Ch. 9
A month had passed. Fujiko left for awhile, but found herself returning before long. Although she denied it to everyone who asked, she knew she wouldn't be able to focus on a mission until she was sure that Lupin had healed and was doing alright. Goemon, Jigen, and Michelle ended up sticking around the house for the most part. With Lupin incapacitated, they wouldn't be able to travel much, meaning they couldn't do anything that would attract attention to them. Michelle debated on leaving for awhile but knew she couldn't leave Jigen for too long, so she stayed. Finally, one afternoon, Lupin's doctor walked out of the room with his patient beside him on crutches.
"The bone has healed, but you're still going to want to take it easy for a while. You're going to need to walk around as much as you can around the house to get full functionality back in your leg, but other than that, you should be good to go," he told Lupin with the others listening in.
"Awesome. Another week or so and we should be back in business," Lupin said with a smile.
"I would say another two to three weeks. You broke the tibia, and although you got to me quickly and we were able to operate on it and get it in a cast right away, that bone supports all the weight of your body. As soon as you start feeling pain in it you need to sit down and elevate your leg," the doctor explained.
"C'mon Lupin, what's another few more weeks?" Jigen asked. "We can wait." The doctor nodded and made his way out of the house. Lupin walked around for a bit, glad to see the outside of his room.
"I swear, I thought I was going to go insane in there," Lupin stated as he walked around without the crutches and with Fujiko holding his arm.
"I know, Lupin, but don't overdo it today. You heard what he said; you're putting more weight on that bone than any other. Walk for a bit then go lay down again," Fujiko said.
"Sheesh, you're just dying to get me back in that bed, aren't you?" he asked.
"Of course not! I just want you to get better sooner!" she insisted and started leading him towards his room. "No arguing, just rest, ok?"
"Fine. If that'll make you happy," Lupin said as he sat down on his bed when they entered the room.
"It will, trust me," she said and gave him a peck on the cheek. Lupin grabbed her shoulder before she could stand up again.
"Can't the invalid get a little more than that?" he asked with a grin. Fujiko rolled her eyes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"That's all for now. Maybe there'll be more when you're feeling better," she said with a smirk and then left him in the room.
Jigen, Michelle and Goemon were left alone in the living room. Goemon watched the couple constantly glance at each other and then look away. Goemon sighed, made his way over to the corner of the room and sat down. As soon as he started meditating, Jigen gave Michelle a smirk and grabbed her wrist. She gave him an enquiring look, and his smirk turned into a large grin. As he led her up the stairs and down the hallway, he began to loosen his tie. Goemon heard them leave and opened one eye. Once he heard the door slam behind them he rolled his eyes and sighed once more.
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A few weeks later, Michelle awoke with a start one morning. She glanced over at Jigen who was sound asleep next to her. She was grateful that she didn't wake him and decided to grab a shower before he woke. As she started to get ready, she felt her stomach twisting and turning. Michelle tried to ignore it and get ready, but it kept getting worse and worse. Finally, she threw up into the toilet and felt momentarily better. After making sure that nothing else was coming up, she took a quick shower and got dressed. "Maybe I just need something on my stomach, and then I'll feel better," she thought. Michelle made her way downstairs and met Goemon in the kitchen.
"You're up early," he commented as she walked in the room.
"I didn't sleep well," she replied. Goemon nodded.
"Would you like some breakfast?" he asked as he motioned to her with the sizzling skillet. Michelle caught a strong whiff of the food and felt her insides turn again.
"I'll be back in a moment," she said as she held up a finger and then rushed to the guest bathroom. As she sat with her head almost inside the toilet bowl and the nothingness from her stomach coming up, she thought about why she was there. Michelle had a pretty good idea what was probably going on, but she wasn't ready to give in yet. She lifted her head up and thought, "No, that's not the case. It's just a stomach bug that I'll be rid of in just a day or two." She proceeded to throw up once more. "Ok, I'll get a test too, just to be on the safe side."
The next morning Michelle woke up early once again. This time she was prepared for what was going to happen. She grabbed a pair of clothes and the test she hid away from Jigen. After spending the first few minutes puking, she decided to take the test. Awhile later, she heard a knock on the door.
"Listen, Michelle, I know you're female, therefore you get exclusive rights to the bathroom, but I really need to take a shower and get ready! You've been in there for at least an hour!" Jigen yelled as he knocked on the door. As much as he loved sharing a room with Michelle, he hated sharing the bathroom. He pressed his ear against the door and heard nothing running.
Michelle sat on the toilet staring at the little piece of plastic in her hand that had a little pink plus sign on it. She didn't know what she felt or how she should feel. She dropped the piece of plastic into the waste basket and stood up. She turned on the faucet and began getting ready as fast as she could.
"Give me about five more minutes, Jigen! I swear I'll be out soon!" she said, trying to contain any emotions she had. She rushed through her makeup, quickly brushed her hair and threw it up into a ponytail, and she quickly changed clothes. She opened the door and saw Jigen leaning against the wall waiting on her.
"It took you an hour to do that? Good grief," he said as he walked into the bathroom. Michelle rolled her eyes and pulled out her laptop. As she began pulling up files, she realized that she left the test in the wastebasket where Jigen could find it. She wondered if she should run in there and snatch it, but she knew that would cause more suspicion. Then she really began to think about it. Do I really want him to know? Maybe I should tell him as soon as he gets out. Then again, he does get kind of crazy whenever he gets overly-protective, and he probably would be if I told him. Maybe I shouldn't tell him after all. Michelle quickly began going through all of her files for targets in England and began pulling up locations. Before long she had a map printed out before her and she had highlighted a huge green area that was safely away from all threats. A few moments after that, and Jigen walked out of the bathroom, completely dressed and ready.
"Michelle, I need to ask you something," Jigen stated as he stood before her. Michelle felt a chill run through her.
"Sure, what do you need?" she asked, nervously.
"Are you ok? You've been acting a bit odd lately," he said sitting next to her on the bed. He began massaging the back of her neck without thinking. Michelle began to relax.
"I've just been looking up the older files of information I have stored on my laptop, and I think I'm going to have to hit England soon. Most of my files from there haven't been updated in several years." She smiled at him. "Sorry if I've shown my sadness for leaving," she added, trying to sound sarcastic.
"Well, would you mind if I came with you?" he asked.
"I told you, when it comes to work, I go alone. Anyways, wouldn't you want to stay with Lupin? Do you think you two could take it if you left him for his sister?" Jigen snickered.
"I think we'd survive. Seriously, I'd like to come with you. You're gonna need someone to save your ass when you get into trouble," he said.
"Then I'll just have to keep a closer watch on my ass," Michelle said as she closed her laptop.
"Now I really want to go. That sounds like the perfect job for me," Jigen said with a grin. Michelle pulled his hat farther over his eyes.
"I'm going to England by myself in a few days. Listen, I'm coming back, so don't worry. And anyways, I think you know how to reach me right?" she asked with a smile.
"Well, I just about drank myself into a coma because I thought you had left me and weren't coming back, and now you really are leaving me. I need something that'll show that you'll keep your promise," he said grabbing her hand. "I don't intend to let you leave without proof."
"Alright then," Michelle said shrugging, "what would suffice as proof? Maybe something that is very dear to me?" she asked jokingly.
"Something that you can't live too long without," he said, sincerely. Michelle thought for a moment.
"Well, I would give you my laptop, but it would be pointless for me to go on this mission without it." Michelle looked around the room, wondering. Jigen dropped her hand and went over to one of his suitcases. He rummaged through one of the pockets and found a small object. While Michelle was still searching, Jigen kneeled before her and cleared his throat. Michelle's eyes grew wide.
"J-Jigen, what are you-"
"Shh…" Jigen silenced her. "I'm gonna do this right." He straightened his posture and held the ring out before her. It was a beautiful emerald ring with diamonds surrounding it. "Michelle Lupin, will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes!" Michelle exclaimed almost in tears. He slid the ring onto her finger and slipped his arms around her. He pushed her gently back on to the bed as he kissed her. Michelle flung his hat off of his head as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"So when are you two coming – oh shit!" Fujiko exclaimed as she walked in on them. Jigen jumped up and Michelle turned bright red. "So what were you two up to, huh?" Fujiko asked with a smirk. Jigen looked at his fiancée and back to Fujiko.
"I've got an announcement for later on. I'll tell you when I tell everyone else Fujiko," he said. Fujiko shrugged and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"You're going to tell everyone today?" Michelle asked.
"Well, I'd like for us to get married before you leave, if that's alright. If that's going to be the case, they're going to have to find out before too long," he said. Michelle nodded an agreement. "Besides, do you honestly think it'll remain a secret in this household?" he asked as he sat down next to her and placed an arm on either side of her.
"I guess not," she smiled as he began to kiss her once more. "I hope I can keep one secret long enough, though," Michelle thought, thinking back to her discovery in the bathroom.
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They all sat on the deck, sipping wine in celebration of the engagement and looking out into the backyard. Jigen, Lupin, and Fujiko all sat around at the table while Michelle leaned against the railing. Goemon sat above them on the roof, listening to their conversation. Lupin took a sip of his wine and sighed.
"You know, even though I pretty much vowed to hate you for the rest of my life, I'm glad that things finally worked out between us. Perhaps we'll accomplish even more with you working with us once you get back from England," Lupin said, lifting his glass towards Michelle.
"I hope so. I really appreciate the fact that you've finally forgiven me, even if it is was after you sold me out to the Estin group. But, I probably wouldn't be as happy as I am now if I hadn't run into you and your gang in the first place," she retorted with a smile. She looked at the emerald ring on her finger and then closed her eyes and let the Parisian breeze blow gently over her face.
"I swear, there is nothing more serene than a breezy afternoon in France with a glass of wine in the sunshine," Jigen stated, reclining in his chair. He looked over and watched Michelle enjoy the breeze. "The beautiful scenery really makes it worthwhile."
"Jigen, you know you really need to work on your flirting techniques," Fujiko mocked. "A girl could spot one of your lines from a mile away."
"I don't recall anyone talking to you," he said with a smirk. "Anyways, who's to say I wasn't talking about the landscape?"
"Somehow I don't think you were," Goemon added from above. Michelle laughed quietly to herself, her eyes still closed. Then she heard it.
It was quiet at first, a soft hum from a distance. But it approached quickly. She opened her eyes and looked around. Michelle still couldn't figure out which direction the sound was coming from. She knew what it was; she recognized it the moment she heard it. It was one of her mortal enemies.
Jigen looked back over to Michelle and noticed the hint of panic on her face. He quietly stood up and began to approach her.
"Michelle? Is everything ok?" he asked.
She continued to look around. Suddenly, she saw it. It was only a few feet away from her, at the most. She began to move back slowly, inching away carefully. Jigen stepped behind her and caught her shoulder.
"What is going on with you? I've seen you at gunpoint and knifepoint and you've never been this frightened." He was starting to get worried that something was going on that he wasn't prepared for.
"W-wasp!" Michelle let out in a high-pitched voice. She turned and continued to try to move back, but Jigen held her in place and looked her in the eyes.
"That's it? You'll face death any day, but put a wasp in front of you and you freak out?" Jigen sighed. He honestly wondered if he would ever understand women. Lupin laughed.
"Don't worry Jigen. She's been scared of those things since we were little kids. You'll never be able to break her of that," he said with a grin.
"Just wait and see!" Jigen said, rising to the challenge. "Alright Michelle, now just hold still and it won't bother you."
"Oh hell no! Let me go! I want to go inside!" she yelled trying to get untangled from his arms that held her in place. Goemon was really enjoying his aerial view of the situation.
"No! Now stop squirming or it's going to sting you!" Jigen said, turning her around to face it. The wasp approached them and her eyes grew larger.
"Please, Jigen, I never did anything to harm you, now let me go inside, I can't stand those things!" she had pushed herself as far back into his chest as he could allow, and Jigen was beginning to wonder how much longer he could hold her. Lupin and Fujiko sat and watched with interest. "I want to know what I did that warranted this horrible torture!" Michelle yelled.
The wasp grew closer still, as if it knew that Michelle was terrified of it. Jigen could feel Michelle twitching in his grasp. He was about to give up until he locked eyes with Lupin and remembered his challenge. He looked back to the wasp and sighed.
"You're doing fine Michelle, now just relax and don't bother it. I'm sure you know the saying that if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Sheesh, you'd think I was talking to a little kid…"
"Just you wait Jigen, if I end up getting stung you're going to regret this day for the rest of your life!" Michelle said through clinched teeth.
"Oh really?" Jigen mocked. Michelle started to comment, but then she noticed the wasp and gasped.
The wasp flew over and landed on her arm. It began to walk up her arm and towards her shoulder. She could feel the sweat dripping from her forehead and the tears gathering at her eyes.
"J-Jigen," she whispered, trying to remain completely still. "Help me…please."
"Don't move at all," Jigen answered quietly. Although he himself was not afraid of wasps, he was in no mood to get stung either. He knew that if he swatted at it, it would definitely sting one of them. Lupin and Fujiko seemed to be holding their breath in anticipation, wondering what was going to happen. Goemon leaned as far forward as he could on the roof without falling over.
The wasp stopped and seemed to face her. She looked over at it. They sat there in silence for a moment. The wasp moved slightly and Michelle furrowed her brow. Then the wasp leaned back on its abdomen. Michelle let out an ear-piercing scream.
"SONOFABITCH! DAMN YOU FRIGGEN', I SWEAR IF I EVER GET MY HANDS ON YOU!!!"
Jigen quickly let go of the girl and turned to head inside, and in the process he swatted the wasp which landed on the side of his neck and stung him.
"DAMN IT!" Jigen and Michelle both scrambled to get inside while the wasp buzzed around on the porch. Lupin and Fujiko were doubled up with laughter at the sight of the two.
"I told him it wasn't going to happen! I don't know why he didn't listen to me!" Lupin said between out bursts of laughter.
"Wow, the look on Michelle's face…You know I'm going to have to use this against her in the future," Fujiko said with a grin. The wasp landed on her nose.
"Lu-lupin…D-do something," she said, staring cross-eyed at her nose. Lupin quickly hobbled away from the table.
"I think I learned from Jigen. I'm just going to head inside now," he stated as he rushed indoors. Fujiko let out a scream and soon joined everyone else. Goemon jumped down from his spot and laughed. The wasp began to fly near him and he pulled out his sword. A moment later, he was inside and the wasp laid in two pieces on the table for several days.
A few minutes later, they all sat quietly in the living room. Lupin was trying to remove the stinger from Fujiko's nose while Michelle was getting the stinger out of Jigen's neck.
"Hey, go easy on me!" Jigen said as Michelle leaned in with the tweezers. "I was gentle with you when I took the one out of your arm!"
"Yeah, I'll go easy on you. You do realize that if you would have let me come inside, all of this would have been avoided," Michelle mentioned as she began grasping the stinger with the tweezers.
"Well, I know not to – SON OF A BITCH DID YOU HAVE TO YANK IT SO FRIGGEN' HARD?" Jigen grasped his neck and glared at the girl who looked innocently back, holding up the stinger in the tweezers.
"It's out," she said with a cute smile. Jigen sighed and leaned back. He was definitely going to regret this day for a long time. But then he looked over at Fujiko.
Lupin had managed to get the stinger out, but unfortunately, Fujiko's skin didn't approve of the stinger being there in the first place. The tip of her nose began to swell and turn red. Jigen couldn't help it. A small snicker came out. Then Michelle caught a glimpse of what he was laughing at and began to laugh as well. Soon the whole room was laughing, except for Fujiko, who still was uncertain about what was so funny. Finally she stood up and went to a mirror.
"Oh my God! Lupin, why didn't you tell me there was huge swollen spot on my nose?!" she yelled as she ran to the nearest room and slammed the door.
"You know, as much misery as I'm going to be dealing with from Michelle, I think that made this whole ordeal totally worth it," Jigen said. Michelle was too busy laughing to hear what he had said.
Fujiko raced into the bathroom that was attached to the room and began to dig through the cabinet. It took her a moment during her fury to realize she had run into Jigen and Michelle's room. She found some of Michelle's foundation makeup in the back of the cabinet and accidentally knocked a few items into the waste basket while trying to grab it. When she pulled the items out, she noticed an odd piece of plastic in the waste basket with a pink plus sign on it. Fujiko gasped. "So THAT'S why they're getting married!" She put some of the makeup on her nose, which didn't get rid of it, but made it plenty less noticeable. She was beginning to wonder why Michelle hadn't told everyone else about it yet. "Maybe she doesn't want to say anything till after they're married," she thought.