Chapter 13

A troubled Yuri watched from behind a two-sided mirror as Naomi led her latest 'clients' out of C'est Sing. She sighed then, hugging herself. "Au chantay, mon cher," she whispered as she watched Bentley disappear from view. Her green-gold eyes were troubled, a small frown marring her perfect face. "What am I to do?" she asked of no one in particular, her thoughts---and feelings---all jumbled and confused.

Naomi returned a moment later, and noticed her superior gazing off into space, her expression pensive. "Madame?" she queried, concerned. "Are you all right?"

Yuri blinked, startled. She then composed herself, looking over kindly at Naomi. "Yes, I am fine, Naomi," she replied, none too convincingly. She cast a look at the clock on the wall…it was nearly time for lunch. "Could you please be a dear, and close the shop for me? I find myself in need of your assistance, if I may?"

"Of course, Madame," Naomi answered brightly with a smile. She was fond of Madame Sing, who was the best boss she had ever worked for. "Give me but a few minutes…" Naomi moved off briskly to do as Yuri had asked. She returned no more than eight minutes later. "Now, you wanted to see me, Madame?"

Yuri smiled at the tall cheetah. "Yes, dear," she answered. "And, please, we are off the clock, as it were. At such times, I am simply Yuri."

Naomi flushed with pride…and embarrassment, of course. "I am honored, Madame," she answered quickly, her cute round ears flicking. "But, I could not! You are the famous Madame Sing…and I am nought but simple Naomi Rousseau."

Yuri smiled, but shook her head. She then reached out a hand to briefly grasp Naomi's. "While it is true that I am Madame Sing, and do have a modicum of notoriety in the fashion world, that does not make you and I all that much different, child. You are anything but simple, Ms. Rousseau…you are my right hand. I could not run things here without you, I do hope you know."

"Madame is far, far too kind," Naomi replied quietly, her long sinuous tail twitching.

Yuri frowned. "Nonsense!" she answered. "Madame does not appreciate you nearly as much as she should, dear."

Naomi grinned at that. "Merci, Madame," she thanked her boss, her role model.

"Naomi," Yuri said in mock sternness.

Naomi's pale face colored a moment. "Pardonnez moi. Yuri," she replied, her eyes troubled. "I am sorry, but…I am uncomfortable."

Yuri laughed a soft rich laugh, patting the girl's hand again. "That will end in time, my dear. Now, come," Yuri instructed, leading Naomi into her office. "I need another woman to talk to…and I find that I am starved!"

Naomi was about to deny that she too was hungry, but her stomach's growl gave her away, much to her embarrassment. "It would seem that I too am hungry, Ma---er, Yuri," she admitted with a grin.

Yuri laughed again, and the two moved inside Yuri's posh office and began their noontime meal. They shared a modest lunch of curried chicken and sliced beef brisket sandwiches. One might think that two trim gals with model's figures would eat salads or some such…but, both of them were carnivores, after all…

After they had eaten their fill, Naomi wiped her mouth primly with a white linen napkin. "Now, Yuri," Naomi prompted, but still blushed. "What did you wish to discuss with me?"

Yuri looked away a moment, composing her thoughts. She trusted Naomi, but what she was dying to talk about was slightly embarrassing. Her need to talk things out finally won out over any potential embarrassment she might feel. "Ah, Naomi…I am how you say…between a rock and a hard place, yes?"

"How so?" Naomi asked, concerned and just a bit curious too. Then, a thought struck her, and she began to get an inkling of what might be bothering her elegant boss. "Ah, would this situation have anything at all to do with the gallant Monsieur Bentley, hmm?"

Yuri started a moment, then smiled a rueful smile. "Am I really that transparent, my friend?" she asked, ducking her proud head.

"To anyone but me, no," Naomi answered, shaking her head. "But I have known you all these years, Yuri. I can see that you have been unsettled these last few months."

"And," Yuri supplied, smiling. "Since Monsieur Bentley and his friend arrived at our establishment only a 'few months ago'as you put it…you put two and two together, and voila, no?"

Naomi blushed, but nodded. "Oui…something like that, Madame," she confessed.

"I see," Yuri replied, thinking. "Now, as for you, is it my imagination, cheri…or does your suddenly frequent blushing of late have anything to do with those smitten looks Monsieur Murray casts your way?" Yuri smiled knowingly.

Naomi gasped, blushed, and looked quickly away. "I---I had not noticed, Madame," she replied stiffly.

"No?" Yuri countered, grinning. "How unobservant of you, dear. But, to tell you the truth, it does not surprise me." Yuri looked pointedly over at the tall svelte girl across from her. "You are a beautiful girl, after all, Naomi."

"Merci, Madame," Naomi replied, giving her a weak smile. She then flicked her own amber eyes away, then back to Yuri's again. "Does---does he really look at me that way?" she added, then put a hand over her mouth in shock.

"Naomi," Yuri hurried to respond. "You've nothing to be embarrassed about, cheir. What girl does not wish to be admired by young men, after all?"

"I—I suppose," Naomi said after a long pause. "But, Madame…he is a hippo…and so big! And, I…I am…this way, no?" She blushed once again.

"Yes," Yuri answered. "Murray is a very large fellow, and very strong." She grinned when she saw Naomi nod her agreement. "But, for all that, dear…I sense he is a very caring and sensitive fellow."

"Do you really think so, Madame?" Naomi blurted out. "I mean, men his size are often crude and full of themselves…you understand, bullies. And, yet---"

"Naomi, please," Yuri countered with a soft laugh. "Does Murray really seem the bullying type to you?"

"No, Madame," Naomi replied quickly. "But…he is so big, so strong. A girl must be careful, yes?"

"Always, dear," Yuri answered. "However…your feelings are exactly why I wanted to speak with you, Naomi. You and I, it seems, are in similar situations, I now believe."

"Oh?" Naomi asked, blinking her big, pretty amber-hued eyes at her.

Yuri looked pointedly over at Naomi, her green-gold eyes holding the cheetah girl's amber ones until she quickly looked away. "Ah, I thought so," Yuri pointed out, and Naomi blushed.

"But, Madame!" Naomi blurted out, wringing her slender hands now. "Even if I were---I mean, even if he—oh, my parents would be outraged! Oh, Madame…he is not even the same species as I!" Naomi's eyes were very troubled, and now gleamed with unshed tears.

"I know, cheri," Yuri soothed the distraught girl. "I know. I can only shudder to think what my own parents reaction would be if I presented Bentley to them somday as my intended." Yuri frowned, the thrill that idea produced within herself warring with the dread that image conjured too.

Both young woman looked at one another, then sighed heavily simultaneously. They then each pondered their own fates for several silent minutes.

"So…what are we to do, Madame?" Naomi finally asked, crossing her long shapely legs. "My heart tells me one thing…my mind yet another."

"I know, Naomi," Yuri responded, nodding over at her. Then, Yuri made her decision. "I am tired, my friend," she suddenly declared.

"What?" Naomi blurted out.

"I am sick and tired of being told what I may…or may not do," Yuri declared, getting to her feet, her green-gold eyes ablaze. "I am a Sing, that is true. But, I am also Yuri as well. Why should one deny the other, I ask? Can I not carry on my proud name, and yet be happy too?"

"But, Madame…your family!" Naomi pointed out, scandalized…yet, oddly intrigued.

"Pah on my family!" Yuri growled. "Am I not successful? Am I not worthy of the name Sing? What matter of theirs is it to whom I give my heart? Hmm?" Yuri began to pace, upset. "Now, please, Naomi…do not read me wrong. I do love---and respect---my parents. However, I cannot---I will not!---live my life to suit their dreams. I will not sacrifice my happiness on their altar of propriety!"

"Oui, Madame!" Naomi declared then too, getting to her feet, caught up in Yuri's words. "It is as you say…I shall not either!" But, after her initial outburst, she sobered a bit. "But…is it worth it, Madame?"

"Alas, Naomi dear, only you can answer that particular question," Yuri told her. "But, I for one, am tired of being alone."

Naomi nodded, then acted too. "I too, Madame," she answered. "But, now…how can I be sure that he…er, has feelings for me too?"

Yuri smiled then. "I have the answer for that, cheri," she responded. "Kitty Petro!"

"That odd vixen?" Naomi questioned. "The one I threatened with my Uzi?" Naomi blushed furiously. "Madame…I am so relieved I didn't have to---"

"Hush, Naomi," Yuri soothed her. "I regret having to ask you to do such a distasteful thing, cheri."

"As do I," Naomi replied, thankfully. "But, I would do it again…I would do anything so Madame would not come to harm!"

Yuri put her hand over Naomi's and squeezed it firmly and thankfully. Her big green-gold eyes shone with her fierce affection. "You are far too good to me, Naomi. I treat you so foully, and yet you would do this for me…"

"Foully?" Naomi replied, laughing softly. "Surely Madame jests! I have never worked for anyone I respect and admire more than you, Yuri."

"Perhaps," Yuri replied, holding her head high, and smiling. "Now," Yuri opened the drawer of her desk, drew out a fountain pen and a piece of fine parchment. "Would you please dismiss the girls for the day---with full pay, of course. Then, if you would also be so kind to an old woman and balance the ledgers for the day as well, hmm?"

Naomi chuckled at Yuri calling herself an 'old woman'. "Of course, Madame," she told her. "I do that every day, if you will remember."

"Of course you do, cheri," Yuri purred. "And you do it so well too. While you are doing that, I have a letter to draft."

As Naomi dismissed the staff at C'est Sing---which made them all smile and rush out to have fun---and then sat down to balance the ledgers for the day, Yuri penned a letter. "Dear Ms. Petro…" she whispered, pen scratching as she wrote…

Naomi returned to the office in twenty minutes time. "All set, Madame," she informed her. "The girls have all gone home---they thank you very much!---and I have balanced today's books as well. Was there anything else, Madame?"

Yuri finished her letter with a flourish, waited for it to dry, then folded it in thrice. She then slipped it into an envelope, sealed it, and carefully wrote Kitty's address---that she got from her intrusion into Interpol's website---on to the front. "Yes, Naomi, there is," she replied. "If it isn't too much of an imposition…"

"No imposition, Madame," Naomi assured her.

"Good girl," Yuri said with a thankful smile. "Could you please deliver this letter of mine to Ms. Petro's address? It's an invitation for her to meet with me this evening. Ordinarily I'd send it through the post…however, it would arrive far too late, and…I distrust the post of late. Then, once you return, you and I will secure the shop, and I shall take you shopping, my dear. What do you say to that?"

"Merci!" Naomi replied, taking up the letter.

"If you can do it within the hour," Yuri offered. "I think I might see to giving you that salary increase you've been so coyly hinting at the last half year."

"Only an hour?" Naomi scoffed, grinning. "You forget, Madame…I am a cheetah. I shall be back in half that time."

"Oh, really?" Yuri challenged. "I think not."

"What does Madame wish to bet?" Naomi returned with a confident smile.

Yuri laughed. "If you can complete your task in a mere half hour, then I shall buy you dinner at any restaurant within Paris…your choice."

"Done!" Naomi replied cleverly. "If I were you, Madame, I would call in reservations to Le Bistro Bourgeot…for two." Naomi slipped the letter into her small purse, then turned and dashed out the door as if her tail was on fire.

"Come back quickly, cheri," Yuri whispered to Naomi's back. "I abhore dining alone…" And, with that, she chuckled.

Kitty could only smile as she watched a very animated Carmelita show the changes to her outfit to a very attentive and amused Sly. "…oh, and Sly…Yuri's going to work on fixing my boots for me too! I'm so excited!"

Sly laughed. "I couldn't tell, querera," he teased.

"Hush, you," Carmelita replied, smilin at him fondly. "Oh, and then…"

Kitty, never one to go on and on about clothing anyway, quickly tired of the conversation. Which was why she caught a glance of Murray skulking into the kitchen out of the corner of her eye. That worked for her, as she wanted to talk to the big guy soon anyway. She sauntered over to the kitchen, echoes of Sly and Carmelita still playfully arguing in the background. Once she entered, she spotted an oddly quiet Murray, seated at the kitchen table, resting his chin on the back of his hands, his expression vacant…yet, somewhat dreamy-eyed as well.

Kitty smiled, before turning a chair around backward and sitting on it, resting her arms on the chair's back. "You know, buddy, Carmelita used to sit just like you're doing when she was thinking of Sly…back when she still worked at Interpol, you understand," she observed

Murray blinked, noticing Kitty sitting with him. What she had just said finally got through too, and he blushed, looking away from her. "That's nice, Kitty," Murray said neutrally.

"Aw, don't go getting all bashful with me, Murray," Kitty pleaded, a smile on her pretty face. "Hey, you do know that cheetah babe, Naomi, has been checking you out, Murray."

"Huh?" Murray blurted out, then frowned and shook his head. "C'mon, Kitty…quit teasing me, okay? There's no way a pretty girl like her is going to give a second look at some big, fat, dumb hippo like me." He looked down at the tabletop. "You know it, I know it…and she knows it."

Kitty pursed her lips, a frown creasing her brow. "Hey, stop that sort of talk, you! C'mon, bud…you might be big, and you're definitely a hippo. But you're not fat, and you're not dumb either, big guy," Kitty protested.

"Uh-huh. Is that a fact?" Murray countered, feeling irritated. "Then why has everyone else---but me---completed the Lockpick course then? That's easy…because I'm too dumb to do it. Heck, Carmelita's only been here for---what, bout 4 weeks?---and she's already managed it. The most I've been able to ever do is one hundred and twelve…not even half."

"Murray," Kitty responded, putting a comforting hand on Murray's big forearm. "Hey, just because you don't learn as fast, doesn't mean you're not intelligent, pal," Kitty reasoned. "You can drive the Gang's getaway van better than anyone! Now, does that sound like somebody stupid to you? Hmm? Hmm?"

Murray snorted, but held his piece on that. He then looked down to his protruding belly, and slapped it with his hand. "Okay…maybe so. But, there's no denying I'm fat. Just look at me!" he countered. "You've seen me eat. I can eat twice as much as Sly, Bentley and Carmelita combined."

"Murray. Buddy," Kitty told him, looking him in the eyes. "Look, pal, those three are a lot---and I do mean a lot!---smaller than you are." She paused, thinking rapidly. What could she do to get through to this guy? "C'mon, even you have to agree that a fella your size has got to need a whole lot more energy than a skinny raccoon, a midget turtle, and some girlie fox. Am I right?"

Murray grinned at Kitty's skewed description of his friends. Especially the part about Bentley being a 'midget'…and the fiery Carmelita being 'a girlie fox'. He couldn't help himself and snorted with laughter. He sobered a moment later however---much to Kitty chagrin---and observed. "Maybe you're right on that too, Kitty. But, c'mon…really. When I'm around Ms. Rousseau, I---I feel like a big lump. A big lump who's a nobody. C'mon…I'm not in her league, Kitty. You know that…you've got to."

"That's crap…and you know it, buster!" Kitty growled, upset that Murray shouldn't see what a great fella he was. "Sure, Naomi's pretty," Kitty admitted. "But, geez pal…she's only a girl! She's not god-like or anything, you know. She probably feels like she's too tall…or too skinny for the likes of big strapping fella like yourself for all you know! Admit it!"

Murray blinked at that…because he had never thought any such thing as that! "Kitty," he grumbled, displeased to hear Kitty putting down Naomi.

"Well, she could!" Kitty stuck to her guns. "You don't know, do you? Have you ever asked her? Hmm? Have you?" Kitty was relentless.

Murray gasped. "No! I---I couldn't ask her something like that, Kitty! I'd be too…well, embarrassed," he confessed, looking away.

Kitty rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Okay, look," she finally said after she'd gotten her anger back under control. "Do you think I'm pretty, Murray?" she bluntly asked him.

Murray blinked in obvious surprise. "W-W-Well, yeah," he admitted. "Sure, you're prettier than a picture, Kitty."

Kitty smiled brightly. "Thanks, big guy," she said, then shook her head. "But that's not why I asked that question. Okay, sport…now, do you think Carmelita's pretty?"

"Kitty," Murray replied. "You know I think Carmelita's one of the prettiest ladies I've ever met. Geez!"

"Exactly!" Kitty exclaimed then. "Now. Murray…my buddy, my pal…do you have any trouble talking to Carmelita or me?" she asked quickly, not giving him time to think too much.

"No," Murray said, shaking his head. "You two are aces to talk to. I never have---oop."

"Ah ha!" Kitty then triumphed. "You understand now, don't you?"

"Well, yeah," Murray replied hesitantly. "But…then why can't I seem to say anything around her then, Kitty?"

"Murray," Kitty patiently explained. "You already know the reason for that, pal…"

Murray grinned. "But, still…how could she ever---" he tried to start a new line of protest.

"How could she ever what?" Kitty growled, standing up and thumping Murray in the chest with the point of her index finger. "How could she ever fall for a guy that went the distance---then cleaned the clock off---Rajan the Tiger?"

"No, but---" Murray protested weakly.

"How could she ever fall for a guy who single-handedly saved his pals by carrying the weight of those Clockwerk Wings all by himself?" Kitty continued her assault, thumping him in the chest with her finger again.

"Kitty---" Murray tried.

"How could she fall for a guy that can defend himself---and his friends---with nothing more than his fists, elbows, and feet? Nah, I see your point finally, big guy…" Kitty said dismissively. "Yeah, Naomi wouldn't be impressed with any of that…nah…"

"Okay, okay," Murray relented with a grudging smile. "So, I guess I am strong. And loyal."

"Are those such poor qualities in someone, pal?" Kitty pointed out.

"Well…no," Murray conceded. "But, I'm still not that bright."

"You're brighter than you give yourself credit for, fella," Kitty told him quietly. "Okay. When Carmelita arrived, and wanted to join you guys…who's side were you on? Hmm?"

"Well, Carmelita's, of course. But---" Murray replied honestly…as he always did.

"Bingo!" Kitty crowed, giving Murray yet another thump in the chest. "And, why?"

"Well, because it was easy to see she just wanted to be with Sly," Murray pointed out. "Oh, and so she could still help keep the bad guys off the streets too, right?"

"Exact-a-mundo, buddy boy!" Kitty told him. "And, did the 'smart' one in your group---Bentley---see that? Like you did? Hmm?"

"Well, no," Murray said with a frown. "He just saw her as a threat."

"And, you say you aren't as smart as Bentley is," Kitty told him, shaking her blonde-haired head. "Seems to me, pal, that you're smart enough to judge people by who they are, instead of who they were. Not a bad talent, that." Kitty smiled again as Murray frowned, thinking. She then looked down at her watch. "Well, pal, I've got to get going. Ling's probably already on his way to pick me up." Kitty said. "You think on what I've said, okay? Real hard, you hear me?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Murray said with a thankful grin.

"Gah!" Kitty replied, grinning. "Knock it off the the big smiles already. Hey, you should try one of those on Naomi, pal…" she grinned cleverly.

"Kitty!" Murray yelped, then blushed. "Didn't you say you had to get going?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kitty pretended to grouse, waving as she headed out of the kitchen. She then hustled up, saying her good-byes to her friends, as she heard the familiar rumble of a certain bright-green Yamaha motorcycle just outside in the garage. "See ya later, people!" she cried, dashing out the door…looking forward to seeing her Ling Chu again.