Chapter 3: Memories

Yuffie watched from the kitchen window as Tidus rounded up some moogle from the forest beside the manor, to help him clean up the mess in the courtyard. For some reason, he was actually doing something for a change.

Yuffie turned to look at Yunie, and smiled. It had been a year or so since Artemis had employed Yunie as his second bodyguard. Yuffie was the one who encouraged him to do so, as she and Yunie knew each other from Yuffie's last mission in Zanarkand.

Yuffie had trained at Madame Ko's for 4 years, the full-term in order to become a bodyguard, but for some reason Madame Ko had told her to go to the Zanarkand branch for her last mission. She had been the best bodyguard at the Calm Lands Headquarters and was the best of most of the headquarters in all of Spira…except for one…Besaid.

When Yuffie had arrived there in Zanarkand, a girl her age named Yunie was the talk of Spira. Apparently Yuna had been the summoner to defeat Sin. This YUNA was a celebrity, and was now also near the end of her training as a bodyguard. Yuffie had not known this, and so, ignored Yuna for a while, until it came time for both Yuna's and Yuffie's last mission, in which they realised they had the same interests in mind.

Eventually, Yunie and Yuffie became allies in order to protect their principals, right up until the end of their training.

After a few years living in Besaid with Yunie, Yuffie went back to the Calm Lands to find work…alone. Yunie had decided to suddenly become a Sphere Hunter with one of her cousins. She had briefly told Yuffie about a sphere about a certain blonde man, who was lost to her two years ago. Yuna said that she had to do it on her own, so Yuffie let her and did not protest. But somehow, Yuffie thought it was pointless to pursue love; until she met 'him'.

Yuffie continued on to the Calm Lands; she stayed there for around six months, though, she thought she'd never find work.

Flash Back

Yuffie sat in silence, as the vast wind of the Calm Lands wisped around her. She was about to take off her boots after a full day of walking when she heard gun shots echo through the Calm Lands. Yuffie's head jolted up at the sound. She grabbed her shotgun quickly and slammed it into her back holster. She then grabbed her sword and slid it into its sheath on her back also (arranged so both weapons cross over on her back). Yuffie quickly ran to the direction of the gunshot; she scanned the area and saw what seemed like a 'Mexican Stand-off' going on between a man wearing an expensive suit and his bodyguard, and about five other men with Bevelle guns, though, the men were not from Bevelle.

One of the men shot at the man in the suit, but the bodyguard, who appeared to be a woman, dived in front of him. She lay motionless, but the man in the suit did not flinch. Yuffie saw some sort of coldness in his eyes from where she was running, but kept on going.

She could only just hear what they were saying:

"What are you gonna do now that your little bodyguard's gone?" began one of the men who seemed to be the leader of the five thugs.

"Spare me the theatrics and cliché and comments." Said the well-dressed man coldly, although a hint of fear was in his voice.

Every few minutes he would look towards the girl, lying motionless on the ground but tried to hide it.

Yuffie was almost there.

"You may be smart and rich; but you sure as hell ain't invincible." Said the leader with a malicious smile on his face.

"Maybe not…but he won't die today," said a voice from behind him.

The leader turned to be greeted with a fist in his face. The other thugs; armed with guns watched for a minute or so; not believing what they were seeing.

Artemis watched with slight relief, but also intrigue, at a beautiful young woman, who was disposing of the men swiftly and without much trouble. The girl possessed long black hair, which was pulled back into a tight braid. She wore black jeans, a singlet top; several holsters for guns, she had a thin, toned build and olive skin.

Artemis also noticed that this girl had incredible skill combat, agility and somehow appeared to keep a close eye on him; which led him to believe she had been highly trained in guarding.

Perhaps this is an opportunity, thought Artemis slyly. He looked toward Juliet's motionless body; his face saddened but he decided that he could not dwell and looked back to the girl.

Yuffie had just administered a swift kick to the man's neck, which he was instantly incapacitate, and walked over to where Artemis was standing. He watched her intently for a few moments as he contemplated something. She was obviously skilled in the area of physical attack. Her eyes met with his and the idea of her protecting him when the time came was something that he thought would definitely work to his advantage.

"Are you alright?" asked Yuffie; still looking into Artemis's blue eyes.

"My brain is still intact; I'm still a genius and my Armani suit untainted…so yes…I am." Said Artemis simply.

2 years later

"Hey Yunie…over here!" yelled Tidus, motioning inside a ruined cave.

The two had arrived in Zanarkand via airship, in search of a 'supposed' treasure sphere, containing the whereabouts of a secret cave, with vast amounts of treasure.

Yuna looked at Tidus with both surprise and delight.

Surprised; because he wasn't very experienced when it came to sphere hunting and delighted because he was the one thing that made her life worth living…even if he was a complete idiot at times.

They were now both inspecting the sphere, which would lead them to the secret cave 'hopefully'.

Suddenly a voice was heard from behind.

"Hey you two…I believe that's my sphere."

Yunie turned to see a girl with long black hair and she was wearing a black outfit. She seemed familiar and then it hit her.

"Yuffie?"

End Flash Back

"What's up with you?" came a familiar voice; breaking Yuffie from her thoughts.

She turned to see that Yunie had now walked up to stand next to her so that she could watch Tidus from the window. A small smile was apparent upon her face as Yuffie followed her gaze to see that Tidus was now once again annoying Artemis, who was looking down at the blonde from his study window.

"Oh nothing…" sighed Yuffie, as she turned her eyes to the man in the window.

A/N: Well…here's our latest instalment of "The Fowl and The Fool". So read and review…

Yuffie and Yunie