Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Daddy's Girl ❯ Prelude To Disaster ( Chapter 6 )

Daddy's Girl

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Lupin isn't mine. Jigen takes Fujiko her lunch and she makes a surprising request. Zenigata decides to trail Chamberlain because the guy has his sixth sense buzzing and finds out the real reason he's in Tokyo.)

Part Six: Prelude To Disaster

" Jigen! " Lupin called from the kitchen. He had been running back and forth between there and the library for few hours. He was working on, among other things, finding out the identity of the Golden Gun's current owner.

" What? " Jigen shouted as he sat up on the couch. He had finally got to take his nap but he felt like it was way too short.

" Do me a favor, " Lupin called back. " I have to take Toshiko her lunch. Has Fujiko come back downstairs yet? "

" No, " Jigen rolled his eyes. " You want me to get Fujiko to eat something? "

" You read my mind, pal. "

Jigen growled and stood up, " I'm only doing it because you asked. "

" I thought you were buddies with Fujiko? " Lupin poked his head out of the kitchen.

" I'm tolerating her because I'm tired of fighting with her, " Jigen muttered.

" Okay, " Lupin shrugged.

" What's for lunch? " Jigen said as he walked into the kitchen.

" Ramen. "

" Ramen? "

" Ramen. "

" Yeesh, Lupin. You know how to cook more than instant ramen, " Jigen shook his head. " Didn't your gramps make you learn how to cook when you were six or seven? "

" Yeah but I really got into finding out that guy's identity. I souped it up a bit with a lot of vegetables, " Lupin pointed to one of the two trays he had set up. " Grab one. "

" What about me? " Jigen arched an eyebrow. " I'm hungry too. "

Lupin opened the cupboard and handed Jigen a bowl. " Serve yourself. I have to go see Toshiko. You know where the glasses are. Don't forget to pour Fujiko a glass of tea too. "

" Grrr, " Jigen muttered then watched as Lupin picked up the other tray and left the kitchen.

He went to the stove and dished out some Ramen for himself. He then set his bowl on Fujiko's tray before grabbing an extra set of chopsticks. He grabbed a couple of glasses and filled them with tea before setting them on the tray. He glanced at the sink and a little bit of a smile came to his lips.

" At least he did the dishes, " He muttered to himself as he walked out of the kitchen. He had to walk up the stairs slowly because Lupin had slightly over filled Fujiko's bowl and the soup was splashing out. ~I don't know what I hate more, when he's with her and slobbering all over her or when he's not with her and trying to get back in her good graces, ~ He thought. He reached the guest room door, balancing the tray on one hand as he reached for the doorknob.

He was happy she hadn't got up and locked the door but it worried him a bit as well. " Fujiko, " He said as kicked the door shut behind him once he was in the room. She stirred a little but didn't really wake up. Jigen grumbled and moved closer to the bed, " Fujiko. "

She still didn't wake up. " Damn it. You kicked your own ass, huh? " He muttered as he set the tray down on the bedside table then touched her arm.

She was wearing a sleeveless top so he actually touched her skin. He found himself amazed at how soft she was. He had been with his share of women but none of them were as silky as she felt. He remembered he had held her down earlier but he was too angry to feel anything.

He turned his hand over and ran the back of his fingers down her arm. He moved them back up again, stopping when he noticed some marks about where he had grabbed her. They stood out red and glaring against her otherwise white skin. ~Those are going to be bruises, ~ the thought slipped across his mind and made him feel bad for some reason.

Out of curiosity, he checked the shoulder he could get to. There were darker red marks there. ~Damn. I have to be more careful when I get pissed off, ~ He thought to himself.

Fujiko jerked her arm away and opened her eyes. " What do you want? " She said as she brought her hand up to rub the sleep out of her eyes.

" You hungry? " Jigen motioned to the tray. " Lupin fixed lunch and wanted me to make sure you ate. You didn't eat much breakfast so I think it would be a good idea. "

" Don't act like you care, " Fujiko said with all the sarcasm she could muster.

" I don't but Lupin will have my ass if you don't eat, " Jigen responded sharply.

" Fine. What did he fix? " She muttered sleepily as she looked at the bowls.

" Ramen, " Jigen replied.

Fujiko sighed, " His grandfather had him taught how to cook good food and he fixes ramen? "

" He was busy, " Jigen shrugged. " He's been researching the Man With The Golden Gun. Your fuck buddy is quite an enigma. "

" Do you have to be so crude about it? " Fujiko narrowed her eyes as she sat up.

Jigen scoffed, " What would you call him? "

Fujiko thought for a moment then sighed. " Oh never mind. I don't know why I even bother. "

" Have you decided what you're going to do about tonight? " Jigen asked.

" I have no choice but to go, " Fujiko sighed as she scooted closer to the bedside table. She picked up her chopsticks and reached for the bowl that had the most ramen figuring it was hers. " He'll get suspicious if I don't. "

" Just stay out of trouble, " Jigen sat down on the edge of the bed. " If he starts acting the least bit weird or does anything that scares you, kick him in the balls and run like Hell. I don't care if you're buck naked, just run and come back here so I can go after him. "

" He could shoot me in the back before I even make it out of the woods, " Fujiko muttered after she swallowed her first bite of noodles.

Jigen frowned as he reached for his bowl and chopsticks. " I hate to say this but you're right. "

Fujiko took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. She watched as Jigen took his first bite but looked away as he noticed she was staring at him. " Jigen? " She whispered.

" Hm? "

" I hate to ask you this but, " Fujiko said then chewed her lip.

Jigen swallowed, " What? "

" God, I can't believe I'm asking this. It will sound really weird, " Fujiko shut her eyes.

" What is it? " Jigen reached for his glass of tea and took a drink.

" Could you please hide out there tonight and keep an eye on me? " Fujiko said in one breath.

Jigen nearly choked on his tea. He set his glass down and coughed as Fujiko slapped him on the back. Once he thought he could, he spoke. " What the hell are you asking me for? "

" It's the only idea I can come up with, " Fujiko put her hands over her face.

" I wasn't saying no, " Jigen set his bowl and glass back down on the tray. He gently put his hands on her shoulders. " If you're that scared, I'll do it. "

" I can't help to think that the hit might be on me, " Fujiko sounded like she was going to cry. " What if it is Pun's syndicate that wants me dead? "

" Fujiko, " Jigen said. " That was years ago. There's no way they'd act on it now. If they were going to have you killed, it would have been a lot sooner. "

"Or not, " Fujiko shook her head. " Maybe they haven't been able to find me until now. "

Jigen sighed, " I should have never mentioned that. The hit could be on anyone in Tokyo. My theory was just that, a theory. I should have thought about it before I mentioned it to you but I was so pissed I was jumping to conclusions. "

Fujiko threw herself onto Jigen, burying her face in his chest, " You're the only one that can help me. I can't ask Lupin. "

" You were trying to screw him over again so it wouldn't be wise, " Jigen said. His hands were still on her shoulders and he dared not to move them. If she were someone he liked, he would have held her but he really wasn't that fond of her. He thought of her as a conniving little pain in the ass but he didn't want her to die… he was afraid of what it would do to Lupin.

Fujiko grabbed the front of his shirt, grasping it tightly. " You don't understand how hard it is for me to ask you for help. I swore to myself that I'd shoot myself in the head before I ever asked you to help me with anything. "

" Then why don't you ask Goemon? " Jigen buried his chin in her hair. He didn't mean to, it was more because she was clinging to him so and it eased some of the tension on his shirt.

" I would have to explain the whole thing to him from the beginning. He'd probably get up and leave once he found out how fast things moved with that guy. You know he sees me as some kind of evil spirit, " Fujiko's voice was muffled against Jigen's chest.

" I know how he feels about you. Who do you think I have my 'I-hate-that-bitch' rap sessions with? " Jigen said with a slight chuckle.

" That isn't funny, " Fujiko muttered. " Sometimes I wonder if the both of you want me dead. "

Jigen sighed, " We don't want you dead. Well, sometimes we think we'd be better of without you. "

Fujiko pulled back and looked at him, " Do you really think that? "

" I'm not your biggest fan in the world, " Jigen glanced away. " I tolerate you because Lupin loves you so much. He's the only reason you're still with us I think. "

" Then will you help me? " Fujiko asked, a tone of hopelessness to her voice.

" If you get yourself killed, it'll be your fault. However, I have a responsibility to protect you now that I know how much danger you are really in. "

" I don't speak Jigen-ese so is that a yes? " Fujiko arched an eyebrow.

" Yeah, I guess so. What time are you meeting this guy? " Jigen let his hands slide down Fujiko's arms.

" I usually meet him about eleven. You already know the place, " Fujiko sighed.

" Yeah. You always do it there? " Jigen asked.

Fujiko nodded, " It's the most private spot in the woods. You can't see it from the house or the road. "

Jigen nodded once, " I see. I guess I'll head out there about ten or so then. "

" Okay just don't hide in the tree with the low branch, okay? " Fujiko blushed a little.

Jigen arched an eyebrow, " The one I found the blanket close to? "

" Yeah. That's… "

Jigen put a finger over Fujiko's lips, " Don't say anything else. I think I get the idea. "

Fujiko nodded as Jigen moved his finger. " Thank you, " She whispered and kissed him on the cheek.

Jigen was a little shocked but quickly shook it. " Let's eat before our food gets cold, " He said and reached for his bowl.

**

Toshiko ate slowly, noticing that Lupin was staring at her. " What's wrong? " She asked when she couldn't stand his gaze any more.

" You said you looked like Pops back there in the alley and I even thought so but now that I look at you, you only seem to have his eyes and nose, " Lupin said.

" Well, " Toshiko looked away. " I do look more like my mother. "

" She must have been really pretty, " Lupin said quietly. " Is she still around? "

Toshiko nodded, " Yes. Her and I are pretty close. She was my only parent growing up so we really bonded. "

" Does she resent you dad as much as you seem to? " Lupin arched an eyebrow. Toshiko gave Lupin a wary glance like he had treaded onto sacred territory. He put his hands up, " Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. "

" It's okay, " Toshiko gave a strained chuckle. " You sounded like my therapist for a moment, that's all. "

" Therapist? " Lupin looked skeptical. " Does it help? "

" Not really. I only see her once a month, " Toshiko sighed. " All she does is ask me personal questions for an hour then shoos me out of the office so she can see her next appointment. "

" She doesn't sound like much help, " Lupin scoffed.

" She isn't. She doesn't really listen. She just sits there for an hour before writing a prescription before making me leave, " Toshiko shook her head. " She really sucks. "

Lupin laughed, " It sure sounds like it. "

" Was your father around when you were growing up, Mr. Lupin? " Toshiko asked abruptly.

Lupin stared for a moment then sighed, " For a while. He decided to come back into my life when I was almost nine. It was a shock to say the least. "

" Why is that? "

" I was told he was dead, " Lupin felt uncomfortable discussing his father but he had prodded Toshiko about Zenigata so it was only fair she ask. " My grandfather disowned him shortly after he got custody of me. To my grandfather, my dad was as good as dead. When I got old enough to ask questions, he told me my father had died in jail. "

" And your mother? "

" She had me and caught a bad case of pneumonia. She died when I was two weeks old, " Lupin looked down at the floor. " I called my nanny 'mommy' until my grandfather confessed that she wasn't my mother at all. It turned out she was an ex-nun my dad had asked to watch over me. "

" Oh. Do you have any other family? "

Lupin put his chin down on his crossed arms, " Here and there. I've probably got a couple of brothers or sisters roaming around that don't know they're Lupins. One of my uncles lived in Montenegro for a while then went to America after his mother passed away and was adopted. They screwed up the family name at Ellis Island though. "

" Is he a thief? "

Lupin laughed, " Nope. Something went wrong there. He became a detective. You know, I think you're the only person I've told this to. "

" You mean Fujiko, Jigen and Goemon don't know about that uncle? "

" Nah. I never bothered to mention it. I think it's one of the few things that Jigen doesn't know about me. I can't help but laugh when he'll go off and say 'I may not be Nero Wolfe…' because he doesn't even know I'm his nephew. "

" That's neat, " Toshiko smiled. " The world's greatest thief is the nephew of one of New York's best detectives. Have you ever met him? "

" Nope. I think it would hurt too much, you know? " Lupin sighed. " I heard he looks a lot like gramps and I don't know if I could handle it. Gramps really did mean a lot to me since he taught me everything I know. "

" Would you meet other members of your family if you had the chance? " Toshiko implored

" Feh. I don't need to. I have no use for my family, " Lupin scoffed and waved his hand. He noticed Toshiko's expression darken a bit. " Let me clarify that a little. "

" Please do, " Toshiko said.

" Most of my family is dead, Toshiko. My dad was a surprise and all of his siblings were well into their own lives when he came along. Gramps said my oldest uncle was already thirty-seven at the time. "

" Oh. You really don't have to tell me all of this, Mr. Lupin. You're probably thinking I'm horribly nosy, " Toshiko appeared to be ashamed that Lupin has told her so much.

" Nah. I can relate to where you're coming from with Pops so it's okay, " Lupin gave her a tiny smile. " I asked so I felt obligated to tell a little bit. "

" I see, " Toshiko nodded then took another bite of her noodles. She swallowed and took a drink. She looked lost in thought for a few moments then looked at Lupin again. " I guess you're more of a friend than an enemy to me right now. "

" We are kindred spirits my dear, " Lupin sat up. " We have a lot of basic things in common. "

" Yes, that is quite true. Have you decided if you'll be able to get my father and I together or not? " Toshiko looked a little hopeful but it was dusted with a hint of apprehension.

" It all depends on you. Now, eat up. I don't want you to starve to death before you see Pops, " Lupin smiled.

**

Zenigata looked over ICPO's files, looking for anything he could find on Chamberlain. There was nothing but he felt that the man was just too slick to be one of Fujiko's many admirers. He looked okay at first but his sixth sense had started to buzz once the man had left the noodle shop. He glanced at the clock before standing up.

~It's getting close to time, ~ He thought. He had been assigned to help with a security detail that had to do with a diplomat presenting a gift to the Prime Minister. ~I'll just have to find Chamberlain's info another time. ~

He walked out of Tokyo ICPO headquarters and headed for the assembly hall where the event was supposed to take place. He wanted to walk through it a few times and make sure there weren't any details overlooked. As he arrived at the hall, he saw something out of the corner of his eye that caught his attention. He could have sworn that someone had ducked down the alley as he approached but when he checked, there was no one there.

~Hmmm, ~ He looked around again. ~Why am I getting this really bad feeling? Am I doing something wrong by not forgoing this little shindig and looking for Lupin? ~

He shook his head, ~I really should go find Lupin if he's here in Tokyo. Maybe I should surprise him but I don't have the faintest clue to where his hideout is. Perhaps I should find Chamberlain and stick with him. If he really is banging Fujiko on Lupin's property, he'll lead me right to him. ~

Zenigata smiled, ~that's what I'll do. I'll find that him again. I'll get on that first thing tomorrow. Maybe I'll run into him again at the ramen place. Lupin! You're going down! ~