Zenigata dug his chopsticks into his cup of instant ramen, his eyes starting to glaze over with sleepiness. He hadn't slept since he had arrived at the museum and the fatigue was showing. Slowly he moved the noodles to his mouth, his eyes watching the security monitors

"I know you're comin', Lupin. Hehe… I'm gonna be ready for you, too." He thought out loud to himself.

"What do you mean, sir?" came the unexpected response from one of Zenigata's assigned officers.

"What do you mean, 'What do you mean?!'" Zenigata turned, yelling and almost spilling his soup. "This place is more secured than Fort Knox!"

"Sir? Do you really think everything we've done will be enough to stop the great Lupin III?"

"We've got trip lasers on all the balconies, the case the cup is in is bulletproof glass, the pedestal is anchored to the floor, and we've got men patrolling every other corridor in the building! Lupin isn't laying a finger on that cup!"

Zenigata quickly turned his attention back to the monitors, trying to scan every person that came through the museum doors.

"If you say so, sir. By the way, some of us got a little confused. Which corridors were we supposed to start the patrols with?"

Zenigata became noticeably angry, tired of this officer distracting him from his duties.

"Listen, I'm not your babysitter. There's a copy of the orders on that cabinet. Take 'em and get lost." He said, waving his hand behind him toward the filing cabinet.

"Yes sir!" the guard said as he took the file and walked out of the security room, a familiar snicker being heard as he exited.

Zenigata paid it no mind, his eyes being drawn to a group of highschoolers that had just entered the building. The girls wore green sailor uniforms with red ascots and the boys wore straight blue suits. His attention was drawn for a moment to one girl near the front who seemed a little too interested in the exhibits for a girl in high school.

"Ooo! I've actually seen that before!" Kagome giggled to herself as she looked from artifact to artifact, several she had seen when they were still new.

"What are you talking about, Kagome? You've never been in this museum in your life." Yuka, Kagome's friend, pointed out.

"Wha-? Oh… yeah, well… I saw it on the internet. I did a report on it." Kagome tried to cover.

"Okay, Kagome…" Ayumi replied, the group moving on, continuing their tour of the museum.

The tour spent a long time going over Japanese historical events and objects, all of which seemed to bore the majority of Kagome's classmates, making them all the more restless to get to the interesting part of the museum: Modern technology. Kagome scoffed at them, feeling very mature for being able to see the beauty in her country's history. She had been able to experience it from both sides of the spectrum since she started going through the well back at her family's shrine. She had a point of view no one else she knew could ever understand.

Finally, the tour had reached the end of its Japanese history section stopping at one final artifact: Mitzusaka's Cup. Legend had it, (as the tour guide informed the group) that a Feudal Lord named Mitzusaka would drink from a certain cup before entering battle and that when he did he could not be harmed. The cup became famous and was sought after by lords all over the region, but so long as Mitzusaka drank from it, none could take it from his grasp.

Kagome pushed her way to the front of the group to get a good look at it, her jaw dropping in amazement when she finally saw it.

"Come on, Kagome, it's not that amazing. It's just a dirty old cup." Ayumi said, watching her friend's expression.

Kagome didn't respond, but simply stared at the cup, almost as if she was uncertain about what to do.

"That cup… it has a sacred…"

"And now onto the Technology of Modern Japan!" said the tour guide, the group practically running from the exhibit room, dragging poor Kagome with them.

"Ergh!" Kagome struggled. "No! I've got to get to that cup!"

The group turned a corner into the metallic blue section of the Museum, dedicated to all that was high tech. With her classmates busy playing with robots and messing with simulators, Kagome snuck away and headed back toward the cup. At first it was a brisk walk, but it quickly turned into a full run as her mind raced with the thoughts of the jewel shards. So involved in her own thoughts was she that she slammed full force into a security guard as she rounded the corner to the cup. The two fell back to the floor, Kagome being knocked silly for a few moments.

"Watch where you're going, girl." Came the response from the stiff bearded guard, his hat tucked down so his eyes weren't visible.

"I'm sorry! I just have to see…"

"Whoa, you don't HAVE to see anything, girl. You need to stick with your group"

Kagome stood up, looking at the slender guard with the pointy beard. She had to come up with an excuse to go back to the cup.

"What I mean is… I… I have to go to the bathroom! Please!" Kagome slapped her hands together, begging the guard and gesturing to the restrooms about 15 feet behind him. The guard snorted a bit, looking her over, her eyes getting bigger and more pleading.

"Fine… but hurry up." He conceded.

Kagome bowed thankfully and rushed to the restroom, shutting the door tightly behind. The guard sighed a bit and shook his head.

"I guess I'm just a sucker for a girl with pretty eyes." He said to himself as he took a few more steps, inspecting the halls to find them empty.

Kagome cracked open the door slightly, just enough to see out with one eye, watching the guard, hoping he would go away and let her see the cup. All she saw him do was pull out his radio and say something into it.

"Come on… please leave!" Kagome whimpered to herself.

Suddenly the lights went out, catching Kagome by surprise and causing her to shriek. Within moments the lights had returned and Kagome poked her head outside the restroom again. She saw no signs of the guard.

"He must have moved on. Gone to find out what caused the power surge." She said to herself.

She decided not to waste this opportunity and sprinted out of the restroom and into the room containing the cup. As she slid in, her eyes showed a look of horror. Quickly a man in a large trench coat entered the room.

"Crap! He got the power supply! Is the cup still here?"

Zenigata breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the cup still in its rightful place in the glass display.

"Phew! The cup is still safe." He said aloud, several of his officers relaxing a bit behind him at the news.

"That's not the cup." Kagome said, almost oblivious to the officers around her.

"What do you mean, little girl?" Zenigata said, noticing Kagome for the first time. "And what exactly are you doing here alone? Aren't you supposed to be with a group?"

"That's not Mitzusaka's Cup." Kagome repeated to herself.

"Are you listening to me, girl?! You're not supposed to be here by yourself. Get back with your tour group!" Zenigata repeated, startling Kagome.

"Ah! Oh, I'm sorry!"

Kagome turned and headed out of the exhibit room, confused and slightly worried.

"Ha." Zenigata snorted. "If that WAS Lupin, he's really losing his touch."

Zenigata turned to one of the guard, his serious demeanor quickly returning.

"I want a full sweep of this floor; get all you men down here. Lupin messed up somehow and I'm guessin' he's still close by. Hurry!"

"Yes sir!" came the reply from a young guard with long sideburns, his eyes obscured by his hat.

The officer quickly bolted from the room along with the other guards, but he slowly separated from them.

"What's that?" Kagome said to herself as she slowly made her way toward her class. "I can feel the jewel shards again. But where are they?"

She turned about, looking all around, but saw no sign of them.

"They're coming closer… They're almost here!"

Kagome turned back toward the exhibit room, running full speed. As she turned the corner she slammed full speed into the guard with the long sideburns.

"Ow!" she said as she sat up. "This must be my day for hitting security guards."

The officer rubbed his head and looked up for a moment, dazed.

"What the- The cup!" he shouted, looking around him.

" The cup?" Kagome said puzzled as she looked around, her eyes landing on the Sacred Cup lying on its side a few meters away. The jewel shard shining from it confirmed its authenticity.

"That's the Sacred Cup!" she shouted.

"What?!" came the grizzled voice of Inspector Zenigata as he rounded the corner, drawn by the noise of the collision. "The Cup?! But if that's the cup… then the one in the exhibit… then that makes you…. LUPIN!!!"

Lupin leapt to his feet, giving a slight snicker as he discarded his hat, scooped up the cup and bolted down the hall.

"GET BACK HERE, LUPIN!!" Zenigata shouted as he rushed by, pushing aside Kagome as she tried to stand up.

The chase led Zenigata to a large ballroom area with massive marble columns supporting the weight of the mosaic ceiling. Lupin dashed down the center, passing a lone swordsman; Goemon. Zenigata stopped, confused when he entered the room.

"What do you think you're doing, Goemon?"

Goemon remained silent, letting his sword answer. He quickly unsheathed it and leapt from pillar to pillar, only a flash of light and the sound of sword on stone being heard. He returned to the center of the room, quietly turning around and walking out the exit. The guards stood dumbfounded at the door behind Zenigata.

"What are you waiting for? After them!" he shouted, his arm outstretched, calling the charge.

Zenigata and the men rushed after but paused halfway through the room when a low rumbling was heard.

"Crap…" was all Zenigata could say before the room came tumbling down on him.

Kagome found herself being herded with the rest of her class out of one of the side entrances. Police and security guards assured the students that nothing was wrong and that they simply needed to perform a routine drill for the safety of the students. Confused, Kagome began to step out the door when she heard a tremendous crash. The security guard hurriedly pushed her out the door and closed it.

"What's going on?" she asked as other guards hurried her toward her bus. Stepping on, Ayumi grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into a seat with herself and Yuka.

"What's going on Kagome? They're saying our trip is cancelled."

"I have no idea."

Kagome sat up on her knees, peering out the window, hoping to catch a glance of something that might help satisfy her curiosity. Suddenly, the bus door closed.

"Everyone sit down. We're heading back." came the somewhat nervous voice of Kagome's teacher.

Everything was happening so quickly. The Sacred Cup, the strange guard that everyone was chasing, the horrible crash and now, what felt like only moments later, the bus was moving and police were carefully directing them away from the Museum. Scanning carefully, Kagome managed to catch a glimpse of a collapsed part of the museum before the bus turned the corner. Settling back into her seat, she sighed.

"I hope Inuyasha doesn't have anything to do with that…"

The engine of the Benz SSK roared through the streets of Tokyo, Lupin and his crew seated nonchalantly. Smoke trailed from Jigen's cigarette while the Goemon sat cross-legged and stoic. Lupin smiled brightly, the Sacred Cup strapped to his hip.

"And… here he comes." Lupin said, checking his rearview mirror.

A cadre of police cars raced down the streets, sliding into their turns and barreling after the trio of thieves. Two helicopters raced ahead.

"Ol' Pops never disappoints, does he?" Jigen said, flicking his burnt out cigarette butt.

"Hey, with any luck we might make the evening news!" Lupin joked, swerving down a side street. Pedestrians scattered and various street decorations flew everywhere.

Several police cars back, Zenigata stuck his head out of one of the cars, pointing his jitte ahead.

"After that bastard! I'm not letting him go this time!"

Lupin enjoyed the chase. Honestly, it had to be one of his favorite parts of the job. While Goemon remained statuesque and Jigen prepped his Magnum, Lupin simply smiled.

"Almost there. Ready boys?" he asked, swerving to miss a fruit vendor… which the police did not.

"Ready as ever. You sure she'll be there?" Jigen asked, looking back to see the streets filling with patrol cars.

"Fuji-cakes? Of course."

Quickly, Lupin brought his wrist near his mouth.

"Fuji-baby, you ready? We're nearing the pick-up point."

Silence answered him. Goemon opened his eyes.

"Fujiko?"

"Lupin? I'm sorry sweety, but the heat's too much. You're going to have to find another way."

"That bitch…" Jigen muttered, loading the last bullet into his magnum.

"Give her a break, guys. She's probably got as much trouble on her hands as we do."

Several cars back, Zenigata's radio buzzed with life.

"Inspector Zenigata?" came a sweet, feminine voice.

"Yeah?" the grizzled officer said, grabbing the radio. "Whatd'ya want?"

"I've done as you said. He's trapped."

"Good work!"

"Is my money on the way?"

"It's waiting at the assigned point."

"Thank you very much. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

Zenigata smiled as he tossed the radio aside. He was finally going to catch Lupin.

"Lupin, you crazy bastard, that girl would sell you out for a Klondike bar."

"So now what?" Jigen asked, taking his first shot at the tires of the pursuing vehicles.

"Believe it or not, I do plan for Fujiko contingencies." Lupin responded, his smile never fading.

"Gemini routine?" Jigen asked, bull's-eyeing a police tire.

"Yup."

"I do not care for the Gemini routine." Goemon interjected.

Lupin's car started making erratic turns. He was dashing around corners, avoiding every roadblock Zenigata could throw at him, but it wouldn't do him any good. Without Fujiko's aid, Zenigata knew he had him this time.

"Holy crap!" Zenigata shouted.

Without warning, Lupin had spun around and weaved through the holes Jigen made in their pursuers, his Benz brushing within inches of Zenigata's car.

"Catch me if you can, Pops!"

"Lupin!" shouted the Inspector. "Turn this thing around now!"

Spinning around, losing precious seconds, the remaining cadre rolled after Lupin. With his car now leading the pack, Zenigata felt even more sure that victory was near.

"C'mon Lupin. All I need is one mistake…" he said to himself.

And then it happened. The Benz slid into a turn and barreled down an alleyway… a dead-end alleyway.

"We've got him! All cars, block off that alley!"

Police cars slide into position around the mouth of the alley, its long dark tunnel obscuring their vision.

"Come on, men! He's only got the one exit!"

Zenigata smiled as he stared down the long alley. This was it. Lupin would turn and then they would have him. Headlights flashed in the dark alley. There he was. Two more headlights flashed.

"Huh?"

With matching roars, twin roadsters launched out of the alleyway. Zenigata dove for cover as they plowed through the blockade, clearly reinforced beyond their original specs. Passing the cars and hitting the main road, the two vehicles paused. Each one had a smiling, snickering Lupin in the driver's seat. In a flash the cars split and headed in opposite directions.

"Gah! After him!"

"Which one sir?"

"Both you idiot!"

After ten minutes of silence, a small engine echoed through the alleyway. A thin man with long blond hair and a thick mustache appeared on a yellow Vespa. He paused at the main road, then snickered, looking down at the bag around his waist.

"Gotcha!"

The thin man nearly stumbled from his moped, turning back to see Zenigata pointing his jitte squarely at him. With a flick of his wrist, the hair and mustache were gone and Lupin was off.

"You're getting better, Pops!"

Zenigata bolted into his cruiser and was in pursuit. True, his backup was all chasing after decoys, but it didn't matter. Zenigata had always intended to capture Lupin alone.

Through the main streets and out of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo Lupin ran. His modified Vespa gave him enough power to keep Zenigata from running him over, but not enough to lose him.

"Damn he's persistent." Lupin said as he began scanning the area for hiding places. "He's thrown off the whole plan."

He complained out loud, but inside, Lupin was secretly enjoying himself. It had been a while since the Inspector had given him such a good run for his money.

"Bingo!" Lupin said, noticing a Shinto Shrine.

Lupin slid his moped to a stop and discarded it at the bottom of a long set of stairs.

"Hope you're in shape, Pops!"

Quickly he began rushing up the stairs, Sacred Cup in tow. Zenigata's patrol car slid up onto the first few steps moments later.

"Damn it, Lupin! Get back here!"

"What's all the fuss?" came the voice of the old Shinto priest, stepping downstairs into the living room.

A lovely woman met him at the bottom, smiling. Beside her was a young boy, vehemently pointing at the television.

"Grandpa! There's a huge chase going on in the city!"

"What's this, Sota?" he asked.

"The Museum! Someone attacked it!"

"The one Kagome was going to?" he spit out with worry.

"It's okay," the mother said calmly. "The school's already called. Kagome's fine."

"Hmm… I'd better burn some incense and light some candles anyway." the Grandpa decided, turning to leave the house.

Arms loaded with prayer beads, candles, incense and special seals, Grandpa slowly made his way back toward the house. He paused near the shrine that contained the covered well.

"I hope Kagome will be okay. Huh?"

Grandpa turned to see a young man, tall and thin, racing toward him.

"See here! What do you think you're –"

"Sorry old man! Gotta run!" came the hurried response of Lupin as he drove past him and into the shrine.

"You can't go in there! That's –"

Again, the old man was interrupted, this time by a larger man in a trenchcoat knocking him aside.

"I've got you now, Lupin!"

Zenigata stopped at the entrance to the shrine. He shined his flashlight about and saw the area was quite sealed off, save for the one entrance. His light then stopped on the smiling figure of Lupin standing on the edge of the well.

"Ha! I gotcha now!" he said with a wide grin.

Lupin smiled, but was secretly nervous. He began discretely fiddling with a smoke capsule on the back of his belt.

"If you think you got me, Pops, come get me."

With that, Lupin fell backwards into the well.

"Gah!" Zenigata sputtered, racing after him

Quickly the Inspector leapt in and… THUD! Zenigata lay upside down at the bottom of the well, face buried in dirt. Standing and dusting himself off, he looked about.

"Damn it, Lupin!" he shouted.

The thief had disappeared once again.