My Universe : Black Gold / Or Noir (OC - Jigen's romance)

Marie jenck

work for webzine Journal du Japon
Hello everyone!

I'll gradually introduce you to my world here, as it has expanded considerably in just a few months since its creation in May 2025.
It's going to take me some time to explain all the issues involved (especially because my oc, Maria, works with Interpol!).
I hope you'll be there to follow her adventures in English and French.


For the more curious among you, I'm attaching some fanarts (there are more on my Instagram account, drafts like canon or non-canon scenes)
Don't hesitate to get back to me if you would be interested in me translating the mini comics and my future fanarts into English!
In the futur,I hope to develop the broad outlines of my universe in a French visual novel (translated into English?).
But the universe is so fleshed out that I'd need several I like this format with multiple choices.


Maria Akebo's Profile

Nature: Reserved, defensive (but gradually relaxes over the course of her timeline)

Likes: Octopus (animal), museums & aquariums, helping her patients, yellow lilies, walnut tart, spiced fruit juice

Hates: Knowing that boys are playing with national treasures, or worse, damaging them

/!/ She doesn't care about banknotes/bullion bars or pretty gems/jewelry

Can defend herself with: small bladed weapons, revolver, bare hands

Maria's situation: immersed against her will in shady dealings, she knows that Lupin's gang
isn't made up of bad guys, so she tolerates (within limits!) their actions and her occasional involvement.
The boys also want to avoid causing her trouble and risking her position at Interpol, which guarantees her protection.

/!/ She has a phobia of samurai and is not comfortable with Goemon. She is wary of Fujiko because she is not immune to his charm.

1972 : Jigen and Lupin meet Maria
Maria is a talented surgeon who constantly has to run away because she is actively sought after by many mafiosi for her gifts. She will sympathize with Jigen by treating him following a serious accident. After her hospitalization, he will narrowly save her from a train accident with Lupin. When they discover her story, Lupin will have the idea of getting her hired by Zenigata. This way she is protected by Interpol and she can have a somewhat normal life. Zenigata will accept because she will be his "Lupin bait" and he will realize that she is indeed very competent as a forensic doctor. To the point of gradually becoming attached to her as if she were his daughter.

Jigen and Lupin continue to see her "sporadically." At times, she may help them with their missions, but without ever seriously compromising Interpol (she'll treat them, help them break into a museum, serve as their hostage, etc.). Zenigata and a few very curious people know that she's communicating with Lupin's gang, but they do everything they can to keep it discreet. Her romance with Jigen is very subtle, to the point where some people think she's actually in a relationship with Lupin, as she gets along so well with him!

She works as a forensic pathologist and accompanies Zenigata, or occasionally other investigations, to crime scenes or when there are death threats. Since she's able to recognize someone disguised as Jigen and isn't insensitive in her presence, Zenigata can tell from her face, and she sometimes helps him find Lupin against his will. But little by little they become accomplices and Zenigata sometimes tolerates his escapades with the boys if they do not get into any trouble.

1975 : Maria and Jigen have a girl - Jazz
Before her birth, they agreed on a mutual agreement: there is no trace of Jigen on birth certificates, wills, or any marriage contract with Maria. Thus, he protects his family in his own way, although he is jealous that Zenigata invests a lot in it to help Maria on a daily basis. Jigen's family fully accepts his choice to be an "occasional dad" and his choice of life; his identity and his criminal activities have never been hidden. Furthermore, there is no physical trace of Jigen's relationship with his family (no photos, press clippings, gifts, etc.). Since the beginning of their relationship, Maria has only accepted ephemeral or intangible gifts (flowers, restaurants, outings, etc.)

1979 : They have twins - Luke & Lucy

Zenigata becomes increasingly involved in Maria and the children's lives to help them and because he cares for them, without stealing his father's place or lying about Jigen's identity. But Jigen is having a hard time with this situation. Torn between his desire for freedom and settling down with his family, despite the agreement he made with Maria, it's still difficult for him to be away from his family. Lupin gets along very well with Jazz, who adores her father and her Uncle Lupin (but hates Uncle Zenigata). Luke sees Zenigata as his idol and he like everybody, while Lucy is rather neutral but actually likes Zenigata.

1982: Maria dies of lung cancer at the end of the year. Before dying, behind Jigen's back, she begins the process of making Zenigata the children's official guardian. Having seen the children grow up and having a "stable" situation, she considers him the best choice. Zenigata will be surprised and even hesitate to refuse. Jigen will be furious and want to contest the decision when he learns from Maria, but they have no other choice for the children's well-being.

On the day of the funeral, (Jazz : 7 years, Luke/Lucy : 3 years) Zenigata will again oppose Jigen, and for the first time, Jigen will not contest the decision when Zenigata confronts him with the facts: he had repeatedly weighed the ultimatum and repeatedly accepted this life of being a father in fits and starts. Zenigata will explain that he will now be tougher when he watches over Lupin and Jigen, he must "protect the children" by preventing them from "hanging out with bandits" but deep down he hopes they will fight to get close to them. But Jigen will take his threat literally. Hurt, regretting not having fully enjoyed his family, convinced that he is a bad father, he will no longer approach his children...
20 years

Fiche de Maria Akebo

Nature : réservée, sur la défensive (mais se détend progressivement au fil de sa timeline)

Apprécie : poulpe (animal) , musées & aquariums, aider ses patients, lys jaune, tarte aux noix, jus de fruit aux épices

Déteste : savoir que les garçons font mumuse avec des trésors nationaux, ou pire les abiment

/!/ Elle ne porte aucune importance aux billets/lingots ni aux jolies joyaux/bijoux

Sait se défendre avec : petites armes blanches, revolver, mains nues

Situation de Maria : étant baigné contre son gré dans des affaires louches, elle sait que la bande de Lupin
n'est pas composée de mauvais bougre donc elle tolère (avec des limites !) leurs actions et son implication occasionnelle.
Les garçons veulent aussi éviter de lui causer des ennuis et de risquer son poste à Interpol garantissant sa protection.

/!/ elle a la phobie des samourais, elle n'est pas à l'aise avec Goemon. Elle se méfie de Fujiko car elle n'est pas insensible à son charme

1972 : Jigen et Lupin rencontrent Maria
Maria est une chirurgienne de talent qui doit sans-cesse s'enfuir car recherchée activement par pleins de mafieux pour ses dons. Elle va sympathiser avec Jigen en le soignant suite à un grave accident. Après son hospitalisation, il va la sauver de justesse d'un accident de train avec Lupin. Quand ils découvriront son histoire, Lupin aura pour idée de la faire embauchée par Zenigata. Ainsi elle est protégée par Interpol et elle peut avoir une vie un peu près normale. Zenigata acceptera car elle sera son "appat à lupin" et il va se rendre compte qu'elle est en effet très compétente comme médecin légiste. Jusqu'à progressivement s'y attacher comme si elle était sa fille

Jigen et Lupin vont continuer de la fréquenter "en pointillé" , par moment elle pourra les aider dans leurs missions mais sans jamais compromettre trop gravement Interpol (elle va les soigner, les aider à rentrer dans un musée, leur servir d'ôtage...). Zenigata et quelques personnes très curieuses savent qu'elle communique avec la bande de Lupin mais ces derniers font tout pour que ce soit discret. Sa romance avec Jigen est très subtile, jusqu'au point que des personnes pensent qu'en réalité elle est en couple avec Lupin comme elle s'entend bien avec lui !

Elle travaille comme médecin légiste et accompagne Zenigata, ou occasionnellement d'autres enquêteurs, sur les scènes de crime ou en cas de menaces de mort. Capable de reconnaître quelqu'un déguisé en Jigen et ne se montrant pas insensible en sa présence, Zenigata le devine à son visage, et elle l'aide parfois à retrouver Lupin contre son gré. Mais peu à peu, ils deviennent complices et Zenigata tolère parfois ses escapades avec les garçons s'ils ne s'attirent pas d'ennuis.


1975 : Maria et Jigen ont une fille - Jazz
Avant sa naissance, un accord commun est convenu entre eux : il n'existe aucune trace de Jigen ni sur les actes de naissance, ni sur les testaments ni sur un quelconque contrat d'union avec Maria. Ainsi il protège à sa façon sa famille, bien qu'il soit jaloux que Zenigata s'investisse beaucoup dans celle-ci pour aider Maria au quotidien. La famille de Jigen accepte parfaitement son choix d'être un "papa occasionnel" et son choix de vie, jamais on n'a caché son identité ni ses activités de malfrat. De plus il n'existe aucune trace physique de la relation de Jigen avec sa famille (pas de photos, coupures presses, cadeaux...). Depuis les débuts de leur relation, Maria accepte seulement les cadeaux éphémères ou immatériels (fleurs, resto, sorties...)

1979 : Ils ont des jumeaux - Luke & Lucy
Zenigata s'investit toujours plus dans la vie de Maria et des enfants pour les aider et car il s'y attache, sans non plus voler la place de papa ni mentir sur l'identité de Jigen. Mais ce dernier vit mal cette situation. Départagé entre son envie de liberté et de se poser avec sa famille, malgré l'accord convenu avec Maria, il lui est toujours difficile de s'éloigner de sa famille. Lupin va très bien s'entendre avec Jazz, qui adore son papa et son tonton Lupin (mais déteste tonton Zenigata). Luke voit Zenigata comme son idole et apprécie tous le monde alors que Lucy est plutôt neutre mais elle apprécie plutôt bien Zenigata.

1982 : Maria décède d'un cancer du poumon à la fin de l'année. Avant de mourir, à l'insu de Jigen, elle entame les démarches pour nommer Zenigata tuteur officiel des enfants. Ayant vu les enfants grandir et bénéficiant d'une situation « stable », elle le considère comme le meilleur choix. Zenigata sera surprise et hésitera même à refuser. Jigen sera furieux et voudra contester la décision lorsqu'il l'apprendra de Maria, mais ils n'ont pas d'autre choix pour le bien-être des enfants.

Le jour des funérailles, (Jazz : 7 ans, Luke/Lucy : 3 ans) Zenigata s'opposera à nouveau à Jigen, et pour la première fois, Jigen ne contestera pas Zenigata lorsqu'il le confrontera aux faits : il avait pesé l'ultimatum à maintes reprises et accepté cette vie de père occasionnel. Zenigata expliquera qu'il sera désormais plus sévère pour surveiller Lupin et Jigen. Il doit « protéger les enfants » en les empêchant de « traîner avec des bandits », mais au fond, il espère qu'ils se battront pour se rapprocher d'eux. Mais Jigen prendra sa menace au pied de la lettre. Meutri, regrettant de ne pas avoir pleinement profité de sa famille, convaincu d'être un mauvais père, il ne s'approchera plus de ses enfants…
20 ans

PS : She exist on Lupin Zero universe, you can find the mini comics on my instagram (do you want i traduce in english ?)
 
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Marie jenck

work for webzine Journal du Japon
She talks more and easily forgives Jigen's actions; she's aware that he sometimes makes decisions she doesn't like or that he can be impulsive. But Jigen is more demonstrative, more inclined towards physical interaction (albeit infrequent), and the first to regret their long-distance relationship. Yet they both have blind trust in each other. They can shoot each other without hesitation to "fake death," a brief exchange of glances is enough to convince each other there's no real danger, or they might brush against each other in combat to be tested. They never refer to themselves as "husband/wife" or a couple, so it's not "official," but their attachment is instinctive (and strengthened through shared experiences).
Illustration_sans_titre 1.jpgIllustration_sans_titre (5).jpg
 
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Marie jenck

work for webzine Journal du Japon
Illustration_sans_titre (9).jpg
I place this drawing in a very melancholic context, shortly before Maria's death. I can easily picture Jigen momentarily taking her away from the hospital where she's receiving treatment, offering her a respite from the blood tests and chemical cocktails she's being given. He takes her by chance to a frozen lake they might have visited together before (they met and fell in love during the Zero arc, but I'm assuming they only have a vague memory of their relationship. It would have lasted less than two years, as their studies forced them to separate).

It's worth noting that they both know Maria is doomed. She seems to accept this fatal outcome rather serenely, unlike Jigen...
 
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