*le bow* Hello! Welcome! There really isn't too much I have to say before I start the story, so um... enjoy!

It was an ordinary job. Just get the prince's crown, get out, then sell it and receive payment. Simple.

I stared up at the castle of King Izaya and Queen Namie in wonder and astonishment. I've always wondered what it must be like for the royal family, living their cushioned lives while the common man had to work for a living. I shrugged the thought off. Some questions aren't meant to be answered.

I dug through my satchel and grabbed a metal rod. It was rusted and old, and had faded spots of blood from previous jobs. I snuck up behind the palace guards - two young men, not too old to be still in training - and smashed the rod against their heads, knocking them out, but not killing them. I headed towards the large brass doors that set the barrier between myself and the interior of the castle and grabbed the metal and enormous lock that held the door closed. I yet again turned to my satchel, digging through it until I found a hairpin, and got to work with picking the lock.

It took quite a bit of work, this particular lock, but after about five minute's worth of lock picking, it opened. Inside I knew would be a swell of guards and soldiers, so I had my metal rod handy.

I had studied enough maps of the structure to know that there was a long, slim corridor on the right, five steps from the entrance. I would head that way, then up a spiral staircase, up four flights. Once I reached the fourth, I would go down the hallway on the left, up yet another flight of stairs, then I would arrive in the kitchen. I'd most likely have to pick yet another lock, and then I would make my way down the next hallway until I arrived in the dinning hall. Then I would turn left, and the bedrooms were not far from there. The only problem would be finding out which room it was that Prince Hibiya inhabited.

As soon as the door swung open, I followed through with my plan. There were less guards than expected, and there also was no lock to pick to the door of the kitchen. Things ran smoothly. Once I arrived at the bedrooms, however, was where the trouble began.

Hibiya was the youngest and the heir of the king's four sons, and was extremely high profile. His brass door would be the one most polished, lacking in smudges and dents. The doorknob would also most likely be made out of something akin to crystal, looking shiny and royal.

I eventually found a door that fit this description, and knocked out the guards the I ran into along the way. The door had no lock, just A golden doorknob encrusted with rubies and sapphires - it was not a bad idea to steal that as well after I had stolen the crown.

Upon entering the room, I had to hold in a gasp. The place was enormous, double - no, triple - the size of the largest merchant shop I'd ever been in. The walss and floor were made from matching polished marble, and a golden fountain bubbled in a corner. There were two, three, four dressers in the room as well as a huge closet filled with assorted cloaks, but atop the third dresser was where the crown sat. It was at least the size of my hand, and solid gold, too. I had never seen such a valuable object in my life. And it was going to be mine.

I was so entrance by the crown and by the room that I almost didn't notice Prince Hibiya, himself, sleeping soundlessly in a canopy bed. He lived such an undeserved, cushioned life, I honestly didn't know what was keeping me from killing him right then and there-

Oh, yes. Because that was treasonous.

I sighed and went back to work. I grabbed the crown quickly but without haste. If I were careless, I might knock something over, something that would land with a thud loud enough to wake the prince. I was cautious, and left the room without a trace.

I was making my way back through the corridor, quickly now, when I felt a sharp pain in my left shoulder. I toppled to the ground, and through blurred vision I saw an arrow, black as night, gouging my shoulderblade. I had been shot! My ears weren't my own anymore, I heard the noises and loud shouts around me as if they were part of a movie soundtrack. The last thing I remembered was something kicking me, then picking me up, and I blacked out.

I woke to find myself laying in a prison cell, my shoulder throbbing as blood pumped out of the open wound and onto my brown jacket. I could hear voices outside, but my vision was fuzzy and blurred with tears of pain, and I wasn't focused enough to think of who it might be. I thought maybe it was my brothers, but that thought made my head hurt and I didn't want to have to deal with a migraine as well as a damaged shoulder.

"He's awake! Lookit, lookit! He finally woke up!"

"Are you sure? He doesn't look awake to me!"

"Looks drunk if you ask me."

"Roppichin! Don't say such things! He's wounded, yes he is!"

"Hey, look! Here comes the guard!"

"Is he gonna get beheaded?"

"That's for Daddy to decide."

"If so, I wanna watch!"

I finally gained enough strength to open my eyes fully, and almost had a heart attack right then and there when I saw three of the four princes of Ikebukuro staring me down. One was garbed all in black, and had piercing ruby eyes that felt like they were staring into my soul. I looked away from him. The other two had pink eyes as well as smiles on their faces, and that made me feel more relaxed. One was wearing a white suit and the other was in a pink furisode.

I saw a tall man walk over, and unlock my cell. I could have bolted and tried to escape, but with this pain in my shoulder, nothing sounded more comforting than death right now.

He hoisted me onto my feet, and I fumbled a little, but I eventually was able to stand upright. "Walk." He commanded, and I did as I was told. I followed him, shackles and all, down the corridor of this small prison - was this the king's private jail? - until we arrived at the main hall, where king Izaya himself was seated at his thrown. Queen Namie wasn't there; she must've been floating elsewhere in the palace. In Izaya's hand was a crossbow, a warning for me not to do anything stupid. But what would be the point of a warning when he was just going to behead me anyway?

The guard who led me in here then, without warning, kicking the underside of my knee, knocking me to the ground as I doubled over in pain. I was about to curse something foul at the top of my lungs when Izaya began to speak.

"Tell me, you pissant little thief, what shameful name were you so graced with having?" I stared into his eyes. The were the color of rust, and so was his smile. His smirk tightened and I opened my mouth to speak but hacked up spit onto the polished floor instead.

"Delic..." I sputter out, and I see his face contorting. Delic was a name of honor, not the traditional Japanese names given to common men. My name suggested I held a position in some high authority, not that I was a low-life thief.

"Tsk. You've made quite a reputation for yourself, pissant little thief." He cooed, deciding not to call me by name after all. "I hear you can steal anything."

"I can."

"Really? Anything is a terribly broad category of things to steal. Tell me, can you really steal anything?"

"I can steal anything."

"Well then, there's something I want you to steal."

I repeated myself yet a third time. "I can steal anything."

"Oh, I promise you, this will be the most difficult thing you have ever stolen."

"I am strong, swift, and smart. I will find it, whatever it is, and bring it to you."

"This will be terribly difficult to acquire, as no one has ever been able to steal it before. Tell me, can you be the one to steal it for me?"

I nod my head, trying not to let my relief show. He was going to not only spare my life, but he was hiring me as well! "If you'd tell me exactly what it is I'm stealing, there's no doubt in my mind I can get it. As long as it exists, that is."

"Hmm, you'll find out what it is eventually. For now," His gaze shifted over to Prince Hibiya, who I'd only just realized had been sitting in the room with us. "you'll be Hibiya's butler."

"What?!" The sound erupted from me like lava in a volcano. "I thought I was going to steal something for you! How am I supposed to do that while taking care of a bratty little prince?!"

The king chuckled. "All in due time, pissant little thief. Hibiya, make sure to give him a warm welcome!" The man became a burst of laughter, shaking with every noise that erupted from his body. Hibiya screamed in protest, and I collapsed on my back. I take it back. I'd rather be dead.

I shuddered as I thought of my reputation. Delic Heiwajima, Thief For Hire was no more. Please give a warm welcome to Delic Heiwajima, Butler.

P.S.~ Anyone who can guess what it is the Izaya wants Delic to steal gets a cyber cookie~! :)