DISCLAIMER: Me no own Lupin and friends. Me own Star Wars videos. Me want Jar Jar Binks dead.
Hello!
I'm glad you guys are happy that Jigen's back. Gave him one heck of a homecoming. I know one person was kind of wondering why Zenigata didn't go after Lupin in the last chapter, but that's because, in a sense, he has caught Lupin. Remy Lupin, who everyone thinks is Lupin III. And if the folks at INTERPOL find out that Zenigata knew that that's not the real Lupin III that they put in jail, well, heads will fly—And they won't necessarily be the Lupin gang's heads, either. So, don't be shy to send in your reviews, I love them—It means that people are actually reading and this is all paying off.
'No one you can save that can't be saved,
Nothing you can do but you can learn
How to be you in time,
It's easy,
All you need is love, All you need is love,'
--The Beatles, 'All you need is Love'
Chapter Thirteen
A Day Later: White Wedding
Jigen had been allowed to go home that day, discharged into the care of Lupin, who came off as somewhat of a doting and annoying mother towards Jigen in his present condition. It was now five-thirty in the morning, and Jigen lay asleep in a hotel bed, Ming next to him. Yukiko had a small bed against a wall of the room all to herself.
The gunman immediately awoke as he heard his door opened, and could see a familiar figure enter. He could tell simply by looking at the shape of a person who they were. He had trained himself on using this skill during the months where his vision had depleted. It was Goemon who now approached him—Jigen could also hear the distinct click of wooden sandals on the floor, which confirmed that it was Goemon.
"Goemon, I know—You're getting married. You told me already. You can go back to bed now," Jigen grumbled, putting a sheet over his head.
"Jigen, get up. I want to help you," Goemon said quietly yet sternly.
"You can help me by letting me sleep," Jigen retorted, "Goodnight." Goemon ignored this, however, and remained stationary at the foot of the bed. Jigen sighed heavily as he realized the samurai was not going anywhere and rose out of bed. He felt around for a lamp, and turned it on to its dimmest setting. Ming briefly squinted her eyes and muttered a few curses in her native Chinese, but then turned over and decided to try to sleep once again.
"Bring your gun," Goemon ordered as Jigen pulled a suit out of his closet and walked towards the bathroom. The samurai waited patiently as Jigen dressed for the morning and had breakfast, which consisted of a short trip to the minibar.
Goemon stopped Jigen as he went to load his gun, "No. Use these." Goemon retrieved a box of rubber bullets from one of his pockets, and tossed them to Jigen.
"Okay…. What's going on?" asked Jigen suspiciously as he loaded his gun.
"I had an uncle who was blind, yet he could kill any man from great distances. It was amazing watching him. He taught me his technique before he passed away. I'm sure the same thing can be done with a gun."
"You're kidding me….." Jigen muttered. He began to laugh, "Goemon, how am I supposed to sight something when I can even see my hand clearly!?"
"Not sight, but perhaps shoot to defend," Goemon replied.
"Okay," Jigen smirked, and found his cane, "I've got to see this…. Oh, wait! Can't exactly do that…."
"Optimism would be more welcomed right now. I'm trying to help," Goemon answered.
"Sorry. I just have no clue how you plan on teaching a blind man to see in the dark," Jigen replied.
"Oh, and I thought darkness was an element of your mystery," Goemon said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Shut up and get going, you smart ass," Jigen muttered as he unfolded the cane. He did not have to use it until they ventured out of the hotel, where it was still dark out. Jigen 'accidentally' tripped up Goemon several times for his own sense of amusement. Goemon found it less than amusing, however. There was a vacant tennis court, and Goemon found this to be a perfect training area. With two quick flashes of the sword, the tennis net was out of their way, and they had the full court to practice.
"Just listen for me, Jigen," Goemon demanded.
"Listen for—" Jigen soon found out what to listen for as he felt a light blow to his head.
"That." Goemon answered.
"Jesus Christ! You could've killed me!" Jigen snapped.
"I always knew you were a little soft, but not so much as to be brought down by a walking stick," Goemon said with a smirk, "Try to shoot towards the sound."
"I would love more than anything to shoot you right now!" Jigen answered.
"Then quit whining like a little bitch and do it!" Goemon answered as he ducked out of the way of Jigen's gunfire, "Come on! I did some research on your grandfather—He used to kill dogs for fun, you know that!? You couldn't kill a fly!"
"I could kill you, though!" Jigen retorted as he heard gravel crunch down to his left. He quickly turned, and fired.
"That one almost got me," Goemon admitted, "Come on now, Jigen!"
"Rice-eating pajama-wearing son of a bitch," Jigen muttered to himself as he fired again. He could see a shadow of a masculine figure fall down, and a he smiled.
"Jigen, you may want to run…" Goemon said slowly.
"Why, you planning on something?" asked Jigen in an arrogant tone.
"No, but I believe the man with a tennis racket who you just shot is…." Goemon answered. Jigen saw the figure begin to rise from the concrete, and felt Goemon take him by the hand. They quickly ran to the hotel, both out of breath as Goemon opened the door, "Perhaps…. Perhaps we should continue training in a more desolate area…."
"Good… Good idea…. Jesus Christ, why didn't you tell about that guy!?" Jigen puffed.
"I'm not used to having to tell someone…." Goemon trailed off as he saw Jigen looked downward at the ground. The samurai sat down on the steps next to his friend, and began to speak once more, "I know what's it's like to feel like you've lost your pride. As many times as I've had to repair Zantestu—Let's just say I've learned a thing about humility through it… But you should just think of it as a friend helping another."
"I just feel so Goddamned helpless sometimes…" Jigen muttered, "They did the best they could, but I still need glasses to read…. And all I can see at night are shadows, and that's when there's some sort of dim light!"
"Don't worry. That's why I'm going to teach you," Goemon replied.
"Hey…. Thanks…" Jigen said after a pause.
"Don't mention it."
"Don't worry—I won't," Jigen answered. Goemon shook his head briefly, rose, and walked up the stairs to the hotel room. Jigen, finding that there was not much else to do, decided to walk back upstairs after Goemon. When Jigen opened the door of his hotel room, he found Ming sitting in one of the chairs, curled up and watching television on a low volume. She looked upward at Jigen, and smiled.
"Where were you?" asked Ming.
"I was getting some training from Goemon," Jigen replied as he sat in a chair opposite to her, "He's trying to teach me how to shoot in the dark, so I don't get my ass shot off."
"Really? You're still going to go out and fight?" Ming asked sadly, "You're still going to steal crap?"
"Yeah… It's in my blood now. If I'm not working on a heist, what can I do? I would just be bored!"
"Well I'm sorry I don't interest you anymore," Ming said snippily.
"No, no! Not like that. I mean, you wouldn't want me around all the time, anyway. I can be a real bastard if the mood strikes me. You'll want me out of the house at some point. People who do that usually get divorced, unless they're John Lennon and Yoko Ono. But even then we all know what happened there."
"But we aren't even married!" Ming protested.
"I know," Jigen shrugged, "We will be someday, maybe. You know how things are…."
She sighed heavily, and eyed Jigen, "Let's go get married today…." she said after a pause.
"WHAT!?" Jigen suddenly bolted out of his chair and looked at Ming in shock.
"Why wait?" Ming said quietly. She smiled wryly, "What if I'm shot tomorrow? What about today—What if someone decides to blow my brains out? I want to go out knowing that I did something I had always wanted to. Plus, if you're going to keep being a thief, you could get killed at any time, and if the others are gone, who'll take care of Yukiko?"
"But—I—"
"You would hate a big wedding, I know it. Let's just have something small and informal," Ming suggested quietly, "They're bound to find out sometime that I left the gang, and they'll come after me. Until then, I'd like to like to know I'm doing something right… Would you like to go get married today?"
"I—I suppose…" Jigen trailed off. He had been almost-married, but had never gone through with it. But she was right about Yukiko. If Goemon and Lupin couldn't take care of her, who would?, "In Philadelphia, though? I mean, isn't that a little…."
"It could always be Detroit," Ming shrugged, "Hey, if you change your mind, I'll get a divorce. But I want to do this! I almost lost you once, and I want to make sure it doesn't happen again!"
"Damn…" Jigen tilted his hat upward and sat back, "Those are some pretty good points…. I can't believe this is happening…. I—I guess I could always invite my sister to come…."
"So you will?" Ming inquired.
"This is going too fast…" Jigen shook his head, and then looked over at Ming, "But, if you want to…. We could always just walk away if it doesn't work out… What would Yukiko think, though? I—I mean, I don't want her to think that I'm replacing her mom, and—"
"Dammit, Dad…. Just do it…" Yukiko mumbled from her bed. Jigen and Ming turned their heads in surprise, and then looked at one another again.
Later, a Small Courthouse in Rural Pennsylvania:
"So, not only is she getting you to marry her—You're wearing that white suit you hated. Jeeze, and you say Fujiko has me whipped! I'm surprised she didn't talk you into wearing the dress!" Lupin chuckled as he and Jigen stood on the front steps of the courthouse. Jigen looked over at Lupin, and leered, "Hey, trust me—White isn't necessarily a bad color. But you kinda look like a corpse…"
"Shut up," Jigen muttered, "Where the hell is she? She says she wants to get married, and then friggin' runs off to go run some errands… Damn it, I feel like a total jerk in this suit…. Remind me to give it to Goodwill later on." Jigen removed his hat, and looked downward at his watch, "She's four minutes late now…."
"Give it a rest, Jigen!" Lupin sighed, "You're just nervous, that's all!"
"I am not!" Jigen growled as he placed his hat back on his head, "It's just that—"
"It's all right. It happens to all of us," Goemon spoke from his corner of the porch, "You're worried that she won't show, aren't you? But part of you doesn't want her to show up, I'll bet…. You're still afraid to trust her, aren't you? I wouldn't be surprised—I doubt you trust us sometimes…."
"Jesus, don't go pulling that! You're starting to sound like Fujiko and all of her psychiatry B.S.!" Jigen snapped, "She'll show up! She'll show up or I'll wring her neck…"
"I just love the cute little pet talk you two have," Lupin smirked.
"Here she is…" Jigen took a step forward as Amaya pulled up in the van. Fujiko and Yukiko stepped out, followed by Ming, who wore a light pink dress for the occasion.
"They grow up so fast, don't they?" Lupin sighed to Fujiko as Ming walked over to Jigen and led him into the courthouse, "Look, little guy's all grown up!"
"I'm wondering when you're going to grow up…" Fujiko muttered as she walked into the courthouse alongside Lupin. When they entered, the elderly judge was trying a drunken man, with little success of reaching out to the intoxicated man. The drunkard tripped around the courtroom, and surprised all when he pulled a small blade from his coat pocket, and began to threaten the courthouse blindly. The Lupin gang simply stared at him in jaded curiosity.
The man came towards Yukiko, and lunged for her. The young girl quickly pulled a gun from her teddy bear, and everyone's eyes grew wide—Including the judge's.
"Ain't you cute…." the drunk chuckled.
"It's got real bullets, stupid," Yukiko hissed.
"Oh, really?" the drunk laughed heartily, "You're funny, kid."
A shot fired, and the blade flew across the room. The judge, who had ducked under his pulpit, now peeked his head up, and watched at the bailiff restrained the drunkard.
"Who the hell gave a kid a gun!? That's freakin' insane! People are so Goddamned irresponsible these days! There's no such Goddamned thing as the law anymore!" the drunk yelled as the bailiff drug him out of the courtroom.
"Next?" the judge asked shakily as he sat back in his seat.
"Us," Jigen choked and removed his hat, and twisted the brim nervously as he spoke, "We'd, uh… Like to get…"
"We want to get married," Ming butted in suddenly.
"Sir… Is that your daughter?" the judge inquired.
"Yes, Sir. One hell of a shot," Jigen answered with a smirk.
"I don't think Clyde Barrow would've had the guts to do that," the judge muttered.
"No, he probably wouldn't have…" Jigen answered with a smirk.
"Where did she learn that? Why did she learn that? Wait, wait—I don't want to know! You realize no weapons are allowed in a courtroom…" the judge said.
"Come on. You've got to have like five people in the town!" Ming said, "She's all right. She knows she's not supposed to fire at the good-guys."
"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it, but let me just say that I would both love and fear a child who could defend themselves like that…. Your names?" the judge asked wearily as he took out a few forms from under his desk. He could tell already that this was going to be 'one of those' days. The door opened as the judge found his forms, and Maria wheeled into the courtroom. She stopped next to where the others stood, and watched as both her brother and his girlfriend filled out the forms at the desk with a smile on her face.
"Now, by the State of Pennsylvania, I declare this marriage legal. You now have to opportunity to apply for a green card to these United States, Ma'am, since your husband is still technically a citizen," said the judge.
"Thanks, but I'd like to go one step at a time," Ming answered. As she reached upward to kiss Jigen, both were surprised when a bucket of rice was thrown right at them, landing all over couple. Jigen shot his head over Lupin suspiciously, and Lupin shrugged innocently, and kicked the bucket under the pew of the courthouse.
"YOU!" Jigen growled, and went to attack Lupin, only to be pulled back by Ming.
"Does that mean she's my stepmother?" Yukiko whispered to Goemon.
"My apologies," Goemon responded.
"It's all right. I know I can handle them," Yukiko answered. She looked over at Lupin, who once again was all over Fujiko, "I just hope they don't turn into Lupin and Fujiko! Ech!" she shuddered.
Goemon smirked and looked down at her, and then looked upward at Amaya. They had recently talked about having children of their own soon after the wedding. She seemed understandably nervous about the prospect, but if Jigen could raise a child, anyone could.
"Wow… I'm married…" Jigen muttered in disbelief as he put his hat back on his head and walked out of the courtroom with Ming, "How the hell did that happen?"
"You met a young Asian girl," Lupin retorted, "And only a few days until I'm taken up, myself! Hell of a lot of white going around, huh?"
"Hey, it's good to see you again," Maria said as she embraced Jigen, "And don't you dare curse again. You know I hate that."
"I know, Mary," Jigen answered.
"So, this is Yukiko?" Maria looked over at the young girl who stood next to Goemon and Amaya, "She's really pretty—Do I still call you Jigen?"
"Afraid so," Jigen responded, "And, this is Ming…. Your sister-in-law…"
"Wow…. You're pretty young…" Maria muttered, "Are you guys going to get married in a Catholic church, too?"
"You're Catholic?" Lupin muttered, "No crap…"
"So are you," Jigen retorted.
"Yeah… No bastard like a Catholic bastard!" Lupin laughed, "Hey, Jigen, we're going tonight, back to France."
"Great—The wedding night and we get a bunch of rude tourists and bratty kids," Jigen muttered.
"Well, never too late to join the mile-high club!" Lupin chuckled. Fujiko looked at him in shock, and slapped him in the back of the head.
"Jeeze—Is it always like this?" Maria inquired as she came out of the courthouse with the others.
"Yes," Goemon admitted, "But this appears to be a calmer day…. I should kill Lupin for throwing my rice on Jigen and Ming like that…"
"Don't worry. I'll go to the Japanese food store and get some more," said Amaya, "I should e-mail Dad and tell him about this! He won't believe it!"
"Who's your dad?" Maria inquired.
"Former Inspector Koichi Zenigata," Amaya answered proudly. The wheelchair came to a quick halt, and Maria blinked a few times in disbelief, "I know, I know… But he's retired and living in France now…. Collects coins…."
"Coin collecting? And people tell me bible study sounds boring," Maria said under her breath.
Jigen came out of the courthouse, Ming next to him. He was still picking rice out of his hat. Lupin came out next, a large lump on his head from the bucket, which now had a large dent in it. Fujiko looked exceptionally happy as she exited.
"Now, back to France! Vie la revolucion!" Lupin said as he tossed the bucket aside and stood next to the others, "Let's get going, guys. The airport's only a little ways away."
"Bye, Maria. It was good seeing you again…" Jigen embraced his sister again, and stood back.
"Bye, Jigen. I'll say a rosary for you," Maria answered.
"Thanks," Jigen nodded, and walked down with the others.
"So, I guess this means you can quit trying to stay so thin for the ladies, Jigen," Lupin chuckled as they climbed into the car.
"I stay thin because of you—You keep me on edge all of the time. And with all of the running we're always doing, you can't blame me," Jigen responded, "Hey, when we get to the airport, I'm changing out of this monkey suit."
"Fine, but I think you look nice in it," Ming smiled widely.
"Hey, we've done enough of what you wanted for a day…" Jigen muttered, sitting back in his seat and laying his hat over his eyes. Ming smirked, and leaned against him. Jigen briefly raised his hat from his face, looked downward, smiled in self-satisfaction, and put the hat back on his head. He still wasn't sure if he was in love with Ming, or if it was just infatuation, but he liked it, whatever it was.
Later, the Philadelphia Airport:
"I'll be right back," Jigen said, pointing back to the bathroom, "Changing out of the monkey suit." He walked away from the group towards the restroom, a small black bag in hand.
"Well, he's sure cheery…." Lupin muttered.
"He's just tired," Ming smirked. Goemon and Amaya had taken Yukiko over to the large glass windows to see the planes takeoff and land, leaving Ming, Lupin, and Fujiko in the center of the terminal.
"Ouch. Kicked again…. Hey, I'm going to go get something to eat," Fujiko said, "Ming, make sure Lupin doesn't get in any trouble."
"I will, don't worry!" Ming called back as Fujiko went to the newsstand to buy a snack or two.
"How'd you do it?" Lupin asked Ming, turning towards her, "What'd you say to him?"
"What do you mean?" Ming inquired.
"Jigen…" Lupin trailed off, "You really do love him, don't you? Anyone who would follow him into this hell he calls life is either for real or just freaking nuts!"
"Yeah," Ming nodded and smirked wryly, "I have no clue what I've gotten myself into, do I?"
"No, you do, and that's what's so fascinating… Jigen told you to go away, you know…" Lupin shook his head, "But you tracked him down… Only someone who was really head over heels would do that… I know—I do it every couple of episodes with Fujiko. She's sprayed me with mace, double-crossed me, nearly had me killed numerable times, shot at me, tried to poison me, slapped me, beat me, and yet I love her…. It's the same with you, too. Jigen called you a bitch, told you to get away, and yet you came running back like a puppy, even though you were supposed to kill him."
"I don't know what I see in him," Ming shrugged.
"Please tell me it's because he's good in the sack. If it's his personality, I'll never believe it," Lupin responded.
"He has a personality… It's just under a lot of baggage," Ming retorted.
"Tell me about it. I've learned more about him in four months than I have in ten years of knowing him. I've learned more about everyone in four months," Lupin said, "If someone had told me I was going to be a father—Forget it, I would've said they were just crazy."
"If someone told me four months ago I was going to marry a guy who belongs in a 1930's black and white gangster movie I would've said they were bluffing," Ming added, "I was dating Remy then…."
"What was Remy like?" Lupin inquired.
"For a Lupin, overrated," Ming answered dully.
"In his thieving skills?" Lupin asked.
"Among another things," Ming replied breezily. A dull expression broke out on Lupin's face, but this soon turned into a whooping laugh (insert the famous weasily laugh here).
"You're kidding!" Lupin laughed, "You mean he wasn't any good at—"
"Plane's boarding," Goemon said suddenly.
"Oh," Lupin discontinued his laughing, and located Fujiko, "Jesus, Fujicakes, how long have you been eating that sort of crap?" he inquired as he looked over the junk food Fujiko had purchased.
Fujiko growled and pulled him by the tie down to her level, "Lupin, my ankles hurt. My back hurts. I look and feel like a cow. Do not even breath a joke about my eating habits…" she hissed. Lupin nodded slowly, and she let go of the tie. Lupin gulped and rubbed his neck, and watched as Fujiko boarded the plane after Amaya, Goemon, Ming and Yukiko.
"Jigen, come on! Quit staring!" Lupin yelled as he grabbed the dark-suited man by the hat and pulled him through the terminal and into the plane, "Come on. Your seat's right down here," Lupin left Jigen in the seat next to Yukiko and went to his own seat next to Fujiko.
"Lupin," Lupin turned and saw Yukiko standing next to him.
"Yuki, you have to get in your seat. This plane's taking off!" Lupin yelped, "Go put your seatbelt on, now!"
"He's not my dad," Yukiko said worriedly.
"What!? Now, Yuki, he may be married now, but he still loves you just as much as before! Part of the reason he married Ming was so you'd have someone to take care of you in case something happened to you!" Lupin said quickly.
"No, I mean that's not Jigen," Yukiko answered, "I don't know who that is sitting next to me."
"I am afraid she is right, Sir," an Amish man came and stood next to Yukiko, "I do not know of this 'Jigen' friend of yours, but I am not he. I am here to meet my cousin. But you pushed me if here so quickly, I had no time to tell you so."
Lupin's smile fell, and he turned pale, "Uh-oh…" he began to run back to the door, but it was locked already, and the plane was taxing down the runaway.
"Sir, you have to take your seat…" the female flight attendant said softly.
"Oh my God, he's going to kill me…" Lupin muttered, putting a hand over his face.
Meanwhile, inside the airport, Jigen saw his plane taking off. He let his bag fall at his feet and watched in horror as the plane took off, "Son of a bitch!!" Jigen screamed angrily, throwing his hat down on the ground and drawing looks and deadening voices all around the airport.
