Disclaimer: I don't own FFVI. Really. I don't.

It was a fine sunny day in Jidoor.

A man, clad in black, strode into town. He was accompanied only by a dog.

Shadow currently had no work. He wasn't really looking for any at the moment-- he had enough gil to hold him over for a while yet. Although he certainly wouldn't refuse a job if the opportunity presented himself. Flexibility was in the job description for a hired assassin.

"Come on, Interceptor. We'll stop at the pub for a quick meal, and then stay the night at the inn." Although the conversations he had with Interceptor were rather one-sided, he knew that his companion understood at least the gist of it. The mongrel's eyes were intelligent. Shadow had raised the dog himself.

The pub was moderately busy, and Shadow headed towards a table in the corner.

"Hey, you."

Shadow turned to face a man . Everything about the man spoke of his wealth-- the rings he wore on his fingers, the richly embroidered robes, and even the jaded look in his eyes.

"You're Shadow, the assassin, aren't you?" the rich man asked. Shadow gave a slight nod. Perhaps a client had come to him sooner than he'd expected.

"Well then, I hear that you'd kill your own best friend for the right price. That true?" Shadow said nothing. The man went on. "I also hear that dog is your only companion. Well then," and the man pulled out a sack of gil, tossing it onto the table, "I suppose that dog might be called your best friend. So, is it true?"

The man must be a complete fool to be messing with a trained killer like this, Shadow thought. With all his wealth, he could obtain pretty much anything he wanted... and he probably had exhausted the list a while ago. Was he so desperate for novelty that he would flirt with death?

Shadow looked at Interceptor. Interceptor looked back at Shadow, his muscles tensed and waiting for any orders.

Shadow looked back at the man and smiled. "I'm a hired killer." He leaned in close. "My best friend is anyone who will pay me." Then, with a quick hand motion, the assassin uttered two words: "Sic 'im."

Interceptor spung forward.

---

The bag of gil was rather heavy, and the jewelry should sell for a good bit of cash. This job, he reflected, had been far easier than most others he'd taken. The body he had taken out of town for the monsters to devour. Still, Shadow decided that it was probably best to move on quickly.

Tonight, he would have to sleep under the stars. Not a problem. He'd done so many times before.

"Come on, Interceptor," he said, ruffling the dog's ears, "Let's head out."

Interceptor barked once in reply, and the two walked off into the distance.