Chapter 1
The market street was crowded. Merchants hollered at the top of their voices, housewives bargained for the best offers and children too young to be left at home clutched tightly to their mothers' dresses.
She was a grey shadow in the sea of vibrant colours. She kept her head low and darted around the corners of stalls. Her eyes swept across the crowd and dark alleys, always looking, always searching.
Her gaze fell on a tail that swung to and fro. It was attached to a lean young man wearing jeans and a blue vest. His heavily layered blond hair was tied in a low ponytail. She scrutinized the blond man's behind. Or rather the thick wallet peeking out from his denim overall's pocket. Hmm. Finally an easy target. Although she had to admit that she was surprised that there would be someone with as much cash in this small farming village. After this, she could finally get a good meal, a warm bed at the inn…
She pulled the hood lower down her face and quickened her footsteps. When she was right behind the man and began to pass him, her deft fingers reached down and brushed against the rough leather of the wallet. She smiled inwardly as her hands closed around her target.
Suddenly, quick as a cat catching its prey, the blond man turned and grabbed her hand out of his pocket. He smirked when he saw that his wallet was in her hands. Her eyes widened as she realized her predicament. She twisted and struggled to get out of his grip, but damned was he strong!
"Ow, ow, you're hurting me! Let go!" she yelled.
"Heh, just your luck to have met me! You can't ever steal from the best guy in the business!" the young man gave her his brightest smile and raised his other hand, which was holding on to HER purse.
The man grabbed his own wallet back, released her and disappeared into the crowd before she could react. She could only stare in the direction that he left. Now not only had she failed to get extra cash, what little money she had left was gone as well. She was determined to get it back; both her money, and his money which should have been hers. She pushed back the stray strand of silver hair that had escaped the hood before anyone started to stare, and pushed through the crowd after the blond thief.
xxxxx
A man watched from the shadows as the girl had a brief struggle with the blond youth. A lock of silver hair fell across her face, confirming his suspicions. His eyes shone with glee and determination as he followed her silently.
A/N: Just a short chapter to start the story off!