Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Love Potion Fujiko Mine ❯ Reunited ( Chapter 11 )

Love Potion Fujiko Mine

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Lupin isn't mine… I'm just borrowing him and promise to put him back the way I found him. Lupin, Goemon and Jigen meet up in Xaghra. After a brief disagreement, they decide it is better to work together.)

Part Eleven: Reunited

" This is really going to suck if he isn't on that bus, " Jigen muttered as Lupin trailed the mammoth vehicle.

" Yeah but if he isn't, we can just drive back to Marsalforn and try again, " Lupin shrugged.

" But what if that potion really isn't on this island? " Jigen looked at Lupin.

" If it isn't, why is Goemon still here? " Lupin countered.

" He's looking for that girl, remember? " Jigen narrowed his eyes for all the good it did since they weren't visible under his hat.

Lupin stuck his right index finger in the air, " Yes I do. However, do you know how many kidnappings have happened here? "

" Didn't Christophe say something like eleven others? " Jigen tried to recall the exact number the sailor had told them.

" Yes. Why would so many beautiful young women be snatched from an island that has been extremely peaceful and safe up until now? " Lupin glanced at Jigen.

Jigen thought for a long moment then snapped his fingers. " You think that the kidnappings have something to do with the love potion, don't you? "

" Yes I do. What other explanation can you come up with? " Lupin put his hand back on the wheel as he followed the bus around a curve in the road.

" It's a far shot but it might be true, " Jigen scratched the side of his head.

" Honestly, Jigen. The guys that are buying this stuff are richer than sin, " Lupin sounded serious. " I bet a few of them are even richer than that. What would you do if you knew your customer still had more money than what he was giving you? "

Jigen shrugged, " I don't know. I guess I'd find a way to separate him for some more of those funds. Lupin, what are you getting at? "

" I think whoever is selling the potion is providing an extra incentive to their richer customers, " Lupin smiled.

" Damn it, Lupin. That's just flat out perverted. You've been reading too many of those novels Fujiko keeps in her nightstand, " Jigen leaned his seat back.

Lupin arched an eyebrow, " How do you know about the novels Fujiko keeps in her nightstand? "

" I had to go through it not the last time she screwed us over but the time three times before that. You put that homing device on her and she found it, remember? You thought something was up when she didn't leave her bedroom for almost six hours so you sent me to check it out, " Jigen put the seat back up and slammed his fist into the dash. " Everyone thinks men are perverts but I got some news for them… dames are just as bad as we are. "

" Which one did you read? " Lupin's grin became a knowing smirk.

Jigen shrugged, " I don't remember. All I know is that Fujiko had the good parts marked… Hold on! Why am I telling you this? "

" That must have been the one about the bondage pirates then, " Lupin chuckled. He became serious again; " I didn't get this out of any book, Jigen. I honestly think the kidnappings and the potion or drug or whatever you want to call it are related somehow. "

" How? " Jigen said. " No, don't tell me. You can feel it, right? "

" Right in the gut, Jigen. Hey! What's that over there? " Lupin looked towards something to the side of the road.

" It looks like some old ruins. This place is loaded with them and all of them are historical, " Jigen looked as well. " Damn, what's up with all those cops? "

" I'd rather know what's up with those hearses, " Lupin commented as three of the foreboding cars pulled out onto the road behind them.

" Whatever happened can't be good, " Jigen muttered as he faced forward again. He took a sharp breath and looked at Lupin. " Hey. Didn't Goemon say something like men were dying from that drug? "

" He said that they were dying from the physical strain the drug put them through but yeah, " Lupin looked at Jigen. " Do you think the stiffs behind us are related somehow? "

" I think your theory is looking a lot better now, " Jigen reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette.

Lupin got out a cigarette of his own, " I'm glad you're starting to see things my way. "

Jigen lit his cigarette then lit Lupin's before shaking out the match, " And that is scaring me. "

**

Zenigata waited patiently as the phone at the other end of the line rang. He needed to tell the Italian headquarters that Lupin was definitely in Malta and he would need back up so he could handle the kidnapping case as well as Lupin. Finally, the chief picked up. " Hello? This is Vittero Capparelli. "

" Chief, " Zenigata started but was quickly cut off.

" Where the hell have you been, Zenigata? " Vittero nearly screamed into the phone. " I've been ringing your hotel room since seven o'clock this morning and the desk says they have no idea where you are at! "

" I'm sorry, chief. I was following up on a promising lead about the kidnappings and I ran into Lupin! " Zenigata said hurriedly.

Vittero growled, " Forget about Lupin for once, Zenigata! We have a real problem on our hands! "

" Forget? Lupin? " Zenigata couldn't believe the chief had said that.

" Yes! Bodies have been found in the ruins of Ggantija! The bodies that have been identified are all from different countries. Do you want to know what else? " Vittero asked.

" What else? " Zenigata said.

" All of them have been rich! Not a one of them is worth less than ten million dollars. Most of their families have been successful in keeping it out of the media so far but I want this case solved before anyone else dies! " Vittero was huffing for air once he was finished speaking.

" I understand chief, " Zenigata's tone was somber. " I'll find out what's going on and solve the case. "

" Good. Once you do, you can chase Lupin all you want, " Vittero said. " Keep me posted on your findings. If I don't hear from you at least every twelve hours, I'm putting someone else on the case. "

" You'll hear from me every six hours even if I have to send smoke signals, sir. You can count on me, " Zenigata heard someone behind him tapping their foot. He glanced over his shoulder and found Marlene there.

" Hurry up with the phone, you big oaf. I need to call my insurance company! " She nearly shouted.

" I am taking care of some important business, " Zenigata barked at Marlene but stopped when he heard the other end of the line click like the chief had hung up the phone. Zenigata hung up the receiver, " Oh never mind. "

Marlene pushed Zenigata out of the way and began dialing the phone number of her insurance company. She muttered something about being on hold and glared at Zenigata. " Why are you calling your insurance company? You aren't hurt are you? " Zenigata asked, looking Marlene over quickly to see if there were any obvious injuries.

" No but if we keep crossing paths like this, I will probably get hurt. Now, go away! Go take care of your important business! " Marlene turned her back on Zenigata.

Zenigata walked away, silently hoping that he wouldn't see Marlene again…

**

Fujiko watched as the remaining girls woke up. They had begun to mill around, getting food and engaging in small talk, Annalisa going to each of them to ask if they were all okay. Most of the girls nodded except for a blonde that looked to be around twenty or so and hadn't gotten up to get food. Fujiko watched as the young woman whispered something in Annalisa's ear while tears started to well up in her eyes.

Annalisa put an arm around the woman and hugged her as she comforted her. Fujiko listen carefully and could hear Annalisa saying things would be okay. Fujiko went cold when she heard the young woman's response. " I swear he was dead… he was cold and grey, " She sobbed.

Fujiko stood up and went to where Annalisa was. " What in the Hell? " She said as she sat down on the other side of the young woman. " Did I hear you right? "

Annalisa looked around at the others but they were all too busy eating and talking to pay attention to them. She leaned closer to Fujiko, " Barbra said that the man she was with last night was dead this morning when she woke up. "

Fujiko gasped, " No. "

Barbra nodded, " He was. I played like I was sleeping when Miguel and Fabian took him away. "

" Have there been any other deaths here? " Fujiko looked at Annalisa.

Annalisa shook her head, " Not that I know of. The men are always gone when we wake up in the morning. I thought it was because they left. "

" Oh. Do you think we should ask the others? You know if they've found the men they've been with dead the next morning? " Fujiko looked at the other ten girls, a few of which were now staring in their direction.

" They would have said something, " Annalisa said and bit her lip as she thought about it. " At least I think they would have told me. "

" I think men are dying here, " Barbra shook her head.

" I do too, " A timid voice said. Fujiko looked up and found one of the other girls had walked up behind Annalisa. She had jet-black hair, emerald green eyes and alabaster skin. She looked like she was barely eighteen and was shaking.

She clutched her hands as if to steady them. " I woke up the other morning and saw Miguel dragging a dead man from my room. "

" Katrina, " Annalisa whispered but didn't know what else to say.

" But how are they dying is what I want to know, " Fujiko looked at the two scared girls and Annalisa's bewildered face.

" I don't know, " Katrina shook her head. " I'm scared to ask. Fabian might hurt us if he knew that we know those men were dead. "

" Have you ever seen any men leave here, Annalisa? " Fujiko asked.

" No. I just know the men come in the evening and they are gone by morning, " Annalisa said.

" Just the one this morning, " Barbra said quietly.

" I've only seen that one from the other morning, " Katrina shook her head.

" This doesn't sound good at all, " Fujiko muttered. ~I wish someone knew I was here. ~

**

The bus pulled to a stop in front of what looked like a tavern and the passengers started to get off. Lupin and Jigen parked the Volkswagen, waiting for Goemon to appear. They didn't wait long when the samurai stepped off of the bus and looked right at them. " Do you suppose it was a rough ride? " Lupin mused as he noted Goemon's displeased expression.

" I would say he's just really happy to see us again, " Jigen threw the cigarette he had been smoking out the window.

" He's coming over here, " Lupin sounded a little surprised. " I'd think he'd be on top of a building by now. "

Goemon walked to the car slowly and stopped at Lupin's window. Lupin opened the sunroof and stood up but Goemon didn't look at him. " I thought I told you attention deficit children to stay behind. "

" Sorry pal but when you steal my stuff, I have to know what you're up to. I thought you said you were going to distract Pops, " Lupin said.

" I was keeping him distracted until you showed up, " Goemon still didn't look at Lupin. " We were working together on something much less trivial that him catching you. "

" So you decided to help him out on a kidnapping case? " Lupin smiled when Goemon took a sharp breath and looked up at him.

" How? " Goemon said sharply.

" Christophe told us all about it, " Lupin said as Jigen got out of the car and looked across the roof at Goemon. " Of course, Jigen saw the three of you leaving this morning. If it hadn't been for him, we would have never known you left. "

" Yeah. If I had waited a few more minutes for my morning cigarette, I would have never seen you and Pops leaving. I even got pictures, " Jigen said, watching Goemon's expression become murderous. " So, out with it. What's going on here? "

" It must be something pretty big for you to leave us in the dark, " Lupin said then jumped out of the sunroof before sliding down the car's windshield. He stepped up on the sidewalk, leaving very little space between him and Goemon. " Tell me. What's up? Did you find out how much money the men with that potion are sitting on? "

" I am not so easily overcome by greed, " Goemon said evenly as he gripped Zantetsuken tighter. " I have my reasons. "

" Christophe told us there's twelve girls total, " Jigen smirked. " With that many damsels in distress, you might actually get some if you rescued all of them single handedly. It sounds like a sure bet to me. "

Goemon shot Jigen a homicidal glare, " I am not doing it to 'get some' either. I am not as base as the two of you. "

" Then why are you doing this without us? " Lupin asked as he kept a close eye on Goemon. There was no telling when the samurai would whip out Zantetsuken but at least Jigen had his back. " I can't seem to come up with any other reasons why you'd try to do a job the three of us agreed on all by yourself. "

Goemon shut his eyes, " If you must know, I will tell you. There are thirteen women that have been kidnapped, not twelve. The last one was kidnapped last night. "

" So? " Lupin asked.

" I know who she is, " Goemon opened his eyes and checked to see what Jigen was doing. He was still on the other side of the Volkswagen and hadn't got his gun out yet. " Of course, the two of you know her as well. "

Lupin looked puzzled as he mulled it over. There were quite a few women the three of them knew, some better than others. " Oh shit! You aren't talking about Fujiko, are you? " Jigen nearly shouted.

Lupin went white, " No way. Fujiko would never get kidnapped. It's impossible. "

" I believe this will make you think different, " Goemon reached into his kimono and brought out her wallet and fake passport.

Lupin snatched the two items away from Goemon, " Give me those. How did you get them? "

" They were in a purse in an alley way in Marsalforn, " Goemon took a step back as Lupin started to examine the wallet and passport.

" This is Fujiko alright, " Lupin muttered as he stared at the passport photo. He looked at the name under the picture, " I see she's running out of ideas for fake names. "

" I knew it was her the second I looked at it in spite of her alias. There is more than just that, " Goemon said. He shrugged his kimono off of one shoulder and removed the canvas bag from the back. " This is the file with the information on the other women that have been kidnapped. "

" The file? You mean like the official police file? " Jigen stepped around the Volkswagen and took the bag from Goemon.

" Yes, " Goemon nodded once. " Zenigata got it from the police and I acquired it from him. "

" You mean you stole it, " Jigen said as he reached in the bag and pulled out the folder. " It must be pretty extensive. "

" It has dossiers on every single woman kidnapped except for Fujiko. The officer working the case before Zenigata arrived must have worked very hard to get the information, " Goemon said.

Lupin leaned back against the car as the weight of the situation settled down on him. " How did Fujiko get kidnapped? " He muttered as he ran his left hand through his hair.

" From all appearances, it was a surprise attack. There was a tranquilizer dart in the alley with her belongings, " Goemon glanced at Jigen, who was thumbing through the file. " All of those files say that about the other kidnappings as well. "

" A dart with traces of a very potent sedative was found one meter from the victim's belongings. It assumed it fell out as the victim was being carried away from the scene, " Jigen read from one file. He looked at another, " A dart with traces of the same sedative from the Namura case was found three meters from the scene. It is assumed it fell out of the victim as they were being taken away. "

" The dart I found was broken in half, " Goemon looked at Lupin. " My guess is Fujiko fell on it as she collapsed because the needle part was nowhere to be found. "

" Does Pops know it was Fujiko? " Lupin reached into his jacket and got a cigarette. He took out his lighter and lit it, his hand shaking just a little as he did.

Goemon shook his head, " No. I found the scene before Zenigata and removed all of the identification before I took him to it. "

" You took him to the scene? " Jigen looked up from a file he was reading in depth.

" Yes but the only thing he recognized as Fujiko's was her perfume. She had a bottle of it in her purse and I believe it was broken when she dropped the bag, " Goemon glanced at Jigen. " I told him millions of women probably wear that perfume and he agreed. "

" We have to go save her, " Lupin said. " We have to get her back before something really bad happens to her. "

" I assume you noticed the hearses then? " Goemon asked, not really looking at either Jigen or Lupin.

" Yeah. They were coming out of some ruins as we were following the bus; " Jigen shut the folder and put it back in the bag. " Do you think it may have something to do with the kidnappings and the potion? "

" I don't know yet but I wouldn't be surprised. A man back at Calypso's Cave told me that bodies had been found at Ggantija. That is what those ruins you passed are called, " Goemon said.

Lupin perked up a bit, " I heard about that place. It was on some show on the set. Jigen was watching The Hitler Channel. "

" That's The History Channel, " Jigen corrected Lupin.

" All they ever have on is World War Two crap, now shut up. Anyway, this was one time they weren't showing that shit for once. Instead, they were talking about Ggantija and how it was built by some crazy fertility cult. Do you think that cult may be doing the kidnapping? " Lupin looked at Goemon then Jigen.

Jigen let out an exasperated sigh, " That show said the cult died out a long time ago, Lupin. We're having a hard enough time connecting the kidnappings to something sensible so don't suggest off the wall trash like that. "

Goemon looked up, his gaze fixing on something. Lupin and Jigen looked up as well. " The hearses again, " Lupin whispered.

" What the hell? " Jigen muttered. " Are they making a second trip out? "

" I believe that is the case. I will pray for their souls, " Goemon said.

Lupin looked at Goemon, " Did that guy at the cave say if it was men or women being found at the cave? "

" He said it was men. He never mentioned women, " Goemon reached into his kimono again and pulled out the card he found with Fujiko's things. " He said they were all men that had asked him about this card. "

Lupin and Jigen took a look at it. " Who's this? " Lupin said.

" It's the nymph Calypso, " Jigen couldn't believe Lupin didn't know. " Haven't you ever seen the paintings that go with the story? "

" Books on tape don't come with paintings, " Lupin shrugged.

" I think it may be a clue, " Goemon put the card back in his kimono. " I will hang onto it. "

" And I think the three of us need to work together on this, " Lupin said.

" I agree, " Jigen nodded. " Goemon had to put up with Pops for nearly twelve hours or so. I guess he's lucky to still be alive. "

" Yes he is, " Goemon gave a brief smile. " He was starting to irk me greatly. "

" I have a feeling we'll be seeing him again though, " Jigen motioned towards the file. " He might want this back. "

" He can have it back, " Lupin said. " But he'll have to wait until after I've scanned it into my computer. "

" How long will that take? " Goemon asked.

" An hour or so, " Lupin reached back and grabbed the file. " We can do that while we're eating lunch. "

" I'm starving, " Jigen groaned. " Donuts and coffee really don't go a very long way. "

" I believe I will eat something as well. I have had a very busy morning, " Goemon commented.

" Did you get into a gunfight this morning? " Lupin smirked.

Goemon arched an eyebrow, " Do I even want to know? "

Lupin patted the samurai on the back, " Yeah. You might find it amusing. "