AN: Okay, I know you guys are tired of hearing this, but I'm going to say it again. Sooo sorry about the late update! I'm not even going to bother with excuses because there are always a tone of them and people never really buy it anyways. So here is what I'm thinking. I know lately my updates have been late so I have decieded to change it from weekly updates to two weeks. It dosen't mean that I won't still work to try and get them up sooner, but just so you don't except it and then are dissapointed. I'm been making chapters longer as I go and I like it that way, but it just takes time and I'm sort of reaching a climax point in the story and want to do it right and not just rush through it. Thanks soo much for all the reviews and for writing to tell me to put up the next chapter up already! Those comments help me get my butt in gear. Anyway here it is, hope you enjoy!
Walking down the hall Tseng made his way towards the General's office. Though the Turks and SOLIDERS had been forced to work together much over the last few years, the two sections tended to separate themselves from each other whenever they were in private, preferring their own kind rather than each other's company. That was partly due to the past division over new recruits, which had sometimes resulted in a tug of war, each section eager to have the cream of the crop.
Relationship between the two divisions had taken a new turn after Tseng took over as head of the Turks from Veld two years ago. Sephiroth and Tseng had an unspoken agreement, working together beyond what was expected of them. The war had cost Shinra resources and popularity, but to Sephiroth and Tseng it cost more, their men.
Shinra seemed to think lives were expendable and there was an unlimited supply of both SOLIDERS and Turks, but though there were plenty of admissions for both programs the level of skill applying was getting lower and lower, and both Sephiroth and Tseng refused to let anyone below their standards under their command.
The alliance between them was an effort on the two's part at coordinating their information and effort in an attempt to minimize causalities on both sides. By forcing the right and left hand to work together.
Suddenly something slammed into his chest. He stopped in surprise and looked down. The small figure had been so short he had not even seen him.
The boy was dressed in the black sleeveless shirt and pants of a SOLIDER and Tseng was surprised, usually SOLIDERS were bigger men, at least tall. Most times they had to be, SOLIDER unlike Turks had an aversion guns, using blades instead, which required a large amount of strength and skill.
Obviously this kid had skill if he was able to make it through the cadet training and catch the eye of SOLIDER.
It was only when the boy looked up that Tseng froze. The blond hair, blue eyes...it was him! The Wutia guard!
Tseng shook himself mentally. No, it couldn't be! The man couldn't be in two places at the same time, could he? The guard had disappeared the last week, but no there was no way. Sephiroth kept close tabs on all his SOLIDERS and there was no way he would let even one away from Midgar on leave with the possibility of the fighting commencing again at any moment. So who was this kid?
Tseng caught the startled look in the blonde's face. Was it just him or was there a flare of recognition in those blue eyes, before it was quickly hidden away?
Yes, that had defiantly been recognition. The SOLIDER had recognized him. How and who was he?
"Sorry sir." The SOLIDER muttered stepping aside.
This was the first time Tseng had ever heard the figure speak, even at the negations he had never the guard speak so he could not compare voices. Tseng's eyes narrowed.
"What is your name SOLIDER?"
The response was immediate.
"Strife, sir. Cloud Strife."
So the boy was new to the SOLIDER program. Most SOLIDERS would have given him a Turk lip for demanding their name. This kid was obviously fresh from the cadet program still used to receiving and obeying orders.
"On your way Strife."
He waited till the SOLIDER passed him, his eyes never leaving him, taking in every little detailed. It was only after the blond had disappeared around a corner that Tseng continued down the hall. He quickly arrived at the General's floor and was immediately ushered in.
Sephiroth as usually was sitting behind his desk a load of paperwork before him. The General looked up as Tseng entered and motion for him to take a seat, which Tseng did.
"I heard the negations did not go well?" The question came out cold, even for Sephiroth.
Tseng allowed a small sneer to cross his face, "It went as expected. With one Shinra ambassador dead at the hands of Wutia."
Tseng couldn't keep the bitter tone from his voice, and Sephiroth nodded in understanding, "At least the cease fire lasted longer than normal. Troops and SOLIDERS are thankful for that."
"Yes, an extra month or two of life before they are sent back to the slaughter field."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at his response. Usually Tseng was cool and collective, almost as emotionless as Sephiroth himself, but the events of the last few weeks and losing two of his best men had Tseng in a bad temper and there was few he would privilege with being allowed to see it. Sephiroth was one of the few, because he understood his frustration.
Tseng quickly masked his emotions and decided to bring up a new topic. "So General is the SOLIDERS program that desperate for new SOLIDERS?"
Sephiroth eyes narrowed, but Tseng continued, "I meet one of your new SOLIDERS outside your office just now, seemed a little short."
"How did you know he was new?" Sephiroth's voice was tight.
"He gave me his name."
Sephiroth seemed to relax slightly at this response and it piped Tseng's curiosity.
"The boy has the skill necessary for SOLIDER. No use in keeping him back, he will have to learn as he goes."
Now something was defiantly going on. Sephiroth was being abnormal cautious around him, he hadn't done that since the begging two years ago.
"Where is he from?"
There was a moment of silence and Tseng waited as Sephiroth starred at him his face could've been a stone statue for all it revealed. Sephiroth didn't have to answer, but Tseng could just as easily find out for himself from the nearest Shinra computer.
Sephiroth too seemed to realize that for he answered, "Nibelheim."
Now that perked Tseng's curiosity, it had been years since he was heard of the backwater mountain village.
"The kid will be going with you when you head out?"
Sephiroth nodded looking down at a folder on his desk, "Every SOLIDER and trooper is needed. We have reports of large groups of military movement on the west cost of Wutia."
Tseng leaned forward, "Large moment? That doesn't sound like Wutia. The last ten years have been a challenge to even find them, no less fight them. What are they up to?"
"I would like more intel."
It was a statement, but Tseng caught the request behind it.
He nodded, "I'll send a couple of my people and see what they can find."
One silver eyebrow rose, "You'll send a couple of people?"
Tseng stood up his mask again in place, "I have something I need to attend to first. I will get there personally as soon as possible."
He was well aware of the General's gaze as he left the office, but it would not be helped. If Sephiroth was not going to be upfront with him, then he would have to find out on his own. It was time to take a trip back to Nibelheim.
Rain practically ran the rest of the way to the simulation room where she had agreed to meet Zack. Of all people to run into Tseng was probably the worst! Right when she thought things could not get any worse, they somehow someway always managed too.
She had tried to stay cool, not to panic. After all Tseng did not know either her or Cloud in this life so no reason to let actions or reactions of him make him suspicious. Except when she had looked into his face she swore she saw a flash of recognition in his eyes, but how? How could he know her?
Rain groaned that was just what she needed, on top of being forced into SOLIDER and being even more under the more scrutinizing eye of the General to now also be on the Turk leader's radar...what chance did she have now?
SOLIDER was impossible enough as it was, not that she did not enjoy some of the befits that came a part of being SOLIDER. The small private room on the 80th floor was a tremendous relief to bunking with thirty some odd guys in the barracks, though being on the small floor with so many SOLIDERS was still unnerving, and the showers did not increase from three minutes at most. Doors and locks were after all nothing to a SOLIDER.
Running her hand over the pad the doors in front of her automatically opened, surprising her slightly. A part of her was not yet used to the new clearance being a part of SOLIDER even the lowest level gave her. She still couldn't believe she was even here at all, she remember the fierce argument she had put up in the General's office not even two days ago.
She winched, another thing that had gone badly. She had used ever excuse, every reason she could think off why she could not be accepted into SOLIDER and Sephiroth had calmly addressed every one trapping her in a corner of her own making.
I've been in Shinra less than two months, standard cadet training takes six months.
That had been the first excuse.
The response, he could override it, he was the General.
I can barely stand doctors even touching me, no less shooting me full of mako shots.
The solution, Zack would give her the shots when time came and that would only be in two months. The overdose she had received from Hojo would apparently last her for at least a couple of months.
Those there just the ones with the most merit, they just got more pathetic as the list went on until even her height was used as an excuse.
But the way he answered them really had her concerned. It was almost like he had thought of everything beforehand. Like he knew what her reaction would be and planned accordingly.
No, that was impossible. Her reaction steamed from reasons he could not know.
A hand slapping her playfully on the side of the face snapped her back from her thoughts and she looked up to see Zack's concerned face above her.
"Hey, are you okay Cloud?"
Rain shook her head once before attempting what she hoped was a convincing smile.
"Fine."
She could see Zack didn't buy it, but was relieved when he didn't press. Raising her arm to the handle of the blade that now hung on her back, she felt a small part of her relax as her hand wrapped around the handle.
The action was familiar even if the handle was not. It was not her own blade after all, it was still hidden in Arieth's church on the lower plate, and though she had been tempted to retrieve it and hid it in the armoury when she was allowed to pick her own weapon, she knew the design would never pass suspicion. After all Cloud had designed it for her and with his intimate knowledge of future weapons and blades it would stand out even in a room full of weapons. So she settled for a blade similar in weight and size, which was now strapped to her back.
She knew Zack had been slightly surprised with her choice of a larger blade, but put up no resistance especially when she showed him later on in training that she could handle the weight and size.
"We're not going to be training today."
Rain looked at Zack in surprise. He was dressed in full SOLIDER gear with his own huge buster blade so similar to Angeal's on his back, though he made no move to grab it.
Rain didn't say anything just waiting for Zack to explain, which he did.
"We received word late last night. The negations failed. All SOLIDERS will be deployed this afternoon. The General will further explain details before we leave. You should go get ready."
Rain didn't move, her breath frozen in her throat. This is what she had feared most in coming to Shinra. Being sent to fight in the war, against Wutia, against her friends, against Cloud!
A hand on her shoulder again jerked her from her thoughts with a startled gasp, releasing the breath she had been holding in.
"Cloud what's wrong?" Zack expression not just concerned anymore, but worried.
"It's nothing." She muttered trying to move her shoulder out from his hand, but Zack was having none of it and his hand tightened.
"Nu..uh," Zack said firmly, "You're not blocking me out again Cloud. Now what is wrong?"
"Nothing!" She insisted, but at Zack's look further elaborated, "I don't want to talk about it Zack, please."
Zack shook his head, "Tough kid."
His voice was still gentle, but it now had a trace of firmness that indicated Rain didn't really have a choice. "Now let's try that again. What is wrong?"
Rain sighed defeated and now tried to focus on what to say to Zack that would put his mind at ease yet still not reveal too much. She had a feeling that right now he would know if she was lying so decided to for once tell as much as the truth as possible.
"It's this whole war thing. I don't like it, or being in it."
Zack looked at her confused, "I hate to bring it up Cloud, but why in Minerva's name did you join the army if you didn't want to be part of a war?"
Rain shook her head, "Some people don't have a choice of not being involved Zack. The only thing they can control is how they choice to be a part of it."
She looked up at him, hoping that would be enough for him and was alarmed to see suspicion hang heavily in his eyes. Again she held her breath. She didn't want to lose Zack. He was the only one she had left in the place that she considered a friend. He had always been friend even before he knew her. She didn't want to now lose that friendship now. So her heart dropped, when she felt his hand drop from her shoulder, only to feel it suddenly appear on top of her head ruffling her hair in a familiar way.
"Your my friend Cloud, and a fellow SOLIDER. We look out for each other. I have your back, no matter what. I'll look out for you."
Rain looked up sharply and was relieved to see that familiar grin back on his face.
"Come on the choppers leave in a couple of hours. Let's get some food while it's still good. Rations at the front are terrible."
Tseng looked around. The town wasn't much to speak off, more of village than town. It hadn't changed much since the last time he was here, back when he had been sent as a rookie to investigate the fire that had destroyed one of Shinra's mansions just up the mountain. The cause had been deliberate, fire materia that was all he had ever been able to find out.
Now here he was back again.
As Tseng entered the town he knew his presence would not go unnoticed. Strangers never did in small places like this. It was an older man with dark greying hair though that finally decided to approach him.
"Can I help you stranger?"
Tseng starred at the man, who had folded his arms across his chest and Tseng knew from his stance and build that this man was not a normal backwoods villager.
Keeping his voice cool and emotionless he spoke, "Yes, I am from Shinra and have come here in regards concerning one of our SOLIDERS who is said to have come from this town."
The man's eyes narrowed, "None of our children ever went off to Shinra. Precious few leave the village, you must be mistaken."
The man turned to go as if that was the end of it, but Tseng saw the slight tensing of the shoulders like the man was suddenly uncertain.
Keeping his voice low he took one step closer to the retreating figure, "Are you sure? No one by the name Cloud Strife ever used to live here?"
The man froze then turned so fast that Tseng's hand automatically went to his gun, but he stopped short of pulling it out when he saw the man's face. It was pale like he had seen a ghost, along with something else that might have been hope.
"Cloud is with Shinra? You have seen him?"
Tseng nodded, "In SOLIDER yes."
The man closed his eyes in relief, "Thank Minerva! I have not heard from either of them in almost ten years. I had started to think..."
The man's voice trailed off as if lost in memory.
"So you know of whom I speak."
The man opened his eyes again and looked at him suspiciously, "I raised them. My name is Zangan and who sir are you and what do you want with those kids?"
Tseng's mind now pondered the new thought as the man now took a step forward.
Them?
Rain mind whirled as her body took over diving to the ground for cover as the ground exploded behind her. She got up and kept running.
It was mayhem! She had been a part of the war since they had joined Wutia when she was just a kid and had never seen things this bad before.
She knew that was mostly because Cloud had taken over and preformed attacks and battles with more precaution and advantage for their side. Never risking a battle unless there was ample chance of success, their tactic were more gorilla style than Shinra's use of sheer strength through numbers and SOLIDERS, but this...this was completely insane!
Bodies and blood were everywhere and it seemed the bombs and explosions were none stop! She didn't even know which side was setting them off or at whom; they just rained down from above and below her, the only purpose to further add to the disarray and confusion.
Things had been nothing but disarray since the moment she stepped off the chopper earlier that afternoon. Sephiroth had briefed all the SOLIDERS about the increased Wutia movement in this area and their mission to engage the enemy at all costs and eliminate.
Rain had immediately been suspicious. This was not like Wutia, nor like Cloud to confront or let themselves be confronted so openly though they were far from in the open. The trees and bushes were thick, the ideal terrain for Wutia and their ninjas. What was Cloud up to?
They had been assigned to squads when they had first reached camp, which was one of the miniature towns Shinra had stationed all along the cost of Wutia. It had bunks, cafeteria, armoury and metical until along with prisons and transport.
The squadrons were a carful mixture of both troops and SOLIDERS. Rain had noticed that the more experienced SOLIDERS like Angeal and Genesis were with the completely inexperienced who had never been on the front before, which was sort of odd. Normally commanders tended to put their best men together where they would keep up with each other's skills and strengths. It just went to show what kind of General, Sephiroth really was. He cared about his men making it out alive more than the success of the actually mission.
So it did and didn't surprise her when she was assigned to the General's squad. She supposed from his point of view she was the new one in SOLIDER and therefore had to be kept an eye on, but if they were going by skill Rain could have easily been put in charge of any squad. It wasn't like she hadn't done it before.
She had trudged meagrely alone, earning a couple of hate filled glances from some troop who had formally been her teammates. They had been trekking through the bush for almost an hour, when the intercom on the General's wrist suddenly came to life with shouts and shots being fired, before Sephiroth could respond though they too were under attack.
Rain had been astounded! This was not a regular hit and run mission. Intel had seriously underestimated the about of Wutia forces hidden within the forest.
Rain blocked a couple of shots with her blade, before turning and hitting a Wutia who had tried sneaking up on her from behind with the flat of her blade. The man dropped like stone and she starred at the face, and then cursed.
Crescent Unit!
This was the Crescent Unit! The most elite of Wutia forces!
What the heck was going on? One thing she knew for sure she could especially not been seen by this force. If they saw her fighting as SOLIDER it would ruin everything, but she could not just leave the man to taken captive by Shinra either.
Quickly looking around and seeing everyone busy engaged in the fight. Rain quickly pushed the unconscious man over the small ridge to her right and watched the body roll down the hill until it came to a stop in a clump of bushes. Hopefully no one would find him in there and he could sneak out when he woke up.
Now to get out of there! If she stayed any longer she was bound to come face to face with another member and she would not be so lucky in escaping a fight. Taking off running through the bush, she heard Zack shout her name from behind, when suddenly the air was filled with a whistle and then the ground behind her exploded.
That now left Rain in the mess she was in right now, running through the bush with fighting and explosives going off around her. So far she had managed to avoid ever conflict. She was lucky the trees were thick and gave ample hidden opportunities. Hopefully she could make it back to the camp after this hell was over. Anyone who had noticed her flee into the woods hopefully would have only thought she was diving to escape the bombs.
If she could just manage to stay in the shadows until this all ended, she might be safe.
She was just starting to feel hopefully when suddenly a dark figure leaped from the trees in front of her. The figure was dress completely in black with the familiar black mask of the Wutia General over his face.
Rain skidded to a stop so fast she almost tripped over herself.
"Cloud!" She breathed.
Cloud starred.
He had been waiting, watching, hoping she would be here with the Shinra forces and he was right. She had turned up, but not as he expected.
He knew she would have cut her hair and posed as a boy. It would be the only way to get into the army and right now it was like starring at a reflection of himself, but what he had not been expecting was her garb. She was dressed in the black uniform of SOLIDER, not of a cadet.
Of course he knew she was skilled enough, but was still surprised to see she had advanced that quickly, achieving what he never had, SOLIDER. If a way it was like a victory for both of them.
He started toward her lowering his sword. Immediately she started backing up shaking her head a look of fear in her eyes and Cloud paused.
She couldn't be afraid of him!
She had grown up getting herself into these predicaments and never once had she shown any fear when caught by him. What was going on? He was just about to speak when with a burst of unnatural speed she took off through the woods.
Cloud didn't even hesitate. He took off after staying just on her heels.
"Rai! Stop!"
Rain ran as fast as her feet could carry her, but knew that would not be fast enough. She could not outrun Cloud, not without a head start and two seconds did not count.
Crap! Crap! Crap! She couldn't get taken back now! Not now! Things were just starting to get somewhere, if she got caught now it was all over!
Suddenly she felt a tingle on the back of her neck. She knew that feeling, knew someone was watching and who it was. Minerva, no!! Not him!
Cloud! She had to save him, if she kept running he would attack Cloud and it would be disastrous if those two fought now. What to do?
There really was no choice. Repositioning her hand on her blade, she suddenly dug her heels in bringing herself to a couplet halt, but before Cloud could crash into her from behind she sprang up somersaulting over his head landing behind him.
Shouting loudly she swung the blade at him knowing he would intercept it, which he did, the impact rattling the teeth in her mouth. Not giving him time to speak she detangled herself and came at him again and again Cloud blocked. This time a little less hard like he was uncertain, which Rain knew he was. They had only ever sparred together in training and though that at been fierce and many times both of them going full out, they had never actually been fighting each other. Not like now.
Again Rain detached herself, but this time she held back a little, letting her eyes meet his.
Come on Cloud! She thought. We have to make this look good. Come at me!
The sapphire eyes peering through the mask blinked once in sudden understanding and Rain saw them tighten in determination. The next blow that came at her did not just jar her teeth, but her entire body.
Sephiroth watched from his hidden position behind a tree. He had seen the girl run off just before the explosion and had taken off after her instructing Zack to pull the men back for a counterattack.
He had kept up with the Strife's weaving in and amongst the fighting and explosions with ease; keeping hidden had required a little more skill. He was just about to make a move and bring an end to this apparent desertion when suddenly a black figure had jumped down in front of the Strife, almost causing Strife to trip.
His mako enhanced ears just managed to pick up the name, "Cloud" from the girl's lips before she suddenly took off through the trees again.
The man had shouted, "Rai! Stop!" before taking off after her. Sephiroth didn't waste any time and took off after the two. He had recognized the man though he had never met him before personally. The Wutia General's image was quite well known.
Strife though putting up a remarkable pace even for SOLIDER did not seem to be gaining. In fact the Wutia General seemed to be gaining ground. Sephiroth drew Masamune ready to intercede, when suddenly Strife stopped and somersaulted into the air landing behind the Wutia General.
Sephiroth leaped behind a boulder, never taking his eyes from them as Strife's blade crashed down on the Wutia Generals.
He watched as the girl detangled herself then came at the Wutia again. What surprised Sephiroth was the General's reaction. He seemed startled like he was unsure what to do.
Sephiroth started to move out from behind the boulder. Capturing the Wutia General would be a priceless prize and advantage for Shinra. Suddenly the Wutia General seemed to snap out of it and starting attacking himself, with a strength and speed that was worthy of SOLIDER.
Sephiroth watched as the two circled each other slashing and striking at each other with powerful enough thrusts to shatter boulders and collapse trees around them and Sephiroth was struck with two things.
One that Strife in all the time at Shinra had been holding back a lot and was a lot stronger and skilled then Sephiroth imagined and two this was just a show.
An impressive show. The strikes and blows were not held back and were perfectly executed, but Sephiroth could see the routine movements in them. It was like the fighting in all those Loveless theatre shows Genesis used to drag him to. It was all practiced and rehearsed with the actors knowing what would come next and how to be sure to get out of the way before then. These two were exactly the same, but were performing so perfectly that only an experienced SOLIDER like Sephiroth would even know.
Another thing that let him know that these two were not really fighting and had done this before...their style was exactly the same. The way they held the blade and moved their feet into position for a jump or block, it was like watching a reflection in the mirror exactly the same only opposite.
Sephiroth continued to watch transfixed. How the girl managed to hide both her gender and a skill of this level was earning Sephiroth's growing respect. The girl was as strong as a SOLIDER yet had to be as smart as a Turk to pull it off.
A noise above them suddenly drew Sephiroth attention to the air. The sight of the helicopter full of missiles in air, aiming towards the pair fighting in the open made Sephiroth leap into the air releasing that ever present itch on his back with the an explosion of feathers. Aware that not far off another creature was doing the same.
Rain's arms and legs burned! Going full out with Cloud was always utterly exhausting and required every bit of concentration. A slip at this speed and level could be deadly. So it was only vaguely that she heard a sound above them, right before strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and she was airborne just as a mountain of fire rose up with them singeing the hairs of her outstretched arms.
"Cloud!" She hadn't even realized she had screamed his name out loud before she spotted a dark creature in the air holding a struggling figure in its arms. The creature starred at her giving a small nod before giving one violet flap of his leathery wings and they disappeared in the clouds overhead.
"Let me down!!" Cloud struggled furiously in the claws that gripped him.
"Chaos let me go! That was Rain back there! We have to go back for her!"
"Be still human, or I will let you splatter on the rocks below."
Cloud stilled his struggles knowing with Chaos it was no ideal threat. "She was right there Chaos! Why didn't you grab her as well?"
"Calamities' son already had her in his hands."
Cloud felt a shiver pass of his body at the sight of seeing Rain dangling in Sephiroth's arms. He had not as yet seen the General's face to face, being careful to keep his distance from the man. Seeing him with Rain, Cloud felt a horror and fear similar to when Arieth had been killed.
"We have to go back and get her! We..."
Chaos's loud rumble interrupted him, "She does not want to come back!"
Cloud grew utterly still and Chaos's voice seemed to soften just a little.
"At least not yet. You will know when she wishes you to come for her. Now is not the time. Be patient little hero, it will not be long now."
Rain tried not to clasp franticly at the arms that held her as they suddenly dropped down past the treetops into a little clearing just outside the camp.
As soon as her feet touched the ground she drove away from the General and turned around to face him. She had never really found the emotionless face of the General terrifying it was just who he was, but now she starred at the blank expression, she grew very frightened.
After a long pause of either of them speaking she finally broke the silence, "Sir?"
He still did not speak, just watched her with cold, cat like eyes.
"Thanks, fo...for that back there I mean." She for the first time stuttered in his presence.
Finally he spoke, "And just what was that back there cadet?"
"A fight, sir." She tried meekly, but he did not let it slide.
"You seemed like you knew him. You called him by name."
So he had heard!
Rain cursed, but managed to keep the mask in place, "I did? What name was that?"
She saw the green eyes narrow and knew she was walking on dangerous ground.
"Cloud, you called him Cloud."
"I'm afraid your mistaken, sir. He asked me who I was. I was merely starting my name."
The eyes now held a glint in them and Rain couldn't help but take a step back. Sephiroth though didn't move simple dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"All right cadet," he uttered softly, "Then would you happen to explain what you were doing running through the woods in the first place instead of with your squadron?"
Rain let her breath as her mind raced for an answer. He had noticed and he wasn't holding anything back. Desperately she spoke the first thing that came to her mind.
"Dodging the air raids. I'm sorry sir it was cowardly of me, it was my first time at the front and my first instinct was to run."
If anything those green eyes seemed to get colder and she was faced with ever growing fact that he knew she was lying and was determined to catch her in it.
"It didn't seem that way then you fought that Wutia warrior. If anything I would say you have had quite a lot of experience at the front cadet. Which makes me wonder who you really are?"
Rain heart stopped beating. That was it, she was caught and she knew it. There was no getting out of it now. The General would not back down.
Just then an Third suddenly came racing around a bend of trees. He stopped when he saw the General saluting sharply.
"General, sir!"
Sephiroth inclined his heard slightly in the SOLIDER's direction, but did not take his eyes off Rain.
"What is it SOLIDER?"
"Sir, all squadrons have retreated from the woods and assessments of the damage sustained are taking place as you ordered.
"Thank-you SOLIDER."
An obvious dismissal, but the SOLIDER hesitated.
"Sir, the Turk leader just flew in and is requesting to see you. Also sir, I think you should know that a prisoner was obtained today."
"A prisoner?" Sephiroth now sparred a fleeting glance at the SOLIDER, who swallowed nervously under the direction gaze of the General.
"Yes General. A female, the Turks took her in." The SOLIDER's voice dipped slightly in excitement, "Sir, she is the Wutia princess!"
If Sephiroth had not had most of his attention of the girl he would have missed her reaction entirely it was so quick. Her face suddenly went the palest shade of white imaginable and a fist clenched so tightly that Sephiroth's nose immediately picked up the scent of blood. Just as quickly as it appeared it disappeared and a nervous but much calmer SOLIDER took its place as the mask once again settled over the girl's features.
Sephiroth's mind raced as a plan suddenly formed in his head, looking over at the two he abruptly dismissing both of them, much to the apparent surprise of Strife.
Sephiroth was confident after seeing the reaction to the news of the Princess's capture the girl would not run. Now to find Tseng he needed a word with him about his new prisoner.
AN: Don't worry there will be more Cloud in later chapters you just have to be patient with me and Rain. Remember please, please review!