Farewell For Now
What happened that night of the escape was never related to any of the other members of the group, but it did not go unnoticed. When Goemon had left earlier that day, he went to the most secluded place he could find, which was the top of the hotel they were staying at. When night approached its darkest hours and the wind began to pick up, the samurai decided it was time to return to his quarters. Before he left his lofty post though, he could hear crying on the streets below. By the time he found to whom it belonged to, he had witnessed the encounter and the rescue. For now, he concluded that for the greater good he would not speak of what he saw.
A week had passed since Jess had become an adoptive member of the group. She didn't wish to leave her new found friends and they showed no indication of wanting her to leave either. Lupin listened intently to her advice on how to treat women (so as not to experience another slap in the face,) Goemon was appreciative of her moments of reflection, and Jigen enjoyed the comradery in overall sarcastic antics. To be honest, they were all just happy to have a female presence that wasn't detrimental. They even allowed her to go out for walks – accompanied of course. On one such walk, she strolled along the D.C mall looking at the monuments with Jigen.
"I don't understand the attraction to these things," Jigen remarked as the two sauntered. "What makes people want to come down here to look at a lot of old things?"
"I think it has something to do with the history of it all, or they're insane…either way you're here so what does that say about you?" Jess laughed at her own statement, though it still hurt her ribs a little to do so.
The sharpshooter smiled at her ability to entertain herself and continued, "So what's your story? You never talk about yourself like a lot chicks do. Is there some mystery in your past that we should be aware of or something?" He said it all very nonchalantly, but he noticed his remarks hit a chord in her as her demeanor changed.
"There are a lot of things in the past I would like to forget, but nothing seems to just float away as I'd like it to. It just rather lingers around reminding me of my faults." Jess realized her momentary lapse in to the past and tried to recover. "It's of no matter, things happen for a reason I suppose…" What came next out her mouth was something she never expected to say as she had guarded her heart for over a year now from such feelings, "I'm just really glad to have met you."
The pair was silent for a while and contemplated what had just happened. They were both guarded individuals who didn't let on much about themselves. Sudden insights like this perplexed them but the shared silence allowed for them to walk a bit closer to each other.
"When will I have to go back?" Jess finally asked after a bit.
"I don't know," Jigen responded with some hesitation. He never thought that she would have to leave to go back to her own life. He surprised himself at his sudden worry over such a matter. Jess sensed this slight discomfort and suggested they walk back to the hotel. The answer to the posed question was found when the two returned.
"Hey Jigen, what are you feelings on rubies?"
"Anything that increases the ole' retirement fund is a friend of mine. Why, did you find us a new job?"
"Yea, a friggin' awesome one. Fujiko always looked best in red. I'll get her the biggest one and she'll be all over me for sure!" Lupin began to fantasize at this thought but was brought back into the real world by Jigen's injection.
"She'll be all over something, but it won't be you. I don't want her getting involved in something that affects what my share will be." Jigen put the subject to rest with a tilt of his fedora as he sat himself in a chair. Lupin knew not to push the subject, but he knew he would be able to win his friend over in the end.
While this dialogue was exchanged, Jess went over to the silent samurai in the corner. He opened his eyes at the sight of the oncoming girl and moved over on the couch he was sitting so that she may sit down. Jess nudged him and smiled as they watched the childish argument in front of them unfold. Goemon nodded and smiled in agreement. He wanted to enquire as to the condition of her ribs but some how found himself a bit lacking in courage.
"Anyways, the job is in London and I booked plane tickets for a flight tomorrow," Lupin said at the end of the little tiff. The three men were still for a bit and all at once looked at Jess. None of them wanted her to leave, but they knew they could not take her with them. She knew this as well but blushed as she always did when sudden attention was turned her way. The last night spent with the Lupin gang was one to remember, but since they all got ridiculously drunk, the particulars and facts can't be remembered.
The morning brought packing and Advil for the hangovers that ensued from the previous nights debauchery. As it was only necessary that one of the three men take her home, Jigen took it upon himself to complete the task (though it took no twisting of his arm to do so.) Before they left, Lupin took Jess aside to explain some particulars.
"Listen, you need to know that there is 'story' to your disappearance I created in order to not cause uproar." Jessica began to interrupt, but Lupin waved it off and continued. "I visited your father the day after the heist as a Fed (information I got about you I found in your wallet) and told him that you would be with the government for a while because of the things you 'saw.' This allows you the ability to not reveal what has happened to you and to continue on with your life like nothing happened." Lupin paused for a moment and then finally said, "But, above all else, I would like to consider you as a friend and see you when I am in the area." This last part was very important to Lupin for the reason that he saw opportunity in having a pre-med student in his list of friends to go to. If anything were to happen to them, he knew he would have a silent aid on their side.
"Of course, but don't be such a pussy about it next time and remember what I said about women: we're as evil as hell," Jess said with a laugh. She hugged him goodbye and left with Jigen for the thirty minute ride home.
For most of the ride, the two sat in silence. Though Jess was usually artful in keeping situations away from awkward tendencies, she kept just as quiet as the man to her left. For most of her life she had never been afraid of just saying what was on the top of her head, but for some reason she didn't want to sound stupid. Instead, she kept a fixed stare out the window and reflected on her time with the three thieves.
Jigen, for his part, had no qualms with silence, but too found a need to break some of the tension in the air. He was hoping Jess would say something, she was really good at that, but she never said a word. The gunman stole many quick glances to his right at the brunette and wondered why she seem so distracted, but in true man form, never enquired and left well enough alone.
With the arrival at her home, Jess noticed her dad was not there. This was nice because she would have to bolt out of the car so as to avoid complications. Instead, she sauntered to her front door with the man in black right behind her.
"Oh, you don't have to walk me to the door," Jess said, but slowed down so that he may walk beside her. Sadly their stroll was short and there the two awkward people stood: face to face not saying a word. Finally Jess' nerve kicked in.
"When will I see you again?"
"I don't know, you tell me," Jigen replied with a smile. He looked for a response, but all he could get from her was a blush and turn away of her face. She was better at hiding her emotions than he was and she didn't even have a hat to cover her face. Confused as hell as all men get, the gunman finally said, "Listen, you aren't like any other girl I have met. You're as witty as hell and it must have been some kind of fate for you to be thrown in our paths. I used to only be happy when I was drunk off my ass, but when I'm around you it's like I'm always drunk without the nasty hangovers in the morning. I don't know what…" but at that point he was cut off.
During the whole of his speech, Jess found the courage to finally stand on her toes and give him a kiss. Nothing long, nothing too short; simply to the point and strangely right.
Jess caught herself off guard at something so out her character and stood there staring at the shocked man for a minute. Her recovery was swift though as she reached for her keys, unlocked the door, and began to make a break for the inside. The retreat was halted by the capture of her arm by the gunman who pulled her toward him.
"Look into my eyes right now!" he commanded.
Jess was scared and dared not defy him but kept her resolution strong. No man was going to break her, not again.
Jigen looked straight into those light brown eyes and saw that same fire he encountered during their poker night. He could tell when someone was lying and he meant to find if this girl was for real. Right into those eyes he stared and saw in them all the truth and compassion possible. She wasn't messing with him, and when he realized that, he loosened his grip, softened his facial expression and said, "I'll come back. I'll come back soon. I can't tell you when, but I swear I will."
It was good enough for her. Into the house she went and to the car he went.
"Damn…" he said with a smirk.
