A/N: ok, so I Love final fantasy seven to death. here is my story of my character Kera and her joining of the Turks. For those of you who were forced to read the Joy Luck Club in High school (it's good) you may recognize a kind of style I'm tryig to do here. I'm gunna try and get each chapter to be someone else's point of view at different times. this here chapt'r one starts with Kera, my OC, and her first day of training at Shinra Company. there will be AT LEAST 1 other OC and maybe even more. lots of good fun. PLEASE ENJOY!

OMG also, this story takes place during the FF7 BEFORE CRISIS. if u dunno wha that means, its a good few years before the beginning of the game. so Cloud is trying to become SOLDIER and Sephy is still sane and stuff. if you don't think this chapter is all that great, please continue to give the others a chance, maybe you'll like em! 3

File001-K.E.R.A.

She dodged the Slalom's punch, retaliating with an attack with her shock rod to its back. It reeled around and punched again, and she counter attacked with a Morph blow, rendering the creature into a hi-potion.

"Do we have any higher level monsters to fight?" she said softly as the simulation died away. "It doesn't do me any good to just go against a small level 37 slalom… do we have any level 50 stuff?"

As a newly appointed member of the Shinra Turks, Kera was training against random battle creatures to gain fighting experience. Not to seem big-headed or anything, but so far the fights had been a breeze. She was already a great fighter, and owned quite a lot of quality materia.

"You're doing good," said a voice in her headpiece. She looked up to the window to see Gun looking back at her, a grim smile on her face. "Your next opponent is a lot tougher, though."

"Bring it!" said Kera confidently. She was expecting something difficult, an awesome challenge, perhaps a huge Zolom snake or a King Behemoth.

"I'm afraid I have to be somewhere…" Gun's voice suddenly crackled onto her headset again.

"Yer not gunna watch?" said Kera. I thought someone was supposed to observe and analyze my fighting style and stuff…?

"It's fine, things won't get out of hand or anything."

"Uh, ok?"

Gun was gone. Kera was alone in the battle training room, waiting for her next opponent to appear. The door across from her opened, and she readied herself, already triumphantly imagining herself in her mind, standing over the body of a monster she had easily defeated, receiving praise from Gun when she returned, saying "Right! Welcome to the Turks, Kera Nagino." And then she'd be assigned to a unit.

It had been a huge surprise when she had been offered the job, to be sure. She had simply run into the son of the president of Shinra Company one evening on the way home from work. Rufus Shinra had seen a display of her fighting talents, and offered her the proposition. She gladly accepted, happily giving up the life and 'career' she had previously held. Kera had seen this as an opportunity to renew her life, a chance to do better and live properly, instead of a low job in the sector five slums wall market.

She watched tensely as a figure moved out from behind the doors. She quickly accounted for all the material in her possession, thought out carefully certain things she could do depending on what kind of creature it was she was up against. Her violet eyes glinted curiously as she saw what had emerged in front of her.

It was a man – a Turk!

He had an untidy yet cool look about him, his flaming red hair spiked up over the goggles resting on his forehead and pulled back into a small ponytail, barely reaching past his shoulders. Like Kera, he carried a shock rod and some command material she couldn't identify. The way he saunter ed out into the fighting ring had a I'm-too-cool feel about it, followed by his smooth greeting.

"Yo."

"Huh?" Kera said blankly. I have to fight a Turk, not a monster??

This made her a little more nervous. So that's why Gun left. This guy must be good enough to evaluate the way I fight on his own maybe he's here to be like a final judge… boss… guy.

He chuckled softly.

"You must have potential, to make it this far." He said, an amused grin stretching his face.

"Well…" she started anxiously. I can't say that everything has been pie, can I? I don't think they'd like that. But did he think it would be hard? "Do you really mean that?" she said, an eyebrow raised.

He laughed openly. "Nah. It's been easy, right?"

She breathed a small sigh of relief. So he agrees with me.

"Till now," he continued casually, tapping his shoe with his weapon nonchalantly.

She looked at him, a questioning look as if to say ey, are you looking for a challenge? At first she had been nervous to make a good impression on this guy, not wanting to look bad so she could get the job. But she was starting to see he seemed really playful, almost like he was totally unconcerned about everything. He wants to test me, for more than just strength, I believe.

"Till now?" she repeated coolly, crossing her arms unconcernedly. "Whatever could you mean by that?"

"You have to fight me now." He said.

"I know."

Ok I didn't, I thought he was just here to replace Gun! Wow I'm slow… but YEAH that was a cool comeback! Kinda! Yeah!

"Hn," he swung his weapon over his shoulder, ready to fight. "You're a brave one."

Instantly the sparring match started. A light shot from his electropod, the beam heading straight for Kera. She managed to dodge it by several inches, and it hit the wall behind her, she dashed forward. She preferred close-combat. She struck several punches aimed to his rather good – looking face but he dodged each one easily, simply leaning back, then to the right, smirking as each time her fist narrowly skimmed his hair. At one instance, she punched and he grabbed hold of her fist. She instantly dropped to her knees and swung her leg at his ankles, and he leapt out of the way, releasing her. She got to her feet and dived at him, right hook, left punch, front handspring, left hook. She kept up a flurry of attacks, and once saw a flicker in his face, as if he had thought wow… she's actually pretty good.

Trying not to smile to herself, she aimed a kick at his chest, and for one wild moment thought she had made contact with it. Instead she saw he had caught her foot, and before she could even think, he wrenched her leg and threw her off balance, jabbing a punch to her face. She was barely able to throw her arms up to block it, and his fist collided hard with her outer forearm. She grimaced as she automatically grabbed his hand with her one that wasn't blocking, and she twisted him into an arm bar.

"Nicely done," he said conversationally. He suddenly bucked his knees, flipping her over his back and onto the ground in front of him. "Show me what else you've got."

She stood up, no longer even thinking of smiling. He hasn't even broken a sweat yet! Damn, they don't cal the Turks Elite for nothing. I've got to try harder…

Meanwhile, he stroked a lock of his hair behind his ear. Holy crap! He thought, while keeping his calm and cool demeanor on the outside. She's whoopin' ass, here! Luckily for me I'm so awesome. But yeah, she'll pass as a Turk no problem.

"So you wanna get serious?" she asked, biding for time as she came up with a new strategy.

"Oh, you were just playing around?" he asked tauntingly.

She smirked in response, and she activated her Time magic materia, casting haste on herself, giving her twice normal speed. She dashed forward, releasing a flurry of kicks and punches aiming at every inch of the Turk she could see.

"Oh sh-!"

He quickly activated his barrier magic materia and set up a barrier, softening her attacks. He blocked almost everything, but it was becoming increasingly harder. As she dashed at him, preparing for a deathblow strike, he side stepped and flung his arm out, catching her in the stomach, winding her momentarily. She staggered off to the side of the ring, clutching her stomach and gasping a little. She took the hi-potion she had morphed in the previous battle and drank it. Instantly the pain in her stomach lessened, and she was ready to fight again.

Too slow.

The time it had taken her to get out the hi-potion the Turk was upon her. He pinned her to the ground and threw her weapon across the platform. He was panting slightly, a trickle of sweat trailing down the side of his face. She grunted, uncomfortable on the hard stone floor. She glared up at him, wondering if the fight was still on.

"What's your name again?" he asked breathlessly, slumping over her a little. She blinked.

"Nagino, Kera." She answered, suddenly aware of how close his face was now.

"Hehhh," he sighed, sounding exhausted, slumping over completely and just laying on top of her. "You pass."

Her eyes widened and her face flushed.

"A – Yeah, thank you.. Um.. You… Hey?" she stammered.

"Reno," he answered, still not moving off of her.

"Ok," she said, sounding a little more frantic. "Now could – uhm I'm kinda – this…"

Get OFFA me! What are you DOING?! Was what she had really meant to say.

He sighed and straightened up, though still pinning her down with his knees. He ran a hand through his hair, and noticed her expression.

"Yo, what's wrong?" he said, truly concerned. "Your face is all red. Do you need a drink? That was a tough fight…"

"Ah, no." she said, surprised at her own voice as it wavered slightly. "You're just… I can't get up."

"Oh?" he blinked and looked at where he sat. "Sorry."

A pause.

"I'll just…" he stood up.

"Thank you," Kera said, clearing her throat and dusting herself off as she too got to her feet.

"Anyway, I'm glad." He said, picking up his shock rod and slinging it lazily over his shoulder again. "I've been saying that Shinra needs to hire more hot chicks…"

She stared at him as he walked away, as if what he had said wasn't totally embarrassing and rude. Or was it a compliment? Either way! I can't believe he just said that!!!

"That was your last battle, right?" said a voice from behind Kera. she whirled around and saw a woman about her age, with deep violet hair and a Shinra uniform.

"Yeah," Kera answered, even though she didn't know if that was the right answer enough. She glanced back over her shoulder and Reno was gone. "Sorry, but do you know where I go now?" she explained how she was new, and had passed the battles, but Gun wasn't here to tell her where she was supposed to go next.

"A'ight," the woman said, flipping her hair behind her shoulder. "I was told about you. Starting today, you get to room with me."

"Oh." Kera said. I didn't realize the SOLDIERS and Turks were like that. I just assumed they were separate.

"I'm Roxxie," she added, holding out a polite hand.

"Kera," she introduced herself, shaking hands and smiling.

Suddenly a grin placed itself on Roxxie's face.

"What?" Kera asked, puzzled.

"That was some fight with Reno, there." Roxxie commented.

"Oh," she saw that. "Yeah? You think so?" Kera couldn't think of anything else to say. And what was with that grin!? It was so teasing, like she had somehow made fun of her and it was a secret.

"Yeah," she giggled. "Call me immature, but I love seeing him be put to work."

There was a pause as they walked out into the main shinra building, and Kera asked, "Uh, really? What's he like?"

Roxxie raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"You're interested in him?" she said teasingly.

Kera could fel the color shoot into her face.

"Ah, NO!" she said, shaking her head frantically. "Uh, I was just wondering, like, why you would say that… Er. Yeah."

Roxxie became casual again. "He ma act all cool and stuff, but he actually takes his job really seriously." There was another pause, as if there was supposed to be more said. "That's all I know, really." Roxxie finished.

"You mean you two don't work together?" Kera said, a little puzzled. So Turks and SOLDIERS can work together, but they don't go on missions together? I may be good at fighting, but I don't even really know what kind of work goes on here…

"Why?" said Roxxie, unable to stop herself. "You wanna work with him?"

"I- What?" Kera blinked, feeling the color starting to flood her face again. "N- would you stop – aaaugh!" she buried her face in her hands as Roxxie laughed.

"I'm sorry. You're just too fun to mess with!" she chuckled. "Well I've been on a mission or two with him. I'm mostly on training missions now with Zax-Kun and Sephiroth–San."something about the last name struck something in Kera's mind.

"Sephiroth……." Where have I heard that name before?

"The number one top ranking SOLDIER ever!" Roxxie said, aghast that Kera didn't know this. They had reached a room in a hallway, and she had been about to push open the door when she stared at Kera as though having never seen a person before.

"Oh!" Kera exclaimed, clapping a hand to her forehead. "Ye-yeah, I've heard of him. Wow, so are you a SOLDIER first class as well? That's impressive…"

"…Ah, well," Roxxie said, avoiding Kera's eyes. "I'm only second class, actually. There is only one other person like me – Cloud–Kun. But we often go on missions together."

She walked across the room to her bed and plopped herself down on it. She gestured to the other bed, plain and empty. "All yours, Chica." She said with a smile.

A/N: Yea, see? Roxxie is also an OC. I am curently working on HER chapter, though that won't come for a while...

ANYWAYS! whatdidjya think? I typed this WHOLE CHAPTER in the car (well, truck) while my family drove all the way to Missouri for Thanksgivin holiday.

I want to thank yoko850 for allowing me to borrow her FF7 game since MINE is being borrowed by some other friend. I'M FINALLY ON DISK THREE AND I ONLY HAVE THE LAST 3 BOSSES TO GO!!! yeah I know its sad I've never beat the game before. I have a lot of good reasons. my memory card has FBHKJDHFQA'd out SEVERAL times, reducing a level 40-something cloud to level 5 or whatever. I think ithat has happened 3 times. and then there was one time my game glitched or something and I was stuck at the gold saucer and couldn't leave coz of something REALLY wierd, like my buggy was on the other side of the planet along with my Tiny Bronco. sniff. anyways, I absolutely ADORE RENO-SAAAAAN 3 3 sigh. so yeah, please review, if there is something you think needs fixin, lemme know! Ja ne!