Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions. I don't own any characters...all original characters belong to 'Dragonmaster789'.

Claimer: I own nothing... I simply wrote the story.

Chapter 4: A Cat and A Snake

I sighed deeply as I finished strapping my racing gloves on over my paws. I stood next to my motorcycle, getting ready for the upcoming race that would be a piece of cake for me to win. I had no real competition here…but I wanted the grand prize that the race holders offered; the Cats Ruby and the Snake Sapphire. Winning these would obviously give me prestige in the thieving world and I never turned down a race. Pulling my hair up, I slipped my helmet on over my head, hiding my face from the rest of the world. I straddled the seat of my motorcycle, ready to drive it up to the starting line so I could win this race and go home. I wasn't nervous about this race at all; I knew that I had it in the bag and that this wouldn't be a challenge. Knocking the stand up from my motorcycle, I slowly rode it to the starting line next to the other racers.

I glanced around the competition, seeing the various motorcycles, cars…and a van, that were lined up to compete. I waited for the race to begin in silence, listening to those around me and waiting for the announcers' voice to come over the intercom, telling us that we could begin. I could feel the sun start to beat down on starting line and I was ready to get this race started. I turned my head to the side, feeling a soft tap on my shoulder. A rather large hippo stood in front of me, a pen and a piece of paper in his grasp and a rather nervous look adorning his features. He gave a goofy smile, shoving the pen and paper in my direction as he attempted to sputter out a sentence.
"W-would you mind giving me your autograph, Ms. Viper?" I smiled, giggling at his nervous behavior as I took the pen and paper from his hands and placed them in mine, setting the pen in my paw so I could write.
"And who should I make this out to?" he laughed nervously, wringing his hands in the process after finally spitting out his name.

"Just make it out to Murray, please." I smiled, finishing off his autography with a flick of my wrist and my name inked on the paper. He thanked me over and over as he walked away, returning to his van so he could race as well. I chuckled and gripped the handle bars on my motorcycle, hearing the intercom above us kick to life.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcers voice boomed over the speaker, "Please, take your seats! The race is about to begin!" cheers and applause came from the crowd as the people took their seats and waited for the race to start.
"Listen Nagi," my brothers' voice sounded over the ear piece placed inside my ear, "just win this race and those gemstones are ours." With those words buzzing in my head, I turned the ignition on and revved the engine on my motorcycle.
"Racers, get ready to race!" I looked around one more time, seeing the other racers get their vehicles ready to speed down the racetrack, "Go racers! Go! Go! Go!" the man over the intercom shouted as the race began, and I took off.

I zoomed in front of the other racers, easily making it to first place without much effort on my part. I swayed left and right, keeping my position in first place and I knew deep down that I would win this race. I glanced to my right and I noticed a van picking up speed, coming up next to me. And I had just given the driver of the van an autograph! I wasn't going to let him win, fan or not, because I wanted those prize gems. I hunched forward, pressing on the accelerator of my motorcycle, trying to keep head of the hippo in the van. I would push forward only to have the van pass me just a little. The finish line was approaching quickly, and the van was riding down my neck. We both had our accelerators presses as far as they would go in an attempt to be the first to cross that finish line. I had gotten a slight lead, I was about to win this race for team Furukama! Only, I had my heart and hopes crushed when the competing van slipped past me narrowly, winning the race for himself. I crossed the finish line in a close second…and I was furious. I dismounted my motorcycle, removed my helmet and stormed off in a huff, pushing past people and leaving my bike where I had parked it.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

I flopped down on my living room cough with a sigh, still unable to believe that I'd been beaten in that race. I had that race won! But that van, whose driver I had just given an autograph to five minutes earlier, beat me and won the gems for himself! I couldn't believe it! I shook my head and took my laptop from the other side of the couch, pulling it into my lap and opening it. For the past weeks, I'd been researching my family and I figured that a bit of research would help me calm my nerves. My fingers glided over the keys as I typed, looking for any information I could find. I yawned quietly as I searched, still tired from loosing the race, and my gems, and was ready to just relax. My ears perked at the sound of a knock at the door, which forced me to get up and answer my door. After placing my laptop on the seat next to me, I stood, answering the door to my home quietly. I was a bit surprised to see who was at the door; a delivery man with a bouquet of flowers in his grasp.
"Nagi Furukama?" he asked after looking at the card in his grasp. I nodded, wondering why he was delivering me flowers, "These are for you, ma'am." He handed me the flowers, smiling as he did so, before dipping his head down and making his way back down the hallway.

Thanking him, I took the flowers into my home and sat back down on the couch with them. A simple, blue calling card was resting inside the blooms of the flowers…and it was a calling card that I was familiar with. I opened Sly Cooper's calling card silently, glancing to the scribbled, hand-written note inside.
"It's been a while since we last chatted…why don't you meet me in from of the fountain in town at 4:45 and we can talk?" I smirked, closing the card before glancing to the clock. With the big hand nearing the bottom of the clock, I placed my flower on the coffee table in front of the couch and grabbed my purse, heading for the door so I could meet Cooper in front of the fountain.