Author's Note: Well hello there once again all! Thanks to the one person who left a review, but at the same time I am not doing this for the reviews. It's all for a good bit of fun; that and because writing for me is very therapeutic. It feels so good to come back to my Lupin III OCs and the boys and Fujiko themselves, especially now with Part V done and more specials coming out. Just saw the trailer for the new Kokie film "Fujiko's Lie" and omg, it is lit people!

Here's a little tidbit, when it came to rewriting this series with my old OCs, Suiza never had any living relatives besides her brother. Now, I decided to give her a grandmother who was basically her mentor when it came to running the family business. I was obviously inspired by Diana Rigg's performance as The Queen of Thorns herself, Lady Olenna Tyrell from Game of Thrones. You'll see in this chapter how much Martin's writing has influenced me, if it was apparent in the last chapter, lol.

Once again. I do not own Lupin III, the song used in this chapter is by Notorious BIG, RIP.


Tell Me, "Once Upon a Time"

Chapter Two: Mo Money, Mo Problems

"We don't play around, it's a bet, lay it down."

-The Palace Hotel-

"So what's our move then?" Jigen asked.

Lupin then revealed three tickets to the San Francisco Opera's performance of The Marriage of Figaro. "Why my dear friend, we catch a show. And it's a hot ticket, apparently Momma Shikibu there is well known."

"Were they expensive?"

"Oh boy were they." Lupin groaned, "Nowadays Opera and Broadway get you with such expensive prices.

Goemon shrugged as he looked at one of the tickets, "The poster art is beautiful I admit."

"Wouldn't it have been easier to just go undercover? Go backstage as I don't know, prop handlers, designers, hell, I wouldn't have minded being an usher." Jigen asked.

"I considered it, believe me. But there is a minor complication." Lupin replied.

"Is that another thing you don't want to elaborate?"

"Someone else is after the Emerald of Hesse, and it is someone we do not want to mess with. They call her "The She-Wolf of France", that is all I know."

"And she's already behind the scenes of the production?"

"She's one of the performers," Lupin said as he showed his friends The San Francisco Chronicle's drama and the arts section of the paper. He showed the men a photograph of the ballerina dancers that were set to perform in the production they were going to attend. He had marked the frontwoman with a red marker, showing a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. "Genevieve Bermont is her name, but I have a feeling it's an alias."

"What would a terrorist want with the Emerald of Hesse?" Goemon asked.

"Maybe she needs money? Who knows; all I do know, is that we must be cautious. It's not just the Shikibu's we need to worry about, it's her as well."

"Stay humble, stay low, blow…"

-Entrance to the San Francisco Police Department-

A cab pulled up in front of the SFPD's second precinct police department, out of it emerged a woman in her mid-to-late thirties. She had red hair that was tied back into a neat ponytail, her beige trenchcoat complimented her brown leather heeled boots. Her eyes were covered by her Burberry sunglasses. "Um, miss? That will be 21.50 for the ride." The cab driver said.

The woman went into her tartan Vivienne Westwood purse, took out a matching wallet and pulled out twenty-five dollars from it. She gave the money to the cab driver, "You may keep the rest," She said in her thick Scottish accent. As the cab left the curb, the woman walked in. She took in the scent of strong coffee and terrible floor cleaner, and proceeded to the front desk, where a woman in a police uniform stood, "Hello, welcome to the SFPD's second precinct office, how may I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Inspector Sandra Mackenzie Campbell, I am with ICPO" The red-headed woman spoke as she went into her boxy purse and took out her photo ID and badge, "I am here to speak with your chief of police concerning a matter of the utmost importance."

"What sort of matter?"

She took off her sunglasses, revealing her green eyes, "A possible terrorist threat."

"I don't know what they want from me, it's like the more money we come across, the more problems we see. "

-Across the Bay, a mansion in the Montclair District of Oakland, California."

"Nothing is finer on a day off from rehearsal than tea on the terrace, wouldn't you say so dear?" Miya said as she looked at her granddaughter. Miya's gray hair was put up in a modest style, almost complimenting the black long sleeved dress she wore.

"Aren't you hot in that nana?" Suiza asked, she herself wore a blue top that showed off her midriff, revealing her pierced belly button along with black dress pants. She took a sip of the ice tea she had, looking at the dried Oakland Hills.

"Nonsense, there is a fine breeze, besides didn't I always tell you not to wear short blouses, your stomach will get chilled and you will get sick."

Suiza laughed, "Grandmother, that's worse than when mother use to tell me that if I walked barefoot in the house I'd catch a cold. Give me scientific evidence to support those statements, and I will follow them"

"Fine, don't heed my advice."

"Only on that front, Nana. Besides," Suiza sighed as she overlooked all the files she had on the table in front of them, "I didn't realize the business was on the brink on failure, good thing I took over at the most opportune time in the Bay Area."

"Some might say you're benefiting from this crises."

"Let them say what they want, what was it grandfather use to say? "The tiger should not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep"?"

"Yes, but that speech you gave to KRON 4 yesterday, your whole "saving your family and hometown." And yet you're making money off building subsidized housing and land development. Some would call you greedy."

"I'm all for social reforms, Nana. But unfortunately, this country was never kind to people like us, we had to learn to scrap and fight, and earn our keep. Let the press or the local gangs think what they want. I am doing what I need to do to save the Bay, and our family. This tour is my way to meet with our investors and the other families, show them Shikibu family isn't fading."

"Then right now you must decide Susanna, what kind of leader, what kind of Queen you want to be." Miya took a sip of her warm green tea, she placed the cup on the small plate as she took a deep breath, "When your grandfather proposed to me, my father flat-out told him "no". He refused to let me become the wife of a Yakuza lord. But Sojiro was ever persistent, and he told me that he wanted to go to America and set up his business ventures there. He presented that ring, telling me that it once belonged to another Queen, one who let her favorite granddaughter marry for love. And if my father wouldn't let me marry him, then he would take me to America with him no matter the outcome."

"And you went with him?"

"Well at first I had to fight off other women he seemed interested in, once I showed him what I could do, he never even made a second glance at those harlots." Both Miya and Suiza laughed, "Oh I was good," She winked, "You, are even better. When Josuke, your dearly-departed father came with us to Switzerland to see me perform in Magic Flute as the Queen of the Night, he was stricken by a young soprano who played Pamina. I believe you know of whom I am speaking of."

"My mother."

She nodded, "Yes, Eva Socorro Macedo was a beauty. Beautiful voice as well, I was amazed by her talent for a woman as young as her. But my son was enamored, Sojiro almost opposed, was more afraid of how the Yakuza back home would react. That's when I reminded him of how we eloped, and that is when I told him "The Tiger mustn't concern themselves with the opinions of sheep." That's right, I taught my husband that. And it is how he let your parents get married, despite a ridiculous unwritten bylaw of blood purity. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't that notion used to commit genocide of mass groups of people?"

Suiza nodded.

"It isn't rare in this day and age to find multi-ethnic people." Miya scoffed, "Blood purity, ridiculous. Go back to Japan and see those little men knock-up young American tourists they find attractive, and they want to preach about blood purity. The point I am coming to my dear is this, be clever, be calculating, be a tiger. Isn't that the symbol Sojiro chose for us?"

"Yes," Suiza answered as she looked at her grandmother.

"The White Tiger of the West, how fitting." She chuckled, "I hope you will heed my advice, Susanna. Not just for the sake of our family, but for yourself. Remember, never forget what you are, for the world surely will not; make it your strength so it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, so it can never be used against you."

"Another one of your wise words?"

Miya laughed, "No, something I read by George R. R. Martin."

"Know you'd rather see me die than to see me fly."

-San Francisco Police Department-

"Coffee Miss. Campbell?" The chief police asked Sandra, "Or I am assuming you prefer tea."

"Not all Brits have tea IVed to us, I am fine with coffee, two sugars please. Regular, that artificial shite is bad for you." Sandra said as she took off her trenchcoat, showing off her dark brown designer a-line skirt, and white button-up blouse.

The chief got Sandra the coffee, placing it on his desk close to the chair she was sitting in. "Okay," He started as he sat down, looking over the files Sandra gave him when she came in, "You said ICPO sent you here due to a possible terrorist threat, is that right?"

Sandra nodded, "Yes. I was given this case recently by my chief. Turns out this women has made quite a name herself, incidents in Europe, the Middle East, Africa. Some consider herself a revolutionary, others consider her a monster, particularly law enforcement. So far, she has killed three officers of the law in Germany, South Africa, and Israel. The She Wolf of France, Genevieve Lupin."

"Lupin?" The chief asked dumbfoundedly, "Is she related to the master thief Arsene Lupin III?"

Sandra nodded, "She is his older half sister."

"I don't get it, how does a woman from a family of thieves decide to become a terrorist?"

"She probably took footnotes from her father, Arsene Lupin II wasn't exactly a saint. He may have been a thief, but he was messier and chaotic than his own father."

"So why come to San Francisco?"

"A source of mine from MI6 has evidence that points to the She Wolf being here, for what purposes no one can say. If what they presented me is true, then we need to act quickly. This woman considers herself a revolutionary, the downtrodden believe so as well. She is no hero, make no mistake, if we do not act the same things that have happened in those other countries may come to California."

The chief nodded, "I understand, I will get in contact with the FBI and the CIA, see what resources we can pool."

"I thank you, I will be staying at the Palace hotel if you need me." Sandra went to her purse, grabbed her wallet, and took out a business card, "Here is my cell, I just acquired an American number, my email is there as well." She said as she gave the chief her card.

"Will do, ma'am."

"Yo, I thought I told you that we won't stop."

-War Memorial Opera House, next day-

Suiza sighed as she walked through the backdoor of the opera house. She was dressed casually in a light blue blouse, black dress pants, and black flats. She held a cup of warm peppermint tea in her hand, her right hand clutching her Louis Vuitton bag. She walked up to the elevator, pushed the button to go down. Another woman walked up to her, her light blue eyes admiring her ring, "My goodness, that is a beautiful ring," the woman said in a French accent.

"Thank you, it was my grandmother's." Suiza smiled back.

"Oh, you're Susanna Shikibu! Your grandmother is the legendary Miya Shimada isn't she?!"

Suiza chuckled, "Yes, seems I can't get away from my nana's shadow."

"Oh not at all, trying having a prima ballerina for a mother, it's why I went into this profession. Oh where are my manners? You're Susanna, and I am Genevieve, Genevieve D' Andresey. I am one of the ballerinas for the opening acts."

"Wonderful to meet you," Suiza smiled, "So the ballet company is from France is it not?"

"Well the company is German, but a lot of us are French. I'm from Blois."

"Wow, I've only been to Paris and Tours, lovely country." The elevator dinged, opening its doors letting the women in. "Going down?"

"Yes, meeting up with the dance director to finalize the routine. Yourself?"

"Dressing room, then to the vocal coach and later to the costume department. I swear, opening night can't come any closer."

"One more week." Genevieve said cheerfully. The elevator went down, it stopped when it got to the first basement room which had the dressing rooms.

"Excuse me Genevieve, this is my stop. I hope to see more of you at least before opening."

"As do I, take care." Genevieve waved as she watched Suiza leave the elevator. Once the elevators closed, Genevieve stopped smiling, she growled, "What the hell did you ever see in her, Leroux?" She asked herself.

Suiza turned to her right, walking down the hall to her dressing room, which was the last one. "Oh, Miss Shikibu," a brunette smiled as she walked up to her.

"Oh, Miss Francine," Suiza replied, "Here to bring me more fan mail and gifts?"

Francine smiled and nodded as she gave Suiza a small pile of letters and a bouquet of red roses with a card. "Secret admirer maybe?" Francine asked.

"I don't think so, it honestly can be from a fan." Suiza sighed tiredly as she went to open the door to her dressing room.

"Oh, let me," Francine opened the door and turned on the lights, the room shined brightly once the lights were on.

"Thanks again," Suiza smiled as she went to put her bag, tea, the letter, and flowers on top of the vanity, "I am sorry to bother you, but can you get me one of the water bottles from the pack? I forgot to pack my carrier."

"Of course Miss Shikibu," Francine smiled as she walked out. Francine paused for a moment as she noticed a stain on her blouse, she turned around to try and dust it off. Had she had a smaller bust, she would've fixed it without shame. "Alas, I am only playing this getup till I get my hands on that Emerald…"

Back in Suiza's dressing room, the singer was admiring the roses she had received. It wasn't new, many fans and secret admirers had sent her flowers. She took out the card, it was red with gold accents on it. She turned it over and read the message.

"At the end of opening night of Marriage of Figaro, I will abscond with you, and The Emerald of Hesse.

Signed, Lupin III."