DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lupin the Third, or 'Rupan Sansei' (Japanese title).

What's up!?

This chapter's out early because yours truly had to stay home today due to an unforeseen illness. My, that makes me sound like I have something terminal… But, not really—Just wasn't feeling well today, and writing is something that doesn't take up as much energy. But, don't fret—I will be back up on my feet by tomorrow! Well, another day, another chapter. Got the Lupin III soundtrack a few days ago… It's not bad, not bad at all. Great mood music while I'm typing. A few might've figured this out by now, but I likes me music. I'd really recommend it to any Lupin fan, or any fan of retro music. The '80 theme song is a personal favorite. Okay, enough of that. On with the show, I say!

Chapter Forty Three

A Few Moments Later: Straightshooter

'Anytime at all,

Anytime at all,

Any al all,

All you've got to do

is call,

and I'll be there,,'

--The Beatles, 'Anytime at all'

"What the heck was that, anyway?" Julia inquired as Toshiro helped her off of the ground.

"Gunshots, apparently. And I'll bet my Elvis records I know where they came from," Toshiro muttered as he broke off into a run, Kome and Julia not far behind. The elevator was out, so the three were forced to run up the stairway.

"They came from the fifth floor!" Kome called. She stopped on the stairway, and clutched onto her chest. Julia and Toshiro turned around, and went to help the gasping woman.

"Kome, are you going to be okay?" asked Julia worriedly.

"I have to be! That's my daughter up there!" Kome panted as she broke into a run again up the stairway.

"WHAT!?" Julia shrieked and ran up to the fifth floor. As she reached the fifth floor hallway, a large man in a suit burst through the wooden door, and went flying into a wall. Toshiro watched his father as he came out of his room, fighting with another one of the suited beings. The other that Goemon had thrown out through the door had recovered, and was going after the samurai as well.

Goemon was surprised as one of the attackers fell to the ground at his feet and looked upward at Toshiro, "Toshiro! What are you doing here!?" he gasped in obvious surprise.

"Watch out!" Toshiro yelped. Goemon turned, and say a fist coming his way. He quickly stuck out his blade, and let it doing the talking, "Never thought of doing that…" Toshiro muttered.

"You learn everyday," Goemon replied as he sheathed his sword, "Come on—Amaya and Remy are still in there!"

"Remy!?" Toshiro choked.

"Wait, didn't he try to kill you guys? Wait—Isn't he dead!? Oh, I'm so confused!" Julia moaned as she and Kome followed Toshiro and Goemon in. They found Amaya and Remy working to defeat several large assassins. Kome looked down at her feet, where a gun from one of the assassins had fallen.

"Ms. Kome, that's too big for you!" Toshiro said cautiously.

"Jigen taught me how to fire any gun," Kome replied as she lifted it and fired three shots. All perfect hits.

"Jigen!? So you are Yukiko's mom!" Toshiro concluded as he dodged a bullet with his sword.

"Yes, and I'm out of bullets… Damn…" she grumbled, "Hey, Lupin! Give me your gun!" Kome called to Remy.

"I'm a little busy!" Remy answered as he kicked another attacker in the jaw.

"Just do it, or I'll bash your skull in myself!" Kome yelled.

"Oh my God—She is Yukiko's mom!" Julia gasped.

"I can't!" Remy shouted as he pulled a leg off of a chair and used it to ward off his attacker. Julia gulped, ran forward, slid, and grabbed Remy's gun.

"Kome, think fast!" Julia shouted as she threw the gun. Kome caught it, and fired it off a few more times. A man Amaya had been wielding off with a sword fell down at her feet, and Amaya looked upward at Kome, and nodded her thanks.

Goemon jumped forward and took care of the man that had been fighting Remy, and Remy retrieved his gun from Kome, "I don't know who taught you, but that was incredible…" Remy admitted.

"Is that all of them?" asked Amaya.

"I think," Toshiro answered. All stopped, and listened intently for any other movement. All they heard was the slow swooping of helicopter blades. The curtains of the room fluttered open, revealing a helicopter staring at the group.

"Everyone—Run," Goemon muttered as he viewed the gun barrels attacked to the bottom of the helicopter. No one minded this order, but Goemon had more important things to do than scold them.

Meanwhile, outside, the missing members were returning to their hotel, where they were greeted with a surprise. Lupin and Fujiko had gone to plan out blueprints for entering the dome, Zenigata and Natasha had visited more relatives, and Jigen and Ming had taken Yukiko to the doctors.

"What the hell?" Jigen muttered as he lifted his hat upward.

"It's pointed towards our rooms!" Ming gasped.

"Jigen, shoot it down!" Lupin ordered.

"Already on it!" Jigen answered as he loaded his gun and aimed.

At the same time Jigen had pointed his gun barrel towards the helicopter, Goemon had jumped on the hood, and stuck his blade through the glass and therefore through the pilot, who had prepared to shoot him.

Jigen grew confused as the helicopter flew backwards towards a building, and all ran out of the way as it hit the other building, and exploded into it. They watched as a familiar samurai jumped down onto a nearby window ledge, and looked at his own handiwork.

"Well, I guess I won't be needing this," Jigen sighed as he put his gun back.

"Goemon, how's Amaya doing!?" Lupin called.

"Quite shaken," Goemon admitted.

"I would be, too," Ming said to herself.

"Not because of this—Your brother's inside, Lupin," said Goemon.

"What!? Remy!?" Lupin choked.

"Finally! I get to kill that son of a bitch!" Jigen yelled with a smile, and took off for the stairway.

"Jigen! Wait!" Lupin ran after the gunman up the stairs.

"Neither of you lay a hand on him! Killing's a worse crime than stealing!" Zenigata shouted, and followed after the two.

"Wait! Jigen! There's someone else up there! Let me explain!" Goemon shouted, and followed after Zenigata, who was chasing Lupin, who was chasing Jigen. All of the women sighed and shook their heads; not one of them would ever really change.

"I guess we better get going, too," Fujiko said after a pause.

"Er, yeah," Ming and the others walked up the stairways, towards the buffoons they called their spouses.

Jigen was the first to arrive up the stairs, followed by Lupin who fell into Jigen, "Dammit, watch it!" Jigen growled.

"Sorry!" Lupin answered, "I can't let you kill my brother!"

"Why the hell not!?" Jigen snapped, and looked back at Lupin, "As much crap as he's done to us, I can't believe you still want to keep that jerk alive!"

"So glad to see you, Jigen," Remy said with a smirk.

"You arrogant bastard!" Jigen drew his gun out, and pointed it towards Remy, "I killed you once, and I can do it again!" Jigen yelled. He put his finger on the trigger, but his gun was soon shot out of his hand, and flown across the room, "Dammit! Who did that!?" Jigen shouted as he clenched onto his hand. He looked over, and saw Kome standing there, along with Toshiro and Julia.

Jigen gaped in disbelief. "Sa- Saku…"

"Kome," Kome nodded, "I'm Yukiko's aunt Kome, don't you remember?" Kome smirked as she walked over at picked his gun up. Just when she looked as though she were about to hand it to him, she grabbed Jigen's wrist, turned him around, and soon had him in a headlock. All, including Julia and Toshiro, watched with raised eyebrows as this progressed.

"Why the hell did you let Yukiko get shot!?" Kome growled.

"Ow! Dammit, I'm choking!" Jigen yelled.

"Uh, Zenigata? Aren't you going to stop this?" asked Lupin.

"Na-ah. I know better than to fight a woman," Zenigata responded.

"Uh, Kome, Ma'am—I'm the one to blame," Lupin said shakily, taking a step forward. Kome let go of Jigen, and faced Lupin coldly.

"She totally kicked your ass," Toshiro muttered in disbelief as he watched Jigen take in the air he had been deprived of.

"Shut up, kid. For your own sake—Shut up," Jigen said tiredly.

"Why did you let her get shot? You told me you would protect her!" Kome shouted.

"I—I know, Ma'am. But that's how some things are. If you want to take her home, then—" Lupin started.

"No," Kome shook her head, "I can't offer her anything."

"Mommy?" Kome heard in a small voice, and turned to see Yukiko standing there, next to Fujiko. The young girl she had left a few years ago looked so different now; Kome was taken quite aback in surprise.

"No, Yukiko, This is your Aunt Kome," Jigen answered.

"Daddy, what happened to your neck? It's all red," said Yukiko.

"It's nice to meet you, Yukiko," said Kome with a smile as she bent down.

"My Mommy never mentioned having a sister," said Yukiko cautiously.

"Mommy really never talked to her family, though," Kome answered, "I wish she had, though. She never even told us about you! I was so happy to find out I had a niece!"

"Hey, wait," Remy started, "Isn't that—" Fujiko elbowed Remy in the stomach.

"Let them have their moment!" Fujiko snapped.

"What are you doing in Israel?" asked Yukiko.

"I heard about you getting hurt, so I came to check and see if you were all right," Kome replied with a cheerful smile.

"Did you come alone?" asked Yukiko.

"Nope. With two friends," Kome replied. Yukiko looked behind Kome, and saw Toshiro and Julia standing there.

"Toshiro!" Yukiko yelled happily, and ran to the young boy. She put her arms around the back of his neck, and embraced him tightly.

"Now I'm choking! Let go, let go!" Toshiro shouted, slapping Yukiko away, "Is a deathgrip something you inherit in your family!?"

"I missed you so much!" Yukiko said cheerily as she pecked the young boy on the cheek. Toshiro's face turned bright red, and Goemon gave a small smile.

"Just like his father," Goemon said quietly.

"What? Afraid of women?" Amaya inquired.

"Hn?" Goemon frowned.

"Never mind," Amaya sighed, and rolled her eyes as she thought back to the first time she had met her then key-to-finding-Zenigata and now husband at the zoo.

"It's great to see you too, Julia!" Yukiko added.

"Same here, kid," Julia smirked, and ruffled Yukiko's shoulder-length black hair.

"Well, the gang's all here. I guess it's a matter of tracking down Fujita, now. I'm guessing this is his handiwork," sighed Lupin as he kicked aside a footstool.

"I think the more important thing would be finding a new hotel," Goemon suggested.

"And I think the more important thing would be find a new country," Jigen retorted.

"Er, yeah… I'll start packing," Lupin smirked as he exited the room.

Later in the evening, a playground near the hotel:

"So you're moving to Chicago?" said Toshiro quietly as he and Yukiko sat atop the monkey bars of the playground. He had bought himself, as well as his friend, ice cream cones—He had grown to like ice cream while he lived with Julia, who always kept the freezer stocked with the treat.

"Yeah," Yukiko nodded solemnly as she glanced down at her ice cream.

"You, want to go?" Toshiro inquired.

"Not really, but what am I going to do?" Yukiko sighed, "I'm just a kid, after all."

"Well, you could always talk with your dad. He always seems to listen," Toshiro suggested with a smirk. He noted Yukiko's still-sad expression, and turned away in thought. A smile crossed his face as he thought of an idea, and he turned to her, "Hey, you didn't get married while I was away, did you?"

"What!?" Yukiko shot her head up in surprise, "Of course I did!"

"Really—To who?"

"It's 'to whom', and it's Pierre!" Yukiko answered.

"Pierre!? Eck!" Toshiro shuddered, "He looks like a frog!"

"That's what Fujiko said," Yukiko laughed.

"You, er, really didn't go out with him, did you?" asked Toshiro.

"Nah. He asked me, but I broke his nose," Yukiko shrugged.

"You're just like your dad," Toshiro sighed as he licked his ice cream cone.

"I know, but you're like your dad, too," Yukiko answered.

Off in the distance, two figures watched over the children, although they did not seem to realize it, "She's a lot like you, Jigen," Kome said in a whisper.

"I know. It scares me. That's why I'm taking her to Cicero," Jigen answered, "So, are you really Kome, or—"

"Let's just say I'm Kome. It's much better that way," Kome replied, "Oh, my apologies for the headlock…."

"That friggin' hurt, you know," Jigen answered as he rubbed his throat, "How long are you staying, anyway?"

"Only until tonight. Toshiro and Julia are staying longer, though," answered Kome, "I just came to check on her."

"She'd like to see you more, you know."

"She probably barely remembers who I am. It's been nearly three years since she came to you all."

"Three years? That long? Damn…" Jigen sighed, "Means she's nine. I have only four years until I have to put up with a teenager. Terrific."

"Well, I don't think boys will be a problem for her. She seems to be set on the one."

"They're good company. I just never figured—Goemon and me, if we're in-laws... I mean, Jesus—We're from two different parts of the world. Well, not really—But our kids have been raised too differently! Toshiro comes from a world where indoor plumbing is a luxury, and Yuki gets cranky if the place we're in doesn't have a VCR for her movies!"

"Plus he sleeps on a mat, and she sleeps in a bed. How would that marriage possibly work?" Kome inquired.

"Hey, I don't even want to think about that!" Jigen snapped.

"You and Ming as old cranky grandparents! I can see it now. I just hope if they ever have any children, that their personalities will be better than away of those of their parents."

"Well, you're not bad, just sort of snobby."

"I won't deny it."

"Yeah, and, I'm a sarcastic bastard, and Goemon's antisocial."

"What about Toshiro's mother?" asked Kome.

"No one seems to know much about her, and Goemon doesn't talk about her much," Jigen shrugged, "Maybe there's reason to it, I'm not sure. But hopefully Toshiro and his mom'll make amends someday."

"We can only hope," Kome sighed, "I have to be going now. My plane leaves in a few hours. It's good to know Yukiko's in good hands, though," Kome smirked, "Good bye again, Ally."

"Don't friggin' call me that," Jigen grumbled. Kome embraced him briefly, and then turned and left him standing at the foot of the playground. Jigen looked back and noticed the orange sun was becoming less and less predominant in the purple sky. He would have to go before it set completely; this area of Israel was unfamiliar to him.

He turned to Toshiro and Yukiko, and briefly thought of calling them back to the new hotel, but then decided against it. Together, the two would be able to fend for themselves. He did not seem to worry as much about Yukiko when Toshiro was with him. Perhaps it was because he was so much like his father, or perhaps because he and his daughter shared a similar taste in their types of company.

"Jigen," Jigen turned again, and saw Lupin, Goemon, and Remy facing him.

"What's he doing here?" Jigen snapped.

"He's going to help," Lupin answered.

"We don't need his help!" Jigen snapped.

"Yes we do," Lupin nodded, "We found out what Fujita wants with that treasure."

"Really? What?" Jigen inquired.

"The coin that Arsene possesses will help lead Fujita to a formula," Remy replied.

"Alchemy formula?" Jigen inquired.

"Explosion formula," Goemon replied.

"Say what?" Jigen gasped, "How!? Wait, how do you know about this, Remy!?"

"Some of Fujita's friends are also some of my friends," Remy answered, "I heard around, and added two and two."

"Wait, how do I know you're not double-crossing as again!?" Jigen snapped.

"You really think I would've gone as far as allowing those baboons to attack me?" Remy inquired, "I didn't think so," he snorted as Jigen remained silent.

"But how could people have even had known about anything that powerful back then?" Jigen inquired, "It doesn't make any sense!"

"We're thinking that the blueprints were placed in there by my grandpa as well as someone else—Whoever owned the other coin. The formula was way ahead of its time, and scared the bejeezus out of both him and the other man who found the coin."

"And who was this other man?" Jigen inquired.

"A simple foe of grandpa's named Sherlock Holmes," Remy smirked, "But that chap has little to do with our current predicament."

"Agreed," Lupin nodded, "Fujita wants to use those blueprints to finish a bomb he's been building. He's going to sell the finished product off to the highest builder."

"I guess we have to stop him, then…" Jigen concluded with a sigh, "But how the hell are we going to pull it off? Fujita has like a million goons, all who want us dead!"

"You leave that to me. Meanwhile, keep your trigger finger handy, and keep your pilot's license out."

"Which one? I've got forty countries worth!" Jigen laughed.

"We'll need the kids, too. I hope you don't mind, Jigen," Remy added, "Goemon's already given to go-ahead to let Toshiro in."

"I—She'd never speak to me again if I said no," Jigen sighed, "Damn…. All right, it's a deal."

"Good. We start tonight," Lupin said with a nod, "Pops still has INTERPOL on speed dial, but we'll use that only as a last-last resort."

"I don't know about this, guys…" Jigen admitted.

"Yeah, neither do I—But talk about going out it style, huh!?" Lupin laughed as he draped an arm over Jigen's shoulders, "Come on, it's almost your curfew."

"You know, Jigen, we really don't see enough of one another," Remy said coolly as Jigen unfolded his white and red cane. Jigen growled, and swung his cane at Remy as the Frenchman turned. With a loud cracking noise, it made contact with the back of his skull, and Remy spun around in surprise.

"I've learned a thing or two since we last meant. Don't think because I'm blind I can't kick your ass. You don't need eyes to smell a rat," Jigen snapped bitterly as he walked down the street with Goemon.

"Hn, I've got admit, he's got a fighting spirit to him," Remy smirked as he rubbed the back of his aching and perhaps even fractured skull.

"Yeah, that's why we love him," Lupin replied with a chuckle, "Come on, bro, we've got a lot of groundwork to cover, and only a little time to do it."

"Yeah," Remy nodded, and followed his younger brother back to their hotel.

Meanwhile, Toshiro and Yukiko had left the playground, and were also heading back to the hotel, "Hey, you wouldn't lie to me, right?" Yukiko asked as she walked along with Toshiro.

"No, why?" Toshiro inquired.

"Is Kome… Is Kome really who she says she is?" asked Yukiko hopefully.

"I…" Toshiro looked downward into her sad dark-brown eyes. How would he ever explain it to her without hurting her? There was no other was, "Of course she is."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Toshiro stopped, smiled, and turned to her, "I wouldn't lie to you, Yukiko."

"Thanks, buddy," Yukiko embraced him, and then looked down the street, "Come on, last one home is a cop!"

"Very funny!" Toshiro laughed as he broke into a run, in pursuit of Yukiko, his best friend whom he would never think about lying to.