Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Yuma Avara: A Love Story ❯ Chapter 3: The Big Decision ( Chapter 3 )

Yuma's Entrance: A Love Story

 

Yuma's Entrance: Chapter 3

 

I do not own any character owned by Monkey Punch. My character (Yuma)

however, belongs to me, as does this story.

 

As Jigen and Fujiko walked through the door, Fujiko noticed a strange

girl at the dining-room table. She wore street leathers, and her coat was hanging from the wrack. The girl looked as if she hadn't eaten for a couple days. As the girl devoured her food, Fujiko's eyes turned to Lupin, seeking an answer. Yes, she knew that this was the girl he'd rescued from the fair, because she was the one who dropped the bike off, and she also knew that she was eating here tonight, but, still, she didn't know this girl, and, therefore, was naturally curious. Though she didn't trust her, it didn't seem as though this girl would betray them, either. Fujiko looked her over.

Underneath all those outlandish clothes, she saw a beautiful girl,

perhaps a young woman, about 17. Lupin was treading on thin ice; as there could be quite a scandal if anyone saw this scene. However, he didn't seem to care. He seemed happy simply to have her there. The look in his eyes, however, was not one of lust. Just a pure, simple kindness. She turned her head and looked toward to Jigen for a possible answer.

 

"Hey, Fuji-cakes!" a voice broke into her mind.

 

Her head snapped back into position and she asked, using the name that he'd hated since teen-hood in a sweet, syrup-py voice, "Yes, Lupy?"

 

Lupin looked at her in annoyance, and then shrugged it off, "I'd like you to meet Yuma Avara. She's the girl that I told you about."

 

"Well, that much is obvious," said Fujiko. Her head turned to Yuma and she smiled warmly, "Hi, hon. My name's Fujiko Mine. The man in back of me is-"

 

"Daisuke Jigen," he finished for her, turning to Fujiko, "I can introduce myself, thank you."

 

"Well, you don't have to be so rude about it," she said, equally irate, "Anyway, seeing as you're eating with us tonight, I figured that we'd -"

 

"Fujiko?"

 

"Will you quit interrupting me, damn it?!"

 

"Fujiko," he said in a serious tone, getting up from his now finished dinner, "Plans have changed. I need you both to come to the living room. You, too, Yuma." As the four went into the main room of the penthouse, Lupin motioned them to sit down. "Listen," he said, "I know that this is cutting it close, but Yuma's going to be living with us."

 

"You mean, living with us for a while, don't you?" asked Fujiko. Yuma's smile became stiff, like plaster. Not one muscle moved on her face, yet, inside, secret tears, and a not-so-secret anger dwelled in her heart. "No, Fujiko," corrected Lupin, "I mean living with us. Permanently. If she was slick enough to pocket my wallet, then she's good enough to train, and, finally, be a partner in our profession."

 

"Where's she going to sleep?" asked Jigen.

 

"In the guest room," said Lupin, "Look, I'm sorry if it doesn't appeal to you, but the decision has been made. She'll be living here with me. She doesn't have to live with you."

 

"You do know that this will cause a scandal, don't you?" asked Fujiko.

 

Finally, Yuma spoke softly, "It's okay. You don't have to keep me here." With those words, she got up and started for the door.

 

"Damn it, Fujiko!" Lupin cursed, "Look what you've done."

 

"Lupin, I didn't mean -"

 

"Fuj," he said more gently, "She's got nowhere to go." As Lupin got up to go after her, Fujiko stopped him.

 

"No, Lupin," she said, "I'll do it." Calmly, she got up and went after Yuma. She found her at the door, about to turn the lock, tears streaming down her face.

 

"What is it?" Yuma asked in a choked whisper.

 

"Listen, Yuma," Fujiko murmured taking Yuma's hands away from the door, "I'm sorry about what I said, and I really don't mind you staying here. It's just that if Lupin keeps you here, he could get into big trouble with the police, and his face would be all over the news. There would be a scandal. I'm not staying that you should go away. I wouldn't mind you being here. However, you do need to watch out for this kind of thing. I'm not trying to run you off. I'm just trying to keep bad things from happening. I will say this, you're definitely welcome to stay if you want, and, from what I gather of you, you, yourself, won't be any trouble, and if something *does* come up, it won't be your fault, so don't blame yourself just because of what I said, okay?" Yuma nodded. She couldn't really say anything, as she wasn't used to showing her true self: a lonely, sensitive girl, who'd fallen into a great misfortune in life. "Okay," said Fujiko, "Now dry your eyes, and we'll go back there. Everything's going to be fine, okay?" Yuma

nodded and wiped her eyes. "Smile," said Fujiko gently, "It looks much better on your face than a frown, and it makes you feel much better, trust me." Slowly, a soft smile crossed Yuma's features. "That's better. Now let's go." Together they walked back into the living room. When Fujiko saw Lupin, she said, "Sorry about earlier. You just need to watch out for these things, you know?"

 

Lupin smiled at her as he always did, and said, "That's okay, Fujiko-chan."

 

Fujiko smiled at him, then said, "So we're going with your plan? She'll be living here? She could stay at my place, if you wanted."

 

"No," said Lupin, "I'm sure she'll be fine right here. What do you think, Yuma?"

 

She smiled as she said, "I don't mind."

 

"Okay," said Fujiko, "but first things first: tomorrow morning, we're taking you shopping. We have *got* to get you some new clothes."

 

"But what's wrong with the ones I've got?" asked Yuma, bewildered.

 

"Trust me, honey," said Fujiko knowingly, "You're going to need them."

 

"Okay," said Lupin, "You two have a good time tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm going to get some sleep. Yuma, the guest bedroom's that way." He pointed to his right, "I suggest you get some sleep, too, because, knowing Fujiko, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."

 

"And just what do you mean by that?" asked Fujiko, perturbed.

 

"You know you spend too much time in malls, Fuji, dear," grinned Lupin, "You maxed out two of my credit cards last time."

 

"Shut up, before I pop you one," snapped Fujiko, "You certainly won't be having any trouble sleeping then!"

 

"I love you, too, Fujiko-chan," said Lupin as he stole a quick kiss from her lips.

 

"Why you!" said Fujiko, but she couldn't catch him. He was already behind a locked door.

 

Lupin laughed, "G'night, Fuji-cakes!"

 

Looking disgruntled, Fujiko walked into her room in the penthouse, but a lovely little idea was coming into her head. Instead of maxing out *two* credit cards, this time, she would empty *three*. She gave an almost evil giggle, and shut her door.

 

Yuma went up to Lupin's door and yelled through it, "G'night, Lupin ... and thank you!"

 

"Hey, nothin' to it," he called back, "G'night to you, too."

 

Yuma grinned and went into her new bedroom. Life from then on out was definitely going to be better.