Yes another Chapter and thanks to those who Review it means alot to me and Enjoy!
It had been three months since Jing had come into the Copper gang's life and stolen Sly Cooper's heart which Sly thought would never happen after the events with Carmelita. It had been a whirlwind relationship that happened quickly but not regretfully. The two at the moment were enjoying a rare moment where Jing was not painting up a storm for her art classes or shows and Sly was not off training or stealing from another would be master criminal.
The two were enjoying a picnic in the country watching the sunset on a grassy hill content to be in each other's company.
"So have you decided what you are going to do for the final art show yet?" Sly asked Jing who was snuggled to his chest eating a chocolate Strawberry.
"Yes I have thanks to you and the others but I have yet to start it, but I might not need to if I don't win tonight's art show." Jing said and put the half eaten strawberry down, now worried about the night's events.
Sly took hold of Jing's chin and brought her lips to his in a soft kiss and then pulled back only slightly as their noses were still toughing, his paw tangling her in long silky midnight hair. "You'll win Jing." Sly stated and Jing smiled as she leaned in to kiss him again.
By the time they left to go back home Jing only had half an hour to get ready.
It was a lavish affair at the Louve museum; with dozens of art critiques and buyer's discussing line, shape, and dimension and over all style each of the painters used in their works. The art show was a contest of who would get a prize to work with Leonardo Ranten; a cobra that designed great works of art and designed several buildings around the world, it was not often he did this taking on an apprentice but Jing as well as other students were all after the prize.
Jing was fidgeting nervously with her braid as the Guru (as a photographer) sat with her. Bentley (a reporter) and Penelope (an art buyer) were off looking at the competition and Murray (limo driver) was busy scoffing down the buffet table. Sly due to his famous face could not be seen and not only that, Carmelita was head of security.
"Heredan honan enitic so." The Guru said placing an arm around Jing's slender shoulders.
"I know why Sly could not make it but…" Jing did not finish her sentence as the dean and a representative Leonardo Ranten demanded the attention of the crowds with several clinks on crystal wine glasses.
"Excuses fellow alumni and guest, we have decided on the winners of this contest and the two shall move up to the Final round to compete with the other eight chosen students." The badger who was dean of the University of Paris said his accent thick that his words sounded muffled.
The Guru took hold of jings hand in support as Bentley and Penelope came up to them. Murray had his fingers and eyes crossed in good luck for Jing.
The representative of Leonardo Ranten took out a gold envelope of placed it on the podium as he opened it taking his time, after he opened the letter he looked to the crowd.
"The winners are Allen Rubi and Jing King. Congratulations" The lizard read off before returning the podium to the dean. Meanwhile high claps surrounded around the two winners, Allen was up taking his time to make a long speech and posing for the cameras and ignoring the questions from reporters, while Jing smiled politely and tried to hide her disappointment that Sly was not around. When she looked back over to the gang, she saw a waiter being quietly yelled at by Bentley. The waiter looked up at Jing and gave a wink and Jing knew that it was Sly. She smiled brightly and waved over to them.
Carmelita who was sulking in the back never suspected a thing and Sly was grateful as he snuck out to wait for them by the van.
As he waited Sly figured it was worth the yelling he was going to get for coming just to see Jing's smile.
When the gang returned home Jing jumped into Sly's arms and kissed him passionately regardless that the gang was on-looking and Sly kissed her back and in that one moment Sly knew that this was the woman he could spend the rest of his life with and never be regretful. She accepted him as he was and made his life full of joy with her laugh, her smile, her touch. Not since he was a kid nor on the few rare moments with his gang did he feel that happy and content, not even with Carmelita did he feel what he felt with Jing.
Sly Cooper, master thief of all thieves was totally and undeniably in love.
Sir Raleigh who sat drinking his hot earl gray tea was waiting for his parole hearing to approach in just a few short days. He was quite happy to being leaving the company of what he felt were some of the lower criminals of Heathrow Prison. Seeing on how it was raining the prisoners were allowed in the day room to play board games and watch TV.
As Sir Raleigh watched the other prisoners go around doing mundane things and shift around being bored Raleigh was thinking how lovely it was going to be to get out of there and go back to pirating and killing Sly Cooper after he regained his reputation. His happy moment was disturbed However as Mizz Ruby sat beside him making the couch lift up and place him four feet off the ground and spill some of his tea.
"My, my, aren't we all smug like 'cause we think were getting out of this hell huh sugar?" Mizz Ruby said her voice dripping his sarcasm and her thick southern drawl. In her claw talon she was shuffling her tarot cards over and over waiting for Raleigh to respond.
"My dear friend and I use that word loosely seeing as how we never got along I am getting out of this despicable place while you shall continue to rot here." Sir Raleigh said then took a sip from his remaining tea.
"If that's what you think there sugar but I have to warn you your fortunes don't look so good." With that Mizz Ruby sat up slightly and placed a card face down on the table.
Sir Raleigh having been in the company of Mizz Ruby's majik before knew to have some faith in the old bats rambling turned his full attention to the cards, "All right then how long am I to rot in here?" He asked looking at the cards and Mizz Ruby smiled.
She turned over the card.
The fool showed up.
"You're a fool sugar to believe you are getting out of here," she took another card off the pile and placed it face up, "a three o' wands means three people can help you out," She pulled at yet another card and placed it face down and another she placed face up, she took a deep breath before turning over the card, the wizard. "This means that the ones who can help you all have a majik of some kid or have something that you want to help you out in your return to the big leagues sugar, however they want somethin' for it and the one of cups means they will be here soon." Mizz Ruby shuffled her deck and sat back waiting to see Raleigh's reaction when his newspaper was thrown at him by a small red bird.
"A vast you hog you need not all that room!" the red bird sat down and closed his eyes.
"How dare you, you uncouth vagabond!" Sir reagligh yelled and was about to pounce when Mizz Ruby slammed her tail him front of him.
"Now sugar saw hello to the new boyz." Mizz Ruby said her dark brown eyes gleaming.
"Evidently low life and low crime credentials." Sir realigh huffed.
"Wha! Speak up you landlubber Captain Lufwee of the Seven sea Best known Pirates of the Cut Throat Bay will not stand for insults from the likes of an over weight frog with a tin cup on his head!" Captain Lufwee shouted attracting some attention from the other inmates.
"Now Lufwee this is not the time to be making enemies say hello to your new partners." Said a tall rooster who looked very distinguished despite his prison clothes bowed in the direction of Mizz Ruby. Mizz Ruby nodded back.
"Been a lifetime since I have met one of the Taso line. I take a Cooper gave you those marks." She said referring to the cane marks that had yet to heal. Taso nodded and stood straight.
"Members of my line since past have informed me to the power you hold and together we can leave this place and exact out revenge on the one that put us here." General Taso said his feathers ruffling slightly.
"Oh really and how do you suppose we find the Cooper gang no one not even the cops know where he hides." Sir Raleigh pointed out.
"So you admit you're of limited intelligence you scurvy dog." Lufwee said to Raleigh and they glared at one another.
"I know where he hides, when one falls in love the dead grow jealous and will do what they can to break it apart, the Panda King's daughter is the object of his desire." Taso said his feathers ruffling even more and his voice taking on a dangerous tone.
"Just who is the Lady of the land I have yet to see her?" Lufwee said folding his wings across his broad chest.
"Panda King you must be joking, he should hate the Cooper Gang as much as us!" Sir Raleigh said amazed.
"He will once he finds out Sly Cooper is doing more to his daughter then protecting her, but My revenge will be against her as well because she is the reason Cooper came after me in the first place!" General Taso growled as he picked up the paper and harshly opened it to the entertainment page where Jing and the other winner of the art show the night before were featured.
Both Sir Raleigh and Lufwee were awe stuck at her beauty and were thinking of the same thing: they both wanted her.
"You have my attention how do we get out of here?" Sir Raleigh asked already thinking of a plan to kill Cooper and keep the young Jing King for himself.
"Not how but when and I assure you boyz the day is near." Mizz Ruby Said holding a card in front of her scaly face smiling wickedly at all three of them.