Chapter Text
It was a beautiful late summer day in rural Kyoto. The rains had come a few days earlier, causing a slight change in temperature to the area. Since it had been so hot during the middle of summer, any humidity that had been was now close to gone, and a cool breeze made for perfect walking weather. This was convenient, as two figures walked down the road towards the little town nestled between green sloping forests. One man was wearing a black Armani suit and worn out black leather shoes, a wide hat on his head also covered his eyes and a crop of fluffy black hair.The other was sporting a more traditional look: A light gray kimono and dark colored hakama, as well as some well used geta on his feet and a wide brimmed sandogoza. The man in the suit had his hands behind his head, fingers laced together as he looked around from under his hat, walking behind the other who seemed to know more where they were headed. He was extremely thankful for the fair weather, and soon broke the silence that had been maintained for at least two hours.
Jigen: Thanks again for letting me tag along. Didn’t know what I was gunna do with myself after that last job. After a bit of rest and planning I should be out of your hair.
Goemon: Take as long as you need. We should both lay low for a while after that last job.
Jigen: Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’ll also be a little while before we see Lupin again. Poor bastard’s probably still swimming after Fujiko.
The last job the two were referring to had involved a bank heist, a typical quick job for the three of them. Of course, they also knew that these were also the biggest gamble share wise. Beforehand, he and Goemon had made a deal to take a few extra stacks of cash and hide them on themselves. Sure enough, their good planning had left them with enough to make the job almost worth it. At least they wouldn’t be temping or living off Top Ramen for a while. And, as they had predicted, Fujiko had run off afterwards with all of the cash. Lupin had gone after her to try and get his cut. Or, at the very least, get some other form of compensation, the thought of which made Jigen sick to his stomach. With a shake of his head he looked toward the hamlet ahead of them, questions beginning to gnaw at his curiosity.
Jigen: So, uh…Did you have an apartment? Or a house somewhere?
Goemon: We will gather supplies in town and then make our way to my childhood home, which is in the forest.
The samurai was relieved to have enough down time to return to his former home, but he was also hesitant to stay. The locals knew who he was, and his reputation, but also the reputation of his long family history. It was like a black spot on his name, which he was personally proud of, but he knew that words traveled fast in such a small village. He and Jigen would not be entirely safe from being found out by authorities if someone alerted them to their presence.
Goemon: I must warn you, though: We may have to do a bit of cleaning to make the place habitable. I have not been there for a number of years, and I didn’t leave it in the best condition.
Jigen: Yeah, I think you told me once…something to do with your garden and…was it a jeep?
Goemon: Worse…Lupin driving a jeep, followed by a hoard of police cars. I had just finished putting the final touches on it and it was ruined.
Goemon could feel himself getting angry at the memory, his eye twitching slightly. He had worked for months getting his zen garden perfectly laid out and settled into place. It seemed like he had just placed the final bonzai, turned on the pump for the koi pond, and just as he had settled in for a meditation break, chaos had broken loose. The roaring sound of engines revving and tires squealing against mud, knocking down trees and kicking up mud and rocks. It was all over in no time, but the samurai seemed to witness his hard work torn to pieces in slow motion. He was so shaken and angered by this wanton destruction that he could only go back inside, clean himself up, and leave to rip Lupin a new one when he found the thief. He never got to deliver his beating, however, as they soon found themselves on one job after the next. Soon, his anger had been forgotten, much like his family home.
Jigen: Yeah…That. But, I don’t mind a little hard work. With both of us working together we’ll have that place liveable in no time. And the rest will be even sweeter. You may not want to leave.
Goemon: You’re starting to sound like Lupin with such optimism. But, I appreciate the sentiment. And the help. Perhaps we can have an enjoyable stay.
Before the two men left the town, they stopped by the marketplace and grabbed a few things for them to cook for their various meals. Goemon had warned Jigen that the path from the town to his family home was quite long, so it would be best to shop in bulk if possible. Thankfully, their shopping went smoothly, and they left with a decent bounty of meat, vegetables, fruit and other ingredients for at least three days.
Jigen: When we get the place cleaned up, we should celebrate with some hot pot. I even bought a few cans of beer to celebrate with.
Goemon: Yes. That will be a good reward for our hard work. But, I prefer sake.
Jigen: Heh…More for me, then.
The two men made their way out of town by the time the sun was beginning to set. As they neared the edge of the forest, Jigen began to worry that they would be fumbling around in the dark since he didn’t bring a flashlight with him. However, almost as if he had read the gunman’s mind, Goemon pulled from the sleeve of his kimono two collapsible paper lanterns. After asking Jigen for a light for both, he handed one over to him and kept the other for himself. Their glow became incredibly helpful as soon as they entered the thick foliage of the forest.
Almost immediately, the pair were faced with a pathway that might have been hidden to someone who didn’t know where they were going. Goemon, however, knew these woods like the blade of his Zantetsuken, and he swiftly led the way deeper into the grove of trees. After a while, they came upon a set of stone steps that led upwards into the hills.
Jigen: It’s…up there?
Goemon: Yes. There is a resting point half way up if you require it.
Jigen: Che…I don’t need a rest. I’m not as out of shape as you think I am!
Jigen would soon regret those words. The gunman found the task breezy at first, but soon his legs began to grow stiff, and then he began to huff and puff with each step. When he finally reached the first resting point, he leaned against a tree and took a moment to catch his breath.
Goemon had been waiting for a few minutes before Jigen had shown up, impressed that he hadn’t fallen too far behind. Although it had been many years since he had been back to his old home, the samurai could still make the ascent with little effort. However, he was cautious about leaving Jigen behind in the dark.
Goemon: I figured you would need a rest. Are you alright?
Jigen: Yeah…just…not used…to this…
The gunman slowly recovered his breath and straightened up, looking around for a place to sit for a moment. Spying a log that had been set up like a bench next to Goemon, he made his way over and sat forcefully, nearly shifting the bench. The samurai smirked and gave a chuckle, to which Jigen pulled out his pack of cigarettes.
Goemon: That will not be helpful for catching your breath…
Jigen: Nah, but it’ll help me relax…I’m only going to smoke half of it…
Jigen pulled out his lighter and lit his cigarette, taking a couple of pulls off it before putting the lighter away once again. The two sat for a moment in silence as the gunman smoked, neither having anything pressing to talk about. When he was satisfied, Jigen opened the box once again and placed the cigarette inside. Goemon took this as his cue to rise and begin walking again. Jigen stood up as well, following a bit closer as he walked.
Jigen: Is there much further to go?
Goemon: Not really…This was half of the journey.
Jigen: Good…I don’t think I could do this too much longer. And it’s really dark out here…
Goemon: What’s the matter? Are you…scared?
Jigen was just about to answer, looking up to do so. However, as he cast his eyes upward, Goemon turned around and moved his lantern to just below his chin. The shadows on his face deepened and he pulled a terrifying face, which genuinely frightened the gunman. Jigen exclaimed and backed away, nearly falling backwards from the angle and the weight of his pack. Luckily he caught himself, recovering as Goemon raised his lantern once again. The gunman could see the faint ghost of a smile on the samurai’s lips, which annoyed him.
Jigen: Don’t do that!!! I could have fallen…
Goemon: Sorry…I couldn’t resist. It was too easy.
It was no secret that, although he was the most grounded of their group, Jigen was very superstitious and believed in spirits. Lupin had even told Goemon on a few occasions some of their run ins with the supposed paranormal. Being a believer of the supernatural himself, he knew all too well to not push Jigen’s buttons too frequently.
Goemon: Try to stay close…You wouldn’t want to run into one of my ancestors.
Goemon gave a snicker at his own joke, feeling a bit more jovial than usual. Jigen grumbled as he picked up the pace, following the samurai upwards and into the dark forest. After a while, and a few more startling moments, the pair reached the plateau that was the final leg of the journey. Jigen took another opportunity to rest, looking out towards the house, which stood beyond a modest stone quad, which was surrounded by a stacked stone border. A few large stones lay around in purposeful positions, as well as some tall but thin trees, clearly sculpted for their aesthetic features. But, fine details could not be seen in this darkness
Jigen: From what I can see, it looks nice…This is really your family home?
Goemon: Yes. I spent many years here as a child, and some of my adolescence.
After giving Jigen a few moments to rest, Goemon walked towards the house, making his way through the opening of the gate and into the small courtyard. Jigen hurriedly followed along, trying not to get too distracted. The two of them soon reached the porch, heading towards the door. Goemon fished through his sleeve pockets for his key, finding it with ease. However, when he went to pick up the lock, he didn’t feel it there. The samurai was confused, humming a quick sound of confusion.
Jigen: Something wrong?
Goemon: Well…uh…the lock is gone…
Jigen looked at the door, seeing what the samurai was talking about. In the place where a lock would be, there was simply an empty half ring of iron.
Jigen: Huh…maybe you forgot to lock it. You were mad when you left.
Goemon: I…suppose so…I’m usually more careful than this…
Goemon swung back the plate and opened the door, sliding it open before stepping inside. Jigen followed, looking around and seeing mostly darkness, except for what the thin moonlight had illuminated through the small windows, as well as the light from his lantern. Just as he began to adjust to the darkness, Goemon had made his way deeper into the house, where the fuse box was located. With a few quick clicks, a few lights sprang to life. Jigen complained at the sudden change in brightness, shielding his eyes for a brief moment. When his eyes had adjusted, he lifted his eyes to look around.
Jigen: It doesn’t look too bad. In fact it looks quite nice. Very homey.
Indeed, the interior of the house was nearly spotless. For as long as he had been away, Goemon expected to see a thick layer of dust or a curtain of cobwebs, but instead he was left baffled at the cleanliness of everything.
Goemon: Strange…
Jigen: Y’know…I bet this is Lupin’s doing. He must have felt bad about what happened with your garden and hired someone to come take care of your house. I bet he even had that fixed as well. I’m almost willing to put money on it.
Something about that explanation was off to Goemon. Lupin could be a generous man, but he had never known the thief to have enough forethought to do this sort of thing. At least, not without a word to anyone. And it seemed the place had recently been cleaned, as there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.
Goemon: I suppose…that seems a little out of character for him though…Lupin would surely have said something by now if he had done this.
Jigen: Well, this just means we can relax sooner than we had planned. Where can I put these?
Jigen shrugged his shoulders, indicating the pack on his back. Goemon shook off his confusion and gestured toward the kitchen, walking to his left toward a dark open area with a low table. The samurai flicked the light on, only to receive a loud pop a second later as the bulb blew. Frowning, he set his things on the table before making his way to a drawer close by. While Jigen set his things down, the samurai pulled out a couple of candles and lit them with a match before setting them each in a candle holder.
Jigen: Everything seems to be in order here too. Do you have any bulbs?
Goemon: I’m not sure. I’ll check soon. It’s not too important now.
The samurai set the candles on the table, away from their supplies. He then began to unpack some of the items, noting that everything was still laid out as he had left it. However, he thought he could smell freshly made soba noodles. It wasn’t until he looked a little further into the darkness that he saw some drying on a dowel next to the stove. Jigen looked up and saw it as well, puzzled by what he saw.
Jigen: Is that…soba?
Goemon: It…appears to be…
Goemon took a couple of steps closer and touched the pasta with his hands. It was soft, and felt fresh like someone had just made it a short while ago. An uneasy feeling flooded the samurai, wondering if someone had taken up residence in his house. Pulling back his hand, he looked around for more signs of life not seeing anything in the candlelight. Making his way out of the kitchen, he stopped at the entrance to the sitting room and flicked the light on. This time it stayed illuminated, showing the samurai that this room had also been kept tidy. But, nothing stood out as being left by another person. Not even a book or a stray bit of trash could be seen, leaving Goemon incredibly concerned.
Jigen: Er…could I smoke?
Goemon gasped as he had not been expecting Jigen to speak at that moment. This pleased the gunman, as he had finally gotten the samurai back for scaring him earlier. After a brief moment of collection, Goemon turned around, pointing towards the back door in a slightly annoyed way.
Goemon: You can smoke outside. Just shut the door so the smoke doesn’t get inside, if you don’t mind.
Jigen: Your house, your rules. I’m gunna go to the back. I wanna see if my theory is right.
While Jigen made his way to the back of the house, Goemon ascended the stairs to the second floor. He would surely see something that would let him know for sure if someone was squatting in his family home. As he reached the landing, he turned to his left and made his way toward his old room. As he moved along, he realized that the upstairs was slightly less kept than the lower portion of the house, but not quite as messy as it would have been if it had been abandoned. Jigen’s theory was beginning to have more plausibility the more he saw.
Goemon opened the door to the room, sliding it open with a satisfying clack. He turned on the light to find that it was almost exactly as he had left it. The only difference was that his bed had been put away, presumably into the closet. Feeling a bit more at ease, he walked to the closet, opening it up to lay out his futon for later. However, beside the folded futon and bed sheets, Goemon saw a large cardboard file box with a letter on top. He was about to lean down and pick up the letter, when a loud and fearful shout rang out from the back of the house. Quickly, Goemon turned around and rushed down the stairs, dashing towards the back yard where Jigen had called out from. He hastily slid the door open and rushed out, seeing Jigen pressing himself against the wall, looking terrified.
Goemon: Jigen?! What’s the matter? Are you hurt?
Jigen: N…No…I saw…I think I saw a ghost…
Goemon: Wh…a what? Don’t be ridiculous. There aren’t any ghosts here. I was joking about that…
Jigen: No, Man, I saw it…Over there…coming out of that shed…
Jigen pointed a shaking finger towards the shed and Goemon followed with his eyes. He saw the shed door was open slightly, but he didn’t see anything that could be mistaken for a ghost.
Goemon: It was probably some sort of animal…I’ll check it out.
Goemon began to walk cautiously toward the shed. At this point he was a bit on edge, but he couldn’t allow that to cloud his judgment. He was determined to prove that they were alone. Or finally find the person who had been living there in his absence.
While Goemon inched his way over to the shed, Jigen slowly peeled himself from the wall of the house. Like a timid deer, he followed behind a couple of yards, his hand hovering over his revolver. He wasn’t sure he would need it, but an ounce of prevention never hurt.
By the time he reached the shed, Goemon had also moved his dominant hand to hover over Zantetsuken. Just like the gunman, he had no reason to draw it, but his anxiety had slowly gotten to him. Then, with a quick nudge to the door with his foot, he flung the door open with a loud exclamation.
Goemon: HA!
Jigen jumped back with an exclamation of his own as he fell backwards onto his ass, frightened by the sudden noise the samurai had made. Gomeon had not expected the gunman to be so close behind him, so he also jumped, turning to him with an angry look afterward. The look melted away quickly as they both heard a small whimper from inside the darkness of the shed. They turned towards the noise, seeing a small figure crouched in the corner, shaking and clearly as frightened as they had been. Regaining his composure first, Jigen took a step inside the shed, crouching down before the figure in an unthreatening way.
Jigen: Hey…we didn’t mean to frighten you. Please, come out. We won’t hurt you…