The music reached a crescendo. The dancers clad in black twirled their way away from the center of the stage as a figure dressed in white emerged from a coffin. She looked ethereal when she slowly stepped out of the coffin, her toes en pointe and her arms stretched up towards the stage lights. She looked out at the silent audience before her, a smile gracing her red lips. Then she turned to her right, and the dance began.

Jigen silently watched the dance, most of his attention on the woman in white. Sometimes he wondered if they'd really grown up together in the same neighborhood. They'd taken such drastically different paths. He, a life of crime. She, a life of ballet.

She'd always been different. Like a flower in the desert, she was the Lily from Chicago. Jigen wasn't sure how she'd survived all those years living in the slums, how she'd managed to stay so innocent and pure in a place so foul and full of bloodshed. He certainly hadn't. But Lily was another story. Kind and caring, yet strong-willed and fearless, she would stand in front of a gun to protect another's life. In fact, Jigen remembered the time she had stepped in front of his fully-loaded Magnum to protect some punk who didn't even deserve her help. But she'd helped him anyway. That was Lily for you. She'd risk her life for some lowlife she sometimes didn't even know.

Jigen smiled to himself and shook his head. Whatever you wanted to call it – bravery or foolishness – Lily had gotten out the ghettos unscathed. From the slums of Chicago to the concrete jungle of New York to the streets of Paris, she had come a long way. Jigen had taken a very different route for his life, but he too had come a long way. And here they were now, together again, two kids from the streets of Chicago in Paris's renowned opera theater. If somebody'd told Jigen ten years ago where he'd be on this faithful night, he would've clutched his hat and laughed. But if somebody'd told him ten years ago where Lily would be on this faithful night, he would've grinned and replied, "Damn right."

Yet here they both were. Fate sure had a strange sense of humor.

~-x-~-x-~-x-~

She was waiting for him outside the back entrance of the theater. Night had fallen and the sky was dark, casting the alleyway in a dark shadow. There was only one streetlight in the alley, and Lily was standing directly below it. Her eyes were scanning the shadows every which way. Jigen couldn't help but smile. Those years out of the slums had not softened her street smarts.

He came to a stop a few feet away from her and made his presence known. "Lils."

She turned at the sound of her name. Her eyes lit up and she grinned when she saw Jigen step out of the shadows, his lips quirked into a smirk.

"Jigen!"

She ran at him and half-tackled, half-embraced him. Jigen laughed as he stumbled back, one hand around her back and the other on the wall to steady himself.

"Careful, now." He chuckled.

She squeezed him tightly, burrowing her face against his chest. He softened and wrapped both arms around her, enjoying the warmth of her embrace. They stood like that for a few moments. Jigen wished the moment would never end.

"I've missed you," she mumbled into his shirt.

He ruffled her hair. "I've missed you too."

She loosened her grip on him so she could look up at him. To his surprise, she laughed. "I can't believe you still have that hat!" She tugged on it playfully. "I gave that to you, what, on your twentieth birthday?"

"Of course I still have it," he huffed indignantly, straightening his hat. "It's kept me from harm's way." Her expression flickered at his words, and he silently cursed himself. Lily was well aware of his profession. She had long since accepted that his work involved danger and bullets and handcuffs. But it never stopped her from worrying. "Besides," he said, trying to cheer her up, "it reminds me of you."

If Lily were another woman, she may have blushed at his words. But it was Jigen who blushed at the look of utter adoration she gave him.

"Aw, Jigen, that's so sweet of you." She smiled and put a hand to her heart. "I'm touched." Jigen mumbled something incoherently underneath his breath. He'd forgotten how straightforward and honest she was. He put his hands in his pockets and kicked at the ground. Lily's smile grew as she recognized his embarrassment. Despite how adorable he was when he was embarrassed, she wanted him to feel at ease. "But I didn't give you that hat so you can hide your face underneath it!" She snatched the hat from his head and plopped it down on her own. "I'm taking it back."

Jigen scowled. "You can't take back a present you gave me!"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I just did."

His smirk became devious. "We'll see about that."

"What're you…!" She squealed and laughed when he jumped her. She gave a fight, but not even she could hold Jigen and his beloved hat apart. He triumphantly wrestled it from her hands and put it back in its rightful place (his head). "Oh, fine, keep your stupid hat," she huffed. "As a matter of a fact, why don't you and your hat go explore Paris together? Maybe I'll go find Lupin and see if he's interested in a moonlight walk with me." She grinned mischievously.

Jigen knew she was only joking; she wouldn't seriously be jealous of his hat. But the thought of her and Lupin exploring the streets of Paris certainly made him jealous. He grasped onto her wrist when she attempted to walk away (which she did only to further tease him, of course).

"You'll have a chance to catch up with Lupin tomorrow," he assured her. "He knows Paris like the back of his hand. Me, though? I need a tour."

"I'm a ballerina, not a tour guide," was her playful reply. "But for you, I guess I can make an exception." She paused, and Jigen knew that the glint in her eyes could only mean trouble. "I'm still gonna have to charge you, though."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?" he asked, playing along. "How much?"

She stepped towards him, her eyes on his. The playful smile was gone from her lips. "All I ask for," she said quietly, "is for one kiss."

Jigen hesitated. For many years he had struggled to define the relationship he had with Lily. They were friends – nothing more – was what had had always told himself. But deep down he knew it was a lie. He was in love with Lily. It scared him as much as it invigorated him. He knew that, if they were to get together, he would be placing her in grave danger. If anybody were to find out about Lily, there was always the possibility that she would be used as bait. There was also the long-distance issue. Whereas Lily was living in France, Jigen was always on the move. Their relationship, at least as lovers, would be unpractical.

That had always been Jigen's reasoning. But he had never been faced with this predicament before. Lily was still staring up at him expectantly, a slight crinkle of apprehension in her brows as she awaited his response. What he did or said next would determine what would happen next in their relationship. Did he want to keep playing pretend, or did he finally want to make something of their relationship? It was all up to him now.

Jigen leaned down and gently pressed his lips against hers. He could sense her surprise, and he smiled through the kiss. Then he leaned back and waited for her reaction. After she opened her eyes, she stared at him for a long moment, dumbfound. Then she suddenly lunged forward and captured his lips in a kiss again. The kiss wasn't quite so gentle this time around – she kissed him fervently, and when they finally drew apart they were both breathless.

Jigen, never one to lose his composure, grinned. "You owe me two tours now."

Lily laughed in surprise. Her cheeks were a rosy pink, which he found very endearing. "That'll take us all night!"

"For you, Lils?" The corner of his lips curved into a half-smirk, half-smile. "I've got until the end of time."

She rolled her eyes, pretending that his words didn't charm her (though the blush on her cheeks said otherwise). "Since when did you get so corny?" she joked, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "Seems like Lupin's been rubbing off on you."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've always been charming."

She rolled her eyes again and smiled to herself, shaking her head. "Alright, Prince Charming, do you want your tour of Paris or not?" She extended a hand towards him.

"Oui," he said softly, the corner of his lips curving upwards. He gently looped his fingers through hers.

And, hand in hand, into the moonlit streets of Paris they went.

What I really wanted to convey through this relationship is how Lily brings out Jigen's softer side. We all know he's one tough gunman, but deep down he has feelings too. I took it upon my own liberty to create a history/background for him and Lily. I've always imagined Jigen growing up in a tough neighborhood. The guy deserves some love! Which is why this will be one of the gushier/more romantic chapters than the others.

Next chapter: Goemon!