Chapter 3

"You gonna hit me?" Jigen taunted.

Hours had passed since they first argued that day. And this current spat was their third round.

Jigen and Goemon stood face to face, Jigen with his arms out as if he were inviting the samurai to hit him.

"You should just give up on being a man, Goemon," Jigen scoffed.

Goemon didn't say anything as he trembled with rage.

Jigen lowered his arms and took a step back. "Go back to Japan where you're not seen as the freak you are. I'm sure your dress will turn heads in Tokyo. Maybe you can get yourself a nice boyfr-"

Goemon screamed, finally reaching his limit and swung wildly at Jigen, his clenched right hand hitting Jigen square on the jaw and then a quick left to the mouth following.

Jigen stumbled back to the floor, holding a hand to his bleeding mouth as he looked up in shock as Goemon stood over him.

Lupin walked out of his room as he put on his tie and stopped when he saw his two partners. "Damn it, Jigen, knock it off!"

"This little shit hits me and it's all my fault?" Jigen yelled.

Lupin threw a towel at Jigen. "He'd have no reason to hit you if you just layed off!"

Jigen pressed the towel to his mouth and narrowed his eyes at Goemon, who continued to look very dominating.

"I get it," Lupin yelled. "You don't like him! You don't like that I invited him to work with me! And if it bothers you so much having him around, then maybe you should pack your shit and leave!"

Both Jigen and Goemon were surprised by Lupin's words.

Jigen stood and threw the towel on the floor. "You'd actually pick him over me. After all we've been through. Wow."

"Jigen," Lupin sighed. "It's obvious you're the problem."

"Yeah, I'm the problem," Jigen laughed. He glared at Lupin as he shook his head in astonishment. "I guess I should have listened to my friends when they warned me about you, about how you just end up fucking all your partners over."

"Jigen, come on, it isn't like th-"

"No, it's exactly like that! You pushed this asshole child on me and now you're gonna do it again with some bitch who keeps fucking up our jobs! And I'm done with all of it! Next time you're in a bind and need help, don't even think about calling me."

Lupin watched in sadness as Jigen walked out the door.

Goemon smirked slightly as he watched Jigen leave. His face then went without expression when he looked back at Lupin. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything," Lupin said, annoyed by all the drama and going back to his room to finish getting dressed.

Lupin and Jigen had worked together for almost two years before Lupin had heard about Goemon and his sword.

Researching further, Lupin discovered Goemon's clan hiding the formula for the metal used to forge the sword's blade, one of the strongest metals known to man.

Lupin had fun taunting the samurai boy, someone who wasn't so used to things beyond the traditions he had grown up with.

In the end the formula was destroyed, the treasure lost. Lupin gained a bigger treasure, though, in a new partner.

Jigen didn't like it, Lupin taking his refusal as him being jealous of Goemon's skills.

Jigen thought that ridiculous and the two didn't speak for a couple of weeks.

Lupin knew it was his fault in the first place, becoming so close to his partners. Both his father and grandfather said you should trust partners with your life, but not get that close to them, those partners often times turning on you.

Lupin couldn't help it, though. It was who he was. He liked Jigen the person more than Jigen the skilled gunman. And as much as Goemon's sword came in handy, he liked Goemon more.

His father had told him that if there was ever a problem with the group, then you got rid of the problem. And by 'get rid of' his father had really meant 'kill', but Lupin couldn't bring himself to kill a friend.

Getting rid of Jigen was something he didn't want to do but knew he had to. And hours after Jigen left it still hurt.

"Lupin," Goemon said.

Lupin sat on the edge of the couch, his arms leaning on his knees as he stared at the wall.

"If you want him back I can leave," Goemon said.

Lupin shook his head as he kept staring at the wall. "No, that isn't necessary."

"Do... you think he'll come back?"

Lupin looked up at Goemon and forced a smile. "It's not your problem, so don't worry about it."

Goemon knew that wasn't so. He could usually keep calm during those types of situations and he slipped and let his anger control him. To him, he had failed himself and Lupin.

"Besides," Lupin laughed. "It's not the first time we've fought. He'll be back."

Goemon nodded, unsure of what Lupin said.

There was a knock on the door and the two looked back at it.

Lupin got excited and ran to it, opening the door and looking at Fujiko with a big smile on his face.

The two hugged and kissed before Lupin invited her inside.

"I'd like you to meet my partner, Goemon," Lupin said. "Goemon, this is Fujiko."

"Nice to meet you, Goemon," she said with a smile and bow.

Goemon could only stare at her. She was much more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. "Uh, yes, nice to meet you." He bowed awkwardly.

"If anything happens, call me," Lupin said. "If it isn't that important, don't bother. I'll be back tomorrow." He had a dumb grin on his face.

Fujiko waved and smiled to Goemon as she and Lupin left.

Goemon blushed and waved back.

The conversation was light during dinner. It was mostly filled with flirting and loving stares.

Done with their meals and the table cleared of their plates, Lupin and Fujiko reached across the table and held hands.

"So, heard anything interesting?" Lupin asked.

"Maybe. What do I get for this information?"

"A third of whatever we take if you help me and Goemon."

"Your other friend isn't helping?"

"He has something else to do. So?"

"I want half." Fujiko gave him a sly look.

Lupin returned the look. "Fine. Half."

"Well, I've heard something about a shipment of stolen goods leaving the harbor tomorrow night."

"Go on."

"The shipping company is in bed with the local mafia group, so they help them get their goods out under the radar."

"God I love you," Lupin said in a hushed tone, leaning over and kissing her, Fujiko kissing him back.

"Now what?" she wondered between kisses.

"We go back to your place and fuck," he said.

"I like that." She pulled back and smiled at him as he smiled at her.

Lupin slapped some money on the table and the two started for the door, Lupin handing their server a nice tip on the way out.

The next morning Lupin and Fujiko went back to his place.

Goemon was meditating in the living room when they entered. He stood and nodded at Lupin. He quickly looked down uncomfortably when Fujiko smiled and winked at him.

Goemon was okay with her working with them on the job. He found himself liking her more than he should have and just wanted her to be around.

They sat at the table to discuss their plan, various maps and blueprints and photos in front of them.

Jigen was led by two men wearing suits that were completely black, the three of them walking down a hallway and towards a large door.

The door was opened and the two men motioned for Jigen to enter. Jigen entered and the two men followed, standing behind him as the door was closed.

Jigen walked up to a desk. Behind the desk sat a man in an expensive suit.

The man was tall and skinny, clean shaven and with his black hair slicked back. He took the cigar from his mouth and smirked at Jigen.

The man stood and welcomed Jigen to his organization. The two shook hands to finalize the new partnership