Rai dashed along the rooftops, quickly trying to make her way towards the nightclub so that she could figure out what was going on. She had two guesses, and was praying for one of them to not be true. Upon the arrival of the scene, however, Rai could clearly see that a grapple line had been attached to the front of the peacock sign, which explained why it was no longer attached and caved in to where the fountain once was, since that was destroyed as well from all the debris lying around. As Rai got a bit closer, she was a bit confused, but also intrigued when she saw what appeared to be some kind of opening that was apparently underneath the fountain, something that was clearly new to her.

"A secret entrance? But where does it lead exactly?" Rai asked aloud.

She went to inspect the scene a bit more, but upon doing so, something managed to catch the corner of her eye off to the far left. The fox lifted her gaze, both surprised and a bit taken back upon seeing an unfamiliar van, that same grapple line attached at the top. "A van? What is that doing here?" She asked herself, taking a few steps toward the right, and in doing so, Rai now seemed unsurprised as to who this van belonged to. "I should've known... Looks like that raccoon beat me to it..." She sighed. "Well, if that's the case, I'll just head around the back side so I'm not spotted, and so I can see exactly what I'm gonna be dealing with."

The fox then took off and head around the back of the nightclub, entering through the ventilation shaft. For someone as thin as her, it seemed like an easy task to crawl through a tiny shaft, but even though she was thin in some places, she was also curvy in others, so she was having a bit of a hard time squeezing through. However, once she managed to squeeze through the shaft, Rai had reached her destination. She quietly crawled out of the ventilation shaft and down onto a nearby pipe, perching on it as she noticed the money-loving lizard and the snarky raccoon himself, his ringed tail swaying a bit as the two were going back and forth in a pointless argument.

"Ringtail..." Well, the name sure is fitting, I'll admit. I wonder what that cop, Carmelita sees in you, raccoon... She pondered, intrigued.

"Dimitri, hand over the tail feathers and we can both walk out of this without getting the police involved. We can-" Sly was abruptly cut off by Dimitri.

"So...Raccoonus Doodus, you're totally bumming my house up and bringing me down! So very uncool... Why can't you let the birds and bees be free, bro?" Dimitri said with his terrible grammar.

"Listen, Dimitri, you have no idea what you're dealing with; it'll bring more than your house down." Sly warned.

"Look, bro, I see that you are a tough cowboy, a man with taste, style, vision, a connoisseur of the finer things, like me. Look, I'm sure that two cats in a bag like us can work something out, yeah? We smoove, yeah? Look... You see the money, you like the money, you can take all you want! I can-" Sly cut the lizard off.

"No deal. You and the Klaww Gang have to be stopped. Clockwerk will never again see the light of day."

Hmm... What could the Klaww Gang be planning with those parts if not to put Clockwerk back together? Does each of them have a role to play, or...?

"What is with this clocks, bro!? Have you no vision? Are you hearing what I beam to you? You think you have juice? Don't show me a little mind when talking about such big things... You think you can swing the bat? Show your bling and let me shine you!"

Alright, I think I'm done listening to this nonsense, because it's gong nowhere... Rai thought annoyingly.

"I have no idea what you're saying, and your suit-"

Before Sly could finish his insult, Rai had suddenly leapt down from the pipe she was perched on, causing an echo to sound upon landing. Both Sly and Dimitri turned toward the sound as the fox rose to her feet, strutting closer to them with her boots echoing on each step she took. Upon emerging from the shadows, Rai finally came into full view, swaying her hips and tail as she strut toward the two boys. "I think I've had just about enough of listening to you two argue like children. So instead of toying around with one another, why not settle this like real men, hm?"

"Ah, so you must be the famous Scarlet Rose, I'd assume. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Sly greeted gentlemanly.

I will say one thing, she's a whole lot better looking in person... The raccoon noted, clearly eyeing Rai up and down for a moment.

"You would be assuming correctly, and the pleasure's all mine. I'm the one they call Scarlet Rose, which means that you must be the one known as Sly Cooper from the notorious Cooper Gang, am I right?"

"The one and only, but you're rather popular yourself as well, Miss Rose." He replied. "You're quite the thief and assassin from what I've researched on you, and witnessed, of course."

Rai perked up a but, slightly raising an eyebrow. Witnessed? Since when? Just what does he know that I'm not aware of?

"However, I do have to wonder...is there a pretty face hiding beneath this lovely mask of yours?" He leaned in a bit, his fingertips grazing her chin to lift it upwards so she could gaze up at him as the raccoon cracked a smirk.

Rai merely chuckled, brushing his hand aside. "You're quite the sweet talker too; no doubt, the rumors they say about you don't lie, that's for sure."

"Rose, baby, come crawlin' back to me, yeah?" Dimitri cut in.

Rai paused for a moment before directing her attention to the annoying lizard. "I didn't come here for you, Dimitri, I came for the tail feathers, and that's all. Although, putting your petty counterfeit operation to rest would certainly be a bonus for me as well, so why don't you just make this easy on all of us, hm?"

He merely shrugged before walking over to the fox, standing before the her. "Why don't you show me that pretty face of yours, my flower?" He asked, lifting a hand.

Rai abruptly snatched his wrist, her fierce emerald eyes struck with anger as she glared. "I suggest that, unless you want to lose this hand of yours, you would do well to not test what little patience I have left with you, because I'm really not in the mood to deal with your lackluster flirting."

"The rose sure does have them thorns." Dimitri purred, Rai growling.

"For the last time, quit trying to hit on me, you 80's disco buff!" She suddenly grabbed her black cane from her hip, spinning it in her hand before swinging the cane, only to knock the lizard's feet out from under him. "You never learn, do you? Well then, perhaps it's time I beat that lesson into you so you finally get it through that thick skull of yours."

"Now, now, why not let me handle this?" Sly cut in. "I wouldn't want a lady, such as yourself, to dirty her hands."

The fox flashed a glare in his direction. "Believe me, sweetheart, I've already got blood on my hands, and adding his to the mix surely won't make much of a difference. Besides, I've been meaning to blow off some steam as of late."

Dimitri let out an annoyed groan as he stumbled back onto his feet, Rai directing her attention back over to the flirtatious lizard.

"So, you wanna try hitting on me again, or have you learned your lesson?" She questioned, perching her cane on her shoulder. "Because believe me, I would be more than happy to do this in a more...violent manner." The fox smirked, spinning her cane in her hand before tapping it onto the floor, a hand against her hip. "So, big boy, what's it gonna be? The easy way, or the hard way, because I'm fine with both."

He merely growled in frustration.

"Oh, and by the way, this has been bugging me, but that suit of yours, it sucks." Rai than said.

"Ooohhhh! Let's dance, foxy!"

Rai got in a ready position, smirking. "Hard way it is then. Just know that I did warn you." She said before taking off.

And with that, they were off, Rai and Dimitri going at it like cats and dogs, though with Rai's skill set as an assassin, she was more than capable of handling anything Dimitri tried to throw at her. This fight seemed pretty one-sided, what, with Rai basically toying around with him, and all just so she could show off a little in front of Sly, but even then, he was having the time of his life just watching Rai playing with Dimitri like some cheap doll. It was almost like she was dancing circles around him, and it was amusing to watch to say the least. When Rai finally stopped to take a breather for a moment, she turned toward the smirking raccoon. "You know, you can join in any time." She said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I know it's nice to watch me and all, but I'm sure you'd like to get in a hit or two sometime tonight."

Sly chuckled. "Oh, well, if you're offering, then don't mind if I do." He replied, heading off to join in on the fun.

The two decided to team up and take on Dimitri, managing to get in some more good hits just to piss him off, or at least, more than he already was from the suit comment. However, as the fight began to drag on, Rai began to notice something was off about Dimitri. Somehow, he was becoming faster...? That didn't really make sense though... Somehow, someway, this lizard had been holding out on them, because he was getting faster, and it was steadily becoming more and more difficult to land a hit on him. One second he was there, then the next, in a completely different location across the freaking room. That was beginning to pose as a problem, a big one... Dimitri had then begun to fire off some kind of purple light, almost like a lightning bolt of sorts. When Dimitri had suddenly appeared in a different location again, Rai wasn't able to find him in time for Dimitri to fire off one of his purple lightning bolt attacks. Her eyes widened, of which, Sly hastily managed to tackle her to the ground just in the nick of time to save Rai from the incoming shot.

It was then though that fox smirked, not wanting to miss such a perfect opportunity for a snarky remark. "You know, you should at least warn a girl before tackling her like that, ringtail." She teased.

Sly chuckled in response. "Sorry, but I didn't exactly have the time, so I figured you wouldn't mind me saving that pretty little head of yours." He replied in that same teasing tone, getting back on his feet while extending a hand towards the fox. "Here, let me help you up."

"My, my, such a gentlemen." The fox exaggerated, taking Sly's hand as she got back onto her feet as well. "Heh, and some say chivalry is dead."

Sly winked. "Just for you, Red." He teased, Rai chuckling.

"Cute." She brushed him off. "Now then, if you don't mind, I'd really like to find that damn lizard so I can kick his teeth in. Just where did he go—"

"Behind you!" Sly abruptly shouted.

"What!?" Rai whipped around to see Dimitri as she quickly got ready to retaliate. "How did-gahh!?" Rai was suddenly cut off when Dimitri grabbed the fox by her neck using his tail, coiling it around her throat tightly as the fox felt her windpipe closing up on her, losing air fast.

She was now being strangled as she gasped and sputtered for air, clawing at Dimitri's tail in a feeble attempt to try and get free, but it all seemed in vain and Dimitri just tightened his hold around Rai's throat. She dropped her cane as she furiously grabbed and clawed at an attempt to get out of his death grip, Dimitri snickering at her feeble struggles. "Y-you...b-bas-tard...!" She managed to choke out through her strangled windpipe.

Dimitri let out an annoyed hiss in response as he tightened the grip of his tail, Rai letting out a strangled gasp due to her throat suddenly being crushed. Soon, her arms were going limp and her vision was hazy; she didn't even have the strength left to fight back anymore. Suddenly though, as if on cue, Sly had appeared right behind the lizard and, using his cane, whacked him square on the back of the head. He was knocked out cold upon contact and released his hold on Rai, the fox hitting the floor as she let out an audible gasp, coughing violently from air being forced back into her lungs while gripping onto her throat. Sly hastily got down at Rai's side and gently rubbed her back, the fox merely accepting his small comforting act.

"O-oww..." She croaked, rubbing her now sore throat.

"I know, but just try to calm down and breathe, alright?" Sly cooed to her.

It took some time for Rai to finally calm down and catch her breath after her fit of violent coughing, but once she was able to breathe normally again, she let out a sigh. "Are you alright now?" Sly asked, slowly aiding the fox back onto her feet.

She nodded, rubbing her throat again "Yeah... It hurts, but I'll live. Thanks for the quick save; I owe you..."

Sly just waved it off. "Nah, don't worry about it. I was just helping out." He shrugged. "Besides, he had to be taken down anyhow, so it was just luck of the draw."

"Yeah, I guess..." Rai merely agreed, running her fingers through her hair.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't even a little bit afraid that I was going to die just then... Rai thought to herself, thoigh begrudgingly. I guess I should just be grateful that this raccoon literally saved my ass from being strangled to death by that damn lizard... God... What a small world...

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

"Ugh!?"

Suddenly, the two gasped upon hearing sirens in the distance. Sly quickly grabbed the tail feathers and stuffed them in the pouch on his belt while Rai was hastily trying to find an escape route, snatching up her fallen cane. But before she could find a quick way to escape, Sly had wrapped his arm around her waist and leapt, taking her with him, though to say the least, she was surprised by this sudden action.

"Again, a little warning would be nice, please and thank you." She said, sounding a little annoyed this time.

"And again, I didn't really have the time for formalities, unless you like being caught by cops."

Rei just sighed in annoyance at him basically being right. "Fine, fair enough..."

As they were escaping, a truck and police cars broke through the wall, Carmelita scanning around when she saw Sly and Rai, the raccoon giving her a wink and a smile as he made his escape, the orange fox hastily following after them. When Sly made it to the van, he set Rai down on the rooftop they were currently on just as Carmelita called out to them.

"Hold it right there, thieves!"

"Inspector Fox, looking as beautiful and lovely as ever." Sly smirked.

"Save it, Ringtail. What the hell are you doing working with this wench?"

"Oh, I'm the wench? Who's the high-strung cop pointing a shock pistol at us again? You wanna rephrase that, honey?" Rai quipped.

"Shut it, Scarlet Rose!"

"My, my, feisty tonight, are we?" Rai mused.

Carmelita gave a growl in response.

Sly then let out a chuckle as he decided to intervene. "Well, as much as I would love to stick around and watch you two lovely ladies bicker, I'm afraid I have somewhere to be. However, before I make my leave, I think I'll take a little something with me."

"Wait, wha—uwah!?" Rai gasped.

Before she could even say anything, Sly had wrapped his arm around her waist again and dove off the building, Carmelita gasping as she ran to the edge. Sly hopped in the van with Rai in his possession as the pair gazed up at the fuming Inspector. "Ciao, Carmy~" Rai smirked as her and Sly quickly closed the van doors and drove off.

Carmelita growled, waving her fist in the air as she bellowed. "COOPER! ROSE!"

When they were far enough away from Carmelita, Sly set Rai down in the spot next to him so she wasn't in such an awkward position. "Sorry to drag you along like this, but I just couldn't help myself to see that look on her face!" Sly laughed.

Rai merely sighed, but couldn't help but grin as well. "Yeah, that was pretty great, wasn't it?" She agreed. "And I doubt you're gonna just drop me off any time soon, huh?" She then asked.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind, it's come to my attention that—"

"—I have information on the Klaww Gang because I used to work with them, am I right?" She cut Sly off. "I mean, come on, why else would you have brought me along like this?"

"Geez... Beat me to the punchline, why don't ya?" Sly griped, pretending to pout.

Rai rolled her eyes, smirking. "Well, in that case, if I'm gonna be tagging along, I might as well tell you my real name and lose this mask of mine." She said reaching for her mask. "Raiko Vulpes, but if you wouldn't mind, I'd prefer it if you just called me Rai." The fox smirked as she removed her mask, revealing those gorgeous green eyes of hers.

Sly nodded in approval. "Rai, you say?" He pondered over her name. "I like that, it suits you quite well actually." The raccoon then said.

Rai chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you approve."

Sly let out a chuckle this time. "So then, Ms. Vulpes, what are you all about?" He then asked.

"Well, now that depends... What would you like to know?"

"What are you willing to tell me?"

She glanced at the two up front then back at Sly. "Well, since you're all thieves just like me, I suppose I can trust you." She noted before continuing. "You came from a long line of master thieves, correct?"

Sly nodded. "Yes, I did."

"Well, I did as well. I come from a long line of foxes and I too have a family book of my own. I don't have it with me now, but it is somewhere safe. My family book is known as the Thievious Foxus and, like you, I'm also a master thief. I've been on my own ever since I was eight years old, honing my skills to become the thief that I am today, though, if I'm being honest..." She paused. "No, never mind, it's nothing."

"Well, where did you get your cane, if you don't mind? It looks just like mine actually." Sly then asked.

Rai grabbed her cane and stared at it for a moment. "You mean this old thing? It was my mother's actually, but after both her and my father were killed, I took her cane before anyone else could and made a few modifications to it. It's now made entirely out of metal, but it can also transform into a katana, dual canes, twin daggers, and two batons, which is why I'm also an assassin on occasion."

"Well alright then." Sly nodded in acknowledgement. "Although, I suppose I might as well address the elephant in the room and ask you this now, but...how would you like to join our gang?"