would watch the examination because that was where they would know who will be worthy enough to get to SOLDIER but majority of them would just watch just to laugh at the newbies.

The only people who were nice enough to greet and welcome the examinees were Angeal and his student, Zack. If Angeal would just greet them, Zack would greet and befriend them.

The examinees will be gathered in a large room. Near the double doors, a reception, where Angeal and Lazard sat, stood to welcome the examinees. There were five men who were doing all the paperworks. As one man and another entered, Zack would greet and handshake with all of them. As a result, he gained a lot of friends. If he found someone cute, he'll give them a noogie or trapped them in an embrace called a headlock.

Inside the room's balcony which was located on the second floor, SOLDIERs ranging from all cadets began to fill the place. They can be distinguished on what class they belonged due to their uniforms. The Third Class SOLDIERs would point on the newbies, whisper something about them and laugh. The group of Second Class SOLDIERs was divided into two. There were some who would laugh at the rookies while there were some who would look out to those who have talents. Lastly, the First Class SOLDIERs were matured enough to not laugh at the rookies but look for those who have talents and potential.

Zack greeted every man who would become an examinee. As he greeted them, there was one whom he failed to greet properly. A blond boy or girl… Zack couldn't tell the gender, passed through him like he or she never noticed him. The person looked like a boy but at the same time like a girl. Zack dropped his jaw as he stared at the boy-slash-girl.

"Wha…? Just who…?" Zack stuttered while trying to overcome his shock.

Everyone in the room was as surprised as Zack became. They can't really tell the person's gender. Even Genesis who was busy reading his LOVELESS raised his head and looked at the boy or girl whom everyone was looking at.

"Hm? Sephiroth… Who is that? More importantly, is that a boy or girl?" Genesis asked while closing his book and leaned on the balcony.

Sephiroth crossed his arms and shrug. He was staring at the newbie who just entered with an unknown gender. For some unknown reason, he was kind of drawn at the person's sharp eyes. He couldn't tell what the boy-girl was thinking. "I don't know…"

Sephiroth and Genesis already knew that majority of the newbies came for Angeal, Genesis and most especially Sephiroth. They could finally deduce who was just fanboying around or serious enough but the newbie who just entered… they couldn't place where he-she belonged.

The person with an unknown gender approached the reception. Due to the person's sharp eyes and emotionless face, they didn't bother to entertain him-her. Seeing that it was rude to ignore the person, Angeal entertained him-her.

"I suppose you came here to take the exam, right?" Angeal asked using his authoritative tone.

"Obviously…" The person replied emotionlessly while staring at Angeal's eye directly.

A small smile began to appear on Angeal's face. The boy-girl was not intimidated by his rank or presence unlike the other examinees.

"What should I do in order to take the exam?" The boy-girl asked while placing his/her hand inside his/her pocket. He/She noticed that the man was staring at him/her.

Angeal cleared his throat and gave the boy slash girl a paper. "Just fill-up the necessary information in this paper."

The man-woman took the paper and filled-up the necessary information. While waiting for him/her to finish, Angeal began to ask him/her questions.

"How old are you?"

"18…"

"Are you a boy or a girl?" Angeal couldn't help but ask this question.

The person placed the pen on the table and shoved the paper in Angeal's hands which surprised everyone. "Why even bother asking me those questions when you told me to fill-up this paper?"

With that, the person left the reception without a care about the thing that he/she did. For the witnesses and most especially Angeal's fans, they thought that what the boy-girl did was a sign of disrespect but for Angeal, it was just nothing. That was a first for the newbies that someone was not intimidated by his rank. He was kind of happy at that.

In the second floor, Genesis whistled at what the boy-girl did. "Not bad… that… what? Boy or Girl didn't beat an eyelash on Angeal's presence. I wonder if he or she could still have his or her composure with you around, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth shrugged at his friend's comment. His eyes followed a certain blonde boy-girl who just leaned on a wall and waited for the exam to begin.

Lazard approached Angeal and asked. "So? What does it say? Is that man/woman a boy or a girl? I can't tell with his/her voice his/her gender and his/her appearance didn't help either."

Angeal read the details in the paper and reassured Lazard. "Don't worry, it says here that his male, came from Nibelheim, eighteen years of age who goes by the name Raine Strife."

"Raine Strife, huh? Just by the name, I can't even tell if he's a boy or girl." Lazard commented as he pushed his glasses up.

"I know, right…" Angeal placed Raine's paper together with the other examinee's papers.

He scanned the room for Zack, only to see him talking to Raine.

Raine was leaning on the wall, waiting for the exam to begin. At first, she was tempted to use her older twin brother's name which was Cloud Strife but it would be a problem if someone in SOLDIER could recognize the name. She was left no choice but to use her real name. It was a good thing that it was a name that can be used to a boy or girl. With that, she was completely safe. As she kept on thinking about what to do next in finding her brother, an annoying man's voice kept on irritating her until she snapped her eyes open and glared at a certain raven-haired dude.

"Hey! Glad you're awake! I thought you are sleeping there! So what's your name? Where did you come from? How old are you? And most of all; are you a boy or a girl?" Zack asked Raine while completely oblivious on how annoying he is.

Raine straightened up and glared at Zack. "Shut up, puppy…"

Even though three words just came out from Raine's mouth, it was enough to pierce like daggers on Zack's heart. Her tone of voice didn't help Zack to ease his pain.

Zack slump his shoulders in depression and joined his fellow Second Class friends. "Ugh! A newbie told me to shut up… He even called me a puppy…"

Kunsel, one of Zack's friends, comforted him from his rejection. "Now, now… Don't cry Zack but that nickname really does suit you. Pfft…! Puppy…"

Zack glared at Kunsel due to his irritation at being called a puppy. "Kunsel!"

"Hmph… Barking Dogs should just be grilled." Raine murmured to herself which was miraculously heard by Zack.

"I've heard that…! You… You… Blondie…" Zack said while pointing an accusing finger at Raine. He almost lost his breath when his gaze met Raine's eyes. It made him unable to speak and his heart started to beat fast with reasons unknown.

"Is that the best insult that you could think of Zack?" Sebastian, who was also one of Zack's friends, asked him.

Raine resumed to her previous position and ignored Zack's presence.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! SSSHHHIIITTT! This is bad! Am I turning gay?!" Zack panicked while curling himself into a ball in a dark corner.

"That's not even funny, man…" Essai sweatdropped as he looked at Zack. Just like Sebastian and Kunsel, he was also one of Zack's friends.

Lazard gathered all the examinees at the center of the room to tell them about the examination. Raine walked towards the center and listened to what Lazard would say. She swore to not let her real gender out.

If she wanted to find her lost brother… If she wanted to know the truth about him, then she must climb up the ranks and at the same time hide her real gender. Finding her brother was her top priority and she won't let anyone get in her way, not even an annoying, barking puppy that must be grilled.

Author's Notes: Here's another FF7 Fanfic Series by me. This idea is bugging me like crazy… I have no other choice but to write this… Comments and Criticisms are highly appreciated. Please tell me what you guys think… It will inspire me in continuing this story.

Do enjoy reading everyone! ^_^