Lupin III Fan Fiction ❯ Daddy's Girl ❯ Painful ( Chapter 34 )

Daddy's Girl

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Lupin isn't mine.  Lupin comes to get Jigen and Toshiko.)

Part Thirty-Four: Painful

Jigen sat on the couch in the living room smoking a cigarette as he waited for Lupin to show up.  Toshiko had slipped off to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed shortly after Lupin called to announce he was on his way.  He narrowed his eyes as he heard the Benz pull into the driveway and waited for Lupin to come in.  He heard the key in the lock, knowing that Lupin would probably have some flippant comment to make once the door was open.

The door swung open.  " Hey, " Lupin said.  He stepped in and shut the door.  " Where's Toshiko? "

" Shower, " Jigen muttered around the cigarette.  He pulled his fedora down over his eyes a little bit.

Lupin sat down in a chair across from Jigen, " And you're not there with her? " He asked with a wry smirk.

" I'm not you, " Jigen shot back.

" Touché mon ami, " Lupin smiled.

Jigen sighed and took the cigarette out of his lips.  He stamped it out slowly in the ashtray as he spoke, " I took my shower after breakfast.  I needed to think about a few things.  I needed to be away from her for a few minutes and sort out my head. "

" Did you figure anything out? " Lupin arched an eyebrow.

Jigen nodded, " It's going to be tough to let her go. "

" So it was love at first feel? " Lupin arched an eyebrow.

Jigen growled, " Can you be serious for one minute? "

Lupin sat back in the chair, " That was out of line.  I'm sorry. "

" It will be hard to let her go because the thought of her ever getting hurt again makes me sick, " Jigen said.  " She's been through so much already. "

" Yeah but life is hard, " Lupin pointed out.  " Maybe after this she'll be able to face her fears instead of run away from them. "

" I hope but I still can't help but think that she's needs someone to watch over her and keep her safe, " Jigen reached in his jacket for another cigarette.

Lupin sighed, " We can keep tabs on her but we have to let her face her problems on her own.  We need to make sure she gets back to school and goes onto have a normal life.  She's got a court order to go to therapy and has her probation officer to worry about as well.  We've got our obligations and she's got her obligations, Jigen. "

" It's important she stays out of jail, " Jigen said solemnly.  " Once they know she's okay, she's going to have to keep those appointments or she'll end up sucking down fish heads right along with Ryousuke. "

" Bingo, " Lupin nodded.  " I have a feeling she'll be just fine.  She's a lot more mature than she lets on. "

" You can say that again, " Jigen muttered.  " It took some pretty big balls for her to go out and try to find Zenigata in spite of her hate for him.  She knew she had to tell him but couldn't get around her feelings towards him to even see him. "

" She finally did though and, with a little help from us, one detestable asshole is in jail and will be there for the rest of his life, " Lupin reminded Jigen.

" She didn't tell him though, " Jigen said.  " He probably still thinks she was beat over that laundry. "

Lupin shook his head, " Ryousuke spilled his guts to Toshi and Pops.  He told them she had overheard the conversation eight months ago.  He was getting ready to kill them both when I dropped in. "

" How did you hear the confession? " Jigen furrowed his brow.

Lupin reached into his jacket and pulled out the scorpion, " With a little help from Toshiko. "

" That thing again? " Jigen arched his eyebrow.  The last time he had seen it was on the bookshelf in Toshiko's room the night she had almost been shot.  He had figured Lupin had given it to her as a present but was now starting to think differently.

Lupin turned the scorpion around and pointed to a transmitter on the bottom of the device, " I asked her to add this. "

" Why?  What's that? " Jigen squinted to see what Lupin was pointing at.

" This is a transmitter that can be used with my remote controlled tape recorder, " Lupin smiled.  " I figured it would come in handy and it did. "

Jigen looked at Lupin, " So he screwed himself over without even knowing it. "

Lupin nodded, " Basically.  He can't recant what's on that tape. "

Jigen narrowed his eyes, " Why was that thing in Toshiko's room the other night? "

" The other night? " Lupin looked confused.  He then chuckled, " Oh!  That was… "

Jigen waved his hand, " Well I guess Goemon and Fujiko were disappointed because nothing happened.  You know that of course.  I'm mad at you for spying on us though. "

" I honestly wasn't going to watch if something did happen.  I was prepared to kill the video if things got hot, " Lupin put his hands up. 

Jigen rolled his eyes, " Sure you weren't. "

Lupin sighed, " Really. "

Jigen waved his hand, " Yeah whatever.  You said you had a picture to show me. "

Lupin smiled, " Yes I did.  I told Fujiko and Goemon if they didn't let up with thinking you were going to molest Toshiko I would show you this. "

" Great.  I hope they don't know about what happened, " Jigen muttered.

" They don't, " Lupin said.  " I'm not that low. "

" They're still going to give me static when I walk through the door, " Jigen sighed.  " I can feel it. "

" You can give them static right back, " Lupin said.  " They behaved after I threatened them then I found out something that made me decide to show it to you after all. "

" What did you find out? " Jigen asked.

Lupin put a hand up, " I don't want you killing Goemon over this but he sort of told Toshiko's mother that there was a high possibility of you molesting her. "

" He what? " Jigen shouted as he sat up on the edge of the couch.  " He went too far with that comment!  What the hell was he thinking? "

" Settle down, " Lupin said.  " He apologized to her and said he only said it over something Zenigata said to him.  However, I still think it was way out of line as well and that gives me the right to show you this picture. "            &n bsp;          

Jigen watched as Lupin put the scorpion back into his jacket and pulled out an instant camera photo.  Lupin looked at it and smirked.  " What did you catch them doing? " Jigen asked warily.  " Is this going to make me want to gouge my eyes out? "

" I went downstairs to wait for them so I could play them the tape but they took forever to come down.  I heard a lot of banging around upstairs so I decided to check it out with the camera in tow.  Fujiko had shut her door but that didn't stop me.  I opened it and found this, " Lupin held the picture out to Jigen.

Jigen's eyes went wide, a confused look on his face until he realized what was happening in the picture.  He glanced at Lupin, " Is that what it looks like?  This looks like Goemon and Fujiko were fooling around. "

" I think they were fighting and Goemon got the upper hand.  Goemon was about to smack her on the ass when I got their attention, " Lupin nodded.  " We have to replace the camera now but it was worth it. "

" Did Fujiko break it? " Jigen chuckled.  " I'm surprised she didn't kick you in the balls over it. "

" Goemon sliced the camera in half, " Lupin sighed.  " I jumped back before he could get anything else. "

Jigen chuckled, " Damn.  Do you know what they were fighting about? "

Lupin nodded, " We accused him of being a virgin and I guess it had something to do with that. "

Jigen laughed, " You guys think he's a virgin?  That's hilarious. "

Lupin frowned, " Do you know something I don't? "

" Teenagers in the rain can be a bad combo especially when you add in a abandoned shack in the woods, " Jigen smirked.

Lupin arched an eyebrow, " Of course it would have been something like that.  Did he tell you? "

" Nope.  He left a letter lying out and I snatched it out of morbid curiosity just to see if it was a love letter.  I figured I could rag on him about it but I never did, " Jigen sighed as his expression became somber.  " I didn't have it in me after I read the letter and found out the girl had written to tell him she was dying of leukemia after waxing poetic about their brief little affair.  I especially thought it would have been in bad taste when I read that the little girl they made together died shortly after being born. "

" What? " Lupin nearly shouted.

" Yep.  It was all right there in black and white.  I couldn't believe it when I read it myself.  I put the letter back before Goemon came back in the room and acted like I had just been staring at the ceiling the whole time he was out of the room, " Jigen nodded.

Lupin shut his eyes, " Damn.  Poor Goemon. "

" I saw her obituary in the paper a few weeks ago, " Jigen continued.  " It was about when he started being so pissy about everything. "

" You mean pissier than usual, " Lupin corrected him.

" They even had her picture in the paper, " Jigen fell silent.  He glanced at Lupin, " I felt horrible about it so I never mentioned it until now.  Hell, I don't think he even knew about the kid until she sent him that letter. "

Lupin put his hands over his face, " Shit. "

" He's probably funneling all of his energy into watching out for Toshiko instead of wasting it on mourning, " Jigen shrugged.  " That could be why he's so focused on her. "

" That explains why Goemon's been acting like a father wolf watching over a cub.  I just wish I knew why Fujiko's acting like she is, " Lupin sighed as he let his hands fall away from his face.  " I've never seen her this jealous over someone. "

" She is worse than usual, " Jigen growled.  " She's just pissed I'm not paying attention to her.  She's going through fight withdrawal and she'll get over it. "

" I guess she will once Toshiko isn't in the house, " Lupin said.  He glanced at Jigen; " I hope you don't mind but I'm bringing her mom over to see her today. "

" I figured you'd do that, " Jigen glanced towards the stairs.  A moment later, Toshiko stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her.  She stopped and smiled at him then realized Lupin was in the room.  She quickly scurried down the hall to Jigen's room and shut the door.

Lupin turned at the sound of the door shutting, " Oh.  I guess that was the Lady Toshiko just now. "

" Yeah.  She's going to get dressed and pack her stuff I assume, " Jigen nodded.  He waited for Lupin to face him again when he looked his friend square in the eye.  " I have one request. "

" Oh? " Lupin arched an eyebrow.

" I want to stop by her old apartment before we go home.  She said there were some things she left there and wants to go get them.  I told her we could replace the stuff but she says she wants her stuff, not new stuff.  I want to go up and get it while you two wait in the car, " Jigen said.

" Why can't she go with you to get her stuff? " Lupin furrowed his brow.

Jigen narrowed his eyes, " Let's just say someone up there needs to be taught a little lesson on how to treat a lady and I don't want her to see me schooling the guy. "

**

Goemon was meditating on the back porch when he heard the sound of the sliding glass door.  He opened his eyes just slightly when he smelled the unmistakable scent of Chanel No. 5.  " What do you want woman? " He muttered.

" 'My Dearest Goemon, I hope this letter finds you well.  I still think about that rainy afternoon of our sixteenth summer when you found me on the muddy mountain path with a twisted ankle,' " Fujiko said dramatically.  " 'You were so kind to wrap my ankle and take me to that shed that protected us from the rain.  As I write this I can still feel the heat of the fire you built to warm our cold bodies.  I can still see your blushing face as I took of my kimono so you could hang it up to dry. ' "

Goemon turned, murder in his eyes as he reached for Zantetsuken.  " Where did you find that letter?  It is none of your business! "

Fujiko took a step back as she continued, " 'my heart still races at the thought of your lithe body as you slowly shed your soaked kimono and I still laugh when I think about how shy you were as you sat down next to the fire with me.' "

" I ask you to please give me that letter back this instant or I shall be forced to take it from you, " Goemon threatened to draw Zantetsuken.

Fujiko grinned, " I've read this part so many times I could recite it from memory. "

" You are a vile prying demon, " Goemon hissed as he advanced on Fujiko.

" 'You were so sweet as we talked about nothing.  I can still see the fire as it flickered in your eyes as you tried not to look at me.  My heart swells as I recall how you finally broke down and admitted you thought I was beautiful.  I had always admired you from afar in the village when we were children and it was like a dream come true for me when you kissed me gently as the sun started to set.' "

" Fujiko, please.  Don't make me have to hurt you. "

" 'Although we were just clumsy teenagers, I remember how your touches felt on my heated flesh.  I can still feel every dip and curve of your body beneath my fingers as we fondled each other in the growing darkness that surrounded that bare little shed.  To others it probably looked like a plain little shack but for us, it was paradise… our paradise.' "

Goemon's shoulders started shaking, " Fujiko.  Please.  Stop reading it now. "

" 'My mind wanders to that summer often and all the times we met at that shed to enjoy each other in secret.  My mother never suspected anything and, if I recall, neither did your sensei.  The last time we met, you told me you were going to train under a new sensei and would not be able to see me again but promised to keep in touch.  You made good on your promise just like you made good on every desperate oath to make me feel wonderful before we had to leave the shed that last hot afternoon.' "

" Fujiko.  I'm begging you… " Goemon whispered as he shut his eyes.  Fujiko wasn't looking at him so she couldn't see the tears forming in his eyes.

" 'It seems to be the only thing that gets me through these last days of my life.  The doctors say there is nothing they can do for my leukemia now except keep me comfortable as I lay in this bed, almost too weak to write this letter.  My only comfort is that I will get to see our daughter once again when I get to the other side,' " Fujiko's voice trailed off as she read the rest of the letter in silence.  Her hands fell to her sides and her jaw dropped open. 

Goemon clenched his fists tightly as tears streamed down his face, " You are a heartless bitch.  How could you pry into my affairs like this? "

Fujiko stammered as she tried to say something.  She didn't know what to say though.  She hadn't read that far and felt horrible for teasing Goemon.  She tried to speak again, only his name passing her lips before tears of her own started.

Goemon walked up to her, snatching the letter from her hand.  She looked at him and he glared at her silently with tear filled eyes, a deep frown creasing his features.  " I should kill you for opening a wound I have been nursing to heal for this last month, " He said coldly.

Fujiko blinked, " You mean? "

" Midori passed away exactly one month ago today, " Goemon's tone remained icy.  " I was praying for her soul when you came out here to taunt me like the immature child that you are. "

Fujiko put her thumb to her lips and bit her nail.  She gave Goemon a remorseful glance, " I'm so sorry.  I didn't read that far until now… "

" I do not wish to hear it, " Goemon growled.  " You should not have read the letter in the first place. "

" If you just told me I wouldn't have had to find the letter, " Fujiko pleaded.  " You didn't have to tell me everything.  You could have told me in was in a shack in the woods and left it at that.  I wouldn't have pushed it any more after that. "

" You lie.  You would have needled every single detail out of me until I had nothing left to tell, " Goemon growled then sniffled.  " Jigen found that letter but he never stooped so low as to taunt me with it.  He probably thought I did not notice but I knew he read it. "

" Are you saying Jigen is a better person than me? " Fujiko arched an eyebrow.

Goemon nodded, " In this respect he is. "

Fujiko moved as Goemon walked back into the house, unable to say anything in her own defense.