DISCLAIMER: I don't own this. Would I be writing a fanfiction if I did? Oh, well. That's the legal system for you, I suppose…

Konnichwa!

How has everyone been? Terrific. Well, we're up to lucky number seven—Already, huh? Thank you for all of the reviews, and I hope I can only make this story better with age. Oh, neat little side note—Toshiko is a real character. She's only mentioned once, though, in one of the movies, but I still thought it'd be a pretty neat idea to feature her in a story. You don't hear much from her—She's kind of like the third Cunningham child, Chuck, from Happy Days. Disappeared only after a mention or two and was never heard from again. All right, moving on. Let's get back to the story.

Chapter Seven

Day Seven: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

'You tell me that you've got everything you want,

And your bird can sing,

But you don't get me

You don't get me,'

--The Beatles, 'And Your Bird Can Sing,'

"What kind of sick bastard could do something like this?" Zenigata murmured as he looked down at the now-bloated bodies of Kenji and two associates, "Would Lupin—No, there wasn't even a note! It could've, but it couldn't have…"

"Inspector, the bullets are from a Smith & Wesson Magnum," one officer said, "But we have reason to believe it was self-defense. From reports we received, Mr. Tenshino was holding a woman hostage… Three men and a young girl soon came to her rescue."

"Are—Are you sure?" Zenigata asked in disbelief.

"Yes," the officer nodded, "It may have very well been to order to rescue the young woman."

"Lupin… But, his is a Walther, the Magnum belongs to…. Christ…" Zenigata trailed off in thought, "Jigen…"

"Pardon, Sir?" the officer inquired, looking upward at Zenigata.

"I have some business to attend to. Clean this place up," Zenigata said, putting his hat back on his head and storming out, "Why would Jigen shoot up a skating rink? It's totally out of character for him to kill complete low lives without a purpose…. Damn, I guess I'll have to go back into my files for this one…" He climbed into his car, moved aside his paperwork, and drove away while in deep thought. His mind traveled to who else he knew lived in Osaka, but he quickly lost this thought as he turned out of the parking lot.

The Hotel:

"Hey, Goemon, answer me this…" Lupin said as he and Goemon sat watching television with Yukiko in between them.

"Yes? What?" Goemon inquired, looking over at Lupin.

"All right. I get him being a sponge under the sea, but how the hell did they get the pineapple down there?" Lupin inquired as he looked television, "And what's with the squirrel!?"

"Please do not insult my intelligence with such asinine questions…." Goemon snapped in reply.

"You only say that because you can't answer it, either!" Lupin chuckled. He heard Jigen come out of the bedroom, and turned to him, "Hey, Jigen, answer—"

"We interrupt this program for breaking news," the television suddenly flashed to a grave-looking newscaster, "Kenji Tenshino, rumored Mafia lord, has been found dead at a roller skating rink under his ownership, along with two of his partners, Mr.—"

Yukiko turned around and looked at Jigen coldly. She rose, walked over to him, and kicked him in the shins swiftly, "Liar! You told me you did kill them! You're nothing but a liar! I'm glad you're going blind! You deserve it! I hate you!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, and then stormed out.

"Yukiko!" Jigen yelled, and went to chase after her.

"I'll take care of this," Goemon said, and quickly began pursuit of the child. Fujiko and Amaya had come out, and were standing in the doorway.

"Did you really tell her you didn't kill those guys?" Lupin asked quietly, "Why'd you lie to the kid, Jigen?"

"Just shut the hell up and leave me alone, Arsene…" Jigen muttered, "I just want to be alone right now."

"Daisuke…" Lupin looked on in silence as Jigen limped into their bedroom and slammed the door to it, causing a picture to fall off the wall and smash onto the floor.

"I'll get the broom," Amaya said after a long uncomfortable pause between the three.

The Woods Outside the Hotel:

Goemon silently walked through the woods, listening as he heard the crying of a young child growing louder and louder. He found Yukiko sitting down at one of the posts of the fence she and Jigen had been practicing shooting at the day before. He slowly came up behind her, and put a hand on her shoulder. Yukiko swiftly turned around, and her fierce expression softened as she saw it was just Goemon.

"Yukiko, are you all right?" Goemon asked.

"Yeah," Yukiko lied, and wiped her tears away on her sleeves, "No…" she added after a pause, "Why'd Jigen kill them?"

"Yukiko, he did it to protect us," Goemon answered, "If he hadn't killed Kenji, Kenji would've come for us. He did it only to help us."

"Would he kill me?" Yukiko asked, looking upward at Goemon.

Goemon drew back in speechless surprise, and spoke, "No. He likes you, and that's a big compliment coming from Jigen. There are few things he likes anymore. He just has a hard time showing it sometimes."

"I didn't mean to tell him I hated him. I don't. I just didn't think it was right that he hurt those people," Yukiko replied, "I didn't mean the thing about him going blind, either."

"Jigen's going to be all right. His vision will get better, and he'll forgive you," Goemon replied.

"Are you sure?" Yukiko asked.

"As sure as there is a moon to control the tides," Goemon replied.

"Huh?" asked Yukiko.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Goemon answered, and lifted Yukiko up, and carried her back to the hotel. Lupin picked the lock of the bedroom in order to let Yukiko in, and she slowly entered.

"Jigen?" she asked as she saw him laid down on the bed, his hat over his eyes, "I—I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it. I just got mad because you told me you didn't kill them, but you did. But Goemon told me he did it just to protect us. I—I'm sorry for kicking you in the shins, too. It's what Fujiko said to do if I got angry at someone."

Jigen remained motionless, and Yukiko slowly inched over, and lifted up his hat. A smile slowly appeared on his face, and he sat up in bed, "That kick hurt like a bitch."

"I'm sorry, I really am!" Yukiko replied.

"Yeah… It's all right, Yuki. I deserved that kick at least," Jigen replied with a wry laugh, "Did Fujiko teach you to kick like that?"

"Uh-huh," Yukiko nodded, "You want to see what else she taught me!?" she added excitedly, coming back into a fighting stance.

"No, thanks. I've got enough bruises for the week," Jigen replied as he rose and limped out of the bedroom, "Don't worry about it, kid. Don't dwell on the past."

"Okay," Yukiko nodded, and followed Jigen out.

"That was kind of cute…" Lupin said with a smile as he and Goemon returned to their sitting on the couch. He turned to Goemon and smiled, "Hey, you know what I just realized?"

"What?" Goemon asked, turning to Lupin.

Lupin chuckled, "You're sleeping with Zenigata!"

Goemon growled, and briefly lost all sense of Zen as he lunged for Lupin, "You'll be sleeping under six feet of earth if you make another joke like that!" Goemon snapped angrily, "Do you ever quit being perverse, even for one moment!?"

"No, not really," Lupin replied, shaking his head, "But that's why I'm so darned likable!"

"Keep telling yourself that…." Goemon muttered as he rose and walked over to Amaya. "Would you care to go get tea?"

"I would love to," Amaya replied with a nod.

"Lupin, Amaya and I will be out for a little while. If anything should arise, Amaya has a cellular phone," Goemon said as he exited with Amaya.

"You two have fun! Don't do anything I would!" Lupin replied cheerily as they exited. He turned to Fujiko, "Say, Fuji, you want to go out for a romantic lunch for two?"

Fujiko paused and looked over at Lupin, "Sure. Why not?"

"Yeah!" Lupin said happily, jumping up and running into his room to get ready for lunch. Fujiko shook her head good-humoredly and went into her own bedroom.

Jigen looked down at Yukiko, "Well, I guess you're my date for this afternoon…" he said to her.

"Yep!" Yukiko smiled cheerily.

"Great," Jigen said with a nod of his head, "That's great…."

Giggio's Italian Restaurant:

Lupin's eyes darted around the restaurant, searching for any sign of Zenigata. He cautiously sat down as he saw the coast was clear and waited for Fujiko to sit down before he began to speak, "Well, no sign of Pops, so I guess we can eat in and not order it to-go."

"I have a question," Fujiko said, leaning inward. Lupin's eyes traveled downward as he noted her V-neck dress, but after a small smack on the side of the head from Fujiko, he had gained her undivided attention.

"Uh, sure, anything," Lupin said as the stars in front of his eyes disappeared.

"How did your parents work it out? Why the hell are you the way you are, anyway?" Fujiko asked, "I've tried to figure it out for years, and I finally give up."

"My parents…" Lupin looked downward, "I guess I don't think about them much. My grandfather was a better parent than my dad ever was."

"What about your mother?" Fujiko inquired.

"O.D.'d on sleeping pills when I was eight. Couldn't take living in a crime family, I guess," Lupin shrugged, "I haven't thought of her in years, you know that. But, oh, well. She's gone now, huh? What good are the memories if you can't bring them back, huh?"

"Oh my God, you want your mommy," Fujiko gasped in realization.

"Huh?" Lupin shot his head up.

"I've finally solved the great mystery," Fujiko smiled, "You're a womanizer because all you want is a strong female figure. That's why you let me beat the crap out of you! I'm there to keep you in line! Oh my God, it explains all of it!"

"That's not it!" Lupin snapped in response, "My mother has nothing to do with the way I am! She was barely in my life, why would she effect it so much!?"

"Lupin, calm down. It's just an assumption," Fujiko answered in a shrug, "I got bored and started reading some psychology book I accidentally picked up in the airport. I started reading about this own thing, and it sounded just like you!"

"Listen, I thought this was a date, not a game of 'Let's See What Makes Arsene Tick'. I let you beat the crap out of me because I know I deserve it half the time!" Lupin answered.

"That or you're a masochist," Fujiko answered breezily.

"I am not a masochist! Now you're sounding like the one who needs therapy!" Lupin snapped.

"Okay, just calm down, the waiter's coming," Fujiko said, sitting up in her seat and straightening her blouse.

"All right," Lupin nodded, and straightened his posture as well when the waiter arrived. They ordered their meals along with a bottle of vintage 45' red wine, and the argument started up once again as the waiter left.

"I'm not a masochist…" Lupin muttered.

"It was just something that popped out!" Fujiko replied. She sighed, and began an attempt to change the subject, "So, how's it coming with Yukiko's father? Have you found him yet?"

"Good. It's coming along swimmingly," Lupin replied vaguely.

"You don't think you'd make a good father, do you?" Fujiko inquired.

"What?" Lupin quickly snapped his head in her direction, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, what were your father and grandfather like? Parenting wise, I mean," Fujiko answered.

"They taught me everything I know!" Lupin said proudly.

"They must've been worse than I thought, then…" Fujiko muttered.

"What!?" Lupin yelped, "Okay… Boo hoo, my daddy didn't hug me enough and my grandpa hugged me too much. No big deal. Like Jigen said, the past is the past."

"You're quoting from Jigen," Fujiko reminded him, "The same Jigen who lets small children play with guns. A psychiatrist could have a field day with that man's head. God only knows what twisted little memories he has under that hat…"

"Jesus, I am quoting from Jigen!" Lupin said in realization, "Good God…"

"See," Fujiko smirked in satisfaction.

"Okay, so let's say hypothetically I'm bitter over my mom killing herself and I wish my old man would take a long walk off of a short cliff sometimes. That doesn't mean I think I'm going to be a bad parent," Lupin replied.

"Do you?" Fujiko inquired.

"Well… Yeah," Lupin replied with a shrug, "What about you?"

"I think I'd be all right," Fujiko answered, "After a little bit of practice, of course. But only if I can keep my figure after the pregnancy. And I'd have to get you to change diapers."

Lupin seemed sincerely stunned at this statement, "You mean there's hope yet!?" he asked excitedly.

"Only if you stop grabbing at me," Fujiko replied.

"Whatever you want, Mommy!" Lupin said with a wide smile. This drew strange glances from some of the other patrons at the restaurant, but both were oblivious to this.

Yoshi's Japanese Steakhouse:

"So that's what my father has been doing all of these years? Chasing after Lupin?" Amaya inquired.

Goemon nodded, "He usually ends up making an ass of him, if you don't mind my bluntness."

"Not really," Amaya shook her head, "He used to love to make people laugh, I know. Then he became a workaholic when he was promoted, and, bam, he ended up leaving. Half of me wants to hug him when I see him, the other half wants to chop his head off."

"I would gladly carry out the head chopping if you desired," Goemon added.

"Does he hate you, Jigen, and Fujiko as well?" Amaya inquired.

"Equally, if not a little less," Goemon answered as he sipped his tea, "Sometimes I think he hates us so much he likes us."

"I can't wait to see his face when he meets his future son-in-law," Amaya said, a wicked smile coming upon her face.

"You won't get me to call him 'Dad' for all of the gold in Fort Knox," Goemon answered.

"Don't worry, I don't even call him dad anymore," Amaya replied bluntly.

"What do you call him?" Goemon inquired.

Amaya shrugged, "It depends on how angry I am with him on that day. On days when I remember the good times, it's Koichi, but on days when I remember him leaving us, it's 'that man who's now dead to me'."

"I can see why you would want to resolve such a thing," Goemon admitted, "I don't understand why Zenigata and Yukiko's father could leave each of you."

"It's because you had both of your parents growing up," Amaya replied.

"I suppose," Goemon nodded, "I would never do such a thing, though. A child is a blessing."

"You tell me that when you're up in the middle of the night trying to feed one," Amaya replied.

The hotel:

"Well, howdy, pilgrim," the television emitted a distinctly Western drawl, "Put yer hands in th' sky, nice an' easy now…"

Yukiko sat intently in front of the television while Jigen leaned back and looked at the movie and then down at Yukiko, and then back at the movie. Who would've guessed a seven-year-old would actually want to sit in front of a John Wayne movie? It was now closing in on the evening, and neither couple had returned yet. If he counted Lupin and Fujiko, that is. Nobody comes out the same after going to Osaka, Jigen thought to himself. Not even me… He had come in a stern gunman, and now here he was, a bespectacled babysitter watching Westerns in a ever increasingly creepy hotel.

"Do you think the John'll make it?" Yukiko inquired.

"Of course he will!" Jigen replied, coming back to his senses, "He's the freakin' Duke, for God's sake!"

The door opened, and Fujiko and Lupin entered. Lupin looked particularly happy, Jigen noted with suspicion. He was singing Dean Martin songs, he observed with added annoyance. Had Fujiko drugged him? Was he drunk? No, he was actually happy. Weird.

"Hey, Jigen, Fuji and I have to go 'talk' for a little while," Lupin said with a wicked smile.

"Wha—" Jigen shot his head up in disbelief , "Holy crap, you can't be serious!"

Lupin smirked slyly and opened the door, and then closed it. Jigen glowered on the couch, and his eyes grew wide again as he heard a familiar noise from behind the door. He reached over and turned up the volume of the television as Yukiko grew curious.

Goemon and Amaya soon entered, and looked over at Jigen and Yukiko, and then over at the door from which the noises came. He looked over at Jigen once more, and Jigen turned to him.

"Hey, if you've got the same thing in mind, better now than never, while I'm watching the kid," Jigen said with a heavy sigh. Goemon nodded, and went into the other room with Amaya. Jigen turned up the volume to the TV even more. Yukiko looked upward at him, and then decided to sit next to Jigen, "You okay, kid?"

"You're going to go deaf if you keep the volume up so loud," Yukiko said in earnestness. Jigen smirked and looked back upward at the television.

Yukiko fell asleep soon afterward. Jigen turned off the television and laid Yukiko out on the couch. The room was very quiet, as was the rest of the hotel. He draped a blanket over Yukiko and turned off the light of the living room, and looked outside at the countryside. He lit a cigarette and saw the full moon had taken on a bluish color.

"You're never the same after you leave Osaka," Jigen muttered to himself as he flicked some of the ashes into a nearby ashtray, "Well, it's good to see those two finally worked everything out… They found people who love them. Everyone who 'loves' me either wants to, or ends up, ripping my heart out and stomping on it with a pointy stiletto. But, you know, old pal, it wasn't always like that…"

Nine Years Ago:

"Jigen, are you out of your mind!?" a young woman hissed as a man around her age led her around to the back of an old building, "If Kenji sees me, he'll kill both of us on the spot!"

"Screw Kenji!" Jigen replied arrogantly, "If he sees us, I'll shoot his ass!"

"You're insane!" she sighed hopelessly, "If Kenji—"

Jigen stopped and pinned her against the old wall and kissed her, and smiled as he drew back, "If Kenji tries to hurt us, I'll hurt him. Don't worry about it, okay? I'll take care of everything! After I get the money, I'll whack Kenji, and we'll be able to move to the U.S. and get married there. We'll move to California, just like I promised!"

"It's a nice dream…" she said slowly.

"Just trust me on this one!" Jigen said reassuringly, leaning against the wall.

"Usually when you tell me that things start exploding and people start losing appendages," she laughed.

"Hey, not always!" Jigen protested.

"Your friends are going to be angry with you. They're probably wondering where the hell you are… You've been gone for almost three months," she said with slight concern.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Jigen reassured her, "They'll love you, don't worry! Hopefully Lupin will keep his hands to himself, though." She laughed, and he went in to kiss her again.

The Present:

Jigen put out his cigarette and looked out at the scenery, "I promised I would take care of Kenji, and I did. Damn, I haven't thought about Sakura in years, and I almost married the broad! Kinda glad I didn't though. Who the hell would want to get caught up in this crazy life, if you can call it that. Amaya's got to be related to Zenigata—She's totally nuts, just like her old man. And you've got to be a little off your rocker to go after a guy who carries around a sharp weapon with him everywhere. I guess it's all luck of the draw. Some guys are just meant to be loners…" He turned back around, and saw Yukiko had knocked off her blanket. Jigen sighed heavily, walked over, and put the blanket back on her. He then sat down on the recliner and laid back, and tilted his hat over his eyes

A Parking Lot Twenty Miles out of Osaka:

"It doesn't add up!" Zenigata hissed angrily, slamming his fist on the dashboard, "I'd say he was an old enemy, but they have more enemies than they do warrants!" he added in defeat, "What would they have against—" he stopped, and threw aside a stack of papers. A photo from a newspaper article caught his attention. It read:

Several Injured in Osaka Shootout

Zenigata took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and held it against the photo. Sure enough, there was Jigen, hiding in the background behind a tree at the crime scene. With him was a young woman. Zenigata remembered her from his files at the old police station, Pre-Interpol. She had been Kenji's girlfriend and accomplice. But what connection did it have with Jigen?

"This is just getting more and more confusing!" Zenigata muttered, slamming his head down on the table, "Why the hell are you with Kenji's girlfriend!? It doesn't make any sense! I just need some sleep…." He muttered and sat back in the car seat, and found sleep hard as he thought of what could possibly be the answer to this mystery that plagued him as much as Lupin's sarcastic smiling mug. Smug jerk. He'd show him someday. Zenigata finally fell asleep with the pleasant dream of strangling Lupin. Slowly, slowly. A smile appeared on Zenigata's face, and he turned over in the chair.