Chapter11: Date Night part 1

N/A: Sorry for the delay, I have so many projects I'm working on symontaniosely, and work has been kickin' my butt. So I don't have the energy to type anytime but in the morning, but then I'm supper tiered also and don't wanna get up till the last minuet. I've been trying so hard forgive me.


Not long after the whole incident on the Château d'If island the workaholic Inspector was back running around after Lupin. The thief had stayed true to his word and dragged Zenigata back into the chase after him. He was content in the thought that he had erased Carmen from Zenigata's mind. And he was almost right.

The sun was setting and Zenigata was sitting in his room not having caught sight of Lupin all day. He re read the things that led him to Paris in the first place. Had he missed something? It was clear he was meant to be in France but had he gotten the city wrong? As he was thinking this there was a knock on his door. He looked up for a moment.

"Has to be a wrong room." He mumbled to himself till the knock came again and he grumbled getting up and trudging over. "Ok, ok I'm coming." He opened the door a bit ruffly and barked at the man standing there. "Yah? What?"

"I-Inspector Zenigata?" The man asked in a French accent, trembling at the other's gruff attitude.

"Yah." He softened slightly feeling a bit bad for scaring the kid that couldn't be more the 17. He was then handed a letter before the young man ran off. "Hm?" He looked over the bare envelope. It was clearly handed off from the sender and so he opened it, as he walked back into his room closing the door. He probably should have been a lot more careful in opening something from an unknown sender.

He sad on the shaggy bed as he read the letter enclosed:

Dear Inspector,
If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were following me.

He could almost hear the condescending chuckle.

Due to Zack and Ivy's stellar reaction time, I never got to truly thank you for what you did. So in light of that, would you like to join me for dinner tonight at 8?
Carmen Sandiego ❤️

She even drew a little heart next to her name and all written in red ink. Under her letter there was the address for the restaurant. Almost like he had no choice in the matter.

P.S. Just tell the host your name.

He sighed and folded the letter back up putting it back in the envelope. He plopped down in the only chair in the room. It was only about noon, so he did have some time to think about weather he would show up.

"Well it wouldn't be right to just not show up." He pondered out loud to himself. And with that his plan was decided. His normal artier was very bissness like but he went over it to make sure there was no holes. He assumed the restaurant would be a bit high class because he knew Carmen.
Seven O'clock rolled around and Zenigata left his room with the letter in hand. He wanted to give himself enough time to find the place. After about 30 minuets of wandering around then getting pointed in the right direction and a short bus ride later, he found the place. He had to back track from the bus stop, but he got there. And with a few minuets to spare. He made sure his coat and hat where strait before walking in.

*"Do you have a reservation sir?"* The host asked in French and Zenigata froze. The Inspector could speak a few languages with varying degrees of fluidity. But French and German happened to be 2 of his worst ones. The letter had said to just give the host his name, so that was what he did.

"Inspector Zenigata." The host razed a brow at him giving him the once over then nodded. Another man came up pointing to his hat and coat, it took the inspector a moment to realize he wanted to take them and hang them up. "Oh uh thanks." He quickly handed them off as the first man waited for him to follow with a small gester. He followed patting how his hair a bit even though it hardly moved, it was too short to do much of anything on it's own. He looked around as they passed many tables most of them full of well dressed people. He noted that they were getting closer to the kitchen, then a mass of long ebony hair with just a hint of purple caught his eye. The host stopped at the opeset side of that table and pulled the chair out so he could sit and set the menu in front of him. He looked at it unable to make heads or tails of the scribbles on the front. Too scared to open it, he looked up hearing that familiar voice speak in French.

*"Just water for now, me will need some time to decide."* The host nodded and left. One blue eye smiled at the Inspector. He almost didn't recognize the woman without her trademark hat and coat. Her hair effortlessly fell over half her face in just the right way. Was that a magic power or something? Her hat never fell off and at least half of her face was always concealed by something. "Is something wrong Inspector?" Carmen asked with a smirk speaking in English again. Zenigata just looked at her a bit suspiciously as the waiter set down some water for them then left, as neither was looking at the menu. "My gosh you're always so uptight." Her shoulder's sagged a bit as she sighed.

"You send me a letter out of the blue wanting to have dinner with me when I'm in the middle of chasing Lupin..."

"Yet you still came." She cut his mini rant short. He huffed and sat back in the chair. "Come now Inspector, you could at lest pretend to be happy to see me." She picked up her menu looking it over. He did the same. "Really? I know you can't read French." She chuckled and he only grumbled still keeping it open in front of him. "Though I mush say you got here at a descent time. As long as you didn't leave right when you got the letter."

"Now listen here!" He raised his voice, and even if no one understood his words he still drew attention, and quickly calmed himself. He was now glaring at the woman who was currently trying no to laugh.

"You needn't be so hostile Inspector. This is a genuine expression of my gratitude for saving my life. Twice in fact." Zenigata looked away stubbornly a small blush crossing his cheeks.

"You saved me first." He muttered back.

"That was an accident. You just happened to be in the way of dodging myself. It's hard to dodge a sniper walking backwards." This was a lie and he knew it, she had called out to him before pushing him. However he let it go, she must has a reason for lieing about it. "What do you like other then ramen. I'll find something you'll like." She said looking at the menu and absentmindedly playing with a locket hanging on a string of pearls, around her neck. It was the only jewellery she was wearing even though she must have no shortage of such accessories. For someone that liked attention as much as Lupin she was dressed rather subtly, wile still standing out with her striking looks and bright red dress. She may not have been wearing her coat but she still stuck to her trademark color.

"Um..." He looked at the menu but there were no pictures so it was all for not. "I like pasta and beef. Though I doubt this place serves burgers." He looked off to the side. That one comment broke her. Carmen's head bowed and her body shuttered with quiet laughs.

"No they don't..." She managed to get out. Why that made her laugh was anyone's guess. There was just something about HOW he said it. He knew, but he still chose to say it. "So stake and pasta?" She was trying to no laugh but her amusement was evident in her voice. Zenigata was confused, was it really that funny? Well that was another thing he would never understand about her. After a few deep breaths she sat strait again wiping just under her eyes avoiding her make up. "So do you drink wine?"

"Not really." He took a gulp of his water. "Are water and wine the only chooses?"

"No, there is juice for people that can't drink, but no other alcoholic drinks I'm afraid."

"Well... I guess I could go with a red wine." He answered rubbing the back of his neck, he hadn't drank wine in a good long wile.

"Good, that means we can get a bottle. I prefer red myself. I find lighter wines to either be too watery or just tasting like strait alcohol. And what's the point?" Carmen was not much of a wine drinker herself but that didn't mean she didn't have ones she preferred. Zenigata nodded and put his menu down as did Carmen. "I think I picked out something you will like.

"This place isn't one of those that charges a bunch for like a stake the size of a 50 yen coin is it?" That question brought a smile to her face, and she shook her head.

"I don't eat at places like that. I have a very active life style, two bites isn't enough for me." She commented as the waiter approached. She told him their order and he took the menus and left.

"You're not going to tell me what you ordered me are you?" Carmen smirked this time and shook her head once more. It didn't take long for the waiter to return with their bottle and pour each of them a glass before leaving again. With nothing in particular to drink to, both just took a sip of the wine in silence. The silence hung uncomfortably around them. Neither one was sure what to say.


A/N: I shall leave off here, I think their little date deserves more then one chapter.