(A/N) Ack… My comuter is slowly dying, so this chapter is probably going to be the last one for a while. Which is pretty sucky, considering I have four or so chapters set out in my head. I also apologize for the bad dialogue and fight scenes in this one. (sweatdrop) Gomen!

Stir sat upright on the velvet chair, smile fixed in place beneath the mask. She scanned the crowd anxiously, looking for the same person as she had last year. The year before that, the masquerade had quite a different form and meaning. But, as he tended to do, he changed that. She'd heard tales of the Bandit's travels, all seeming to go the same way. He'd enter a city, scope it out, then reveal himself for who he was and all hell would break loose. Of course, when it did, he always made off with a treasure of some sort. Three years. That was how long she had waited for him. And, deep down, she knew she'd wait longer.

She perked up. A familiar symbol was making it's way towards her, a navy blue cat with dizzy green eyes. As it's wearer came closer, she realized that it wasn't a mask, but a hat, nonetheless covering much of his face. Her heart sank as she realized that the boy's hair wasn't even dark, forget black. He stepped up to her throne, long coat obscuring her from the crowds view. "May I have this dance?" She sighed.

"No, sir. I am waiting for another."

He smirked. "You're mistaken." Stir realized that while she had been thinking, he had moved closer to her, and that now there was something digging into her side. Something very sharp, which she would not want to reach any vital organs. "You think you have a choice."

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Kir looked up suspiciously. The arena where the Mos Corrida had been held was now tiled in black and white marble. To avid detection, Jing had replaced his cat mask with one that resembled a Por Vora. The black bird kept close to Jing, who was making his way through the crowd towards the throne. Just as they came in sight of the elaborate chair, a sense of urgency swept through the crowd. "Where's the princess?" "Miss Stir is gone!" "I saw her dancing with a stranger a moment ago…" "Right near the staircase…" "Where'd they go…" "Looked almost like Wonder Boy…" Jing's eyes narrowed and Kir landed on his shoulder. "Well, Odorobo?" "I'm thinking, I'm thinking…"

A female dancer screeched and pointed upwards before fainting. On top of the rim of the arena was Stir, in her flowing ball gown, her captor grinning and holding a knife to her neck. "Your princess is now under my control. Give me what I want or I'll slit her throat and drop her."

"What are your terms?" Jing yelled, disguising his voice.

"I want the King of Bandits up her, and now." Jing sighed and took off his mask, then ran to the stairs. Kir took a more direct route and flew up the sides of the arena.

Facing the kidnapper, Jing narrowed his eyes, tensing up. Ten feet away, the intruder shook his head. "I don't want to fight, I want to negotiate." The wind was starting to pick up. Jing raised his voice to be sure he was heard. "Negotiate what?"

The intruder tilted his head back and grinned. The kitty hat slipped backwards and was carried off by the wind, revealing sky blue hair and slightly darker eyes. Kir made a funny, strangled squawking noise.

"Be my teacher."

Jing stared at the old acquaintance. "Your teacher? Why?"

"Just agree!" Molotov yelled.

"And what if I say no?"

The boy looked curious for a moment. "You know, I hadn't thought that far ahead."

Stir grit her teeth and whirled around to face her captor. Molotov jumped backwards and whipped the dagger that had a moment ago been pressed to the lady's throat around him. Jing soon saw that it was not a simple blade, but was wielded from a dull silver chain. Stir leapt headfirst towards her former captor. Molotov pulled the chain between his outstretched hands and blocked her fist. Grabbing the chain that stopped her blow, the purple-haired girl swung her legs around to kick the back of his knees. The blue haired boy went down sideways, looking mildly surprised. Stir smirked victoriously, before Molotov planted his hands on the ground and flipped himself to the side, giving her a heel kick to the chin as he did. As she reeled, he dashed the few feet back to her and once again held the dagger to her throat.

Stir swore loudly. "That's not very ladylike." Molotov commented dryly. "So, Odorobo, what do you say?"

Jing sighed. "As my 'student', you'd listen to me and try to do anything too stupid, right?" Molotov grinned and nodded.

"Ugh, fine."

Molotov let go of his former hostage, throwing his hands in the air. "Yes! I win!"

Kir landed near Jing's feet, muttering darkly. Daiqui flapped back to the roof, struggling against the wind. The dark blue kitty hat was clutched in her beak. Molotov smiled at her. "Well, Daiqui, we'll be traveling with the King of Bandits from now on." The grey bird chirped happily.

Stir stumbled a few steps, then righted herself, walking slowly towards Jing with a small smile on her face. Sadly, at that moment, Angostura came bursting forth from the staircase, followed closely by the palace guards. "Stop right there, Bandit!" cried a guard. Jing smirked and stepped quickly back to the edge of the roof. Molotov ran after him and leapt headfirst off the side. Jing simply stepped backwards off the ledge with a wink towards Stir. They were closely followed by two birds, both arguing.

Angostura gave a sigh of relief. "Good thing he's gone, right, milady?"

"You… You…" Stir tried to put her feelings into words.

"Yes, milady?"

"MORON!"

(A/N) Ug. Sorry for the short chapter. And Stir doesn't have much of a personality, does she? (sigh) Anyways. Review anyways:3