AN: Sorry i have´nt been putting upp any new chappies. Since it´s gone a wery long time you´ll get a wery long chappie.
Chapter 33
Training continued…up until the point that poor Kitty could walk the runway with what they all now called 'The Sing strut' with the best of them! Heck, she was becoming so used to wearing dresses that her skin didn't even crawl anymore…well, most of the time it didn't! And…needless to say, that fact scared Kitty more than she cared to ever admit to!
The next day, with the show only a week away now, Yuri´s seemingly tireless seamstresses had finally---at long last!---finished the last of the Sing emsemble. Yuri, who had been critiquing Svetlana's last presentation down the runway at the Malta ballroom, was the one who got that much-anticipated call. Needless to say, Yuri was ecstatic!
"It is done? Oh, merci! Merci beaucoup, cheris!" Yuri gushed into her slender cell phone, her green-gold eyes welling up with happy tears. She completed her call, put away her cell, and then turned, walked slowly and gracefully over to Naomi…hugged her, and promptly burst into a fit of tears. Carmelita and Svetlana moved immediately to poor Yuri's side, gently stroking her back and shoulders, helping to soothe the overwrought snow leopard woman. Finally, the storm past, and Yuri moved away from her rock, Naomi, and smiled fondly and thankfully at her concerned friends.
"Pardonnez moi," Yuri said, sniffling slightly as she wiped away her tears from her cheeks. "I am sorry…I don't know what came over me…"
"Yuri," Carmelita replied, knowingly. "You've been working non-stop for the past three months now. You don't sleep, you don't eat…unless Naomi forces you to, and you've been under constant pressure...well, what with your 'arrangement' with that bastard Ripperoux, I mean." Carmelita shrugged. "Hey, you're bound to break sooner or later, lady. You can't carry all that around inside you forever, you know."
"I know," Yuri said with a sigh, composed once more finally. "I know, cheri. But, all that aside…I do want to thank you all for your support, my darlings." She smiled, looking at each of her dear friends in the face for a long moment in their turn. "I could not of done this---any of this!---without each and every one of you. I love you all…very much."
Svetlana, her lower lip trembling with emotion, moved forward and pulled Yuri into her arms, hugging her with fierce affection, tears beginning to run down her smooth round cheeks. "Oh, Madame…" she cried softly, her small shoulders shaking with sobs. Evidently, Yuri hadn't been the only one feeling the pressure, it seemed.
"Shh," Yuri soothed, reaching up her hand to stroke little Svetlana's silky black hair. "I know, cheri. I know," she told the weeping girl. She looked over to Naomi, and gave her a nod to continue on…while she saw to calming down poor Svetlana.
Naomi beckoned the other girls over to her. "While Madame sees to Svetlana," she began, smiling with concern at the gently weeping tigress. "We must continue on, no? So, Kitty, Carmelita? Could I impose upon you to come with me on an urgent matter?" She looked over to the two vixens…then, paused and looked at Maria. "Oh, Maria? Could I ask you to perhaps stay? You understand…and help Madame with poor Svetlana?" Naomi looked with some concern at Svetlana, then looked back to Maria. "I'm sure she will be all right after a good cry, oui?"
Maria smiled, nodding her head. "I'm sure she'll be fine. She just needs to get it out of her system, I think. I'm surprised she's lasted this long…what with how she worries so of late. Not that she hasn't been wonderful the whole time, you understand…no complaints, always there to do what's needed. Eh, I suppose she just needed a chance to let it all out, da?"
Naomi frowned, one blond eyebrow arching up. "I had no idea that she's been worrying so, Maria," Naomi replied, her eyes troubled a bit.
"Oh, da, she has," Maria replied, nodding her head. "But, please…let me explain. Svetlana loves you all very much, da? You know this, right?" The other girls all smiled, pleasantly surprised, each flicking their eyes fondly toward the sniffling little tigress.
Maria grinned, then continued. "Now, as this is the case, she worries about you all." She turned suddenly toward a startled Kitty, who blinked at being selected first. "She worries about you, Kitty. She worries what will happen to you…what with how you're being forced to wear dresses and feminine things…which, she knows you detest. She worries that this will change you…and not necessarily for the better."
"Wait a sec. Hold on," Kitty replied, stunned and not a little touched. "I never said---"
"Da, I know," Maria pointed out, placating. "I know, Kitty. But, this is how my Svetlana thinks, da?" She then turned to Carmelita, who nodded, guessing she'd be next. "With you, Carmelita, she still worries that you will not like her…and so she works very hard never to let you down. Do you not know this?"
Carmelita's startled expression answered that quite handily. "No, as a matter of fact, I didn't. But, Maria…I thought she and I had hashed that all out before!" she protested.
"Da, you did, I know," Maria agreed. "But, Svetlana, she worries that even one mistake, one small misstep on her part, and you will hate her. That is irrational, yes, but I think it is partly due to the fact that feels somewhat guilty about her girlish crush on your Sly Cooper…"
"I'll talk to her," Carmelita promised, her eyes troubled. "I'll let her know that all that's in the past. That she only has to be herself, and we'll---I mean, I'll--- love her just the same."
"Da, she will like that," Maria said with a smile and a nod. She then turned to Naomi. "You, tovarisch, she worries about you most of all---well, except for Madame Yuri, of course."
"Moi?" Naomi questioned, blinking in surprise, raising one slender hand to her mouth a moment. "But whatever for?"
"Why, Naomi? Why, because she know just how much Madame depends upon you," Maria answered, her blue-eyed gaze steady. "How much we all do, nyet?" She looked into Naomi's startled amber eyes intently. "Svetlana worries that we all put far too much pressure on your slender shoulders, my friend. That you take it all upon yourself, all the pressure, all the responsibility, and that…eventually, you will crack. Hmm, perhaps you do not know it, but she idolizes you, my Svetlana does…you see, you are the big sister she looks up to. She would rather die than ever hurt or embarrass you."
Naomi blinked, and a small spasm of pain moved through her face, tears welling in her eyes. "Mon Dieu! I---I had no idea," Naomi answered, touched and cut to the quick simultaneously. "Poor Svetlana…"
"Do not worry," Maria hastened to add. "Madame will see her through this, I know. I just thought you all should know…so you understand my friend a bit better, da?"
Kitty blinked again and again. "Poor kid," she remarked, her voice a bit strained. "It's a wonder she could keep all that inside and not explode!"
"Ah, but she has, Kitty," Maria explained with a gentle smile. "That is what the tears are for, da?"
"Oh, yeah," Kitty grinned a bit sheepishly. "Right."
Naomi gently wiped her eyes, then smiled at them all. "Well…" she started, then shook her head. "Maria, please…go, be with your friend. Oh, and please, cheri…do let her know just how much we care for her, oui? All of us?"
"Da, I shall," Maria promised, turning. "That will help. Thank you." She moved over to where Yuri stood, gently rocking Svetlana in her arms.
Naomi's eyes lingered a moment on the trio, her heart a mix of pleasure and pain at knowing how much Svetlana cared for her…and them all. "Carmelita and Kitty, please…we must go see Sly and Murray ASAP!" she ordered.
The three of them rode over to Le Hotel Champlain---taking a circumlocutious route to throw off any would-be follwers---in Carmelita's Peugeot. Carmelita, fifteen minutes later, rolled the small convertible into the hotel's underground garage/loading dock area, and the three girls got out.
"Naomi?" Murray exclaimed as he answered the rear door, a smile blossoming on his face. "What brings my pretty girl here for a visit, hmm?" he asked, hoping what Sly was teaching him would be effective. Naomi's startled yet most pleased smile answered that question for him…and Murray vowed from then on that he'd compliment his beautiful lady love each and every time he saw her.
"Merci, mon amour," Naomi replied, smiling a bright smile at Murray's compliment. "Cher, we need to talk. May we come inside?"
"Sure!" Murray replied, opening the door wide to admit the three, and as they moved inside, he reached out to take Naomi's slender hand in his own. He led them to the family room, and offered them all seats. "Now…what's up?"
"Murray, mon cher," Naomi asked as Murray sat down beside her, still hand in hand. "I beg to ask a favor of you."
"Anything, Naomi…you know that," Murray told her, his smile warm and affectionate. "Now, what's the favor?"
Naomi smiled, lifting her free hand to tenderly caress her beau's cheek once. "Ah, our fine seamstresses at C'est Sing have finally completed all of Madame's outfits for the fashion show. Now, as this is the case, cher, Madame would greatly appreciate it if you could do us the honor of picking them all up from our shop in your panel truck. Madame feels---based on his past, the wretch!---that there is a strong possibility that Moniseur Ripperoux shall attempt to make off with them before the show."
Murray frowned, snorting at the very idea of someone being so mean that they would stoop to do such a thing. "You know, Naomi…I'm starting to get annoyed with this Ripperoux guy," Murray told her, his normally jovial eyes hard. "There doesn't seem to be many things nice about him, you know."
"Oui, cher," Naomi replied with an emphatic nod. "I too have found little about Monsieur Ripperoux I find even remotely appealing." She then gazed into Murray's eyes, imploring him. "So…will you do this for us, Murray? Perhaps you could also call upon your friends Sly and Bentley to help, oui?"
Murray squeezed Naomi's hand---very gently. "You got it, Naomi! Hey, anything for my pretty girl, right?" he answered.
Naomi grinned, then sighed heavily, much relieved. "Merci, mon homme," she answered. "With you, Monsieur Sly and Bentley all on the job, Madame and I will feel much more at ease."
Murray smiled at her thanks. "Hey, not to worry, Naomi…you can bet that no one---not even that Ripperoux guy---will lay their mitts on those outfits of Yuri's! Just as long as I'm behind the wheel, and Sly and Bentley are riding shotgun for me, ain't nothing gonna happen to that shipment. Besides, ain't no one out there that can outfox the Cooper Gang, my love."
Naomi smiled, nodded, then leaned over to kiss him. "Merci beaucoup, mon belle cher," she replied, finally letting her guard down, snuggling up against her Murray, rubbing her cheek against his broad chest affectionately. Murray grinned and blushed, but made no attempt to push her away!
Finally, at long last, the 33rd Annual Paris Fall Fling was on! That Saturday, early in the afternoon, Murray---along with his best friends in the world, Sly and Bentley---made their way over to the loading docks of C'est Sing on the outskirts of Paris proper. Murray deftly backed the aging, yet well-maintained panel truck up, then half a car-length away, brought it to a halt.
Yuri was there to greet them, oddly nervous and out-of-sorts, but still genial all the same. "Bonjour, Monsieurs!" she called out, heaving a heavy sigh of relief. "It is so good to see you all…this day especially." She was dressed in casual wear, her long bright blond hair in curlers under a fashionable red scarf secured beneath her chin. "Are you ready? Do you know where your destination is, Monsieur Murray?" That she was restating the obvious was a sure sign that the normally implacable Yuri was very nervous.
"But of course, Yuri," Sly answered for his friend, reaching out to suavely kiss the back of Yuri's perfectly manicured hand. "The Cooper Gang will take care of everything. Don't you furrow that perfect brow of yours, sweet lady."
"Hey," Bentley exclaimed with a scowl. "Do I flirt with Carmelita? I think not."
"Sorry, pal," Sly replied with a laugh, giving Yuri a wink. "But that's one beautiful gal you got there, Bent…"
"Isn't she though?" Bentley said with a sigh and a smile.
Yuri blushed softly, giggling. "Stop, you two!" she told them both, glad for an opportunity to laugh in all of this, "or my poor head shall swell to the point I won't be able to pass through doors!" She smiled at the both of them thankfully, then snapped her fingers, beckoning for her seamstresses to emerge. They did so promptly, bearing five rolling racks of clothing covered with dark blue plastic bearing the C'est Sing logo.
Murray, Sly, and Bentley carefully rolled each rack inside the back of the van, being sure to lock their wheels in place once inside. In the matter of ten minutes, the precious racks were locked into place and secured with pads and webbing. Murray carefully closed and locked the back doors.
"You will be careful, no?" Yuri fussed, knowing both her virtue as well as her business was on the line with the contents of this one tan panel truck. "There is hundreds of hours of work wrapped up in the contents of those racks, mon amis."
"C'mon, relax," Sly assured her, smiling as he opened the door for Bentley to get in. "There as safe as the Crown Jewels, Yuri," he told her, stepping in as Murray took the driver's seat. "You worry about your show; we'll worry about getting these delivered."
"Of course," Yuri said, smiling wanly, wanting to believe everything was well at hand. "Deliver them to my Naomi…she'll know what to do."
"Au revoire, mon belle ami!" Sly called out from the passenger's window of the tan panel truck. "See you at the show!"
"Go with my heart, mes amis," Yuri murmured as she watched the van rounded the corner and headed for Le Hotel Tangiers for its intended appointment. She then turned about and saw the concern on her girls' faces. Ever the leader, she smiled winningly at them all. "Now now, ladies," she explained. "Rest assured all the world shall see the fruits of your labors. Again, with all my heart, thank you all!"
The girls paused a moment, then began to applaud their beloved boss. "Show that blowhard Ripperoux what a second-class outfit he runs, Madame!" one of them exclaimed.
Yuri merely smiled and ushered them all back inside.
Meanwhile, back in the Cooper panel truck…
"…okay, now hang a left up her at Rue le Chance," Bentley ordered, double-checking his GPS readouts on his trusty laptop.
"Got it," Murray replied, moving the tall panel truck smoothly through a left turn on to the five-lane street.
Sly, who was idly twirling his question-mark tipped cane with his fingers, idly flicked his eyes to the right-side rearview mirror. He frowned upon seeing a non-descript looking black Citroen sedan behind them. Hmm, he thought to himself, maybe I'm paranoid…but, that black sedan's been trailing us for a quite a while now. "Say, Murray…hang a right at the next intersection, would you?"
Bentley frowned. "Sly, that'll take us way out of the way from Le Hotel Tangiers," he groused. "Why don't you just let me direct things this once, okay?"
"Relax, Bent," Sly opined airily, in marked difference to the intense look in his dark brown eyes. "We got time…I want to check something out."
"Yeah, yeah," Bentley grumbled, but allowed. "Whatever…"
Murray grinned at his friend's bickering, but complied with Sly's wishes. He turned right on to Rue d'Bergeron, and slowed down to fifty kph. "There you go, buddy," he announced. Now, he thought, what's Sly really up to?
Sly waited a moment, then flicked another glance into the rearview mirror on the passenger's door of the van. Yep! he observed, right on cue. He watched the big French sedan take a right to follow in their wake again. "Okay, pal…take your next left," he added.
"You got it, Sly," Murray acknowledged.
"What is it, Sly?" Bentely now asked, realizing Sly's course changes was something more than idle curiosity or any wanting to see the scenery.
"Take a look behind us," Sly instructed, then added. "Without looking like your looking behind us, okay?"
Murray flicked his glance to his door mirror, and immediately spotted the Citroen sedan keeping its distance. "Hmm, you mean that Citroen, Sly?" he asked.
Bentley eased his head to the right, around Sly's head, and saw the sedan too. "Say, hasn't that guy been following us since we left C'est Sing?"
"Nice work, Bent," Sly told him, grinning, his ears twitching slightly. "As a matter of fact, he has. Though, he's been taking great lengths to not attract our attention."
"Ripperoux, you think?" Murray suggested, his lips compressing in irritation.
"Can you think of anybody else interested in weathered tan panel truck?" Sly pointed out, his mind already working out plans.
"C'mon, Sly," Bentley countered, ever the cynic. "There could be any number of reasons why---" He never finished his statement…as the rear doors of their panel truck shuddered from the impact of hollow-point bullets.
"Punch it, pal!" Sly shouted, crouching down slightly, his eyes narrowed as he watched the tell-tale winking of what had to be assault rifles being fired from the windows of the big Citroen.
Murray grinned, and jammed the accelerator down to the floorboards. The panel truck's big five liter V-8 roared into action, pressing its occupants back into their high-backed bucket seats. Before he knew it, Murray saw he was now going over ninety kph. "Evasion action, pal?" he queried.
Sly laughed, even as he was formulating a plan. "You have to ask?" Sly countered. "Do it!"
Bentley was already typing furiously at his laptop. "Take a right on to Cherbourg Road…that's the next street coming up!" he chimed in. He cringed slighly as several more bullets clanged against the panel truck's exterior.
"Got it! Right on to Cherbourg!" Murray called out, putting words into action, the speeding truck leaning slightly during the turn.
"Sly!" Bentley called out next, abandoning his laptop for the large satchel at his feet, rummaging about in it.
"Yeah, Bent?" Sly replied, his eyes taking everything in, his situational awareness unparalleled.
"Why don't you roll down your window, buddy?" Bentley suggested, emerging from his 'bag of tricks' holding several oddly-shaped bits of metal.
"Window comin' down!" Sly hollered, grinning like a madman. The quiet inside the van disappeared when the window went down, forcing them all to shout. "Whatcha got for me, Bentley old pal?"
"Caltrops," Bentley yelled, handing over the first cluster of the jack-like spikes. "Murray, when I tell you," Bentley screeched, "I want you to move left as far as you can!"
"Just say when, pal!" Murray assured him, the van continuing to pick up speed, as the big V-8 thundered with power.
"When Murray takes us left, Sly," Bentley yelled into Sly's ear, "I want you to toss this down in the street!"
Sly grinned. "I love it!" he crowed, taking a handful of metal caltrops from Bentley. "On your mark, old boy!"
"Now, Murray!" Bentley shouted, then hung on.
Murray heeled the van over, the tires screaming in protest.
"Now, Sly!" Bentley commanded.
Sly leaned out like a shot, and hurled the caltrops to the street, right of the van. "They're gone!" he replied loudly.
"Back to the right, pal! And step on it!" Bentley ordered.
Murray grinned like a kid, and swerved the van back to the right like lightning. "Done…and I'm goin' fast as I can!"
The thugs driving the Citroen grinned at the driver of the panel truck's pathetic attempt to avoid his teammates' gunnery. "Henri! Pour it in!" he commanded, mashing the accelerator down, the big Citroen's turbocharged V-6 howling. "It's only a matter of time until---!" The driver of the car never finished his statement, as it was drowned out by the rippling explosion of the car's four times by the shredding caltrops. The car---out of control---screeched and swerved on its rims, sparks flying, until it came to a sudden halt when it slammed broadside into a trash dumpster. The impact of the car against the rather full dumpster resulted in the now totalled Citroen being deluged with a shower of rotting produce.
"Stop!" Sly commanded then, patting Murray on the shoulder. "Head back there, boys…let's see what what we've netted in our trap, shall we?"
It was a quartet of very pathetic looking criminals that the three found when they made their way back. Four toughs, each unconscious, covered in a puree of rotting vegetation that stank to high heaven. "Whew!" Sly observed, pinching his nose closed, his eyes watering. "What a wonderful smell these guys have discovered!" Sly then grinned. "Okay, Murray…let's get them out and tie 'em up. They've got an appointment to see their jerk of a boss at the show…"
The three all grinned ferally at one another, and got down to work.
Yuri arrived at Le Hotel Tangiers with a dreaded, yet somewhat expected, fanfare and hoopla. Papparazzi cameras flashed to drink in the loveliness of the world-renown fashion designer. "Yuri!" they shouted, begging for her to turn their way. She gave them all her most dazzling smile behind her dark fashion sunglasses. "Merci, darlings!" she called, blowing them all a kiss before she dashed inside.
"Madame!" Naomi called out, spotting the much put upon Yuri. "Ah, there you are!" She reached out to take both of Yuri's hands, gripping them with affection. "How are you, Madame?"
Yuri smiled warmly at her friend, relishing the strength she seemed to draw from her mere presence. "I will be just fine, cheri," she answered. "How are things going, Naomi?"
"Adequately well, Madame," Naomi answered, grinning. "All of the girls have had their hair done, and are in full make-up. Even Kitty."
Yuri had to grin at the thought of their beloved tomboy in her full regalia. "So…she is lovely, is she not?" Yuri proposed as the two walked toward the entrance to the suites put aside for C'est Sing this evening.
"Oui, she is…if you can see past her frown, of course," Naomi answered playfully. She then sobered and looked over at Yuri, worry painting her face. "I must inform you, Madame, that our outfits have yet to arrive."
"No?" Yuri asked, stunned. "Mon Dieu! That is terrible!" She softly bit her lower lip in worry. "Have you tried to give Murray, Sly, or Bentley a call on your cell?"
"Oui, I have tried," Naomi replied quickly, nodding. "However, none of them seem to have their phones on for some reason." She then turned troubled eyes to her mentor, her friend. "What if something has happened to them, Yuri?"
Yuri blinked, realizing she had been worrying more about her clothing line than her friends, and kicked herself mentally for it. "Sly Cooper and his friends can handle themselves, Naomi," she informed her with a smile. "We must trust them, oui? They will not let us down, cheri." She then linked arms with the lovely cheetah woman beside her. "Come, you must show me our darling models, Naomi!"
Yuri and Naomi ducked inside---past the security guards stationed outside---and were immediately greeted by the other girls, who were all smiles to see them both.
"Yuri!" Carmelita gushed, grinning. "You look like a million dollars, girl!"
Yuri's cheeks softly went pink a moment, then she grinned. "You mean this? Oh, this is just something I threw on to travel in, cheri," she assured her, her eyes twinkling merrily.
Kitty chuckled. "Yeah, right," she replied. "Like most women choose to drive over to the show in a turquoise sequined dress…"
Yuri grinned, then laughed. "Oh, all right," she relented. "It is one of my favorites, you know."
"So," Maria then asked, "where are our dresses and things, Madame? The show is scheduled to go on in fifteen minutes."
"Um," Yuri wheedled, playing for time. "There has been a slight delay in my work being transported here. Nothing to worry about, my dears."
"What?" Carmelita demanded, suddenly worried. "But…wasn't Sly, Murray, and Bentley supposed to be doing that for us?"
"Oui," Yuri said, her face going a bit pale. "They are simply late, Carmelita. I have faith that your Sly will make sure my work will be here when we need it."
"Have you heard from any of them?" Carmelita wanted to know.
"What of our dresses, Madame?" Svetlana asked.
"What do we do if---?" Kitty thought to add in.
"Ladies, ladies, ladies," came the sound of Sly's distinctive voice over the mixture of the ladies dulcet voices. "Since when would the Cooper Gang ever let down such a lovely group of beautiful ladies, hmm?"
Carmelita gasped, then grinned a warm, dazzling smile at her beau. But, before she could manage to say even one word, she coughed, her nostrils being assailed by the vilest smell imaginable. "Ugh!" she gasped. "What is that stench?"
Sly, always the clown, pretended to appear offended. "What?" he demanded. "Don't you like my new cologne?" His chuckling gave him away immediately. He turned and whistled sharply twice.
"Hey, girls," Murray said, waving to them all as he wheeled the first rack of plastic covered clothing in. "Special delivery…from the Cooper Gang," he added, giving Naomi a smile and a wink.
Carmelita frowned and moved before Sly, who only grinned wolfishly at her. She had enough of his banter, and took steps. She reached up and got a firm grip on his furry pointed ear, and pinched. "All right, Sly Cooper," she growled, though a smile hovered on the edge of her lips. "Give! What's with all this cleverness of yours, buster?"
"Hey, ow!" Sly replied, leaning toward the ear that Carmelita gripped. "Easy on the ear, love." He then winced as Carmelita give his ear yet another pinch. "Ow! Okay, okay…I'll tell!"
Carmelita smiled triumphantly, releasing his ear from her grip. "This ought to be good," she commented to the other girls.
Sly massaged his aching ear a moment. "You've got a grip like a vise, woman," he complained, grinning slightly. He watched as Bentley wheeled in the last of the five racks for the show, smiling again when he saw Yuri heave a sigh of relief. "Okay, let's just say," Sly began, slipping into the role of storyteller, "that your gorgeous boss lady there must be just a trifle bit omniscient."
"Omn-who?" Kitty remarked, one blond eyebrow arching up in confusion.
"He means that Yuri knows all," Carmelita instructed her friend. "Enough of the flowery words, Sly…on with the story." She directed a meaningful look his way.
"Aw," Sly replied, pouting a moment. He grinned at her, then continued. "Okay, here goes… We stopped at C'est Sing, and Yuri had her girls---with our help, of course---load her work into our van. Everyone with me?"
All the girls nodded, and Bentley and Murray did too…but they grinned mischieviously as well.
"Right," Sly said, warming up to the story now. "Murray---with me and Bentley there riding shotgun---began our trek to this very establishment, Le Hotel Tangiers. Well, needless to say, we were, er…just a bit sidetracked."
"Sidetracked, right," Carmelita observed, crossing her arms before her chest.
Sly looked over at his beautiful lady love, and grinned. "Well, we were!" he insisted, then looked over to Murray and Bentley. "Weren't we, fellas?"
Murray nodded, working hard not to chuckle.
Bentley, however, rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Sly…just tell 'em the story already," he growled.
"Spoilsport," Sly accused, grinning still. "Along the way, I happened to notice that there was this black Citroen that seemed to be following us. Now, true…it simply could have been a coincidence. I mean, this is Paris…there are, I'm sure, a great many black Citroens here, right? Right! So…to be certain, I decided to try something…shall we say, clever."
"Dangerous, you mean," Bentley corrected, grimacing when Sly scowled at him.
"Do you want to tell this story, pal?" Sly demanded.
"No, no…go on," Bentley replied sheepishly.
"Hmph!" Sly commented, then continued. "So…there we were, being tailed---or so I thought. So, I had my man Murray here make a few spontaneous turns…you know, to see if they took our bait, you understand."
"Clever," Carmelita commented, shaking her head, but impressed nonetheless.
"So…did they?" Svetlana wanted to know, her big dark eyes aglow with excitement, wanting to know more.
"You better believe they did, cutie," Sly replied, grinning, making poor Svetlana blush at his flattery. "They took the bait, hook, line and sinker!" He then stopped talking, mulling over just how best to phrase what happened next. "Er, mmm, that was when things started getting interesting…"
"Interesting?" Carmelita shot back, her eyes narrowing, suddenly feeling her stomach drop. "Exactly how interesting are we talking about here, Ringtail?"
Sly gave her a weak smile. "Ha ha, umm…well, it wasn't anything too dangerous really…I mean, it was situations just like this that prompted me to have Murray install that armor plating in the panel truck's back doors in the first place, my sweet," Sly explained quickly.
Carmelita frowned at that, trying to follow the tangled thread Sly was attempting to weave. "So…not too dangerous," she observed warily, "but dangerous enough to armor plate the back of your van, eh?"
"Exactly," Sly agreed, attempting to smile convincingly. "I mean, we weren't in any real danger, Carmelita…Murray here is an ace driver, you know…and most of the bullets never even touched us…"
"Bullets?" Carmelita yelped, her brown eyes going wide in surprise. "Whoa! Hold on here…no one said anything about bullets, Sly Cooper!"
Sly waved away her concerns with his hand. "Those guys were horrible shots, querera. I think I would have been more afraid if they had not been aiming those assault rifles our way…" Sly added.
"Assault rifles?" Carmelita exclaimed, her right eye beginning to twitch.
"Yep!" Sly agreed, plowing on, leaving poor Carmelita struggling. "But, we didn't have to worry about that for long, my darling girl. Because my brilliant pal, Bentley here, came up with an ingenious plan…right on the spur of the moment! Is that awesome or what?" Sly asked, talking faster still, trying to ensure he kept up his story's momentum.
"Nicely done, mon cher," Yuri congratulated her grinning and blushing beau.
"It was nothing, really," Bentley told her, but was absurdly pleased with her praise.
"Nothing?" Sly scoffed, flicking his eyes often to the stunned and sputtering Carmelita. "Hardly that, pal! Those caltrops you came up with were top notch! Man, you should of seen us, ladies!" Sly began describing what occurred, using his hands as well as his words to do so. "Bentley had us begin zigzagging, you know, to confound their aim---which was none that good anyway. Well, on one zip to the left, he had me scatter those beauties across our path, then had Murray move back to the right…essentially forcing those suckers back there right into our trap! It was magnificent!"
"Okay, I've got to ask," Kitty threw out just then. "What the heck is a caltrop?"
Bentley saved Sly the need to explain, by reaching into the bag over his shoulder to remove one of the jack-like devices. "This, Kitty," he told her, holding it up, "is a caltrop."
"Ew," Kitty ventured, taking the thing from Bentley, feeling the sharp points of all six of its tips. "I bet that messes up a guy's tires real fast."
"Don't you know it, Inspector," Sly said, taking the task of telling their tale upon himself once more. "That Citroen didn't stand a chance! Bent's caltrops shredded all four of their tires, and they skidded out of control."
"They were not hurt, were they?" Svetlana asked, both hands over her mouth in surprise.
"Nah," Sly told her, grinning. "Fortunately for them at least…there happened to be a very big, very full dumpster in their path…the one in front of Jacques' Fresh Produce, in fact…"
Carmelita blinked, then snorted in laughter. "They didn't!"
"Oh, yes they did, my sweet!" Sly crowed, reaching the climax of his story. "Bam, went their Citroen! Whoosh, went the hundreds of pounds of rotting produce! Splash, it went upon our would-be gown-nappers!"
Carmelita tried very hard to stare hard at Sly, but couldn't for long…as the giggles that grew inside of her grew. "Sly Cooper…you are in---hehehe---so much---ha ha ha---trouble, mister!" she managed…or she did until she began to giggle aloud. She did this for only a moment or two, then got herself under control. "So…that's the cause of that amazing aroma you've brought our way, hmm?"
"You got it!" Sly assured her with a laugh, his dark eyes twinkling with mirth. "So…me and the guys extricated those thugs from their wreck, tied 'em up, and decided to bring 'em along with us."
Maria dabbed at her eyes with a kleenex, preserving her make-up. "Whyever for, Sly Cooper?" she asked between chuckles.
"Why, you ask?" Sly said theatrically. "Why, so we can 'present' them to that bastard Ripperoux after Yuri and you all make him eat a well-deserved repaste of crow!"
Yuri laughed aloud, clapping her hands in glee. "Oh, that is tres manufique, Monsieur! Merci!" she declared, moving up to give him a thankful kiss on both cheeks. She repeated this treatment on Murray, who blushed and grinned. She then turned and planted a telling smooch on her beau, Bentley…one that lingered on and on until the girls were all hooting at them in laughter.
"Merci, cher," Yuri managed to husk after their kiss ended. "I am so proud of you this night!"
"You're welcome, sweetie," Bentley stammered, his eyes still slightly glazed after being kissed by the lovely Yuri Sing.
Yuri gazed down into Bentley's eyes a moment longer, then blew him one last kiss. She then turned to them all. "Enough now. Ladies, you will follow after Naomi, please," she commanded. She then turned to the fellas. "Gentlemen, again my thanks. Now, could you please take your 'present' someplace else, hmm? Preferably somewhere downwind of us all, oui?" She grinned.
Sly laughed, then bowed his head to Yuri. "Sure thing, gorgeous!" he replied, giving her a wink. "C'mon, fellas…let's go wrap Mister Ripperoux's gift, shall we?" He then turned to Carmelita, who was just about to step through the door to the dressing room. "Carmelita!"
Carmelita turned, her face made up, her glorious hair piled up upon her lovely head. "Yeah?" she tossed back with a grin.
"You look muy bonita, querera!" he told her. "Go water their eyes, Carmelita my love!"
Carmelita started a moment, then grinned and smiled winningly back at her beau. "You bet I will, Sly," she answered. "Oh, and I'll be watching for you too, sweetie!"
"Hey, I'll be there…aren't I always?" Sly replied, blowing her a kiss before she ducked through the door.
"Come along, gents," Sly instructed his pals. "Time's a-wastin'…"
At exactly eight o'clock, there came a fanfare of trumpets in the main concourse of Le Hotel Tangiers…trumpets that heralded the beginning of the 33rd Annual Paris Fall Fling! There were to be presentations of six different design houses, including Ripperoux and Yuri's.
"Bon soir, Messrs. e Madames," the Mistress of Ceremonies, a stunning lupine woman named Clarissa DuBois. "And, welcome one and all to the Thirty-Third Annual Paris Fall Fling!" She curtsied graciously to the audience in her glittering silver sequined gown. She stood back up and tossed her deep black shoulder-length hair back, her dark grey eyes shining with excitement.
"First off, may I have the honor to present Le Coutier LeBreau!" Mademoiseele DuBois announced. Six young women, ranging from a very voluptuous rabbit woman to a tall stunning zebra woman, all clad in LeBreau burgundy and gold, glided down the long runway, their arms bared, their hair down and free-flowing. The audience applauded thunderously, appreciative of the splendor House LeBreau was showing.
"Next…may I present the works of Genevieve Morrel!" Clarissa announced, the spotlight leaving the stunning lupine girl to the runway. Yet again, six lovely young women appeared, one after another, this time clad in red and black gowns beneath red and gold half-capes. The effect of the capes, the girls' hair, and the hems of their gowns snapping in their wakes was most dramatic indeed.
Kitty, who dared to peek through the curtains at their competition, gulped, and looked over to Carmelita. "Man, those girls are good!" she observed, blinking, wondering what she was even doing here this evening.
Carmelita put a hand on Kitty's shoulder and squeezed. "Maybe they are, sport," she returned into Kitty's ear. "But, they haven't seen anything yet, girl…because we girls of C'est Sing have got them all beat!"
"Yeah!" Kitty replied, nodding. She then turned to Carmelita, grinned, then shyly reached up to softly kiss Carmelita's cheek. "Thanks, Carmelita…for…well, everything."
Carmelita grinned in reply. "Don't mention it," she answered. "I'm proud of you, Kitty Petro. Damn proud of you."
Kitty felt like she was ten feet tall just then. "We are sooo going to beat those girls' butts," she observed.
"Don't you know it, girl!" Carmelita answered.
They watched in admiration as the girls of House Dominique, flashy in their glittering gold-sequined gowns and white velvet berets, paraded down the runway to the applause of the waiting audience.
"May I now present," Clarissa DuBois then announced, "the works of Gaston Ripperoux!"
Kitty, and now Svetlana, watched through the curtain as the six women representing Gaston Ripperoux's line emerged and moved out on to the runway. Svetlana frowned, as did Kitty, as she watched them. Unlike the other four teams that had presented, each of which had worn full-length gowns, Ripperoux had his girls wearing what amounted to short, barely decent gowns, tight and sleeveless with plunging necklines and indecently short hems. Each of the girls wore tall stiletto heels and wore their hair in long ponytails. "Did I miss something?" Kitty whispered to Svetlana. "Were we watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, maybe?" she said derisively. Svetlana giggled.
In addition to the normal applause, Ripperoux's girls also got shouted catcalls and lewd whistles. Thankfully, their presentation was quickly done, and only the team from C'est Sing was left unpresented.
"Ready, cheris?" Yuri questioned them all, her green-gold eyes determined and yet concerned. "Do what you've been taught, and you shall all make me very proud this day."
Naomi, who was to be second out, grinned at her friends. "Remember, girls," she said, "chins up, shoulders back, and we walk like queens! Bon chance, mes amis!"
"And, finally…may I have the distinct priviledge to present to you, the works of C'est Sing!" Clarissa presented, sweeping her slender arm out in an arc to the center stage.
"Remember, two second intervals," Yuri whispered. She, and the rest of them were dressed in Yuri's trademark color, a brilliant turquoise. Their outfits were suits and skirts instead of traditional gowns…double-breasted and trimmed in silver piping. They all had their hair pinned up---with the obvious exception of Kitty, of course!---under broad-brimmed turquoise hats with narrow silver feathers on the right. Yuri inhaled, then exhaled, smiled her brightest smile, and walked out on stage…
The crowd gasped to see the striking Yuri appear, the spotlight moving to catch her in its beam. Her hat was on at a jaunty angle, and her suit fit her curvaceous figure wonderfully, her legs enhanced by a pair of bright blue high-heels. Her patented walk wowed the members of the press…up until Naomi appeared, similarily attired.
Naomi smiled a brilliant smile, her big amber eyes confident, her long-legged gait eating up the distance on the runway. She smiled stunningly down at the members of the media, who flashed away at her maddeningly. Finally, she reached Yuri's side, and stopped, waving at the crowd.
Next out was Svetlana, the curvy little tigress looking spectacular in Yuri's finest. Her dark wavy hair was---for the most part---tucked up beneath her hat, except for one somewhat curly dark tendril that hung down each side of her face. She smiled a shy sexy smile at the audience, and they responded with a collective sigh…followed by a thunderous ovation as Svetlana, her hips swaying provocatively---without her even realizing it---her shoulders held back her slender arms moving elegantly as she walked. By the time she made it to Yuri and Naomi's side, a dozen or so members of the media were on their feet, clapping animatedly. "They love you, cheri," Yuri whispered into Svetlana's ear, kissing the girl on the cheek.
Carmelita was the next one out, and the dark-haired, tall vixen was a startling complement to the tiny Svetlana, taking the crowd by surprise. Carmelita smiled to one side then the next, looking like a queen, her gait royal and very feminine. She grinned at a couple of wolf-whistles she heard, then held her proud head up high, and made her way beside her friends. Sly was standing on his seat, whistling and clapping his hands like mad.
The curtains twitched, and the spotlight obediently rotated to the center curtain, where Kitty Petro had just appeared. There was a hush in the crowd at seeing the lovely sweet-faced vixen. Kitty gave them all a most mischievious smile, and then waved once before setting down the runway, giving them all her best "Sing Strut'. It was obvious to one and all that Kitty must of nailed it, as there was a cheer and a growing new round of applause. Kitty moved up to her friends' side, and waved one last time at the crowd.
Finally, at long last, came Maria Foloreva. Right on cue---as Yuri had demanded---the spotlight changed hues to a light blue from white. Maria, her white hair and white fur gleaming like white silk, gave them all her most dazzling smile, her topaz blue eyes twinkling. Her long fluffy tail waved sinuously in her wake, accenting the movement of her curvy hips, it's black tip nearly mesmerizing. Maria moved slowly, stately down the runway, her proud head up, smiling all the while as she swayed her way to where the rest of her team stood, now all of them waving. "Maria, you took my breath away," Svetlana told her breathlessly. The ovation for the C'est Sing team lasted a good five minutes…until Clarissa took steps to get the show moving again.
"Merci, merci," the lovely lupine woman told them all, grinning and laughing. "Now, Messrs. e Madames, now that the preliminaries are completed….we will get on with the show, yes? Of course! Now, the first series will comprise of formal wear…specifically evening gowns and the like. According to my notes," Clarissa said, checking her notes, "the first one up with be Mademoiselle Giselle Francks from Genevieve Morrel's."
The evening wear competition was fierce…all of the design houses having something to offer…even if Gaston's contribution still had indecently plunging necklines and slits in the skirt that bordered on revealing. Yuri had Carmelita and Naomi do the presentation for C'est Sing.
Carmelita, clad in the clinging black silk gown that Yuri had made especially for her, collected her wits, then---on cue---moved out on to the runway once more. "Mademoiselle Fox is looking quite lovely indeed in Yuri Sing's elegant silk spaghetti strap gown," Clarissa gushed as Carmelita glided her way along. "Sophisticated, elegant and very flattering…the gown is all in silk, with a somewhat modest neckline, gathering at the waist, as well as sporting a modest slit to the right to provide freedom of movement." Carmelita had reached the end of the runway and now slowly revolved to show off Yuri's work, her arms moving up in a soft, subtle pirouhette of sorts. "Merci! Notice how you cannot even see the zipper in the back, and look how lovely it enhances Mademoiselle Fox's lovely back and shoulders. Thank you, Carmelita…" Carmelita waved on last time, then retreated, walking back with the same seductive swaying of her hips she had come out with.
"Merci, Carmelita!" Yuri gushed when Carmelita returned, pulling the smiling vixen into her arms to hug her. "You were incredible, cheri! I saw the looks the men were giving you…wishing they had you on their arms this evening, I think!"
Kitty grinned, hugging Carmelita next. "Woo! You should of seen Sly!" she laughed. "Carmelita…I swear, he just sat right down, sat right down and stared at you, his jaw hanging down, girl!"
Carmelita grinned at that news. "Really?" she asked Kitty, even as she reached back to unzip the gown in preparation for changing into her next outfit.
"Really!" Kitty replied, laughing. "I took pictures!"
Carmelita laughed at that. "Now, those I've just got to see, Kitty!"
"Thank you, Mademoiselle D'aroux," an less than enthusiastic Miss DuBois opined, "for that er…revealing look at Gaston Ripperoux's evening wear line."
"Madame!" Maria reported, her expression one of shock and not a little amusement as well. "Monsieur Ripperoux's last girl nearly fell out of her gown just a moment ago." She grinned, laughing, then continued. "Poor thing…to have to wear such indecent dresses like that..."
"That's Gaston's trademark, cheri," Yuri informed her. "I do not like to say it, but well, he dresses his girls rather…er, um, shall we say…sluttishly." Yuri blushed even saying that.
Kitty watched the whole proceeding, and nodded, making a face. "Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it, Yuri," she stated.
"Kitty! Svetlana!" Yuri instructed just then. "You two are next, ladies. Now, remember…you are from C'est Sing…and that means something!" Yuri hugged each of the girls once for luck, then shooed them to just behind the curtain that led on to the runway.
"Now, we have semi-formal additions to the C'est Sing line," Clarissa announced. "May I present to you Mademoiselles Kitty Petro and Svetlana Umanova!"
Svetlana looked over at Kitty, then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "For luck, my friend," she explained. Kitty could only grin. The two walked out on to the runway together side by side, both of them making a perfect pair. One vixen, one tigress…both petite and beautiful. One blonde and blue-eyed, the other sable-haired and brown eyed…both clad in the same striking purple off-the-shoulder gowns. The differences and similarities were precisely the right mix to make the pair wondrously exotic and unique.
"Oh, but I think Yuri Sing has outdone herself this time, mes amis!" Clarissa observed, smiling. "These two show off her new petite line, and…come now, don't they simply look smashing!" The audience's applause showed they quite agreed with the pretty Clarissa's assessment.
Kitty had to admit…for wearing a dress, and make-up, and having her hair done…she didn't feel all that bad right this moment. She had to admit to herself that she was rather enjoying the admiring looks of the people arrayed before her.
"Kitty," hissed Svetlana eagerly through her teeth, her smile never wavering even as she spoke, "is that not your Ling right there?"
Kitty looked down and to her left and spotted Ling all right…and he simply stood there, mouth agape, eyes wide, a goofy smile on his lips. His look of simple adoration made Kitty want to dance with joy. "Yeah, that's my guy, all right," she replied, mimicking Svetlana's ability to talk without moving her lips.
Next on the ticket that evening was business wear, and Maria and Naomi were the ones that presented Yuri's finest…a long, three-quarter-length jacket over a bright blue cowled sweater tucked into tan trousers for Naomi, while Maria wore a trim double-breasted navy blazer over a skirt of periwinkle blue, both girls in fashionable deep blue pumps. The cheers and ooh and ahhs nearly made Yuri burst into tears…more than once!
The last category for the evening---and it was getting late, nearly eleven o'clock already!---was casual wear. Yuri decided to have Kitty and Carmelita show off her line's contribution to that effort: a creamy shell under a light Kelly green linen jacket tucked into ice-blue denim jeans for Kitty, while Carmelita sported black pleated trousers, a red silk blouse and a white cotton sweater worn over her slender shoulders. Compared to the halter tops and short shorts ensemble Gaston Ripperoux sported, the two vixens blew the competition away entirely!
"Well, my friends," a weary sounding, yet elated Clarissa DuBois announced, "that's it for this 33rd Annual Paris Fall Fling. I, for one, have had a most enjoyable time…and hope that you have as well. Now, a moment if you please." She then disappeared from view, only to return a moment later.
"I have conferred with the evening's judges," Clarissa said in a hoarse voice. "And, I have in this very envelope, the design house that has been judged the clear winner of today's Fling." She paused, smiling at everyone, building the tension and excitement as she carefully used her thumbnail to slit open the envelope. "And…the winner, by unanimous vote…is C'est Sing!"
Yuri blinked to hear the news, then a triumphant smile blazed upon her now radiant face. She squealed happily, and then launched herself at a most startled Naomi, hugging the poor girl so fiercely that Naomi nearly toppled over. "We've won! We've won! Oh, Naomi…I am so happy!" she cried, then burst into happy tears.
"Shh, Yuri," Naomi soothed, grinning too. "Save your tears for later, hmm? Now, you must show the media your ability to be humble in your victory, no?" Naomi used a kleenex to softly blot away Yuri's tears, preserving her make-up.
"You are right, as always, mon cheri," Yuri sniffled, then laughed. "I fear that what you ask may be most difficult for me, Naomi. I shall have to try very hard not to gloat in front of our 'friend' Gaston, hmm?"
Naomi laughed, as did the other girls. "Oui, Madame! However, I do think you will manage it somehow," she observed.
Yuri grinned, wrinkling her cute nose in the process. She then raised one forearm theatrically to her forehead. "Oh, the sacrifices I must make for the livelihood of my poor business," she moaned, then grinned cleverly at them all.
"Go on, get!" Carmelita replied with a laugh, pushing Yuri forward gently.
"Adieu, mes amis," Yuri announced gaily, and stepped out on to the runway.
"Madames e Monsieurs, may I present to you Madame Yuri Sing!" Clarissa announced before tucking her microphone beneath her arm so she could give Yuri a round of applause, which the audience gladly joined in.
Yuri moved majestically and regally down the runway, smiling and waving to the adoring crowd, who threw roses on to the runway at her feet. Yuri crouched and picked the fragrant flowers up. She rose to her feet and sniffed the small bouquet, smiling a heady pleasant smile. "Merci, merci boucoup!" she called out, using her free hand to blow kisses to the crowd. The crowd responded, starting with one person getting to their feet to applaud her, then the rest followed suit…so that by the time Yuri reached the end of the runway, she was basking in a standing ovation from the crowd, which was thunderous. Yuri smiled at them all, and bowed and curtsied many times, allowing the crowd their will.
When the crowd finally quieted, Yuri beamed at them all. "Thank you, one and all," she began. "But, while it is my name that my line bears…I am only partially responsible for its success. I would be lost without the others you've seen here this evening. Especially, my Naomi." Yuri then turned, her green-gold eyes twinkling with affection. "Come, mon cheri…" she beckoned, waving for Naomi to appear. "Ladies and gentlemen…Naomi Rousseau!"
Naomi appeared a moment later, her cheeks rosy with her blush. She made her way down the runway to where her friend stood, the semi-seductive sway of her slender hips awing the crowd. Once she stood beside Yuri, she accepted the kiss on the cheek from her friend with a smile.
"I could not of gotten to where I am today without this wonderful woman," Yuri proclaimed, holding Naomi's hand in her own. "Therefore…and even she does not know this…as of today, she is the Executive Director of C'est Sing, reporting only to myself!"
Naomi was stunned! Her mouth worked, but no sound came forth as her amber eyes went huge. "Madame, I…" she began, then grinned. "Merci, mon belle ami." She curtsied to Yuri, who graciously cupped her cheek with one fond hand. The crowd burst into applause anew, whooping at the news.
Yuri allowed them some time, then continued. "Now," she said, turning back to the crowd. "I wish to now thank my lovely girls…who have made me so very proud this wondrous day." She then looked back to the curtain. "Ms. Carmelita Fox!"
Carmelita, now back in her stunning black silk gown, appeared, waved to the crowd, and moved down the runway toward Yuri and Naomi, still as lovely and as regal as any queen might be. Her lovely face was alight with her happiness, her large brown eyes searching the crowd below for one particular face.
"Go get 'em, honey!" Sly whooped loudly. "You the girl, Carmelita!"
The crowd tittered at Sly's display, appreciating his vocalizing what they all were simply thinking, not saying. They broke out in appreciative applause a moment later.
"Ms. Kitty Petro!" Yuri then announced, and Kitty---still in her last outfit, the blazer over the cream-colored shell tucked into jeans---appeared and walked her way to the others. Kitty was startled when there came a particularly loud series of whistles from the crowd. She was startled even more---though very pleasantly, mind you!---to see the one doing the whistling was none other than her very own Ling! Kitty couldn't hold back the sunny smile that erupted within herself when Ling blew her a very dramatic kiss, then placed both hands over his heart, grinning, then bowed respectfully to his lady love, who was blushing now quite fetchingly.
"Ms. Svetlana Umanova!" Yuri then called out, pronouncing her name the way that Maria did, in its proper Russian inflection.
Svetlana shyly appeared a moment later, smiling bashfully at first as she sashayed her way toward her group of friends. The curvaceous little tigress unknowingly sundered many a fellow's heart in her trip down the runway. She smiled, just a trifle bit startled, at the proclamations of adoration that wafted up to her from many a would-be suitor. Eventually, a blushing Svetlana made her way to her friends' side and waved happily to the crowd.
"And, finally…Ms. Maria Foloreva!" Yuri proclaimed, again with diction any Muscovite would be proud to employ.
Maria, her snowy white fur and softly curled pinned up hair glistening in the lights, appeared and began to make her way down the runway. She waved to one and all, her smile bright and contagious. Her feminine form garnered her many an appreciative stare, causing more than one fellow to crane his neck to keep her in view.
"Madames e Monsieurs, I give you C'est Sing!" Yuri then cried out, smiling proudly. Then, she and the girls all moved into a semi-circle facing out toward the crowd and then---as one!---curtsied to their adoring fans. Yuri couldn't keep the look of smug satisfaction off of her pretty face when she spotted a most dejected Gaston Ripperoux take off his fedora and hurl it to the floor in towering rage.
They all then bowed one last time, and scurried back behind the curtain, leaving their cheering audience begging for more.
"Oh, cheris!" Yuri cried, tears already running down her cheeks, as she grabbed whomever was nearest to her to embrace her with pride and fierce affection. She dashed around thereafter, kissing and hugging them all.
" Yuri, stop!" Kitty groused, though she grinned. "You're making me dizzy!"
Yuri laughed a gay laugh, and then wrapped the petite vixen in her arms and soundly kissed her face many many times. Kitty tried to be indignant at first, but eventually burst out laughing and decided to ruffle Yuri's carefully coiffed hair, making a mess of her bright gold locks.
Kitty then grabbed Yuri's hands and held her away an arm's length. "Okay, Ms. Sing," she observed just a trifle bit sternly. "No more betting away your virtue, you hear me?" Kitty's blue eyes glistened, but were hard as steel.
"No, I promise, Kitty dear," Yuri proclaimed to one and all, holding up her hand as if swearing an oath. "I vow, here and now, no more bets like that…ever!"
"I should think not," Kitty remarked. "And, just to be sure you keep your word, missy…" She went back to her handbag---she shuddered, realizing she even had one of those!---she drew out an official looking document. "Sign. Now," she commanded.
Yuri blinked, eyeing the document warily. She took it from Kitty, and began to read it aloud. "Hmm. It says, 'I, Yuri Sing, do promise that I shall never make such a bet again," she read and continued. "If I should renege upon this agreement, I do so promise that I shall do whatsoever Mademoiselle Kitty Petro instruct me to do for a two week period…no questions asked." Yuri frowned at that…then looked over at the now smiling Kitty. "Pardon, cheri…but what exactly does 'whatever she tells me to do' mean, hmm?"
"Oh, I don't know, Yuri," Kitty mused, the barest hint of her most mischievious smile showing. "You never do know. I mean, could be that at that time, I might need to freshen up my soccer skills. Wanna guess who'd my practice buddy might be?" Kitty added smiling.
Yuri blinked, a hand coming up to cover her open mouth. "Mon Dieu," she gasped, then sighed, knowing no matter which ploy she might try, none would appease her friends but this troubling agreement. "Very well, if you insist on treating a poor old woman this way," Yuri replied, pretending to be much put upon. "I shall sign this contract of yours." Naomi provided her with her favorite fountain pen, and in a flash, Yuri penned her elegant Yuri Sing at the bottom of the document. "There! Satisfied, everyone?"
"Oui, Madame," Naomi replied for them all, then looked to the others, and nodded. "Merci, Madame," she said, and before Yuri knew what was happening, she found herself being hugged by all her girls simultaneously, which caused her to smile, even though her lower lip trembled with emotion.
Thus, that was how Sly, Bentley, and Murray found them all when they made their way backstage. Sly spotted the bevy of very lovely ladies, and couldn't resist. "Mind if we join in, ladies?" he queried, grinning, arching an eyebrow.
That broke the spell, and Yuri giggled, then laughed in happiness.
"Congrats, Yuri," Sly ventured as the group hug ended. "You sure put on an awesome show, lovely lady."
Yuri smiled at his praise. "You are far too kind, Monsieur," she told him.
"Actually," Sly countered. "I don't think I was kind enough." He moved over to Carmelita, and slipped an arm around his lovely lady's slender waist. "And, if I'm not entirely mistaken, most---if not all!---of the crowd would appear to agree with yours truly here."
Carmelita felt a delightful tingle run up her spine as her Sly snuggled close to her. "So…what did you think, Sly?" she asked him quietly. "I didn't too bad, did I?"
"Sweetheart," Sly turned to tell her, a warm smile on his lips. "You did way better than 'not too bad'…girl, you were absolutely fantastic! When I saw you come out in that black number you're wearing…woo!" He leaned over to press his lips to her cheek for a few seconds. "Carmelita…I never seem to realize just how beautiful you truly are, woman."
Carmelita blushed happily, leaning her head on to his shoulder, pulling him tightly to herself, feeling so happy she could almost cry. "Thank you, Sly," she whispered to him, her voice full of warm and tenderness. "I love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart," Sly told her, giving her a quick kiss upon her sweet lips.
"Yo, Sly!" came Murray's somewhat smug sounding voice a moment later.
"Yeah, Murray…what's up?" Sly replied, looking Murray's way. Much to his surprise, Murray was walking toward them all, pushing along a most reluctant looking Gaston Ripperoux.
"I found this," Murray explained, shoving Gaston along none too gently, "trying to slink out the back door."
"Unhand me, you ruffian!" Gaston growled at Murray, but his eyes showed the fear he felt toward the burly hippo who 'escorted' him just now.
"Gaston," Yuri said sweetly, bringing her hands together before her trim waist, her fingers steepled. "How kind of you to stop by and congratulate us all on today's show."
Gaston's face purpled. "Lucky bit--!" Gaston attempted to say, but came up short when Sly expertly clouted him smartly in the mouth with the tip of his cane. "Oww!"
"Talk nice to the lady, fathead," Sly warned, twirling his cane in a lightning-fast blur. "Or next time, I'll wash your mouth out with soap, pal…"
Gaston grit his teeth, nursing a fat lip. "Sly Cooper," he acknowledged, not particularly liking this turn of events. He then turned to Yuri and bowed his head---somewhat graciously. "Congratulations, Madame," he told her just a bit surly.
"Merci, Gaston," Yuri answered, smiling his way. "Now, I believe there still is the matter of a contract between you and I, no?"
"Contract?" Gaston replied, grinning a smarmy grin. "I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about, Madame." Upon learning he had lost their wager, Gaston had prudently hidden the contract in his inside suit jacket pocket.
Yuri's lovely features darkened at hearing that. But, that lasted only a moment. "Monsieur Sly…if you would be so kind, oui?" she asked sweetly.
Sly grinned and bowed at the waist. He then turned to Murray. "Okay, big guy…go on…just like we planned," he instructed.
Moments later, Murray reappeared. In his right hand, he held a stout rope, from which dangled the four bound thugs that had attempted to shanghai Yuri's clothing en route. "Here they are, Sly," Murray declared, easily holding the four slender thugs in just one hand, his nose wrinkling from their putrid odor.
Gaston gasped, as did most of the rest of them. "Ugh!" he rasped, waving his hand before himself in an attempt to clear the stench. "What is this?"
"What?" Sly said, an edge to his normally jovial voice. "You don't recognize these jokers?"
Gaston drew himself up to his full height. "I have never seen these gentlemen in my life!" he vowed, lying though his sharp white teeth.
The bound thugs, who were also gagged, frowned and struggled to speak, casting furious glares at the fat weasel. Sly noticed this, and with exaggerated gestures indicated so. "Hmm, I guess these fragrant fellows seem to disagree with you, Fat Boy," Sly observed. He then tapped his finger to his chin, making a show of thinking. "You know…I guess it'd only be fair to see what they have to say now, wouldn't it?"
"Non!" Gaston exclaimed, knowing that the mercenaries wouldn't hesitate before spilling their guts to Cooper and his Gang. "You would take the word of ruffians such as these over the word of respected business man such as myself, Monsieur?"
Sly frowned, pretending to think that over. "Hmm," he mused aloud, then, "Yep! I sure would. How's about you, Yuri? What do you think, lovely lady?" He looked over at Yuri, his overacting almost humorous.
"Pardonnez moi, Gaston," Yuri pointed out, "but you must agree that things they look somewhat…er, 'rotten', do you not agree?" She smirked.
"I shall not stand here and be insulted!" Gaston growled.
Kitty, ever the comedienne, couldn't resist. "No? So, where do you usually go?" she asked sweetly, her eyes mischievious.
Sly had to work hard not to burst out laughing. "Kitty…be nice," he instructed, giving the playful vixen a wink. "Say, you're an Inspector with Interpol now, aren't you?" he added, musing again.
"Well, d'uh," Kitty replied, smiling at him. "So?"
"You know," Sly reasoned. "These guys seem like they have something against our pal here. Maybe I should allow you to conduct the interrogation, Inspector…"
"Be happy to, Citizen," Kitty replied, grinning.
Gaston now chewed his fat lip, wincing from the ache that action made. He was between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If he allowed those fools to talk, they would implicate him in attempted grand larceny. Though, on the other hand, if he admitted to knowing about the contract, he'd lose his business to that bitch, Sing! Sweat began to dot his brow, as he tried to find a third alternative. He decided to gut it out. "Go ahead, Mademoiselle Inspector," he replied. "But, I shall contact my lawyers…"
Sly then surprised them all by rushing over to Gaston, grabbing the fat weasel by his lapels and shaking him furiously. "Go ahead, get your lawyers, Fat Boy!" he growled as he now pushed and shoved the stunned weasel around. "Fat lot of good that'll do you, pal!"
"Unhand me, Monsieur!" Gaston railed, pushing Sly away. "Inspector, kindly arrest this man for assault!"
"Bite me," Kitty growled, crossing her arms before herself.
Sly then grinned, surprising them all. "Now now, Kitty dear," Sly admonished her with a grin. "That's not very nice."
"Oh, and you roughing him up like that…that's okay then?" Kitty pointed out.
Sly tried to look apologetic. "Look, I lost my temper," he admitted. He turned to Gaston. "I apologize for my outburst, Monsieur."
"As well you should," Gaston replied, but inwardly he grinned. Maybe everything would work out to his advantage after all.
Sly then stood back and stuck his hands in his pockets. He then got a look of surprise on his face, feeling around in his pocket. "What's this?" he asked aloud…drawing forth a folded piece of paper. He unfolded the tri-folded piece of paper, and read it, a grin blossoming on his face. "Say, Yuri?"
Gaston wondered what was going on. Then, on a hunch, he pretended to need his handkerchief and ducked his hand inside his suit's inside pocket. He gasped a moment later when he realized that his contract was gone! Mon Dieu!
Yuri canted her fair head at Sly. "Oui, Sly?" she replied.
"Here, read this," Sly suggested, handing the document over, arching an eyebrow and smiling smugly over at the sweating Gaston.
"Mon Dieu!" Yuri exclaimed, then grinned. "Merci, Monsieur…your timing, as always, is impeccable." She then turned to Gaston, smiling triumphantly. "Monsieur Ripperoux?"
Gaston had a sinking feeling in his stomach. That wretch Cooper must of swiped the contract from him during their altercation. "Oui? What is it, woman?"
"I believe you are quite familiar with this contract, no?" Yuri observed, handing him the document.
Gaston worked hard not to whimper as he read over the contract…the contract that he had---or so he had thought!---so brilliantly engineered to bring the luscious Yuri to his bed for an evening. "Ah…" he grunted, but then clamped his lips shut.
"That is your name, is it not?" Yuri pressed on. "There at the bottom of the contract, oui?"
Gaston then snapped, snarling. "You shall not have my business, bitch!" he cried, tearing the contract to shreds before their eyes.
Naomi's eyes hardened. "That, Monsieur," she began in a scary voice, "is the second time this evening you have used that vile word against Yuri. If you say it again, I shall have to fetch my baby…and she will be loaded this time, Monsieur."
"So," Sly pointed out thoughfully. "I guess you're in for a rough time of things, pal." Sly then grinned, looking over at Gaston. "Either you sign over your line to Yuri---like you agreed to---or I suppose the Inspector here will---shall we say?---drag the whole seedy scheme of yours out of your stinky sidekicks. In which case, may I point out, you will go to jail. So…I guess it all comes down to which do you treasure more, Monsieur? Your freedom or your business…which, may I also add, wasn't really wowing the crowds this eveing, by the way…"
Gaston knew what Cooper had told him was the bald-faced truth. And, despite his bluster and size, deep down Gaston Ripperoux was a coward. The very thought of residing in a French jail made his flesh crawl…and that was a whole lot of crawling, mind! Gaston huffed, fretted, and argued…but eventually, he knew what he would do. He reached into his other suit pocket and drew forth yet another folded document. "Here!" he said as he scrawled his signature at the bottom of the document, then tossed it rudely into Yuri's startled face. "Now…good day!" He turned to storm off.
"Wait, pal," Sly told him. He then nodded to Murray. "You forgot something…"
Murray began to whirl the four bound thugs around like a cowboy with a lariat, whirling them faster and faster until…at the precise moment, he flung them toward the startled Gaston Ripperoux.
"Gah!" Ripperoux shrieked as he was unceremoniously bowled over by his four underlings, which swept both him and them cleanly out of the room.
"Is it just me, mes amis," Yuri said a moment later, smiling. "Or does it already smell better in here?"
The rest of them all roared with laughter.
"Madame," Naomi said, the first to recover. "Do you realize what we can now do with the addition of Ripperoux's shop with our own?"
"Oh, oui, cheri," Yuri answered. "I do indeed!"
"Hey," Svetlana then pointed out. "Does that not mean that Renee and Antoinette will once again be in your employ?" She didn't say anything further, but her eyes appeared troubled.
Yuri blinked, surprised. "Why, yes…yes, it does," she replied. She then noticed the troubled look in Svetlana's eyes, and understood. "Svetlana," she said, walking over to the now quiet girl, and putting an arm around her. "You do realize that both you and Maria are far too important to me and C'est Sing to ever have you worry about my not needing you, I hope?"
Svetlana brightened immediately. "Thank you, Madame! We shall do our very best!" she vowed.
"I know, cheri," Yuri said fondly. "I know…" Yuri then looked around to all of them standing there. Sly and Carmelita, arm in arm, as were Kitty and her Ling now. Svetlana and Maria were chatting with Naomi and Murray. Bentley had only eyes for his Yuri, which made her grin.
"Attention, everyone," Yuri called, holding up her hand for attention. "I am immensely proud of you all…as you are most likely by now growing rather tired of hearing, I'm sure."
"Nah," Kitty joked, "you can say it again. Really!"
Yuri smiled indulgently. "I would like to give you all something to remember this day. Consider it a token of my esteem and gratitude, if you will." She turned to Naomi first. "You, I have already given you, most happily, cheri," she informed her.
"I know," Naomi replied, pressing her cheek to Yuri's a moment in thank. "I cannot thank you enough, Yuri my friend."
"Being that," Yuri pointed out with a smile, "is reward enough, Naomi dear."
"Now," she next turned to Kitty. "I believe we had an arrangement, you and I, nes pas?"
"You better believe it, lady," Kitty replied, nodding. "I love you like a sister, Yuri Sing…but I didn't get all gussied up just for you, girl."
Yuri laughed softly. "Of course you didn't, cheri," Yuri allowed. She then reached into her small shoulder bag and retrieved a set of car keys. "These, I believe for the next week, are yours, Kitty dear." She dropped the keys into Kitty's waiting palm.
"Yes!" Kitty exulted, clutching the keys in her hand possessively. "Yes, yes, yes!"
Yuri smiled and shook her head. She turned next to Carmelita.
Carmelita held up her hand. "Yuri, c'mon…you don't owe me anything," she told her. "You've done so much for me already, my friend."
"Nonsense," Yuri replied, shaking her blond haired head. "I will not have you being the only one without a gift, dear." She thought a moment, then grinned knowingly. "Ah, cheri…I know."
Carmelita frowned, then grinned. "Okay, what are you up to, Yuri Sing?"
"You like that dress of mine, Carmelita?" Yuri asked, knowing full well she did.
"Like it?" Carmelita replied, then ran her hands enviously over the silky material at her hip. "I adore it! And, you know it."
"Then, cheri," Yuri replied graciously. "It is yours. My gift to you, my wondeful friend."
Carmelita gasped in stunned surprise. "Yuri, no! I couldn't! This dress cost a bloody fortune!" she exclaimed.
"Indeed it did," Yuri agreed, nodding. "But, do you know…I think your modelling it for me this evening will make it one of my best sellers, cheri." Yuri grinned knowingly.
Sly moved his hand to softly rub Carmelita's bare back, making her shiver with delight. "Listen to the woman, Carmelita," he told her softly, "and say thank you."
Carmelita realized what he told her was right, and so she grinned, and looked over to Yuri, smiling her most thankful smile. "Thank you, Yuri…you're wonderful."
Yuri grinned at that, surprised how such a little phrase could make her feel so warm and content. "Now, you two," she announced, pointing to Svetlana and Maria. "In addition to the fact that you are staying at my home, and owe your jobs to me," she added, looking at the two. "I still think some recompense is in order, dears."
"Madame, please," Maria pleaded. "You've been more than generous with both Svetlana and I. We do not need anything further."
"You work for me, nes pas?" Yuri demanded suddenly, startling the Russian girls.
"Da, we do," they answered.
Yuri's expression softened. "So…you will do as you are told," she informed them both. She turned first to Svetlana. "If I recall correctly…I remember you gazing at a certain purple gown of mine when you first entered my shop. Am I correct?"
Svetlana knew which gown she meant…the lovely purple affair, an off-the-shoulder gown with slightly blousey sleeves, a tight bodice, and smooth flowing skirts. "Da, it was…exquisite," Svetlana replied with obvious longing.
Yuri grinned…she loved being able to do this! "Then, cheri…it is yours!" she replied. "And, may I say that it is a very good choice for you, dear. You will look wonderful in it." Yuri then grinned, and added, "Be sure to mention where you got it from each and every time you wear it, dear."
Svetlana's eyes gleamed with delight. "Da, I shall, Madame!" she exclaimed, then squealed and rushed forward to hug Yuri tightly a moment. Yuri laughed softly, and kissed the top of the adoring girl's head.
"Maria," Yuri then said as Svetlana released her. "My dear practical, down-to-earth Maria." She tapped her chin as she thought. "Ah, I know…the perfect thing for you, dear girl. You know that business suit of mine? The one in the center of the store?"
"Da," Maria answered. "The Arctic Blue one…with the silver piping and crystal buttons? The one with the royal blue skirt?"
"That's the one! Exactly!" Yuri exclaimed, nodding. "You shall do me the honor of showing up to work this Monday in that, will you?"
"Of course," Maria replied gratefully. "I shall return it to you that evening, Madame."
"You will do no such thing, silly," Yuri responded. "It is yours to keep, cheri."
"But, Madame!" Maria protested…though weakly.
"Maria?" Yuri countered, staring the girl down.
"Da, it shall be as you say," Maria finally answered, then grinned. "Thank you, Madame."
"Now," Yuri then said, whirling to where Sly, Murray, and Bentley stood. "My noble gentlemen."
"Is she talking about us?" Sly teased, grinning over at Carmelita, who chuckled.
"Oui, I am, Sly Cooper," Yuri replied, stamping her foot in indignation, but then smiled. "And you know it, Monsieur."
"Hey, a simple thanks will suffice for me, O Gorgeous One," Sly said cleverly. He then turned adoring eyes on Carmelita, who looked so beautiful in Yuri's dress. "The rest of my gift I've already got, lady."
Yuri laughed at hearing that, but…had to agree. "Merci, Sly," she then told him. "Merci beaucoup, Monsieur," she added, leaning over to kiss him upon both cheeks one last time.
"Murray," Yuri then added, "my gift to you is one I'm certain you will like." She turned to Naomi. "I don't expect to see you at work, cheri…for at least a week. Enjoy yourself."
"Merci, Madame!" Naomi said, her eyes going to Murray, who grinned and blushed.
"And, last…but certainly never least, mon homme," Yuri said as she slowly walked over to a very nervous yet grinning Bentley. "My gift to you, cher…will be breakfast, tomorrow morning."
"Breakfast?" Bentley wondered aloud.
"Oh, oui," Yuri pointed out. "That is after our 'private' celebration I have planned for we both this night, cher." Her exotic green-gold eyes spoke volumes.
Bentley blushed redly, but grinned nonetheless.
"Woo!" Kitty teased, then looked over to Naomi. "Say, you comin' with me…or going with Murray?"
"Kitty? What---?" Naomi said, confused.
"I don't think you're going to be welcome at Yuri's tonight, kiddo," Kitty pointed out, grinning cleverly.
Naomi blushed as she caught on to what Kitty was alluding to. "That is very naughty of you, Kitty," she rebuked the vixen.
"Maybe…but, still true, nonetheless," Kitty said.
Naomi watched Yuri leave hand-in-hand with Bentley, and smiled. "I shall go with you, I think, Kitty."
"I'm surprised," Kitty responded. "I'd of thought you'd go with Murray."
"Ordinarily, I would have," Naomi answered. "However, I think Madame would like her Roadster back in more or less one piece next week, no?"
Kitty blushed, then grinned. "Umm, I guess I hadn't thought of that…"
Naomi simply laughed, following the others out, her arm around Kitty's shoudlers.