The Picture, the Promise.. Ch4

Chapter 4: See You Later, Alligator
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DISCLAIMER: I think we all get it by now… I don't own any of this. I simply write it in an attempt to prevent from lawsuits, not like any studio executives will read it, anyway.
Hello!
Chapter four up already! Sorry if everyone in the last chapter seemed a little out of character, but I guess that's what happens when you put a little bit of drama in something that's mainly comedy. But don't fear, you're not the only ones who are trying to figure out what's wrong with everyone—Lupin's just as clueless as any of us. Well, let's just pray that everything gets back to normal soon and everyone's back to their old selves. Now let's keep the ball rolling with chapter four.
P.S.: Hey, anyone pick up on the pattern with the titles yet? He he… I hope you oldies fans appreciate it.
The Promise, the Picture, and the Protectors
Chapter Four
Day Four: See you later, Alligator
'I should've known better with a girl like you,
That I would love everything that you do,
And I do,
And I do,
Hey, hey, hey,
And I do,'
-The Beatles, 'I Should have Known Better'
"How much longer?" Yukiko asked, leaning onto the front seat.
"Not much, if I can remember the way right," Lupin answered, glancing up at the signs, "Now, after a left here, I should—"
"Take a right!" Jigen snapped quickly and swerved to the right. All held on for dear life as the car made the turn, and there was the honking of car horns as they cut several people off.
"Okay, okay! Jesus, Jigen! Just tell me next time, all right! You're the worst backseat driver I've ever known!" Lupin yelled in response as he straightened the wheels of the car out, "No wonder you're always changing the brakes! We're going to need a new car at this rate! Poor baby, takes so much abuse…. Ah, well… You were right about the zoo being on the right. I guess you can say you were right about the right…."
"Jeeze…." Jigen groaned and rolled his eyes in response to the cheesy joke, "Okay. This is the place here. Boy, they've really done some remodeling to the front…"
"Huh?" Lupin turned to him, "You've been here before, Jigen?"
"Damn it, lady!" Jigen screamed as a woman cut Lupin off. Lupin slammed on the brakes, and all jerked forward, "Where'd you learn to drive, the bumper car ride! Jesus I hate these foreign drivers! Every stupid person in this Goddamned world ought to be taken out and shot on sight!"
"Some-body got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning, huh?" Lupin chuckled.
"Sorry," Jigen mumbled as he parked the car, "I guess I didn't get much sleep after all. That and my teeth are starting to bother me a little bit."
"Well, at least it's not your feet, or your knee. You know, I'm honestly surprised that anyone could live past forty in your family. They aren't all smokers and drinkers like you, are they?"
"Do you think they have zebras?" Yukiko interjected.
"More than likely," Lupin replied as he parked the car. All stepped out, and began to walk to the gate of the zoo.
"Where to now?" asked Fujiko as they walked through the gates of the zoo and stopped to look around at the different routes.
"We can meet up in an hour or two…" said Lupin, looking down at his watch, "Fujiko, would you like to come with me? Jigen and Goemon can take care of Yukiko, I think."
"Why not? Someone's got to keep you from lifting some of the rare animals," Fujiko answered with a shrug. Lupin chuckled and put an arm around Fujiko's waist and began to walk away, leaving the other three by a large fountain.
"Can we find a bathroom?" Yukiko asked.
"Crap…." Goemon and Jigen grumbled in unison.
Jigen turned to them, "There's a sign. I'll go try to find one on it, okay?"
"Sure," Goemon nodded and looked down at Yukiko, who was fidgeting back and forth on the concrete. He looked upward, and saw Jigen reading the map. This was a normal action, but what was out of the ordinary was the fact Jigen's face was only a few inches from the map. Jigen drew his head back, and then drew close to it again. Goemon quickly turned his head as Jigen turned back to him, and Jigen pointed to the nearest bathroom.
They came to the bathrooms, and the three stopped. Yukiko looked upward at them, and Jigen and Goemon exchanged glances.
"She's a little young to go in alone…." Jigen said slowly, "What about taking her into the men's?"
"No way," Yukiko shook her head wildly.
"I'm not going in," said Goemon, taking a step back.
"Come on. You look more feminine-looking than me!" Jigen snapped.
"Uh, excuse me. Are you two having a little bit of trouble? I'll take her in if you want?" both heard.
Goemon started, "Thank you, but—" he turned, and saw she was an attractive Japanese woman in a kimono, "I, um… Certainly. Be my guest. Yukiko, you go with—"
"Amaya," she replied, taking Yukiko by the hand and leading her into the bathroom.
Jigen waited until the door closed fully to turn to Goemon and speak, "You were just trying to get her name with that line, weren't you? My God, you actually almost hit on someone…"
"I did no such thing!" Goemon snapped in response.
"Buddy, I've seen that look before," Jigen lit a cigarette and smiled, "Believe me, I've had that look on my face a couple of times myself…."
"I find that very difficult to believe," Goemon retorted sternly and looked back at the door, "She is a kind woman to do such a thing for us, though."
"Yeah, but what kind of a woman is she?" asked Jigen, standing back akimbo.
"A little trust every once in a blue moon would not kill you, Jigen," said Goemon.
"Whether or not it will kill you all depends on who you trust," Jigen answered, "And it's better to trust no one than to trust the wrong people, you know?"
Amaya exited the bathroom at this time, followed by a now happy again Yukiko, "Thank you, Miss Toshi," Yukiko said with a tiny bow, and walked over to Jigen and Goemon.
"It's no problem. Any time," Amaya replied, and began to walk away.
"Wait," Goemon said suddenly. Amaya turned around, "Are you alone here? If so, would you care to join us?"
"I came in order to get some peace, which I suppose I won't be getting today, anyway. Why not?" Amaya shrugged, and began to walk with Goemon, Jigen, and Yukiko.
Jigen looked over at Goemon and whispered, "You're hopeless, man. Do you want me to watch over Yukiko while you talk about whatever with your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, but would you mind it?" asked Goemon.
"No problem. Just meet with everyone at the fountain at whatever time we're supposed to meet," Jigen answered in a whisper. Goemon nodded, and began to veer away from them with Amaya, "Guess it's just you and me, kid."
"I guess," Yukiko replied, "Is she Goemon's new girlfriend?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to think so," Jigen replied.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Yukiko inquired.
Jigen laughed heartily at this, "Me, nah! I don't need one, anyway. Too busy with everything else."
"But have you ever had any?" Yukiko continued.
"No one's business, really," Jigen answered as they stopped in front of the birdcages, "But, you know…. A couple, and I shouldn't even be talking to a kid about this crap."
"Why not?" asked Yukiko, looking away from the birds at him, "I had a boyfriend one time."
"What?" Jigen snapped his head and looked down at her in surprise, "You're too young!"
"Nah-ah," Yukiko shook her head, "His name was Akira. He was really nice, but we had to break up. He had to move to Ise."
"Hey, kid," Jigen started with a smirk.
"What?" Yukiko looked upward at him.
"Don't grow up too fast, okay? You'll just want to be young again," Jigen replied, "Come on. You want me to carry you?"
"Sure!" Yukiko's face lit up, and Jigen bent down for her to climb on his back. He rose and began to walk away from the birds, and felt his hat lifted off his head. He turned back, and saw Yukiko had put the hat on her head only to have it fall over her eyes.
"I don't think you can pull off a fedora, personally," Jigen commented, and felt a smile come across his face as he began to head off to the dolphin exhibit.
The Monkey Exhibit:
"Let go, you little creep!" Fujiko shrieked, trying to push the monkey away while the simian kept held of Lupin's tie, making the thief turn a light shade of blue. Fujiko picked up a drink that had been laid on the curb, and threw it at the monkey. It hissed, let go of its hold, and ran to the safety of its own tree while Lupin fell back onto the concrete and gasped for air. Fujiko kneeled down beside him, and Lupin took this opportunity to let his hand 'accidentally' fall onto her backside. Fujiko gasped, and slapped him across the face. Lupin fell back and groaned, and rubbed the side of his face.
"Ouch! Fujiko, take it easy! I was just strangled by a monkey!" Lupin grumbled as he rested on his elbows.
"Serves you right!" Fujiko snapped in response. "Come on, get up…." She sighed, and lifted Lupin up onto his feet, "I hope Goemon and Jigen are having an easier with Yukiko at least! At least she doesn't taught chimps!"
"What? It was funny—At the time," Lupin replied.
"I think I'd have an easier time taking care of a baby!" Fujiko grumbled as she led Lupin over to a café and helped him ease himself down into a chair.
"Are you trying to tell me something, Fujicakes?" Lupin asked in a smarmy smile, leaning on the white plastic table, "After all these years, you finally ready to get married?"
"You're just B. about it, Lupin," Fujiko answered with a shake of her head, "Besides, I'm too busy for a child."
"What, I can babysit. And if I can't Jigen or Goemon would!" Lupin replied.
"I wouldn't trust you with any child alone," Fujiko replied, "I heard all about the video."
"Crap, guys…" Lupin grumbled to herself.
"Besides, I don't want to turn into one of those women I saw in the mall yesterday. It's like they don't even have lives anymore!" Fujiko said.
"What women?" Lupin asked in a frown.
"Is—is that Goemon!" Fujiko choked.
"Huh?" Lupin turned around, and saw Goemon sitting at a nearby table with Amaya. "I'll be damned, it is him! And with a girl, too!"
"But where are Jigen and Yukiko, then?" Fujiko asked.
"They'll be all right, don't worry," Lupin reassured her, "Hey, Goemon!"
Goemon snapped his head around and saw Lupin and Fujiko sitting at a close café table, and he closed his eyes and meditated silently before a moment before opening them again. "Who are they?" Amaya asked.
"Friends, coworkers, travel companions…. You can name it," Goemon answered vaguely. He waved back at the still waving Lupin in order to humor him, and then turned his attention back to Amaya.
"He called you Goemon. Is that in any relation to the clan? I've heard of Ishikawa Goemon, the famous samurai. Supposedly his clan's still alive today," said Amaya.
"I am the thirteenth generation," Goemon replied.
"Lucky you," Amaya snorted, "Thirteen? Wow, that's tough luck, huh?"
"It all depends on how you look at it," Goemon replied.
The Dolphin Exhibit:
"They're beautiful!" Yukiko gasped happily.
"Yeah, they sure are…." Jigen trailed off, and his face took a distant, far off look for a few moments before he came back to his senses, "You ready to go to the next exhibit?"
"Yeah!" Yukiko said happily. Jigen nodded, and began to walk out of the darkened room, but failed to see a crack in the ground, and tripped. He nearly fell, but managed to regain his balance.
"Yukiko! Are you okay!" he asked quickly.
"I'm fine, Jigen. Are you all right?" Yukiko inquired.
"Uh-huh…." Jigen nodded, "Sorry. I just didn't see that…. Used to be able to…." he added in a murmur as he continued to walk out of the exhibit with Yukiko, "I'm just glad you're all right. I should've seen that…"
"It's all right, Jigen. It happens to people sometimes," Yukiko replied with a shrug.
"I'm going to make sure it won't happen again. If you crack your head open, Lupin will be royally pissed at me," said Jigen, setting Yukiko down on a park bench and removing a case from his jacket pocket, "Now, you don't tell anyone I have these, okay?" he said in tone that sounded slightly nervous, "It's going to be our little secret."
"Okay," Yukiko said with a smile. "Are you ready to go again?"
"Yep," Jigen said with a nod, and bent down to let Yukiko on his back. She climbed on, and the two began to walk again towards the penguin exhibit.
The Café:
"Goemon, aren't you going to introduce us?" asked Lupin as he and Fujiko stood over Goemon and Amaya.
"This is Amaya. Amaya, these are my good friends Lupin and Fujiko," Goemon replied.
"Pleasure to meet you," Amaya said and rose to shake hands with Fujiko and Lupin. In a surprise move, Lupin kissed Amaya's hand. Amaya let out a disbelieving laugh and Goemon glowered.
"Hey, I really hate to break this up, but it's almost time to meet Jigen and Yukiko," Lupin replied.
"Of, you have to go?" Amaya asked Goemon, "Well, here is where you can reach me." She took out a small piece of paper and a pen and wrote her phone number on it, and passed it to Goemon. Lupin smiled at Goemon amusedly and Goemon turned a light shade of red in return. The three watched as Amaya left, and Lupin turned to him as Amaya disappeared from sight.
"You sly dog! You meet a lady at a zoo! Ha! Great!" Lupin said with an amused chuckle.
"That is besides the point," Goemon replied, storing the paper in a pant pocket, "I have something else I wish to talk to you about, concerning Jigen."
"Yeah, what?" asked Lupin in a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Alone, preferably," Goemon continued, looking behind Lupin at Fujiko.
"Okay, I'll bite," Fujiko shrugged began to walk away, "I'll see you two at the fountain."
"'Kay! Bye, Fujiko!" said Lupin, waving good-bye to Fujiko. He turned back to Goemon, and his expression suddenly became serious, "What's up, Goemon?"
"Jigen," Goemon started, "When we were with Yukiko, I noticed something bizarre."
"Yeah, what?" asked Lupin.
"He went to go look at a map, but he placed himself only inches away from it," Goemon said gravely, "It—It was as though he could not see it any other way. I think he's losing his vision."
This statement hit Lupin like an oncoming truck, and he was not afraid to show it. He sat back down at the café, and rested his chin on his hand. "Wow…. Are you sure?" Lupin asked after a long pause.
"What else could it have been, Lupin?" Goemon replied and seated himself, "I didn't want to admit what I was seeing either."
"Do you think that's why he's been acting so weird? I mean, weirder than the usual weird," Lupin continued.
"It could be part of the reason," Goemon admitted, "I didn't think of it at the time, but perhaps it wasn't the thing to do. I'm referring to leaving him to take care of Yukiko, I mean."
"Hey, you were thinking with something other than your head for once. I feel you—I do it all the time myself," Lupin said with a shrug. "I'm sure they'll be all right. Damn… Why do you think he didn't tell anyone? He could get us killed!"
"I think he has too much pride to do such a thing," Goemon answered, "Unfortunately, pride is the downfall of many men."
"Let's just try to keep Jigen from falling everywhere," Lupin answered. He looked down at his watch, and back at Goemon, "We better be heading back, buddy. They'll probably be wondering where the hell we are."
"Agreed," Goemon nodded, and rose.
"Oh, and good job. That chick is a babe!" Lupin added.
"Do not make me kill you in order to retain Amaya's honor," Goemon retorted sternly.
"You wouldn't…." Lupin started.
"Jigen didn't think I would disable him, either," said Goemon.
"Listen, maybe Jigen and disable aren't the best couple of words to use in a sentence right now…." said Lupin.
"Should we let him know we know?" Goemon inquired.
"I'll sit down with him later," Lupin responded as they began to travel to the fountain. They were already several minutes late for their arrival.