DISCLAIMER: Don't own Lupin III or other characters… But you know that already…

Hap-py New Year!

Uh, I'm not usually one for sentiments, but I'd actually like to take the time to dedicate this chapter to my mom, the super-sleuth who actually tracked down a copy of Cagliostro… I doubt she'll end up reading this, but, oh, well. And if she did read this, I'm not sure she'd want this exact chapter dedicated to her… I hope you guys all had great holidays and got some rest, and had an all-around good time. Lord knows I've been able to work on this story more, thankfully. And, I think to ring in the New Year, I'll got out of my way to confirm something:

Coming up after this series, I have plans for a part three to this story, featuring some new faces, but the same Lupin-like antics. I have the basic characters and players in place, and even a plot or two in the works…

If anyone has any ideas they'd like to contribute to either story, I'd really like to hear them…

P.S.: Snakelady, your prayers are not in vain.…

P.P.S.: Gwaa…. I just realized I've been writing this for six months! Jeeze… I think I've forgotten what sunlight looks like…

Chapter Thirty Five

New Year's Eve: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

'Turn off your mind relax and float

downstream,

it is not dying, it is not dying,'

--The Beatles, 'Tomorrow Never Knows'

"Dad! Get up! I'm giving you ten minutes! It's the last day of the year, and you're not going to spend it recovering from a hangover!" Yukiko yelled as she hit her father against the head with a pillow.

"I will, I will!" Jigen grumbled, "Jesus—Everyone in my family's a nagging woman—Even the damn dog's a bitch!"

"Jigen!" Ming shouted.

"I meant as in dog," Jigen replied as he lifted his head from his pillow, "It's not even ten, yet!"

"I'm not either, but I'm goin' strong," Yukiko responded as she pulled her father's closet door open, "Here. This is the suit you got for Christmas."

"How can you tell? They're all black—Except for the white one I've yet to throw away," Jigen retorted.

"Because it's the one I spent an hour looking for in the department store," Ming answered. She fell back on the bed, and put her hands over her eyes, "I feel like crap!"

"Give it another three months, it'll get better," Jigen said lightly.

Ming looked upward at him, and rested on her elbows, "Ah, yes, when I've gained thirty pounds—I'll feel a hell of a lot better, then. Any other pearls of wisdom?"

"One a day. You know the drill," Jigen replied as he rose and trudged to his closet. He took his suit from Yukiko and then tiredly walked into the bathroom. He slammed the door, and turned on the shower. Several moments later, Martha came running out, soaking wet.

"What kinda dog sleeps in the bathtub!?" Jigen shouted, "All of her hair'll clog up the drain!"

"If you don't beat her to it," Ming muttered.

"I heard that!"

"I'm glad!" Ming snapped back, and stood. She walked over to a dresser, and picked up a brush, and began to run it through her hair. She looked back at Yukiko, and smiled nervously a moment before turning back to the mirror.

"So, you're really—You know—Again?" Yukiko inquired after a period of silence.

"Yeah. I think. I feel bad enough," Ming answered, "Your Dad's also been grumpier than usual… That happened last time, too. He got horrible morning sickness. I know it seems like he has a hangover, but he's been too sick to drink any strong alcohol."

"My dad? Too sick to drink? Damn… Boys can get that?"

"Sometimes," Ming replied as she set her brush down again, and ran her fingers through her hair, "Your dad just happens to be one of those people… Very emotional."

"Uh… We're talking about the same guy, right?"

There was a knock on the door, and Lupin opened it, "Hey, have you guys seen Jigen around?"

"Shower," Ming and Yukiko answered, pointing to the bathroom door.

"Hey, Ally?" Lupin asked sweetly, and knocked on the bathroom knock. The door opened briefly, and then slammed shut again. Lupin turned around and spat out the bar of soap Jigen had shoved in his mouth onto the floor, "Ha, ha… Very funny. Your mommy wants to see you just as soon as you're done in there."

"Okay! I just woke up!" Jigen yelled in response, "Everyone get off of my ass already, okay?"

"Grouch," Lupin muttered, and turned to walk away. He slipped on the bar of soap along the way, and fell back onto the floor.

"Uh, is he okay?" Ming inquired as she leaned down and poked Lupin.

"Yeah. He probably just hit his head," Yukiko answered with a shrug, "Let's leave him for a few minutes. He'll end up waking up… I hope…. Hey, did he fall on a red bar of soap? There's red all over the floor."

"No, I—Let's go get some breakfast," Ming took her by the arm, and led her out of the room.

Lupin awoke some time later, and found Jigen standing in front of his closet, putting on his black jacket. Jigen opened his dresser drawer, and pulled out a gun. He checked it and loaded it, and he did not seem to realize Lupin had awoken until he turned around.

"It's about friggin' time," Jigen said as he tucked his gun into his belt, "You were out for a good twenty minutes, and I was getting sick of having to walk over you. I thought we were going to actually have to call a doctor for you for a few minutes there!"

"Hey, I've survived much worse than a single hit on the head."

"One's all it takes," Jigen responded, "One hit to the head, and next thing you know, you might be blind for the rest of your life. It just all depends on which card you draw out of the pile, I guess."

Lupin looked at Jigen sideways suspiciously a few moments. He had caught something strange in his friend's voice, "Your vision…. It's getting bad again, isn't it?"

"I can still fire a gun and hit my target, and that's all that matters," Jigen answered.

"But I'm sure seeing your daughters grown up also holds some value with you, right?" Lupin retorted as he sat up.

Jigen looked down at the floor solemnly a few moments, "I'm going to see my mom. She's leaving soon, you know. Maria had to go home yesterday. Maria's learning Japanese, you know that? It's so she can go with me next time I go to Japan."

"I didn't know," Lupin admitted.

"I'll be downstairs," Jigen said, and walked downstairs to meet his mother. Ryoko was in the living room, talking to Keiko.

"Jigen! We were just talking about you! Sit down!" said Ryoko happily as she spied her son.

"I hope it was good…" Jigen muttered in response as he pulled up a chair. He looked over at Keiko from across the table, and noted how very much her daughter looked like her. Right down to the bust, he noted (although he felt somewhat uncomfortable about noticing this, but no one could help but notice… It was just… There).

"Would you like something to drink?" asked Keiko.

"No, thanks… So, Keiko… Still a hooker?" asked Jigen in the most casual tone possible.

"Uh, not for a while… You still a mob lackey?" Keiko retorted.

"Not for a while… I run with more of a gang, now… There's a difference."

"Which is?"

"When you're in the mob, you usually have more stable a pay—And better food, and better shelter, and girls whenever you want, and—" Jigen paused, and thought this over, "What the hell am I doing here?"

"Having tea," Ryoko answered as she poured her son a cup of tea.

Jigen sat there for the next half hour, bored to the point of contemplating shooting himself in order to escape Ryoko and Keiko and their nonstop talking about people he didn't know, people he hated, or people he just didn't give a damn about. He finally found an excuse to leave the chatty duo when Martha tore open a kitchen trash bag. Jigen rewarded the dog with a small bowl of beer, and he then walked into the living room, and made a half-assed excuse as to why he couldn't stay and chat longer.

He walked up the stairs to his room, and opened the door, and found Ming had returned. She was currently going through her closet, and had her makeup spread out over the dresser.

"What are you doing?" Jigen inquired as he walked over to the dresser and picked up a bottle, examined it, and set it back down. He had had no idea eyeliner could come in lime green.

"I found your note," Ming replied excitedly as she continued to rummage through her closet, "I never guessed in a million years you'd do something that… Sweet."

"Sweet? Me? What the hell did I do?" Jigen wondered out loud.

Ming laughed, and walked over to him, and handed him a note, "This! See?"

"What the—" Jigen looked down at the note, "Isn't this a really, really classy restaurant?"

"Yep—"

"Ming, I—"

Ming chuckled, and turned away from him, "Well, I know for a fact who's getting lucky tonight."

He paused, "Me?"

"No, Zenigata—Of course you!"

"I… I'll be right back…" Jigen sighed in defeat, and walked out into the hallway. As he made his way down the corridor, he heard arguing from Lupin and Fujiko's room.

"Fujicakes, I'm telling you! I didn't send that!" Lupin shouted.

"I've known you to be a lot of things, Lupin, but never known you to be modest. It's sort of cute. You should try it more often, if possible," Fujiko said with a cheery tone in her voice, "Now, I'm going to go out for a little while, to pick out a pair of shoes, but I want you ready to go when I get back."

"We've got to return the statue!"

"We'll have time!" Fujiko answered, "Trust me!"

"That'd be a first," Lupin muttered. Fujiko cheerily exited their room, and breezily walked past Jigen. Jigen stuck his head in Lupin's room, and then entered the bedroom.

"Do you have any clue what's going on?" Jigen inquired, "You're the expert."

"You got one, too?" Lupin concluded, "I'd love to cancel, but Fujiko would kill me! I'm sure you told Ming 'no', right?"

"Uh…"

"Christ, Jigen," Lupin put his face in his hands and grumbled curses to himself in French.

"What!? Hey, if she had talked you like she did to me, you wouldn't have been able to turn her down, either!"

"You're supposed to be the one who doesn't let women sway him?"

"I can't sway every once in a while?"

"No, no you can't," Lupin replied.

"Hey, if you got one, and I got one, do you think—" Both looked back, and saw Goemon in the doorway, leaning against it with the palm of one hand. He was trying to wipe Amaya's lipstick off of his face with the other hand.

"Did you two—"

"Yes," Jigen and Lupin replied in unison.

"I take it from the makeup on your face that you just couldn't tell her no?" Lupin sighed.

"A brief loss of will power," Goemon answered quietly.

"She told you that you were getting lucky, too, huh?" Jigen added. Goemon said nothing, but flushed, and averted his eyes from the duo.

"Hey, look on the bright side!" Jigen slapped Lupin on the back, "Pops isn't gonna be there!" There was a loud squeal of delight, coming from Zenigata's room. A very excited Natasha walked out, leaving a somewhat puzzled Zenigata in the room.

"Son of a bitch," Lupin grumbled.

"Was this your idea!?" Zenigata yelled angrily to Lupin.

"We're as in the dark as you," Lupin replied.

"Last time this happened, he almost got our asses shot off," said Jigen.

"But if we don't go to this—" Lupin started.

"We're going to get our asses kicked—" Goemon added.

"By women," Zenigata finished.

"So, what's better. Death by gunfire, or death by angry women?" Lupin asked.

There was a long pause in the room, until Jigen cleared his throat and spoke, "I better go iron my good suit…"

"Good idea," Goemon added, and exited the room with Jigen.

"I hope you both know you're hopeless cowards!" Lupin snapped as they exited.

"We're not hopeless—We're smart!" Jigen retorted.

That Evening, Around 6:00 P.M.:

"You'd look a lot nicer if you didn't look like you were pissed off at the world," said Toshiro to his father as both sat in Goemon's room. Goemon turned and glared at Toshiro sharply. Toshiro cracked a nervous smile, "Although, in this light, pissed off does wonders for you."

"Are you sure you want to stay with Julia?" Goemon asked as he rose from his chair.

"Yeah," Toshiro nodded, "It'll be okay. She's cool. And Yukiko likes her, too. And she likes Yukiko."

"You've been spending a lot of time with her."

Toshiro cleared his throat, and shifted on the bed, "I wanted to know if—Nah, never mind… I'll tell you about it later. You just have a good time with Mom. Be sure to dance with her at least once."

"You just called Amaya 'mom'."

"I did?" Toshiro shot Goemon a look of surprise, "Guess I'm just used to it now…"

"It'd mean a lot to her if you called her that more often."

"I'm ready," Amaya said, and entered the doorway of the room. She had her hair done up in an intricate design, and wore a pink and red kimono.

"Tee-hee… You have fun now," Toshiro said, and patted Goemon on the back once before exiting the room.

"Don't worry… We will," Amaya answered as she walked over Goemon and picked up her purse from the dresser, "Are you ready, Goemon? The others are waiting downstairs for us."

"I'm unsure about this," he admitted.

"Nonsense. If anything happens, you'll have Zantetsu with you. It rarely fails you. Just go out and have a good time for once!" Goemon made a small sigh of defeat, and followed Amaya out to the front door. Julia had come into the house, and was waiting for Toshiro and Yukiko. The grandparents would watch over the smaller children.

"There's something so fishy about this…" Lupin muttered.

"Tell me about it," Jigen added as he unfolded his cane and walked out the front door, Ming helping him to their car. Ming got into the driver's side, and Jigen into the passenger side. Amaya and Goemon soon joined them in the back seats. Lupin, Fujiko, Zenigata, and Natasha were in the car behind Ming's. Lupin's car was a very intense one indeed.

They arrived at the restaurant a while later, all of the men on guard, and all of the wives delighted at this wonderful surprise.

"They reserved the entire restaurant?" Lupin whispered to Jigen as they sat down next to one another. There were other people there, surprisingly enough, even Ravi Patel, the swordsman who had injured Goemon and cared after Jigen.

"What's going on?" Zenigata asked himself as he looked around at the other tables.

"Gentlemen! Ladies!" all turned around, and saw Jean-Paul Renoir approach them, "I see you came! Wonderful!"

"You did this?" Lupin inquired, "Why?"

"Well," Jean-Paul smiled, "It was my fiancé's idea, actually. He has no idea you are here, though, so it ought to surprise him a bit!"

"He? Him?" Jigen frowned.

"I let you kiss me!?" Lupin yelped.

"Welcome to my world," Goemon muttered as he sipped his water. He held his clear glass of water up to one of the chandeliers, and saw a distorted figure move towards them through the glass. The figure stopped in front of their table, and drew back a little in surprise.

"Goemon…" he heard in a surprised and hushed gasp.

Goemon knew that voice. Accent—Manchester accent. He set the glass down, and felt his blood run cold, "Collin?"

"You two know one another?" Jean-Paul smirked.

"We go back," Goemon answered.

"We went out on one date. Nothing serious," Collin answered. Zenigata glared at Goemon. Everyone else laughed. Goemon considered stabbing himself through the stomach with his sword.

"I see," Jean-Paul nodded, and smiled, "Well, I'm certainly glad it wasn't that serious! Otherwise, we wouldn't have met."

"Hey. Who's wearing the dress at your wedding?" asked Lupin. Fujiko slapped him on the back of the head, and Lupin looked back at her, "What'd I say?"

"Enough," Fujiko snapped in response.

"Jean-Paul, I'd like to talk to the samurai for a moment," said Collin, "No worrying, babe. Just gotta clear some things up."

"I understand," Jean-Paul nodded, "But no funny tricks, Monsieur Ishikawa, or I'll make you disappear permanently."

"How very comforting," Lupin said to himself.

Outside, on a patio:

Collin was leaning against the railing of the patio while Goemon had seated himself in a chair. Collin was smoking a cigarette, and offered one to Goemon, who accepted it.

"So, you finally found someone, uh?" Goemon concluded as he took a drag of his cigarette.

"Yeah," Collin nodded, "But nothing beats first loves, you know?"

"Hm…"

"I'll take that as a yes," Collin smirked wryly. He walked over to Goemon, and seated himself next to the samurai, "How are you and the little computer geek getting along?"

"We have a child—A son. Two, actually… I have an older son, too."

"Huh, really? I've been having thoughts about having a few."

"If you two have any success conceiving, let me know," Goemon said.

"That cute little of humor of yours is still intact, I see. You know that always drove me mad," Collin looked downward at his cigarette, and flicked off some of the ashes, "Is she treating you all right? Because, if she's not, I can have her gone like 'that'."

"I'm perfectly happy. Besides, what would Jean-Paul say?"

"He'd be understandably upset, I'm sure. He was a little jealous of you, I know. He's always looked up to the Lupin gang, and I think his first attraction to me was the fact that I had had a past with you all. Although me talking about you made him reasonably cross sometimes."

"You two will probably be happy together."

"More than likely, yeah," Collin smiled, and turned to Goemon, "Hey, do you believe in that reincarnation business?"

"Yes."

"Well," Collin laughed to himself, "I hope, in a different life, that we'll at least be good friends… It'd be kind of nice to fight against a samurai, even though I know I'm nothing but a coward at heart. Well, we better get inside. Your girl's probably missing you and my pseudo-girl's probably missing me, too. We don't want to make them too jealous now, do we? What are two good-looking people to do, though?"

Goemon rose wordlessly, and began to walk back into the restaurant.

"'Ay, hold up a second!" Collin called.

"What?"

"If you… Or even the bitch… Ever need anything… Don't be afraid to ask," Collin said sheepishly, "I owe it to you."

"Owe it to me? Why?"

"Why, you're the first guy to ever kick my ass, love," Collin answered with a laugh as he opened the door for Goemon, and entered after him, "It taught me a thing or two about working for what I want—Even though I might not always get it."

The duo walked into the restaurant, and found that the music had started. Collin looked over at Goemon, "You wouldn't care to dance, would you?"

"I have two left feet," Goemon lied.

"Right… Catch you later, Mona Lisa," Collin laughed, "You should smile more, you know! Save the frowning for when you're an old man, when you have something to really frown about!"

Goemon shook his head, and could not help but to laugh a bit. He then walked over to the bar, and ordered the strongest drink he knew his body would be able to handle. Amaya soon joined him over at the bar, and ordered a scotch.

"I feel like the bad guy," Amaya laughed.

"You shouldn't. He found someone," Goemon replied as he looked back at the dance floor. Ming was begging Jigen to go out on the floor with her. Jigen was refusing. After saying something sternly to him, something Goemon could not quite make out, Ming was able to get Jigen to go to the floor with her.

"He doesn't seem like the kind for dancing. He's more of the kind who stays home and laughs during Old Yeller…."

"He does laugh during that movie. But put The Road to Perdition on and suddenly he has to excuse himself from the room," Goemon replied stiffly.

"Don't act so tough about it. I'm sure there's a movie out there that gets you a little teary-eyed," Amaya laughed, and nudged him playfully.

"Seven Samurai. But if you tell anyone, I swear to the gods I'll run off with Collin," Goemon snapped.

"That made you—Aww… It's okay…. 2001: A Space Odyssey made me kind of sad, too…"

"You sat through that film?" Goemon wondered out loud in disbelief.

Across the room, on the dance floor:

"Well, Goemon's back in with Amaya, and all's right with the world," said Ming.

"We've still got the statue to worry about," Jigen reminded her.

"It's not midnight yet. Just enjoy this, okay?" Ming said.

"I'm at a pre-wedding celebration for a gay couple, and I'm wearing a tuxedo. I'm at the height of discomfort right now."

"I'll let you know if any guy starts to give you the eye. Hey, maybe even a girl will give you the eye!" Ming laughed.

"Hey, you did," Jigen retorted.

Lupin and Fujiko were watching the two from their table. Zenigata and Natasha were still there as well, talking about several trivial things, more than likely dealing with coin collecting. Ravi walked over to the table, and shook hands with Lupin.

"It has been a while, friend," Ravi said with a smile.

"I'll say. This is the last place I'd expect to find you," Lupin answered.

"I know. My wife is less than pleased with the reason for the celebration. But, I have never been one to turn down an invitation. I heard your brother died. I am sorry yet cheerful at the same time at the news of this," Ravi admitted.

"He's still kickin'. He's exiled in England, though," Lupin replied, "He wouldn't dare jump the pond."

"Good to know," Ravi admitted. He looked over at Ming and Jigen, "I see Ming and your bodyguard have patched things up."

"Boy, have they ever!" Lupin laughed, "Ming has kid #2 in the oven, or so I've been told."

"The last thing I saw that girl as is a mother. She is a good one, though, I hope?"

"Very. And Jigen's a great mommy, too," Lupin answered.

"Have you been keeping tabs on Mr. Jigen's medical records? I was wondering if he ever fixed that cataract."

"Cataract?" Lupin gaped.

"In his right eye. We were unable to get it in the first surgery. It was too much of a medical risk," Ravi answered, "I have been following his medical records, to see if he would do it. I am guessing he did not."

"Jigen, that jerk!" Lupin growled.

"Wait, looking through his medical files—Isn't that legal?" Fujiko inquired.

"I believe you know the answer to your own questions, Madam. But you two are not ones to judge the legality of certain actions, especially if it is full of good intent," Ravi replied.

"I'll talk to Jigen later. I don't care if I have to shoot him to get him to a hospital—He's going," Lupin said quietly as he looked back at Jigen again.

At the Lupin Gang House, Long Island:

Ryoko, Keiko, and Natasha's mother were all in the living room, watching over the babies. Uncle Heiji, Grandfather, and Mrs. Ishikawa had left earlier that day. The house was very quiet, and the children were all sleeping. The three women were watching the ball drop from Times Square, and Ryoko made sure to translate for Natasha's mother whenever writing would appear. Natasha's mother, Amy, had been born in Great Britain, but had moved to Israel before Natasha was born. She could still speak English, but had since forgotten how to read it. Keiko could not read English either. Fortunately, Ryoko's father, the original Daisuke Jigen, had been an English professor.

"That Dick Clark person is older than my daughter's husband," Amy Yalkzalta lamented.

Martha entered the living room and after a few moments decided to lay silently at Keiko's feet. There was a steady number of rings on the buzzer suddenly, and all jumped in surprise. Amy restrained Martha while Ryoko stood and walked to the door. She opened the front door, and was shocked to see another Japanese woman, possibly in her thirties, standing in front of her.

The mystery woman looked up at Ryoko, and Ryoko immediately registered the face, "You look like…"

"I need to see Jigen Daisuke. Do you know him?"

"He is my son," Ryoko replied, "Come in."

"When will he return?" asked the woman.

"Not till at least one. He had a previous engagement tonight," Ryoko answered. She nodded, and walked in. Ryoko slammed the door, and began run to the phone, "Excuse me!"

"No problem," the woman responded.

A Helicopter over New York City:

"Ten! Nine!" the audience shouted. Jigen could not see well enough, but he could hear the happy shouting. It had been years since he spent New Year's in America. He was somewhat upset that he could not be there with his daughter to spend the holiday.

The gang was still in their formal wear when they were dropped the statue. Zenigata had a set of handcuffs ready in case Lupin pulled anything.

"Eight! Seven!"

Jigen felt his phone go off, and felt around for it in his coat pocket, "Hello!? Mom! This is no time to— What!? I can't hear you!" There was a pause on the phone, "Who!?" Then dead silence from Jigen, "Yeah… Thanks.." he said quietly, and hung up the phone.

"What was that all about, Jigen?" Lupin called back to him, "Your mom want you to pick up some bread on your way home!?"

"Sakura is at the house," Jigen answered.