"No, no, no!! Rush, what do you think you are doing? Your stance is too narrow, look how weak it is! A gust of wind could knock you down!"

Rain paused where she was going through practice drills with another cadet, glancing over the training mat to where Zack was busy correcting Rush, who looked both embarrassed and frustrated.

It was the third day since training had started with Zack and they already were swinging swords. They were only given training swords of course, blunt as a butter knife and wouldn't be able to slice through a piece of paper, but if you weren't paying attention they could deliver some nasty bruises or even a broken bone if you were really unlucky.

Smack!!

Her opponent's sword slipped past her weak guard and smacked her smartly across the hip bone. She winched, that would leave a mark. Rain had been allowed her opponents at least one hit in a spare, not wanting to attract attention or be rated as "one with potential" in Zack's report, which Zack would be likely to do if given the opportunity.

Unfortunately, all the other cadets in the squadron were eager to prove themselves and earn approval from Zack, so they did not pull their hits. Rain still remembered their faces when Zack had walked through the door and they had realized they were going to be trained by a first class.

Rain rubbed her hip and decided that she had taken enough bruises for today. She would up the defence for the rest of the day, just enough to keep from getting hit. Her opponent looked at her smugly.

"Had enough Strife?"He smirked over confidently.

Rain ignored him, still keeping an eye on the other side of the mat, while she slowly got back into a sloppy, defensive position. Zack was once again demonstrating to Rush the proper stance, while Rush intimated.

Zack was everything a good teacher should be. He was patient, good at explaining and was greatly liked by the cadets, who tried hard to perform well for him, but Rush...

Rain shook her head slightly. The boy was trying so hard, yet it just wasn't working for him. It reminded her when she was under Master Zangan. She had tried so hard, but no matter how hard she tried, it just didn't work for her. It wasn't her style was what Cloud had told her. Maybe this wasn't Rush's style either. This strict style that probably came out of a Shinra manual, it wasn't the way Zack fought, nor Sephiroth, but they were the elite. They were able to do what they wanted as long as they did it well.

Thump!

She glimpsed as Rush crashed to the mat, his opponent standing triumphantly over him while Zack shook his head disappointed. An idea sprang to mind. It might work and it would certainly help Rush with his training and probably keep him in the program, but was it worth it?

Smack!

Rain hissed as the training blade sharply connected with her thigh and she glared at the cadet who was practically on air in his victory. Yes, it most defiantly would be worth it! She could not go full out and pummel this arrogant fool, but it would be even more satisfying to see Rush do it instead.

High above in the General's office, Sephiroth sat at his desk gripping his head with both hands. The voice was back! It had been so long since he had heard it he thought it was gone forever, but now it was back!

He had always heard the voice, ever since he was a child it whispered into his head. It soothed him when he was a child in Hojo's lab, but as he got older the voice grew stronger and the soothing whispers had turned into whispers of blood and death. It had been all he could do to resist the thoughts and images it had placed in his mind.

Then one day, long ago it had suddenly stopped. Sephiroth didn't know how or why, it was just gone. It had been a relief, freeing him in a way he didn't know he could be. Now it was back! Not as strong as before though. It sounded distant and weak, like it was coming from a long way off. The words were incomprehensible, but what it was making him feel was not, nor did he like it. Desire! Power! A burning urgency! Need! Fury! The drive to take! To possess, but possess what?

A picture of a blond haired cadet suddenly flashed in his mind and he stood up abruptly.

"Cloud what are we doing?"

Rush's voice was amplified in the tight, confined space of the air vent. Rain who was crawling ahead of him hissed for him to be quite. They were almost there, the mako in her eyes allowing her to see into the dark air space. One more turn to the left at the next conjunction and they would be there.

She had told Rush after training that morning to meet her outside the elevator that evening. He had come of course and was thoroughly puzzled when she brought him to the 75th floor. All the simulation rooms were of course locked and required officer clearance to get past the lock panel. All of which Rush recited dutifully like from a text book.

He had gone silent when Cloud had instead stopped outside of a rather large vent, but still not large enough for the average personal to get through. Good thing they were not average height. She had pulled the cover off and all but pulled the reluctant cadet behind her.

A prick of light appeared in the blackness before her and she smiled. They were there. Pushing gently, the paneling covering the opening came off and a dull light now filtered into the dark shaft.

She quickly moved out of the shaft and moved to help Rush climb out. He gazed around room confused, until he eyes caught the big yellow letters on the panel doors at the far side.

SIMULATION ROOM 17

"Cloud are you crazy," Rush went white, "we can't be in here! Cadet's are not allowed in simulation rooms outside of classes and this is in the SOLIDERS section!"

"We are not technically in here," she corrected, "the room does not register that we are even in the room, so no one will even know we are in here. We are effectively locked in from all outside interference, and if anyone comes in, we just high tail it back into the shaft. So will you calm down and stop worrying."

Rush huffed unimpressed, "Great, so why even bother being in here if we can't use the simulation."

Rain walked over to a rack on the far side of the room. This place was where she had detention every day, so she knew where everything was kept. Nothing was locked, after all if someone thought it was impossible to even get in, why bother locking what was inside.

"Catch."

She turned, throwing a training sword she had taken from the rack of weapons. Rush gave a straggled cry catching the sword awkwardly.

"We are going to practice your swordplay."

The sword fell to the floor and Rain meet Rush's cold, furious stare without flinching and she thought if he could just channel that energy into his sword training, he really would be a worthy SOLIDER.

"What's the point, Cloud?" Rush's voice had risen to a shout. "I suck! I'll never make it into SOLIDER! I can't even wield a blasted sword!"

"That's why you have to practice!" Rain raised her volume to match his. She marched over to him getting right into his face. "I never thought you were one to quit so easily Rush. Too bad, I thought I saw something in you."

Rush's face went red with anger, "And who is going to teach me? You? I saw you in training, Cloud. You are hardly any better than I am."

Rain smirked, "One does not need to be good at something to know how it is done. I have seen more battles than you can imagine. I have watched the best swordsmen in the world fight to the death, and I am most certainly qualified to make you into a swordsman. Now choose, either climb back into that shaft and go back to your bunk or pick up that sword and determine that you are willing to do what it takes to become a SOLIDER."

Rush pulled back. Cloud's face was unyielding and the fierce glint in his eyes almost made them look green, which was impossible. Slowly he bent down and picked up the blade.

Rain nodded pleased, "Get into position."

Rush did so awkwardly, and Rain frowned circling him, studying him from every angle. Just as she thought, Rush tended to gravitate toward angles and positions easier for his small body to hold. Most of the cadets and SOLIDERS in Shinra were bigger men, so their style and fighting techniques were geared for those body types. Rush was small, like her and Cloud. Cloud used Zack's attacks and the fundamentals of his fighting style, but his movements to produce those attacks were entirely his own.

"Try this!"

She moved Rush, pushing and pulling his limbs into position they already were gravitating toward.

"This isn't right." Rush protested.

"No," Rain agreed, "but it will be easier for you. You felt off balance before right?"

Rush nodded, "That's because that stance is geared for power and strength you do not have and might not ever have. That's all right though, focus on the strength's your type of body gives you. Not it's weakness, though it is good to be aware of them. This stance is more comfortable and natural for your body and allows for greater speed. That is the strength your body gives you. You are small, limber and quick I have seen you, use it. A person can have all the strength in the world, but if they can't catch you or hit you it's useless."

Rush nodded sharply and Rain caught a small glimmer of hope in his brown eyes.

"Now," she continued, "Go through this morning drill."

Rush did so. It was obviously better then that morning, but it was still weak and jerky like he wasn't used to the movements.

"Stop."

Rush stopped and looked at her nervously.

"Close your eyes. It's all right." She reassured him at his sceptical look. Finally he did.

She moved and grasped the blade overtop his hands from behind him.

"Now don't watch your movements, feel them. Let your body learn the moves, not your eyes."

Guiding his hands she moved the blade, naming each action as she did so.

"Thrust! Block! Slash! Thrust! Block! Slash! Thrust! Block! Slash!"

After the tenth time Rain felt his body relax and he started repeating the actions on his own without her guidance. After a few more times, she slowly removed her arms and stepped back, watching him from a distance.

She smiled, he was flawless. When she was sure he was solid in the moves she decided it was time to add some footwork into it and see if he could still perform the moves while moving. The key was to make it come naturally and not try to be impressive with fancy footwork.

"Now Rush, when I tell you I want you to open your eyes and come at me. Don't worry about hurting me."

She cut of his protest, "Just see if you can hit me. I am your enemy understand? If you do not hit me I will take everything you ever care about and destroy it! Understand? I Am Your Enemy! Now come at me!"

Rush opened his eyes and Rain was slightly shocked at the fury she saw there right before she dogged a downward slash. He was fast! Good, just what she had hoped for. His movements were fluid, the awkward boy from that morning disappearing altogether. In its place was a fast, rage driven kid out for blood. Good thing she was faster, she didn't expect Rush was so good at role playing.

Unknown to the cadets, two sets of eyes observed from them from above.

"Well, well what have we hear?" The auburn haired man who was leaning against the wall mused softly. Beside him the large raven haired man didn't speak. His eyes never leaving the pair below as one moved dogging each attack the other cadet threw at him with ease. After a few minutes the cadets slowed down. The slightly larger boy with the sword was spent from the sudden and harsh exertion.

"Put the speaker on Gen, I want to hear what they are saying."

The red haired man reached over and pressed a button on the side on a chair that sat facing the glass, in the observation room. Every simulation room had one unbeknown to cadets and most officers. It allowed higher officials to watch cadets progress or how officers taught without effecting performances. To those in the simulation room the window appeared just to be a black wall same as the rest.

As soon as the man pushed the button, the cadet's voices filled the room.

"How did that feel?" The one who appeared to be doing the teaching asked the other.

"Amazing, but how will this help me? I can't use that technique in class, Officer Fair won't allow it. "

"I think you would be surprised what Zack would allow. He's not like the others, who are rigid about doing things by the book. After all if someone hadn't bent the rules a little for him, he never would have made it to where he is."

The red haired man smirked, "He pegged your puppy right on the nail, didn't he Angeal. I don't know how many times you had to cover for that one."

Angeal frowned, "Be quite Genesis, their now done yet."

The training sword had now been put away back on the rack and the blond haired cadet now grasped the other by the shoulder.

"Besides even if you can't, imagine their surprise when you beat them in the testing rounds for SOLIDER, where everything is a free for all. I would love to see their faces!"

The other cadet frowned, "I don't get it Cloud, why don't you try out for SOLIDER you obviously have the talent."

Cloud as was apparently his name shook his head, "We all have things in our pasts that prevent us from doing things, Rush. I'm not even comfortable being around SOLIDERS no less one of them."

The other boy smirked, "Guess that makes your present predicament kind of awkward."

"You have no idea, but forget about that we should get out of here."

The two commanders watched as the cadets instead of moving to the door went to the far side of the room and slid into a ventilation shaft, closing the paneling carefully behind them.

Genesis snorted, "Well at least we now know how they got in."

Angeal nodded, "Come, I think it's time we saw Sephiroth and Zack and find out what's been going on while we have been away."

AN: Hope you enjoyed! You know the drill please, please review!