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Chapter Seven

A couple years later

Three thieves walked side-by-side, going nowhere in particular. The trio had just returned from a harrowing experience in Paris and was taking the opportunity to unwind now that they were back on safe ground. The job had been a perfect example of Murphy's Law. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

An almost imperceptible grimace flickered briefly over Lupin's face when he realized he was actually slightly bothered by his near death experience. Oh, he wasn't going spend a lot of time brooding on it. But it wasn't something to be immediately disregarded either. Things had changed certainly changed over the past decade and a half.

First there had been Goemon's marriage, and then his child. That had changed some things, but not a lot. They had never discussed it really, but he and Jigen had always figured that if only one of them survived a situation it would be the samurai. What else can you expect from someone who can take down a helicopter with a sword? Or catch bullets with his bare hands?

The real sticker however, had been Kaito. Even though Goemon and his wife had taken up the child rearing duties, that didn't change the fact that the boy's Mother had left him in his care. Lupin had become, dare he say it, responsible. Just as responsible as was good for him though, the thief insisted to himself, and not one iota more. And speaking of Kaito. . .

"Look out!" the darkly clad twelve-year old shouted as he ran around the corner. "Coming through!" Kaito quite literally ran up one the wire cords that ran from the roof's edge to the ground below, arms spread slightly for balance. He was being closely pursued by a girl about his age.

"Get back here Kai!" she shouted. There was no way he would get away this time. She would catch him if it were the last thing she ever did. The girl ran up the cord as well, following her target onto the roof. She lunged for him, arm outstretched. She missed.

Kaito dived head first off the other side of the rooftop, flipping his body midair to land lightly on his feet, as nimble as any cat. He looked back at her and smirked. "Not fast enough Mai-chan," he teased. A cloud of smoke rose around the pre-teen. When it cleared, the magician was gone.

The girl swore, sliding down from the rooftop before darting back into the forest in pursuit of her prey. Completely missing the other teenager taking refuge in the high branches of a nearby tree. Pity that as he, unlike Kaito, lacked an escape route.

Lupin blinked. Jigen blinked. Then they both turned to Goemon, a questioning expression on their faces. What had that been about? Besides looking as impressive as hell for kids their ages.

The samurai looked unperturbed. "They are playing tag."

"Tag," Lupin repeated. He looked back to the spot where Kaito had disappeared. He had played tag when he was little. The thief cast his mind back to days spent running around grassy fields with other children his age. Those carefree moments were still some of his fondest memories, but still. Had the game really changed that much? He wondered.

Jigen looked equally skeptical. That wasn't how he remembered the game.

"Perhaps," Goemon conceded. "Saying they are playing is oversimplifying the matter. It might be more accurate to say they are training." The ninja version of tag was a game of strength, speed, skill, and tactics. It was just like being in the field, anything went. Except instead of getting caught, you became it.

Pride shown in the renegade samurai's sharp eyes. "Huyu and Kaito are the undisputed champions," he informed his partners. Other than a brief hiccup when his foster son had first been introduced to the game, the pair had not been caught once.

A wide grin spread across Lupin's face. "Good for them." Jigen didn't say anything. But if a person looked really close, he or she would have been able to see the faintest hints of a smile.

"So," Jigen inquired, doing his best to sound like he didn't care. "How's the brat's sword training going?" He adjusted his hat to better hide his facial expression.

There was a moment of silence. "Kaito-kun has some of the best hand eye coordination I have ever seen when it comes to projectiles," Goemon said at last. "His hand to hand is coming along nicely as well. However," the samurai sighed. "He will never be a master of the sword. Kaito's talents lie in different directions."

His two friends stared at him.

"What?" Goemon asked catching the look.

"Nothing," Lupin answered, sticking his hands in his pockets. "That just wasn't something I expected you to say is all."

The samurai's eyes hardened slightly. "It is a poor teacher," he said coolly. "Who puts their own pride in front of the well being of their students."

The pair froze, knowing immediately they had done something wrong. They had known Goemon more than long enough to pick up the warning signs. But not long enough to avoid upsetting the deadly man entirely. Lupin and Jigen had come to the conclusion long ago that they would never entirely understand their friend's strict sense of honor.

Lupin examined the other a moment longer before relaxing. "So what are you thinking?" he asked. It was obvious to him that the swordsman had some sort of plan in regards to his younger student.

Goemon turned to face his partners. "We are not the only ones whom Kid-san befriended, nor the only ones who owed him. I suggest we start calling in those markers on Kaito's behalf."

Lupin thought a moment, before nodding in agreement. If Kaito was determined to follow through on his vow, there was no reason why he shouldn't learn from the best, all of the best. Mentally he ran through a list of the various thieves who met the criteria.

"Summer break starts in a few weeks," Jigen pointed out neutrally. "We could have everything arranged by then."

"That just leaves the matter of where he is going," Goemon put in.

"England," Lupin said abruptly.

His two partners turned to stare at him. "England?" Jigen repeated.

Lupin nodded his head decisively. "Yes England." Dorian was retired, more or less, and he could think of no one better for Kaito to learn court manners from than an honest to god lord. Besides, the kiddo's English could use a bit of work. Hopefully three months in the land of tea and tweed would remedy that deficiency.

PTPTPTPT

Those of you who don't know who Dorian is

Don't worry, you'll see next chapter

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It makes me, and the fire-breathing kitty, happy