• When I was born my father left my mom. I didn’t know why, the reason must have been really stupid. My mom was one of the nicest people in Tarshima. But then again…she is no longer here.
    I was eight. My mom had been working endlessly for days, but she managed to get a day off. As we were walking along Mermaid River, we saw a little girl playing. But then the girl had dropped her bell necklace in between two rocks. Her arms were outstretched as she tried to grab the necklace, but she had fallen into the river. My mother had told me to go and get someone to help as she jumped in to save her. I didn’t have a lot of time because at the end of the river was a giant waterfall, so I started screaming for help.
    But by the time I got back, it was too late. The guard of the castle was carrying the body of my mother somewhere, and the little girl was safe and sound. That was the last time I saw her…


    It’s been ten years since that incident and I have always regretted that day. However today is different. I had stolen the Mirror Maiden statue. The guards guarding it were incredibly stupid to fall for an obvious trap. Then they didn’t even notice that I had replaced the real one with a fake. Stupid idiots never knew what hit them.
    “Kyuu,” said a tiny voice.
    I looked behind me to see a boy who looked exactly like me only with a face a lot more gentle that mine. “Oh, hey Tsubasa. Did you get the statue?”
    “Kyuu!” squeaked the little voice as he nodded his head and held the statue in his hand.
    “Great job! Now get back in your original form; I need your wings.” I said as I looked back, “We gotta go, now!”
    Immediately, Tsubasa had turned back into a small black rabbit. Then he jumped onto my shoulder with the statue in its mouth. I grabbed the statue from his mouth and put my free hand on Tsubasa’s tiny head. Immediately, giant wings opened from his tiny body. We floated down to the room below.
    While Tsubasa closed his wings, I walked to around the room. I saw small sapphires and a few seashells on a desk and I picked up one. Under the seashell was a tiny bell.
    “Oof…”
    I turned around in shock. The person who came through the window was a girl who looked like Princess Seika.
    “…? Who are you?” asked the girl.
    I stand corrected….that is Princess Seika. Just peachy…how am I going to get out of this…?
    I heard voices coming towards the door.
    “Oh, Snap.”
    I grabbed the princess and Tsubasa jumped onto my shoulder. I touched his head and I jumped off the princess’ balcony. We landed behind a bush in the garden.
    “Dang it! He got away again!! Mioru, take the north and find him!!!”
    “All right, all right you don’t have to yell.”
    “Aw, crap not her…” I said in frustration.
    “Niichan*…put me down…I’ll show you the way out.”
    “Why should I trust you…?” I said, but then Tsubasa climbed on her shoulder. “Tsubasa, are you sure we should trust her?”
    “Kyuu…”
    “This way, niichan,” said Seika, who was pointing at something. “This hole will take you to the outside…I use it every time I skip.”
    “…Why are you helping me? I may have taken something of yours.”
    She smiled and said, “Well that’s a risk I am going to have to take. Now, hurry before Mioru-neechan*--“
    “Wow, at least I know where to find you when you skip your lessons. As for you, Cerebus,” she said as she grabbed my arm really tight, “You’re coming with me…”
    >>In the castle courtroom 5 min later>>
    “LEMME GO ALREADY!!!” I yelled. I had started to curse everyone out until a booming voice was heard over me.
    “SILENCE!!!!!” bellowed the king, who stood up from his chair. “Seika, I am very disappointed in you, for helping a petty thief escape with the Mirror Maiden statue, we will talk later.”
    The princess sat next to him, looking upset. I can’t believe I am saying this but I actually feel sorry for her. She’s stuck in the castle all day long…but I got other things to worry about.
    “Cerebus, I have been a reasonable man. I have tolerated what you have done til now, but you are 18 now!!! You are an ADULT NOW!! And what you did to my daughter is UNEXCEPTABLE!! Using her as a hostage and forcing her to show you the family escape route, I should—“
    “So…you skipped lessons in your day?” asked Mioru, in an interested voice.
    “…Can we focus on the problem at hand? Anyway it is not enough you take the Mirror Maiden, now you take her sapphires as well.”
    “Did you check my pockets?” I said in a voice of irritation.
    “…Didn’t I? Didn’t I?”
    “…you didn’t, did you, father?”
    “…GUARDS SEARCH HIM!!!” yelled the king.
    “Yes, sir!!”
    As they searched me, I rolled my eyes and looked at the princess, who smiled at me. I looked away, but I had to admit, the king was really stupid. I mean, sure, I am a theif, but they still shouldn’t assume I got something in my pockets.
    “umm, sir…?”
    “WHAT?!”
    “There is nothing in his pockets.”
    “……”
    “WELL!!” said the king, in an embarrassed voice, “Well…I am still charging you for the attempted theft of the family statue…”
    "Oh, this is bull--"
    "Watch it," said the king.