Well, here's chapter 2. I enjoyed writing this. I really was debating on either making the woman a singer or a dancer. I guess I'll just go on with the tradition of Jigen liking dancers I guess.
Hope you like it. I hope I didn't make Jigen OOC. I mostly based him off of Episode 0 in this.
Edit 10/31/11: Fixed a few parts that were somewhat hard to understand.
The partners in crime casually took their time to the elevator, pressing the button of where the lounge was located. A faint bell sound rang through their ears and they stepped out of the elevator. A few people were walking around, mostly tourists, buying things in European shops and the Classico was on their right. Lupin and Jigen could hear the double bass, piano, and someone singing inside. Although Lupin had a thing for rock music, and Jigen had a taste for classical, jazz was something they definitely both had in common. Both paid for their entry fees and saw the comfortable leather chairs that groups of people mingled in.
"Stools or chairs, Jigen? You decide, my friend," Lupin said, waving one hand to the group of people, and the other at the bar.
The marksman gave a small smirk and faced the bar, casually walking over to a stool and settled his bottom on it. Lupin later followed and sat beside Jigen, taking out a box of Marlboro cigarettes and offered his friend one. Jigen took one and ironically crumpled it a bit, putting it in his mouth and lit it with his zippo. The thief raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"I don't understand why you do that," Lupin smiled.
Jigen deeply inhaled the smoke into his lungs and blew it out, smiling back. "I'm just used to it. After all, I do put my own cigarettes in my ass pocket the majority of the time."
The two men talked for a bit as the bartender approached them, asking what they wanted to drink. Lupin ordered a classic red wine as Jigen ordered some good 'ol scotch. In a few minutes, the bartender came back with their drinks and began a conversation with them.
"I've never seen you two here, before. New around here?" the bartender asked.
The thief waved a hand at him and chuckled. "Nah, we've been to Sin City many times! We like coming here on vacation, that's all! Unless you mean if we've been here at Classico, then no."
The bartender was drying off a few glasses and put them under the counter, nodding.
"Ah, I see. Then you two came at the right time, then," he told Lupin and Jigen.
The marksman lifted his hat slightly and peeked at him with one eye, his cigarette nearly falling out of his mouth. He sucked the last bit of it and crushed it into the ashtray, his smile curling, wondering what the bartender meant. The man pointed at the polished wooden floor that was right in front of the stage. Jigen pursed his lips tightly and gave the bartender a bored look, clearly stating that he didn't know what he was talking about.
"Besides fabulous jazz singers, we have a dance couple here. They dance very well and are certainly nice on the eyes for both men and women," the bartender explained.
"Huh? Nice on the eyes? What do you mean by tha-" Lupin cut himself off as soon as the lights dimmed.
On one corner of the stage, a tall woman (or at least, she looked tall) with short black hair walked out the corner of the stage and strut to the floor. She was wearing a back revealing, fringe red dress and did a few sharp turns. Jigen coughed into his sleeve a bit as Lupin's mouth dropped open. The woman's partner, a man with blond slicked back hair walked onto the dance floor as well. Romantic latin music began playing as Jigen and Lupin watched the man hug the woman from behind expressively, beginning to move their hips together.
"Whoah ho ho hooooo! Who's that sexy lady dancing with that man who could be ME, right now?" Lupin spinned in his seat, asking the bartender.
Jigen adjusted his fedora, hiding his slight interest for the woman. He leaned on the counter of the bar and listened for the name. The bartender ignored to answer Lupin's question.
"As you can see, she's a fantastic ballroom dancer. She goes more for the latin dances. I believe they're doing a rumba," the bartender told them.
The thief bit his bottom lip as he watched her. Her long legs gleamed under the light as he watched her change weight on one foot to the other. She was definitely a lovely sight as he continued gawking at her, watching the woman and her partner dance gracefully. Jigen, on the other hand, took another one Lupin's cigarettes lying on the counter. He lit it as his eyes gazed over her shimmering dress and her sparkling necklace. It was nearly three minutes and it seemed like the couple was going to end their dance any time soon. The marksman chewed the end of his cigarette, and he watched her wrap her leg against her partner's hip. The dance ended with a fabulous dip and her hands touched the polished floor. Her eyes fluttered and Jigen could have sworn she stared at him. There was a round of applause and the dancer stood up straight once again. She and her partner gave their bows as people clapped at whistled. They waved goodbye as they disappeared behind the dark corner the woman entered through. Jigen turned his head as he saw Lupin tap his mouth with his fingers and he licked his lips hungrily. His eyes were full of lust but the marksman knew his comrade was a gentleman when it came to women.
"Well, then, Mr. Bartender," Lupin III turned in his seat and raised his eyebrows up and down. "Is there any chance I can meet this lovely lady and possibly have dinner with her?"
The man over the counter looked at him and gave a soft laugh. "Well, sir, I'm afraid you can't talk to her right now. However, she does leave around midnight, if you can find where she exits, that is. If you successfully see her, maybe she'll lead you to her room. Considering that she lives in this hotel herself."
Lupin checked the time and it was a half an hour to midnight. He asked the bartender, "Are they going to do any more dances? I'd absolutely love to see more!"
The bartender nodded and noticed Lupin's wine glass was empty, so he refilled it with some more wine. "Why, of course, sir. It's just a five minute intermission for everyone to get drinks and for the dancers to get ready."
Jigen felt uneasy for some reason and tugged his collar to loosen it a bit. He didn't feel like talking much, but he couldn't get the woman out of his mind. He had to admit, the girl was stunning. She wasn't as pretty as Fujiko but she was certainly charming. He seemed to have forgotten the scotch he had and watched the dancer walk out again onto the floor. She wasn't alone this time, but with her partner. For the next half hour, Lupin and Jigen watched the rest of the dances they did. A jive, a samba, cha-cha, and even a salsa. The marskman lifted his fedora to get a better look at her, and he saw a rose on the side of her head. His memory brought him back to the flamenco dancer he fancied back then, and the one he had to kill. He sighed and looked away, resting his arms on the counter as he drank his scotch. He blocked out all of the cheering and clapping from his ears and began to think.
"What's so special about women? Nothing really. They'll just stab you in the back a thousand times. They'll use you. They won't care about you. It's just like Lupin and Fujiko."
He grunted as these thoughts came into mind and he shoved his hat tightly around his head. Jigen looked at Lupin as he whistled like the wolf in the old monochrome cartoons. He was about to drink another glass of scotch until his comrade nudged him with his elbow.
"Hey, Jigen. Guess what time it is? Midnight! Now let's get that girl!" Lupin smiled devilishly and rubbed his hands together. Jigen wished he wasn't where was right now. Or maybe he shouldn't have suggested the lounge to monkey face in the first place.
"Now, I'll keep watch here and you go outside. If I'm not there by the time you see her, talk to her for me, alright?" Lupin winked at him as he saw a group of women beside him. He began to flirt with them as Jigen got up, paid the bartender, and walked out of the lounge.
"Tch, sometimes, I wonder why I agreed to team up with him," he mumbled to himself.
As much as he didn't want to do it, he found himself relaxing against a wall as several tourists passed by him. He was rather irritated though as he looked around carefully for the dancer that was in the lounge. No wonder why Lupin liked Las Vegas so much. All the women practically dressed up like his 'beloved' Fujiko. For the past few minutes, he smoked his fifteenth cigarette in a row and watched it turn smaller. He shoved it in the ashtray on top of the garbage can and simply pulled out another one from his back pocket. A crumpled one at that. As soon as he took out his zippo, the dancer from the lounge passed right by him. He lit his cigarette and later began tailing her for a bit until there were less people. Jigen realized that they were getting closer and closer to the room elevators. He decided he had no choice but to run up to her.
"Excuse me, miss! Mind if I chat with you for a bit?" he called out. The woman paused and turned around, watching him come up to her.
"Yes? Do I know you?" she questioned him confidently.
Jigen saw her as a simple woman as he approached her. She didn't have any makeup on, despite the glitter and lipstick he saw on her face not long ago. She had a short, layered haircut that she neatly gelled into a curl across her forehead. No need for mascara, her eyelashes were naturally long. He also expected her voice to be a little high just like Fujiko's. Instead, it was lower, and when she spoke, her words came out strong. He also noticed that she wasn't wearing any club clothing. Just a plain beige turtleneck sweater and a long brown skirt with warm boots. She was also a few inches shorter than him. Perhaps by three or four.
"Oh, not at all, miss. I just saw you dance at the Classico a while ago and you were really, um, stunning," Jigen hesitated as he looked for a word.
She gave a small smile at him and nodded, telling him, "Oh, thank you very much. No one has come up to me yet to tell me that. I'm very flattered."
The marksman chuckled and wondered what else to say. What in the world was he going to get from her? He had to get something back to Lupin. Or else he'd be whining the entire night.
"I'm the first? That's pretty surprising, miss. I guess I should be honored, eh?" he smiled, pretending that he was embarassed by scratching the back of his head. He began to get frustrated as he couldn't think of anything else to say. He always wondered how Lupin was able to talk with the ladies.
The dancer simply laughed. "Indeed! I think I did see you while I was dancing, actually. You were at the bar, correct? My name is Valora. You?"
The marksman lifted his hat a bit and settled it back down on his head. Now he was getting onto something.
"Just call me Jigen."
She nodded as she looked at her watch and she seemed rather shocked. Valora looked at Jigen sheepishly and waved a hand in front of her.
"Oh dear, I believe it is getting rather late. I have to go home very soon. I know we weren't able to talk very much, but is there anything I can do to make it up?" she asked him.
Jigen pondered about it for a bit and replied, "Well, maybe we can get lunch or something? I actually wanted to catch you because my friend wanted an autograph from you."
That was probably the worst lie he could think of. She bought it though.
Valora nodded and pulled out a business card of Classico and a pen from her pocket. She quickly scribbled her number down and handed it to him. She gave another warm smile that Jigen wasn't exactly used to and he took the card from her.
"Well, if you and him are available, lunch doesn't sound too bad. I only work at night so that's the good thing," she explained to him. "Anyway, I have to get going now. I hope to see you tomorrow. Well, later today, Jigen."
She turned and he watched her walk away, then glanced at the number on the card.
"Damn, what did I do?"