WEEK 4

A/N: I can't believe I finished this so quickly, but I'm glad I did. Enjoy.

The next week was spent in a whirlwind of research. She scoured the internet looking for any connection between Dragmire and the Yiga, now that she an up and close experience with them, she wanted to learn all she could. She would not be caught off guard again.

Despite her efforts most of what she found was merely speculation and propaganda. True, there were a few sites that had promise but of course they were blocked by the local government. Dragmire trying to cover his tracks, she suspected. She liked to think she was a decent hacker, but if it ever was traced back to her. .. .

Sighing, she pushed away her laptop and turned to stare at the ancient looking, purple tome lying on top of her dresser. She told herself the only reason she still had it was because it might have some historical value and perhaps she ought to check it by some historians, yet there it sat, untouched.

As she got up and walked over to her dresser, she convinced herself she was doing this because she needed to use every resource she had. She gently pried the cover open and turned to the first several pages, tenetively she flipped through them looking for something, anything, she could use.

There. On the left side of the page was an older version of what appeared to be the Sheikah eye and next to it, the same eye, only flipped upside down. The caption translated to Sheikah and Yiga.She had taken Ancient Hylian as a minor in college, more out of respect for her heritage than anything else. But now she was glad she'd taken it, thought it would take some time, she could decipher it. Hopefully.

Once the excitement had faded, however, she came to realize something. Are the Sheikah connected to the Yiga? How? It made sense that the Sheikah were in ancient history; as the people who called themselves the Shadow folk could be traced back to the beginning of Hyrule itself. But the Yiga? She'd assumed that they were merely a gang of fanatics that became Dragmire's lapdogs.

A smile suddenly came across her face, she didn't know, but she knew who might have answers. Speaking of, where was her knight in shining armor? She had seen neither high not low of him since last week, then again, that was what a Sheikah agent did. Stay out of sight unless absolutely necessary.

She'd called for him before, but he never showed. She'd given every warning she could think of, still nothing. He grinned at her, "Maybe I just enjoy your company." She huffed, frustrated, she was loathe to admit she was asking for his company.

But he was the only lead she had to the Yiga and by extension; Ganondorf Dragmire.

"Agent Forrester! You have 20 seconds to get here!"

Nothing. She sighed internally, drastic circumstances called for drastic measures. She went to the safe beneath her head, unlocking it and pulling out a gun.

Personally, she wasn't a fan of firearms but her mother had always instilled in her the need to defend herself and taught her how to use it. Another reason why she was so confused that her mother hired a bodyguard for her.

Taking the gun downstairs with her, she headed out to the garage and backed her car out into the driveway. Stepping out, she made sure she was out in the open, before she cocked the gun and pointed it at her head.

To her satisfaction (and relief) her bodyguard lept down in front of her from (somewhere?) and reached his hands toward her in alarm.

"Zelda! Whatever you feel like you need to do, isn't worth your life. please put the gun down!"

She almost smirked, in his state of panic he'd forgotten his professionalism and called her by her first name. I could get you in trouble for that agent Forrester.

She looked him directly in the eyes and spoke calmly,

"Do exactly as I say and there will be no harm, get in the car and remain silent we're going on a little trip."

000000000000000000000000000000000

The air between them was tense as they headed up the winding, metal staircase to a balcony with hanging gardens on which were a few sets of small, round dining tables.

She had driven into the city to her favorite Italian restaurant, Gustaf's, which had healthy yet delicious cusine, not to mention she was close with the owner. She'd saved his restaurant from shutting down after it being wrecked by a terrible storm and losing his shabby insurance all in one week. As she'd saved both his livelihood and family with a deal she'd offered him, he'd given her VIP access to the place ever since.

Which meant she could get away with parking in a secluded lot and head to her own private dining area with a gun pointed to her head and everyone would be none the wiser. It was risky but she knew she could pull it off.

Once they were seated across from each other, Zelda finally removed the gun away from head and carefully placed it in her purse.

Her bodyguard let out a shakey breath of relief and gave her a bemused smile.

"I know being assigned to you was going to be difficult, but it seems like you're determined to make it harder."

She smiled at him coldly,

"If my demands are too high for you; Agent Forrester, you're free to resign."

He shook his head ruefully,

"Besides," His eyes glowed with a feeling she couldn't identify, "I've always wanted to work with you."

As she contemplated his words, she felt a warmth rise in her chest. Suddenly remembering why she brought him here, she pushed the warmth away and cleared her throat, trying to get out of. .. . whatever that had been.

"You know, I wouldn't have to take such drastic measures if you'd just come the first several times I called."

He opened his mouth to speak and she raised a finger to silence him,

"And don't tell me you weren't around to hear. I know you're never far from my side. I've studied Sheikah policy."

He sighed, "You've clearly done your homework, but that wasn't what I was going to say"

The exasperation on his face was bordering on pleading,

"I'm not - I can't - it goes against the rules for a Sheikah agent to hang about in the open and to come at our charge's beck and call."

She folded her hands in her lap, this was going nowhere, she would have to take a different approach.

"I have been targeted by a person who was likely an assassin sent by Mayor Dragmire. And if there was one there's probably going to be more in the way, the mayor has a lot of connections to dangerous people.

"I'm not going to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder for some unseen danger. I'm going to resolve this matter one way or the other."

She lifted up her gaze to meet his eyes.

" . . ... And that starts by tracking down the Yiga clan."

His reaction was priceless, face attempting to contort into several expressions ranging from surprise, fear, frustration and possibly even admiration.

She managed to keep her mirth from showing. For a Sheikah, he wasn't very good at hiding his emotions. He practically wore his heart on his sleeve, unlike her.

Link opened his mouth as if to say something before they were interrupted by the arrival of the waitress.

"Good to see you today Miss Lorule! Have you and your plus one thought about your orders?"

Zelda felt her irritation flare at the waitress, both at the fact she'd interrupted them and that assumed Link was her date. Did it really look like that? She'd come here enough times with other male business partners for the staff to know she wasn't the dating type.

Before she could inform the girl of her mistake and perhaps salvage some of her dignity; Link, curse him, spoke up.

"Yes, I'd like a beef minestrone soup as a side and shrimp alfredo as my main."

He turned to face her innocently, "And you, love?"

That's it. He's fired.

She forced a kind smile at the waitress, " I'll have the same."

As soon as she left with their orders, she faced him eyes glowing with anger.

"You had no right to involve yourself in that. My day to day concerns are not yours to worry about."

"You didn't need to tell at that girl either," he argued, "She made an honest mistake, not one worth blowing up over."

He shrugged, "Besides, it makes a good cover story and if I'm to be hanging around you from now on, we're going to need a viable explanation."

Zelda paused, "Wait, so you're. ..."

"Yes, that's right, I'll assist you in your mission."

He sighed and looked up at her ruefully, "Only because I get the impression you'll do this with or without my help."

She allowed a smile to come across her face. "Looks like you're finally starting to understand me, agent Forrester. So, partners?"

She held out her hand to him.

A glint of admiration shine in his eye and a ghost of a smile crossed his face. He clasped his hand with hers.

"partners."