Sara woke up the following day, surprised to find herself in her bedroom. She didn't think she'd fallen asleep while watching her show, but how did she get into her room? Sara only came up with one answer.

Sephiroth put her on her bed while she was asleep. Sara was glad that Sephiroth had brought her to bed, but she felt sad that he had left.

What am I thinking? Me being sad that Sephiroth isn't here? That's just no; that's wishful thinking. There's no way he could ever like some girl like me. Besides, we're now comrades; let's leave it at that. I wish my heart would stop fluttering whenever I think about him.

After settling her thoughts, Sara decided to get ready for the day. It was Saturday, and the departure for Wutai will be on Monday morning. She decided what better way to spend a Saturday morning than to do some shopping.

After having breakfast and wearing casual clothes, Sara headed to the shopping district near the company's headquarters. She hit a few clothing stores and bought cute outfits on clearance. After cloth shopping, Sara went to a small cafe near the shopping district. As she sat down and the waiter handed her the menu, an uninvited guest sat next to her.

"I would like to have a menu, please."

Sara was surprised to see Genesis sitting down beside her. The waiter quickly handed him a menu and took their drink and food orders as requested. After the waiter left, Sara looked at Genesis curiously.

"Well, this is unexpected," Sara commented, "I wasn't expecting to have lunch with anyone."

Genesis smirked, "I was passing by, and I happened to see you walking into the cafe. Then I decided I would like to spend some time with you."

Sara felt a bit uncomfortable, but she kept her calm and played along, "I don't see the harm in spending time with a comrade."

"Comrade?" Genesis raised a brow, "Is that what I am to you?"

"What else is there?" Sara asked.

Genesis pinched the bridge of his nose, "Well, let's say I would like to take you out on a date."

Sara's eyes went wide as saucers, "What?!"

"As a way of saying thank you for saving my life," Genesis quickly explained.

Sara crossed her arms and raised a brow, "I also saved Angeal's life, but he's not asking me out on a date."

Genesis chuckled, "Angeal is more a down-to-earth kind of guy, but that doesn't mean he appreciates that you saved his life."

Sara looked away and humphed, "So he's the goodie-shoes-type of guy, and you're the ladies-man-killer."

Genesis touched his chest as if struck by a bullet, laughing, "Ouch! You sure do know how to use strong words."

Sara rolled her eyes as the waiter brought out their food and drinks. Genesis took a sip from his glass of soda and decided to continue their conversation.

"So, Sara, what's your answer?" Genesis asked with a sly smirk.

But she gave him a cold glare and replied, "I have no interest in dating you. Besides, I'm rather distracted now with the war going on."

"Distracted, huh?" Genesis frowned, "What else is there for you to be distracted about?"

Sara bit her lip while clenching her fists, refusing to answer. She wanted to tell Genesis about her worries about not seeing her mom and Shinra watching her every move along with the war. The thought of dating didn't seem right to her.

Genesis could sense that Sara seemed deep in thought, along with a complex look on her face. He thought he may have gone too far with the question he asked earlier.

"Sorry," Genesis spoke honestly, "I shouldn't have asked that, but you are right about the war. We should focus on the hopes of ending it," He pauses and looks at Sara, who still seems in deep thought.

At that moment, Genesis realized that now wasn't the time to ask Sara out on a date. But, he decides to do a small act of kindness when the waiter comes over with the bill, and Genesis hands his bank card to the waiter paying for the whole meal, including Sara's.

Sara gasped when she saw this and turned to Genesis, who smiled at her and said, "Consider it as my payment and gratitude for saving me."

When the waiter returns and gives Genesis his bank card, Genesis gets up and starts to leave. But he looks over his shoulder with a smile, "I do hope to win you over someday, and who knows, perhaps I will save you one day."

He finally leaves; as Sara looks at him, surprised, a small smile forms on her face. She thought, Maybe he's not all hot-headed like I thought.

But, little did the two of them know that a certain silver elite was nearby, looking at the redhead elite as if he wanted to murder him on the spot.

After putting her shopping bags away, Sara returned to the Shinra building. She decided to spend some time in the virtual training room. Sara wore a black tank top with skinny black jeans and combat boots. As she walked over to the computer to start the training session, the door to the room opened; Sephiroth walked in.

"Sephiroth?" Sara looked at him, surprised.

Though the silver elite only gave her a slight nod, Sara didn't even need to ask what brought him here since he brought his sword, Masamune. She looked at the computer beside her, typed in a few codes, and the training room began to transform. The room turns into the same valley where both of them trained together.

Sara unsheaths her sword Muramasa and takes her fighting stance while Sephiroth does the same. The two fighters stare down before they dash toward each other, and their swords collide.

Sara continued to attack while Sephiroth kept on deflecting her attacks. In a flash, Sephiroth began to attack her while Sara switched to defense. They continued like this for forty-five minutes until Sara started to slack.

"Shall we take a break?" Sephiroth asked.

Sara nodded, and both of them sat on a flat rock nearby. The two of them said nothing, only looking at the sunset sky.

"So, what do you think about Genesis and Angeal?" Sephiroth asked with a hint of coldness.

Sara looked at him, surprised, for he never was the type to ask anything that something did not relate to training.

"Well," Sara replied, "Angeal seems okay; he seems loyal to his friends and has a knack for animals. Genesis is more hot-headed and full of himself, but that doesn't mean he's a bad guy."

"Does that mean you are attracted to him?" Sephiroth questions her, which makes her surprised.

"What?!" Sara exclaimed, "N-No! Genesis is hot looking, but me attracted to him. I don't wanna think about that stuff."

"Why not?" Sephiroth looked at her curiously.

Sara sighed and brought her knees to her chest, hugging them as she replied, "Because I'm distracted by the war and something else."

"Something else?" Sephiroth raised a brow. Sara lowered her head and replied in a mumble.

"My mom, Shinra, refuses to let me see my mom, and they're watching my every move, including my father, and I don't know why."

She buried her face in her knees while Sephiroth stared at her as he felt his chest tighten. He had seen her like this before, which usually meant she felt sad or frustrated. Sephiroth understood that the war is the primary focus of Shinra, and the company had been putting pressure on its troops and soldiers. So it's only natural for SOLDIER members to focus on what's important. He didn't know that Shinra had been refusing to let Sara see her mother. He found this somewhat puzzling. Sephiroth knew that Sara was different from the other SOLDIER members. It made sense for the company to keep an eye on her. But for them to keep an eye on her father. That seemed unusual for Shinra to do something like that.

Though Sephiroth never knew the love of a mother nor a father, looking at Sara. He could see in her eyes that she sincerely cared about her family and how she seemed so frail now compared to her usual aloof self.

Then something happened that neither one wasn't expecting. Sara felt strong arms wrapping around her from behind and pulling her close. She was startled by Sephiroth's unusual gesture as he pulled her to his lap. Yet, somehow she finds this comforting. Sara could feel the warmth from Sephiroth, his beating heart, and the scent of lavender and vanilla. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her as she rested her head against his collarbone while she sat on his lap.

Neither of them said a word, but one thing they knew was that words couldn't express one's true feelings. Yet, actions speak louder than words.

Sara felt that the arms holding her could protect her and that she felt safe in them. Therefore it was okay for her to let her guard down. A single tear streamed down her face as she snuggled. While Sephiroth didn't know exactly why he had this urge to hold Sara, he didn't like seeing her so vulnerable. Perhaps this is what it means to protect what a person holds dear to them. Maybe that's why he wanted to hold her; he gently tightened his grip as they remained like this for hours—never wanting to be apart.

The weekend passed by in a blink, and as the morning sun rose. It was time for the elite SOLDIERs to head back to the frontlines. The three members of SOLDIER First Class were standing near the landing platform, waiting on the last member to show up. Genesis and Angeal were wearing their new uniforms.

Angeal wears a standard SOLDIER First Class uniform, mostly black except for the belt, and carries an enormous broad sword that he calls the Buster Sword on his back. Genesis's First Class uniform is somewhat similar to Sephiroth's. Instead of a long black coat, he has a long red coat with crossed leather straps on top of a black sleeveless shirt underneath, the SOLDIER symbol belt, black boots, black shoulder guards, and carrying a long red-colored sword.

"Where's Sara?" Genesis wondered, "She should be here by now?"

Angeal sighed annoyingly, "Give her some time. The chopper is not going until she arrives."

Genesis groaned, but then he saw someone coming over and made a whistle, "Now that's a fine SOLDIER right there."

Sephiroth looked over, and he was stunned to see Sara in her new uniform.

Unlike the one she had previously worn, Sara had her First Class uniform customized, which looks very different from the others. This new uniform is a tank short crop top that reveals her stomach, skinny black jeans with a black leather belt with the SOLDIER's emblem on the buckle, combat boots that cover her calves, a black leather long-sleeve hooded jacket, and leather fingerless gloves. Sara compliments her new look by having her hair in a ponytail and Muramasa strapped to her hip. Her new uniform made her stunning and dignified.

Genesis whistled, "Well, Sara, you've made us look bad with that new look."

Sara rolled her eyes and immediately hopped in the helicopter. The others aboard the aircraft, and the chopper starts to take off.

The journey to the military camp didn't take long, and once the helicopter landed at the camp. Sara and the others immediately head for the tent where Heidegger was stationed.

Heidegger was looking at the map when he noticed four SOLDIER members walking in the tent. He grinned as he spoke, "Well, I certainly bid you welcome new members of 1st class. At least I don't have to worry about sparing Sephiroth on the battlefield when I've got three new members to spare."

Sephiroth spoke coldly, "Heidegger, I hope that was a joke because if it wasn't, then I will tell the president how his trusted military henchman decided..." Heidegger cuts him off, "Fine, fine! I get it; it was just a joke!"

Everyone didn't like how Heidegger was insulting them. Heidegger immediately went to the main topic, "So here's what we've got so far."

Heidegger put his index finger on the map that lay out in front of them. His finger was on a particular spot, a river running through a Wutai forest.

"There's a bridge on this river," Heidegger explained, "It leads to our enemy's first defense fortress, Nagato fortress. Although we've managed to conquer the bridge temporarily, the defense of the Nagato fortress is formattable. I would send a fleet of squad footmen to take care of it. But, I must carefully choose who I send."

Heidegger paused as he looked at the others before he continued, "Which is why I'm considering sending one of you to infiltrate the fort. The question is, who should go?"

Sephiroth immediately questions, "If you were to send one of us, does that mean you want us to annihilate everyone in there?"

"Certainly, not!" Heidegger frowned, "I only need one of you to infiltrate the fortress and open the gate so our armies will attack the fort. By doing this, we'll gain the upper hand. "

"Yet, looking at how much our enemy has as for resources and locations," Genesis pointed out while looking at the map, "Taking Fort Nagato is only a rub off the surface. We're still far from winning this war."

"But if we continue to take down more of their defenses," Angeal added, "It could be a turning point for us. Which it is advisable to take the fort."

"Well then, who do you think should go?" Genesis asked in a cocky voice.

"I'll-," Angeal gets cut off by Sara, "I'll go."

The men looked at Sara as she explained, "I can infiltrate the fort and open the gates for the army to go through."

Heidegger grinned, "Very well, you leave in three hours. The army will be at the fortress in three days. Don't disappoint me."

Sara smiled coldly, "Never planned on it."

Sara left the tent, leaving the others except for Heidegger speechless. Genesis and Angeal chased after Sara, who was at her tent getting ready for the journey.

"Sara, are you crazy?" Angeal questioned her, "Going alone into enemy territory is not a good idea."

"This is not the first time I've been on a solo mission," Sara reminded them.

Genesis still protested, "Even still, you shouldn't go out there alone. At least let us go with you."

Even though they knew Sara could hold her ground, they didn't want anything to happen to their only female friend. Sara looked at them with a small smile.

"It's better this way, and besides, Shinra doesn't want me to be in the spotlight but remain in the shadows. Also, it's both of ya'lls turns to shine, can't let Sephiroth have all the spotlight."

After saying that, Sara left the tent while Genesis and Angeal watched her as she began to make her way out of the camp. Both of them felt defeated and hoped that she would return soon.

Sara made it to the camp's entrance but saw Sephiroth riding on a Chocobo and holding the reins of Kikki. Kikki made a loud kweh as the bird saw a familiar friend. Sara smiled as she stroked Kikki's long neck and then mounted. Sephiroth took the lead, and Sara followed suit. There was no need to ask Sephiroth where he was going. Sara knew that he was escorting her to where she started her mission. Yet, neither of the two riders said anything, which made Sara nervous for some reason. She could tell that Sephiroth seemed intense, but she did not pry. They reached the point where they must part ways.

"Try not to do anything foolish," Sephiroth advised her, "Also, make sure that you make it to the fort in three days."

"I will," Sara nodded and she started to leave.

"Wait," Sephiroth called out.

Sara stopped and looked at him curiously. He dismounted from his chocobo and gestured her to come over. She dismounted and walked over curiously. He then gestures her to turn around with his finger drawing a circle in the air. Sara obeyed and waited, she wonder what he was going to do. Then she saw his arms wrapped around her neck breifly before she felt something cold on her neck. She touched her collarbone and felt a chain around her neck then something small but heavy at the end of the necklace.

It was the one-wing charm necklace she had always wanted.

Sara looked at Sephiroth, surprised as he smiled at her warmly, then gave her a tight hug. This made her so stunned that she forgot to breathe.

"Come back safely," Sephiroth whispered in her ear.

"Um, I will," She mumbled in response.

Sephiroth released her from his embrace, mounted his Chocobo, then headed back to the military camp. Leaving Sara stunned and confused.

She didn't know what to make of Sephiroth's actions, though she was happy to receive a gift from him even though she didn't understand why he would do such a thing.

"Kweh! Kweh!" Kikki called out.

Sara shook her head, getting her thoughts in order before mounting Kikki. Yet, she looked back at where Sephiroth was and wondered that maybe he does care about her but more than he should. But Sara didn't want to be in that kind of relationship. She was still distracted by the war, her parents, and Shinra. Sara wondered if being in a relationship may be just what she needed to make it through this war and find out more about her parents.