Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Love Potion Fujiko Mine ❯ Shattered Illusions ( Chapter 26 )

Love Potion Fujiko Mine

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Lupin isn't mine. The guys try to comfort Fujiko as she contemplates just how close she came to being killed and Zenigata finds out about the explosion.)

Twenty-Six: Shattered Illusions

Fujiko was holding onto Goemon and sobbing. She had not calmed down since realizing that the women had all been killed. " Those bastards, " She kept saying over and over again.

Goemon cradled her in his arms, stroking the back of her head as her tears dampened his chest. He frowned when she wiped her nose on his sleeve but refrained from scolding her. He would just let it go for she was in a bad state and probably didn't realize what she was doing. " This cannot be ignored, Lupin. We must do something, " He said quietly.

Lupin concentrated on the road, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel in anger. " Oh, we're going to do something alright. This means war, " He muttered. " Jigen. "

" Yeah? " Jigen responded like his was thinking about something in depth.

" Give me a cigarette. I have to get this smell out of my head, " Lupin said.

Jigen got out two cigarettes and put them both in his lips. He got out his lighter and lit them, passing one to Lupin. Lupin took it and jammed it in the corner of his mouth. " I don't think the cigarettes will help, " Jigen muttered around his cigarette.

" I just need to smell something else, " Lupin took a long drag and exhaled it through his nose.

" You know that smell will hang around for a long time, " Jigen replied, exhaling his smoke through his nose as well. " I've smelt burning flesh before and it sticks around for a while. "

" I've smelled it too but not on that level, " Lupin said.

" That is one smell that is hard to forget, " Goemon added quietly.

" Please… " Fujiko sobbed. " Can we talk about something else? "

Lupin sighed, " Why don't we just be quiet for a while? "

" Yeah, " Jigen nodded. " I need some time to think. "

Goemon nodded, " I need to say prayers for all of the women. I will do it silently though. I will say an extra one for Annalisa as well. "

Several miles and minutes passed before Lupin glanced down at the cardboard tube they had retrieved from the cottage. He had stuffed it with cash after he had scanned the map but didn't bother to count it. He had planned to do that at a later time but the women's insurrection had de-railed that plan. " Jigen, " He said.

" I thought you said we were going to be quiet. What is it? " Jigen muttered.

" Are you thinking about anything important? "

Jigen sighed, " Not really. Just stuff. "

" I see. Well, do you want to do something to take your mind off of that stuff? " Lupin reached for the tube. He didn't even think about the fact that it was in between Jigen's legs because the tube was just about three inches too long for the trunk even when it was turned diagonally.

Jigen grabbed Lupin's hand, " What the hell do you think you're doing? "

" Settle down, " Lupin glanced down. He had misjudged his distance and was reaching right for Jigen's crotch. " Ooops! I was reaching for the map tube. "

" That's not what it looked like from my point of view, " Jigen muttered as he grabbed the tube. " Keep you hands on your side of the car. "

Lupin fluttered his eyelashes and smiled. " That's not what you said last night, big boy. Don't you remember? " He said in his highest falsetto voice then started laughing.

" This is not the time to be joking, Lupin. Now, keep your hands away from me or I'll blow your fucking head off. Do you understand? " Jigen said. " I'm not in the mood for your bullshit right now. "

" Touchy, " Lupin said.

" Damn skippy I'm touchy. You should be too after the shit we've been through on this damn job, " Jigen snarled. " This job has been one fucking train wreck after another. The women getting barbecued didn't make it any better. "

Lupin sighed, " You're right. That was bad and I'm sorry. I totally forgot that you and… "

" Don't say her name. I don't want to hear it. Let me try to convince myself it was nothing but a dream, " Jigen popped the plastic end cap off the tube.

" Yeah. There were some real cuties in that bunch, " Lupin mused. " I had my heart set on taking Barbra out for dinner and maybe a little dancing. I wouldn't have minded doing the same with Kat. "

" Pinch me, " Jigen said abruptly.

Lupin looked at him, " What? "

" Pinch me, damn it. I know I am dreaming, " Jigen looked at Lupin.

Lupin reached over, pinching the back of Jigen's hand as hard as he could. Jigen yelped in pain so Lupin let go. " Do you still think you're dreaming? "

" Not now. This isn't usually how things go though, " Jigen smiled.

" What do you mean and why the hell are Goemon and Fujiko so quiet back there? " Lupin looked in the rearview mirror. Goemon looked like he was asleep and so did Fujiko. Her head was resting on his chest and he had his cheek resting against the crown of her head. He also had his arms around her and it looked like it was pretty tight.

" Damn… it looks just like earlier except now she's sleeping on him. I thought they were going to stop this shit, " Lupin reached back to smack Goemon on the top of the head but Jigen stopped him.

" Let them sleep, Lupin. They've both had a rough time, especially Fujiko, " Jigen said then he dipped hand in the tube. He brought it back out full of gold coins. He smirked, " We usually don't get this lucky. "

Lupin laughed, " I totally forgot I did that! "

" Did what? " Jigen looked at the coins more closely before taking one and biting it. His smile broadened, " This is the genuine shit! This really is gold! "

" Of course it is, " Lupin reached over and tried to take one of the coins but Jigen slapped his hand away. " Ouch! "

" I said keep your hands on your side of the car, " Jigen held out a coin for Lupin to take.

Lupin snatched it away, " Like I was saying, I forgot I did that. "

" Did what? " Jigen asked again.

" I told you that bag broke, right? " Lupin looked at the coin and the road at intervals. " I was bored so I decided to see just how strong that map tube was. I put the money from the bag in there then wanted to see how many coins I could get in there. The whole bag fit but I didn't want to chance it so I planned to take it out but the women sort of made me forget that. "

" I see, " Jigen put the gold back. " This was rather lucky, huh? "

Lupin nodded, " Yeah. Now we can get a boat so we can go after Fabian and Miguel. "

**

" Inspector Zenigata! " Faye came running into the police station. He had returned after hearing the shocking report of a fire in Lupin's cell. It had scared him but he soon found out that Lupin was long gone.

" Yes? " Zenigata looked up from the map he had been pondering. The location of the mansion, the hotel and the cottage were all marked with big red X's and he was trying to figure out a connection. All he could really see was that the mansion was the only thing in the east while everything else lay to the west.

" There's been a report of an explosion west of the cottage where you arrested Lupin. The person that reported it said that it was some kind of large van and a taxicab was seen fleeing the scene, " Faye looked like she was trying not to smile.

" It could only be Fabian and Miguel, " Zenigata picked up a red pen. " Where did you say the explosion was? "

" Here, " Faye pointed to the general location on the map.

Zenigata marked it then looked at Faye. " We need to head west. My sixth sense says that's where they're heading. "

Faye looked at the map again, " It seems that way. Do you think Lupin and the other man are heading that way as well? "

Zenigata stopped to think and nodded. " If they are working together then it makes sense. Are we going to investigate the explosion? "

" There's a team on their way to that location. We really can't do anything there until they can reasonably connect it to our case. If they find enough evidence, they will call us in, " Faye said.

Zenigata felt a chill run down his spine then he arched an eyebrow. " What about those women? Only one came in here last night, right? "

" Yes, " Faye nodded. " One of them reported Lupin's location then she was out of here. That's what I have heard anyway. "

" Did anyone happen to see what she was driving? " Zenigata asked.

Faye thought for a moment. " Oh yeah. Someone said it was a large white passenger van. She came in, revealed Lupin's location and left. "

" What was her name? " Zenigata didn't like the direction his thoughts were heading. He was afraid that the explosion was connected to the case after all. He remembered watching Lupin loading the women getting into a white passenger van before they left the mansion.

" The one that came inside was later identified as Andrea Kilbrid. We had the officer look at pictures of the women until he fingered her out, " Faye replied.

" I see, " Zenigata tried to stifle a chuckle. He faintly recalled Andrea from the mansion. She had taken a liking to Jigen but that was all he knew about her from there. Her name did ring a bell from somewhere else he just couldn't remember where though.

" Would you like to know something else about Miss Kilbrid? " Faye crossed her arms over her chest.

" Is it interesting? " Zenigata looked at Faye.

" These idiots should have grabbed her as soon as she walked in the door. She is a member of a guerilla group that has been controlling the waters west of Gozo. More specifically, they have commandeered several tiny islands off the coast and claimed them as their own. Do you want to know why? " Faye sat down on the edge of Zenigata's desk.

" I'm listening, " Zenigata leaned back in his chair.

" This group claims that the chain of islands they have taken over used to be a leper colony where their ancestors were sent to die. According to what we have found out, several merchant vessels sank in the same area. From what I understand, most of those vessels were transporting gold ingots, gold coins and other precious materials, " Faye said.

Zenigata whistled, " Well… this IS interesting. "

" There has been quite a bit of research done about the group's claims but there is no evidence to back up what they allege. Of course, there is a chance it may be true since a lot of the leper colonies were simply left out of history for one reason or another. However, there is plenty of evidence about the treasure that is scattered amongst those islands, " Faye noticed Zenigata was starting to smile. " What's wrong with you? "

" Where did you say these islands were located? " Zenigata asked.

" They are off the west coat of Gozo, " Faye stopped then a smile came to her face as well. " Are you thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking? "

Zenigata nodded, " Lupin is heading west to cash in on that treasure. I'm pretty sure that's what Fabian and Miguel have in mind as well. They probably kidnapped Andrea to get a map to those islands but that's just what I think. "

" Of course. That would make quite a bit of sense, " Faye said.

" Lupin must have found out about the treasure while he was at the mansion and decided to go after it, " Zenigata muttered.

" Don't be stupid, Zenigata. Lupin probably knew about the treasure to begin with. They're working with Lupin or did you forget that? " Faye scoffed.

" I hate to tell you this but that confession of theirs was just a load of bullshit. Here, " Zenigata reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a cassette tape. He handed it to Faye, " This tape was recorded by the jail surveillance system shortly before they broke out. "

Faye blinked at the tape. She looked around and found a tape player on an adjacent desk. She grabbed it then put the tape in it. She pressed play and listened to the recording.

" Lupin? " Jigen's voice came from the tiny speaker.

" What? " Lupin's replied.

" Aren't you worried about Goemon and Fujiko? They're all alone in a hotel room together, " Jigen sounded like he was taunting Lupin. " In a honeymoon suite… "

" Shut up, " Lupin growled.

" I bet they're fucking like rabbits… " Jigen said.

" I said shut up, you pervert. You want to be the one fucking Fujiko like a rabbit, " Lupin shot back. " Don't think I've forgotten about that time I caught you two in the broom closet. "

" That was a long time ago, " Jigen sounded angry. " That was before I found out she was the town bicycle and only wanted me as a fucking puppet. Damn, that was even before we met Goemon. "

" Yeah and you wanted a ride on that bicycle. I can still see Fujiko with her skirt hiked up around her waist, her bra wide open and your hand in her panties, " Lupin sounded like he was taunting Jigen in return. He then said, " Now… just where was Fujiko's hand? Oh yes, it was unzipping your pants. "

" I told you I'd shoot you if you said anything about it ever again, " Jigen growled.

Lupin chuckled, " Don't give it if you can't take it. Now, shut up. I want to go to sleep. "

Faye's face turned red as she stopped the tape, " Oh my. I think you got the wrong tape, inspector. "

Zenigata felt like he was going to die on the spot. He was finding out more stuff about the Lupin Gang than he ever wanted to know. He quickly snatched the tape player away and ejected the tape. He looked it over carefully then flipped it over.

He grinned sheepishly at Faye, " It was on the wrong side. Sorry. "

" I guess we know what the Lupin gang does in between jobs, " Faye took the tape player back. " I guess I should say whom they do in between jobs. "

" Honestly, " Zenigata put his hands up. " I didn't even know that was on that tape. Fujiko doesn't seem to be like that anymore though. Like Jigen said, that was a long time ago. "

Faye pressed the play button, " Fabian. Hey, you awake boss? "

" I am now, you damned idiot. What is it? " Fabian snapped back.

" That was some smooth thinking back there. They really think that Lupin guy was in on it, " Miguel sounded enthusiastic.

" That's what he gets for sending in his friend. I knew there was something suspicious about that samurai but I thought he wouldn't be a problem once he took the drug, " Fabian snarled. " That stupid bitch Megumi is so clumsy. He could have been dead by now and this would not have happened. "

" Do you think Lupin sent that Megumi girl in as a decoy so he could find the place? " Miguel asked.

" No. That is what I think the samurai was for, " Fabian muttered. " I don't know what connection Megumi and the samurai had but I'm sure she's not connected to Lupin in any way. "

" Oh well. It was kind of nice to see that samurai get nailed for impersonating an ICPO officer though, " Miguel chuckled again.

" It would have been a lot funnier if he hadn't escaped. They would have put him in the same cell with us and we could have beaten him to death for deceiving us. That would have been funny, " Fabian said. " Damn. When is Guido going to get here? "

" He's coming for us? " Miguel sounded like he was moving around on his bunk.

" Yeah. I called him when they let me have my phone call. He said he would come and get us out, " Fabian sounded like he was moving around as well.

" Great. It's a good thing he wasn't in the house. I saw them take three bodies out while that bitch was listening to our confession, " Miguel suddenly became quiet.

" What is it? " Fabian whispered.

" I just heard a car, " Miguel said and Faye switched off the tape player.

" This makes me wonder if we should continue to pursue Lupin, " Faye said quietly. " I'll have to present this to Sgt. Martin as soon as possible. "

" We should continue chasing Lupin as well, " Zenigata nearly shouted. " He may have not been involved with this but he is wanted for other things. "

" True but the case I have been working on for so long is my top priority, Inspector Zenigata. I want to bring Fabian and Miguel down, " Faye clutched the tape player. " I'm sure you understand. "

Zenigata thought it over and sighed in defeat, " I do. "

" I'll tell you what. It's pretty likely that Lupin and Fabian are heading for the same goal, " Faye talked like she was making her plan as spoke. " When we get there, I'll arrest Fabian and Miguel while you arrest Lupin. "

" That's sounds good. I think it will work, " Zenigata reached up and patted Faye on the shoulder. " Do you want to go to Sgt. Martin now with the evidence? "

" Will you go with me? " Faye asked quietly.

" Sure. "

**

Lupin reached into the back and rapped his knuckles on the crown of Goemon's head. " Wake up, Prince Charming. "

Goemon opened his eyes then narrowed them, " Please stop calling me that. What do you want? "

" Tell your princess to wake up, " Lupin smiled. " We have to get on the boat. "

" Boat? " Goemon arched an eyebrow before looking around. It looked like they had arrived at a marina on the coast. " How long have we been sleeping? "

" Long enough to get to the coast and buy a boat so we can get to the islands on that map you and Fujiko found, " Lupin said. " Jigen is checking out the boat right now. "

" Islands? " Goemon looked puzzled.

" I found out some interesting things about that map. Let's wake Fujiko up and I'll explain, " Lupin put his hand on Fujiko's shoulder. He shook her gently until she started to stir. " Princess… it's time to wake up. "

Fujiko rubbed her eyes then opened them. She blushed slightly when she realized she was asleep on Goemon and Lupin was looking at her. " It's not what you think, Lupin. I… "

" It's okay, baby. You have every right to. He did save your life after all, " Lupin said quietly. " I decided that I've been an ass about the whole thing. "

" The fool is always the last one to see the light, " Goemon muttered.

" The fate of the others sort of put it all into perspective for me, " Lupin said without looking at either Goemon or Fujiko. " You two can play this little thing out but I'll be waiting for you, Fujiko. "

" Oh Lupin, " Fujiko took her arms from Goemon and wrapped them around Lupin's shoulders.

" I said that I love you and I meant it, " Lupin whispered into her hair.

Goemon felt his heart breaking once again and tried to ignore it. He didn't want to have such feelings for Fujiko but they had manifested themselves somehow. He shut his eyes and cleared his throat. When Fujiko and Lupin didn't let go of each other, he cleared his throat louder than the time before.

Lupin looked at him, " Is there something wrong? "

" Yes, " Goemon opened his eyes. " I would like to get out of the car and leave you two alone. "

" Oh, sure. Let me just get out, " Lupin let go of Fujiko and got out. He pushed the seat forward before taking Fujiko by the hand. " Ladies first. "

Fujiko stepped out and Goemon followed her. " Where is the boat? " He asked without looking at her.

" It is at dock number twelve, " Lupin pointed towards the pier.

Goemon nodded, " I will go on ahead. I will have Jigen tell me what I need to know. "

Fujiko reached for Goemon as he walked away but he was too quick for her. She held her hand in the air for a moment before Lupin put his hand on her shoulder. " Let him go, " He said. " He needs some time to think. "

" But Lupin, " Fujiko looked at him. " He looks so hurt. "

" What did you expect? " Lupin said quietly. " You've broken his heart. "