Jealousy. All these years looked down on, pushed to the side, second priority. No matter how hard she had worked, she was barred from the top. There was no first place for her to gain, there never would be. But she would prove them wrong. She would rise above him. After all their struggles, she would come up top and they would not be able to deny it. She was better than him.
SCHING!
Winter gasped as the Masmune stabbed through her side. Grabbing hold of it to stop it slicing any further, she glared at it's owner. Sephiorth smirked back at her. Blood trickled down her legs for a moment, draining the blood fury in her head. Then she stepped out of the long blade and picked up her own weapon where it had fallen from her hands. Her eyes narrowed in determination and Sephiroth stepped back coolly. This time, this time she would get him. Holding her wound closed with one hand, she charged at the legendary SOLDIER. Dodging his first swipe, she moved in for the kill. Her rapier, the Hoarhound, crackled with 10,000 volts as she whirled it around… And it collided with the edge of the Masamune. She was pushed back so hard that she hit the wall behind her with a sharp intake of breath and slumped on the floor panting. She could feel the cold drip of blood oozing down her forehead, her anger dissipating, her body screaming out for her to stop this crazy assault. But she still tried to get up, easing slowly onto all fours and reaching a trembling hand for the Hoarhound, which sparked weakly.
"Winter." Sephiroth regarded her coldly. "Why do you persist?"
"Because I must." She hissed, using her foil to pull herself up. "I will surpass you, you are the last obstacle."
"And you are half dead." He turned dismissively.
His back was turned, this was her chance. She charged again. Pain split through her leg, making her stumble before she reached him. A quiet chuckle escaped her adversary.
"There is a reason you are the only female that has been allowed to follow the SOLDIER program." He stopped by the door of the training room. "And that is not because you will surpass me, little sister."
With that he walked out, leaving her crumpled in a growing pool of her own blood. Glaring, SOLDIER First Class Winter sat up slowly aand stuffed her weapon back into her stark white coat. Or, it had been stark white before their sparring session, now it was marred with clouds of dust and blood stains. The single light coming from the outside hall way illuminated the damp red smudges on the floor as she attempted to get to her feet once more. The shadow of a man appeared in the light.
"He beat you again." The soft voice sounded resignedly bemused.
"Not next time," She spat, wobbling unsteadily. "Next time I'll knock him on his behind."
Genesis sighed and offered her his hand. She ignored him and leant on the wall heavily instead. She could feel the bone in her lower right leg was fractured and several ribs in assorted places were cracked, she was also ever so slightly concussed from Sephiroth's last move.
"I'll beat you to it." He told her.
"I defeated you last week Genesis." She replied harshly.
Getting off the wall again Winter began to limp down the corridor to the infirmary. Genesis following her cautiously in indignation at her last statement.