Synopsis: This is an AU in which Yuffie Kisaragi actually follows her original concept. I got the idea for this story while digging into some Final Fantasy 7 history. According to the FF7 10th Anniversary Ultimania, Yuffie was initially envisioned as a 25-year-old bounty hunter seeking Cloud and Sephiroth, and she, in turn, had a bounty on her head. Posters showing her stats would be found around the world, and Yuffie's stats, abilities, and level would change when the party acquired her depending on which poster was inspected last. She was also intended to be an ex-SOLDIER. (Oh my gosh, WHAT? How would that Even Work?) My initial thought was "Hey, that would be cool!" And here we have this story. As of yet, there are no decided parings. In fact, most of this story is up to the muse, and she ain't tellin' me all the details up front! So let's get into it…
P.S. I don't own it, so you don't sue.
[ μ ] - εγλ 0000 – October. End of the Wutai War.
Late one cool October evening, SOLDIER Second Class, Zack Fair, ran. He was anxious, and wound up, a spot between his shoulders itching as if someone had been watching him. Sure, he was being monitored by Director Lazard, and probably Angeal, but this was different. No matter how many monsters or Wutai troops he dispatched, the feeling would not go away. Most of the fighting was over, with Zack nearly single-handedly taking care of most of the fortresses defenses. Well, Angeal had told him to indulge himself… B-units explosions had also done their job of creating a decent diversion. Now all that was left was to take control of the temple at the Fort's center. Now he was at the end of the line.
He approached the central most building of the fort, reaching for the soldier issue sword stuck to the magnet on his back. It was quiet, broken only by the sounds of evening cicadas and the rushed beat of his own boots breaking through the stillness. In his rush and excitement at the speed in which he had taken care of his mission, he almost missed the petite figure blocking his way.
"Woah!" he exclaimed as he slid to a sudden stop at the base of the steps. The itch between his shoulders was gone, he absently noted while regarding this new roadblock to mission completion.
The figure standing at the top of the stairs was draped with a tattered brown and white mog robe, which hid the figure's face, but was only long enough to cover mid-thigh. Below that, it was hard for Zack to miss the shapely contour of well-toned legs encased in thigh high brown leggings and laced up black knee-high boots. Even with the boots added height, the entire figure couldn't have been more than a little over five feet tall.
A girl, then. Even if she was brandishing an oversized Shuriken that she was absently twirling in her right hand.
"You have done well to get this far, Shinra Scum," the dulcet voice said, confirming that the robed figure was, indeed, female, "but your advance ends here!"
Zack raised an eyebrow. Surely, this petite female wasn't planning to stop him… "Uh, who are you?"
The red lips under the hood turned up into a taunting smile as she took a battle ready stance, increasing Zack's intrigue, and slight worry. He wasn't much one for fighting teenage girls. "Tremble, for today you face Wutai's most powerful warrior, the steadfast protector of virtue and honor." Both of Zack's brows now rose to greet his hairline. "Defender of the earth and the sky, I am the Single White Rose of Wutai. The Great Ninja, Yuffie Kisaragi!"
With a flourish, the mog robe was discarded, revealing the svelte figure that matched the well-shaped legs. The only thing keeping Zack from laughing was his appreciation of the sight since she was dressed much differently from all the other Wutai warriors that he'd faced. Instead of the full body armor of the samurai, she wore a green tank top that left her stomach bare, crossed over by a pair of black suspenders that held up the shortest pair of khaki shorts that he'd ever seen. A single black mesh glove graced her right arm, suitably matching the black boots that fit snuggly to her legs. On her left arm, secured by a single pauldron and straps across her chest, was an armlength leather gauntlet. Despite its thickness, it was well worn and flexible.
Deep brown eyes that bordered on purple challenged him. He decided that the way her feathered black hair traced her jawline suited her face. At this point in his observation, he was well past the point of laughing, and quickly realizing that she was right in his age bracket. He might have been staring, evidenced by the small amount of annoyance held in the voice that addressed him.
"So, do you surrender?" the female ninja challenged.
Zack crossed his arms and gave his best grin. "You think you can take me? You're just a girl!"
"Just… a girl?" she parroted quietly, almost to herself, losing her grin. Zack might not have heard it if not for SOLDIER enhancements. The ninja- Yuffie, he reminded himself- suddenly fumed with a stomp. "Gawd, that's it! I am so going to wipe that stupid smirk off your stupid Shinra face!"
He wanted to laugh at how fun it was to rile her up, but then she charged, tossing her shuriken with lightning speed. He scrambled to order and barely dodged, pulling his sword from his back as he quickly rolled to the right, only to be met with a pair of hastily tossed kunai. They glanced off of his sword as he quickly brought it up to block. Yuffie caught her returning Shuriken and danced around him, no doubt looking for an opening. He really didn't want to hurt her since she was just a girl, but the way she had just brought that monster of a shuriken down towards his head was quickly changing his policies. He might not want to hurt her, but she certainly had none of the same compunctions. He leaned back, whistling as the sharp tip of her weapon glanced just out of reach of his nose.
"Hey, careful with that!" he rebuked.
Yuffie once again leapt backward and tossed her shuriken with a smirk. "Stay still and I'll make it quick, SOLDIER boy!"
He countered the weapon and advanced, swinging his blade in a sideways arc. "Not likely. And my name is Zack."
She dodged under his reach, using her difference in their heights to her advantage, and reclaimed her shuriken, raising it just in time to block a downward blow. It staggered her and she involuntarily took a knee to keep from falling over completely. "Like I care, Shinra dog!"
While he was distracted staring down at her with puppy dog eyes, probably proving her point in a way, she used the moment to throw off his sword and escape the stalemate. Zack grinned. He wasn't really taking this seriously, but he could tell by the way she fought that her agility was natural, though her movements seemed erratic and off-the-cuff. She was constantly on the move, sometimes tossing her weapon from range, sometimes moving in for the kill when she thought she could press an advantage. It was only that natural speed and athleticism that caused Zack to need to put forth any effort at all into matching her moves. He matched her rhythm, dodging and parrying as needed, watching as she wore herself down with her pressing attacks for the right moment to strike. He really didn't want to hurt her, so a single well-placed blow would probably do the trick.
"You're self taught, aren't you," he stated confidently, not at all tired.
She huffed as she blocked his sword with her weapon. "What do you care?" she replied breathlessly.
He dodged her counter attack and shrugged. "I dunno, just curious." Her attacks were getting sloppier, and her footwork wasn't as graceful as it had been. He could tell that the end was near. He smirked. "Hey, what do you say we call a truce, I finish up my mission, and you give me your PHS number?"
He couldn't tell if the look she gave in reply was horror, confusion, or outrage. Probably a mix of all three. His comment had the desired effect though, because she charged once more, probably aiming to kick him in the shin. He took the opportunity to knock her weapon from her hand and sweep her other foot out from under her.
She fell backwards with a heavy thud, wincing as her head followed her backside in smacking the hard dirt. He waited, watching for her to get up, and when she didn't he moved to walk away. He placed his sword on the magnet holster and waved. "Thanks for the dance!"
He was halfway up the steps before her voice stopped him. "Hey, SOLDIER boy." He stopped and looked back at her. "You aren't even winded, are you."
He shook his head with a grin. "Nope."
Even from the distance that he stood, he could hear the derision in her chuckle. "Gawd, I hate it." She winced, clutching her side from where he had caught her in the ribs once. "But what's the point in all that strength, huh? Can't even use it for good." And with that, she passed out.
He frowned as he stared down at the defeated Ninja girl. She was probably about his age. Probably not even a soldier. And yet, here she was, facing off against him as the last defense for this Fort. She was either very foolish for very brave. He shook his head silently, even though there was no one to see. His dream, as he had told Director Lazard just before this mission, was to be a hero. What had her dream been?
He abandoned that line of thought. He could almost hear Angeal in his head telling him to go defend his SOLDIER honor and complete this mission. With completion close at hand, he readied his sword and entered the temple doors.
The roar of the Guardian Vajradhara stirred the sore and aching ninja back to consciousness. "I'm still alive," she said to herself, staring at the open night sky while wincing at the pain in the back of her head and in her side. "I thought for sure I was a goner."
With a groan, she rolled to her side, grabbing her shuriken and using it as a prop to sit up. She ached all over. With a sigh, she shook her head to clear her mind. The last time she had been that thoroughly defeated had been the time when she had challenged the entire Crescent Unit to a spar. That had certainly not ended well.
"Yuffie-san."
She opened her eyes and lifted her head, putting on her bravest face despite the pain and shame. Before her stood the armored figure of a Wutaian soldier. She noted the crescent emblem set into his helmet. So, Cresent Unit, was it? They were always late to the party. She harrumphed. "Bout time you showed up." She groaned as she pulled herself up to standing. "It is pretty sad when the defense of the tower comes down to one… how was it you put it?" She stretched and twisted her waist to the left and right before picking up her shuriken and holding it proudly. "A weak little nobody?"
The Cresent Unit soldier shook his head. "As brave as your actions were, when coupled with recklessness, they are still the actions of a child."
She bristled and resisted the urge to stomp her foot. For one, her side still hurt and she didn't want to jar it, and for two, she didn't did want to prove him right. "I am not a child," she admonished, instead. "I am a warrior, whether you, my father, or the hierarch herself like it or not."
He looked at her appraisingly and she could feel the waves of judgment washing over her. She hated how everyone seemed to do that. She was always not refined enough, not quiet enough, not reserved enough, not ninja enough, not man enough. It somewhat surprised her when he responded with a barely audible "So it would seem," before turning and walking away. "The hierarch would like a word with you."
She frowned at his retreating back. His actions made it obvious that she was meant to follow obediently. "What about that SOLDIER that went into the temple?"
The soldier paused and looked towards the building in question. Things had become awfully still. The pause stretched on for a moment of silence. "It would seem this base has fallen. We would be wise not to tarry here."
Yuffie couldn't help but agree. If the Guardian could not defend the tower from one SOLDIER… well, it was best not to dwell on it. They left in silence, each fading into the shadows.