~~Chapter 4~~

The girl stood atop the giant cat-like doll and crossed her arms, smirking. Lium glanced at Yuri oddly and back at her. She had black hair in twin tails, tan skin, hazel eyes, and wore what looked like a long pink vest with coat-tails

"That's highly unlikely. Just who the hell are you, Kid?"

"I am not a kid, you bastard! I am Anise Tatlin Master Thief Artes Wielding Puppet Controller! And this is Tokunaga."

Even Yuri's eyes narrowed and he drew his sword. Lium gasped and stepped forward.

"Really, Yuri? She's a little girl!", he put his arms out and held him back.

Yuri simply pushed him back, calmly, "So you are going to kill us? Guess I need to defend myself."

"You're darn right!", yelled Anise and Tokunaga charged at Yuri.

Yuri closed his and lifted his sword, "Azure Edge!" The blue shockwave got underneath the charging patchwork beast and knocked it off of it's paws. Anise lost her seating and was flung helplessly into the air. Opening his eye, Yuri ran up the tree closest behind him, kicked off and grabbed Anise in midair. The doll crashed into the trees behind it and Yuri landed on his feet.

"Whoops...", he said, "I appears I'm still alive. Oh well..."

He placed Anise on her feet, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of gald, tossing it to the thief.

"This is for your troubles. Now get out of here while you're still safe. The Pakuman Knights are after us.", he started away towards Lium and Klonoa.

Anise looked at the pouch in her hand, and threw it on the ground, glaring, "This is hardly pocket change! I came here for the Sorcerer's Ring!"

Klonoa walked over to Anise and held the ring out like a weapon. She was at least a head taller than him.

"No way! I'm not giving it to you!", he yelled in a high-pitched voice, "I brought it from another world to save my friend!"

For a few seconds Anise just stared at Klonoa and looked at him intently. The she picked him up, and started squeezing him tightly.

"Oh my gosh, he is so cute! I wanted the Sorcerer's Ring but now I have the ring and this thing! Anise Tatlin Master Thief Artes Wielding Puppet Controller wins!", the girl yelled jumping up and down.

Lium got behind her, hit her over the head and held her in his left hand and Klonoa in his right. Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"We are still using him, thank you very much.", he said glaring at her and tossing Klonoa to Yuri, "Listen, we are both criminals and you are a thief so don't you think it would be better to travel together? Hate to break it to you but you're jailbait if the knights catch you alone out here!"

Yuri started slow clapping and dropped Klonoa to the ground, receiving a glare from the bunnycat, "Nicely said Mr. She's-a-Little-Girl. What do you say, Ms. Tatlin? Come with us, remain safe from the Pakumen Knights, and you can ever hold on to the Sorcerer's Ring...and this little...fuzzball."

Lium put Anise back on her feet and she groaned. Finally she snapped her fingers and her large stitched beasty came to life. Tokunaga leapt up towards them and Lium raised his sword, but to his surprise the doll shrunk and Anise caught it before putting it on like a backpack. She ran over to Klonoa who made a face when she picked him up.

"You got a deal, but only because it's you who needs me!", she said pointing to herself proudly, "I'm an artes user and you need someone who can cast artes."

"You little bra-", Lium started over to her and Yuri put his hand out to stop him.

"Then we are lucky to have you with us, Ms. Tatlin.", he said as he smiled and made a slight bow.

Anise smiled and put Klonoa back on his feet and walked passed them, her eyes close and smiling with her hands behind her back.

"That's more like it...", she said, "You guys obviously came from the castle so to avoid the knights, we want to head it this direction. Let's go!"

Lium sighed, "Yuri, why'd you have to go and make that brat feel special?"

Yuri laughed, "Come on, it will be easier this way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Skit 2: Yuri the Lady's Man~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lium- "Wow, Yuri. You are really good with kids. If it was me, I would have lost it."

Yuri- "*laughs* Don't get me wrong. I was just playing along with her. I can't stand kids most of the time. But I know how to treat girls."

Lium- "How to treat girls? I never realized you were a lady's man."

Yuri- "H-hey, stop putting words in my mouth. I like everyone the same, okay."

Lium- "Huh? Wait, then are you bi-?"

Yuri- "*flustered* I said stop!"

Anise lead the way for what seemed like 10 minutes or so until they got to a main road. She turned around and crossed her arms.

"We want to keep traveling south on this road until we reach Sassac.", she acted like she was giving big important orders, "There we can restock on supplies and find a cheap inn."

"Wow Anise, you are really smart.", said Klonoa, "I thought you were just a stuck up little brat!"

A sweat drop formed on the back of Lium's head, "Who the hell died and made her leader?"

Anise glared at him, "I heard that, you jerk!"

"Good, your hearing works, you bit-", Yuri cut Lium off.

"Shush...quiet...", Yuri carried on, glancing around.

Lium listened closely but heard nothing, "You heard something?"

"No...", he continued to walk ahead, "I just want you guys to be quiet."

It was Yuri who got hit over the head by Anise now. Tokunaga had grown and she was using the doll to reach Yuri's height.

"You dumbass!", she yelled and hit him again.

"No, he's pretty smart, Anise.", laughed Klonoa, "It sure worked!"

Anise had started chasing Klonoa in circles down the northern Sassac road. Lium groaned and Yuri couldn't help throwing his head back and laughing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sassac: Small Trading Village ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they got to Sassac, the trading village was busier than one would have expected. Crowds were flocking around caravans and open shop windows. Though the town was small, it seemed bigger with all of the people gathering. Yuri was opening his coin pouch.

"Okay team, we need gels, panacea bottles, and maybe some life bottles. How much do we have all together?", he started counting his coins.

Lium dug into his pocket and did the same, "67...68...69...270 gald all together."

Yuri made a face, "That's it? Well we're going to be hard pressed. I have 450 here and apple gels are 150 here."

Lium made a face of discouragement and Anise started to rummaged threw a pouch in Tokunaga and pulled out a large and heavy looking sack.

"How much...do you think is...in here?", Anise's face was bright red as she lifted the bag and dropped it on the ground.

Lium's eyes widened and Yuri crossed his arms, smirking.

"Wow, I am impressed...", mused Yuri, shaking his head, "You are indeed a valuable member of our team, Ms Tatlin."

Anise blushed, holding her hands together, and shaking her head left and right, "You're so flattering, Yuri. And handsome! If only you were rich!"

"Right...", Yuri laughed shaking his head again, "Well, let's by a full item set and be on our way again. Afterwards we can head to the castle in my hometown. I'm sure we can get help there."

Anise's eyes widened, "You live in a castle?! Than you really are a rich prince!"

Lium and Klonoa jumped in shock, "Seriously?! Yuri's a prince?!"

Yuri sighed, "I'll leave that to your imaginations. Now let's go..."

Anise was jumping and skipping with joy and Klonoa skipped after her. Lium watched them and sighed. He himself was sure that they had the wrong idea but he'd hit Yuri up about it later. It was time to shop. Then he noticed that Anise didn't pick up her huge money back. About to grab it, a figure in a brown-haired person in a red outfit, ran past and grabbed the money bag.

Lium ran after them, "Thief! That's our gald!"

Just then, he heard a scream and turned seeing that another figure, with a cloth mask, was pulling at the Sorcerer's Ring and Klonoa was trying desperately to get it back. The person kicked Klonoa and followed after the first person.

"MAGYAAAA!", Klonoa went flying and hit the ground, skidding. Yuri picked him up and started after the people.

"Lium!", he shouted, "Grab Anise and follow me east. I know those clothes; they were assassins from the Yamakaze clan!"

Lium ran back and found the little girl lost in the crowd. She looked lonely and confused.

"Prince Yuri?", she called, "Where did you go?!"

Grabbing her, he ran to the eastern gate like Yuri had instructed. Anise's eyes widened and she beat his back with her fist.

"Let me go, you pervert!", she yelled.

"Shut up!", Lium yelled, trying to be heard by her over the crowds and her own screaming, "Some thieves stole the Sorcerer's Ring and our gald. Yuri went after them."

Anise went quiet now feeling guilty. Lium sighed and patted her head as he left Sassac.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Chapter 4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~