Authors notes: A..ND WE'RE BACK JACK! Now I know a lot of you have been wondering where in the world Cooper & Sandiego has been. But rest assured we're getting back on track just had a lot on my plate lately catching up on other stories. Now without further delay lets get this little Tokyo caper rolling.
Sly Cooper (c) Sucker Punch Productions
Carmen Sandiego 2019 (c) Netflix
Cooper,Sandiego & The Gang In
:The Daisho Caper:
Carmens POV:
The past few hours for the Cooper & Sandiego gang had been eventful, in stopping V.I.L.E's gem mining operation in Rio, they also received help from Shadowsan, former Faculty member of VILE now their new ally. Since ditching ACME back in Rio the crew were now on the road out of South America.
"After a few bumps in the road in Rio, we managed to put an end to VILE's Hot Rocks caper, and now we have Shadowsan on our side."
A day later:
The crew were now at a nearby motel on the outskirts of South America. Murray was at work doing some mechanics on the van, with Ivy helping him. Murray was doing some work on the engine, while Ivy strangely was adding a new coat of red paint to the van, namely in the shape of a certain someones Fedora.
Bentley meanwhile was communicating with Player to try and crack more intel on the VILE hard drive. While Carmen trained with Sly in combat skills while Shadowsan watched from the sidelines.
"It had been a day since then and we decided to lay low, Bentley and Player were hard at work on the hard drive so we could plan our next move."
Sly swung his cane at Carmen who dodged the attack and she leaped in the air and performed a ninja spire landing on a nearby wooden pole. Sly smirked proudly to see she remembered her training. Shadowsan had to admit, it would seem the little black sheep had improved her skills since last he saw her. However soon the master of stealth 101 approached the two of them.
"We'd hoped Shadowsan would be able to provide some insight to VILE's future schemes. But he told us before we should go after them again that he had some business to attend to in Japan."
As Shadowsan explained to Carmen, Sly and the rest of the crew about wanting to go to Japan. Zack and Ivy did seem rather enthusiastic about it especially karaoke as did Murray. However some among them, namely Bentley and Player did seem a little weary as was Sly admittedly.
"There were some concerns about why Shadowsan wanted to go there, and he simply said it was personal business. It was no secret some of the crew were rather weary of Shadowsan since Rio."
Sly then placed a hand on Carmens shoulder and smiled in support. "But he knew things about my past things I needed to know. If it wasn't for Sly convincing the crew that whatever it was we had to respect it. I was thankful that Sly backed me up on this he knew how much it meant to me and was willing to give Shadowsan the benefit of the doubt. Plus he thought it be a good opportunity to see the homeland of his ancestor Rioichi."
Moments later the crew were now at an airport. Sly, Murray and Bentley were in their hologuise's. Murray's hologuise was that of a peached skinned man with his normal eye colour, a blue shirt, brown pants, and his normal wrestling boots with his scarf. Bentley wore a simple white shirt under a blue vest. His human hologuise was peach skinned man with brown hair and his normal glasses and eye colour. He still sat in his wheel chair.
"Before we booked our plane Bentley took the opportunity to create false identities for us. He theorised if VILE has eyes all over the world if we travel under false identities it would lower the risk of VILE detecting us. I will admit it was smart, even Shadowsan admitted it was a logical course of action. So we boarded our flight and we were on our way to Japan."
POV Ended
Many years ago:
"Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun is located off the coast of Eastern Asia." A younger looking Shadowsan explained to a very young Carmen. "It is a country filled with sights to behold, magnificent temples and pagodas, cherry blossoms which bloom in spring." He shared his facts just as a Sumo Wrestler slammed down in his visuals. "Even fearsome sumo wrestlers. Legend holds that Japan was created when the ancient ones dipped the blade of a jewelled spear into the sea. When the blade was removed, drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the island of Japan." Shadowsan stood near a small globe as he finished his tale of Japan.
"Tomorrow, Professor Maelstrom will tell you all about Scandinavia." Young Shadowsan explained.
"No! I wanna go to Japan!" Young Carmen protested.
"Perhaps someday you shall, Black Sheep." Shadowsan smiled.
"Will you take me there?" Little Carmen asked excitedly.
Many years later:
Some years later in the hallways of VILE Academy, a now ten year old Carmen was running to catch up with Shadowsan as she had a question to ask him.
"Shadowsan, Shadowsan! Tell me again how Japan was made by a spear! Please?" Carmen asked rather excited.
"That was mere legend, a fairy tale." Shadowsan explained a little coldly. "You are old enough now to know the truth. My country was not forged by magic, but by brave warriors called "samurai," who lived for honour and were willing to give their lives to defend it."
Carmen was rather startled and looked with wide eyes at the look the ninja master had in his eyes.
Years later:
Many years later a now older looking Carmen was now standing before the whole VILE faculty. For this was the night she approached them about being admitted to the academy.
"I want this more than anything, Instructor Shadowsan." Carmen said.
"You had better be certain that becoming a professional thief is what you truly desire." Shadowsan said to her with glaring eyes. " For if you choose this path, there will be no turning back." His voice echoed through the hall.
Present day:
Carmens eyes shot open wide awake. She looked and saw she was on board a Japanese bullet train sitting in the window seat, just as the PA sounded off she looked to see the seat next to her was empty.
"We are arriving at Matsumoto station. Please watch your step." The PA sounded in Japanese.
Carmen reached forward to the seat in front and Sly (in his hologuise) was in it sleeping. Bentley (in his hologuise) was sat next to him. She shook the disguised raccoons arm.
"Sly, Sly wake up." She called and Sly suddenly woke up.
"Huh..huh what…" Sly woke up and looked behind him to see Carmen. "Carmen what is it?" He asked.
"Have you seen Shadowsan?" She then asked.
"I thought he was back there with you?" Sly asked but when he look over the seat he saw that said ninja was not in the seat. This took him by surprise.
The two got up from their seats and looked around for him. This made Bentley wake up from his seat. "Huh hey what's going on?" Bentley asked.
"Hey guys?" Carmen said looking to the chairs Zack and Ivy were sitting in. They were leaned against each other fast asleep snoring. Murray (in his hologuise) was in the seat behind them snoring loudly, even drooling.
"What? Huh?" Ivy said as she woke up, when she moved it woke up her brother too. "Is it karaoke time?"
Just then Murray snorted as he woke up. "Huh hey who said karaoke?!" He said rather excited.
"Sorry guys not just yet we have a problem." Sly explained.
"Where's Shadowsan?" Carmen then asked. This snapped everyone to attention, as they too saw their new member was nowhere to be seen.
Soon the group had disembarked from the train as it rolled out of the started to search for their missing ninja. "Yo! Shadow-lo-yadalow-ay-hee-hoo!" Ivy called out like she was calling out from a mountain.
"Oh Shadowsan!?" Zack called out also.
"Shadowsan where are yoooooou?!" Murray called out as they looked around.
"I gotta hand it to the guy he must be a light sleeper, to give us the slip like that." Sly admitted.
"Well what do you expect?" Bentley asked as he twirled to them in his wheelchair. "He has us fly all the way out to Japan for no reason and then he gives us the slip. While I do commend him on his stealth skills."
"Bentley he said he had personal matters to attend to, though I gotta admit I wasn't expecting another vanishing act." Carmen said with her arms crossed.
"Well he's a ninja and vanishing without a trace is a ninja thing." Sly pointed out.
"Well its getting old." Carmen said a little annoyed.
"What has me so curious is why Shadowsan would jump ship here in Matsumoto City?" Bentley wondered. He wasn't the only one wondering that.
"Bentley has a point." Player called in on the coms.
Players room:
Player typed on his computer keyboard as he brought up a map of Matsumoto City, with Carmen's, Sly's, Bentley's, and Murrays icons marked on it.
"I mean there doesn't seem to be much around here. Nothing of interest to him anyway?" Player wondered.
Matsumoto City: Japan:
Carmen and co wondered what exactly Shadowsan could possibly want to come here for, and why? Just then on the station wall Carmen saw a possible lead. She nudged Sly's side to get his attention. What they saw was an advertisement for an ancient Japanese castle that was repurposed as a museum for Samurai artefacts.
"Unless you're into historic samurai castles." Carmen realised knowing this could be why Shadowsan was here. Sly soon got the idea and knew where they were going next.
Moments later:
Soon Sly and Carmen had arrived at Matsumoto castle. While Zack, Ivy, Murray and Bentley had gone to settle into the hotel they would be staying in. The two master thieves walked around the different artefacts relating to the ancient times and ways of the Samurai.
Sly had to admit he was intrigued. "I gotta say this is pretty incredible." He said.
"I'm guessing you've never been to the Japan of your world?" Carmen asked.
"Yeah kind of, see I sometimes never thought of visiting the homeland of any of my ancestor's even during our time travel escapade." Sly admitted, he never once considered traveling to his ancestors home lands but perhaps being with Carmen had given him perspective.
"Its always good to know where your descendants come from Sly, so consider this a way of seeing some roots." Carmen said to him smiling. They continued to look around some of the Japanese artefacts, like some samurai armour and a katana in a display case.
"Any sign of him, Red?" Player asked about the whereabouts of their absent ninja.
Just then Sly noticed something out of the corner of his eyes in the exhibit. He tapped Carmens shoulder getting her attention, and she saw what Sly was looking at.
"Heh, Just one." She said as she and her partner walked up and kneeled down to a display case, that contained a stand holding a short sword. But what got Carmens attention was the symbol and design of the sword scabbard.
"A pretty sure sign." Carmen said as she reminisced on a time long ago.
Years ago:
A young Carmen was in a class of Stealth 101 folding origami. As she did she gazed upon Shadowsan's long katana on the stand in front of her with the same symbol.
Present Day:
Carmen and Sly gazed upon the short sword in the display cabinet as they saw it was the same symbol. Carmen placed her hand on the glass just then.
"Do not touch the glass." The scholar/curator came up from behind them, he was an elderly Japanese man with short white hair, wearing a white shirt under a black under jacket, a light black jacket black trousers and brown shoes. He wore glasses on his face. "Fingerprints spoil the view."
Carmen and Sly stood up to gaze upon the sword. "And the view from here is striking."
"Yeah, I do have to admire Japanese craftsmanship when it comes to swords." Sly agreed. "But I've never seen one like this before."
"You are gazing upon Matsumoto Castle's most precious artifact." The curator explained. "Swords like these, and the samurai who wielded them, embody the soul of Japan."
Just then Carmen picked up on something he had said. "So, there's another like it?" She asked which did prompt the curator to give her a solumn look. "You said, "Swords like these." Carmen explained.
"As in more than one?" Sly then asked.
"There actually was another. Part of the daisho." The curator explained.
"The what?" Carmen asked not knowing what that meant.
"Daisho." Sly then said. "Isn't that the Japanese word for a pair of swords?"
"Indeed." The curator confirmed. "I take it you are familiar with Japanese culture and our history?"
"Well one of my ancient ancestors was of Japanese origins. And you might say I took in a little history on my ah recent travels." Sly said and he meant that quite literally, though he didn't go into details for obvious reasons.
"I see, but yes it is the word for pair of swords." The curator explained as they saw in the cabinet the stand above the sword was empty. "big and little," worn together by the samurai. This pair was separated many years ago."
"What happened?" Carmen asked curiously.
"Legend holds that the long sword was lost to dark forces." The curator explained as he walked away to tend to the exhibit.
Leaving Carmen and Sly in wonder, they knew that the long sword did exist, and wondered if the dark forces that took it began with V.
Soon Carmen and Sly took their leave of the Japanese castle to regroup with the others. However as they walked they could feel a presence behind them.
"I guess you enjoyed the exhibit." Sly said not even turning round to see that Shadowsan was right behind them.
"You followed me." Shadowsan said to the two of them.
"You ditched us." Carmen said not even turning round.
"Yeah I thought we agreed no disappearing acts." Sly agreed.
"Did I not tell you I came to Japan to attend to personal matters?" Shadowsan said to them.
"Let me guess. To complete your daisho?" Carmen said shifting her eyes at the ninja master who stopped in place and gave a frown. Carmen and Sly turned towards Shadowsan. "We saw the sword." Shadowsan was rather taken aback. "If you wanna steal for personal gain, go back to V.I.L.E. Island. I mean it." Carmen said a little bitter and was about to walk away until Sly put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey hey easy Carm, I'm sure there must be a reason he came here." Sly said to her before turning to the ninja master. "Which I'm sure you'll explain in the next five seconds right?" He then said with a slightly angered tone hoping he wasn't going back on his word betraying one he considered family's trust.
Shadowsan sighed as he looked at the two thieves. "I did not come here to steal that sword." He explained. "I am here to return this one." He pulled out from behind him the long sword, the missing part of the daisho from the exhibit.
However Carmen was still suspicious of her former mentors actions. "Are you telling me the legend or the truth?"
"I…. do not feel comfortable speaking here." Shadowsan said a little uncomfortable about the subject as he walked away. Carmen and Sly looked at each other a little confused, just what was Shadowsan hiding about returning the sword? They soon followed.
Later that night:
As night drew in the three thieves soon reunited with Zack, Murray, Ivy and Bentley, at a small karaoke bar. The karaoke machine was playing away with the song More than a Feeling playing. Ivy, Zack and Murray (now out of his hologuise) were singing in the machine.
"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone. Turned on some music to start my day." Ivy sung as Zack walked in.
"I lost myself in a familiar song…" Zack sung and Murray then joined in.
"I closed my eyes and I slipped away…." Murray sung despite it being a little bad as he got to his knees. Next to their table
Watching from their table was Carmen who sat between Sly and Shadowsan while Bentley sat on his wheelchair next to the table. Carmen smiled as she watched her friends rock out and Sly cracked a laugh. Zack did an air guitar as the music played.
"Hah ha rock out guys!" Sly chuckled.
Shadowsan just frowned at these childish antics. "I was once young and foolish as well." He admitted.
"You stole the sword from the museum on a dare?" Carmen questioned glancing at the sword.
"Yeah not much of a career starter?" Sly questioned as well.
"More like a rite of initiation. My gateway into a life of crime." Shadowsan explained to them.
"Ah I get it, well my gateway into a life of crime was learning of my family heritage and stealing cookies from my orphanage matron but stealing a sword thats takes guts." Sly did admire that.
"Especially if the initiation is into the Yakuza am I correct?" Bentley assumed.
"You are very perceptive ." Shadowsan was impressed with the disguised turtles observations. Zack, Ivy and Murray continued to rock out on the karaoke machine.
"It's more than a feeling…." Zack sung followed by his sister and friend.
"More than a feeling…" Ivy and Murray sung.
"When I hear that old song they used to play." Zack then sung.
"More than a feeling." Ivy sung alongside her brother.
"I begin dreaming…" Zack sung followed by his sister.
"More than a feeling." Ivy and Murray sung and they extended their hands out gesturing to a certain ninja.
"Till I see Shadowsan walk away." The trio sung much to Shadowsan's glaring.
"See my Shadowsan walking away. YEAHHHHHH!" Zack sung on his knees and Sly couldn't help but chuckle.
"Thank you Japan! Goodnight!" Murray exclaimed like a rockstar.
"Domo arigato." Ivy bowed with her hand as did Zack and Murray before they sat with Sly, Carmen, Shadowsan and Bentley. Murray reactivated his hologuise.
"What I could not know then is the burden of shame I would carry for dishonoring the memory of samurai." Shadowsan said in a somewhat disgraced way.
"Oh, they use swords, too!" Zack said rather interested.
"What's the difference between a samurai and a ninja anyway?" Ivy asked.
"Yeah I mean they both have swords but why do people say they're different?" Murray asked.
Shadowsan decided to answer their questions. "Samurai were noble warriors and keepers of the peace in ancient Japan. Ninja were trained in dark arts of deception and used their talents as spies and assassins."
"Its true, the samurai served the more noble class of ancient Japan while the ninja were mercenaries who served the lower class." Bentley explained. "But many say that some shared the same code of honour Bushido."
"Wow." Ivy said amazed.
"So which one are you?" Zack asked and Shadowsan responded with a disgraced look as he looked away something Sly and Carmen noticed it was clear he didn't wish to talk about it.
Then Ivy remembered something. "Hey Sly, didn't you say your ancestor Rioichi was a ninja too?" She asked.
"Yeah he was." Sly explained.
"Dr M did claim you were descended from a long line of thieves, and judging by your skills and training that is very true." Shadowsan observed.
"You catch on quick." Sly said impressed. "And lets say Rioichi's gateway to a life of crime was a little different than stealing." He then began his tale. "You see according to the Thievious Raccoonus when Rioichi was young he was a noble fisherman fishing in a lake, when one day he caught the bite of a fearsome great white shark. He was about to kill the shark but he then noticed a birthmark that was in the shape of the sign of the Cooper clan." Sly held up one of his old calling cards.
"So what happened?" Zack asked.
"Well believing this to be a sign Rioichi spared the sharks life and in gratitude it swore loyalty to him, and served as a mount of war during times of battle. For their many victories they were rewarded generously by the emperor."
"So they were good friends to each other because Rioichi spared him?" Carmen asked.
"Uh isn't a little strange that the shark had your families logo on?" Ivy questioned.
"I would not be so judgemental." Shadowsan spoke up. "It is said that sometimes fate can befall the unexpected in ways we would never imagine." He then gestured to continue.
"Right anyway, many years past, and the shark grew older and slower eventually he couldn't fight anymore. He felt his life seeping away, but he decided to grant one final act." Sly continued his story and everyone grew interested at this point. "See the shark knew that my ancestor dreamed of opening his own sushi house, so with his life coming to an end the shark requested Rioichi to honourably end his life and use his body to start his restaurant."
"So he sacrificed himself to help Rioichi open his sushi place?!" Ivy said surprised and a little disgusted if Zack wasn't so close to being sick.
"Yeah I know it sounded gross, but there's more to it." Sly agreed but continued his story. "Rioichi wept for his dear friend at his funeral, but from his death gave birth to the finest and sweetest great white shark shashimi and it was a big hit. The sharks sacrifice gave birth to Rioichi's dream and his sushi house was a great success eventually he learned the ways of the ninja and realised his sushi shop would be the excellent cover for his capers."
"Ah as one flower dies another blooms in his place, a true act of honour indeed." Shadowsan had to admit it was a noble story. "But from the way you told the story it speaks as if you heard it from your ancestor rather than what is recorded in this book?"
"Actually yes, it is a long story but an enemy of ours was using a time machine stolen from me to wipe out Sly's family line, but we saved his ancestors with our own machine." Bentley explained.
"Yeah and he told us he honoured his old friend with a statue that stands in his restaurant." Murray pointed out.
"Hmm the fates happen in strange ways indeed." Shadowsan wondered.
"Tell me about it." Sly agreed. Just then a waitress came over with their meal which was fish.
"Haido zo." Said the waitress as she placed the meal down.
"Arigato." Bentley thanked as the waitress walked away, Zack couldn't help but gag at the sight of fish as he wasn't very fond of it.
"Fish? Almost a perfect evening." Zack groaned.
"Aw come on Zack fish and sushi aren't so bad, don't knock it if you don't try it." Murray said encouragingly.
"I did tell him that during our little Vermeer caper Murray. But guess some people like fish and some don't." Sly chuckled jokingly.
"Oh ha ha I bet you have a least favourite food Sly."Zack said sarcastically.
Carmen just shook her head smiling at her crews antics. However it was cut short by Player calling in on the coms. "Heads up, Red." Player called in. "I just intercepted V.I.L.E. chatter. An unknown operative was dispatched to Tokyo this morning."
"V.I.L.E., in Tokyo now." Carmen said to everyone.
"What?" Sly questioned. "But Bentley I thought those fake ID's you made would make sure VILE wouldn't see us coming?"
"They are Sly." Bentley explained. "However I don't think they're here for us."
"You are correct." Shadowsan getting their attention as he narrowed his eyes knowing full well why his ex colleagues would send an operative here. "They are here for the sword."
Elsewhere:
In a lone corner of the city stands a lonely Japanese temple before a large wooden archway. Standing before it was a Japanese woman who wore the traditional attire of a kimono and wore her dark hair in a bun with a pair of sunglasses.
She was praying to the temple, when suddenly she heard a clinking sound, but it wasn't metal but something else. Her eyes shot open and with one swift motion swung round and opened her umbrella which blocked the strike of ninja stars. These weren't metal ninja stars however they were made of different coloured paper. This was the work of one person. She lowered her umbrella to see standing before her was none other than. Paper Star.
"Pretty spry for a seasoned operative." Paper Star complimented rather jokingly, though her face didn't show it.
"Test my reflexes again, and you will taste my venom." The operative threatened as she slipped on her glasses. She was none other than Lady Dokuso, VILE's poison potions master and most deadly operative next to Shadowsan.
"Your mastery over poison potions is legendary, Lady Dokuso." Paper Star said still smiling. "It would be prudent of me to respect my elders."
"Not all elders, Paper Star-chan." Dokuso said as she walked past the young operative who casually followed. "I called you here because there is one who must be punished."
The two headed out into the night, ready to fulfil their mission and perhaps even bring in a traitorous ninja master.
Meanwhile:
In a dark city street of the city Carmen, Sly and Shadowsan walked down the street. They knew that VILE had dispatched an operative to Tokyo with the express intent of stealing the sword from Matsumora Castle.
"So V.I.L.E. assumes what we assumed." Carmen guessed VILE's intentions. "That you wanna complete the set."
"So it's your classic trap, they're trying to draw you out into the open." Sly realised.
"Your perception is very sharp indeed Cooper." Shadowsan said. "But yes. They will steal the short sword to use as bait to draw me out."
"We'll steal it first. It's what we do." Carmen suggested walking forwards but then saw the look of hesitance and sadness in the ninjas eyes. "The opposite of what you came here to accomplish, I know."
"I cannot, not again." Shadowsan said looking away in shame.
"Well its a good thing we decided to invite ourselves along." Sly then said as Carmen smiled in agreement. "Any idea who VILE might have sent for this job?"
"You should prepare for the worst, VILE does not tolerate desertion as Carmen knows very well." Shadowsan said to the both of them. "Be on your guard."
The two thieves nodded as by the tone in Shadowsan's voice it is likely VILE will have sent the worst of the worst.
That night in the skies high above Matsumoto Castle, all was quiet. Then gliding in from the eerie mist was Carmen and Sly (out of his hologuise) and now wearing their respective thieves attire and gliding in on their respective was quiet but too quiet, even Sly could sense that this was all too easy. All of a sudden speeding out of nowhere from the Japanese castle were paper ninja stars.
"Incoming!" Sly exclaimed and the two quickly manoeuvred their gliders to avoid the incoming stars. Though Sly avoided the stars they easily struck Carmens glider. She gasped.
"Carmen bail I'll catch you!" Sly called to her. Carmen quickly ditched her glider taking it off her back. She held her hands out to slow her descent and Sly glided over and grabbed her.
"Sly these gliders aren't built for passengers!" Carmen exclaimed.
"We'll make it!" Sly called back, suddenly more ninja stars flew into the sky and pierced his glider as well. He was struggling to regain control of his descent. "Oh buggar!"
"Try and make it to the roof!" Carmen exclaimed to the Raccoon thief.
"Right hang on!" Sly exclaimed as he tried to manoeuvre his glider so they could make a landing on the roof. As he struggled to gain control with his passenger in his arms they neared their crash landing.
"Come on come on!" Carmen exclaimed, and as they got closer to the roof. "BAIL NOW!"
Sly unhooked his glider from his back and the two rolled along the roof. They would have fallen off the roof if Sly didn't pull out his cane and hooked onto the roof. The two dangled from the tilled roof. Carmen climbed up Sly, reached the roof and pulled him up.
"You okay?" Sly asked.
"Yeah you?" Carmen asked.
"Yeah." Sly said but as they turned to their destroyed gliders, they could now see what shot them down. It was ninja stars made of paper. "Oh boy." Sly breathed in shock knowing who was behind this.
"Yep." Carmen glared. "Paper Star."
"Great I knew if we'd see Miss Origami again it would be too soon." Sly grimaced knowing the last thing he wanted to do was go one on one with that origami punk girl again.
"I told you before." Called a familiar voice, they turned around to see said punk girl standing above them. "Sheep and raccoons don't fly, not on my watch." She said with a smirk.
Sly just smirked as he addressed the origami crazy girl. "Hey Star what brings you here? An Origami convention or did VILE leave you hanging after our last round in Agra."
Paper Star responded to his wise crack by holding up two paper ninja stars, then two became six. She threw them towards the two super thieves. They quickly leaped into the air and landed on the roof below.
"You sure have a way with words Sly." Carmen said as they ran along the roof. Avoiding the incoming ninja stars behind them.
"Heh its a gift and a curse!" Sly said as he narrowly avoided another incoming paper ninja star.
Paper Star giggled as she now held in her hands paper made boomerangs. She tossed them towards her prey. Carmen and Sly looked back and saw them coming. Sly slid to the tilled roof while Carmen flipped forwards to avoid them. However the boomerangs turned around and headed right back towards them.
"Aw great now she's graduated to boomerangs now!" Sly exclaimed. Carmen ducked down sliding across the ground narrowly dodging them by the point on her hat. Sly quickly jumped and twisted round narrowly dodging the boomerangs. However as he dodged it a paper ninja star struck him in the arm.
"Gah!" Sly cried in pain as he held his arm.
"Sly!" Carmen cried as she ran towards him, Paper Star readied another paper boomerang Carmen quickly dived to her partner grabbed his waist and fired her grappling hook from her coat sleeve and the two swung away and onto the upper tower of the castle.
"You alright?" She asked in concern.
"Yeah only a flesh wound." Sly said seeing his wound was a simple bleeding paper cut. However when he looked to see Paper Star he noticed something was wrong, why was she wasting her time with them when she had a mission to complete.
"Hold on somethings off?" Sly realised.
"You mean Paper Stars aim, not really?" Carmen said looking out for any signs of an assault.
"No I mean don't you think it's a little strange that Stars playing the wild west with us instead of stealing the sword?!" Sly then said.
Carmen was beginning to see what her raccoon partner was talking about. If Paper Star was here to steal the sword she could've stolen it before she shot them down. Instead she decides to go head to head with them why?
"Red, Sly!" Player called on the coms. "Someone's taking the security cameras offline…"
Players Room:
Player looks at his monitors seeing the security cameras going out one by one. "…and it isn't me. Bentley you getting this on your end?"
Japan:
Bentley in the hotel room they were staying in, was seeing the situation from his holo screen in front of him. "I see it Player, it must be coming from inside! Hold on I'm detecting a heat signature, there's someone already inside!"
Matsumoto Castle:
Soon Carmen began to see just what was really going on, and soon she and Sly came to only one conclusion as they looked and saw that Paper Star was skipping towards them readying her paper arsenal.
"Paper Star's not the thief, she's the decoy." Carmen concluded.
"We've been suckered!" Sly realised.
"If there's another operative inside we need to hurry." Carmen said. "First we'll just have to get past Paper Star."
Sly could see they were cornered he knew Paper Star could easily take cut them down with ease. He looked up at the column they were hiding behind and, one look he had one crazy idea.
"Carmen!" Sly said getting her attention. "Listen when I give the signal move as fast as you can. I'll keep Star busy."
"What?! Sly she'll cut you down!?" Carmen exclaimed.
"Just trust me and get ready to move!" Sly said as he fired his cane grappling hook up and zoomed into the air and performed a ninja spire landing on top of the column roof.
Paper Star looked and saw him staining above in a very Batman like stature. She smirked as she readied her paper armoury. Carmen was feeling dreadfully tense and nervous inside just what was her partner up to? Sly timed his movements carefully then just as Star was ready to draw he quickly leaped forwards almost at immense speed. Paper Star tossed her ninja stars and he twirled his cane deflecting them back as he landed on the opposite column. Carmen was speechless she had never seen that move in the Thievious Raccoonus. Paper Star was equally stunned, so stunned she didn't even notice that Carmen had slipped inside.
She looked to the column but saw that Sly wasn't there either. Her prey had eluded her. But strangely she was smiling.
Carmen quickly slipped inside through an open window quickly followed by Sly who ran beside her. "Sly what the heck was that move?"
"I'll tell you later we gotta move!" Sly said and Carmen realised he was right this wasn't the time for questions.
They ran through the halls of the castle until they arrived at the exhibit they were looking for. Unfortunately all they found was an empty display case. They were too late.
"Damn it we're too late!" Sly breathed in shock.
"No!" Carmen said in horror seeing the artefact gone. There was worse to come. For suddenly a light shined from behind them.
"What is the meaning of this?" Called a familiar voice the two turned round and saw it was the curator/scholar they saw earlier. He was in his night robes and held a flash light.
"Hey listen pal this isn't what it looks like." Sly tried.
The curator was in shock at the raccoon thief's appearance. "A..a yokai!" He exclaimed.
"A what?" Sly questioned.
"He thinks your a demon." Carmen explained to him.
"Not the worst thing I've been called." Sly said, despite being in shock, it didn't take the curator long to recognise Carmen under the coat and hat.
"You! The girl from today!" He exclaimed recognising her. "Did Suhara send you?" He then demanded with a glare.
"Who?" Sly wondered, just who was this guy talking about? The lady in red however already had her suspicions about who he was talking about.
"We work alone." Carmen said simply as she flipped over the curator and made her escape with Sly close behind.
"Sayonara." Sly tipped his hat in farewell. The curator looked around but the two thieves who were in his exhibit had disappeared into the night.
Isle of VILE:
The Faculty were all assembled as they received a communication from Dokuso who was now holding the short sword in her hands. The bait for their traitor.
"Shadowsan will come for it soon." She reported.
"And what makes you so certain, my mistress of toxic distress?" Professor Maelstrom asked intrigued.
"His young associate and her raccoon accomplice are already here in Japan, doing his dirty work." Dokuso explained to them. "So the traitor cannot be far behind."
The Professor smirked rather sadistically. "Then use your young associate to bring us both their traitorous heads, and the head of the raccoon and earn a seat at our table." He then gestured to the empty seat in the Faculty room, this was a chance for VILE operatives to prove their worth as it is now a competition and the prize. Shadowsans former place as the fifth member of the Faculty.
Japan the following morning:
The previous nights events had escalated now VILE had the sword. In a tree grove of pink blossoms on a lone bridge overlooking a vibrant river, Shadowsan, Carmen and Sly now in their casual attire/hologuise. The ninja master decided to recover the sword alone, but Carmen and Sly had other thoughts.
"This is not your fight." Shadowsan reasoned.
"Last time I checked you made it our fight when you brought us here." Sly pointed out. "You know there's no way VILE will let you walk away."
"Hes right." Carmen agreed. "You know it's a trap. Is it really worth risking your life to return these swords?" She questioned, then noticed how Shadowsan still had some look of shame in his eyes. "There's more to the story, isn't there... Suhara?"
It didn't take long for Sly to put the pieces together as he saw the mute look on Shadowsan's face. "That was your name once…wasn't it?"
The ninja looked away as he looked placed his hands on the bridge railing. "I am Shadowsan. Suhara was swallowed by darkness a long time ago." He said in some form of sadness.
"The curator of Matsumoto Castle seems to know something about that." Carmen remembered from her last conversation with the curator the previous day.
Shadowsan clenched his hand into a fist as he had memories he didn't like to recall. "All too well, I'm afraid." He said before his next words were something that Carmen nor Sly expected to hear. "He is my brother."
This took the two of them completely aback. They honestly didn't know what to make of this new found revelation."Y..your brother?" Sly said completely surprised.
"And you didn't tell me? Why?" Carmen then demanded why didn't Shadowsan tell them of his family?
"Because I could not bear to burden you with tales of my own family, not when I am unable to tell you anything about your own." Shadowsan admitted with some guilt in his voice it was clear this was a sensitive subject.
"Shadowsan look, I know this maybe hard to talk about, but if we are going to take back the sword. It's time we heard the whole story." Sly said in understanding.
"No secrets remember." Carmen then agreed trying to understand this situation but not if Shadowsan refuses to share.
Shadowsan knew they were right. So he let go his reluctance and shared his story. "I was raised by my brother from as early as I could remember…."
Many years ago:
In a darkened room, a much younger Suhara and his brother sat there in deep meditation. "As you have no doubt already learned, Hideo is a scholar of samurai history. He always possessed discipline."
Suhara briefly peaked his eye open to see his brother was still deep in meditation. Behind them the slider door opened slightly and some young boys who were Suhara's friends. With a mischievous grin on his face the young boy ran out on his still meditating brother to join his friends.
"While I did not." Shadowsan explained.
Years later:
A much older looking Hideo was in front of a crowed at Matsumura Castle explaining the history and significance of the daisho to the public. Said pair of swords lay in the display cabinet.
"Hideo held sacred the idea of Bushido, or they way of the samurai warrior…."
While he was giving his speech to the visiting public, a now older Shadowsan was pickpocketing a wallet from an unsuspecting victim. He wore a black leather jacket, black pants and boots, with a white shirt under it.
"While I did not…" The young Shadowsan simply scowled in the opposite direction.
The two brothers now back at their flat were sitting down to dinner. Suhara was already seated while his older brother placed before him some rice and vegetables.
"And Hideo was content living on a scholar's wages." However the young man was not at all satisfied with the food that was lay before him. He grew tired of the same food every night.
"Let me guess, and you weren't?" Sly guessed.
In frustration he swatted his food of the table much to his brothers shock and stormed out. Hideo just sat in contempt, that his younger brother did not possess any discipline or respect for what he believed in.
"No I was not." Shadowsan confirmed. "I believed I deserved better."
The young Suhara was now walking down a darkened alley of Tokyo. He then came to a stop outside of a small spot in the street. A man then walked by but failed to notice that Suhara had pick pocketed him of his wallet. He then tossed it to another man standing opposite him. He wore tattoos on his chest and wore a black robe, it was clear he belonged to a crime organisation most likely Yakuza.
The criminal placed the wallet in the store next to him and smiled impressively at the young mans thieving skills.
"So I chose my path." Shadowsan explained. "To earn my stripes, I boasted of stealing something of great value." The young Suhara smirked about to concat his scheme knowing there was only one thing that would be of great worth to steal.
Later that night Young Suhara snuck back to the Japanese Castle with one soul intention, to steal a certain pair of swords that lay in the display cabinet. "So, I made it my mission to steal the daisho."
He moved to open the display case and take the katana from its housing, then pulled the hilt to reveal the stainless steel blade inside. He could see his reflection and his eyes had a look of guilt, knowing how much this meant to his brother. But was actually going through with it to earn what was rightfully mine.
"At that moment, I knew I had made a profound error in judgement." Shadowsan explained. Suddenly Suhara felt a presence behind him he looked and saw his brother holding the short sword. He was trembling in fear raising the sword like he was about to use it.
"Hideo warned that I would have to take it from him." Suhara was about to fully draw the katana blade in his hand, but his expression changed from anger, to hurt he just couldn't attack his only family. "I knew that he meant it."
With no other option, Suhara fled with the long sword in hand and disappeared into the night. Leaving a broken hearted Hideo, he had truly lost his brother and had nothing left but the shame he now carried.
Present day:
"Separating the two halves of the daisho separated the two of us... irreparably." Shadowsan said with great guilt in his heart.
Carmen and Sly couldn't help but feel sympathy towards the ninja master. Carmen had no idea, that this had happened to her former mentor or how his actions brought shame to his family. She realised why he had been so cold for the time she was at the Academy, it was to hide his own wounded heart.
Sly could sympathise with him more than anyone, as he knew all too well about the choices he'd made that cost him one he loved. Namely how his lie about his amnesia and returning to his old life nearly separated him and Carmelita. Or even how Bentley had his heart broken by the choices that Penelope had made in striking a deal with Le Paradox just so Bentley would see her point of view.
"I..I had no idea." Carmen said with sympathy.
"Does..does VILE know about your.." "No, they do not, when I was recruited I made no mention of my brother. They only know of my stealing of the long sword, the details I kept withheld to protect him." Shadowsan said interrupting and answering Sly's question.
"So thats why you want to return the sword, to try and atone for your mistake." Sly realised.
Shadowsan just sighed as he looked with regret. "I do not expect my brother to forgive the shame I brought upon our family name." He said. "I have made choices that I do not believe can ever be redeemed. Something I sense you know all too well Cooper."
Sly looked with his own shame knowing full well what he was talking about. Knowing that Dr.M had shared details about his relationship with Carmelita. "Yeah I do." Sly said in his own regret. Shadowsan then turned to him and Carmen.
"In the event that I fail to return, please ensure that my brother receives this." He said handing the sword over to the two of them. However Carmen could see what he was going to do.
"You're going in there alone and unarmed? Where are they keeping it?" Carmen realised.
Shadowsan was rather hesitant to put this information upon them. Until Sly spoke up. "Look I get it, but I also know a thing or two about making right by our mistakes." Sly said. "But your not alone anymore, let us help you."
Shadowsan breathed as he spoke. "In a V.I.L.E. stronghold in heart of Tokyo." He explained to them "Club Dokuso. A notorious den of hoodlums."
Later that evening:
In the very heart of Tokyo itself lay a single night club, Club Dokuso, lead by Lady Dokuso herself. In the club were several well dressed and muscular gentlemen who appear by their tattoos associated with the Yakuza clan.
However little did they know that they were being watched. For under the concealment of a pot was a certain RC car that belonged to a certain turtle. It moved along slowly and quietly while under the disguise of a planted pot. It took photos as it reconned the area. Suddenly it stopped to avoid being uncovered by Lady Dokuso who walked by but eyed the potted plant rather suspiciously. However she dismissed it and walked away. The small disguised RC car then moved to the back. It took photos of the crates in the back. Suddenly it heard the sound of a certain origami punk girl skipping by. It stayed in place under its disguise. Until she strolled by.
The RC car then ditched its disguise and made its escape through an open grate in the floor.
The car zoomed out of the water pipe close by and raced down the street until it returned to an old building. It then stopped right in front of its driver Bentley. Who used one of his chairs robotic arms to pick it up.
"Okay guys we got the recon photos, let's see what we're up against." Bentley said as he addressed the crew in the room.
"I had my doubts that this plan would be successful." Shadowsan admitted since he was questioning the idea of sending a toy to recon the club.
"Well Bentley's full of surprises." Murray said. Bentley then proceeded to connect the RC car to his tablet and downloaded the recon photos.
A few hours later after studying the recon photos, Bentley soon sat before Sly, Carmen, Zack, Ivy, Murray and Shadowsan as he activated one of his presentations via hologram.
"Alright based on recon photos of the establishment that Shadowsan described it seems clear VILE is prepared for his arrival." Bentley explained.
"Whoa thats a lot of goons." Zack said seeing the Yakuza muscle that was present.
"They are Yakuza I recognise their markings and tattoos." Shadowsan explained. "I have actually worked along side most of them before."
Sly then took notice of one particular person in the club itself. "I'm guessing that must be VILE's other operative."
"Lady Dokuso." Shadowsan explained. "Master of poisons, next to me she is one of VILE's deadly operatives, and a veteran agent. While running a night club. Also she has a taste for Karaoke."
"Hm thing for karaoke and poisons, defiantly sounds like the kind of person VILE would hire." Carmen said.
"Hey I remember her she was at the dinner party when we snatched the Vemeers." Zack recalled her face after seeing her.
"So pal any idea where they'd keep the sword?" Sly asked.
"Well upon scanning the area my RC car detected multiple secret storage areas besides the store room in the back." Bentley pointed out. "But with the presence of this Paper Star in the back room it is most likely stored there."
"He is correct." Shadowsan said. "If the short sword is not hidden in its storeroom, it will be found within the club itself."
"Okay but how the heck are we gonna get past those goons?" Ivy asked.
"Ah I already have a plan in mind my dear Ivy." Bentley explained. "I call it Operation Samurai Slice."
Shadowsan just frowned upon that name while everyone else had questionable looks. "Now to pull this off we'll need to smuggle Sly and Carmen into the club undetected. Fortunately the trolleys are the perfect size for a person to fit in." Bentley showed a holo image of a rolling trolley from the nightclub and showed some holo images of Sly and Carmen.
"Now we'll need to disarm the thugs, thats where you and Ivy come in Murray." Bentley then explained.
"Us?" Ivy asked.
"Wait do we get to beat up those guys because that would be awesome!" Murray yelled out with his hands in the air. Much to Shadowsan's questionable looks.
"Unfortunately no Murray, I've got something a little more traditional in mind." Bentley explained. "As from time to time our capers require a disguise, so Murray it's time to be reunited with an old friend."
Murray and Ivy eyed each other in wonder. Wonder just what Bentley had in mind. "Now with the thugs disarmed Shadowsan will have to keep them occupied long enough for Carmen and Sly to pull the heist. Hopefully if all goes to plan we'll be out with that sword faster than you can say Sushi roll."
"Okay but there's still the matter of Paper Star." Carmen then said. "If she's guarding the sword this could get ugly."
"Indeed, as you and Cooper have no doubt discovered Paper Star is dangerous as she is deranged." Shadowsan agreed.
"Oh come on she uses paper how bad could she be?" Murray asked.
"Don't underestimate her Murray." Sly said as he lifted up his tail to show him a section of his fur that had been sliced clean off. Along with the injury on his arm. "I've got the scars to prove it."
Murray gulped in that thought. Then Sly had a notion. "So maybe we need to be prepared." He then turned to Carmen. "Red its time to learn a new move."
"Which is?" Carmen asked.
"A trick taught to me by Rioichi himself." Sly explained. "The Leaping Dragon."
This took Murray and Bentley by complete surprise, their leader was suggesting to teach the Lady in Red a move that has never been recorded in the Thievious Raccoonus. How would this end?
A few hours later:
Club Dokuso was full of tension of anticipation, the Yakuza thugs had their katanas right beside them. "We have stirred up trouble for our ex-colleague, but we must not let our guard down." Dokuso herself warned her enforcers.
"We outnumber him and outweigh him, and we are armed. What can one man do?" Said one Yakuza thug as he sheathed his sword and placed it by his side.
Just then a geisha girl dressed in pink with short black hair came past with a trolly handing out to them large white cups full of coffee.
"Haido zo." Said the waitress as she handed him his coffee, and then his sword disappeared.
Another geisha girl dressed in blue with her hair done in several buns and wore white make up and red painted lips was handing out some coffee as well but as they went by each of their katanas disappeared without a trace.
Another Yakuza stooge was having some noodles as the blue dressed waitress handed him some coffee. "I heard he once took down a dozen rivals using only a pair of chop sticks." He said a little nervous to be facing a former Yakuza enforcer.
"Ha! That's just legend, a fairy tale!" Another goon said not believing a single word of this so called master of stealth.
"Believe everything you have ever heard about Shadowsan." Lady Dokuso said to them with venom in her voice knowing just what her former colleague was capable of. Just then she heard a creak in the door to see the waitress in pink pass through the doors to the kitchen. "New girl where is my coffee?!" Dokuso then demanded.
Just then a coffee cup was handed to her by the geisha girl in blue who bowed. "Haido zo." She said in a rather bulky voice as she too disappeared with her trolly to the back. Lady Dokuso did find this rather suspicious but just then music began playing and it was the song Suspicious minds.
It turns out one of the Yakuza goons was using it to rock out. "We're caught in a trap, I can't walk out." He began singing with such passion. "Because I love you too much, baby" His fellow goons just smiled and raised their mugs as they enjoyed the show. "Why can't you see…What you're doing to me?… When you don't believe a word I say."
"An old friend has stopped by to say hello." Sadly the karaoke show was cut off by the arrival of Shadowsan. Who moved through the curtain and stood before the three enforcers who stood before him. While the music just kept playing.
The Yakuza goons gasped in shock as they stood up and looked tough. One by one they reached for their swords, only to find they had vanished without a trace.
"Huh? Nani?" The first goon gasped, and a gasp followed by the second goon.
"My sword!" The third goon gasped, just what happened to their weapons?
Meanwhile:
The two servant girls walked silently through the hall with their trollies. Until they stopped. The one in pink took off her wig revealing her to be Ivy, while the other simply twisted a bracelet on her wrist to reveal it was really Murray in his old Madame Geisha outfit make up and all.
"Whew this is starting to make me itch." Murray said itching his neck a little.
"I'm actually surprised you could pull that off big guy." Ivy teased looking at him dressed like a girl.
"Hey believe it or not the Murray isn't afraid to get in touch with his feminine side." Murray explained. The two then pulled off the sheets on their trollies to reveal Carmen and Sly under them holding the missing swords.
"Man never thought that Madame Geisha would be here to come to help us again?" Sly said.
"I can't believe thats actually from your worlds Feudal Japan." Carmen said as she saw the clothing dated back to that time period.
"Hey the Murray likes to collect souvenirs." Murray shrugged. For back during the Cooper Gangs time escapade when he needed to disguise himself to fool El Jefe's goons using Madame Geisha's robes he decided to keep them as a souvenir since it had no historical importance to the timeline.
Carmen and Sly then placed the snatched swords onto the trollies. "You guys know where to toss them."
"Down the garbage chute, hai!" Ivy said and so the two super thieves rushed off to go find the stolen short sword. Ivy then took the clogs off her feet. "Along with these clogs. Who walks in these?" She tossed them away.
"I don't know, I've found them quite freeing." Murray said as he looked at his own clogs.
In the Club:
The defenceless Yakuza and Dokuso glared at Shadowsan as he walked through the club. He put his hand on the long katana. This made the Yakuza thugs sweat with fear as it looked like he was ready to draw the sword and cut them down.
One of the thugs tried to act tough like he wasn't afraid. "You cannot take all of us." He said with some fear in his voice.
Shadowsan then proceeded to remove the sword from his belt and held it in two hands. "Do you really think I would ever dishonour this sacred blade by using it upon the likes of you?" He leaned the blade against the table and stood waiting.
The Yakuza thugs smiled sinisterly was this guy really going to fight them unarmed? "Arrogant fool!" The first thug yelled as he charged to attack Shadowsan like an enraged bull.
With one quick motion the master of stealth grabbed the thug by the arm and swung him across the room, and he slammed right into the table with a *CRASH!*
The other thugs were frozen in shock as it seemed their comrade was knocked out cold. Dokuso glared she wasn't about the let the traitor let alone her ticket to being the fifth VILE Faculty member slip from her grasp.
"Get him! Now!" She yelled at the other two Yakuza goons. In response they yelled charging at the ninja master.
The Store Room:
Within the store room of the night club Carmen and Sly were on the hunt for the short sword. The lady in red had in her hand her phone which had a built in tracker.
"How's it going Red?" Bentley asked on the coms.
"Well Bentley your programming skills never cease to impress." Carmen complimented Bentley's skills.
"It should, I've modified your tracker and Sly's Binocucom to detect items made from Japanese steel. So finding the sword should be simplicity itself." Bentley said on the coms.
"Careful Carm you might make Player jealous." Sly teased.
"I can hear what you guys are saying too you know." Player chimed in on cue.
"Sorry Player we're just messing." Carmen said apologising. "Your still number one in my book."
"Glad to hear it, but you and Blue best hurry not sure how long Shadowsan can keep his new dance partners busy." Player called in.
With that the two continued their search as they arrived in the main store room. Just then the beeping from Carmens tracker got louder and louder, and it pointed them to a large crate. She went over to it and smiled.
"Konnichiwa." She said smiling but as she moved to open the crate, Sly drew his cane as he was very weary. For good reason.
"Hold on somethings not right here." Sly said in a very cautious tone.
"What do you mean?" Carmen asked him noticing the edge in his voice.
"If the swords here…where's Paper Star?" Sly said as he stepped forwards with his cane as he used the hook to pry open the he removed the lid he got his answer in a way he didn't like for the sword was inside the crate but so was something or rather someone else.
"Boo!" Paper Star said as she leaped out of the crate with the sword taking the two thieves completely by surprise. "Pop goes Paper Star!" She exclaimed as she tossed three paper ninja stars at the two only for Sly to deflect them by twirling his cane.
"Found her." Carmen exclaimed.
"Yeah didn't take her as a jack in the box though?!" Sly exclaimed.
The origami punk then ran towards them only for Carmen to pull down a crate blocking her path. Tumbling out of the crate came loads of folding fans. Two landed at Paper Star's feet she smirked sadistically as she picked them up and unfolded them and held them like blades.
"Great now she's going Mortal Kombat on us!" Sly exclaimed as he readied his cane. Carmen proceeded to pick up two fans of her own and unfolded them in a similar fashion.
"Bring it fan girl!" She challenged.
Paper Star was more than happy to oblige the lady in reds request. She lunged at the two thieves, Sly jumped to the right and avoided her slashes while Carmen slashed back with her fans. The origami punk slashed back with her fans only for Carmen to leap out of the way as her opponent leaped up and tried to kick her down just as the lady in red ducked out of the way. Sly acted quickly swinging his cane at Paper Star who caught the hook in her fans, but the Racoon thief smirked as he released the canes grappling hook tying up the origami operative then swung her over to the far end of the room.
Carmen and Sly glared her down just as Paper Star reached for the sword hilt and was about to draw it. Carmen acted fast as she tossed her fans at the VILE operative which she dodged like ninja stars. But that left her venerable as Sly quickly leaped on her back to try and pull off the sword only for Paper Star to grab his tail and toss him away but he gracefully landed in a ninja landing.
However in that moment Paper Star saw she was lacking a certain stole sword. She looked up at the smirking Raccoon who had the sword dangling from its belt on the hook of his cane.
"Heh I guess you can fall for the same trick twice." Sly cracked as Carmen leaped up and joined him on the crates much to the growling Paper Stars anger.
"Arigato." Carmen tipped her hat she took the sword from Sly and the two made their escape. With Paper Star close behind.
They hurried to the window and they fired their respective grappling hooks as they shot into the air. However Paper Star wasn't going to let them escape that easily. She leaped out and managed to grab Carmen's ankle she growled as the VILE operative dangled from her leg. Sly landed on the roof only when Carmen reached the top she crashed into Sly as Paper Star crashed onto the roof dropping all her papers.
Club Dokuso:
Back in the club the music keeps playing. When suddenly the third Yakuza goon was sent flying, and crashed into the screen shattering the glass and he slumped onto the ground unconscious.
Now there was only one goon left as he and Shadowsan circled each other like a lion preying on a gazelle. The goon was sweating in fear while Shadowsan maintained his mutual expression. The tension in the room was so thick you could slice it with a sword. Dokuso watched from the side lines with the reflections of the two antagonists in her glasses.
Suddenly a yell from behind took Shadowsan by surprise as Dokuso swung her umbrella at him, she tried to stab and jab him with swift motions. Shadowsan avoided and caught every strike with his bare hands, before his opponent charged with her umbrella spinning like a drill but Shadowsan intercepted with a table as the tip of the umbrella crashed through it like matchwood.
Shadowsan swung the table ripping the umbrella from Dokuso's grasp and rolled it at her like a bowling ball. But she simply leaped up landed and walked backwards on the round table before she landed on the bar as elegant as a ballet dancer.
The master of stealth narrowed his eyes at his opponent, but suddenly heard the sound of steel, as he looked to see the remaining Yakuza goon draw his katana sword. Shadowsan didn't even turn his head and noticed at his feet were a pair of chopsticks. He picked them up and held them with dramatic effect.
If the Yakuza goon wasn't nervous before he was now. It looked like one of the stories he'd heard was about to ring true. Regardless with one last ditch effort he yelled charging at the ninja master. However to Shadowsan this was barely a challenge in one swift motion he launched one chopstick from his hand which struck the guy in the head as he flew past. Followed by the second chopstick that was thrown right into the back of his neck and sent the Yakuza goon crashing to the ground in defeat. With little effort.
Shadowsan recovered the swords scabbard and then the sword itself. Yet Lady Dokuso was still standing on the bar. "A present for me?" She said with false surprise.
"On the contrary, I believe that you have one for me." Shadowsan said as he turned to his former colleague. But then out of nowhere he groaned as he began to feel dizzy his sight was blurred seeing Dokuso coming closer to him. He collapsed to the ground on his knees feeling so weak.
Dokuso stepped on the chopsticks which broke in half and it was then Shadowsan realised he'd made an error. "Yes, I coated the chopsticks with an absorbent toxin, designed to permeate the skin." Dokuso said tauntingly as she knelt down. The ninja lost his grip dropping the sword as he himself hit the ground.
The rooftops:
Carmen and Sly lay unconscious on the rooftop near Paper Star. The raccoon thief came around and looked to see Carmen next to him unconscious.
"Carmen you okay?" Sly asked his partner in concern and Carmen soon came around groaning.
"Yeah I'm okay." She groaned she looked and saw Paper Star was behind them. "Come on!" She quickly got back up and Sly followed suit as they fled on the rooftop. Paper Star quickly came around and growled as she gave chase.
Carmen leaped up from the rooftop below and climbed a service ladder on the opposite building with Sly close behind her. Paper Star was ready to use her paper throwing stars but when she reached into her pouches. She realised she had no paper left. She growled in frustration as she gave chase.
The three thieves raced along the rooftops of the city. However as they came close to the edge of one the gap between it and the opposite building was very large. So Sly raced ahead and saw a line hanging from the water tower there, leaped up and performed a ninja spire landing before he leaped across the large gap in a blur landing on the opposite side. He'd performed the Leaping Dragon landing on the roof stump in a ninja spire style.
He looked to see Carmen coming towards the edge. He was hoping deep inside she would make it. The lady in Red neared the edge but she began to slow down she was dreadfully nervous inside.
Flashback: 3 hours before the heist:
In a far off part of the city, on a lone rooftop with a far gap. Sly, Carmen, Bentley and Shadowsan stood, the Raccoon thief was ready to show her a move that wasn't recorded in the Thievious Raccoonus.
"Sly are you sure about this I mean this move isn't even recorded in the Thievious Raccoonus." Bentley voiced in concern about this. "Only Rioichi has ever performed it how do you know it?"
"He taught it to me before we went against El Jefe." Sly explained.
"And what pray tell is this Thievious Raccoonus?" Shadowsan questioned.
"Its a record of the traits and skills of Sly's ancestors passed down from generation after generation." Carmen explained. "He inherited it from his father after he reclaimed it from a group of criminals, and he's used it to teach me."
To say Shadowsan was intrigued was an understatement. He began to see how it is the Raccoon thief was able to achieve the incredible feats that the VILE operatives described.
"So that is how you are able to match even our most skilled operatives." Shadowsan said. "But what is this move you wish to teach Carmen now?"
"Its called the Leaping Dragon, its basically a more advanced form of the Ninja Spire Jump. But with one twist." Sly explained as he looked to Carmen. "Now Red this is an advanced move, when you perform the ninja spire landing Rioichi would have a sense of how he could make even distant leaps. You need to concentrate on that landing point at the far end and let your training take care of the rest."
However Carmen wouldn't be lying if she didn't say she was rather concerned about this. Given this was a trait in the Copper line and given she wasn't a Cooper she didn't think she could do it.
"I don't know Sly, I mean you said a Coopers instincts take over with these moves but I'm not a Cooper?" Carmen voiced.
"You might not have Cooper blood but your still trained like one, you just need to believe in yourself and take a leap of faith." Sly explained.
"I believe your partner speaks the truth." Shadowsan agreed as he came forwards. "Much like in the Academy when we tested you, you believed in yourself to move forwards and preserver."
Now:
Carmen closed her eyes as she ran and took a deep breath and ran even faster. Then with one leap she performed a ninja spire landing on the cable, then she saw it. A red blur moving to exactly where her Thievious Raccoonus partner landed. So she leaped forwards and almost in slow-motion she jumped the gap. Sly looked in amazement from his position while Paper Star stared in complete shock. Just how was this possible?
"Like the dragon, watch her fly." Sly smiled with pride. With one motion, Carmen made a ninja spire landing on the building roof. She took several breaths in complete amazement at the feat she'd just performed.
"T…th..that was crazy!" She breathed as Sly came over and helped her to her shaken feet.
"We might just make a Cooper out of you yet Red." Sly smiled and Carmen replied with a smile of her own. Just then they heard the sound of something snapping. Looking to the sound the two super thieves saw Paper Star had cut the line above the water tower, leaped up to it and swung her way over to the rooftop.
"Oh come on doesn't she ever give up!" Sly exclaimed as the two continued running as Paper Star landed on the roof and continued her chase.
Sly and Carmen ran until they arrived at the edge of the building which was between two walls, and overhead were some hanging paper lanterns. They couldn't leap to the other buildings as they were out of reach, even from the Leaping Dragon. Cars were running by on the road below. They were trapped as Paper Star approached.
"Too bad I shred your pretty gliders." Paper Star teased sadistically.
Carmen and Sly turned to the origami punk girl. "Careful, now. We're the ones here with the cutting implement." Carmen said putting her hand on the katana hilt.
"Yeah you know what they say steel beats paper." Sly agreed holding up his cane.
Paper Star however just continued to smirk as she reached for one of the paper lanterns above her. "In my world, paper beats steel." She started folding it into a weapon, but she didn't expect what happened next. She felt something wet in the lantern. Pulling her hands apart she saw it was covered in glue. She shook her hands trying to get it off but to no avail.
"Ugh! Hey! What's going on?" Paper Star growled in surprise.
"Looks like baby bear got her paw stuck in the honey pot." Carmen smiled as her hair blew in the wind. Sly smirked along with her knowing what was coming next.
"Because you know what else beats paper!" Called a voice from above, Paper Star looked and saw Zack and Bentley standing on the roof above as the Boston boy held the lanterns in his hand. "Glue!"
"Glue party!" Zack laughed as he dropped the lanterns right on top of Paper Star with a *SPLAT!* She was completely tied up in the glue covered lanterns with pieces of paper stuck on her. She struggled to get out of the and Carmen smiled in satisfaction, the plan worked.
Earlier:
While the crew were planning how to execute the heist they also discussed the matter of Paper Star after Sly offered to teach Carmen the Leaping Dragon.
"Even if you pull off this feat, Paper Star is still a threat." Shadowsan pointed out. "If she is standing guard over the sword, she will not make it easy."
"I do agree which is why we'll have to take that fight elsewhere." Bentley said. "If this Paper Star is as dangerous as Sly and Carmen describe we need to lure her into our own trap." Bentley then smirked. "Because there are times when ones strength can become their weakness."
Shadowsan began to see where the turtle genius was going with this. It was clear that Bentley had considered every possibly scenario, he could see why his former colleague Dr.M saw how Bentley could be the true lead of the Cooper Gang. Since he's the smart one.
"Any idea how to do that?" Carmen asked.
"Simple." Bentley explained as he looked to Zack. "Zack, we will need about seventeen paper lanterns, three buckets of glue and some cable."
"Where do I get that?" Zack asked.
"Uh bro, we're in Tokyo it shouldn't be that hard to find what we need." Ivy reminded her brother.
"Bentley just what are you planning?" Sly asked as if he didn't already know.
"Lets just say Paper Star is going to find herself in a rather…sticky situation." Bentley smirked.
Now:
Paper Star growled and struggled to try and get free from the glue as Carmen and Sly ran past her. "Thanks for sticking around Star." Sly winked much to the origami girls rage.
"Nice work boys meet us at the rondevu." Carmen called to Zack and Bentley as the turtles wheel chair wheels changed into jets and however around. Zack jumped onto the back as the two hovered away. Paper Star grunted as she tried to hop after the two fleeing thieves but trips up and hits the ground. Completely unable to move.
Club Dokuso:
Shadowsan lay on the ground completely weak and paralysed. Something on the chopsticks weakened him. He tried to reach for his long sword with whatever feeling he had left in his right arm.
"Yes, you're fading." Lady Dokuso kicked the katana further out of Shadowsan's reach as she taunted her paralysed victim. The ninja master groaned trying to reach it. "The toxins currently coursing through your veins mimic those of the pufferfish, which paralyzes its victims."
Shadowsan glared as he forced every ounce of strength he had left to try and reach the sword. Dokuso kneeled down still taunting her prey.
"The effects are temporary, but by the time they wear off, you will be missing your head." She said moving her finger to her neck for empathis as she smirked rather adorably. Shadowsan continued to reach for his sword just as the tip of his fingers neared the blade.
Dokuso got up and looked down on her prey but it was a look of anger and disgust. "So terribly foolish of you to believe that you could stroll into my club like a samurai."
Shadowsan groaned as he looked to the ground. "I am no samurai." Shadowsan admitted in shame just as Dokuso squinted her eyes at him. Then out of nowhere he started smirking "…I am the decoy."
As Dokuso wondered what he was talking about the sound of seething metal made her turn round to see Carmen holding the short katana, with Sly holding his cane. Murray still in his disguise stood behind them.
"Go on…make our day!" Murray said cracking his knuckles.
Dokuso was taken completely by surprise, she quickly tried to take the long sword from Shadowsan, but he maintained a tight grip on the hilt. The master of poisons could see her efforts were futile. As the three thieves closed in on her, she reached into her robe and tossed something to the ground. It was vanishing powder. Blinding the crew and Murray coughed it in.
"Gah! Now thats just rude!" Murray coughed.
The smoked cleared and saw that only Shadowsan remained with the long sword. While Dokuso was nowhere to be seen. Carmen sheathed the katana back into its scabbard and kneeled down to Shadowsan.
"Big and little, together again." Carmen said smiling. Shadowsan smiled and gave a sigh of relief of his own. Sly moved to help the ninja to his feet.
"Easy there you okay?" Sly asked.
"Do not be concerned the affects of the toxin are temporary." Shadowsan assured. "But tell me, are all of Bentley's plan this effective?"
"More often than you'd think." Murray smiled. Shadowsan had to admit, Carmen had chosen her allies well.
Isle of VILE:
Back at the Academy in the Faculty lounge, it didn't take long for the news of the failed mission to reach the Faculty. Dokuso was on the monitor reporting to them.
"Give us more time. We will bring you both swords." Dokuso said from the temple.
"The sword was one way to draw out Shadowsan, not the only way." Maelstrom said trying to hide his anger at her failure to bring in the traitor let alone fail to kill him. "We will cross paths with him again." He said with a glare.
Tokyo:
"But if you would only allow us to…" Lady Dokuso implored but it was all in vain.
"Sayonara." The professor said as he terminated the communication.
This left Dokuso and Paper Star angered, not only did they fail to terminate Shadowsan, they failed to earn a seat among VILE's esteemed faculty.
"GRRRAHHHHHHHH!" Paper Star still covered in glued up paper yelled in absolute rage.
Isle of VILE:
"Petty shame that the poison gal didn't make the cut." Coach Brunt admitted.
"Truly Coach Brunt, but there are always other opportunities for potential candidates to prove their worth." Maelstrom acknowledged.
It was in this moment that Countess Cleo noticed that something was missing from this conversation. Or rather someone. "Is this not normally the part where Dr.M would appear from his skulking shadows?"
Brunt could see the point the Countess had made. "Now that ya mention it, I haven't seen old monkey boy skulking around here." She realised.
"Last time I saw him he was at work in my lab." Dr Bellum explained. "But he hasn't come out in a long time."
"You know when M goes dark you know he's up to somethin." Coach Brunt said. Which raised some questions among the Faculty just what was Dr Bellum's lab partner up to?
Bellums lab:
In Dr Bellum's lab Dr. M was hard at work it seemed he was using a welding torch to weld together two pieces of metal. He turned off the torch and raised his welding mask, then turning to a computer and looked over something. It was the footage of the Faculty Lounge it would seem he heard of Dokuso's recent failure.
"Yet another failure at the incompetence of our operatives." Dr.M said as he gripped a handheld computer device in his hand. "All these resources, all of their training and yet the miserable fools we trust with destroying Sandiego and Cooper…." His grip grew tighter and tighter on the device. "…ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT FAIL US!" He crushed it in his hands but then gave a devilish smirk.
"Although, I should thank Shadowsan for his betrayal, for now this provides me with an opportunity." Dr.M smirked as he looked at what he was creating. It appeared to be the making of a large circular device, and on his table side was plans and schematics of a building but what remained a mystery.
"For when I claim my rightful place, no one will ever deny me the recognition I deserve. Ever again!" He exclaimed.
Matsumoto Castle: Tokyo:
The following sunset evening at Matsumoto Castle, Hideo was switching off the lights getting ready to shut down for the night. He was just about to pull the sliding doors shut. When suddenly he gasped in shock, for lying in the display case was the complete daisho, big and little reunited once more.
Hideo ran to the case, he just couldn't believe it the long sword that was stolen has been returned. But how?
"H..how?!" He gasped. All of a sudden as he looked in the displace case holding a Japanese painting of Samurai he saw someone, and he just couldn't believe it was his own brother. He turned round and saw Shadowsan bowing down on the ground.
"I do not expect your forgiveness." Shadowsan said in great regret. "I only ask that you allow me to correct this grave dishonour."
Hideo just stood their speechless, his younger brother who had stolen the long sword had returned it to him. In truth he didn't know what to say with a hurt expression. Shadowsan was expecting his brother to not forgive him or even severely cast him out for the betrayal of his trust, for dishonouring his family and him. But Hideo simply left the room without another word.
Meanwhile:
At the train station, the Cooper & Sandiego gang waited for their train but they were also waiting for their ninja comrade. If he would show up that is. The Cooper Gang were now back in their hologuises as they waited.
"Think he'll show?" Zack asked, as he and the others looked at Carmen now in casual attire sitting on the bench with Sly.
"A part of me hopes that he doesn't." Carmen said.
"And the other part?" Sly asked. Carmen looked very nervous at Sly, she knew Shadowsan had gone to return the sword, but would his brother forgive him? Would he stay? Or would he go with them? So many questions ran through her head. Sly could see it too.
"Hey whatever happens its his road to travel. Trust me seeking forgiveness is never easy." Sly assured her. Just then the train pulled into the station and the doors slid open. Carmen and Sly stood up as the crew readied to board. Just then the raccoon thief noticed something in his peripheral vision. He placed a hand on Carmens shoulder causing her to stop, and looked to see what Sly had seen. It was Shadowsan.
Carmen looked at the ninja master with a warm understanding smile. She and Sly could see that while he returned the swords it would seem he did not have the welcome he was expecting. They couldn't help but sympathise with that.
Carmens POV:
"I'm not sure what's worse, not knowing your own family or... not being able to return to the family you know."
Shadowsan looked at the crew with a sorrowful look he couldn't return to his family for all the shame he caused them. He deeply hoped in time his brother would forgive him, but now he had nothing left except Carmen, Sly and their crew. And so he boarded the train with them leaving his past behind. For sometimes we cannot change the past no matter how hard one tries.
"Shadowsan chose a road, and there's no turning back."
Authors Notes: A...nd scene! Well the crew have retrived the lost sword and reunited the Daisho, and they learned more about their new ally's past and his brother. But will Hideo ever forgive his brothers past sins I guess only time will tell. Now for those who know the Sly Cooper lore, it was not known that Sly knew the Leaping Dragon move as it was not recorded in the Thievious Raccoonus, but I wondered if while in Feudal Japan during Thieves in Time, that Rioichi himself didn't show Sly how to do it. So I incorporated that element into the story.
Now he's taught that move to Carmen and Shadowsan is begining to know of the Raccoon thief's past history. But now the race is on for VILE to replace the master of stealth as the fifth member of the Faculty, and it looks like Dr.M is already planning his next move.
But now onto Italy where the gangs next caper is gonna be a runway of a ride. So until next time.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS COOPER & SANDIEGO!