Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Daddy's Girl ❯ Amends ( Chapter 38 )

Daddy's Girl

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Lupin isn't mine.  Jigen talks to Toshiko while Lupin and Fujiko talk to Toshi.)

Part Thirty-Eight: Amends

" Toshiko? " Jigen was at her door.  He reached down and tried the knob and found it was locked.  " Open this door right now.  I need to talk to you. "

" It's just you right? " Toshiko called.  Her voice sounded like she was crying.

" Yeah.  Your mom is still downstairs and I think Goemon left.  Babe, I think you hurt his feelings. "

" He shouldn't have said that… " Toshiko sounded like she was getting closer to the door.  " It makes you sound like you're some kind of pervert. "

Jigen shut his eyes.  He wished she had said it some other way but that was about the gist of the sentiment.  He sighed,  " Yeah. "

The lock on the door clicked and Toshiko opened the door, " Jigen? "

" What? " Jigen opened his eyes and found Toshiko was holding one of the boxes.  " Did you go through my stuff while I was sleeping? "

Jigen couldn't tell from Toshiko's tone if she was mad or just bewildered.  He shook his head, " No.  Those boxes sort of fell out of the suitcase when I flung it off the bed when I was talking to you earlier and I don't think either of us noticed.  Fujiko came up here looking for you and she found them on the floor.  Is something missing? "

" No, " Toshiko looked at the box.  " I just didn't want you guys to find this stuff.  It was supposed to stay a secret. "

Jigen moved closer to her, " Let me in and we can talk about it.  I'm really curious to find out why you have so many rocks if you said you were just a petty thief. "

Toshiko stepped back and let Jigen come into the room.  She shut the door, relocking it before putting her back against it.  Jigen watched as she slid down to the floor and looked away from him.  " It was part of a much bigger plan, " She muttered then set the box aside.

Jigen knelt down and moved closer, putting a hand under Toshiko's chin.  " Could you clue me in or are you going to keep me guessing about you like I have been all along? " His tone was slightly teasing in hopes she wouldn't think he was angry with her.  " I still haven't quite got a grasp on what goes on in your pretty little head honey. "

Toshiko looked at him slowly, " It was for my mom.  I got this idea in my head that if we had enough money, she could leave Ryousuke for good. "

" So you kept collecting jewels and discarding the settings I assume? " Jigen stroked her chin with his thumb.

" Yeah.  I sold the settings for scrap so Miyuki and I could get by but I never told her that I was taking the stones out.  She just thought the jewelry market sucked.  She's so drunk half the time, she doesn't know which way is up. "

Jigen sighed, " With a brother like Katsuki I'm not surprised. "

" I thought about it after I found out Ryousuke was arrested and that's why I wanted you to go up there and get the boxes.  I just didn't want you to find out about them because I knew you'd ask questions, " Toshiko looked away from Jigen.  " I knew you'd figure out that I had kept the whole truth away from you and be mad that I did. "

" What?  That you're more skilled than you said you were? " Jigen arched an eyebrow.  " If you had told me you weren't a thief at all and I found this stuff, I would have been concerned but not mad. "

" So you aren't angry? " Toshiko asked hopefully.

" Not at all.  I'm just disappointed that things went straight to Hell downstairs.  Your mom really doesn't like me or so it seems, " Jigen gave a half hearted smirk.  " I guess some women don't even have to know me to hate me. "

Toshiko looked panicked, " Do you think Goemon overheard us when we were talking and that's why he said what he did? "

Jigen nodded, " Probably.  He's got really good hearing.  I was scared he had heard us when he showed up so quickly after you asked me. "

" You don't think he told my mom and dad that I asked you to sleep with me do you? " Toshiko asked.

" He obviously hinted at it to them.  Either way I still look like the bad guy here, " Jigen shut his eyes.  " Even if you were willing, they'll all say I should have been stronger and said no. "

Toshiko put her hand around his wrist, " You aren't a bad guy at all.  I think you're very respectable.  Actually, you've given me hope that all men aren't like Ryousuke and Katsuki. "

Jigen opened his eyes and smirked, " They are the worst case scenarios.  Most guys aren't fucking asshole jerks like them. "

" I'm finding that out slowly, " Toshiko said quietly.  " Lupin, Goemon and you have shown me that. "

Jigen nodded, " We can be really nice when we want to be. "

" Then thank you for being nice to me, " Toshiko gave him a tiny smile.

" No problem, " Jigen pulled his hand away from her face.  " Do you feel up to going back downstairs now? "

Toshiko bit her lip and shook her head; " I want to stay up here with you a little longer if that's okay. "

" It's perfectly fine, " Jigen put two fingers under her chin and tilted it up.  " You just let me know when you're ready to go down. "

" Okay. "

**

" So did she runaway a lot? " Lupin asked as he handed Toshi another drink.  " Is that why Ryousuke nailed the windows shut? "

" Not after I married Ryousuke, " Toshi shook her head.  " But he said she might do it again so I let him.  I thought it was logical at the time. "

" How did she get to Tokyo Tower then? " Fujiko said as she took the drink Lupin offered her.

" She was spending the night over at her friend's apartment when that happened, " Toshi took a sip of her drink.  She shook her head and swallowed, " I never knew about it until the police called me and said they had taken Toshiko into custody. "

" I see, " Lupin nodded.  " Then Ryousuke attacked her. "

Toshi nodded, " I assume so.  All I know is that I came home from working on a case and Ryousuke was waiting for me on the front stoop.  His face was contorted with pain but he managed to tell me that Toshiko had attacked him and took off after he tried to punish her for disobeying again. "

" Then? " Lupin arched an eyebrow.  " When did you hear from Toshiko again? "

" She called me a few days later and told me she was sorry but couldn't come back home.  She promised to keep her therapy and probation appointments but I found out later she had dropped out of school.  She told me she was taking an equivalency course at a local cram school and assured me she would pass. "

" I assume she did or she'd already be in jail, " Fujiko swirled her drink in her tumbler.

Toshi gave a terse smile, " Exactly.  There was a stipulation where she either had to attend school until she graduated or take a mastery test through a school her probation officer approved of.  Now that I look back, she was doing it to stay out of regular school so Ryousuke couldn't find her. "

Lupin furrowed his brow; " She still put herself in danger though by going to cram school though. "

" Not really, " Toshi downed the rest of her drink.  She fiddled with the glass for a moment before setting it on the end table.  " She enrolled using her father's surname and enrolled with her middle name Maori.  Ryousuke never really knew that much about Koichi until I told him recently.  He never really pressed the issue and I was grateful. "

" So she was Maori Zenigata as far as the cram school was concerned? " Lupin sighed.

" Yes. "

Lupin nodded once, " I figured it had to be something like a different name or he would have found her.  They made quick work of her in the courts. "

Toshi nodded, " Yes.  How do you know? " 

" I went through my archived newspapers and found the story about when she almost jumped and every subsequent article right up to her sentencing, " Lupin shrugged.  " I figured I would find out some useful stuff. "

" Archived? " Fujiko scoffed.  " Don't you mean the papers you've let stack up while we're away on jobs? "

Lupin smiled sheepishly, " I just can't seem to get the delivery stopped. "

Fujiko rolled her eyes then looked at Toshi, " You should see it when we get home.  He sleeps for a day or two then stays in the office all day long filing all of the damn newspapers he gets from everywhere. "

Lupin puffed up, " Hey!  I have to keep Jigen in crossword puzzles somehow. "

" Jigen… " Toshi muttered.  She then looked at Lupin, " You said that Toshiko likes him. "

Lupin arched an eyebrow then realized what Toshi was getting at.  He chuckled and put his hands up, " Oh!  Yeah but there's no need to worry.  He may be an old wolf that's a little long in the tooth but he's as harmless as can be. "

" Define harmless, " Fujiko said sarcastically.

" Fujiko, " Lupin started but Fujiko stood up.  " Where do you think you're going? "

" I'm going outside, " Fujiko said breezily.  She reached into Lupin's jacket and pulled out a cigarette then took his lighter to light it.  She took a long drag before exhaling the smoke away from him.  " I need a cigarette. "

Lupin took his lighter back, " I told you that you're overreacting to the situation and need to cool it.  It's not like that at all. "

" Whatever, " Fujiko said as she walked towards the sliding glass door.  " I'll be back but I don't know when. "

" When you do come back, I'll need to speak with you in my office. "

Fujiko opened the door, " Yes Principal Lupin. "

Lupin and Toshi watched as Fujiko opened the door, stepped outside then shut it behind her.  When she was off the porch, Toshi looked at Lupin.  " I sense there is something going on that you haven't told me about.  I know I'm not familiar with all of you on a personal level but both Goemon and her seem to be acting rather odd… and it always happens when you mention anything about Jigen and my daughter. "

Lupin opened his mouth to speak but stopped, his mouth open as he thought of how to approach the subject.  He wouldn't tell Toshi the truth if he could help it but he thought his hints had been enough to let her know that Toshiko had grown fond of Jigen.  From his point of view, he knew it had been mutual but Goemon and Fujiko's points of view seemed to lean towards Jigen just wanting to get into the girl's pants.  He sighed, " Yeah… it's hard to explain. "

" You had better or I'm going to start thinking that that man upstairs with my daughter has done something or will do something depraved to my little girl, " Toshi narrowed her eyes.  " If he did then you had better start praying for him right now. "

Lupin couldn't help but move away from Toshi slightly.  The mother tiger had returned and it frightened him to say the least.  " I told you before that she's taken a liking to all of us.  It's just that she's taken a slightly stronger liking to Jigen, that's all.   He's saved her twice you know. "

" Then explain to me why Goemon and Fujiko are giving me this vibe that they are suspicious of his intentions for my daughter? "

Lupin put a hand up, " Let me try to explain this much to you.  Fujiko and Jigen aren't exactly getting along right now.  They usually don't get along but right now has been one of their worst times that I can remember. "

" So she's implying that your friend will molest my daughter just as a way of annoying him? " Toshi arched an eyebrow.

Lupin nodded, " And me as well. "

" Then what about Goemon? " Toshi cocked her head to the side.  " Why does he seem to feel that my daughter is in unsafe hands? "

" I told you before, " Lupin shook his head.  " He's a pessimist.  If he can imagine the worst, he'll act like it's what will happen.  Once he's latched on to it, there's no getting him off of it.  I've known Jigen for years and I can honestly say that he's just not the kind to take advantage of any female. "

" Oh really? " Toshi said in a guarded tone.

" Really.  He's honestly a very nice guy, " Lupin said seriously.  " Look, the business we're in may be violent but please don't confuse the art with the artist. "

Toshi's face turned red with anger, " Art?  You call what you do an art? "

" Hey!  What I do IS an art but there are just some unavoidable aspects! " Lupin replied sharply.  " If we can help it, we try only to kill really bad guys but some people just get in the wrong place at the wrong time. "

" So you're saying all of those people in Yokohama that were injured were at the wrong place at the wrong time even though they were supposed to be working and making a living? " Toshi nearly shouted.

Lupin furrowed his brow then nodded, " Yeah.  I knew Hideki would do his best to keep the blast contained.  You saw that only one person was killed. "

" But what if everyone in that whole factory had been killed? " Toshi grabbed Lupin by the tie.

" That wouldn't have happened, " Lupin hissed.  " Look, we're talking about your daughter, not what lengths I'll go to for Fujiko. "

" That is one of the reasons why I don't want her around you! " Toshi let go of Lupin and stood up.  She pointed a finger in his face, " My daughter is still impressionable and I don't want her to think that kind of behavior is acceptable! "

" Then why do you think I've worked my ass off to keep her as far away from danger as possible? " Lupin stood up so he could face the firecracker of a woman.  He narrowed his eyes, " I wanted to go to Yokohama personally and put a bullet in Chamberlain's head for what he had done but I couldn't.  I was scared YOUR daughter would try to kill herself again if we left her here alone.  SHE wanted to go with us and help because of what that motherfucker did to her father. "

" I would have killed you if you had taken her with you, " Toshi shook her finger.  " What would you have done if she had been killed?  What would you have told Koichi?  What would you have told me? "

Lupin grabbed Toshi by the wrist and pulled her hand away from his face.  " Why do you think I had Hideki do everything for me?  It was because I didn't want that sweet innocent girl of yours getting killed.  She was very brave to volunteer to stick her neck out for her father and it proves she still loves him but I wasn't going to let her go anywhere near that warehouse if it came down to it. "

" Let go of my hand, " Toshi hissed.

" Not until you listen to me, " Lupin hissed in return.  " I think you aren't aware of just how brave your baby girl is.  She's been looking for her father for months now so she could put your husband in jail.  She hated Pops but she knew he was the right person to go to. "

Toshi gasped then said, " Oh my God.  That's why she wanted me to tell her father where she was living.  She asked me if I was going to write to him and I told her I was so she said 'Tell daddy where I am, okay?  I want to talk to him.'  When I asked she told me she missed him but that was all she said. "

Lupin let go of Toshi's wrist, " When he didn't contact her, she managed to track me down.  She knew Pops wouldn't be too far from me so I was the last ditch effort. "

Toshi looked down at the floor.  " I wish I knew what was going on in my baby's head sometimes.  I work so much… "

" You work too much.  Do you even have the faintest idea of how smart your daughter is? " Lupin said.

" Yes I do, " Toshi nodded.  " She made excellent grades in school but it made her into an outcast.  None of the smart kids wanted to hang out with her because she wasn't interested in their after school clubs but the popular kids didn't want anything to do with her either because of her high grades.  I was so happy when she started hanging out with the girl that became her roommate.  They thought a lot alike so Toshiko had someone to talk to that understood her even though she was so much older than her. "

" Have you ever just sat down with her and talked? " Lupin asked quietly.  " All you have to say is 'Hey, let's talk.'  Trust me, it works. "

Toshi shook her head, " When we do have time to talk, she doesn't say much to me.  She acts like her mind is somewhere else then gets angry when I try to talk about work.  She'd really get upset when I'd try to convince her that Ryousuke wasn't as bad as she thought but now I know why she argued with me about that. "

" She's got a lot bottled up inside, " Lupin put a hand on Toshi's shoulder.  " She probably doesn't think you're interested in her so that's probably why she never opens up to you. "

" But I'm interested, " Toshi said desperately.  " She's my child and I want to know everything that happens to her. "

" You have to convince her of that, " Lupin said sharply.  " You sit down with that girl and you don't mention one word about work.  You make her feel comfortable and she'll open right up.  She's been so open here because we've made her feel like we're interested in what she has to say.  You need to make her feel that way too. "

" But how do I do that? " Toshi pleaded.  " I want you to tell me how because I don't know how. "

Lupin smiled, " You two have a common interest.  You two need to go out and pursue that interest and she'll start to open up.  She needs to see you have fun.  She needs to know you can be something else besides straight laced and stuffy. "

Toshi furrowed her brow, " What are you talking about? "

Lupin realized that he wasn't supposed to know how Toshi used to climb, something he had overheard on the bug that had been dropped in Zenigata's hospital room.  He acted confused, " Don't you have something in common? "

Toshi thought about it then nodded, " Yes.  She climbs.  I used to when I was younger but I'm almost forty-five, Mr. Lupin. "

" So? " Lupin shrugged.  " You'd be surprised at how spry my gramps was at eighty. "

Toshi waved her hand and chuckled, " I haven't climbed in years.  I think I stopped as soon as I found out I was pregnant with her. "

" I'm not asking you to climb Mt. Fuji, " Lupin said.  " Start with something small.  Let her help you if you need it and you can give her advice on how to conquer something.  She'll start listening to other advice before you know it. "

Toshi laughed but it soon faded as she thought about it.  She looked at Lupin seriously, " You really think it will work? "

Lupin smiled, " I guess it's worth trying.  When you are trying to solve a problem sometimes you need to go at it from an unexpected angle. "

Toshi looked at the stairs, " I hope you're right. "

**

Goemon sat on the edge of the lake that was hidden deep in the woods that surrounded Lupin's house.  He had found it one day as he was wandering around the sprawling estate and found it though was well concealed.  He was quite certain that Lupin and Jigen knew where it was but probably wouldn't think of looking for him there.  He had been pondering the strange feelings he had been experiencing over Toshiko when he heard someone approaching.

" Well.  I knew I'd find you here nature boy. "

" What is it, impudent wench? " Goemon didn't even want to bother with looking at Fujiko.

" You'll never get a woman by calling her names, " Fujiko replied as she sat down next to him.  She took a drag off of the cigarette she had and flicked it away.

Goemon still wouldn't look at her.  " You foul the air as well as your body with that disgusting habit. "

" What do you care about my body? " Fujiko said in a tone that was emphasized by the smoke she exhaled with the comment.

" Why are you here? " Goemon ignored the implication he sensed in the comment.

Fujiko picked up a pebble and tossed it into the lake, " Lupin kicked me out.  He was trying to convince Toshi that Jigen is a nice guy. "

" He is more respectable than some of the ruffians you bring around, " Goemon remained focused on the water.

" I've met nicer guys hanging around peepshows, " Fujiko scoffed.

Goemon turned his head and glared at Fujiko.  " Please explain to me why you've been so hard on him since you've returned.  You have been worse than usual since you decided there was something going on between Jigen and Toshiko.  Please do not deny it because even a blind man would be aware of it. "

" Hey! " Fujiko shouted then fell quiet.  She glanced at the water and bit her lip before looking at Goemon again.  " I'll kill you if you tell anyone this but I… I am jealous of Toshiko. "

Goemon arched an eyebrow, " Really? " He said in a sarcastic tone.  " I would have never guessed. "

Fujiko rolled her eyes, " You wanted to know and I guess you can gloat a little since you were right. "

" But why would you be jealous? " Goemon asked.  " You detest Jigen. "

Fujiko started picking at the grass beneath her hand, " I thought maybe Jigen and I could start on a new page when that shit with Chamberlain started.  I thought he really gave a damn about me when he offered to protect me but then he acted like he had never even agreed to protect me when I came back and found he had that little girl worshiping him.  It was like he had forgotten all about me. "

" But didn't your kidnapping effectively nullify his agreement to protect you? " Goemon returned his focus to the water.

Fujiko sighed, " I guess but I didn't think it would end that little bit of peace we had made.  I kind of liked it.  It made me feel like that maybe we could stop fighting like we do. "

" I thought you enjoyed it, " Goemon commented.

" I do but it was nice not to be at each other's throats for a bit, " Fujiko sighed.  " He brought me lunch that day Lupin showed us Chamberlain's picture and we went a whole thirty minutes without screaming at each other.  It was odd but it was nice. "

" You two still fought in front of Lupin and I though, " Goemon said then glanced at Fujiko.  " It seemed a little half-hearted though. "

Fujiko chuckled, " We had to keep up appearances. "

" Do you intend to make up with him once Toshiko leaves? " Goemon inquired.  " You know she will most likely be gone soon. "

Fujiko nodded, " I know.  Lupin has already spoken to me about it.  He thinks Jigen's in love with her and told me to be nice to him.  He said for me to give him some space while he gets over her. "

" He said what? " Goemon exclaimed, the sudden outburst sending a flock of birds fluttering from some trees across the lake.  He ignored the birds as he glared at Fujiko.  " Please tell me Lupin did not say that. "

" Well, he didn't but he told me to keep my distance and be nice to Jigen.  When I asked why he said I could figure it out on my own, " Fujiko put her hands up.  She put her hands on Goemon's shoulders, " It's the only logical thing I could come up with. "

" But it is improper, " Goemon growled.  " It has not even been a week since we brought the girl home and he was the biggest critic against any of us falling in love with her. "

" I know, " Fujiko said.  " I think was the last thing any of us expected. "

Goemon stood to his feet, Zantetsuken clutched tightly in his left hand.  " I swear, if he had defiled her in any way, he will pay. "

Fujiko got to her feet, " Whoa there.  I thought you ended your little contract with Zenigata.  You don't have to protect her anymore. "

" Yes I do, " Goemon glared at Fujiko.

" Why? " Fujiko asked then put a hand over her mouth.  " Oh my God.  Don't tell me. "

" I won't.  I believe you have figured it out. "

" But you said you weren't in love with her.  You swore up and down you didn't have a crush on her, " Fujiko stammered.

Goemon closed his eyes, " It is easy to tell lies to a liar but it is much harder to tell them to oneself. "

" Does she know how you feel? " Fujiko asked seriously.

Goemon shook his head, " The tree happened before I could tell her I was interested in her and wished to get to know her better. "

" So what are you going to do if Jigen has done something to her? " Fujiko eyed Zantetsuken warily.

Goemon clicked Zantetsuken from its sheath, " I will avenge her honor. "

" But she was the one that told Jigen she wanted to sleep with him, remember? " Fujiko reminded him.

Goemon thought it over then shook his head; " He must have done something to seduce her into saying that. "

Fujiko put her hand on Zantetsuken, " Goemon.  You were the one who heard them talking. "

" He must have done something prior to then. "

" Yes.  He saved her life or did you forget they were almost gunned down after they dropped Pops off? " Fujiko had been jealous but she didn't want Jigen to be sliced into tiny pieces.

Goemon growled and shook Fujiko's hand off of Zantetsuken.  " If he took her up on the offer I will kill him. "

" We don't even know if they did anything in Yokohama so settle down.  Maybe Jigen had enough couth not to, " Fujiko said.  She then cut her eyes sideways, " I forgot.  We're talking about Jigen here. "

" There was a different air about Toshiko when they returned though.  I can't help but think something happened.  Didn't you notice it? " Goemon glared at Fujiko.

Fujiko thought about it and she nodded.  " Yes there was something different but you saw I couldn't get any information out of her. "

" I did not approve of that tactic in the first place, " Goemon said.  " Did you believe she would flat out tell us she slept with him? "

" No but we could have told a lot from her answers, " Fujiko pointed out.  " I honestly don't think she slept THAT much while they were gone but she is a growing girl so maybe she did.  I didn't get enough info to make any solid decisions. "

" I still feel that something happened, " Goemon looked towards the house.  " Let us return.  I do not feel comfortable with leaving Toshi alone with Lupin. "

" You noticed too? " Fujiko muttered.  " I swear, doesn't he ever give up? "

Goemon shook his head, " I believe his theory is if he flirts with everything female his odds of getting a girlfriend will be better than if he were picky. "

Fujiko slapped Goemon's arm, " What's that supposed to mean? "

Goemon gave her a terse smirk, " I believe you know the answer.  Come on. "