Locomotion

"You shouldn't be playing match maker like that, Lupin."

"What? Why not? With Fujiko gone I have to find some kind of entertainment. Plus Jigen is a lot more agreeable when he's not in the dog house with Jess."

"You are one to talk. Ever since Fujiko left you have been moping around like your best friend just died."

"That's because a little bit of me dies when she leaves. What can I say?" he added with a smirk, "Call me a Romantic."

"I don't think a Romantic is appropriate. I would choose an Imbecile."

"That's cold man, cold. You just wait and see. My plans never fail…well, fail completely. The way I see, either they'll finally hook up or kill each other. It's a chance I'm willing to take."

"Just don't expect me to listen to your endless prattle then yenta."

After spending about a month in Italy, the group of thieves decided it was time for a change in scenery. Their new destination was a lovely county outside Paris where Lupin owned a chateau. The trip would be minus Fujiko, though, as she took it upon herself to take care of some personal business (much to Lupin's dismay.) The trip was to be taken by train, which led to the discussion above. It would have been very troublesome for the quartet to get four separate rooms, so for convenience's sake they got just two. It so happened that the two most sarcastic people of the group where put together, or at least that's the story the master thief is sticking to.

"It's so odd," the reflecting brunette thought, "I've been away from home for so long and it was only until I found out I could never go back that I actually missed it."

Jess sat close to the window and felt content in just leaning her head against it. While she had accepted her fate, she still routinely thought of the life she had left behind. She kept her mouth shut on the subject, though, aside from the occasional calls to Kim. The train was beginning to move but her stare stayed constantly forward and her mind at the day dream level until a poster caught her eye.

"Holy shit," she exclaimed out loud. It was enough to startle the man sitting across from her.

"What?"

"NOTHING…nothing." Jess' gaze continued at a constant stare outside. It was enough to spark the gunman's interest as he began to get up and look but was denied from this action by the brunette. "I'm sorry, I just thought of something back home." He stopped and didn't press the issue since he knew "home" was a subject to stay away from. Although, he couldn't help but have a feeling she was lying as she turned her head back to the window.

While by this point she had passed the shocking poster, she was again alarmed when she noticed they were all over the train station. Her eyes read across them as the train picked up speed.

To My Dear Cinderella

Jessica, you left at midnight with my heart. No other woman can compare, please come back to me. I won't stop till I have you. – Malcolm Narcus

Below the message was a description of the midnight brunette and a number to contact about a reward for any information about her whereabouts.

"O my goodness, it's like a stalker on crack," Jess thought to herself. Her thoughts were further provoked when she saw a whole billboard with the same message. She couldn't help but think back to all the stories Kim and her would share about the creepy men in their lives. "Well my friend," she thought, "I guess I win today."

After a few moments of her nostalgic reflection, Jess realized she was the object of quick glances from the man sharing the room with her. Becoming conscious that she was being an ass just sitting their avoiding him, the brunette spoke.

"Is where we going very pretty?"

"Huh?" he replied automatically not expecting the sudden conversation, "Oh, yea. It's got gardens, ponds, and all that nature crap."

"Excellent; I love nature crap." She was smiling broadly and the fact that she was poking fun at him again was a good sign. "You know," Jess exclaimed slowly, "I'm not angry with you."

"You certainly friggin' acted like it. I was actually getting a chill from the cold shoulder I was receiving."

Jess began to laugh but was stopped when she heard the terribly annoying ring tone of her cell phone go off. Only one person was given that ring – Kim. While the men had all heard bits and pieces of the other language Jess seemed to speak with her close friend it was still a complete head-scratcher when the gunman had to listen to just one end of a full one.

"Hey Hobags, what's up? What? Are you serious? Oh my goodness, not a hand to the knee! It might as well be a knife to the eye! Did you punch him in the face? Hahahaha, no, your face is glaring error! How are 'nice' and 'extreme?' Grood, grood. Hahaha, right right, o hey there you are! Unfortunately. Him? Oh, he's staring at me right now." She looked up and smiled. "Exactly, take that and rewind it back. No! Don't compliment me after I destroy you! Hahahaha. Listen little lamb of death, I can't really talk now as I am being rude. Exactly, somehow you'll manage to survive. Just call me in a few days or something, OK? Hahaha, yes, TODAY TODAY. But really, in a few days or so. I know dear, love ya too. Toodles!"

As quickly as she turned it on, the odd spark was just as soon gone when Jess put her phone away. It was like two different people. One was calm, cool and sarcastic. The other was bubbly, energetic, and apparently speaking jibberish. It was enough to confuse any man.

"Was that that Kim person you talk to?"

"Yea, she's my partner in crime. Mind you our crimes aren't as large as you and Lupin's, but we have managed to get free video rentals." Talking about her past adventures made the brunette realize she'll never have them again. It was one of the few times that what was on her mind was written all over face.

"You miss her don't you?" Jigen inquired as he moved forward.

"Yes. Her and Daddy." Her gaze continued to fall as did the corners of her mouth.

"What about your mom?" She looked up quickly and her face tensed up.

"The day I tell you about my mother is the day you tell me about your past."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"For someone who has a Japanese name you look and act remarkably American."

"Shut up. At least I don't have some friggin' weird need to be independent and leave all the time." The two stubborn people folded their arms, sat back, and glared at each other from across their small room. It began to get eerily quiet until Jess began to laugh. "And what's so friggin' funny?"

"We're such asses."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he remarked with a smirk, "I'm a perfect gentleman."

"Is that like a euphemism for an ass? Because then I want to be a gentleman too! Listen, you want to do something?"

"Like what?" He began to lean forward again with a devilish look in his eyes.

"Whoa! Not that kind of something you perv. Do you have cards?"

"Yea," exclaimed a slightly disappointed Jigen, "side pocket on the top rack there above your head." The girl jumped up on the seat and stretched for the indicated bag.

"Why did you have to put it up so high?"

"Because it gives me a nice view."

"Huh?" Jess looked around and noticed the gunman's eyes staring straight at her backside. This was met with a deck of cards thrown at his face. "You're certainly feeling your oats tonight."

"That's not all I want to be feeling."

"Holy crap," the brunette said while laughing heartily, "you're f-ing ridiculous." From her own bag Jess retrieved a baseball cap and threw it on the ground. "Let's play horse." Just like the basketball form of horse, the duo played using cards and a cap. For her part, Jess was failing miserably at getting the cards in the hat, which led to the usual torment from the man in black. As the game dragged into the night, Jess abandoned trying and found more fun in just coming up with impossible shots for the expert marksman to make.

"You're never going to stump me. I don't miss."

"Fine, how about this." Jess shoved the hat far away, dragged Jigen to the wall on the opposite end and covered his eyes with her hands. "Let's see how good you are when you can't see it." He merely smirked and threw the card, which landed directly in the hat. "Oh friggin' A, you win."

"I told you I don't miss." He turned around to face the smiling brunette. Her smile faded, though, as she realized she was pinned up against the wall. The gunman kept moving closer but all she could think of was her past. Men always disappointed Jess and she wasn't sure if she was willing to give the other gender another chance. Looking away, she slid free of the capture and left the young man more than confused.

"It's late," Jess remarked slowly, "we should sleep."

"Right…"

The gentle rocking of the train put both people quickly to sleep. While one continued to mull over the events that occurred that night in his dreams, the other began getting images of strange men following her. Ever since that night back in Washington DC when she was kidnapped as bate, the brunette had become slightly paranoid. Her fears surfaced every now and then, but for the most part she was able to keep them in check. Tonight, though, it caused her to wake up in a cold sweat.

"Cut it out Jessica," the tired young woman thought to herself, "you don't let this shit bother you."

She got up quietly and walked to the door of her room, which had small window to look out into the hallway. Slowly she peered out only to swear to have seen the same men coming for her.

"Shit, shit, shit. Now I'm seeing things." Jess began to feel desperate. "I can't go out there to escape and I can't stay in here because they'll just come and get me in the dreams. Holy crap shut up shut up!" Cupping her hands over her face she breathed in deeply and let out a sigh. It was enough sound to wake the light sleeper who shared the room.

"Hey, what are you doing up?"

"For lack of a better explanation and sounding crazy; because they're after me. Can you look out into the hallway and tell me if you see anything?"

"Huh? What is this? You want me to check the monsters under your bed too?" Jigen got up and glanced out into the hallway and didn't see a soul. "Nothing, you all there?"

"Yes, thank you." The two stood facing each other with the gunman waiting for an explanation. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"You sure about that? Listen, I'm not going to have you continue to send me mixed messages and…"

"You never answered my question."

"Hey! Cut it out and wait till I'm done with…"

"The one I asked before Kim called and told me I couldn't come home."

"Oh, yea well, this isn't the best friggin' time to answer it."

"Why?"

"Because, uh, it isn't the right moment. I mean look, we're arguing!" The two were silent for a moment and found it less awkward to look away from each other although they continued to stand close. The short silence was broken, though, when the young woman finally looked up with that odd fleeting fire in her eyes.

"How about now?"

"You know, you're right. We are asses." She was finally able to break a smile across his face and in turn began to grin as well.

"No no. I'm the ass. You're the 'gentleman,' remember?"

"Hahaha, that's right." The conversation gave him confidence enough to put his hand on her shoulder. "We should probably sleep. Even asses and 'gentleman' need strength to continue on." They hopped together into bed but the gunman still noticed the quick glances Jess gave the door. "Listen, if anyone comes through the door, I'll shoot them, OK?"

"In the face? That's where I'd shoot someone."

"A ruthless killer? That's attractive."

"Hey, it's the reason I like you." Both bodies tensed up immediately. After months of being stubbornly resistant to saying anything, one of them finally cracked. Jess turned on her side facing the wall to hide her embarrassment, but was relieved from any further feelings of that manner when she felt a hand on her waist.

"If it's the face you want them to be shot in, then that's fine."

"Thanks. You still never answered my question."