The Two Thieves of Nippon

Chapter One

One beautiful spring day in Nippon, a young girl wandered through the streets of Sei-An City, looking for something to… steal?

Yes, this young girl was actually a ruthless thief, trained by Hayazo and a master pickpocket. She only had eyes for valuable items and rare objects, even as many a young man could not take their eyes off her.

She had various techniques for different people, ranging from acting like a sweet maiden to charm some poor sucker to artfully conning large groups of people. Not once had she ever been caught, until one day a certain wolf goddess decided to visit her favorite city once again.

As this young girl, named Mishi, slyly wandered through Sei-An in broad daylight, she knew a day like this called for a good scheme. Maybe a bump-into pickpocketing.

She silently bumped into a young man named Tanako and promptly apologized, flashing him a dazzling smile.

"Oh, dear, I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

Tanako turned around and flashed her a dazzling smile back.

"Oh, yes, I'm quite fine."

Mishi internally gasped. He was extremely handsome.

Tanako was shocked. She was extremely beautiful.

"Umm… would you… oops!" Tanako suddenly tripped and fell onto Mishi. "Ugh, I'm so clumsy, I'm sorry! Please, let me…"

That's when he realized Mishi had his favorite flute in her hands.

And that's when Mishi realized Tanako had her valuable hairbrush in his hands.

"You… you thief!" she exclaimed.

"Me! You stole my… wait. Did you notice when I took this?" Tanako said, gesturing to her brush.

"Well… no." Mishi answered, glaring at him. "Did you notice when I took this?" she said, displaying his flute.

"Umm… not really…"

Mishi suddenly realized something. "Do you know a man named… Hayazo?" she asked.

Tanako narrowed his eyes. "Actually, I do. I suppose we both do, huh?"

Mishi sighed. "Yes. He trained you too, I'm guessing."

"Yup. I'm a master thief! And I bet I'm better than you. Hayazo trained me specially!" Tanako bragged.

"Oh, really? I'm sure he did, but not as well as me. I've known him for years." Mishi flaunted back.

"Ha! I've known him since I was just a little boy. He's taught me everything. Absolutely everything."

"Well I don't care, and I know I'm better than you. What a fool you are, you couldn't have more blatantly snatched my brush. I knew it the whole time!" Mishi scoffed, grabbing back her hairbrush from a surprised Tanako.

"Ha! What a lie. I only said I hadn't noticed because I didn't want to put you down. You are kind of pretty you know, if only you weren't so clouded by your conceit!" Tanako shouted back, grabbing Mishi's arm and yanking his flute away from her.

"Why you… you bully! How dare you handle a woman like tha-"

Suddenly, Mishi was interrupted as a shining white light entered her vision, making the bright sun above look as dim as a candle.

A beautiful white wolf with flowing fur and red markings stepped majestically through the gate into Sei-An City. The first thing the two arguing thieves noticed was the incredible Divine Instrument on its back. A gleaming red mirror flaming with colors of bright orange and teal, Solar Flare taunted them like a toddler to chocolate.

"That's… amazing…" Mishi gaped, dropping her brush to the ground.

"It's… incredible…" Tanako murmured, staring in awe at the divine beast.

He let the flute fall from his hands and it rolled away, falling into a canal with a little "plop!"

The wolf, who of course was Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, stepped forth and lithely brushed past Mishi and Tanako and several other awestruck civilians.

Flowers and grass sprung up from the cracks in the pathway where Amaterasu had walked. A small patch of moss appeared on Mishi's kimono.

The wolf padded away, heading toward the Aristocratic Quarter with intentions of visiting Queen Himiko's gravesite.

Mishi and Tanako were left speechless for several minutes. Their previous argument had been forgotten.

"All right. I'm getting that strange instrument. I must have it!" Tanako exclaimed, breaking the silence.

"Are you insane!? You can't just steal from a god! They'll destroy you! The only way is a good scheme. You have to fool them. That's the best way to steal something." Mishi said.

"Ha! A scheme. The only thing I need is brute force, the real best way to steal something. Most people won't hesitate to give you whatever you demand when there's a knife at their throat." Tanako argued.

"Gods aren't most people, stupid. No simple weapon can harm a god. You need to use your mind, to trick them. And brute strength only gets you arrested!"

"Whatever. When you attack people they stay quiet if you let them live. If you only con them, they'll realize you stole something and that's when you really get arrested. And besides, gods are supposed to be pure and good, right? That wolf wouldn't dare to fight back. I just demand the instrument, doggy gives it to me, and I walk away with a billion yen in my pocket. Easy!"

"Oh yeah, that'll really work. What're you going to do, refuse to give the god a bone? You idiot. I know my way will work, and then I'll be the one with a billion yen."

"Sure, sure, you try your way and I'll try mine. That mutt doesn't stand a chance! By the way, lady, what's your name? Mine's Tanako."

"You can call me Mishi. And yes, I will try my way. Maybe, when I leave the city forever with a fortune in my pockets, I'll take pity on you and give a fraction of my profits."

"You're on. I'll be seeing you later, with a god's mirror in my hands!"

"Good luck with that. Fool."

"Wench."

"UGH!"

And with that, Mishi and Tanako went their separate ways, already planning and plotting schemes and attack strategies and the like.