Convincing the Rouge Bat

“I want you to find this!”

Chris held out a photograph of a book with markings of a familiar sun goddess on the cover. From the photograph, it looked fancier than the average encyclopedia. The markings meshed well and had a ruby gemstone on the top portion of the cover.

Rouge the Bat, thief of many precious treasures and secret government agent in the world of Mobius, raised an eyebrow. “I never knew books could be fashionable,” she quipped. She took the photograph and gave it another look. “Nice-looking ruby on the cover. What exactly do you need with this book anyway?”

“This book contains all of the information needed about Amaterasu, the sun goddess from years ago. I know she is still out there, and I want to find her and maybe become her friend!”

Rouge chuckled. “No offense, fluffy. Amaterasu died centuries ago.”

“She’s alive, and I can prove it!”

Rouge let out another chuckle. She knew he was spouting nonsense at this point. “Oh yeah? How? The only way she could be alive at this point if you found those dumb instruments and they were still active.”

Chris stood up and trotted over to his closet door. When he opened it up, there sat something that made Rouge eat her words.

The divine instruments. They had not collected dust, and more importantly, they were still working.

“So, you’re not spouting nonsense,” she said, crossing her arms. “Okay, I’m in, but it’s gonna cost you.”

Chris waved her warning off. “I know, Rouge. Don’t worry, I’ve read up on you.”

Rouge felt flattered by his compliment. “I didn’t know I was on your reading list. What else do you know about me?”

“I know that you can’t resist fine gems and jewelry, and that’s just what this book has. Thankfully, I don’t need that Ruby on the cover. Find the book and bring it to me, and I’ll let you keep the Ruby as payment.”

Child’s play. Rouge chuckled and got closer to Chris’ face. “It’s gonna take more than a simple Ruby to win me over, honey,” she said, staring him down.

“Fair enough,” Chris answered, closing his eyes and letting his mind wander for a split second. He opened them back up and offered, “If you help me get this book and find Amaterasu, I’ll let you meet her and see if she’ll give you anything else for your troubles. Sound fair now, baby?”

Rouge’s eyebrows narrowed and her cheeks lost their blush. She grabbed Chris by his furry neck, bringing him inches away from her face. Her voice became more menacing.

“Only I get to call others names like that, furball. You got that?”

Chris swallowed his breath and nodded silently. Rouge’s face went from anger back to neutral as he planted a smooch on his lips.

Chris’ body fur went out like bedhead and his face flushed red. His eyes shot wide open, and all he could let out was a couple of giggles here and there.

Rouge made sure to pull her gloves so they were on the right way. “So, sweetie, where is this book?”