Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice. All rights belong to Higuchi Tachibana.

The Thief Princess

By: Green Mirth

Chapter Two: Valley of Loss

Kitsunume banged on the gate and the lookout hurried over to unbolt the lock. As he did, the signboard above creaked. It showed signs of deteriorating. There were termites and ants lagging behind its post. Although the words were rendered to be unreadable because some letters fell off already - more like stolen already- I knew by heart what they were.

W lc me to t e Val ey of Lo s

Place where lost are found but never returned

Welcome to the Valley of Loss. These words were embossed in the golden plate of the signboard before the other thieves stole some letters. When it happened, nobody knew who stole them. But two days later, there were two thieves who turned into gold. Pure gold. And they seemed to be holding onto something. After further investigations, it was found out that they were holding the stolen letters. From then on, nobody dared to steal them. Many planned but nobody dared.

This was the valley where I was dumped into (courtesy of an old hag), grew up and knew them. The persons who treated me well. It was the only place where even the evil lord never dared to go for anyone who went in will lose something important to them. Memories, Souls, Identities, jewelries, gold bars and even life could be stolen.

I know I lost something in here. I'm not sure as to what it was. I was young when I first entered. Foolish, ignorant and easily swayed to the fast-paced turning of life, but now, I'm different. I know where I stood in the ground. Far from the young-fragile-looking-stupid girl, who dearly clung to her selfishly bitter grandmother, in hopes of being loved and treated as the little child she was.

If one knew how to navigate through the ways of this valley, then he'd survive.

"You guys got some goodies?" the guard demanded. I didn't like the tone of his voice, mocking and ludicrous. He was smiling though. But his façade made us feel as though we were a tiny speck of dust whilst he was the biggest limestone. "Auction begins at dusk, you guys could join too of course. That is, if you're good enough to bring in something of great value," he finished and I heard Kitsunume huff behind.

Many treated us as though we were weak and frail. It irritated us a lot but it helped a great deal when we needed to pass up as innocents.

I was about to retort back and waste some of my precious saliva in him but Nonoko beat me into it. And my, my, she looked pissed off.

"No, we came to find something" Nonoko acted as though she rules the land. Her azul hair swayed as a gentle breeze blew by. If one wanted to be safe at a place like this, he should convey a tough untouchable aura and pull out the don't-mess-up-with-me-look so that nobody would dare mess up with him. But, if one was not, he must never try and pretend to be.

"Find something?" the guard looked at her with disbelief. "This is the Valley of Loss young lady, you're meant to lose something and you're never getting it back. Look at yourselves I don't think younglings like you belong here." He said as he reluctantly gave the passes to Yu. As long as we pay, we could get in and this (slimy, foul-smelling ugly) creature could only do nothing to stop us.

"Excuse me Sir," Nonoko said, "We don't know you the same way you don't know us," And pointed a long slender finger at him. "So I think it'd be appropriate if you just shut your mouth and stop assuming things when it's clear that you've got no knowledge on them."

"Really huh," the guard huffed, "Since you guys seem to know more knowledge than I have in this place, go in, follow the rule and I could only hope that you'd get out alive." The guard seemed to be offended and glared at the blue-haired girl.

"Oh, we will!" Nonoko glared back.

When the guard was out of sight, Nonoko spoke up. "I hate that person. Who is he to think we won't be able to go out alive? We spent our whole childhood lives running around here. We knew more history about this place than him!"

"Let's set up a prank before we go out of the valley." Kitsunume suggested. "Think of it as our welcoming gift to him. He seems to be a new guard, I'm now wondering where Mr. Bear went."

Yu suddenly asked me, "Where are we going again Sumire?"

"To the Thief Lounge, we promised Jii-chan we'd visit him once in a while. He'll be worried sick if we don't." I smiled as I remember him. He took care of me.

Ever since my parents died when I was seven, my grandmother –calling her old hag would be more appropriate- took care of me. I never knew where her hatred towards me came from. She always told me I am a cursed child. I never believed her, but with a lot of thinking I finally came to the conclusion that I am indeed a cursed child for I got her as a grandmother. And so, after months of starving, beating, slavering and mistreating me, the old hag suddenly grew some brain and decided to sell me. How I managed to live with her was a mystery. Anyway, I was sold off to an old merchant who just lost his granddaughter. He took care and treated me as his grandchild; he even taught me the ways of the valley.

I looked around. Not far from us, behind the rows of empty stalls, a newly-built obelisk was erected. Curious as to what it stood for, I signaled the others to follow me as I walked towards it.

"Don't you think it's too quiet here?" Yu stated, "These stalls should be open right now." He added as he threw a look on the empty stalls. He's right. The place was deserted and gloomy.

"Yeah, I noticed it too," Nonoko seconded, "Even the lady who sells iguana blood and snake skin isn't around too. She's always present every time I visit her tent." Nonoko looked longingly at the closed tent a few meters away from us. Kitsunume and I snickered. Nonoko adored the lady so much that she played ignorant once the lady started displaying loony characteristics.

Before Nonoko could tell us to stop, Yu pointed at the obelisk, "Isn't that the evil lord's crest?"

The evil lord's crest meant one thing –the valley now belonged to the evil lord. The most despicable yet cunning ruler of our land finally conquered the valley.

"That can't be," Kitsunume said, "He's afraid to go here, right?"

"Do you think something as evil as him would still be afraid?" I replied. "Maybe this is the reason why the place is deserted. Come on. Let's go meet grandpa he would know what had happened."

The four of us were quiet as they walked towards our destination. We saw a few people around who all wore gloomy expressions. When we reached it, the Lounge was empty. I called out for Jii-chan but my shouts were answered with a long deafening silence.

"Yu, Kitsunume, got to the market he might be there. Nonoko check the woods," I must've looked devastated but I still tried to act unlike it. I never liked being pitied, "I'll be looking around here."

I knew it would be useless finding him because the evil lord was known to be ruthless and heartless. He killed thousands before. What were the chances that he wouldn't when he conquered this valley?

"Sumire are you alright?" Nonoko asked, "You look-

"Did I ask for your sympathy? I said go find him," I cut her off and ranted. An offended look crossed her face. What I wanted at that moment was to be alone. The three of them went out and I got my wish. I'm now alone.

Being left alone was what I hated and loved the most.

When you're alone you can do anything and say anything no one would judge you or tell you to stop because none of them knew what you're doing. When you're alone, you're at peace and I loved it. But, being alone reminded me of those horrible nights I spent starving in my little room, bitten by rats and small insects. It reminded me of the time when my father died and the moment my mom jumped off the cliff. These were the times when I feel nobody cared for me anymore and I hated it.

I guessed that's how life worked. You'll never get what you wanted the most without having what you hated in this world. Just like a package deal, you can't have one without the other.

I felt nauseous as I walk around the lounge. There was a feeling of loneliness settling in me. But deep in my heart, hatred formed. It turned into something deeper and more. Till I knew I won't stop until I saw before my eyes the dead body of the evil lord. As to how that would happen, I had no idea. I just knew it would.

I was about to leave when a piece of parchment caught my attention.

I know you'll be visiting me Sumire, but I have to go to the Imai's manor to discuss an important matter. I do hope you are well and tell Nonoko I need a potion for my aching knees. Just leave it there on the dra

The note was unfinished and the ink pen used to write it lay motionless near the parchment. Hope engulfed me, it was like being splashed with a cold water. If her Jii-chan managed to run away when he was writing the note, then he's safe. Maybe that's the reason it was unfinished… but what if he didn't finish it because…

"Because he was killed,"

I was surprised with what was said. That was what I was thinking.

"Who are you? And-

"How did I know what you were thinking?" He cut me off. I hate it when people don't let me finish. I hate it a lot.

I turned around and saw hooded person in the Lounge, as to how he got in I have no idea. I smelled a different aura from the person. But as soon as I saw an evil lord's crest in his robe I took out my sword and prepared to fight. My instinct told me I'm not in danger, but the crest on his robe tells me otherwise. My instinct lost to what I saw, so I faced him and started attacking.

The hooded person let out a dignified yelp as he ducked.

His hood fell off and their eyes met. Green eyes clashed with amber. The former filled with anger; the latter of curiosity and wonder.

Author's Notes: Again, please tell me what you think. Special thanks to Jonnz for being my first reviewer, to IndigoGrapefruit for pointing out my mistakes and to everyone who read my story. Do review and tell me what you think. is it confusing? Or is it bad? Tell me. Have a great day!

-G. Mirth