Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions/Sanzaru Games.

Claimer: I own all of my original characters.

Oh my goodness! It's been forever since I've actually written anything, which I do want to apologize for. I've never taken this long to do a story, let alone knowing that this is a request and so is the other story I'm working on. It never takes me this long, but I have been busy. With more family illness and an overload from college, I haven't had the time to sit down and write a chapter. I did find some time to do this so I took advantage of that. And hopefully I'll have the next chapter of this and my second request up soon. But on a side note, sort of, since I'm so busy with college and things that I've run out of ideas. So, I'm in the market for oneshot ideas. Now, they won't be written until my first two requests are finished or I'm back in the swing of things. So, I'm always open to suggestions for those. And for another work, my poll is still up in my profile so please leave me some feedback on that. Despite the poll, I have an idea for the next long story I'll do once my requests are done. (I just can't figure out if I should do my Tennessee story or actually do a SlyxRamona one, which I haven't done in forever and I miss doing, so I wouldn't love feedback on that also). But anyway, I do want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for this stagnant period and I promise that I'll start picking up again. But in any case, please read, review, and let me know what you think. Thanks! And again, I'm sorry! D:

Chapter 8: Wrath of the Geisha

Northern Japan, 1339

I simply watched as Kasumi moved swiftly and effortlessly around her small kitchen. Noodle making was Kasumi's passion, other than theft, and for her it was an art. And to watch her make her art was a true gift and honor. She was able to knead a large ball of dough into the smoothest, roundest dumpling balls I'd ever seen and each strand of dough that was turned into a noodle was perfectly flat, even, and length. She cooked each one of them with care, never under or over cooking them so they were chewy, but just long enough to where they were soft and pleasurable to the pallet. Each of them were seasoned to perfection and the broth they were in was always delicious. Kasumi was a true artist in the kitchen and performed with grace and beauty.

"Kasumi-san," I asked her as she lifted a dozen dumplings or so into a bowl, "have you seen or heard anything of the tiger that's been prowling around?" she stood at her small wood burning stove as I sat across from her at the counter.

"I haven't heard much, but I have seen a few things that are worth mentioning." She ladled a ladleful of broth into the same bowl and slid it down the counter to me with a pair of chopsticks. She quickly fixed herself a bowl as well and sat across from me with her own chopsticks before she completed her sentence.

"When I was at the Geisha house he would come in quite often. He would say nothing to us or to any of the other patrons, but he would spend all evening with Madame Geisha." She spoke softly, bringing her face in a bit as she did.

"So, Madame Geisha has her own client to attend to now?" she nodded, bringing her chopsticks to her lips and taking a dumpling in her mouth.

"It would appear so," she said after she finished chewing, "However, that is all I know on the subject. But I do know who this man is, but whoever he is and whatever his intentions may be, he is not friend to either of us," she reached across the counter suddenly, catching my paw in her own as her eyes locked onto mine, "Please be careful around him, Rioichi. I fear he would do great harm to you if he caught you." Her paw squeezed mine, almost forcefully, as she finished her plea.

"You have my word, Kasumi-san, I promise." Her grip loosened and her paw slid back into her lap after a brief moment, worry still noticeable on her features, "And I do wish for you to be careful as well, Kasumi. For you have a very high risk of being caught. Having your restaurant and your business as a thief put you at as much risk as it does for me, but you also make frequent trips to the geisha house. And if that mysterious tiger is prowling around the geisha house, it would take nothing for him to snatch you."

"I have thought of that quite often and I am very careful, I do promise. Although I should mention that I haven't returned to the house since that night." She was referring to the night I discovered that she was working on being a geisha. I was never fond of the thought of her becoming one. I was now always full of concern for her and her safety. I knew the dangers if she became a geisha, and she knew them as well, but I knew I wouldn't be able to bare the aftermath is something were to happen to her. However, if I told her how I felt I knew she would become angry and pull away from me even though I was just now starting to get thorough her icy exterior. So, I held my tongue and decided to only tell her that I accepted her decisions.

"Have you decided to give up the geisha house, Kasumi-san?" for a moment I was hopeful, thinking that I could put the worry away and simply focus on getting through to the sweet Kasumi that I knew was in there somewhere.

"Not entirely," she said as she continued her meal, "but I haven't felt comfortable enough to return there yet. The incident with the skunk has…shaken me in many ways." She paused, closing her eyes briefly before shaking her feelings away.

"Just know this, Kasumi," I told her as her eyes opened again, "I will support you in whatever decision you make. Even though I may not fully agree, I will not stop you." She nodded, seriously replying to my statement before a smile formed on her pretty lips.

"And even if you told me how much you disapproved, Rioichi," she said with a small giggle, "you know very well that I'd do the exact opposite." I laughed myself, finding her statement to be utterly true.

"Indeed I do. Then I suppose I should start saying the opposite of what I actually feel." I said with a sly smile as I ate away at the dinner in front of me.

"Now if you were to do that I'd actually listen to you, Rioichi. For I do what I want to do, no matter what another happens to say to me." I knew this to be true as well. Kasumi was her own person and would form to no one, not even herself at times.

"Then I do insist on you doing at least one thing." Her ears perked and her head tilted slightly as she brought her chopsticks to her lips once again, waiting for my answer, "I do insist that you try having dinner at my restaurant. Your food is quite enjoyable, but as I have said before, it would do you good to have a change in diet for once." She stood, having finished her meal, and smiled back in my direction as she placed her empty bowl in the water sitting in the sink.

"If you want me to eat at your restaurant, Rioichi, then you will have to do quite a bit of convincing before I do so." She winked before dunking her paws in the water in the sink. I stood, leaving my bowl on the counter, as I walked up behind her. I placed my paws on her shoulders from behind, my mouth almost touching her ear.

"And what kind of convincing are you referring to, Kasumi-san?" she giggled, which was quite a rare occurrence for her, as she turned and faced me, her small fingers pressing to my chest.

"That is for you to tell me, my dear ninja." I placed my palms just under her jaw line, tilting her head up so her gaze met mine.

"How do you expect me to tell you something that you already know the answer to?" she giggled again, giving a slight shrug of her shoulders.

"Do think about it, Rioichi. After all, you are to thank for what's happened in recent days, of course." She was right with this. After I retrieved her from that horrible skunk and she explain to me how she wasn't aloud to love, I had explain to her how she could….as long as Madame Geisha didn't find out. And to my great happiness and honor, she accepted. Now, it wasn't a normal love of course. There was competition, which was a given, but it was as if she wasn't fully acknowledging it yet. This was fine by me for the moment though, considering she'd even given it a thought was enough for me.

"Then I'll be sure to give it much though." She smiled, her nose affectionately brushing against my lower chin. Her smiled quickly faded, however. Her head snapped in the direction of the front doors, followed by her grip tightening on my shirt.

"Hide yourself, Rioichi," she whispered suddenly, her head returning to face mine, "You must not been seen!" she pushed me back, her glances constantly looking back at the door. When she would look at me, however, she would nudge me back, trying to get me to hide in the shadows of her restaurant. Once she finally pushed me into the corner of her small dining area, she placed her first, slender finger against her lips, telling me to stay silent. She backed away, looking to the door again. She had managed to pick up on something I hadn't, someone coming up the walk to her restaurant. By the time she had hidden me away, wiped the counter down abruptly with her paw, and straightened her kimono, I had pulled my hood over my head and crouched to the ground with my cane drawn, ready to take action if needed. A rather rough knocked started on the door soon after she had straightened herself. Kasumi walked briskly, almost obediently, to the door with her nose pointing down. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to quickly calm her nerves as she touched the entrance. With a straight face she pulled the two wooden doors open, not even halfway, before she was push back with their forceful opening.

My dear Kasumi-san quickly back stepped as her late night customer barged in. Madame Geisha came storming in and was obviously angry with Kasumi. Kasumi didn't stop backing up until her back hit the counter, stopping her in her place. The large rhino pushed past seats and tablet, breaking a few tea cups in the process. I felt my grip tighten on my cane as Kasumi squeezed the counter from behind with her paws. She was much smaller than Madame Geisha, and from the looks of it, the geisha woman could use her horn at any time on the defenseless Kasumi.

"Kasumi Bandicoot!" bellowed the rhino, "You have not been at the geisha house for some time now. Do you realize how many customers have been asking for you? Do you realize how much money you have cost me because you have neglected your duties as a maiko?"

"I know, Madame Geisha, I've just been busy with my business that I-" Kasumi started but was abruptly cut off by the other woman.

"You have cost me too much! This of course means you must repay me," she held out her rough fingers to the raccoon. Kasumi glanced down, knowing she'd have to use her profit money to repay the rhino.

"How much do I own you, Madame?" Kasumi asked quietly.

"A full week's profit." She said simply. I saw Kasumi's face drop at her words. She barely made enough in a week to sustain herself. Without this money, Kasumi would starve.

"But Madame Geisha-" She started to plea to the angered mammal.

"A full week, Kasumi." She nodded, looking down with sorrow filled eyes as she reached into her sleeve, pulling out a small bag of coins as her paw retreated. She placed the bag into the palm of Madame Geisha and gently folded her paws in front of her.

"This may not do, you may have to give me another week's, this is incredibly small. However, depending on how well you do tomorrow will determine that."

"Tomorrow night?" Kasumi repeated, surprised to hear that she was expected to be at the geisha house.

"Of course tomorrow night," she rhino scoffed after she had placed Kasumi's earnings in her own sleeve, "The skunk has been waiting for you. His name is Paradox or something of the nature, something French. I will not keep him waiting anything longer, Kasumi. And he will only ask for you. However, if you please him well enough you may be able to finally call yourself a geisha at the geisha house. I want you there immediately after sunset, do you understand?"

"Yes, Madame Geisha, I will be there." Kasumi said softly, almost inaudibly, as she looked down, fighting back tears in her eyes.

"Good." The rhino replied coldly as she turned, heading towards the door.

Once the woman was out of the restaurant, I came from my hiding spot. I slid my cane back into his holder and removed my hood. Kasumi still stood next to the counter, a few of her fingers placed to her lips. I came up behind her, taking one of her paws in my own and the other on her shoulder. I kissed her softly on her cheek and she finally snapped out of her trance. She turned her head to face me, tears welling in her eyes. She took a deep breath, squeezing my paw gently before speaking.

"I think," She whispered, "that it would be best if you left, Rioichi." Seeing that she was already upset, I didn't put up a fight. I simply nodded, stepping around to face her front.

"Of course, Kasumi-san," I told her gently before I placed my lips on the top of her paw, kissing it with respect and love, "I will return tomorrow." She nodded with a half smile on her face as tears became more prominent in her eyes. Backing away from her slowly, reluctantly letting her paw slide from my own, I left her. As much as I wanted to stay with her, I knew she needed time alone. But I would return the next day…and I would not allow her to return to the geisha house, no matter what.