Copy Link

Add to Bookmark

Report

Lupin fire interlude

@LupinIII

Published in

Fan Fiction

· 7 Nov 2023

PART ONE: The Eye

Fire's moved with deliberate calculating steps. 'Come on Girl' she though 'Hmmm, pressure plate there' Her body moved in tune with her instincts and she leapt to the ceiling, using her climbing claws to hold on. 'It's been way to long'

She was in a thoughtful mode and slowly climbing across the wall to avoid the traps, allowed her to think for herself. 'I guess Kitsune was right. I'm a natural born thief. I love the suspense, the action. If I just didn't care about hurting people...' She stopped mid though as a gem sparkled in the moonlight.

Actually it was more like three gem, a diamond the size of a baseball, surrounding a golf-ball sized emerald, and a black onyx pebble in the center. It's multi faceted nature gave it the appearance of an eye and the multiple gems involved we the focus of great magic. Emerald, onyx, and diamond allowed multiple magic in one item. 'Now if only they could make a ring out of it.'

Fire leaped to the ground, landing softly as a whisper, as she reached for the gem, a tingle rand through her hand, and a shiver went down her spine. Before she could even form the words to swear with, her instincts kicked in, leaping into a pack flip just as the magic missile smashed into the ground where she had been.

She leaped and doged her way out of the paths of a battery of several dozen magic missiles. And just as she thought it was safe, a wall of flame appeared in front of her. 'It can't hurt you, it can't hurt you' She thought as she cringed in front of it. She still retained some fear of fire, despite her natural immunity and her attempts to overcome it. Still her fear was less than a normal human's and she could overcome it, especially when the floor beneath her gave way to a pit full of spikes. She leaped through the wall of flame, it hurt, the pain nearly unbearable, but it was over in an instant, and Fire rolled out of the flame wall unharmed except for her black Ninja outfit, which was burned to where it covered only the bear essentials. Fire's eyes widened as she saw before her the Eye of Allandra, it seem to look at her with bemused interest. As she reached out to grab the eye. The walls of the room began to collapse on each other. "What is it with these guy's and death traps, anyway?" As Fire spoke she threw one of her two Katanas so that it was wedged between the metal play closing in front of the door and the floor. She slid under the plate and grabbed her katana on the way out, watching the plate slam to the floor as she did. "That was a close.... gack." Fire turned to face a wall of knives coming at her. With in an instant, she had leaped at the wall batting away enough knives with her Katana's to make a whole in the wall as she leaped through. Her heart sank as a second wall approached and she could see a third and maybe a forth behind it.

"Bright lady, help! Get me out of here!" She cried to the air.

"Command understood, input desired destination." the voice came from the eye.

The harried Fire spoke quickly "Anywhere just get me out of here."

"Understood. Destination achieved..." and the world went blank for an instant, rebuilding itself out of nothing."

PART TWO: Enter Lupin

"Nothing like a successful gig to make a guy feel good, right Jiigen?"

"Nothing like good money, you mean." Jiigen replied to Lupin.

"Well there is that. But I'd also like to think I did a public service, taking down that corrupt banker. I mean I made sure that the money we stole comes out of his pocket book and not out of.... Jiigen, look out!!!!"

"I see!!!!" The yell came as the car screamed to a halt spinning around in the process, an nearly hitting the girl who had just appeared out of nowhere. The girl leaped out of the way, the only problem was, that out of the way was over a high cliff that overhung a large drop ending in jagged rocks (you know the type.) In a less time than it takes to blink, Lupin had leaped from the car and was moving to grab the girl. Mean while, Fire, the girl in question, tossed out her grappling line, just a little before Lupin did the same, so they both came to a halt at nearly the same time. "Thanks for the though," Fire spoke "But I can take care of myself."

"Really?" Lupin spoke with interest. "So, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this." his face plastered with a goofy grin.

"Trying to avoid being splattered by that yellow monster." Fire answered.

"Well, my car may have it's problems, but it's hardly a monster. Shall we discuss the matter in more pleasant surroundings milady?"

"You have a point, at least maybe you can tell me where I am."

PART 3: Sorting

Over the edge of a cliff, hanging by a thin wire and rope Lupin and Fire stare at each other curiously. In Lupin's case it might me considered more of a leer.

"Well I don't feel like hanging around all day, care to join me in a climb?" Fire asked. Despite everything she was in a good mood. If nothing else a little climb was far more appealing than leaping through four or five more walls of knives. Besides, it was good exercise, and good exercise.

"After you, milady" Lupin spoke, improvising a bow as best he could while hanging from a wire.

Fire smiled, she was in such a good mood, she didn't even mind that climbing first gave her new friend a generous view of her undergarments, through the torn fabric. "Hope you're enjoying the view." Fire giggled as she spoke.

"Oh, immensely!" Lupin countered with a chuckle 'I don't know who she is, but I like this girl.' he though. "You aren't exactly shy are you."

"Well where I grew up..." Fire paused for a moment "Rock!" as she spoke Lupin dodged a rock she had dislodged.

"Thank's for the warning. You were saying?"

"I grew up in a place where baths were Co-ed. I'm not ashamed of showing my body to men."

"Well it's in lovely shape." Lupin chimed. Enjoying the chatter. "If you don't mind my saying so."

"Well I work hard to keep it that way," Fire laughed "I don't object to people staring, as long as they don't try to grope or fondle me. I may be attractive, but I'm not easy."

"Nothing worthwhile ever is." Lupin countered.

Jiigen had pulled over to the side and was looking down over the cliff with a bemused look on his face. "If you two are finished with your chat, we need to get out of here."

As Fire reached the top, Lupin had a strange feeling, something about her the way she climbed, her catlike grace made him uneasy. Not that a little thing like feeling uneasy would ever keep him away from a beautiful woman. And she was beautiful, bright flame red hair, emerald green eyes, and gently tanned skin.... well as much as he could tell, he hadn't had that much time to admire her looks.

They reached the top one after the other and Jiigen helped them up.

"Who's your friend, Lupin? Jiigen asked.

"She's..., say, who are you?" Lupin spoke as her turned to Fire.

"People call me Fire." She replied.

"Must be American," Jiigen spoke up "Only American parents would give their kids names like Fire, Moon-Unit, and Sunflower."

"Actually it's a nickname, I don't know who my parent's are. Much less what name they gave me."

"Gee," Lupin spoke with the genuine sympathy he reserved for women in trouble, "that's rough."

"Is this what you called your car?" Fire, quick to change the subject, said pointing to the yellow VW bug.

"Hey," Lupin cried out "It may not be much, but it runs."

Fire examined the machine "Oh, it's some kind of horseless carriage."

"Jezz, horseless carriage? What planet have you been on for the last century?" Jiigen blurted out?

Lupin held his tongue, not wanting to upset the beautiful young lady (he had confirmed that she was beautiful by this time).

"Not planet. Plain?" Fire spoke out. Noting the blank looks she reached into her side pouch, which somehow survived her encounter in tact, and pulled out a sheet of velum. "Imagine now that this we live in totally flat realm, and this paper is our world."

"Small world..." Jiigen replied.

"Give the girl a chance Jiigen."

"I will, but only if we move the discussion to the car. I don't want to get run over."

They piled into the car, and Fire resumed her explanation

"Anyway, if the universe was like a book, there could be many worlds next to each other on the different pages or planes. Or at least that's how my sensie explained it to me."

"Hey, I think I saw Carl Sagen explain it once." Jiigen spoke skeptically.

"She's trying to describe alternate dimensions, you know, like on Star Trek."

"Well, if she's from one," Jiigen began to question "then how'd she get here?"

"I wish I knew myself," Fire responded.

"Please restate query?" spoke a monotone from Fire's pack. "What?" all three passengers spoke out at once.

"I think it's coming from your pack Fire?"

"You expressed a desire to know something." it spoke again. "Please rephrase your statement as a question."

"What is this," Jiigen interrupted "Final Jeopardy?"

"Huh, Jiigen," Lupin began "Sounds like a computer of some sort."

"What's going on?" Fire cried as she pulled the eye from her pouch.

"Please specify," the Eye spoke "Your question was to vague." For a moment the monotone was replaced by something else "You are traveling at a speed of 80 Kilometers per hour, the planet is moving around the sun, birds are flying overhead, you really have to be more specific."

Part 4: Who is Eddie?

"What is that?" Jiigen, asked, "Some sort of Schitso computer?"

"Why not ask it?" Lupin replied blithely "It seems rather talkative."

"What are you?" Fire asked holding up the eye.

"This unit is an Extra-Dimensional Interface Transit" the monotone spoke "Or E.D.I.T." for short.

There was a slight pause and the voice returned with a chuckle , "But you can call me Eddie."

"It's some kind of dimensional transporter," Lupin smiled as he spoke, "that would explain how Fire got here."

"Boss, how do we know she isn't some loony with a speak and spell?" Jiigen queried skeptically.

Lupin replied before Fire could get upset, "We saw her appear out of no where, not flash, no (if you'll forgive the pun) fireworks. Just there. Not even I could pull that off with out the help of George Lucus. Inter dimensional transport is just as far fetched as teleporation, in fact, it forms the basis for many theoretically models for teleportation."

'Bright Lady, what is he talking about?' Fire thought. She decided to keep her mouth shut and try rather than appear stupid.

"Ok, I'll buy that." Jiigen finally replied.

'How does he see under that hat' Fire giggled to herself at the though 'I can't even be sure he has eyes. Maybe I should give him this thing.'

"Say," Jiigen went on "How come you know so much about it."

"Well," Lupin began "You know how I like to keep up with the latest technology? Well it doesn't hurt to look a bit ahead."

Jiigen remained skeptical "Don't want to admit, you like science-fiction, eh?"

Fire recognize the easy banter as the sign of old friends, or at least people who had worked together for some time. She used to banter like that with Toshima, although there was a bit more one upmanship involved.

Fire decided to sit back and observe, try and figure out what she could about them. The calluses on Lupin's fingers seem to indicate that he did a lot of climbing, well it could have been some other activity (Fire was no detective, so she could only observe the calluses on her own fingers and make comparisons.), but the fact that he carried a grappling hook seemed to bear this out. Anybody who carried a grappling hook that could hide in a sleeve, had to be some thief or maybe a ninja, but something about him spelled rouge. Well at least Fire was in company that wouldn't be to upset if they found out where she got this thing. Lupin seemed easy going and fun loving, not unlike Odoroku (Toshima and Odoroku are two of Fire's fellow students -Marc) generally likable, at least on the surface. Jiigen was more your straight man, someone steady who would make good backup in a heist. 'Hmmm, this thing could probably take me back to Generic anytime I wanted, but I think I may stick around for a bit, I'd like to see these to in action.

Part 5: Shopping Trip

The VW moved past down the road and came to a stop at a building an orange roof. "Well this is where we're supposed to catch up with everyone. "You'll like Goemon, he's good with the katana." As he spoke Lupin eyed the pair of katanas mounted on Fire's back. She had been quite through most of the day. Asking only a few questions about road signs and what not. But in general she was still good company, certainly nice too look at, especially with all the holes burned in her outfit. "So what exactly do you do for a living Fire?" Lupin asked, pulling his eyes up to her face.

"I'm an adventurer." She replied.

"Adventurer?"

"You know, people who go out on adventures," she began "kill dragons, fight monsters, stop evil mages. It's not really a job, adventure is more of a label for people who make a living by seeking excitement."

Lupin's grin nearly slit his face in two, "So you like adventure, eh. I think you came to the right place."

"Planing a heist are we?" Fire broke in.

"Huh?" Lupin spoke trying to sound innocent, "what makes you say that."

"I lived on the streets of Generica six to eight. I know how to look for the tell tale signs of thief. You have to learn that fast, or you'll end up robbing someone who robs you back."

Lupin laughed, although he was a tad bit uneasy, despite his greed, he didn't like hurting people who didn't deserve it, and most thieves didn't bend that way, but something about Fire was different.

Jiigen went to check them in at the hotel. "Boss, looks like someone got here ahead of us."

When they entered the room, someone was sitting on the bed lotus position. Fire recognized his clothing as Etarusian instantly. "You are late Lupin, I hope you didn't take off just to catch women." He spoke with a air of calm confidence that caught Fire off guard. He had the air of a fighter, a fighter good enough that he didn't have to prove it to anyone. Fire was good, but she still had a lot to prove. She decided she'd better give in to her natural instincts and bow to the man. Goemon cracked a small smile "At least she has good manners, now tell me what this is about."

Once inside the door Lupin relayed the whole story to Goemon in detail. As they spoke quickly and in Japanese, Fire broke in to clarify a few points. Then she went on to tell how absconded with the eye.

"May I take a look at your blades?" Goemon asked Fire.

"Certainly."

"Well they aren't ancient, and it doesn't fit the style of any of the smiths who could make a true katana. If she isn't from another world, then some went to quite a bit of trouble to make her appear so."

Both Jiigen and Lupin were busy leering at Fire, though with Jiigen, you really couldn't tell. Apparently Goemon could. "Would you two stop staring at the young lady, and get her some clothes. That burnt ninja outfit, is quite conspicuous."

Jiigen countered "You are one to be talking. In the US, your getup sticks out like a sore thumb."

"He's got a point though Jiig," Lupin spoke up "She could use some new clothes." He turned to wink at Jiigen "There's a Wall-Mart a few blocks down."

"Oh yeah," Jiigen replied, and God only knows if he winked back or not.

Fire made a not to be on her guard, from the sounds of things they would do anything mean to her, but they might try and pull something over on her.

Lupin pulled a T-shirt and a pair of shorts out of his luggage. "Go in the bath room and put these on.

Fire came back out with the T-shirt on, but wearing her burnt ninja pants and holding up the shorts. "I can't wear these. They have a whole in the crotch."

Lupin cracked up, while Jiigen chuckled to himself. While Fire look nonplused. "Gomenasi," Lupin blurted out, "See this little metal tab here?"

"Hai."

"You pull it up, and it closes the hole, like this" Lupin demonstrated. "It's called a zipper."

Fire returned to the bathroom returned dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt that had 'I' heart symbol 'NY' on it.

"How do I look?"

"Like a tourist" Lupin answered.

"A what?"

"I'll explain later. Oh Jiigen, Fire and I better go alone. You need to get ahold of your friend in Chicago and tell him when to scedual the diversion."

"Why can't we do that after we shop boss?"

"You said you talk to him as soon as you got in, and you wouldn't want him mad at you, now would you?"

Jiigen nodded, "I'll make the call."

On the way to the Wall-Mart, Lupin began asking Fire about herself, she told him who she had been pulled out of a fire in the temple the god of mischief, and how she had stayed in an orphanage till age six and then lived off her wits in the streets, and who she had been adopted by a Etarusina merchant and trained as a ninja.

"Ninja are assassins though, you don't strike me a cold blooded killer."

"I'll kill if I have to," Fire reply with a bit of a shudder "but I don't like doing it in cold blood."

When they reached the K-Mart they were greeted by a tall stacked blond in a cyclist's jump suit.

"Fujiko!" Lupin exclaimed "What are you doing here."

"Goemon told me the whole story," she smiled "I just wanted to keep you from taking advantage of the poor girl and dressing her in g-strings and spandex."

"Hey," Lupin smirked "I resemble that remark."

Fujiko turned to Fire "Come on honey, lets get you dress."

Part 6: Between Girls

After Fujiko and Fire looked through many dress and outfits, obviously enjoying themselves the time came to try stuff on.

"If you'll excuse us ladies. We have to change." Fujiko said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I don't have to tell you what will happen if I catch you peaking."

"Awwwwww," Lupin cried with mock regret.

As they entered the dressing rooms Fujiko spoke out. "For a ninja, you sure have good fashion sense."

"Kitsune used to reward Arashi Hanniwa and me with dresses when we did well in training."

"A fox brought you dresses?"

"No, Kitsune is his nickname. Everyone calls him that or Kitsune-bi."

"Fox fire, huh? Ever try tossing him a fried rat?"

"Huh?" Fire blinkblinked.

"Never mind. Hmmm, you are pretty well proportioned for your size. This should look good on you." Mean while Jiigen and Lupin explore the sporting goods section. "Women, I'll never understand them." Jiigen exclaimed.

"Well at least they didn't go off to the bathroom together." Lupin replied."

"Still I wish I could know what they were thinking."

"Well I don't."

Jiigen gave Lupin the best shocked look he could without actually showing his eyes.

"Oh, come on Jiig. If we knew how they thought, it would take half the fun out of things, it's the very unpredictable nature of women that make them so interesting."

"You may have a point there boss. But I always thought it was the soft skin and..."

"Well that too." Lupin laughed.

"Before we finish with this small wardrobe. I'd like to warn you about Lupin, he's not exactly good for steady relationships." Fujiko spoke seriously.

Fire laughed "I don't know him all that well, but I'm not planning on staying here all that long. I just want to see how he works, pretty soon I'm going to use the artifact I stole to take me back home."

"So why do you want to see Lupin pull off a heist. I don't know exactly. Lupin may be a bit lecherous, but he's honest about it, he strikes me as the paradoxical honest thief. And more than that, someone I'd like to be friends with. He seems to be loyal to his friends, I don't think Goemon or Jiigen would put up with him if he wasn't."

Fujiko sighed "You're right about that, as a friend Lupin is outstanding. He's risked his life for me more time than I care to think about. I can't think of a better friend, but..."

"But?" Fire smiled as she spoke.

Fujiko screwed her face, imitating irritation "some times I just want to kill him!"

"He's a guy, they'll do that to you." Fire giggled "You don't want to know how irritating Toshima can get." <Next: Honey I shrunk the Lupin: Just kidding> <Really Next : Goemon assessis Fire's combat abilities. Chicago Awates. Don't miss it> Ok folks, I should make this part of my disclamer, but I want you to know FEEDBACK HELPS, posative or negative. If you have a suggestion, or even a spelling correction, or a complaint about how I'm writing any of the characters (even Fire who is mine) tell me. As long as you are polite about it I'll listen and try to do something about it. If you have posative statements, I like those too. Well anyway enough of my babble. I hope you like what I've done so far, because with any luck, it will only get better. Till next time.... -----Marc (Kitsune) Seebass For those of you who read 'Gamer's Guide to Anime' here are Fire's stats. Strength: Average Dexterity: God-Like Constitution: Superior Intelligence: Above Average Personality: Impulsive Charisma: Superior Alignment: Chaotic Good Skills: Lock-Pick: Expert Detect Trap: Expert Weapons: Expert (With Ancient weapons) Marksmanship: Expert (with bows and throwing stars only.) Driving: What's this thing do? Riding: Expert Disguise: Average Strategy: Above Average Stealth: Expert Fire is Copyright 1992 by Marc Seebass. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Fan Fic:

Part 7: (Can you believe it)

The trip had taken many days, and Fire was surprised at the speed of the vehicle's speed. Judging from the change in terrain, it would have taken her days, or even months to travel on horse back. She had used the time well. The more she learned about Lupin, the more she liked the man and his friends. As they exchanged stories on the way, even Goemon, who had barely spoken a word to her since he arrived, seemed to listen to her tails, although Fire suspected he doubted a their veracity.

Fire flicked her hair out of her face, it had been a while since she had time to get it cut. "Well anyway, that's when his pants fell down, and he tripped on them... " Fire continued as Jiigen and Lupin laughed.

"Sounds like you're pretty good with those katana, Fire" Lupin smiled "But you should see Goemon in action."

"Motion to Fujiko, that we are pulling over at the next stop." Goemon spoke calmly.

"Ok, but Why" Jiigen asked.

"If Fire is to assist us on this excursion, we will need to know her true capabilities. I suggest we test them."

"Good idea Goemon." Lupin replied as he stuck his head out the window "Hey Fuji! Were pulling over for a sparing match."

They managed to find a good campsite along the way, and they pulled in to an unoccupied area. Fire and Goemon faced off, each bowing deeply to the other.

The match started slow, as Fire feigned and practiced katas with Goemon, then the began to move quicker, as if to some ever increasing rhythm. Goemon worked on the defenses covering Fire's blows so well that she quickly realized that holding back would be useless, because she didn't have to worry about actually hitting Goemon, not matter how hard she tried. 'Oh well' she though 'Might as well show him what I can do.' Fire flicked her bangs out of her eyes once again and came in with a leaping attack, moving with a speed and fury that lived up to her name. Fire felt nothing but the rush of wind near her head, as landed and turned around. Goemon sheathed his sword, and Jiigen and Lupin began clapping.

"She shows promise," Goemon said matter of factly.

As Fire turned to bow to Goemon, locks of bright red hair fell from her brow to the ground.

Later in the car Fire sat staring at herself in the rear view mirror.

"What's the matter, Fire?" Lupin asked.

"I just can't believe it." She said.

"That he cut your hair?" Jiigen asked "Goemon's good."

"I can believe he gave me a haircut. Really I can. But this is one of the best haircut's I ever had."

At that the Jiigen and Lupin broke out in laughter, and to Fire's surprise, she even noted a hit of a smirk on Goemon's lips. <Next, Things heat up as we get to the heist, and maybe even a good care chase.> <I really should just make some disclamer saying how I want feed back and such, it would save me a lot of time. Comments are weclome. Thanks for reading>

Part 8: Revelations

"Ok, gang. Here we are, the windy city." Lupin announced.

Fire stood back and gasped. She had heard something of about high tech societies but nothing prepared her for the reality. Huge towers of steel tall as mountains.

"So, Fire. What do you think?" Lupin asked casually.

"Ahhhh..." Fire stared open mouthed at the vast skyline "Bright lady, it's huge."

"Geez, good thing we didn't go to New York, huh, boss?" Jiigen said.

"I don't think it would have made that much difference. Welcome to the Windy City."

"Okay guys, here's the plan. Fuji, Fire, and I will case out the museum, while you get ahold of your friend."

"Boss, Fire doesn't know much about this world, won't she, well you know, stick out like a sore thumb" Jiigen asked.

"I'm a ninja," Fire responded hastily, "It's my job not to stick out."

At this point both Goemon and Lupin turned to Fire. Jiigen had the presence of mind to keep his eyes on the road.

After a moment of intense, deafening silence Goemon was the first to speak. "I think you had better explain yourself."

Fire sighed deeply and heavily "Maybe Toshima was right. If I blurt something like that out, maybe I'm not ready for the 'real world'"

She paused an instant before speaking, "Because I'm not in my own world, I guess my secrets won't mean that much to you. Our oath only requires us to avoid compromising the secrets of our school, we can tell them to those who will not or cannot use them against us. I think you fit under both categories...."

Fire voiced flatened as she began to recite a speech "I am a member of the Ninja clan know as Kitsune, the nickname of our sensie. We our taught in the way of the Kitsune, subterfuge and cleverness our are weapons, but we are not without honor. We are not trained as thieves, scouts, and spies..." Fire voice quivered a bit

"You may not believe this, but one of our first tenants is never to kill unless absolutely nesissary. I've, I.. I saw too many friends die on the streets to take life casually."

Goemon stared into Fire's eyes, his stare unsettled her. After a few seconds that seemed like hours to Fire, Goemon raised his hand in a gesture, that Lupin seemed to recognize. "Let's change the subject to something a bit more cheerful. Like how well be getting the pictures." ----------

Part 9: The Opposition

In a small hotel room in Chicago, a man in a hat and trench coat speaks on the phone.

"Hello, Mamm, this is Inspector Zenigata. I'm in Chicago tracking Wolf, I need more men."

"Yes mam, I understand that Wolf is a thief, I realize we're short handed, but I just need a few more men."

"I know Shadoloo has Interpol's first priority, but this is only going to be for a few days."

"Mam, yes I guess I can make do with what I have."

"Yes Miss, Li, I'll see to it."

He hung up the phone with some force and frustration --------

Part 10:

"Hello Mr. Tenison," the stoic man in the trench coat spoke revealing a badge of identification "I'm Inspector Zeningata of the International Police Force. I'm here about a rumor that the international thief known as Wolf has chosen your display as his next target."

"I don't think he will be much of a problem. The display is covered by state of the art passive sonar motion detectors along with infrared motion detectors as backups. All on an airtight security system. The infrared lasers take up the whole wall. Even Spider-Man couldn't get in here. And the sensors, set off not just alarms, but hardened steel walls that slam down, trapping any would be thief inside."

"How about camera's?" Zeningata asked.

"Oh, we use them as backup only, we don't really have the place actively monitored, we found that the humans staring at a screen for hours on end tend to make more errors, and are next to useless."

"I see your point," Zeningata answered, "but I still like to post several of my men nearby, just in case."

"By all means then, do." Mr. Tenison answered "Nice meeting you."

After taking a few steps outside, the man in the trench coat spoke in a different voice. "You can come out now, Fuji, Fire."

"They fell for it hook line and, well you know the routine."

"I wouldn't get so cocky if I were you," Fujiko was the first to walk out of the shadows, "last time you were, Zeningata ended up getting you and Jiigen down to your skivvies."

"Hey!" Lupin's voice was tinged with indignation "how did you find that out?"

"Oh, women have there ways." Fujiko replied, as laughter came from out of the shadows.

Both turned to look for the source. Fire emerge slightly off off from there search. "Fuji, I like your sense of humor. Let's get going. I'm hungry." --------

Part 11: Meanwhile

"Hello, it's me, Jiigen is Bean in?"

The voice on the other line came over "Don't know any Jiigen? You sound like Dan Dunn to me."

"Aaagggghh, I hate that alias."

"What's the matter Dan."

"Okay, I'm sorry I called you Larry. It was a joke, Japanese pronunciation and all, messing up Ls and Rs. Larry get it."

"Okay Jiigen. Bean's not in right now, but we have the date set, a group has approached Bean for help in a 'gig' at a bank cross town from the museum. We should provide as much of a distraction as you are."

"That's all I needed to know. Thanks." as he hung up, Fire, Fujiko and Lupin returned.

"The fools were so cheap they don't even have a night watch man." Lupin laughed.

"But the outside perimeter is nearly impossible to breach, I don't think even you could get in the Museum." Fujiko responded.

"Oh, getting in isn't a worry, all we need to do is find a way to get to the painting."

Lupin jotted down a rather long list in a very short period of time and handed it to Fuji. "Would you stop by a hardware store and a Radio-shack and pick these up for me, oh and take Fire with you, she needs to get used to the big city."

Fujiko blinked for a moment "Sure, I guess so. Long as I get my share of the loot."

"Come on, trust me..." Lupin smiled.

"I would like another look at the city," Fire spoke. "And your, whatever that two wheeled thing is, seems more like a horse than the contraption I have been riding."

"Okay girl, lets go then." Fujiko snatched the list and headed out with Fire.

"You surprised me boss, It's one thing to send Fujiko off on errands, but sending both beautiful women off at once. It just isn't like you."

"Oh that, I have my reasons. I'm going to have to place all my concentration on this device I'm designing, if I'm going to create it in time, and I still need to work on a sculpture." ---------

<next time, Fujiko and Fire profess their undying love for each

Part 12: Heist

"It's tight in here," Fire whispered. "Are you sure this will work?"

Lupin whispered back "Trust me, were already in the museum."

"You mean they actually took this ugly piece of twisted metal and glass as art?"

Lupin grinned ear to ear in the dark "I guess we have ourselves an art critic. Well modern art doesn't do much for me either."

"Shhh, here comes a guard."

A large man passed by, he was about 6'5" but he was stocky and hunched over, so he looked two inches shorter "Damn this job is boring, but the pay's good. Too bad it's only for a few more months before I head back to Ritchmond."

"Your from Virginia, Harold?" A voice behind him spokes as his flashlight crossed the area.

"Nah, Richmond, Indiana."

"Well looks clear to me, lets go."

Footsteps trailed off in the distance.

"They gone yet Fire?" Lupin asked.

"Hai," She answered quietly, "Now can we get out of here?"

"Sure thing."

The both crawled out of a mesh of wire, twisted bits of metal, and shards of glass and mirror. Lupin begin remove a section of the sculpture and held it up. "This should get us passed the lasers. These mirrors will reflect the laser light so that the beams are never actually broken, when you leap through the hole they make."

"What about those, noise hearing devices they talked about, I can move pretty silently, but..." there was a hit of trepidation in Fire's voice.

"That's what this is for." Lupin pulled another object out of the modern art and strapped it on to Fire.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's a white noise generator. It will create enough background noise to mask your presence from the passive sonar."

"You still need to be quiet though, so be careful."

Lupin switched the device on, and a noise much like that of static came out of it. Fire covered her ears for a bit as she adjusted to the sound. They carefully moved the mirrors into place, creating a two foot square for Fire to leap through.

'This is just like leaping through the hole in the knives.' Fire though 'I've got to time it right and come out in a roll so I don't make to much noise.'

Time seem to stand still for Lupin as he watched Fire's leap. She moved with a fluid grace that he found incredibly attractive. Like a gymnast, the movements came naturally, as if she had practiced them for years. She tucked her legs under just as her hands reached the floor, and almost with out a sound, she rolled up onto her feet. Lupin fought down the urge to clap as he passed Fire a canister to roll the five paintings in. Fire cut the painting out with her katanas quickly and accurately, leaving the art work in tact. It wasn't bad work, but something about it unnerved Fire. Perhaps the coloring was a bit strange, she just couldn't place a finger on it. Well anyway, this was no time for a critique. She carefully placed the paintings into the container and passed them back to Lupin. Fire heard something. "We have company." She told Lupin.

"I knew something was wrong with the picture on when I saw our shadows pass it." It was Harold, apparently not all the security guards were a stupid as the curator, Lupin thought. One of them bothered to pay attention to the view of the camera, which he and Fujiko had set up to play back a recording earlier

Fire leaped quickly thought the square, and she grabbed Lupin pulling him into the shadows. Fire checked the ceiling, and noted that they were past the panel that would shut down on them. She covered Lupin's mouth and signaled that she had an idea.

The guards approached the mirror. "Hey this looks like a part of that ugly statue." The other guard nodded. "This is rich. Thousands of dollars spent on security, and it's defeated by a cheap mirror trick."

As the spoke Fire threw one of her shurkin out of the dark. It whizzed passed the pair and went through one of the beams. "Look out." Harold called as he rushed up out only to be cut off by the Transparent wall slamming down in front of him. His smaller partner close behind.

Fire grabbed Lupin and ran for an exit.

"Stop!" the smaller guard called and raised his gun. Harold grabbed it from his hand. As Lupin waved at them with a large grin on his face.

"You eeediot," Harold shouted "That's bullet proof glass, the ricochet could have killed us!"

Meanwhile Lupin managed to catch his breath "Nice thinking Fire, I have to admit I like your style."

"Well the door is looked from the inside," he spoke as the ran to the door "I guess I'll have to use plastique explosives, not time to pick the lock." He ran hunched forward, trying to keep up with Fire, who had a strong grip on his arm. As they reached the door Fire let go of him and leaped up in a flying kick that smashed the door open.

"Hey that was made of... how'd you? Never mind, just remind me never to make you mad."

"I wouldn't advise it." Fire grinned as the Yellow VW drove up. <Next. The Chase.> As always, your comments and constructive criticism are welcome. If you like it, tell me what you like and what you want to see more of. If you dislike it, tell me what could be improved and why you kept reading it. :) -----Marc (Kitsune) Seebass ps: My next project is "Street Fighter II: Quest for Atlantis" a story based on a dream I had.

Part 12: Heist

"It's tight in here," Fire whispered. "Are you sure this will work?"

Lupin whispered back "Trust me, were already in the museum."

"You mean they actually took this ugly piece of twisted metal and glass as art?"

Lupin grinned ear to ear in the dark "I guess we have ourselves an art critic. Well modern art doesn't do much for me either."

"Shhh, here comes a guard."

"Your from Virginia, Harold?" A voice behind him spokes as his flashlight crossed the area.

"Nah, Richmond, Indiana."

"Well looks clear to me, lets go."

Footsteps trailed off in the distance.

"They gone yet Fire?" Lupin asked.

"Hai," She answered quietly, "Now can we get out of here?"

"Sure thing."

"What about those, noise hearing devices they talked about, I can move pretty silently, but..." there was a hit of trepidation in Fire's voice.

"That's what this is for." Lupin pulled another object out of the modern art and strapped it on to Fire.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's a white noise generator. It will create enough background noise to mask your presence from the passive sonar."

"You still need to be quiet though, so be careful."

'This is just like leaping through the hole in the knives.' Fire though 'I've got to time it right and come out in a roll so I don't make to much noise.'

Fire grabbed Lupin and ran for an exit.

"Stop!" the smaller guard called and raised his gun. Harold grabbed it from his hand. As Lupin waved at them with a large grin on his face.

"You eeediot," Harold shouted "That's bullet proof glass, the ricochet could have killed us!"

Meanwhile Lupin managed to catch his breath "Nice thinking Fire, I have to admit I like your style."

"Hey that was made of... how'd you? Never mind, just remind me never to make you mad."

"I wouldn't advise it." Fire grinned. <note this part has been revised slightly to allow for an encounter with Zeningata. So if anyone is compiling this, please remove the original part 12 and put this in it's place.>

Part 13: The Chase.

The sound of the alarms were driving Fire crazy, she certainly couldn't understand why they were named sirens, after creatures that lured men to their deaths with beautiful voices.

"Quick," Lupin told her in a hurried whisper, "The guys will be waiting for us on the other side of this ally."

That made sence to Fire, she'd never leave her horse outside the seen of heist, to suspisios, but it was a good thing to keep it somewhere near by in case of persuit. Fire perfered to avoid persuit altogether when she could, but in this case it looked inevitable.

In the darkness Zeningata waited muttering to himself, "I can't cover all the possible exits with the men I have. I only wanted a few more men. Damn Chineese." As spoke the blare of alarms pierced his self pitty and he body tensed up for action. He ran in towards the museaum hoping to catch the Wolf. On his way out he heard "This way Fire" an instant before he rammed into someone knocking both of them down. In the dim light the two adversaries stared at each other stuned, not so much from surprise, they'd been running into each other like this for years, but more from the shock of collision.

Lupin was the first to regain his wits. "Long time no see, Zeningata."

"It's been too long Wolf," while the reply was humorus, their was much truth behind it; it had been a while since the two had clashed, and Zeningata missed the thril of the chase. It was almost too bad that it would end here. Zeningata's men had gotten lucky and spoted the escape vehicle, they were compitent enough to keep them busy just long enough for Zenigata to ferrit their boss away.

"I'd love to stay and chat Inspector, but I have a plain to catch, litterally." Lupin leaped to one side of the alley and began to run. Zeningata countered with a characteristic barage, not of missiles or bullets, but handcuffs. His form was at a rare peak, he had throuwn so many at once that Lupin was shouded by a cloud of handcuffs, and even before they struck the Inspector had thrown off his special extening cuff with the intent of realling his quarry in. The cuff never reached it's mark. Despite the drone of alarms, the inspector recognized the sound of katanas wizzing through air. How could this be? Not even Goemon could be two places at once. When the dust setaled Zenigata was stuned. His efforts had not been deflected by the expert hands of Goemon the sword saint, but by a woman. Her hair was a radiant flaming red, and she move with a eligant grace that Zeningata could not help but respect. She wasn't as built as Fujiko, but that made her no less sexy. 'Why does Lupin always get the girls?' a small voice inside him asked, 'Because you are dedicated too dedicated to your job to activaly chase women,' Came an answer that drowned out the other like 'Because he's better looking.'

Fire smiled as she lowered her twin katanas allowing the various hancuffs and restraints to fall off, the last of which returned via an automatic reel to Zeningata's wrist.

"Oh, I'm being so rude," Lupin spoke with a grin that could almost tickle his ears, "You haven't been introduced. My beautiful ninja friend here is called Fire, and she is assisting us for reasons over her own."

"Pleased to meet you inspector," Fire spoke in an almost melodic voice "Lupin's told me a lot about you, and not all of it's bad." Fire bowed as a gesture of respect, something that startled but not entirely surpised Zeningata. After all, the Wolf and his compainions may have some of the begruding respect for him that he had for them. Regaurdless, the game was still afoot. Lupin was about to make one more remark when Fire tackled him dragging him through the alley. "Hey," Lupin cried, "What was that for."

Fire's tone didn't carry her normal humor "Verbal jousting is all fine and good, but if you kept it up we would have missed our ride." Lupin saw the VW appoaching.

"And," Fire continued, "the longer we stayed, the more likely I'd have to fight him and his underlings." They both leaped into the car as Fire spoke "I don't like hurting good men, who are just trying to do their job."

"Well that's Zeningata for you" Jeigen spoke "He eats, breaths, and sleeps to catch Wolf."

"Nice to see you boss." ------

"Why'd you get a Bug, boss" Jiigen spoke, "did it remind you of the Fiat 500 we to to Cagliostro or something."

Lupin responded as the turned around a sharp corner with Zeningata's men close behind. "Nah, it's inconspicous, and it's cheep enough to allow me to aford some modifications."

"Whatever, let's see if we can lose them."

Fire huddled in the back as they drove at beakneck speed taking rapid ninety degree turns. Fire covered her eyes with her hands occasionally peeping out to see where they were. A few times she felt so sick that she almost tried to get Eddie to take her home.

Lupin looked down at his watch, as the nearly slid into a wall, screeming tires launching the car in at a right angle from their original trajectory. "At this rate, we'll miss the rendezvous."

"Hang on, I'll take a short cut." Jiigen smashing through a pair of glass doors.

Fire could barely make out what was going on from the flashing lights following them, to the various signs flying past. It looked to be what Fujiko had called a mall.

"Hey Fire," Lupin spoke as the vehicle skidded to a temporary halt. "Screwball in the Sharper Image." As he spoke Jiigen gunned the engin evading a police car that smashed into the aformentioned store.

Fire looked to see Lupin holding a crystal ball with a wizard inside, "The Answer is in the stars." it chanted and Lupin casually tossed it out

"Cheep junk, too bad we couldn't run through the Nike store, I could use a new pair of shoes" Lupin joked.

Fire on the other hand was using meditatio techniques to keep herself from redecorating the car's interior with a nasty shade of green.

"Don't worry Fire," Jiigen reasured her as he smashed throught a toy store totally ruining the Barney the Purple Dinosaur display "we're almost out."

As they smashed out of another set of glass doors, Fire looked back to see another vehicle, one like the car's chasing them, but without the flashing lights, crashing out of yet another set of glass doors. In the distance she could see the drivers, a tall man and a shorter fatter man wearing hats, black suits and sun glasses. "Who are they?" Fire asked, her curiosity overcomming her motion sickness.

"Who knows," Lupin replies staring at his watch "Kick it Jiigen."

The little VW accelerated with a start, rocketting forward as Lupin counted down the second "5, 4, 3..."

As they an intersection Fire heard the distinct sounds of sirens moving towards them form the side, but before she could alert Lupin a red blur passed in front of them. Jiigen slammed on the gas and the zoomed past the intersection. Fire glanced of at the red blur to see that it was a car of some sort, but from what she could tell it was driving sideways, but then again what did she know about cars.

"That was Bean, in the Roadbuster," Lupin explained answering Fire's unasked question. "We're providing distractions for each other." As he spoke the sound of cacophany of crashing metal and sirens arose behind them, Fire turned to watch police cars piling into each other at the intersection.

"Too bad the Interpool people didn't think to check with the Chicago PD, otherwise they might have avoided this." Lupin Chuckled.

"Ok Jiigen, turn into this gas station."

"But the tank's almost full boss." Jiigen responded.

"I believe he has something else in mind." Goemon spoke quietly as they turned in.

"Ok, we should have time before the cops untangle themselves" Lupin spoke, "Put these tokens in the slot and go threw the carwash."

"Huh?" Were being chased by Interpool and half of Chicago's finest and you want to wash the car?"

"Just do it, Jiigen, you'll see why in a moment."

As they went through the hood of the car changed from yellow to black, and fire could hear strange popping noises. as the car seemed to shift around them.

"The cold water is activating the color changing crystals, just like on Hot-Wheels cars. And the outer body is made of memory material, so the water will change us into a totally different car. Gomen, you get down while the rest of us put on masks."

Lupin pressed a button and the plates on the car shifted "Appropriate to use that trick in Chicago, since the first version of it was invented for Al Capone."

#FanFiction