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Chapter 3: A well laid trap . . .

Ayase disappeared a week and a half later. She left while he was out keeping Carmelita away. She left a letter behind explaining why; it read:

Sly,

I have to get away from you for your own good. I was supposed to steal the Thievius Raccoonus for a man called Genbu. I don't know why he wants your book but I do know he will do anything to obtain it.

This is all my fault. I made a deal with a devil not you or the children from the orphanage that I grew up in. I should have never agreed to take it regardless if I thought you were dead or not.

When I heard that you were alive I refused to take it. In response Genbu took a hostage, a boy from the orphanage. This is my mess and my burden, I will not have your bear it for me. I will return to Genbu's fortress and attempt an rescue.

If I don't make it back I want to say that I'm sorry. I know I can't ask for forgiveness but I hope one day you will be able to forgive me.

-Ayase Terada

Sly finished reading the letter. Despite her confession Sly decided to go after her. He couldn't just let her get herself killed besides something inside was screaming to go save her. It felt so strange, it was nothing like anything he had felt before. He had to save her even though he had no idea how.

"Bentley, I am going after her. See what you can find on this Genbu."

Bentley complained, "Somehow I knew you were going to say that. Don't worry I'm on it."

Sly relaxed a bit, "Thanks budy."

Ayase approached Genbu's fortress in the middle of the night. Of course, no self respecting thief would go in any other time. Still, she knew that the night would provide a meager protection. She also knew that Genbu was waiting for her to try the obvious but she really didn't see that she had any other choice. Silently, she wished that she had brought Sly along but she quickly repressed that thought. I have involved him too much already. Besides, it's too late now. She thought.

Getting in was easy, too easy. There were barely any guards and only a few poorly laid traps. It LL reeked of a trap. When she finally reached the dungeon where Timmy was supposed to be held she found nothing but an empty cage. He is dead. She thought as she approached the cage. She didn't even notice that someone was behind her until it was too late. Two guards grabbed her from behind and restrained her.

"So the Treacherous Spider returns home to find all her hopes laid to waste. What a fitting fate for such vermin."

A Giant Panda appeared from the shadows. He was dressed in a black Tangzhuang that was embroidered with a great tortoise on it. Ayase recognized the panda immediately, "Genbu."

"Ayase so nice of you to come home. I was worried that you would never come. I see I was wrong . . ." He walked up to her then touched her face, "I am relieved."

Ayase reviled from his touch, she said, "You'll never get that book."

Genbu straightened up and laughed, "Oh that's where your wrong my dear!" Ayase looked at him defiantly but said nothing. Genbu explained, "Don't you ever wonder why I picked you for this task?" He paused, "No? Well, I'll give you a hint it's not for your abilities. You are as pathetic as they come. No. I picked you because only you could get close enough to take it. Of course, if you should happen to get attached to Cooper and fail to return with the book, as you so foolishly did. Then I would use you as a bargaining chip to get the book. Either way I get Thievius Raccoonus."

Ayase laughed, "He would never do that! It is his most precious procession!"

Genbu got so close that she could smell his foul breath, "Oh but that's where your wrong my dear!" He paused again, "You see he is a Cooper and all Coopers have the same weakness." He laughed, "They are terribly sentimental. He will gladly give up everything, including his life to save another. And once he hears of your plight he will come running to save you. Finally, after witnessing your suffering he will do anything to make it stop, even give up the Thievius Raccoonus."

A rueful smile crept across Ayase's face, "I never told him anything about you or what I was doing."

Genbu unleashed a horrible smile on her, "I took the liberty of informing him for you." He stepped backwards to enjoy her horror.

Ayase was defeated. He had thought of everything, there was nothing that she could do now to help anyone. I should have known. To think that I could outwit Genbu alone was so stupid. Now, I am powerless to stop him. She thought.

"To think that at one time I believed that I could never get that blasted thing. Then that old crone died" Ayase growled but Genbu took no notice of it, "and suddenly it was all but guaranteed. Oh yes, I knew his blasted son survived." Ayase tried to break free of the guards' grip but failed. He laughed, "I heard that the fool died protecting his family. Typical Cooper – pathetic." He paused, "The Fiendish Five would have never killed him had he not felt the foolish desire to protect his them." He paused again, "Hard to believe that such a man could have kept me at bay for long . . . oh well."

Genbu walked over to the nearby console, he continued, "His death created an opportunity for me that I could not pass up. Without Cooper's protection you and your father were easy prey. Frankly, I was surprised that he put up as much of fight as he did. It took almost five months for my assassin to track him down. Of course just like Cooper he died protecting you . . ."

Ayase broke free of the guards and hit Genbu in the face. He nursed his injury as the guards regain control of her. Once she was under control he struck her in the gut then whacked her in the face. Satisfied, he continued, "Unfortunately, the assassin I hired failed to deliver you.."

Ayase had flashback. She was six years old and hiding under a bed. Someone else was in the room looking for her. She was terrified that those big boots would find her.

Genbu's voice brought her back to the present, ". . . contrary to my instructions the assassin returned without you.. By the time I was able to track you down you again were out of my reach. So I waited and waited . . . for the day that your thieving heritage would return you to the night." He smiled, "The rest is history."

Ayase screamed, "Bastard!"

Genbu gestured towards the hanging cage, "Lock her up." They wrestled her into the cage as she tried to rip his throat out. Once she was secured he said to her, "Now we wait for your beloved. Sweet dreams!" He activated a switch which made the cage erupt with electric waves. It coursed through her body and then she fell unconscious.