Roy swung the practice sword at Davis, a clang resounding as Davis brought his own practice sword up to defend himself. Then Davis took a lunge, which Roy also deflected. The two had been fighting like this for the past twenty minutes, neither gaining the upper hand the entire time.

Unfortunately, the instructor had finally noticed. He came walking over to the two of them, grabbing Rex away from fighting who he had been with a moment ago and then standing in between Davis and Roy.

"Whoa!" Roy said, quickly pulling his sword back from a slash he had been about to execute.

"Davis, you're to fight Rance." the instructor ordered, letting go of Rex, who shrugged helplessly at Davis.

"Uh, sure." Davis said with a frown, glancing at Roy before moving over to Rex.

"And Peters, I want you to-"

"Roooooooooooooooooooooooy!"

Roy closed his eyes in a wince, wishing that he hadn't just heard Zack's voice yelling out his name. He had thought he'd finally managed to make Zack bored of hanging around him, but now he'd decided to come during a class!

"Wait here and don't move, Peters." Roy's instructor said gruffly before walking over to the door where Zack was just walking in.

"How do you know Zack Fair?" Rex hissed, moving discreetly to Roy's side.

"I don't really know." Roy replied with a small shrug.

"Excuse me," the instructor said as he stopped in front of Zack. "We're in the middle of something. If it could wait..."

"It can't! Sephiroth sent me!" Zack exclaimed.

Roy inwardly groaned. He should have known Sephiroth would tell Zack about who he really was. But did that mean Zack knew Reno well enough to tell him not to tell anyone and have him listen?

The instructor grumbled something and shrugged, gesturing for Zack to move off. He needed no further encouragement and was over by Roy's side in an instant. He looked beyond excited and dragged Roy over to the side of the room where they could talk before lowering his voice.

"So, Kayli," he murmured with a grin. "This is so cool! I can't believe you actually made me think you were a guy! Seriously, you do look the part though."

"It took a while to get it like this." Kayli admitted softly. She glanced over to where Davis and Rex had gone back to fighting and hoped Rex didn't decide to start asking questions again. It was bad enough that Zack had found out now as well.

"Ha, that is so awesome." Zack shook his head. "Oh! Anyway, Sephiroth said you're going on another mission and this time it's with me. See, he needs to get you out of the way while he explains things to some other people and this was the best way. We leave in two hours. Better go get your stuff!"

Kayli's eyes widened impossibly as she stared at Zack. She was going on another mission in two hours? That was insane!

"You're joking!" she said. "I only just back from another!"

"Yeah, well," Zack shrugged and scratched his head. "I don't give the orders."

Kayli groaned but nodded in submission.

Zack grinned and walked over to the instructor again, explaining the situation as Kayli began making her way towards the door.

Davis grabbed her arm before she could get very far and she spun to look at him.

"What's happening?" Davis asked with a frown.

"I'm going on a mission," Roy said. "I don't have a clue what it's about but apparently they needed someone quickly and just randomly picked someone who'd gone on a mission already."

"Whoa, that's awesome!" Rex said, appearing behind Davis. "You're so lucky!"

"I am so jealous." Davis groaned. "At this rate you'll become a SOLDIER before any of us do."

"No way." Roy shook his head firmly. "You're all better than me, you'll do better in the exams I bet."

"Oh whatever, just get lost before you're reported Missing In Action." Davis laughed, shoving Roy in the shoulder to make him walk off.

Meeting Zack just outside the door, the two of them then began making their way to Roy's room in order for him to get packed as fast as he could. He still couldn't quite believe that he was going to be leaving for another mission so soon after the last one.

"Don't take too long or I'll get in trouble for delaying even thought it's not my fault. I'm always the one who gets the blame." Zack said as Roy walked into his room, nodding to what was said.

Grabbing his pack, he took some things out and shoved other things in, making sure he had everything he would need and then also snatching up his helmet on his way out.

"Awesome, that was fast." Zack said as Roy walked out. "I thought girls were meant to take ages in getting themselves ready."

"I usually do, but I've also learnt really well how to be a guy." Roy said with a laugh. "It helps when I have to get ready on time with all the other grunts. That way no one asks questions about why I took so long."

"You're an inspiration. Do you think I'd be able to get into a party dressed as a girl?" Zack asked.

"I like you better as a guy. Please don't dress up as a girl." Roy said pleadingly. Zack laughed and walked off, shaking his head. Roy quickly ran after him.

"So if we're leaving in two hours..."

"We have to go for a quick check up." Zack said. "You know, just to make sure we're in good enough health to set out on the mission."

"Oh, okay. Who does that sort of thing? Hojo?" Roy asked curiously. Zack turned and looked at him with a frown.

"How do you know about Hojo? Honestly, when I first joined ShinRa I didn't know a thing about anything." Zack sighed. "But yeah, I think it'll be Hojo. He's the best thing we have to an actual doctor and seeing as this is an important mission we get treatment from the best."

"Do you know anything about Edvard Frederikson?" Roy asked.

"Who?"

"He was a grunt until Hojo took him on as an apprentice." Roy explained.

"Oh. Never heard of him. But maybe we'll see him! Seeing as we're going to be seeing Hojo, I assume he'll have his apprentice around." Zack stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

"Cool," Roy said with a small smile. "I haven't seen him in a while and it will be interesting to see how he's doing."

"You got your eye on anyone here at ShinRa? I mean you're a girl... so do you like anyone?" Zack wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Kayli laughed.

"Kind of." she said vaguely.

"Well? Who!?" Zack exclaimed, apparently dying to know.

They reached the elevator and got inside before Kayli decided to speak again.

"Davis Taison." she said nervously.

"Who on earth is that? I didn't know there were two people with Davis in their name." Zack frowned as he tried to recall a Davis Taison.

"Oh, I forgot," Kayli said. "I thought you'd know since Sephiroth came and got him in trouble for it, but anyway, Davis lied and said his name was Taylor Davis but it's actually Davis Taison."

Zack slowly nodded as he realised how that worked.

"So you both gave false names, I see." Zack grinned. "You're perfect for each other. Does he know you're a girl or does he just think you're gay?"

"Hey!" Kayli shoved him. "As a matter of fact, he did think I was gay at first. But now he knows I'm a girl because Sephiroth told him."

"Sheesh, how long has Sephiroth known?" Zack asked in amazement.

"I honestly don't know, but I think it may have been ever since my first swimming lesson." Kayli sighed.

"Do you know why he's helping you and not being his usual jerk-self and getting you kicked out?" Zack asked.

"No idea. But whatever it is that's made him decide he's going to keep my identity a secret is a good thing." Kayli replied. The elevator reached the desired level and Zack stepped out first before walking off down a corridor with Kayli in tow close behind.

Reaching a small waiting room of some sort, Zack told Roy to wait as he moved to speak to the receptionist.

Sitting on a chair patiently, Roy waited as things were sorted out. Before Zack returned to him a door opened and a man with a dark, long ponytail emerged. He was wearing a white coat and had glasses perched on his nose as well as a deep scowl on his face that seemed permanent.

What got Roy's attention and made him stand up was the fact that Edvard was trailing behind him, also wearing a white coat now. He was also holding a clipboard under his arm and in contrast to Hojo, seemed to glow with happiness even though he wasn't smiling.

"Ah! Come on Roy, it's time for our check up!" Zack said happily, practically skipping past Hojo and the smaller boy into the room. Roy slowly walked in after him, feeling nervous. He wanted to say something to Edvard, but with Hojo standing so close he only felt comfortable giving a small smile as he walked past.

Once inside, he and Zack waited for Hojo to come back in and tell them what to do.

The first thing Hojo did as he re-entered the room was head straight to his computer and type something on the keyboard. He seemed to be double checking some information and once he was done, he gave a small grunt and then turned to face them.

Edvard was standing in the background, watching.

"Something came to my attention recently," Hojo said in his peculiar voice, looking straight at Roy to show who he was talking to. "You have two X chromosomes."

Roy tried to ignore the weird look Edvard was giving him from the side of the room and tried to keep his attention on Hojo, who looked like he was waiting for an answer of some sort.

Zack snorted.

"Is that a problem?" Roy asked finally, only succeeding in making Zack's amusement increase so the SOLDIER had to hold a hand over his mouth to try not to laugh out loud.

"It could be a problem, yes." Hojo said, ignoring Zack for the time being.

Zack, not wanting to be ignored, spoke up. "Sephiroth knows all about it and he doesn't care."

Hojo looked over at him, a slight frown on his face. "Does Director Lazard know?"

"I don't think so." Roy said.

"Should I tell him?" Hojo asked, slowly moving over to the phone on the wall. His hand hovered above it and a sadistic smirk appeared on his face at the fear in Roy's eyes.

The door suddenly burst open, which Roy thanked for happening at just the right time. But when he turned to see who was in the doorway, he's eyebrows shot up.

Sephiroth stood in the doorway, leaning his weight against the door frame and looking utterly exhausted.

"Hojo," he said gruffly. "Let them go and keep your mouth shut."

"I haven't even checked them over yet-" Hojo began to protest, but Sephiroth held up a hand before walking further into the room, looking dead on his feet. Roy wondered whether he'd been asleep, but couldn't think of a reason why he would have gotten up just to do this.

"Zack," Sephiroth addressed him. "Leave right away. No complaints."

Zack looked like he was going to burst from wanting to ask why they were being told to leave, but after a few more moments of staring at his superior, he gave in and nodded.

"Come on, Roy." he said, putting a hand on Roy's shoulder and guiding him out of the room.

As they left, Roy turned around to see what was happening. He caught a glimpse of Sephiroth sitting down on one of the seats in the room and frowned, straining his ears. All he heard was, "don't care … like, a voice?" before he and Zack were too far away to hear anything else.

"What was all that about?" Roy asked as the headed back to the elevator.

Zack sighed and glanced down at Roy before looking back up, wondering whether he should tell the Infantryman or not. "It's... well I'm not even sure of the details myself."

Roy entered the elevator silently and waited as Zack got in after him before pressing the right button and leaning against the wall.

"He's like, the best SOLDIER ever, right?" Zack said. Roy nodded. "Well, sometimes I think it all just gets to him. Don't spread this around, okay?"

"I won't, I promise." Roy said.

"Well, anyway, seeing as we're leaving right away instead of in two hours, I guess I should let you know where it is we're going." Zack said, a small grin appearing on his face now. Not knowing why, Roy became worried.

"Why are you smiling like that?" he asked as the elevator stopped and the doors opened, allowing them to step out.

"Like what?" Zack asked, but his smile got bigger.

"Like that! Where are we going?" Roy asked, itching to find out. What on earth was going on and why was Zack acting so weird?

Zack laughed as they walked out to their transportation which would take them to wherever they were going. "I don't think I should tell you."

"Why not?" Roy whined.

"Because this is way more fun! And besides, if I say it out loud I'll jinx it and Sephiroth will appear out of nowhere to tell me he was just joking." Zack shook his head with another sigh, but the smile would not leave his face.

"Zack if you don't tell me soon I'll- I'll-"

"You'll what? Attack me with hair products?" Zack laughed, making a joke about Roy's – well, Kayli's – gender.

"That's not fair." Roy said with a pout, folding his arms. "I don't even use hair products. Take a look in the mirror, for goodness sake. I don't know anyone who's hair does that naturally." Roy sighed and then frowned, before saying, "Well, except Cloud."

Zack chuckled and shook his head, shoving Roy forward towards the helicopter they would be taking. "Just get in and I'll tell you on the way."

"No you won't. You'll wait until I can see a sign for it." Roy grumbled.

"Hey! Mind reader!" Zack gasped, pushing past Roy and jumping into the helicopter. Roy rolled his eyes and smiled, slowly following.

"Please tell me? I'll ask the pilot if you don't." Roy said as they found their seats and got buckled in.

"But I don't want to jinx it!" Zack complained. Roy smiled at the thought of Jinx, who was the one that had brought him to Reno in the first place, landing him eventually in this position because of his request to Sephiroth.

"How long is it gonna take to get there, then," Roy spoke up again. "Can you at least tell me that?"

"Too long!" Zack said. "I wish we could just click our fingers and be there."

"Yeah, well, I might agree with you if I knew where we were going!" Roy groaned. Was Zack seriously going to keep on like this until they got there?

"Fine, but if I tell you..." Zack said quietly. "Promise you won't scream?"

"Of course I won't scream!" Roy said, folding his arms.

"Alright, alright," Zack said with a small nod. "Here goes."

Roy waited, but Zack had shut his mouth again and was grinning like an idiot.

"What are you waiting for?" Roy asked angrily.

"The helicopter to take off, that way Sephiroth won't be able to get in here and tell me he was joking when I say it." Zack explained.

Roy made a 'hmph' sound and sunk low in his seat, his eyes fixed out the window as he waited for them to lift off the ground so that Zack could finally tell him where they were going.

The propellers started up soon and then, to Roy's relief, they were off the ground. He was about to turn to Zack and demand for their destination when the SOLDIER spoke first.

"We're going to Costa del Sol."

"What? Why?" Roy asked immediately.

"Girls never run out of questions, do they?" Zack laughed, putting his hands behind his head.

"Is there something to do there? Have they been over-run by monsters or anything?" Roy asked with one eyebrow raised, ignoring Zack's second jibe at his gender.

"No, there's no real mission. It was a cover up." Zack said, sighing happily. "Sephiroth persuaded Lazard to let us have a holiday. No idea how he managed to get Lazard agree to having you come, but I'm not complaining! I mean seriously, two days of nothing but the beach and hot chicks to stare at!"

"All this just to get me out of the way while he talks to some people about my real identity?" Roy asked quietly and in disbelief. "I don't understand him."

"No one really does. But come on! This is gonna be awesome!" Zack exclaimed.

"Yeah, I guess. But I didn't join ShinRa so that I could be sent to a beach." Roy said, then quickly said, "Not that I don't want to go! I just wish I could spend more time training to be a SOLDIER."

"Well, you can do that at the beach..." Zack said, trailing off and shrugging.

"How exactly?" Roy asked.

"Oh, you know, I'm a SOLDIER... and we're going to be spending the next two days together, so," he shrugged a second time. "I could teach you some stuff if you want."

Roy's eyes widened in shock.

"What? Don't you want to be able to stare at girls all day?" Roy asked. Zack turned to look at him and wiggled his eyebrows.

"You're a girl, aren't you?"

"Zack, be serious for two seconds!" Roy groaned, hitting his head against the wall behind him.

To his shock, Zack actually did become serious. His entire face fell into an emotionless expression and he sat up straight, staring blankly ahead.

But just as fast as it had happened, it was gone again and Zack was laughing at Roy's face.

"Well you told me to be serious!" he said between laughs.

"You need help." Roy said quietly, fighting a smile.

"Everyone who becomes a SOLDIER needs help, it comes with the job description." Zack laughed.

"I hope I don't turn out as bad as you." Roy teased.

"Oh, shut up." Zack said, finally managing to calm down a bit so that he wasn't laughing as much. "Alright, I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when we arrive."

He then promptly rolled to the side, searching for a comfortable spot, before becoming still and silent, his breaths coming evenly.

Roy was tempted to poke him, but refrained. Who knew what SOLDIERs did when woken up?

With a sigh, Roy leant his head back and tried to get some rest as well, wondering what things Zack would teach him the next day and what Sephiroth would be doing while they were gone.