Hey all! This is my first attempt to create award-winning fanfiction! Seriously though, this story evolved from a secret desire to see Sly hitched. With that in mind, I went through a couple of characters to arrive with the character of Ayase Terada. First I thought about Carmelita but rejected her, based on the fact that either she or Sly would have to act out of character to make it work. Besides it wouldn't be fun if she stopped chasing Sly. That being said, it still could be great to have her as a love interest for Sly (She just can't land the guy in the end.) The other character was a cool cat burglar that sadly just didn't fit this story. (I hope to reuse her later in a future story.)

Hopefully, I have not gone off the deep end and created a Mary Sue story. (Maybe I should not read Wikipedia anymore – geez it scared me.) I did really enjoy spending hours writing a story that seemed to almost write itself. I hope it gives you the same pleasure it gave me. Enjoy!

(I do not own Sly Cooper or any of the related materials. I do own this story and I ask that you do not repost it without permission. Thanks!)

Demons of Heaven and Earth

Historian's Note: This story takes place in the two year time span between Sly 1 and Sly 2, ending only a few months before the start of Sly 2.

Chapter 1: Reunion

A Shadow moved through the night silently stalking his prey. Its target was rare gem that was currently in the procession of boss of a certain drug cartel. A gem that he had no problem liberating from its owner, of course. The Shadow's name was Sly Cooper, a thief from a long line of master thieves who specialize in stealing from master criminals.

The Gem was being housed inside his private Gallery in his plush Manhattan Place. When Sly cased the joint last night he noticed that the Gallery was on the first floor. It was at an end of a long room on a pressure sensitive pedestal and surrounded by a sensor web. There are guards posted every ten feet inside the Gallery and twenty feet on the rest of the floor. The other two floors have only a handful of guards and sensors.

Sly entered through the Door to the roof deck. There were no guards standing at the door like they were yesterday. Sly whispered, "Bentley, where are the guards?"

Bentley answered over the Bonicam, "The plans that obtained from their computers clearly shows guards posted on this floor."

"Yeah but they're not here."

"There is nothing in my plans about this."

"So, in other words you have no clue."

"Isn't that what I just said?"

Sly ignored the last comment then started down the hall again. "I'm going on."

Bentley became concerned, "Wait! We should abort the mission! It could be a trap!"

Sly shook his head, "I can't turn back now. We might not get another chance."

The rest of the floor was quiet just like the previous room. There wasn't a trace of the guards that were supposed to roam the halls. The sensors were still in place though although they were little challenge. Finally, when he entered the gallery he saw that a lucky cat was in the place of the gem.

Bentley commented, "That's a Maneki Neko!"

Sly was dumbfounded, "A what?"

"A Maneki Neko, a lucky cat. It's supposed to attract money."

"Yeah, but who left it?"

Sly heard something behind him. He whirled around to find another thief behind him. She looked like a female version of Sly Cooper minus the hat. Thief wore a mischievous grin, "Its mine."

Sly said, "And you are?"

"Ayase Terada. You are Sly Cooper, am I right?"

The name hung in his mind, he had heard it somewhere before but he couldn't quite remember where. Still, she was beautiful and Sly could never resist flirting with a beautiful woman. He said playfully, "I am."

She smirked, "Prove it." She charged Sly while whipping out her whip. Sly managed to parry her barely in time to avoid getting some wonderful new welts on his face. She pulled back a couple of inches then attacked again. He parried again then whacked her with his crook.

Suddenly, he placed the name, he said, "Ayu? Is that you?"

The thief finally stopped. She smiled, "So you finally remember me Sly Cooper. I never thought I'd see you again . . ."

Suddenly the years that had divided them dissolved as they talked. Sly laughed, "Ayu Terada, what ever happened to that little squirt that used to tag-along every where I went."

Ayase retorted, "She grew up." Suddenly she was decided to play a game that she used to play when they still little kids. She ran up to him, grabbed his hat and crook then ran off while leaving her whip behind. She yelled as she ran, "Catch me if you can!"

Sly chased after her across the roof tops always a step behind. He lost both the sight of her and her scent trail. Ayase had ducked under a ledge and was now out of sight. Sly was forced to go out and search another area. As soon as he left, Ayase dropped down to the ground. As she landed she felt the end of a big gun pushed into her back.

"Sly Cooper, I have you at last." A voice said behind her.

Ayase turned around to face the gun's owner. It belonged to a tall, cranky, fox that seemed very trigger happy. Upon seeing her face the fox exclaimed, "You're not Cooper!"

Ayase smiled, "Nope." Taking advantage of the copper's surprise Ayase rushed her before the cop had a chance to pull herself together. She quickly grabbed the shock pistol then jumped up to a nearby balcony.

The moon shined down her as she propped up Sly's way-too-big for her head hat. She proclaimed, "The name is," She noticed Sly looking down at her from the rooftop, "Ayase Terada! And don't you forget it!" She tossed the shock pistol aside then ran off.

Sweet Inspector Carmelita Fox, she who could never resist a chance to taunt her nemesis Sly Cooper, "A new pal of yours?"

Sly smirked, "Beautiful, sexy and a thief too. Now that's someone I'd love to get to know."

Carmelita growled, "She'd make a nice bride for you. . ." She prepared to dive for her dropped weapon.

Sly laughed, "Jealous?"

Carmelita blushed as she yelled, "No!"

Sly taunted, "Oh I think you are."

"Raccoon!" She dove for the shock pistol as Sly ran off. She fired but only hit a nearby gargoyle.

Ayase swung through the night using Sly's crook. The crook reeked so much of him that she almost felt him next to her. Wait a minute! What the hell am I doing? She thought. Suddenly a memory came rushing up to the surface.

"Sly Cooper is ALIVE!" She yelled.

A dark shadow that Ayase knew all too well, responded, "So he is . . ."

"I can't do it, I can't . . ."

The shadow growled, "You must do what you agreed to do. . . Otherwise, there will be severe consequences . . ."

Ayase lost her grip and fell. Just before she hit the ground someone caught her. Ayase opened her eyes to find Sly Cooper staring at her. Of course, he had his hat and crook back. Her heart started beating faster as she felt the blood rush to her face. Sly asked, "Are you alright?"

She stuttered, "Yes . . . Yes . . . I . . . I . . ."

"Fell." Sly finished for her.

Ayase face became bright red, "No! I mean . . ." Frustrated, she broke free of his grip. "I have to go." She grabbed her whip from him then ran off.

Sly watched her run off. He couldn't help but be intrigued by Ayase. After all she was beautiful and clever not to mention mysterious. There was an art of him that was attracted to her while another saw only the girl who once looked up to him. She had changed so much he could recognize her. Yet underneath it all she was still the same Ayu that played with him when his Dad was still alive. She was trouble back then and he had no doubt that she was trouble now. A grin spread across Sly's face as he thought, This is going to be fun . . .