I know I won't be getting many reviews for these first few chapters as I'm reloading them at around three or so at a time. So I hope that I'll get heaps of reviews over time and that you guys will REALLY like this story.

Here's chappie two...

Chapter Two: Befriending Thieves

All the teams spread themselves over the room and readied themselves for sleep. It was quite a humid night and with all lights extinguished throughout the house, the noises of the night grew. The teens were spread out on top of their bedrolls, all in shorts and t-shirt. After several moments of turning on his bedroll Rei sat up and looked around at the restless teenagers. He sighed and soon a small chuckle escaped his mouth. Every gaze in the room fell on his silouhette.

With her hands on her hips Mariah sat up and turned to her friend. "What is it Rei? What's so funny?"

Rei sighed once more and fell down onto his bedroll, "It's too hot for anyone to sleep. Everyone is so restless."

Emily sat up and leant on her elbow, as she looked over towards the Neko-jin who held everyone's attention, "The what can we do? There's no way that I'll be going to sleep anytime soon. I didn't realise it could be so hot in your village."

Rei let out another chuckle as Max caught their attention with an audible sigh, "You know I still can't get that story out of my head. I mean, wouldn't it be so cool to have wings, and be able to fly?"

Michael rolled onto his stomach and sniggered, "You know a faerie would suit you Maxie. Me, on the other hand-I would be an Avarian. They're everything I am. Strong, fast, good looking…"

"…deadly." They all turned to the sadistic voice, to find Brian smirking. "With what kitty said about them, those guys would make the perfect assassins. Now that'd suit me fine."

Mariah glared to her foe, "It would."

Seeing the tension rise between Mariah and Brian, Lee glanced over to his old teammate to try and calm Mariah down… before she does something stupid… Rei put a gentle arm on Mariah's shoulder and sat her down next to him. "So if no one can sleep, how about another story?"

With that, Max jumped up with his hand raised. "Yeah! Make it a good one!"

"Well, if you liked the story about the New World so much, I could tell you more about it."

Again, Max raised his hand enthusiastically, "Totally!"

Michael, wanting to hear more about the Avarian kingdom, spoke up over Max's loud shouting, "Tell us more about those assassins," he glanced sidewards to where Brian leant against the wall.

Rei made himself comfortable before talking, "Alright. Well let me think."

Lee looked up as a thought struck him, "Hey Rei, tell them about the mysterious disappearance of the Avarian prince."

Eddy motioned for Lee, "Why don't you? Why does Rei have to tell us all the stories?"

Lee rolled his eyes and was about to reply, before Mariah answered for him, "Because Lee is hopeless. Rei is the best story-teller out of the lot of us, so be quiet and let him start."

Eddy closed his mouth and as everyone settled in for the night, Rei began, "Well, long before the death of the Avarian King and Queen, the Prince, being only five, disappeared. He was never heard from again. It caused an uproar throughout the kingdom."

Emily's hands flew up to her mouth, "That's so sad. He was only five?"

"Yes. No one knew where he disappeared to…"

The young avarian thief quietly crept through the halls of the castle. No sound came from him. It was a trick that his 'friends' had taught him. To be caught here, in the palace, would surely mean death. Quietly stepping around the corner he found small red eyes peering up at him. Jumping back in fright, he was about to run away when he saw the insignia of the young avarian child. This boy, this curious young child, was the Prince.

"Are you meant to be here?"

The young thief clamped a hand over the Prince's mouth and put his other hand to his lips, "You have to be quiet," The Prince's brows creased in frustration, about to yell for his attendant. The thief, panicking, grabbed the Prince's purse as silent as he could, and let his victim go, "How about we play a game?"

Delighted in this the Prince jumped up and down, "What game? Can we play-"

"No-no-no. I have a game. Do you know how to play hide-and-seek?" The Prince nodded his head vigorously and the thief smiled, "Alright then. You be in. Count to 100 and then come and find me. Alright, start."

As he ran off he heard the Prince starting to count, "One, forty-three, twenty-seven, eighty-ten…"

As the noise gradually disappeared with the distance growing between the two, the thief sped off faster. With no one in his path the thief ran through the castle and jumped out of the open window. Wings spread, he soared out of view from the guards below, and landed in an alleyway. Ducking through the back streets of the town, the thief kept running. Turning the corner he stopped abruptly, when he came face to face with the face he was trying to run from. Laughing with glee the young Prince put his hand out and tapped the thief on his shirt.

"I found you. Now, you are in. Come and get me!"

The thief hesitated as he saw the young Prince run off. This area was known for its roughness, as it was where the thieves of the kingdom mainly dwelt. Cursing himself mentally for the guilt-trip he would have, if the Prince ran into any trouble, the thief ran after him. The Prince, being only five, was easy to find, but a pain to catch. With quick agility and able to fit through tight areas. The thief was having a hard time. Soon the Prince began to fall back, and the thief was able to pick him up.

"You shouldn't go running through the town like that. It's dangerous for you."

The Prince's eyes began to swell up and he sniffled, "But you did. I was just catching you."

The thief set the Prince down and brought him into an alleyway, out of the viewer's gaze. "Alright, alright. Just calm down and don't cry." Frustrated, and confused as to what he could do, the thief sat down and put his hands in his face. He wasn't one to be kind and compassionate, but when it came to young children and babies, he couldn't say 'no'. He knew how it felt to have a dad who didn't want you, and didn't treat you very good, but being only eight, he still had plenty of time to grow up and experience more to life than just pick-pocketing, and stealing for a living. He had to admit though, being a thief was fun, and handy. You made quite a lot of friends, some loyal, others not quite so. Looking back up to the Prince, he noted that he had stopped crying and was looking at him in compassion.

"Are you alright? Are you going to cry?"

The thief had to chuckle and scooped up the five-year-old in his hands. Pulling him into a more comfortable position, the thief flew off to one of his friends' house…he'll know what to do…

Landing at a small cottage he rapped on the door softly and opened it slightly, "Stefan? Are you here? I need some help."

A young man, around nineteen with short sandy-blonde hair, walked over to the door and peered around to find two visitors. "What can I do for you then, young one?"

"It followed me."

Stefan turned to the child in his young companions arms and took a step back, "What! Do you realise who that is? Why did he follow you and put him back where you found him!"

The young thief rolled his eyes and pushed through the open door and came inside. "I need help. I couldn't just leave him in the street; he's the Prince. Anyone with a smart mind would take that opportunity to make some money."

Stefan ran a hand down his face and picked up the Prince, "Can you go home by yourself? Do you know where your home is?"

The Prince smiled and nodded. He pointed in the direction of the castle and turned his gaze back to his newfound friend, "Are we going back home to play another game?"

It was the thief's turn to run a hand down his face as he growled, "See what I mean? If dad found out-"

"I know, I know. The Prince in his grip, and him being the King of Thieves… I understand. Well then, I guess we'll just have to bring him back to the castle ourselves."

"And risk getting caught! Are you crazy!"

"Calm down," Stefan sat on a stool in the kitchen and turned the Prince to face him, "Now, we're going to bring you home, but when hey ask where you have been, what are you going to say?"

"With my new friend."

"Friend?" the thief slumped onto the floor and fell back, "Great. The first friend near to my age, and it's the Prince. What would my ...dad say?"

"He won't find out now, will he?"

The Prince shook his head in agreement and clambered off Stefan's lap. "I want to go home now. I want mummy and daddy."

The thief jumped up and smiled, "Alright. But when they ask where you were, you say, 'Playing a game of hide-and-seek with the guards.' Say you were running away from them."

As the Prince vigorously nodded his head, Stefan set him down and opened the door cautiously. "Now let's go."

Awww... Cute little Prince, isn't he? lol. Please review!