First Sly Cooper fic. Loved the game, all of the characters, thought up a story. This is set before the 4th Cooper Game, and Rioichi is the main character in this obviously. I don't want this to be totally about the oc's, though there are important ones and I'm sorry if that's an inconvenience. I do not own Sly Cooper.

Bandits. Ninjas. Mystery. Hope its interesting enough.

Please review.

Chapter 1: Swift-less Shadow

They had come in the dark.

Bandits. Clad in robes dotted faint stains of red; weapons upon weapons strung over their shoulders. They had arrived during one of the anniversaries of Japan's most renowned restaurants, when the lights had been bright and spirits high. People were gathered outside with fireworks more colourful than ancient paintings to celebrate the favored dish of Japan: Sushi, created by Master Chef Rioichi Cooper.

It was during this night, when all was festivities and laughs, that they had leaped out of the shadows, brandishing their weapons with merciless grins. The crowd of villagers were herded like frightened sheep in front of the restaurant. There were many; crocodiles, wolves, rats...all lead by a leader in black clothing who pointed his blade towards the helpless villagers and ordered them to be robbed.

All objects worth anything were taken; jewels money, everything. And as the villages stood trembling in terror, the group of mercenaries rode away in a wagon, laughing as they vanished into the night. They left a cold, foreboding feeling in their wake. It had only been moments before they left that a figure in a blue hood returned to the rooftop of his shop; only to find his costumers and fellow villagers trembling in terror below.

Sharp, narrowed eyes followed the wagon tracks in the earth, staining the beauty of the village. Rioichi Cooper crouched on the rooftop and spun his cane in his hand, forming a plan in his mind. "Mmm..."

The hide-out was dank and dark; the inhabitants not too far off. The distinct smell of smoke, burnt meat and damp metal was overpowering to an outsider; but all those gathered around the tables and chairs paid no heed. Grumbling laughter raised over the dim torches of the underground cave; a fight breaking out among the rowdy bandits now and again. The beasts, rodents and birds all seemed very pleased with their findings, and it was with great grins that they watched as their masked leader poured their latest's stealing onto the floor for the whole gang to see. The thin, tall creature watched with a smirk in his eyes as all those around roared in approval.

All but one.

Sitting in the corner, crouched partially behind some barrels, sat a small spindly youth clutching a long flute to his chest. A raccoon with a dull green hood covering his head, large floppy ears bent back against his skull.

A pair of large, dark blue eyes watched uneasily as the leader of the gang sauntered towards the biggest chair in the hideout and cart-wheeled theatrically onto it, arms folded behind his head and thin legs sat up on a barrel. That man being pleased with himself was never a good sign.

He glanced over at the reddish-brown raccoon youth cowering in the corner and shot him a grin. The boy looked away quickly, fiddling with his flute and doing his best not to be noticed. The dark figure snickered at him before looking away.

Then, the Leader Bandit stood up and clapped his hands, and a silence followed as the rowdy bunch of bandits turned to look up at him. The raccoon boy looked at him too, his face holding a worried, anxious look about it, one always present on him.

"My friends..." The smooth, snide voice drew out, "It seems that our bounty has grown a little, hasn't it?" The bandits gathered around nodded enthusiastically. Then, something in the voice twisted.

"Well, it isn't enough."

The voice was pleasant enough- but something about the last words held a dangerous note that made almost all those present flinch. It was like a snake slithering through a patch of plain grass.

"A little robbery there, a little robbery here." The Leader stepped off his throne-like chair and moved along , arms gesturing from side to side to match his words. Sharp brown eyes gazed steadily around his men, each either looking away or only looking for a moment.

"But It means nothing if we're just seen as petty crooks!" A forced laugh made its way into his voice and he stretched his arms wide. He carefully moved past his men, and the raccoon boy stood as he neared, gripping his long flute tightly. The other mammal, similar in shape but taller by quite a height, slid over and wrapped an arm around the youth's thin shoulders and pulled him into view.

"My boy, Our little spy," The Leader announced in a sing-song voice, his free arm panning out towards the others as he spoke. His tone that was probably along the lines of menacing kindness, "Tell our friends...does anyone really know who we are around the villages?"

The boy fiddled anxious with his flute before shaking his head quickly. The leader released him and again, gestured with his arms towards his men. "Our little spy here tells me...that no-one says a word about us."

He strode quietly back towards his throne as he spoke, before stopping and glancing over his shoulder at the boy. "Correct?"

The boy nodded almost shamefully and lowered his gaze, before stepping away from the stares of the others and back into the crowd. The masked Leader shrugged almost plainly.

"Well, then, what's to be done?"

"Uh...sir?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from all around. The raccoon boy turned and stared with large, terrified eyes as all but the Leader turned to look at one boar, who had raised a hoof in the air. The Leader finally spun around and scowled, his eyes flashing. Not taking the hint, the boar went on.

"But, uh...why'd we need people ta know? Don't we just need the ca-"

SLICE.

A knife sped through the air and hit the boar right in the throat, and everyone in the hideout jumped. The boar gagged once before toppling backwards. Slowly, the rest turned to look at the leader, who stood with his arm outstretched. A bored look came across his eyes. Then, he clicked his teeth and spoke in a low, oozing voice.

"Any more questions?"

They all shook their heads, the raccoon boy included. "Veeery good, my friends. Now, tomorrow you will go out there...and make a name for us, you here?"

"Hai!"

All parties in the room began scrambling about, for weapons, tools, armor and the lot. All in preparation from the evening to come. During the commotion, before he could slink away, the Leader caught the Raccoon Boy by the scruff and pulled him close, his feet dangling uselessly in the air. He stared up at him anxiously.

"Now my Boy, Keep watch." The Leader placed a finger to his lips, "And do not let any...ninja see you." He dropped him and petted his head. The youth instantly bowed and slipped his long flute into a harness on his back, flipping out a long wooden spear in its wake. Then, he scrambled away.

The night was strangely clear after what had happened. Midnight had taken the village in a calming embrace, the clear sky and moon gazing down on the ponds, houses and roads. The reeds shifted softly in the breeze.

The silence surrounded the hidden ninja were he sat, crouched like a bird atop the thinnest point on a roof. He stared down at the streets from the shadows of the buildings. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as his eyes scanned the tracks...the ones that had mysteriously stopped in the middle of the road. His brown pupils narrowed.

Such dishonor in the wake of my home and restaurant will not go unpunished.

With that thought in mind, Rioichi hopped from rooftop to rooftop, deep in thought and concentration. He landed back where he started to think again, crouching low beside the beginning of the wagon tracks. He rested his arm on his knee, again rubbing his chin. He sensed something was amiss; these thieves, petty bandits to the untrained eyes, were not what they seemed entirely. And he had a premonition that they would clash again.

He pressed a paw to the earth and rubbed the dense soil between his thumb and forefinger. He spotted an odd red tint to the soil on the tracks, which he noted with interest. "Mmm...strange..."

Then, he stiffened. He sensed something; only a trained ninja would be able to catch the presence so quickly. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and he slowly and subtly reached towards his belt for a dagger.

But, just when he whipped around to face whoever had been watching him from the rooftops above, he found no-one was there. He lowered his knives, staring at the spot were a roof shingle had slipped just a little out-of-place.

Rioichi returned his knife to his belt. So...I am correct. Something is amiss in this village.

With that thought to go on, he hopped out of the empty street and vanished into the shadows cast by the tallest buildings. Not a soul had witnessed the Ninja's coming and going...but one.

Raccoon Boy's name will be mentioned later on. He looks to be around twelve-thirteen, just very scrawny XD the Bandit Leader is dressed in one of those black Ninja-like suits, but his body is the same shape of say, A Raccoon or squirrel but lacking any tail at all. Yay for psychotic bad guys. Please leave a comment!

UNDERGOING A CORRECTION STAGE.

Tidying up the story a little. Bear with me. :)