Lupin The Third: The Gunslinger's Lament

Chapter 2

A faint beeping was swiftly silenced as a socked foot came down upon the alarm clock, a single big toe striking the button into the 'off' position with all the practiced skill of a teenage girl who refuses to get up early on a Saturday morning. Just like that, the alarm was silenced before it could reach a crescendo loud enough to awaken the ICPO agent snoring loudly in the center of the bed. And so, Inspector Zenigata continued to sleep well past the wee hours of the morning. His sleep was deep, and so he dreamed...

Zenigata stood in a large open area. Surrounding him were four large holes. And out of each hole popped...

"Heya, Pops!"

"Lupin! You're under arrest!!"

But the red-jacketed Lupin zipped down the hole, only for a Lupin in a green jacket to pop out of another. "Come and get me, Pops!"

"Hey! Stop! I'll get you!"

Out of yet another hole came a pink-jacketed Lupin. "Too slow, Pops!"

"Stop calling me Pops! I'll catch you!"

The Lupin in the pink jacket zipped down the hole, only for another Lupin wearing a blue jacket to pop up from another. "You'll never catch me, Pops!"

No matter how hard Zenigata tried, he couldn't catch a single Lupin that kept popping in and out of the holes like Whack-a-Moles. But then, a fifth hole opened up behind Zenigata.

"Huh!? W-Whoa!"

All four Lupins popped up at the same time, grabbed Zenigata, and tossed him down the hole.

"Ahh! Noooo!"

Simultaneously, the Lupins all called out, "Ja neeeeeee!"

"RUUUUUPAAAAAAAAN!!!"

With a snort and a groan, Zenigata awoke to the noon-day sun peering in through the Venetian blinds. He winced as the light painted golden stripes across his face.

"L-Lup-Lupin... Lupin! What? Where... Where am..."

The first thing he saw was a pair of socked feet beside his head. Kierra was asleep to the right of him, but facing the opposite direction in the interest of propriety. Adela, however... Zenigata glanced down. There was Adela, smelling sweet and flowery from her shower last night, cuddling him like a giant teddy bear. Zenigata's face turned hot red and he could swear he felt steam rising off his face. When did this happen?

Inspector Zenigata didn't even remember going to bed. Desperately, he consulted his memory banks. He remembered some conversation; promising he wouldn't go after Del Monte without backup... something... something... squashing a cockroach when Adela ran, screaming, out of the shower in naught but a towel and... a vague conversation...

"This gross-ass hotel actually has room service?"

"If room service equals ramen and beer."

"Ew."

"Hey, beggars can't be choosers, ladies."

"Are you really gonna eat that?"

"Are you really gonna drink that? Aren't you on the clock?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I do this all the time! I am completely in charge of my facilities!"

Nope. Falling asleep was not in his memory. And he sure as hell didn't remember sharing a bed with two teenage girls! Nevertheless, his feet were shoeless, his coat, hat, and tie discarded, and his shirt unbuttoned down his chest. Just his pecs, and Adela's soft breath blowing gently through his chest hair as she hugged him as she might a beloved teddy bear. Just how had he gotten into this position? And wait...