Disclaimer: I do not own Lupin III or any of the other Monkey Punch characters.
Hey ya….
Some way to ring in the New Year, huh? Tee hee… Hey, if anyone's still worried about me quitting, I'd give up worrying… They've been talking about the 'last heist' for over twelve chapters now…. And this was originally going to be twenty chapters long…. But, loyal readers have kept this running, and I still enjoy writing this 'weekly serial' (basically what this has turned into). I have no clue how long this'll be, but as long as I have readers, I'll keep writing, even if this story ends (fat chance) and I go on the part three.
Chapter Thirty Six
A Little while Later: Seasons in the Sun
'I've just seen a face I can't forget the time
or place where we met'
--The Beatles, 'I've Just Seen a Face'
"You're sure you won't mind watching them? Yeah, he's just in shock himself—I'd hate to see how she'd take it," said Lupin into his cell phone, "Thanks again, Julia. Bye." He hung up the phone, and turned to Jigen, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car, looking ahead blankly, as if dead, "Julia's going to watch over Yuki and Toshiro for us. It's good to make friends in cities, sometimes."
Ming had suddenly remembered a friend she had promised to visit in the city, and had left for the night. Jigen couldn't blame her for leaving; part of him would've liked to leave, too. But he would have to face this, whether he liked it or not. He was notorious for running away from his problems, unless he was absolutely trapped, like he was now.
They pulled up to the house, where Ryoko hurriedly ushered them in, "Where is she?" asked Jigen.
"In the dining room," Ryoko replied, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Where's Ming?"
"She went off," answered Jigen.
"Do you want me to go in with you?" asked Lupin.
"No—This is my problem," Jigen answered, and opened the door to the dining room. The Japanese woman immediately shot her head up towards him. Jigen drew his head back a little in surprise; she looked just like her, but older. But it couldn't be her—She was dead… Wasn't she?
Jigen closed the door behind himself, and sat down across from her at the oak dining room table. Maybe it wasn't her, and he just couldn't make out the features well enough; the room was dimly lit.
"It's been a while, eh?" Jigen said, and tilted the brim of his hat upward, "I thought…"
"Is Yukiko here?" she asked. She sounded just like her. She could probably just sing like her, too…
"Not right now. She made it here, though, don't worry. Yuki's been living here the past couple of years with us… She's really growing up—A real young lady, like you would've wanted," Jigen said, "She really missed you too, Sakura…."
"I'm not Sakura," she said quietly.
"Wha—I…"
"I am her sister," she replied slowly and in an educated manner, "My name is Kome."
"It's nice to meet you… I guess…" Jigen said in a mixture of embarrassment and disappointment, "You look just like her. You sound like her, too."
"I get that a lot. People tell me I'm like a ghost of my sister," Kome replied, "You probably want to know why I'm here, right?"
"That'd be good to know. My mom's freaking out right now, and Ming's probably upset."
"Who's Ming?" she inquired.
"My wife," Jigen responded.
There was a paused from Kome, "Your… My goodness, you're married?" Kome said in obvious surprise, "That's wonderful… Does Yukiko like her stepmother?"
"Yeah, they get along great," Jigen replied, "Now, getting back to things—Why are you here?"
"I came because I heard that the Lupin gang was in this area. I live around here, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to check in on my niece."
"You know, Sakura never mentioned having a sister—Not even once," Jigen said, "And she was crazy about her family, too."
"We weren't on very good terms at the time," Kome answered.
"So, are you older or younger than your sister?"
"Does it really matter now?" Kome scoffed, "It really doesn't make a difference now…"
"I guess," Jigen muttered, "I'm sorry Yukiko isn't here right now, but, I could tell you about her, if you want…"
"I'd love to hear," Kome replied, a smile cracking her saddened features, "How does she manage to study?"
"Oh, I make her crack the books. She's a lot like me—Never really liked school. She doesn't really get along with kids, I'll admit; she's too much of an intellectual, I guess. You should've seen her one time, gave this one little bastard a right hook, right in the nose!"
"Oh my God, why!?"
"He called her a mutt," Jigen responded, "I don't get that, because she looks Japanese, to me."
"Does she manage to get along with anyone?"
"Sure, lots of people! She gets along with Goemon, Fujiko, Amaya, and Lupin— And she's even warmed up to Zenigata! He's saved her a couple of times over the years."
"I meant children…"
"Yeah. She gets along with Toshiro, Goemon's son. He's a year or two older than her. They're inseparable."
"She has a boyfriend?" Kome inquired.
"Not really. If they started dating, I'd probably kill her. No dating before she's sixteen—That's one of the few rules I have," Jigen answered, "She's a lot like your sister, Kome. Loves pranks. Sakura liked practical jokes, too. She also likes singing, like her mom. You probably remember that Sakura had a great voice, eh? You can't help but remember the voice. It's like a dream that won't go away."
"Yes, I remember," Kome nodded, "And, how are you holding up?"
"Me?" Jigen laughed, "Okay, I guess. I mean, I finally got married, and I had a baby girl with my wife. We're planning another one. Yuki's real excited about it…"
"What's your wife like? Her name was Ming, right? Is she Chinese?"
"She's from Hong Kong. She hired me to protect her, and I guess things kinda snowballed from there…" Jigen answered. "Kinda like with me and Sakura."
"Do you have a picture of her?" Kome inquired.
Jigen felt around for his wallet, and pulled it out, and passed it to Kome, "Here. You're welcomed to look if you can find it. I can't see it in this light."
"Why not? I heard you had terrific vision."
"I have night blindness," Jigen responded, "All part of getting old…"
He could hear Kome make a small sound of surprise, "This Asian girl… With the black and red hair? Is this your wife?"
"That'd be Ming."
"She's so young!"
"Hey, no one's perfect. Believe me, she sounds older than she looks. She got really bored with a wild life, and decided to settle down. It's not like she feeds the kids drugs or anything!" Jigen said reassuringly, "Do you want to see Yukiko's room? I'm guessing you're the concerned type who likes to see that sort of stuff."
"Yes, please," Kome nodded, and rose from her seat, "Here, I can help you to the door." She walked over to Jigen and took one of his hands. Kome led Jigen over to the door, and opened it. The light came filtering in, and he was briefly blinded by it.
The others were sitting tensely around the living room, and immediately looked over at the two as Jigen led her up the stairs to Yukiko's room.
"She still enjoys old movies?" asked Kome as she looked around at the posters of old films.
"Even more, now. Goemon's got her hooked on anything from Akira Kurosawa," Jigen answered as he walked into Yukiko's room. Kome went over to the dresser, and picked up a fedora, and looked at Jigen in curiosity, "She likes hats."
"You're teaching her how to shoot, aren't you?" Kome asked in annoyance.
"She already can shoot," Jigen retorted, "Boy, her mom would kill me if she were around to see this…"
"She most certainly would," Kome snapped.
"Hey, how'd you know I was a gunman?"
"You remind me of a typical cowboy," Kome answered, "You don't smoke around her, do you? Sakura told me all about your smoking habit."
"I quit a while back," Jigen admitted, "She got upset over it, because, you know, with your sister… Cancer…"
"You gave up that…. Because Yukiko asked you to?" Kome said in disbelief.
"Yeah; I love her. It goes with the territory," Jigen answered.
"I have to get going in a little bit," Kome said quietly as she stepped in front of Jigen.
"Are you planning to take Yukiko with you?" Jigen asked defensively, "Because, I'm sorry, but she left her with me. No way in hell is she going back to Japan."
"I thought about it, but Yukiko seems happy here," Kome responded, "I would never take her away from something and someone she loved."
"Thanks. You're a good lady, Kome. Send Sakura my love next time you visit her grave," said Jigen.
"Can do," Kome nodded, and began to walk down the stairs. She was quickly grabbed, however, and led back into the dining room. A door slammed behind her, and she was seated in the same seat as before. But now Lupin was sitting in front of her, studying her in deep thought.
"You're a liar, and a bad one, at that. Your emotions gave you away. Sakura had no sister," Lupin said, leaning forward and smiling at her viciously, "You're the real deal, aren't you? But you're supposed to be dead, and, believe me, although I've seen zombies before, none of them have been quite as good looking or smelt as good."
Kome looked downward at the table at her hands, "I just wanted to check in with everyone… It's been a few years since I've seen my daughter, and almost ten years since I've seen Jigen."
"Why?" Lupin continued, "Why did you do it? Why did you fake your death, and put your own daughter through that!?"
"Faking my death was the easy part—I really did have cancer. I barely made it out with my life. I sent Yukiko away because Kenji was getting too close for comfort. He would've had us both dead in another month. So, I changed my identity again, left for a different hospital, and bribed the doctors tell Yukiko that I had died. Then I sent her to you, Mr. Lupin, for her father to look after her. It's nothing that a concerned parent wouldn't do for her child."
"Why did you come now, though?" Lupin asked.
"The cancer's back," Sakura responded, "It's even worse now. I don't have much time. Six months, tops. I just wanted to see everyone before I had to go. I thought it would make me happy if I saw that everyone was all right."
"You're not happy?" Lupin inquired.
"I don't look it, but I am," Sakura nodded, "Daisuke's finally found someone. My daughter is happy. She has friends, and siblings. She has a lot more than I could have ever thought to have given her. This house—It's beautiful. And, there's a dog, too, right? She always wanted a dog. I could never really afford it, though. I could barely get the two of us by, at times."
"You could've come to us sooner."
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to track you all?" Sakura snapped, "Almost as hard as telling your only daughter she has to board her first airplane alone and follow the man in the brown coat so he can lead her to a man in a red jacket who will help her." Sakura then placed her hands over her eyes, and began to cry softly out of desperation.
Lupin sighed and removed a white handkerchief from his pocket and passed it to Sakura, "Here. Come on. I didn't mean to make you cry, Miss. Listen, if it's one thing I don't like to see, it's women crying."
"You really are a gentleman, huh?" Sakura laughed, "Jigen wasn't telling tall tales, after all. He really missed working with you all, I know. That's why I was so surprised that he allowed himself time to start a family. We had always talked about a family, I know… Moving to California, and starting one there…."
"I've heard," Lupin admitted.
Sakura twisted the handkerchief in her hands, "He looks old, now. I do, too, though… I'm not the same Sakura he remembers… And he's probably not the same man I fell in love with… He's better, now… Why is his vision so bad? Did someone hurt him?"
"No. He fell down some stairs, and he's had visual problems since. My guess is his nerves were already weak; it was only a matter of time before this happened."
"Well, I suppose some things never change; but some do. He still has the hat, and the beard," Sakura smirked, "Lord, I always told him he looked Amish with that thing."
"Funny story behind that, but it's a little long, and I don't think you have the time, honestly," Lupin said with a brief laugh, "What is it with him and the beard, anyway?"
"Why do you wear that hideously loud jacket?"
"I just do."
"See," Sakura smiled, "You have your own answer, now. It just is."
"Wow, you are a tough one to crack, huh?" Lupin laughed.
"He told you that?"
"Amongst other things. I hate to tell you this, but he actually never mentioned you to us until Yukiko came."
"I'm not surprised. Live for today, and forget the past. He lived by that saying."
"I'm not so sure. He's pretty much learned by now that the past can come back and bite you in the ass if you try to get away from it. Besides, I don't think he ever really forgot about you, Sakura. Jigen's just too proud to say some things out loud, sometimes."
"Well, I guess I better be going," Sakura rose, and buttoned her raincoat, "Thank you for having me over… Maybe, some other time, I can visit again."
"Yukiko might like to see you."
"I'm not sure," Sakura shook her head, "She has a good mother, now. Someone who can and will take care of her. I love my daughter enough to know that I'll never be able to provide for her like I want to. I'm just glad she and Daisuke are happy."
"You think Jigen's happy? He looked like he was about to die when I saw the two of you."
"Exactly. He was sad to see me because he'd been having such a good life," Sakura explained, "He'd been happy with me, and he was confused…"
"Miss Yazuki—If you need any help, there are ways to reach us. I think you know by now. If you change your mind, and pull through, I'm sure Yukiko would like to see you one last time. I'm sure Jigen would like to see you one last time, too."
"I'd rather stay a happy memory than come as a sad shadow from the past," Sakura replied, and opened the dining room door, "Good-bye, Mr. Lupin. Thank you for everything."
"Anything for a pretty lady," Lupin replied.
"Some things never change…." Sakura repeated to herself as she exited.
Jigen had opened his bedroom window for fresh air. He needed it especially now—He was a nervous wreck. She looked like Sakura, sounded like Sakura—But only in voice. There was no way anyone would be able to sing like Sakura. Then, he heard it. A door closing, and steps from the porch. Then singing.
'I know you,
I walked with you once upon a dream,
I know you,
That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam—'
Then the music stopped, as if the singer were contemplating the next set of lyrics, "And I know it's true!" Jigen called out to her. Sakura spun around once to the window, but found no one there.
"Yes. That's it. And I know it's true… Thank you, Allen…" she whispered, and turned back down the driveway. She ran into a Chinese girl on her way to her car.
Ming stopped, and stared at Sakura with a sense of awkwardness, "You must be…" Ming started.
"I'm not, anymore," Sakura answered, and put a hand on Ming's shoulder, "Good luck with your children, Mrs. Jigen. All three of them. Watch out for your husband, too. He gets in moods, sometimes."
"Yeah, I know," Ming nodded, "Thanks… I hope I'll see you around."
"Good-bye," Sakura said, and climbed into her car. She drove off, and Ming watched until she could no longer see her tail lights. She then scaled up the stairs, and removed her high-heeled shoes. She crept up the stairs, and into her room. Jigen was in a corner of the room, reclining in a chair. She threw her heels down at the ground, walked over, and kneeled down at a side of the chair. She tilted the brim of his hat up, and smiled.
"Have a good visit?"
"Yeah. Got some things cleared up," Jigen answered, "Sakura didn't have a sister…."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," Jigen leaned forward in his seat, "It's in the past, now."
"You know what?"
"What?"
"She was a great judge in character," Ming said with a smile, "You want to get to bed now?"
"Yeah. I think I need the sleep, after a night like this. A gay wedding shower, returning something we stole, and hearing a voice from the past. Wonder if this is a prerequisite for the next year?"
"One more surprise for you," Ming responded as she rose and began to prepare for bed.
"God, what?" Jigen sighed, placing his hat back over his eyes.
"You remember when I said maybe I was going to have another baby?" Ming asked.
"Yeah…"
"It's not a maybe," Ming said.
"What is it, then?"
"Congratulations, again…"
"Wow… Making an old guy feel even older," Jigen laughed.
"I can't wait to tell Yukiko," said Ming, looking in the mirror and putting a hand on her stomach.
A New York City Hotel:
Party favors were strewn all around the hotel room. The television was still on, but the lights of the room were all off. Junk food was also thrown around the room. Yukiko was laid out on the couch, sleeping, and Julia and Toshiro were on the floor of the room, both eating long-stale popcorn and drinking soda. Julia was flipping through the television channels, trying to find some sort of decent programming.
"She sure sleeps like a log, huh?" Julia laughed as she looked back at Yukiko.
"No, worse—She sleeps like her father," Toshiro answered.
"Looks like there's nothing on TV, kid," said Julia with a sigh of defeat, "Would you mind settling for MTV?"
"I guess not," Toshiro shrugged, "Hey, Julia, I was wondering…"
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Remember when you told me about your new acting role? The kabuki presentation?"
"Uh-huh…"
"I was wondering if you'd mind someone working there, to help with the authenticity."
"But aren't you going home?" asked Julia.
"I… I really like it here…."
"What about Yukiko?"
"I…" Toshiro looked downward and sighed in exasperation, "I really, really like Yukiko… But it would only be a short time, right? I can always go back. I just feel like I've found a place where I belong, for the first time—Ever! I get fewer funny looks here over the way I dress than I do in Japan, or France!"
"Toshiro, it's a big decision that'll you'll have to talk over with your parents, but I have no problem with you living with me," Julia answered, "You just think it over, okay?"
"All right," Toshiro nodded.
Yukiko opened one eye briefly and looked over at Toshiro and Julia. So, he was leaving too, huh? Well, it was like her father had said—If you love someone, let them go. And maybe Toshiro taking a break would give him an opportunity to finally sort out several things that had been bothering him. The events of the past year had traumatized him, no matter how well he tried to hide it.
"Hey, what does 'MTV' stand for, anyway?" Toshiro asked.
"Music Television," Julia answered.
"Then how come I've never seen them play music?" Toshiro inquired.
Julia paused, "Um… Couldn't you ask me something simpler? Like where babies come from?"
"No, I had Yukiko explain that to me already," Toshiro answered. Yukiko gave a small-unseen smile; he was a brainless goof at times, but she would miss him if he left.
The Next Morning:
"Thanks, Julia. We'll see you around," Fujiko said with a smile as she stood in the young girl's doorway.
"Are you guys leaving yet?" Julia asked as she made eye contact with Toshiro briefly.
"Not for a few days," Fujiko answered, shaking her head, "But we'll be sure to visit before we leave! We'll see you later!"
"Bye!" Julia waved to the three, and then closed her door. Toshiro sighed heavily and Yukiko looked over at him with a sense of pity. He really did seem like he was in a better mood when he was in the city.
"Hey, what's up with you guys? You seem a little down for just having the holidays!" said Fujiko as she led them down the steps of the hotel and to her sports car.
"Just a tough decision I'm thinking about making…." Toshiro replied.
"Really? What is it? You can tell me—I can keep a secret," said Fujiko with a smile, "My sister and I were like that too when we were little. Boy, that makes me sound old though, doesn't it?" she laughed.
"I'll tell later," Toshiro answered as he climbed into the back seat with Yukiko.
Yukiko turned to him, and put a hand over his, "It's okay, no matter what choice you make. You won't hurt my feelings or anything. It's better than to have people away from you and have them happy. I know my mommy's away, but she's in a really good place."
"What's going on with you two, huh?" Fujiko asked again as she started her car up and pulled out of the hotel parking lot.
"Thanks," Toshiro looked downward at the black leather upholstery, "I think I know what I want to do. Let's just hope my dad understands…"
"I have a feeling he will. Now, if it was my dad… Whoa," Yukiko laughed. She looked up out of the window of the car, and turned pale. Fujiko had stopped at a red light, giving Yukiko an opportunity to get a good look of the woman.
She was very pretty; long black hair done in a loose bun, a small frame, and well-defined Asian features. She was busy buying fresh fruit from the market, and too concentrated in this to notice Yukiko staring at her. Toshiro frowned at Yukiko's blank expression, and looked over his shoulder.
"You know her?" Toshiro asked.
"She looks like my mom," Yukiko whispered. Fujiko's eyes widened in surprise, and she slammed on the gas, running through the red light and causing a disturbance at the intersection. She heard the echo of the word 'bitch' as she careening down the New York street, and drove with her foot flooring the gas pedal all the way to the house.
"Fujiko? Are you all right?" Toshiro inquired.
"I'm fine. Let's get inside," Fujiko replied as she hopped out of her car and strode to the house. Toshiro followed a still-dazed Yukiko into the house, and walked up the stairs to his father and stepmother's room.
"I need to talk to you, Dad," Toshiro said in a low whisper as he closed the door behind himself.
Yukiko opened the door to her bedroom, and walked in. She stopped dead in her tracks; the room smelt just like her mother's perfume. Her fedora on her desk had been moved. Who had moved it? It couldn't possibly be… She slammed her door and fell onto her bed and began to cry loudly.
There was the sound of Italian shoes stomping down the hall moments later, and Jigen opened Yukiko's door, "Yukiko! What did I tell you about slamming doors in the—Yuki, what's wrong?" he asked, feeling like a complete cad for shouting as he saw his daughter crying on her bed. Jigen closed the door behind himself, and sat down on the edge of the bed, "Hey, what happened? Did someone make fun of you again? Does Daddy have to go whack someone?"
"No," Yukiko sat up on her bed, and brushed her shoulder-length hair out of her face, "I thought I saw Mommy while we driving, and this room smells just like her perfume!"
Jigen drew back a little, shocked. Now what in the hell he was supposed to do? He couldn't tell her about the encounter before the night before; she wouldn't be able to handle it—He was barely able to handle it. His first thoughts are what his father would've done. He would've made Jigen laugh. But laughter was the last thing needed now. The old man had been good at making Jigen laugh, especially when he was in one of his crazier moods that had occurred in Jigen's teen years; the affects of syphilis slowly overtaking his father.
"C'mere, Kid," Jigen called her over, and picked her up, and sat her on his lap, "You still miss her, huh? Me, too."
"Daddy, I love Ming, I really do—And I love Mom, too. I just—She's dead, but I thought I saw her! And Fujiko got scared when I said I thought I saw her, and she drove away, really fast. She ran three red lights, and had to outrun the cops one time! What's going on!?" Yukiko wept into her father's black suit jacket.
Another tough one that he would have trouble answering, "Yuki, I… Maybe she just gave you a sign, to say hello, or to wish you a Merry Christmas, you know?"
"I thought you didn't believe in ghosts," said Yukiko as she wiped some of her tears away.
"I, I…. I said I didn't believe in ghosts, but that doesn't mean I don't believe in people coming down to give signs. I—We're--Part Italian, Yuki—That's one of the most superstitious cultures there is. I know I usually don't believe things I can't see, but you see something with a sign—So I believe in signs. You get me?"
"Sort of," Yukiko answered, "So, it's like she was coming down from heaven to see how I was doing?"
"Yeah! Exactly—See, you must get your brains from her—Because you sure as hell don't get them from me," Jigen said, scruffing her hair a little, "See, if I had brains like you, I wouldn't always be getting my ass in hot water. If I had brains I wouldn't listen to Lupin as much as I do."
"You really think she's in heaven?"
"Well, where else do you think she is, Detroit!?" Jigen answered with a stiff laugh, "You're damn right she's up there. And she's watching over you, too. She's looking out for you and me, kid."
"And Ryo and Ming, too, right?" Yukiko said quickly.
"Sure! And even that Goddamn dog!"
"You know, I think she'd like Ming…"
"Yeah. She never really hung out with Ming's type, but they would've gotten along pretty well," Jigen answered nonchalantly, "Hey, she must've liked Ming if she picked her out to be your stepmom, right?"
"That, or she was pissed off at something you did and got you a punk for a wife," Yukiko countered.
"Smart ass," Jigen smirked, "Why don't you take a nap now? You're pretty tired."
"No, I'm not."
"Hey, if I say you're tired, you're tired. Now take a nap," Jigen removed her from his lap, and laid her back on the bed, "My legs are numb now! Did you eat too much holiday food or somethin'!?"
"Shut up. You're the one who's gained ten pounds since you quite smoking," Yukiko laughed. Jigen nodded, and exited her room. He let out a heavy sigh of relief as he shut her door, and leaned against it for a while in contemplation.
It was sure as hell one way to start off a New Year…
