I hope everyone is enjoying the story. Things are a bit slow-going with school work and such. Hopefully I'll be able to get more done soon. Please leave reviews.

(P.S…I don't own Lupin III. All credit goes to Monkey Punch.)

Ch. 2

The next morning, Jigen woke up and went down to the kitchen, where Lupin was already eating breakfast and reading a newspaper. When he heard Jigen enter the room, he looked up and glared over the paper.

"What'd you bring her here for? I thought you'd be able to figure out from everything I said that I didn't want her around me," he muttered.

"Well how else was I supposed to get it out of you? You won't tell me a damn thing about her. I have never seen you so worked up about a girl in such a negative way. I mean, hell, Fujiko screws you over daily and you never get pissed off at her. What the hell did Michelle do that's getting to you?" Jigen asked, pulling the paper away from his friend.

"Why don't you ask her if you're so damn curious?" Lupin said, shoving his toast into his mouth.

"Because I thought you were my friend and you, being such, would explain everything to me," Jigen stated as he began to rummage through the fridge.

"We had an unfriendly encounter several years back. She attacked me and left me for dead, and now she expects me to welcome her back with open arms," Lupin said with his mouth still full of toast.

"I still think it sounds just like friggen' Fujiko. I can't figure out why you won't forgive her…"

"Jigen, Michelle is my sister. It's kind of hard to forgive a sibling who wants you dead!" Lupin yelled.

"I agree, it is not honorable for a family member to leave another to die," Goemon said as he entered the kitchen.

"She's your sister?" Jigen asked in complete shock. "Did you ever find out why she tried to kill you?"

"Not really. I have a feeling it had to do with this guy she was seeing, but I'm sure it was for her own gain as well," Lupin said. "I hoped I would never run into her ever again."

"Relax, man. Maybe you should just talk to her, find out what all was going on and get over this whole ordeal," Jigen suggested.

"We'll see. For now, you and I are going back to Eson's. I still need to pay him back for trying to barbecue me," Lupin commented. "Goemon, do you mind staying behind? I'll give you a call if we need backup, but we aren't going to attempt anything today. We'll just be scoping the area and getting a better plan for tomorrow."

"That's fine," Goemon said as he began to boil water to make tea.

)(

"Maybe this time, for the first time, love won't hurry away..."

Later on during the day, Goemon sat in the living room, cleaning his sword. He heard a door open and footsteps down the stairs. He closed his eyes and counted the steps until he was sure the person on the stairs was at the bottom.

"Good morning, Michelle is it?" he said.

"Good morning. I don't believe we have been introduced," the young lady said as she walked towards him.

"I am Goemon Ishikawa. I work with your brother and Jigen," he stated, bowing his head to her.

"Well, I guess you know who I am then. I am Michelle Lupin, international self-employed spy and occasional assassin. I steal information and sell it to whoever will pay the most for it," she smiled as she sat on the couch next to Goemon's chair.

"Do you mind if I ask why you are staying here? You came rather late last night and Lupin hasn't spoken very kindly of you."

"It's alright. I never expected him to think of me fondly ever again. Jigen rescued me when my apartment was being ambushed by men who, I believe, were employed by Eson. He brought me here so I'd have a place to stay until I can find somewhere else or leave the country."

"Certainly, it must be uncomfortable to be here with Lupin acting the way he is towards you," Goemon said.

"Yes, but it's a small price to pay. I miss being here. I used to live here, too, you know," Michelle said. Goemon sheathed his sword and placed it before him on the table.

"You seem like a very nice person Michelle. Perhaps I judged you too quickly from listening to Lupin."

"Well, it would've helped if Lupin knew the whole story. I don't deserve forgiveness, but I wish he knew the truth before he made his judgments," Michelle said.

"Perhaps fate has brought the two of you together to settle this matter," Goemon suggested.

"I hope so," she answered him. The two heard the car pulling into the driveway and Lupin yelling about something. "I had better get back to my room. It was a pleasure to meet you Goemon-san. Hopefully we can chat again sometime soon," she said as she climbed the stairs to go back to her room. She disappeared before he could say anything. The front door swung open and Lupin and Jigen came inside.

"I can't believe that rotten snake in the grass already has traps set up and ready to catch us as soon as we go in! That stinkin' no good…" Lupin continued as he went into the kitchen.

"I take it things didn't go well?" Goemon asked.

"Nope. We learned absolutely nada from this trip, except that Eson isn't an idiot. He's ready for us to strike again. We're either going to have to wait a good long while or just drop it. I have a feeling the latter isn't an option to Lupin." Jigen looked around and lowered his voice while Lupin was out of the room. "Have you seen Michelle lately?"

"Yeah," Goemon replied. "She came down and we talked for awhile when you were gone. She seems like a nice person."

"I know. It makes it kinda hard to believe that she cold-heartedly tried to kill Lupin. I might go up and talk to her for a bit," Jigen said as he started to go up the stairs.

"Alright. I'll try to keep Lupin occupied if he gets cranky," Goemon said watching him.

Jigen knocked on the door and heard someone invite him in. He walked in to find Michelle sitting on her bed with her laptop up and running. She seemed entirely focused on what she was doing, but she quickly snapped her laptop shut once he was completely in the room. He shut the door behind him and approached her.

"Good morning, Jigen. How has your day been so far?" Michelle asked.

"Alright. Eson is still being a pain in the ass," he stated with a smirk.

"But that's normal, isn't it?"

"True," Jigen said, sitting down next to her. "What are you up to?"

"I'm going to be making a hit tonight. I need to update my information for another group that is based here in Paris." Michelle pulled out a map from a folder that was on her nightstand. "There are five big organizations based right here in this part of Paris. I need to hit as many of them as I can before I leave. Eson's was a failure; I'm hitting here tonight," she said as she pointed to a red dot. "This one has been quiet for several years; the boss here is incapable of doing anything right. This one has a price on my head because I stole the blueprints to his new headquarters he was going to build. I'll probably hit there later this week." Jigen leaned back on her bed and smiled.

"You've got all this planned out, huh? Need a hand with any of these?"

"Nah, I'm used to working alone. It makes it easier, you know? You don't have to worry about something happening to someone, or rescuing them, or them being worried about you," Michelle said as she put up her folder and laptop. Jigen lay down on her bed and pulled his hat over his face.

"You don't go out with guys much do you?" he asked.

"Not really. It's a lot less hassle and you don't get hurt as easily." She sat down next to him and smiled. "I take it you don't go out with too many girls do you?" she asked, poking him in the side.

"I try not to. Women irritate me. Ok, they screw me over, and then they irritate me."

"I thought that's what you men liked in relationships, getting screwed…" Michelle said with a grin.

"That's not what I meant!" Jigen yelled lifting his hat just enough to send her a look. Michelle grabbed his hat from him and placed it on her head. The hat was too big for her head and it slid down over her eyes.

"I know what you meant, I just wanted to mess with you," she said from under the hat. Jigen sat up and snatched his hat back and placed it back on his head.

"See what I mean? You women have to mess with us men. Can't you just leave us all alone?" he asked with a smile.

"What's the fun in that? Anyways, you came in here. If you didn't want me to bug you, you didn't have to come in." Michelle gave him a cute look. Jigen snickered.

"I'll give you one thing; you don't irritate me nearly as much as Fujiko does."

"As much? I irritate you? And who is this Fujiko girl? Do tell, do tell…" Michelle said moving closer to him.

"You really do suck the information out of people," Jigen said, pushing his hat back. "Fujiko is Lupin's…well…not exactly his girlfriend, but they're kind of exclusive, except she flirts with any guy who will offer her something she wants. She screws him over almost daily and he takes it. I've rarely seen him upset with her."

"Ah…Ok. I'll remember that in case I ever run into her. I have a feeling I'll hate her."

"You're not the only one. Goemon and I get fed up with her frequently."

"Uh-huh. Then why don't you guys leave her and Lupin?" Michelle asked.

"Cause Lupin is the best damn friend a guy could ask for, even if he has a weakness for women."

Michelle smiled. "I'm glad my brother is such a good person." She looked around the room for a second in silence. "I probably ought to get ready for tonight. I know I've got all day, but I want everything perfect."

"I understand," Jigen said, standing up. "If you need any help tonight, let me know. I'll help you out."

"Will do," Michelle said with a smile as she watched him leave her room. As soon as the door shut, she closed her eyes and fell back on her bed. This was exactly what she was trying to avoid. She was growing attached to him.

)(

Later that evening, Jigen walked upstairs and to Michelle's door. He made sure Lupin was busy downstairs with Goemon before he left his company. He knocked on the door and heard nothing. He cracked it open and couldn't see anyone in the dark. "That's odd. I didn't remember hearing her going out. She really is sneaky," he thought as he walked inside and turned on the light. Jigen looked around and saw the map she had shown him earlier sitting on her nightstand. He picked it up and studied it. He recognized the place that she mentioned she was going to. It wasn't a friendly territory, and he was surprised he hadn't noticed it earlier. He folded the map and put it in his pocket and went downstairs.

"Hey, Lupin. I think I'm going to head out for a while. I'll be back later tonight," he said, waving his hand.

"Where are you going?" Lupin asked.

"I just want to go for a walk for a while. It's no big deal." Jigen turned and walked out of the front door.

"Well, that was odd. I wonder if he's going somewhere else," Lupin said, thinking.

"Jigen is an adult, Lupin. He can do as he wants," Goemon said with his eyes shut.

"I know. I just hope he's not getting too attached to Michelle."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because she'll hurt him! I know it!" Lupin said, slamming his fist down on the table. "I don't think I can stand it if my backstabbing sister hurts my best friend."

"I can understand that, Lupin. But what if he is happy with her?" Goemon asked, opening one eye. Lupin grumbled.

"I can't imagine him happy with her. After all the times he has been screwed over by women? This will be his big finale if he falls for her!" Lupin yelled as he stood up and stormed up the stairs to his room. Goemon sighed.

)(

"You can hide beside me, maybe for a while, and I won't tell no one your name. I won't tell 'em your name."

Michelle ran down the hallway with bullets flying past her. She took a quick turn and continued to run. She had no idea where the exit was, and she had yet to come across a window. As she ran, she gripped the folder tightly in her arms. Michelle knew she had to choose between holding on to the folder and drawing her weapon, but if she lost the folder, the mission would be a failure. She sighed. It seemed that ever since she had come across Lupin she hadn't been performing as well as she used to.

As she turned another corner, a man stopped her with a knife drawn. He approached her and backed her into a wall.

"It's about time somebody caught you. When I get through, no one will ever recognize you again. Hand over the folder and I'll make it as quick and painless as possible."

Michelle held on to the folder for dear life with her eyes wide.

"I'd never give this folder to you. Not as long as I live," she said quietly.

"Well that won't matter since you'll be dead before long," he said as he lunged forward to attacker, but she dodged him and he managed to slice her shoulder.

"Stand still you!" he yelled as he grabbed her neck and held her in place. Michelle closed her eyes as she waited for him to hurt her again.

A gunshot echoed through the hallway and she opened her eyes. The man fell to the floor before her. Behind where the man was standing, another man ran towards her.

"What the hell were you thinking? Of all the places to hit for information, did it have to be here?" Jigen yelled as he grabbed her wrist and forced her to follow him.

"Jigen? What are you doing here? I told you I wanted to go on this mission alone!" Michelle yelled from behind him.

"And you would have died alone if I hadn't have shown up."

"What do you mean? I could have gotten out of there! I was just making him believe that he had control of the situation!" she said, giving him a smile. Jigen glanced back and noticed, thinking about how that was the same way Lupin would act. But he had to admit, it was kind of cute on the girl.

"You know I'm not buying that at all," he stated, pushing open a hidden door. "I'm sure you knew that was there too? I thought you did research on the places you hit before you go in…"

"Jigen…That's the whole reason I came here. My information on them was obsolete. That's why I needed to get this folder!" Jigen pulled her down an alley and to a hidden backstreet. She began to slow down and he yanked her behind a dumpster for a moment.

"I'm really starting to notice that I'm the one who ends up saving your ass all the time," Jigen said as he watched around the dumpster for anyone coming.

"You know it all really started with me saving you. Maybe I should've just let you go alone," Michelle said with a smirk. "I would never have seen Lupin then."

"Could you at least tell me what happened between you two? He said something about you trying to kill him earlier today," he started but Michelle ducked and turned to run. Jigen quickly grabbed her and pinned her to the wall. He drew his pistol and held it to her stomach. "I'm not going to let you go until you tell me."

Michelle balanced the folder on her hip and fidgeted. Before Jigen could realize what she was doing he heard a click. Her gun was pressed into his own stomach.

"I'm sorry Jigen, but it is something I can't share with you, not yet. I have to try to talk to him – at least one more time – before I can tell anyone else."

Jigen kept her pinned with one hand and put away his gun with the other. He accidentally let the hand that had her pinned slip over her wound and she winced in pain.

"Jigen, please, just let me go. I'm not against Lupin and I never was. Ok, so I attacked him. I was deceived! I'm sorry," she said as she put away her own gun.

"I wish you would tell me at some point, even if it's at least payback for saving you all these times. I swear it's hard for me to believe you're Lupin's sister with how much trouble you get into." Michelle laughed.

"Seriously, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He gets into enough trouble on his own." She moved a piece of hair behind her ear and smiled at him. "Until the day comes when I can tell you, hopefully this will suffice as payment for saving my life." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips and yanked his hat off of his head. Then, while he was taken off guard, she bolted down the street and back to Lupin's house. Jigen smacked his forehead and sighed.

"I have the feeling this is going to go either very good or very bad. Odds are very bad, but what the hell?" Jigen said out loud to himself, grinning. He slowly began to walk to the house. "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to go through hell for this?"

Further along the way, Michelle slowed down from a run to a walk and looked at the hat. "What am I doing? This is what got me into trouble with Lupin in the first place." She walked back inside the house where all was dark and quiet. Michelle snuck into Jigen's room and placed his hat on his pillow and then went to her room. She went to her closet and found the door to go outside. Lupin was waiting out there.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"I got what I was after. How did you know I went out?" Michelle asked.

"Why else would Jigen want to go for a walk all of a sudden? After he left, I went upstairs and noticed your room was empty and you took your gun with you."

"I usually have my gun on me. Doesn't mean I'm on a mission," she stated pulling out a cigarette and her lighter.

"Please stop."

"What?" she asked, frozen from fumbling with her lighter.

"Stop leading Jigen on," he said quietly. "I don't want you to hurt him." Michelle grumbled while she finished lighting her cigarette.

"Look, first of all, I'm not leading him on. Second, I don't plan on hurting him." Lupin grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"How can you prove it?" he asked.

"Cause I lo-" she stopped herself quickly. Lupin's eyes widened and scared her. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'll leave him alone. I shouldn't…"

"Thanks." Lupin turned to leave.

"Wait! Can you hear me out now! I need to tell you something!" Michelle said, trying to stop him.

"Not tonight. Just try to keep away from Jigen." Lupin went inside as Michelle finished her cigarette. She went inside and dressed the wound on her shoulder. Then she lay down and cried.

Songs:

"Maybe This Time" from Cabaret

"Name" by Goo Goo Dolls