AN: Sorry this chapter was a little late, my proof reader was gone for a while and I don't like posting anything without having at least one other pair of eyes glance over it. Anyway hope you enjoy and please review! I have soo appreciated all those who have been reviewing so far. Thank-you!

It was dark and the shadow seemed to glide across the landscape. Uncannily aware when to duck or drop to blend into the blackness to avoid the guards on lookout, but as the shadow slipped by the last guard, it turned back to look behind.

A tall slim figure with a large pink bow in the chestnut brown hair stood in the center of the light on the bow of the Highwind. She raised a hand in farewell, which the shadow copied then disappeared into the night.

"Make sure they are allright, Rain, and take care of my SOLIDER." Areith whispered, before heading back into the Highwind. She had promised to give Rain at least a three hour start before Cloud would start looking for her. If she wasn't able to make it off the continent by then, the chase would be on and Rain would most likely lose.

The General sat in his massive office on the 85 floor of the Shinra building and starred down at the stacks of folders spread across his desk.

Normally he would be annoyed at the sheer amount of paperwork and wonder why he of all people had to do it. He was a general in the middle a war not a freaking secretary! Unfortunately he had learned long ago that the title demanded he be both.

However of late Sephiroth found himself taking unexpected pleasure in the sheer momentous of the task. Further proof he had been at the front too long, if he had stooped to much low means of pleasure.

Not that Sephiroth took much pleasure in anything, but it was in some way a relief to have his Masamune sitting quietly at one corner of the room, instead of dripping with blood. For despite common misconception among the infantrymen and cadets, he did not bask in the killing and slaughtering of his enemies. Nor bath in their blood as was the common propaganda Shinra spread of their great General Sephiroth.

"Join Shinra now and you can become strong like the Great General Sephiroth!" It was the common slogan for enlisting new recruits into the Shinra military. Sephiroth always felt like wincing whenever he heard it, only that would require a show of emotions, which he did not have or was not willing to show to anyone outside the few close people he kept around him.

Become like him, what a joke! If they knew what he really was they would wish for death, rather than become like him. After all what person would want to become a monster. Even now he could feel the familiar ever present irritation on one side of his back, further reminder of what he was and where he came from.

A sudden commotion in the outer room warned Sephiroth a couple seconds in advance, before the door was flung open and the black haired, hyper active puppy barged into the room, shutting the door behind him right in the face of Sephiroth's protesting secretary.

"Seph! Your back!" The man bounced forward.

"Zack." The silver head man acknowledged.

The raven haired man grinned and settled himself comfortably on his desk knocking over several piles of folders onto the floor, and looking at Sephiroth with a puppy like glee. Thus the use of Angeal's nickname that was quickly adapted by the rest of the trio, once Zack reached first class seven years ago. Sephiroth couldn't help thinking that even though the puppy had matured he had never lost that hyper active puppy energy, even now at twenty five.

"Zack, get off my desk."

Zack pouted, "Oh, come on Seph, you have been gone for two months and all you say when we meet again is, "get off your desk."

"No, I also was going to tell you to pick up the files you dropped on the floor."

"Seph!" The puppy whined, drilling the General with the sad puppy face, which Angeal was forever falling for and though Sephiroth had the most immunity to it, he could not say he was not completely unaffected by it.

Giving a small sigh, he relented.

"It's good to see you again Zackary."

The SOLIDER immediately brightened throwing an awkward arm around Sephiroth's shoulder. He was the only one who could get away with touching Sephiroth like that without having Masamune shoved through his chest.

"I knew you missed me!"

Sephiroth frowned removing Zack's arm from around his shoulder.

"How did you come under that impression?"

"Oh, come on Seph if you're glad to see me again that means you must have missed me."

Zack's expression turned slightly more serious as he asked, "Do you know when Angeal and Genesis will be returning?"

Sephiroth immediately meet Zack's eyes. The war in Wutai had been ragging for almost a decade already and most of the SOLIDERS were overworked from their time at the front. Sephiroth knew Zack worried when his friends were at the front and he was stuck back in Midgar. Zack had been assigned to oversee the new recruiting and training of SOLIDERS in Sephiroth's absence. New recruits for SOLIDER had become vital in the last few years as more and more of them were lost at the front.

When the rebelling forces in Wutai first began resisting the installation of rector plants on their content, Shinra thought they would be crushed within a couple of years. For a while it looked like that was how it was going to turn out, especially when Sephiroth became General, but then suddenly the Wutai strategies began to change and the Shinra army found more and more of their weak points being taken advantage of.

It was then that the rumors spread through their intelligence network of a Wutai General that had suddenly rising within the Wutai ranks. It was this General that Sephiroth became convinced was the reason why the Wutai did not grow weaker as time went on. This General knew how to conserve his men, not risking attacks where there was not a chance at winning, a completely opposite tactic than the wild and vicious attacks previously known by the Wutai. Strangely enough though the existence of this General was confirmed, no one knew who or what he looked like. Not even the Turks could dig up any information and that was saying a lot.

Sephiroth had been trying for years to confront him, but the Wutai General strangely always kept a width birth around him and any SOLIDERs, though he was renowned for being a remarkable fighter. Strange indeed.

"They should be on rout back by the end of the week."

Zack nodded obviously relieved and Sephiroth noticed something else flicker in those violet eyes. Something had changed when Zack had returned with Angeal and Genesis all those years ago. Though the friendship had remained strong between student and mentor, and Zack had been there every step of the way as Sephiroth and Angeal had fought to find a way to save Genesis. The trust that the two had shared had been shattered. Though Zack hid it well, Sephiroth knew it and most importantly so did Angeal. Angeal had been working hard to regain that trust, but it had taken years, but still when Angeal was gone for overly long periods of time, Sephiroth knew Zack wondered if he would come back of his own free will.

This was one of the few times when Sephiroth actually understood Zack and could sympathize with what the man was feeling. He too felt the same way.

"They will be coming back Zack, don't worry."

"Ya!" Zack grinned again.

"Now would you kindly pick up of the files you pushed onto the floor?"

Zack hopped off the desk and busily started picking up folder without complaint.

"New recruit files? Wow! Is it that time again, so soon?"

"You should know you are in change while I am away."

"Na, I leave the recruiting crap to Kunzel. I only deal with them once they arrive."

Sephiroth pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger in irritation, yet part of him wished he could delegate as easily as Zack seemed to.

"Wow! Check out this guy's hair, it like a chocobo's!"

Sephiroth blinked as a photo was abruptly shoved in his face. The kid was young and small looking with such a delicate face it could almost be called pretty, but what first drew attention were the blond spikes that seemed to stand up in all directions. Zack was right it did look like a chocobo.

"What's the boy's name?" He asked more to get Zack to draw the picture from his face and look down at the folder in his hands than out of actually interest.

"Strife! Cloud Strife."

"Cadet Strife to examination bed seven."

The nurse glanced at the kid in front of her and shook her head. He seemed too young to want to die in Shinra's military, for that was where most of these new recruits would end up. In a body bag sent back from the front or with so many pieces inside of them they were practically dead.

The kid nodded and moved to sit on the examination table at the far side of the sterile white room. She didn't see however, the kid silently stand as soon as her back was turned and quickly slip into a private office at the other side of the room.

Doctor Hieden turned as he heard the door open and sighed in annoyance when he saw a small kid step through the doorway. Must be a new recruit, he knew the infirmary was doing one last physical on all new cadets before they official entered into the military program.

"Wrong room kid, go back and talk to the nurse."

"Oh, I think I have the right room, Doctor Hieden."

The door clicked shut and locked. Hieden looked up from where he was preparing syringes, the third class soldiers would be coming in today for their mako boosters. That was his job to take care of soldiers, not give some measly cadet his physical. He eyed the cadet suspiciously.

"How do you know my name?"

The cadet smiled and Hieden felt the begging of uneasiness in the pit of his stomach. There was something wrong with that smile, like it shouldn't belong to a kid, but on a Turk.

"Oh, I know a lot of things about you Doctor, such as your work with Hojo twelve years ago."

He paused to see the Doctor's expression and was rewarded by the sudden widening of eyes.

"I also know you stole some of his research, later developing it into what is now known as the Rukue serum, a very good energy booster for infantrymen at the front. Of course you manipulated it enough that no one would recognize the originally work done by Hojo, not even Hojo himself."

The cadet now casually started to pace in front of him, letting the Hieden know he wasn't quite finished.

"I also know about the drugs you have been selling from Shinra's medical storage under pretense they were sent to the front. Quite a profitable business and reputation you have set up for yourself both in and outside of Shinra, Doctor. I wonder what would happen if certain parties knew the truth? I happen to know personally that Professor Hojo can be practically unpleasant especially where his research is concerned and as for Shinra…"

The boy stopped his pacing to look down at the now sweating doctor. His expression slightly sympathetically, "Well, we all know what Shinra does with those who betray them."

It wasn't possible, how could this kid know? He had been so careful with the professor. Knowing how Hojo was, and as far as the drugs were concerned he had stopped all traffic a year and a half ago, deciding the risk was too great. How had thins kid found out?

"What do you want?"

His voice was shaky, dreading the answer. He was going to be blackmailed, of that he was certain. The boy smiled that smile again and Hieden winced as he came closer, leaning over top of him in his chair. The boy's voice was suddenly very soft.

"I need you to just look at me and sign the papers, allowing me into the military. That is all."

Hieden starred at the boy in surprise. That was it? True it really was nothing, but nothing was never that easy. What did this boy have? Some injury or disease that would prevent him from passing the medical, all thoughts froze as the boy started to take off his shirt and Hieden saw the white wrap cover the upper area of his chest. The boy was a girl!

The cadet then started pulled her shirt back over her head, smiling slightly at his expression.

"So here is what is going to happen doctor. You are going to sign those papers saying I'm in peak physical condition, then you are going to be sure that you are in this infirmary room every time another physical is required, which I believe is once a mouth. Give me you phone."

"What?" The doctor was confused by the sudden demand.

"Your cell, give it to me."

Hieden dug into the pocket of his lab coat, pulling out his cell phone. The girl grabbed it, flipping it open finding what she needed and entered into her own phone that had suddenly appeared in her other hand. When she was done she handed it back to him.

"I have your cell number now, don't bother to change it or I will know." The warning quite clear in her voice.

"If I'm ever injured or ordered to the infirmary, I will page you and you will need to get here in less than five minutes. Understood?"

Hieden nodded.

"Good!" The cadet frowned, "Now am I forgetting anything else?"

Hieden finally gathered his courage. He was doctor for crying out loud, not only that one of Shinra's great scientists. Why should be let himself be bullied by some cadet a girl no less.

"What if I don't agree to your terms? Why would I risk my neck for you? I could call someone right now; you wouldn't even make it out of the infirmary."

The cadet stepped forward getting right in the Hieden's personal space and there was something in the cadet's eyes that set him to back up against a wall. Those eyes they were that of SOLIDER! Mako filled and now glowing dangerously.

"Why, doctor?" The voice was dangerously low.

"Because before you even press the button, I can hurt you in ways you will wish I had turned you over to Shinra."

The kid suddenly grabbed Hieden's neck finding a spot at the base and pressed hard. The strength in that small hand was incredible and he gasped as pain flooded his nervous system from the pressure point.

"Are we clear?"

Hieden managed to nod against the pain. The cadet smiled and let him go, leaving him gasped for breath.

"Good, now we are going to go back out there, and you are going to explain to the nurse, that you already examined this cadet and to sign him off. Then you are going to walk out, leaving me and her alone. Do you understand?"

Hieden coughed nodding, and she smiled. As they started for the door though, she grabbed his arm causing him to flinch.

"Oh, and doctor remember, anytime I suspect you have turned on me. All I have to do is push one button and all the files incriminating you will be sent to Shinra head office within a minute. You will be going down with me, I assure you."

Hieden nodded swallowing hard. This was a nightmare! Nothing short of a nightmare and he had no way out. If he gave the girl up, Shinra would take him down and if the girl was discovered his name was written all over her medial file. There was no way out! He was going down; it was now just a matter of time.

Rain stepped out from the infirmary glad to have that over with and be out of the sterile smelling place. Any place that smelled that clean always made her sweat.

She hated doctors always had and she suspected always would. Doctor Hieden, though would be useful. She had targeted and researched him thoroughly before entering in the military, finding out all his secrets even the smallest ones. That was one of the many advantages of living with a formal Turk for the past ten years, she knew where and what to dig for.

Now that she thought about it, she thought it had gone very well. The man was weak and could be easily controlled. She would have no problems with medical aspect of things, but that was only one of the many problems she would have to overcome in the upcoming months.

After all women were not allowed in the military, there were only three spots in Shinra that a woman could fill, and that was either, scientist, Turk or secretary. None of those were an option. Scientist, she wouldn't get within 100 miles of them if she could help it. Turk, no good, they were on the opposite area of the building, where she needed to be. Secretary, not even she was brave enough to become Sephiroth's sectary. Besides you needed to be able to type 150 words per minute, Rain couldn't even manage fifty. Besides she quickly realized sitting behind a desk would drive her mad, not a good thing considering she was trying to prevent the very thing from occurring in someone else.

That only left one option, the military. They were close and were trained by SOLIDER. Right where she needed to be! Close to observe, but not too close. She after all was only here to watch, make sure they were doing okay.

Time had passed past what Cloud had lived through in his previous life and they were in a sense now living blind. With Cloud refusing to get anywhere near Shinra to see how things had changed, it left him anxious and worried to how things had transpired. She would stay only long enough to be assured that things were going well, and something else had not transpired to kick things back, then find a way to drop or be kicked out of the program.

She tried not to think about what would happen when she returned. Cloud would probably kill her. She had not done this on her own, but she knew Areith would be fine. Cloud would never hurt her. He had risked his own life six years ago when he had once again gone into Midgar and kidnapped Areith right out from under the Turk's noses. It had been the only way they could think to keep Areith safe from Shinra.

Yes, Tseng had feelings for her and was what had kept her safe until now, but Rain and Cloud both knew that would only last so long. Tseng would not disobey a direct order to bring her in, or at least he hadn't in that other life. There was no way they were going to take that chance now.

Thankfully, though Areith somehow still retained bits and pieces of her previous life, so she had a small idea what was going on, at least enough to recognize Cloud as being someone who had once been very close and dear to her at some point. Cloud had not held back from her and had explained everything. Once she knew Areith chose of her own free will to remain with Avalanche. Recognizing with things changing the way they were, especially Zack still being alive. Her staying in Midgar would jeopardize Zack's relationship with Shinra and maybe even his life, when she was eventually taken, which would only be a matter of time.

She had stayed onboard Highwind and had been a part of Avalanche for the past six years, but Rain had known she still missed Zack terribly. Seeing this and tired of seeing Cloud beat himself over things he did not have control over anymore, Rain had come up with the plan. Return to Midgar and infuriate Shinra as a cadet. Areith had helped keep Cloud in the dark, for it was hard for Rain to keep things from him, just like it was hard for him to keep things from her.

Oh, ya she was so dead when she returned. She didn't take time to worry about that now, she had a whole year to get though before that happened.

The new blue military uniform hung baggily off her form, even though it was the smallest they had. The man who had issued it had mocked on how a pipsqueak like her had even gotten into the military. Size is not all that matters. She had been temped to tell him, brains help too.

She had allowed herself to score slightly higher than normal in the written part of the test to make up for her purposely scoring low in the physical part. She didn't want to bring any attention to herself. The more she could just drown in the sea of new recruits the better.

Rain straightened as the elevator stopped on the 70th floor. She slowly stated walking down the quarters hall until she stood in front of the door marked bunk 46. This would be her room from now on. Rain took in a deep breath and opened the door. Ten bunks lined either side of the long hall like room and twenty boys all dressed like her were busy finding their bunk number in the cramped compartment. Rain allowed herself to smirk. Things would defiantly be getting crowded. Oh well, the more crowed the easier it was to hid.

AN: Okay so you finally have a little idea where I am going with this story. Hoped you liked it and let me know what you think!