Aurore; It's just me again. Not my characters, I didn't imagine, Scip and Bo and Prosper and Hornet and Riccio and Mosco and any other character I may or may not mention in this, 'cept for Cadenza, 'cause she's mine. You no steal Cadenza. Got it? It took forever to find a nice Italian name for her… I honestly didn't want to call her Trista, 'cause that would be wayyy to ironic. Enough babble.

Chapter 1;

Scipio heard something, someone, moving. He turned his head in the direction, his eyes landed on her, barely, though, because, the moon did indeed light up the area, not enough for him to see all of her frail form, the paleness of her bare legs did indeed stick out like s beacon.

Cadenza's breath caught in her throat, as she tried to look invisible. She was painfully aware of eyes on her. A few seconds later, she tired of the game of 'hide and don't look here' with the boy. She stepped out of the shadow, resting her eyes on him. "Why a mask at this time of night?" She inquired, feigning wide-eyed innocence.

Scipio's lips twitched upwards into his almost always-visible smirk, the one that held so much mischief. He watched her emerge from the shadows, pointedly ignoring the question she had asked. Watching her eyes widen in innocence, he shook his head. "Why ask such pointless questions?" He retorted quickly.

"A pointless question is better than a contradicting one." Cadenza said, stepping closer towards him, "Don't you think?"

Scipio sighed and folded his arms by his chest stubbornly. His dark eyes travelled over her ruined clothing as he muttered, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself? And don't you have somewhere to be?"

Oh dear lord, he thought, I'm going soft. His thoughts were interrupted by a small laugh and the girl's reply, "First, I never introduce my self first, and second, frankly, I don't, but a boy like you must, so leave playing street kid to the actual orphans and runaways"

"Fine. Don't let me help you." Scipio replied, as he realized he had forgotten something, "And since you don't want to tell me who you are, I'll tell you who I am. I," He paused, trying to add a bit of suspense, "I am the Thief Lord."

"I don't need help!" Cadenza exclaimed, a hurt look coming across her pale, moonlight face, "And I don't need someone that calls himself the Thief Lord." She sneered.

Brushing aside the girls reaction he asked another question, "Do you have somewhere to go tonight? To sleep, I mean."

Cadenza walked towards the bridge rail, nimbly climbing on it, her arms outstretched for balance. She furrowed her brow as she walked slowly on it, before quickly whipping her head in his direction. "I. Don't. Take. Charity." She said, through gritted teeth.

Scipio looked at the watch strapped to his wrist. They expected him, and he didn't want to keep Bo up to late just to argue with this girl. "At least come meet my friends."

"Are these friends anything like you?" She asked, jumping from the rail, landing quietly on her feet.

Scipio took a deep breath. This girl was starting to get on his nerves. "No. They aren't. Now are you coming or not?" He asked, his voice starting to sound irritated, "I don't want to keep Bo up. Prosper will kill me."

"Fine." Cadenza muttered, "As long as it makes you shut up."

Scipio's smile enlarged, as he took hold of her wrist, gently pulling her towards the old theatre with the broken neon sign that had once read Stella. Cadenza protested, "Let go of my wrist! I know how to walk!"

"Just follow me then." Scipio said, ducking into an alley.

As he led her to the back exit, he knocked loudly on the door. "See how much trouble you're causing me? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have to wait."

"But you were the one that wanted me to come." Cadenza replied, as a short boy with spiked hair and bad teeth peeked out at them.

Scipio smiled evilly, pushing Cadenza away from the door. "Buona sera, Hedgehog. I've brought a guest." He informed, gesturing to Cadenza.

Riccio pulled the door open, allowing them in. Cadenza was surprised to see the mattresses on the floor, the moth eaten starry curtain, and the theatre chairs. It was like a giant, dollhouse type nursery. "Who is she?" Riccio inquired, as if Cadenza wasn't there.

"That's a good question, Riccio. She didn't answer me when I asked her,' Scipio drawled, before turning to Cadenza, "What's your name?"

Cadenza snapped back to the real world, replying "My name's Cadenza."

"Cadenza. Doesn't that mean rhythm? Anyways, Cadenza, this is Riccio, Riccio, this is Cadenza. Now Riccio, go tell the others I'm here." Scipio commanded in the bossy tone that some of them despised so much.

Riccio scrambled off, with a look of hero worship on his face. "Actually, Cadenza means rhythmic, genius." Cadenza muttered, as Riccio came back, followed by four other people, a girl, a dark boy, and a dark haired boy whose hand was intertwined with the hand of the youngest boy, an angel haired youth of about six years.

"Hey Scip!" The young boy greeted excitedly, running up to Scipio, "What did you bring us today?"

They hadn't quite registered the fact that Cadenza was there, so Scipio took advantage of that. He smirked at them, tossing a bag, and then he said, "I've also brought somebody. Her name is Cadenza."