Now this Chapter is my favorite. We get a glimpse into the past of Ayase and begin to see how strong the feelings they have for each other are. Of course, they are foolish enough not to completely realize it though, but what do you expect: They are only Human. Or are they?

(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!)

Chapter 4: The Song

Sly approached Genbu's Fortress two nights later. This night the place was crawling with guards and packed with security measures. Everything was as Bentley said it would be but still something didn't smell right.

Bentley chimed in, "Ayase is being kept in the old dungeons under the fortress. You will need to make it to the farthest Pagoda where the entrance to the dungeons is located on the first floor."

Sly found an old vine attached to the wall that surrounded the complex. He climbed it and snook past the guards to make it to the Pagoda. He entered through the top floor window and worked his way down to the dungeon. He found that Ayase was trapped in an ancient cell inside a cage suspended from the ceiling. The cage's sides were made of energy.

Ayase looked like hell. Her hair, clothes and fur were crumpled, ripped, and dirty. The life seemed to have been ripped from her. It seemed that even the light that streamed in from the open doorway seemed to hurt her.

Sly rushed over to the control console. He told her, "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here."

She tried to stop him, "No! It's a trap!"

Just as she said that Genbu appeared from the shadows. "Welcome Sly Cooper to my modest lodgings. As you can see I treat my guests with respect and dignity." Two goons appeared from the darkness to grab him. He tried to fight but stopped when Genbu said, "Ah . . . Ah . . . Uh. Now we wouldn't want to do that now would we? I wouldn't want to be responsible to what happens to your girlfriend here."

Sly growled, "Let her go."

Genbu unleashed a horrible smile upon Sly, "All in good time . . . All in good time. First, would you be so kind as to hand over your book? I would much obliged."

Ayase wanted to scream "Sly don't!" but she knew it would do no good. Sly would not stand by and watch her suffer. Even if she thought that her life was worth the Thievius Raccoonus it didn't mean that he did. She could see by the look on his face that meant that she was correct.

Ayase felt so helpless once again, Ayase was forced to play the impotent child once again. Had she spent all these years trying to be strong, trying to make it on her own, and trying to live up her father's legacy only to lose her strength now? It isn't right. It isn't fair. He shouldn't have to do this because of me! I have to do something, anything! She thought.

Ayase finally cried, "I'll be fine, don't worry about me just don't let him get that book!" In response to her words, waves of electricity pulsed through her body. Something strange and unnatural sprang from her mouth, a piercing primal scream.

Genbu beamed, "A wonder isn't it? It releases short bursts of electricity so that the nerves cannot become numb."

Sly stared at him with silent rage. The concept of anyone doing this to another person was beyond Sly. Not even his worst enemy deserved this.

A cold smile appeared on Genbu's face, "This is level one. This is level two." The intensity of the electricity increased as did the volume of the scream. He continued, "Wait until you see the final level."

Sly felt completely helpless. Even if he got free of the guards he would never be able to save her in time before Genbu killed her. He had no choice to but to give Genbu his book. He thought, Father, I'm sorry I have no other choice . . .

Sly yelled, "Stop it!" He paused then continued in a subdued voice, "I'll give you the book, just stop it." The waves of electricity ceased.

As Ayase floated towards unconsciousness she heard Genbu say, " Please hurry otherwise I might get a trigger happy." Finally, everything went black.

Ayase Terada sank into the deep dark waters of her soul. A simple melody played over and over again – each note seemed to hang in the water and flow around her. Na Na, Na Nana Na, Na Na, Nana, Nana Na, Nana Na. Bubbles sped up towards the surface each containing the precious memories that made up her existence. The song she heard changed pitch and tempo as she looked into these reflections of her soul.

. . . The days in which she and Sly would play together. He looked so goofy trying to be just like his dad . . .

. . . The day she took Sly's hat and crook. He looked handsome in the moonlight . . .

. . . The day she learned of Mr. Cooper's death. The old days would never come again . . .

. . . The day her father died. She could do nothing . . .

. . . The day Madeline picked her up from the Hospital. I tried to speak but I just couldn't . . .

. . . The day she agreed to steal the Thievius Raccoonus. Sly, can you ever forgive me . . .

. . . The day her father tried to teach her the Doubleganger. I'm sorry I didn't . . .

She became consumed by that memory.

"Now Ayu pay close attention, I may not get a second chance to tell you this. The sacred song is the song that our souls sing. Every living thing has a sacred song. Each song is like a snowflake, no two are exactly like."

"I have a sacred song?"

"Yes, sweetheart you do. Yours is the most unique of all. Can you hear it? It is playing right now inside of you . . ."

The song soared higher. Na Na, Nana, Na Na, Nana, Na Na . . . She saw herself as a child playing a grass harp. She was playing along with the song that Ayase heard all around her. Suddenly, she was playing instead of the child self. After she played for a time she heard:

"Ayu!"

She heard it again!

"Ayu!"

She recognized the voice, but couldn't place the name. Someone was calling to her but she couldn't figure out who. As if on cue, the scene changed. She saw the small boy who was once her friend. He looked so cute with his Dad's hat on. She thought, Where did he get that? Mr. Cooper is going to be soo mad . . .

"Ayu!"

The scene changed again. This time the boy was replaced by the man who she loved. The man wore the same silly hat carried a golden crook. He looked really worried about something although she had no clue what. She almost remembered his name . . .

"Ayu!"

She finally remembered, "Sly!" She struggled to make it to the surface of the dark lake. As she swam towards the surface the memories and the song played faster and faster as it faded to white.

Ayase finally opened her eyes. Sly Cooper hovered over her like a mother hen. Ayase was still very weak but she still managed a smile. He seemed relieved. She told him, "Sly, I understand now. I understand what he was telling me." Sly had no clue what she was talking about. She tried as she tried to gather her depleted strength, "I can hear my sacred song. I can create doublegangers."

Sly was still lost, "Doubleganger?"

Ayase swallowed hard, "It is a technique passed down in my family since the days in which we were ninja. My father tried to teach me but I was too young to understand." She paused as she was forced to collect her strength again, "Sly, there is a leaf hidden inside my shirt. Please get it for me."

Sly blushed a dark shade of red, "In where?"

Ayase wished she had the time to enjoy Sly's discomfort but she couldn't. Already she could feel herself slowly slipping towards unconsciousness and she doubted that Genbu would wait for her to wake up again. She scolded, "Sly! I need to do this! I can barely move my arms let alone my fingers. I am not even sure if I can do this but I have to try. Please!"

Sly reluctantly gave in. He gingerly probed the inside of her shirt. His fingers seemed ready to pull out at a moment's notice but he did manage to find the hidden leaf. He placed it gently in her hand. After a short while Ayase managed to put the leaf up to her mouth and play. The song that her soul sung filled the room while floating on the grassy notes.

Right in front of the control console an image of Ayase appeared while the real one went limp. She was exactly the same as Ayase expect for the fact the image appeared to be healthy. Sly feared that she had gotten worse but was the image told him, "She is alright for now, she is just in an altered state of conscious. She is helpless until I return to the depths of her soul. I have to hurry she doesn't have a lot of strength left." She looked down at the console then started to work. She said to him, "I should have you out in a sec. She isn't the best lock pick around for nothing y'know."

Almost as soon as she said that, the energy around the cage ceased. He had no trouble breaking out. The Doubleganger disappeared then Ayase woke up. Still, she could barely move let alone get to safety. He had to make sure she was safe before he did anything else.

He whispered to the Bonicam, "Bentley, I need to get her out of here."

Bentley answered, "We're on it Sly."

Sly gently picked her up from the cage floor as Bentley appeared. He passed her on to him then prepared to get to his crook back and then get that bastard for good. However, before he could leave Ayase reached out and touched his arm. She said, "Sly . . . I think I know . . . why he wants your book . . ."

Sly asked, "What?"

Ayase swallowed hard again as she struggled to speak, "It was something my father . . . tried to teach me . . .All of us have a sacred song, that . . . is unique . . . the song can be used to create doublegangers like mine . . . or to manipulate others. All living things have this song. Sometimes the song is imprinted on objects that are close to a person's heart . . . like your book . . ."

Sly finally was starting to understand where she was going, "And the Thievius Raccoonus was important to generations of my family."

She nodded but her voice was barely over a whisper, "Yes . . . a lot of power is contained within its pages. . ." Sly nodded as she fell unconscious again.

Sly looked at Murray. He told him, "Don't worry Sly, I'll won't let anyone touch her."

He smiled, "Thanks budy." They left the cell together.

Sly activated his Bonicam. "Bentley, do you know where they stashed my crook?"

"Let me see . . . Ah, yes! The solution was so simple I don't know why I didn't think of this before."

Sly cried, "Bentley!"

"Sorry. It is locked up at the Security control center at the entrance to the labyrinth."

Sly put the Bonicam away then got to work. There were few guards so he had little trouble getting up there. I guess Genbu didn't think we'd get out. He thought, I'm coming for you Genbu! He cleared the guards out of the way so that Murray could get Ayase out of here. When they reached the control center he took the two guards out up there. He found his crook before he escorting Murray to the dungeon entrance. Finally, they split up. Bentley chimed in to tell him that the Genbu was in one of his labs with his book. It seemed to confirm what Ayase said. He thought, I have to hurry . . .