Ch. 8

Fujiko placed the orange juice back into the fridge and closed the door. She placed the glass on the tray next to a bowl of oatmeal and sighed. The three had left early this morning, and she knew Lupin would be waking up any minute. She really didn't want to play Lupin's nurse for too awful long. She fully intended to leave as soon as she got her share of the loot. Fujiko picked up the tray and made her way to Lupin's room. She silently opened the door and walked inside. She glanced over at the sleeping thief and smiled. She had to admit that he looked somewhat adorable in the peacefulness of sleep. She gently set the tray down on the nightstand next to his bed. As she began to pull herself away from the nightstand, a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked over and Lupin smiled at her.

"Breakfast in bed for me, huh? What did I do to deserve this?" he asked.

"Well it's not like you're going to be able to get up and get it yourself," Fujiko replied. She turned to leave, but Lupin held onto her wrist.

"Can you stay for a while, Fujiko?"

She looked down at his honest expression. She didn't see any lust or desire in his eyes. She gave him a soft smile and then sat down next to him on the bed.

"Of course," she said.

"I'm glad Michelle was able to convince you to stay here with me while they went out."

"Did you really expect me to follow her lead in a heist? She put me here just as much for her sake as she did for yours," Fujiko said and crossed her arms. Lupin let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, well I'm also glad that things fell through with our plan to get Michelle out of Jigen's life. Things couldn't be any better with her around."
"So she saves your life once and all of a sudden she's a saint?" Fujiko asked. "Seriously, I think you were on the right path beforehand. Jigen is going to get hurt, then he'll hate you and then everything will go to hell…"

"Or will it?" Lupin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"Suppose she fits in just fine. Our heists become more successful using her technology and we reap more benefits. Suppose Jigen and Michelle end up together forever. What's wrong there? Jigen has someone to look out for besides himself, and Michelle has someone to care about. Hell, maybe Goemon will find someone too before too long. Who knows, maybe I'll get someone to look out for also," Lupin said and placed his hand on Fujiko's hand. Fujiko felt a pit grow in her chest.

"Lupin…"

"C'mon Fujiko. It's not going to last forever this way. How long have we been working together? We're not going to stay young forever. You can't honestly tell me you're going to want to stay single for the rest of your life." Fujiko turned her head away from him for a moment and bit her lip. She wasn't ready for Lupin to start thinking about this yet. "Relax, Fujiko. I'm not asking you to marry me…well, not now anyways," he said with a wide grin. Fujiko rolled her eyes.

"You need to eat your breakfast. You're not going to get better if you don't eat," she said and stood up. She started to walk towards the door.

"Fujiko…you're not mad at me, are you?" Lupin asked. Fujiko placed her hand on the door and looked over her shoulder at the man lying on the bed, staring back at her.

"Of course not," she said quietly, and left.

)(

Michelle led the way and Jigen and Goemon followed behind her on either side. This was going to be the easiest heist ever. Eson was dead, and it was early enough that his men had yet to come in to find him dead. Michelle pulled out her handheld and began pulling up information on where the jewelry was located. While she was wrapped up in the files, Goemon nudged Jigen's side.

"So…did you ever imagine this happening a few years ago?" he asked with a smile.

"I made it a point not to team up with women. They were only distractions or extra problems," he said. "I can't say that for this one though. She seems to be a little more on top of her game." Michelle quickly stopped in her tracks, causing the two men to run into her. "Well…I thought so anyway."

"Ha, ha," Michelle said sarcastically. "The jewelry is right on the other side of this wall. However, the door is down several more halls." She gave Goemon a grin.

"Right, I think I get what you're trying to say," Goemon replied as he walked up to the wall. A moment later, a hole appeared. Jigen and Michelle walked through while Goemon sheathed his sword. Jigen whistled.

"Really? All these cases are filled with jewelry?" he asked in disbelief.

"Uh-huh. And if we don't hurry, Eson's men are going to get them. C'mon, let's get to work," Michelle said.

"Right," Jigen stated as he began ripping open a crate. Inside there were plenty of smaller cases holding beautiful rings, necklaces and bracelets. He pulled a bag out from his jacket's pocket and then began to fill it as quickly as possible. By the time he had finished emptying out the fifth case, Michelle and Goemon were standing behind him waiting on him.

"Are you ready, Jigen?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah, let's go," he replied. Michelle ran ahead of the samurai and the gunman and led them out of the building. Once they got back to the moving truck, they threw the jewelry in the back and closed the doors. Then they piled into the cabin. Jigen sat behind the wheel, Michelle sat in the middle and Goemon sat by the passenger side window.

"So why exactly would Eson want all that jewelry stored away in cases in a storage room?" Jigen asked as he started heading back to their hotel.

"Because Eson wanted his money to disappear. If it's all in the form of jewelry, it's easier for him to transport it without looking too suspicious. Plus, he could just tell people that he was transporting it for a jewelry show…just like the one you and Lupin hit, Goemon," Michelle answered him.

"I see," Jigen said.

"A clever idea," Goemon agreed. "But he still lost in the end."

"Yeah, but that's what all those bad guys deserve," Michelle told him. She pulled out her handheld and started pulling up files again. "Well, the rest of his stuff is in Germany and Italy. I'm sure as soon as someone realizes Eson is gone all of his men are going to be taking everything as quickly as possible. We can either try to slip in to the chaos and take it for ourselves, or we can just get back to France and wait on Lupin to heal. I really don't care. Eson got what he deserved and I'm done with this mission as far as my goals are concerned." Jigen raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? So you're done now?" Jigen asked.

"Uh-huh," Michelle nodded her head. Jigen shifted in his seat and Goemon stared out the window. Michelle continued to mess with her handheld.

"So what are you going to do now that you're done?" Jigen asked, hoping to end the awkward silence. Michelle shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. I'll probably stick around until Lupin kicks me out," she replied with a smile.

"I hope you stick around longer than that," Jigen said. He moved his right hand from the steering wheel to grasp Michelle's left hand. Goemon rolled his eyes.

"Dear God, just pull over and get it over with if you have to. Otherwise can you two leave the nauseating sweetness for when we get back to the hotel?" the samurai asked in desperation. Michelle laughed.

"Of course," she told him. "Don't worry Jigen. I don't plan on leaving you again for a very long time," she replied as she squeezed his hand. Jigen grinned and they made their way back to the hotel.

)(

The gang sat around Lupin's bed, sorting through the jewelry. Michelle and Fujiko both had jewelry covering them, as if they were little girls once more, dressing up in their mother's jewelry.

"And I want this one…and this one…Oooh! And that one!" Fujiko exclaimed as she kept picking up different items.

"C'mon Fujiko, you can't have all of it. Anyways, you barely did any work on this mission," Jigen stated.

"I babysat the invalid. That's a big enough job to earn all this." She grabbed an exceptionally large ring and began to analyze it. Jigen sighed. Goemon smirked and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Jigen, can you come with me for a second?" he asked. Jigen nodded and they both stepped outside of the room and closed the door. Michelle looked up from the necklace she was holding, but Lupin tapped her shoulder.

"Give 'em a moment. They'll be back in a second," Lupin told her. Michelle sighed.

"And I suppose you know what's going on," she said.

"Of course. But it's nothing you need to get worried or upset about. Here, take another set of earrings. I don't think I'm going to be wearing them any time soon…" he said as he put the jewelry in her hands. Michelle shrugged and continued to sort through the jewelry.

Outside of the room, Jigen leaned against the wall and Goemon stood before him.

"So, what is it?" Jigen asked. Goemon fished around inside the breast pocket in his robes. Finally, he pulled out an emerald ring. "What's that?" he asked.

"The ring that Lupin and I promised you. Lupin has the ruby one and I have the sapphire ring. He wasn't lying when he said these three rings were the best in the collection," Goemon told him. Jigen whistled.

"Damn. That is one fine ring," he said looking it over. "I really don't deserve this. I didn't go on the mission."

"It doesn't matter. You would have been on the mission if Lupin wasn't being a jerk, so it's all fine," Goemon said. Jigen quietly stared at it for a moment.

"I'm glad you held on to it rather than Lupin. If he had it for any length of time, he would have given it to Fujiko."

"I wouldn't be surprised if the ruby ring will be in her possession before too long…" Goemon commented.

"Right," Jigen said as he tucked the ring into his own breast pocket. "Thanks, man." The two friends walked back into the bedroom.

"So what was so important, you two?" Fujiko asked when they entered the room.

"Nothing that concerns you, Fujiko," Jigen stated. He sat down on the bed next to Michelle and smiled at her. She raised an inquisitive eyebrow and he shook his head quietly. Michelle gave him another questioning look which he answered with his own look. Fujiko rolled her eyes.

"I hate it when couples do that," she stated.

"What do you mean?" Lupin asked.

"They just had a whole conversation without even saying a word. Isn't that slightly frustrating to anyone else?"

"Not really…" Lupin said.

Once the jewelry was divided, everyone left Lupin's room so he could get some rest and went to the common room. Goemon sat in a chair, while Fujiko, Michelle and Jigen sat on the couch. Jigen placed his arm around Michelle's shoulders instinctively. He began to stroke the top of her arm nonchalantly. Fujiko straightened her clothes and looked around.

"So what do we do now?" she asked. Jigen shrugged and Goemon silently stared into space. "Don't everyone answer at once," she commented.

"There's not really much we can do," Jigen stated. "We have to wait till Lupin heals up before we can really do anything."

"Perhaps it's time for a break?" Goemon suggested. "We're not exactly on the run. We haven't seen Pops in a long time."

"Yeah, but you probably just jinxed us. As soon as we realize he's missing, he shows up," Jigen said. He leaned his head back on the couch and sighed. "Maybe it is time for a break…But sitting around waiting for something to happen doesn't sound appealing at all."

"We could do a few small heists maybe…" Goemon said.

"You know it wouldn't be the same without Lupin. What's the point in going without him?" Jigen asked. Fujiko sighed. Jigen was right; there was nothing to do here without Lupin.

"I guess I ought to head out soon, since nothing is going to happen any time soon around here," Fujiko said. She looked at the samurai and at Jigen. Goemon had his eyes closed and Jigen was stroking Michelle's hair. Fujiko was still amazed at the effect that Michelle had on the hardened gunman. She had to wonder if she had been wrong all along about the girl. An idea sparked in her mind. "Hey, Michelle. Can I talk to you a minute?" she asked.

"Sure," Michelle answered, and followed Fujiko onto the porch.

"Up for a cig?" Fujiko asked. Michelle smiled and pulled out her carton.

"Of course." She lit her own cigarette then turned to Fujiko. "Need a light?"

"Sure," she said. Michelle sparked the flame; but as soon as Fujiko leaned in, it disappeared. "You bitch…"
"Sorry, I have trouble with lighters," Michelle admitted as she fought to get the flame to stay. Eventually the cigarette was lit. They leaned against the rail in silence, watching their shadows on the ground from the porch light.

"So, Michelle…" Fujiko started, taking a drag from her cigarette. "What all is exactly going on between you and Jigen? I've never seen him so wrapped up in a girl before. Are you two just dating, or is it more?" she asked with her eyebrow raised.

"Well, I'm not sure yet," Michelle told her. She thought for a moment as she inhaled. After releasing a white puff of smoke into the night, she turned back to Fujiko. "I think it is a pretty serious relationship. I'd do just about anything for him. He hasn't exactly expressed any interest in a commitment, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Fujiko said. They sat in silence for another moment. "I have to admit though, for as much hell as I give you, I think if any woman deserved Jigen, it's you. I know I called you a bitch for running out on him, but since everything has been cleared up, I know you wouldn't desert him for the world. He needs a girl like you," she told Michelle. Michelle gave her a soft smile as she extinguished her cigarette in a knothole in the wood.

"Thank you, Fujiko," she said. "And I couldn't think of a better girl for my brother to be with right now." Fujiko flicked her cigarette into the backyard.

"Thanks." Fujiko thought for a moment. "So, Michelle, are you going to stay here while Lupin is healing?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I can't stand staying in one place for too long, but I really don't want to leave Jigen and I know he wouldn't want to leave Lupin," Michelle answered. "What about you?"

"I'm not so sure myself. I'd like to be here for the boy, but you know there's just too much waiting to be done out there that I'd hate to miss out on…"

The two girls, now becoming slightly more civil to each other, walked inside.