Screech!

The van screeched to a halt, jerking everyone inside. Rai had dozed off along the way since she hadn't gotten any sleep the night before considering she went to go deal with Dimitri, so naturally, she was pretty tired. When the van came to a sudden stop, it jolted her awake, her eyes slowly opening before lifting her head, which had tilted to the side when she fell asleep. Once the fox was awake, she stretched her arms, arching her back a bit before letting out a yawn. "Are we here already?" Rai asked after she finished yawning.

"Yup, and you went and fell asleep." Sly quipped. "So rise and shine, because we gotta go."

"Yeah, yeah..." Rai brushed him off as she followed the raccoon out of the van.

When she was on flat ground again, Rai stretched once more, her joints popping in various places from all the stiffness. But once she was done stretching, Rai let out a content sigh, rolling her neck a bit to try and loosen it up. After stretching all the sleepiness and stiffness from her body, releasing all that tension, Rai scanned her surroundings. It was there she noticed what appeared to be a cave maybe a couple meters ahead of them, but the entrance was covered in vines, so you could easily miss it if you weren't paying attention. On one hand, Rai was curious, wanting to go inspect the cave, but at the same time, she was also cautious, unsure if it could be some kind of trap.

"Hey, let's go check out that cave over there." Sly pointed to the vine covered cave Rai had her eyes on.

She then frowned. "Oh, sure, let's just go into some random cave, because that won't get us killed." The fox said in a sarcastic tone.

Sly chuckled. "Oh, come on, lighten up. Seriously, you're starting to sound like Bentley, and he's the textbook definition of a stick in the mud."

"Hey! I take offense to that!" Bentley fumed.

The raccoon just chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, lecture me later. Now come on, let's go check that cave out!" He urged, running on ahead.

Rai merely sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This raccoon is going to be the death of me, I just know it..." She said out loud before her and the others begrudgingly followed after Sly into the cave.

After pushing past all the vines, everyone was pretty surprised to see that this cave wasn't just any old cave. From the looks of things, someone had furnished this cave – which was actually a lot bigger than everyone first thought – almost making it their home. What was even more peculiar was that there were three bedrooms and two bathrooms inside of the cave. It all just seemed so strange that a cave of all things would appear almost to the of a small home, of which, seemed to have been used probably recently. This whole situation was just odd, to say the least. However, despite how weird the situation was, Rai just decided to wander around the cave to get a better understanding of what they had to work with, peering into the first room, which was fairly large, obviously posing as the master bedroom. She then peered into the other two rooms, which were a bit smaller than the first one. "Sly and I will be sleeping in a room together. Meanwhile, Rai, you and Murray can have the remaining two since you're the only female here and I would never be able to get any sleep with Murray's snoring." Came Bentley's voice. "And if I could recommend a suggestion, Rai, why don't you take the master bedroom?"

The fox raised an eyebrow. "Um, can I ask why first?"

"So that you can have that bathroom for yourself since you're the only female among us." Bentley explained.

"Oh, um, okay. That actually makes more sense now that you say it..." She replied, a bit surprised. "Uh, thanks, Bentley."

He waved it off. "Don't mention it. I mean, the least we could do is give you the privacy you need."

Rai nodded. "Well, I appreciate it." She grinned.

Huh... Well, at least one of them gets it. The fox thought to herself.

"Hey, Rai!" Murray suddenly called from one of the smaller rooms.

"Hm? Yeah, what's up, Murray?" She called back to him.

"Could ya come here a sec?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure." Rai replied, heading into the room Murray's voice had come from. "So, what's up?"

"Do ya think you can you put these pillows and blankets up in that hammock for Sly? He really likes sleeping in those." The hippo asked with a goofy grin.

"Oh, sure thing." Rai nodded as she took the items from Murray before pouncing off the walls, climbing up to the hammock where she set them down in the empty canopy. She then dropped back down, easily managing to land on her feet again. "There ya go, got 'em up there for ya." The fox grinned.

"Thanks, little buddy!" Murray smiled.

"No problem." She replied before exiting the room.

Once Rai had finished helping Murray, she went into the room that she would be using, setting her backpack down on the bed before seating herself next to her bag. Rai let out a sigh, perching her cane next to the bedside table before grabbing her mask, staring at the front. As the fox gazed at her mask, she let her thumb graze along its surface, exhaling softly through her nose.

If it weren't for that fateful day, then I wouldn't be living this lie that is me... Rai's grip unconsciously tightened on her mask as she grit her teeth slightly. Maybe once this is all over and I don't have to worry about those horrible people anymore, maybe then I can finally stop living in this shadow of the person I was never supposed to become... Maybe then, I can finally be myself again...

Knock, knock, knock

"Hm?" Rai perked up, turning her gaze toward the door as Bentley peered his head in.

"Hey, Rai?"

"Yeah? Did you need something?" She asked.

"Would you mind going with Sly to scope out Rajan's palace?"

Rai raised an eyebrow. "Um, okay, but why?"

"Well, I need some recon photos to see what we're up against. Think you can handle that?"

"I mean, it seems simple enough, then again, it really just feels like I'm going to be babysitting Sly..."

Bentley shrugged his shoulder a bit, almost like he was deciding on whether to agree or not. "Kinda, I guess. I mean, you've seen how Sly is, but when it comes down to it, he does usually get the job done, albeit in his own "unique" way."

Rai sighed, getting up from the bed as she grabbed her cane, approaching the turtle. "Alright, I guess I can work with him, just so long as he doesn't try anything funny."

"I can't make any promises on that, but you're free to clock him if need be."

Rai smirked this time. "Oh? Well then, if I have permission to strike if he tries something, then by all means, I'll go. Although..."

"Here." Bentley then said as he held up a pair of black and red binoculars. "That's your binocucom. You'll use that to get any photos I need or to contact us. I made it on the way to Monaco and made sure to test it out as well as ensure everything was functioning accordingly, so you should be all set. Oh, and you'll need this as well." He said, handing Rai a black earpiece. "I'm sure I don't need to explain what that is, right?"

Rai shook her head, sticking the earpiece into her left ear as she turned it on. Once she heard the light powering on noise, she knew it was working. "No, I've got it." She replied, taking the binocucom as she stuffed it into her pouch. "Is that all I'll need?"

Bentley nodded. "Yes, so go ahead and get moving; Sly should be waiting for you outside."

Rai nodded. "Will do. Thanks for the cool gadget by the way, Bentley." She waved before heading outside to see Sly leaning against a nearby tree, his cane at hand.

"Well, you sure took your sweet ass time, now didn't you?" The raccoon smirked, obviously in a teasing tone.

Rai just rolled her eyes in response. "And why don't you just bite me, smartass?"

"Is that a challenge?" Sly quipped.

Rai then glared. "Just come on, we've got a job to do, in case you forgot."

"Oh, I didn't forget," Sly pushed off the tree, only to slip behind Rai as he purred into her ear, causing it to twitch ever so slightly, "I was just waiting for this pretty little fox to join me."

Rai frowned, her eyebrow twitching. "Ha ha, very funny, but I'm certain that spot is already reserved for Inspector Fox, Mr. Casanova..."

Sly sighed, coming back in front of Rae as he folded his arms. "I told you already, I only mess around with Carmelita to get a rise out of her, that's all. Don't take it so personally."

"I'm not." Rai replied nonchalantly. "But if you want personal, then you can look toward the Klaww Gang for that, since it's because of them that you've dragged me into this mess."

"Alright, look, I get it, you have a history with them—"

"Had a history with them." Rai quickly emphasized.

"Right, had a history, but I already told you that we were going to fix this, and I meant what I said."

Rai stared at Sly for a moment, seeming a bit unconvinced before turning her gaze away, placing her hand against her chest. "That still doesn't excuse what's been done to me by her..." She muttered under her breath, a bit of sorrow in her mumbled tone.

"What was that?" Sly asked.

"It's nothing, never mind." Rai quickly brushed his question off. "Let's just hurry and get this over with before Bentley has a fit." She said, brushing past Sly as he quickly followed after her, though couldn't help but gaze at Rai with a bit of suspicion.

Just what is she hiding? He wondered. Has this got something to do with that cat she encountered back in Paris? Kisara, was it? I mean, it is the only lead I've got so far, but I really shouldn't pry... I'd rather not piss her off even more.

Sly leaped, flipping up onto the balcony with Rai not too far behind him. Quietly, the raccoon opened the double doors as the two slipped inside, but upon entering, both stopped when they noticed spotlights shining just out onto the walkway. "Sly, Rai, stay out of the walkway so you're not seen." Came Bentley's voice in their earpieces.

"Roger that." Sly nodded before taking out his binocucom, beginning to snap some pictures of the guests. "Let's see here... The hypnotist, the Contessa, the lumberjack, Jean Bison..." Sly named off a couple guests.

"Looks like the genius himself, Appegio is here, as well as Rajan, not that that's surprising considering he is hosting this gala." Rai commented.

"Looks like both Caremlita and Neyla are here as well. I wonder why though?" Sly questioned.

"Probably to keep an eye on the wings?" Rai suggested. "Or to try and expose Rajan's spice operation, one or the other."

"Okay, but who's the pretty little kitty down there?"

"Wait, what?" Rai asked.

"The cat." Sly then said. "There's a black cat in a skimpy red dress."

Rai paused. "Shit..." She muttered, quickly lifting her binocucom as she scanned around, until her gaze finally settled on that white cat Sly mentioned. "You've gotta be shitting me... Of course she had to be here, why wouldn't she be?" Rai said in a sarcastic, but clearly irritated tone.

"And who exactly is that?" Sly asked.

The fox sighed, lowering her binocucom. "Kisara Bombay, who just so happens to work for Interpol as well, but is also secretly a thief as well in her spare time. So, in other words, a double agent, you could say." Rai then pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing irritably this time. "Just great... Now I have this fucking problem to deal with..."

"I'm assuming that's the same cat I saw you with back in Paris?"

Rai paused again, lowering her hand from her face as she turned to Sly. "Are you seriously telling me that you saw that too? Why the hell didn't you say anything?!"

Sly held his hands up. "Hey, don't hurt me! It was just a question!"

Rai groaned, facepalming. "I should hurt you for not saying something sooner, but that will have to wait until after this mission..."

"I've just dug my own grave, haven't I?"

"We'll see, just so long as you don't piss me off anymore while on this mission..." Rai replied.

This black and blue cat, Kisara, had been dressed in a tight red bodycon dress that really hugged her body. It was short and backless, stopping at her upper thighs with the straps lacing up her lower back and crossing in between her shoulder blades for a deep V-neck that exposed quite a bit of her cleavage, not that Kisara was being shy about it. She had also been wearing a pair of matching red stilettos to go with her skimpy dress and silver ring on her right ear. Her long, jet black and electric blue tipped hair was curled at the ends and cascading down her back, her bangs framing those fiery amber eyes of hers.

Rai just rolled her eyes at the sight of Kisara's choice in attire, causing her to scoff a bit. "For God's sake, does she have no sense of class?"

"I'm just gonna go ahead and say no." Sly chimed in.

"Clearly..."

The fox then scanned around the ballroom at the other guests, when she suddenly spotted Neyla amongst the crowd. The purple leopard was dressed in a two-piece Indian dress, the top being a sleeveless V-neck to expose a bit of her chest with a tan collar around her neck. As for the bottoms, it consisted of a tan, Indian skirt that went just below her knees with a pair of Indian style sandals on her feet as the ribbons laced up her shins. Her hair also seemed to be jet black – since she always wears a hijab – as it stopped just above her shoulders and framed her face with a gold chain dangling from her ear and her usual gold headpiece around her forehead with a red gem in the center just above her emerald green eyes. Rai's gaze then traveled around the ballroom again, only to find Carmelita to see that she was wearing a slim black, spaghetti strap, V-neck dress. A large slit was on the left side of her dress, not only exposing her left leg, but her matching black heels as well. Her Interpol collar was still around her neck and her shock pistol most likely hidden underneath her dress as not to draw attention to herself. As for her curly navy blue hair, it was pinned at the crown of her head, her bangs framing those fierce golden eyes of hers.

After studying the three ladies and choice of formal wear, Rai decided to just put her binocucom away. "And here I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with that cat here too..." Rai sighed, burning holes in the back of Kisara's head. "She just pisses me off, always playing me like a damn fiddle..."

"And what are you implying by that?" Sly raised an eyebrow.

Rai's eyes flicked over to Sly for a brief moment before turning away just as quickly. "Let's just say that I don't particularly like to play nice with Kisara anymore and leave it at that."

Sly lowered his binocucom. "Oh, please, do tell." He smirked.

Rai frowned. "Quit trying to pry into my personal business, Cooper, because I'm seriously not in the mood for a "sharing circle" right now."

"I was just curious, that's all. I mean, clearly you have it out for this Kisara girl, and I was just wondering why you despise her so much, especially from the interaction I saw between the two of you."

The fox gave an annoyed sigh. "It's...complicated." She then said.

"I'm assuming it's got something to do with the Klaww Gang?" Sly inquired.

"Well, yes and no."

Sly raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"It's just—well, err..." Rai stammered, trying to find the right words. "Kisara, she—"

Suddenly though, before Rai could finish her sentence, the sound of heels clicking against the floor caught her ears, causing them to work up. She quickly turned her gaze only to find Carmelita heading right in their direction. "Shit, Carmelita's coming this way...!" Rai panicked.

Sly glanced over to see the orange fox when he smirked at the idea that popped into his head. He quickly removed his cap, belt, and pouch, tossing them aside with his cane before her grabbed Rai by the waist and pulled her close, removing her mask and pouch as well, tossing them aside alongside with her cane. "Follow my lead." He whispered.

"Wait, what are you—?!"

Before Rai could finish that question, Sly had begun to kiss, lick, suck, and bite at her neck, causing her to gasp. Rai blushed a deep shade of red before trying to push Sly away from her. "S-Sly...!" Rai quietly gasped, trying her best to keep her voice down. "S-stop...!" She urged, attempting to push him away again. "I don't—!"

"I said to follow my lead, unless you want us to get found out." Sly told her when he pulled away for a moment.

Rai desperately wanted to just shove Sly away, then beat him senseless for pulling a stunt like that, but Carmelita was getting closer and closer, and she knew it just would blow their cover if she did. In that moment, Rai had a choice to make: Either shove Sly away and blow their cover, or just suck it up and let the situation play out just until Carmelita walks away. Rai thought hard, unsure of what she should do. As she felt Sly's mouth pressed against her sensitive neck and his hands on her hips, she couldn't help but despise this feeling, because all it did was bring back horrible memories, ones Rai wished she could just erase from her mind, permanently. However, in this current situation, Rai didn't really have much a choice but to let this happen. In the end, the fox just swallowed her pride and allowed the scene to continue, despite how disgusted and embarrassed she felt about it.

I'm going to murder this damn raccoon when this is over with...!

"Aah..." Rai unconsciously let out a soft moan, blushing madly as she did so.

"Oh, get a room, you two; this is no place for that." Carmelita scoffed before walking off, minding her own business from then on.

Once Carmelita was finally gone, reality abruptly struck Rai as she quickly shoved Sly away. "Get off!" She exclaimed, quickly backing up as she clamped her hand over the spot on her neck Sly had been tending too, panting heavily.

"Well, at the very least, you helped to make it a little more convincing." Sly tried to reassure her.

Rai, however, lifted her gaze, glaring as her cheeks were still a bit flushed from the embarrassing act. "You conniving bastard!" She hissed. "What the fuck is wrong with you!?"

"What are you getting so worked up for?" Sly asked, acting like this wasn't a big deal to him. "It's not like I did anything to you, and unless you like being caught by Carmelita, I had a choice to make, and that was the first thing I came up with. Sue me."

Rai began to fume. "It's not that, you dumbass! You don't get it, do you?!"

"Then why don't you explain it to me?"

"I've been traumatized because of what Talia did to me, both physically and mentally! Don't fucking touch me like that ever again, you stupid jerk!" Rai blurted out.

"Wait, wha—"

"Just, leave me alone!" And with that, Rai grabbed all of her things and burst out the double doors they had come through, heading back to the Safe House, though as she ran, you could see the tears falling from her eyes...

It was then Sly facepalmed himself, realizing his stupid mistake. "Ah, shit... What the fuck did I just do?"