Little Fu
I: The Birthday Bracelet
----
"I don't believe this... no, Fujiko!" said Lupin leaning against the balcony railing.
"Oh, please Lupin. For me?" begged Fujiko from the slide door.
Lupin smirked, "You know I'd do anything for you, Fuji-cakes..."
Fujiko waited for him to end his statement. 'Well? Wellll... go ahead and say yes!'
"Anything except *that*, babe," he responded.
He watched her turn and sigh frusratedly. The argument had started out innocently enough. They were already alone, in one of Fujiko's ritzy, rented penthouses, so he thought... what harm could openly expressing what they wanted their futures to look like cause?
Lupin thought she was kidding when she mentioned children. Seriously. It was the first thing he didn't expect. And he even laughed when she asked him his opinion on having kids. Her getting angry and actually pleading with him on helping her have kids was the second thing he didn't expect.
Now, *helping* her wasn't the problem at all. It was Fujiko wanting to keep the damn thing, that was the problem.
"I thought I knew you, Lupin." she said plopping into one of the over stuffed chairs.
As he watched her pout he said, "Fujiko... you do know me. Well enough to know I don't want any damn kids!"
"Why?!"
"One, we're both too young and beautiful to be tied down to a baby. Two, it could ruin my thief status. Three, you said you didn't want to have kids yourself."
Shock overtook, "When did I ever say that, Lupin?"
"Remember that time when old safemaker's son decided he'd create a little plan to avenge his father's shattered pride? It involved a super hard safe, a near-death experience for me, and some square shaped handcuffs on your pretty wrists. If I should refresh your memory more, you told Jigen to slap you if you ever mentioned having kids."
Fujiko blinked. 'He remembers that?'
She pouted more, "Maybe I did say that a long, long time ago. But I've changed my mind! Believe me. I want to have kids and I want to have them with you."
Folding his arms he stood ground, "Absolutely not, Fuj."
"Come on, Lupin... your not much different from your father I bet. You two were probably just alike. 'I don't wanna have kids; I'm too young, too good of a master thief.' But then came along your mother and he changed his mind completely. Without that, little Lupin The Third wouldn't be as big as he is right now. He wouldn't even exist."
He smirked at her, "That maybe true, Fujiko... but then you wouldn't be needing me to plant seeds, now would you?"
Fujiko frowned when he winked at her. "Lupiiinnn..." she whined, "Isn't there a little part of you who wants a son or daughter some day?"
He grinned as he thought aloud. "Lupin The Fourth. Doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would, does it?"
The brunette's face lit up. She jumped into Lupin's arms, hugging him. "Hey," he said, "I knew if I kept on resisting I'd see if your foreal or not."
'Or if you'd take it back later or not,' he thought smirking. 'Fujiko's willingly giving herself to me... forget the kid!'
===
12 Months Old
===
Lupin lay sprawled out across the floor in the den, groaning. Fujiko was out shopping, so Lupin had to handle the forces of nature alone. The same ritzy penthouse, was a mess. Children's toys, books, and stuffed animals were everywhere. Fujiko had went ahead and bought the huge apartment after she'd discovered their argument that beautiful night had paid off.
"Get up, Daddy!" said the one-year old. It was her first birthday and he'd made a promise to his beautiful little daughter that he do whatever she wanted him to do. Buy expensive jewels, take her riding, spend the day at an amusement park, her wish was his command.
"Something I'm beginning to regret..." he mumbled staring up at the ceiling. So far they'd played (and yes, he counted) 17 regular games, read 9 different books, and played 4 stuffed animal games. Lupin's body yelled for rest, and they hadn't even left the house yet.
The last thing he wanted was to chase after her, chasing piegons in the park and help her throw candy at passing people on the sidewalk. Actually, throwing candy was kinda fun, but since he was exhausted already he was worried he'd ruin her birthday. Which would worry her about him.
That was one thing that always got him about Daddy's Little Empress... she cared about him alot. Possibly too much. She cared about him more than Fujiko at times.
He watched her run from the window and jump onto his chest. "Daddyyyy?"
"Huh?"
Her adorable little face twisted up in thought. Then he could hear the door opening. "Mommy!" He exhaled whatever it was she was going to command him to do next.
"Hey, sweets," said Fujiko placing her shopping bags in a nearby chair. He rose from the floor and watched Fujiko drop a newspaper in his lap.
"And this is...?"
"Pretty!" squealed the child. Lupin turned the paper around and read the headline. " 'Priceless Raw Sapphire Bracelet On Display Today.' Hmm... nice Fuji-chan. I don't think I'll be snatching them up though."
Fujiko got that look in her eyes. "If you don't... then I'll gladly relocate that sapphire tennis bracelet to display on my wrists. Tonight."
Lupin rolled his eyes. "If you haven't forgotten this is Little Fu's birthday today, Fujiko."
"Mine, Daddy."
"Say what?" said Fujiko.
Little Fu looked up at Fujiko, "Pretty," she turned to Lupin, "Want - mine, Daddy."
"You mean *you* want the sapphire bracelet?" he said in disbelief.
"Pleeaasseeeee..."
"Fu... I-"
Fujiko smirked at him. "If you haven't forgotten this is Little Fu's birthday today, Lupin."
He smacked himself on the forehead. 'Never again, Lupin... never again.'
Rising from the floor he went into the bedroom, retrieved his favorite pistol from the hiding place in the upper closet. He didn't Little Fu to accidently get ahold of it. Slipping on his shoes he walked right past the girls.
"And where are you going?" asked Fuj.
"Where ya think I'm going?"
Little Fu ran up and extended her arms to him. He picked her up and kissed her cheek, "You want the sapphire bracelet kid... you got it."
"Yay!"
"And what do you say?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Empress."
Putting her back down he smoothed her wavy brown hair and walked out of the apartment.
====
"This'd be a hella of a lot easier with Jigen and Goemon around," mumbled Lupin after he'd found the power box and disabled automatic security alarms around the bracelet. He snuck inside the building and into the control room and knocked out a guard with his pistol. Taking a little remote he went back to creeping.
Sneaking back out into the hallway, he knocked out two more guards that watched the surveilence cameras all over the building.
"Now let's see... which one of these little babies can peel back that ol glass case."
It was a high-tech glass case, round like a semi-circle. If he pressed the right button the case would flip under the podium leaving the bracelet open to sticky fingers.
First button: "Some old pottery..." Second button: "Nice Sculpture. That statue'd scare Little Fujiko, though." Third button: "The hell is that?" Fourth button: "Wha... nothing happened? That can't be right." He tapped the button several more times.
"Must be something off scre - oh shit!" He finally understood why nothing happened. It was the silent alarm button! Out of reaction he pressed every single button on that remote. Looking up at the screen he watched the bracelet's glass case slide open.
"Finally!"
Making a clear run for the showcase room, he manuevered through random cases he'd opened by accident, in other rooms. He stopped in awe of the bracelet. The dim light above it, seemed to make the precious jewels light up the whole room.
'Fu's got good taste,' he thought as he removed the bracelet and placed it in a small bag.
"Stop right there!" shouted a voice. Glancing over his shoulder it was the police and the head of command shaking his fist at him.
"Damn, that was quick. You guys have gotten good," said Lupin loud enough to hear, "But not good enough for Lupin!"
He clapped twice and three of his new remote grenades denotated around the police men. Lupin laughed hysterically while he ran for the exit. Meanwhile the police tried to sort themselves in the smoke. Some's protective gear had even caught on fire from the explosions. The head of command pushed on his walkie-talkie.
"He's heading your way," he said.
"Don't worry. The great Lupin III won't get away this time," said a familiar voice.
Lupin spotted an elevator. A lightbulb went off in his head. Pressing the button he whistled a random melody while he waited.
"Get him!" Lupin turned around to see another set of policemen on his tail.
"Pops!? Doesn't he ever quit?"
Lupin jumped in the elevator and made faces at Zenigata's blank expression while the doors closed.
"Quick! He's going to the second floor!" shouted a policeman.
"But we're on the 7th!"
The head of commands from the showcase room returned to the other set. "Then we'll take the stairs. He won't leave this building with that priceless bracelet."
Lupin whistled his random tune again as he waited for the elevator to touch ground.
The horde of exhausted policemen stood at the elevator door. As soon as it opened they pounced on the unsuspecting Lupin on the inside. Punches and kicks filled the air as the elevator door closed.
"Guys! Waitaminute... this isn't Lupin!" said head of command. He pulled up the red coat wearing fiend to discover it was a dummy! Zenigata's face flushed red with anger when he saw the comically drawn face of the dummy, too.
"LUPINNNN!!!!"
Suddenly the elevator stopped.
"Yoooowhooo!" shouted a voice. One of the policemen kicked the emergency exit in the ceiling up.
A floor above them was the real Lupin. He peered over the edge of the doors he'd pryed open just to see Pop's reaction.
"Lupin! You dirty weasel!"
"I take it you liked my gift."
"Put that bracelet back, Lupin! You won't get away with it."
Lupin smirked down at him. "Sorry, Pops. This bracelet's very special. You see, I got a beautiful girl to keep happy back at home. Besides, if you don't try and get out, the elevator won't collapse from maximum weight overload... Syanora!"
"Lupin!" he shouted, "Lupin! Get back here!! Damn it all!!!!"
====
Lupin wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled loudly. He collapsed into the chair of the clean apartment. He blinked. Clean? Come to think of it, it was quite quiet too. He shifted in his seat to find a note.
///Lupin,
Little Fujiko and I decided we'd have an extra-special dinner to celebrate her birthday and the sapphire bracelet (which you better have). We're at The Italian Balcony. Get here ASAP, Little Fu's especially hyper tonight.
-Fujiko
Oh, and you might wanna come formal.\\\
Once he'd taken a quick shower, Lupin re-dressed in a snazzier version of his infamous red coat, black dress shirt, black slacks, red shoes, and red tie. He placed Little Fu's bracelet in a black suade bag with a drawstring.
'Only the best for the Empress.'
He ran out of the apartment, hoping he wasn't too late.
====
Fujiko sipped some wine. From the corner of her eye she watched Little Fujiko reach towards the center of the table for one of the steaming breadstick appetizers. She reached out and broke a smaller piece for her daughter. She wanted to cringe looking at Little Fu's expensive American dress. By the end of the meal it'd be covered in whatever pieces of food she could get her little bitty fingers on. It was a pretty dress though, big and fluffy, red and black silk.
Then her own came to mind. It was long and made of black silk, with a slit to the thigh on each side. And a halter design, of course. She topped off her dress with diamond jewelry, strappy stiletto heels, and her signature fragrance - Chanel #5. Lupin had always liked Chanel #5. Or so she thought. Maybe he'd just grown accustomed to it after all those years.
Lupin.
He had bought both their dresses. Fujiko broke another piece for Fu. She was about to take a big bite until she shouted out, "Daddy!"
"Hey, Empress," he greeted.
He walked over to the table and kissed Fu. He whistled as he took his seat. "Now, *this* is nice. Very. There might be hope for you yet, Fuji-chan," he said. Their table was outside on a cobblestone balcony. It overlooked the beautiful starry night of an early evening in Japan. There were flowers, traditional white tablecloth, candles, and soft italiana-violin music in the background.
"Very funny," she said, "How'd it go?"
"How'd what go?"
"The bracelet, Lupin," she said irritated.
He laughed, "I haven't forgot."
Turning to Little Fu he placed the bag in front of her. Opening it, he slowly pulled out the bracelet.
"Happy Birthday, Fujiko."
Both little and big Fujiko marveled at the beauty of the priceless sapphire bracelet. The light of the moon captured the spectrums of the gems making it shine even more brilliantly in the dark.
Laying it out on the table, Little Fu stared at it relunctantly. She reach out to grab it, but pulled back - as if her touch would shatter them one piece at a time. She looked up at him. "Thank you," her usually hyper voice toned down, while still full of life.
Fujiko and Lupin exchanged smiles. "You are very welcome."
====
"Are you *sure*?" asked the 911 operator.
"I'm positive. He just walked in here dressed like some kind of tycoon," replied a man in the bathroom on a cell phone.
"Okay. We're going solely on your information - if you're wrong, we can trace this phone and you'll suffer the consequences."
The woman hung up in the man's face.
====
Little Fu rubbed her brown eyes. Fujiko took down the last of her wine. Lupin stood and stretched his length.
"Oh, boy, that was good," he said.
"I've already paid the bill," said Fujiko taking her daughter's hand. She slid out of her seat, obviously full. She shook her arm. The bracelet was still on her arm, extremely loose for a one-year-old, but still on her arm. She ran around her other side and grabbed Lupin's hand.
It seemed a peaceful enough end to a busy day as they walked through the more thick part of the prestigous resturant.
"Freeze, Lupin! Your under arrest!"
"Zenigata," groaned Fujiko.
"You two go ahead, I'll catch up." Lupin replied letting go of his daughter's little hand to turn around and face Zenigata.
Fujiko didn't seem to notice the people staring at Lupin. She even heard some whispering amongst each other. 'Lupin III?' 'That's him right there.' 'He must of stolen something.' 'Is he going to rob us?'
Fujiko had seen it too many times before, so she scooped her baby up and took a safehaven on a different dinner balcony from the one they'd had dinner on. Soon the nervous crowd would break into panic thinking the great Lupin the 3rd was going to rob them all once he pulled out his pistol. There would be gunshots. Zenigata cursing Lupin to heavens. And of course somewhere between cursing and gunshots, Lupin would of made a clean getaway.
She noticed a ladder against the outside of the balcony. 'Perfect' she thought. Only a few seconds later the crowd of uppity richmen and women had started an outbreak, just as she predicted. She placed Little Fu down as she ducked behind the wall beside the kid. Little Fu seemed taken by it all, but not moving an inch.
Then the gunshots. Lightbulbs exploded. More gunshots. Then a thin screen of dust filled the air. Footsteps reached the balcony doorway.
"I don't know how, but Pops is gettin' better at this stuff."
Fujiko patted some dust from his coat, "There's a ladder over here."
"Well let's escape this mess, shall we?"
Fujiko took Lupin's hand as she placed her foot on the first ladder rung. Lupin reached a hand into the air behind him.
"Take my hand, Empress."
Silence lingered.
"Little Fu?" he asked.
"Fujiko, no!" said Fujiko in a hushed shout as they watched her turn the corner back into the restuarant.
"What the hell does she think she's doing?" said Lupin peering around the corner. The dust was beginning to settle.
Fujiko gasped, "She's going back for the bracelet."
"What?"
"Look."
They watched Little Fujiko walk straight for her birthday present. It laid sparkling on the floor. Miraculously, it hadn't been crushed or destroyed in the rampage. But she stopped in her tracks as Inspector Zenigata picked the bracelet up first.
'Lupin, that idiot, he must of dropped the bracelet.'
Little Fu walked straight up to him, completely fearless. She tugged at his pants leg. He looked down at her, blank expression once again.
"Mine," she said pointing at the bracelet in his hand. Zenigata looked around. The resturant was a mess and near empty, except for the scared-stiff employee's. No signs of a frightened parent anywhere.
"Listen, little girl. You're cute and all, but for one, you can't just walk up and demand what you want. It isn't nice. Two, this bracelet isn't yours. It belongs to the State of Japan and I'm taking it back."
Fujiko's cute little baby face puffed up in anger. Then she shouted again, more aggresively, "Mine!"
Before Zenigata could repeat himself, Little Fu slammed her heel into his foot. He screamed out in agony and dropped the bracelet. Fu's little fingers grabbed the bracelet and ran back to the balcony. Zenigata hopped up and down, grabbing his sore foot with both hands. He yelled 'Get back here, kid' between cries of pain.
Fujiko laughed. Lupin scooped up his daughter. "That's my little Empress! Let's roll Fuji-cakes!"
====
[ II: The Rochester Rock; coming soon ]
I do not own Lupin III in anyway. All rights go to whoever owns this fine show/series. But I do own the sickeningly precious Little Fu and the phrase 'Daddy's little Empress'. Reviews are welcome. Holla!
I: The Birthday Bracelet
----
"I don't believe this... no, Fujiko!" said Lupin leaning against the balcony railing.
"Oh, please Lupin. For me?" begged Fujiko from the slide door.
Lupin smirked, "You know I'd do anything for you, Fuji-cakes..."
Fujiko waited for him to end his statement. 'Well? Wellll... go ahead and say yes!'
"Anything except *that*, babe," he responded.
He watched her turn and sigh frusratedly. The argument had started out innocently enough. They were already alone, in one of Fujiko's ritzy, rented penthouses, so he thought... what harm could openly expressing what they wanted their futures to look like cause?
Lupin thought she was kidding when she mentioned children. Seriously. It was the first thing he didn't expect. And he even laughed when she asked him his opinion on having kids. Her getting angry and actually pleading with him on helping her have kids was the second thing he didn't expect.
Now, *helping* her wasn't the problem at all. It was Fujiko wanting to keep the damn thing, that was the problem.
"I thought I knew you, Lupin." she said plopping into one of the over stuffed chairs.
As he watched her pout he said, "Fujiko... you do know me. Well enough to know I don't want any damn kids!"
"Why?!"
"One, we're both too young and beautiful to be tied down to a baby. Two, it could ruin my thief status. Three, you said you didn't want to have kids yourself."
Shock overtook, "When did I ever say that, Lupin?"
"Remember that time when old safemaker's son decided he'd create a little plan to avenge his father's shattered pride? It involved a super hard safe, a near-death experience for me, and some square shaped handcuffs on your pretty wrists. If I should refresh your memory more, you told Jigen to slap you if you ever mentioned having kids."
Fujiko blinked. 'He remembers that?'
She pouted more, "Maybe I did say that a long, long time ago. But I've changed my mind! Believe me. I want to have kids and I want to have them with you."
Folding his arms he stood ground, "Absolutely not, Fuj."
"Come on, Lupin... your not much different from your father I bet. You two were probably just alike. 'I don't wanna have kids; I'm too young, too good of a master thief.' But then came along your mother and he changed his mind completely. Without that, little Lupin The Third wouldn't be as big as he is right now. He wouldn't even exist."
He smirked at her, "That maybe true, Fujiko... but then you wouldn't be needing me to plant seeds, now would you?"
Fujiko frowned when he winked at her. "Lupiiinnn..." she whined, "Isn't there a little part of you who wants a son or daughter some day?"
He grinned as he thought aloud. "Lupin The Fourth. Doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would, does it?"
The brunette's face lit up. She jumped into Lupin's arms, hugging him. "Hey," he said, "I knew if I kept on resisting I'd see if your foreal or not."
'Or if you'd take it back later or not,' he thought smirking. 'Fujiko's willingly giving herself to me... forget the kid!'
===
12 Months Old
===
Lupin lay sprawled out across the floor in the den, groaning. Fujiko was out shopping, so Lupin had to handle the forces of nature alone. The same ritzy penthouse, was a mess. Children's toys, books, and stuffed animals were everywhere. Fujiko had went ahead and bought the huge apartment after she'd discovered their argument that beautiful night had paid off.
"Get up, Daddy!" said the one-year old. It was her first birthday and he'd made a promise to his beautiful little daughter that he do whatever she wanted him to do. Buy expensive jewels, take her riding, spend the day at an amusement park, her wish was his command.
"Something I'm beginning to regret..." he mumbled staring up at the ceiling. So far they'd played (and yes, he counted) 17 regular games, read 9 different books, and played 4 stuffed animal games. Lupin's body yelled for rest, and they hadn't even left the house yet.
The last thing he wanted was to chase after her, chasing piegons in the park and help her throw candy at passing people on the sidewalk. Actually, throwing candy was kinda fun, but since he was exhausted already he was worried he'd ruin her birthday. Which would worry her about him.
That was one thing that always got him about Daddy's Little Empress... she cared about him alot. Possibly too much. She cared about him more than Fujiko at times.
He watched her run from the window and jump onto his chest. "Daddyyyy?"
"Huh?"
Her adorable little face twisted up in thought. Then he could hear the door opening. "Mommy!" He exhaled whatever it was she was going to command him to do next.
"Hey, sweets," said Fujiko placing her shopping bags in a nearby chair. He rose from the floor and watched Fujiko drop a newspaper in his lap.
"And this is...?"
"Pretty!" squealed the child. Lupin turned the paper around and read the headline. " 'Priceless Raw Sapphire Bracelet On Display Today.' Hmm... nice Fuji-chan. I don't think I'll be snatching them up though."
Fujiko got that look in her eyes. "If you don't... then I'll gladly relocate that sapphire tennis bracelet to display on my wrists. Tonight."
Lupin rolled his eyes. "If you haven't forgotten this is Little Fu's birthday today, Fujiko."
"Mine, Daddy."
"Say what?" said Fujiko.
Little Fu looked up at Fujiko, "Pretty," she turned to Lupin, "Want - mine, Daddy."
"You mean *you* want the sapphire bracelet?" he said in disbelief.
"Pleeaasseeeee..."
"Fu... I-"
Fujiko smirked at him. "If you haven't forgotten this is Little Fu's birthday today, Lupin."
He smacked himself on the forehead. 'Never again, Lupin... never again.'
Rising from the floor he went into the bedroom, retrieved his favorite pistol from the hiding place in the upper closet. He didn't Little Fu to accidently get ahold of it. Slipping on his shoes he walked right past the girls.
"And where are you going?" asked Fuj.
"Where ya think I'm going?"
Little Fu ran up and extended her arms to him. He picked her up and kissed her cheek, "You want the sapphire bracelet kid... you got it."
"Yay!"
"And what do you say?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Empress."
Putting her back down he smoothed her wavy brown hair and walked out of the apartment.
====
"This'd be a hella of a lot easier with Jigen and Goemon around," mumbled Lupin after he'd found the power box and disabled automatic security alarms around the bracelet. He snuck inside the building and into the control room and knocked out a guard with his pistol. Taking a little remote he went back to creeping.
Sneaking back out into the hallway, he knocked out two more guards that watched the surveilence cameras all over the building.
"Now let's see... which one of these little babies can peel back that ol glass case."
It was a high-tech glass case, round like a semi-circle. If he pressed the right button the case would flip under the podium leaving the bracelet open to sticky fingers.
First button: "Some old pottery..." Second button: "Nice Sculpture. That statue'd scare Little Fujiko, though." Third button: "The hell is that?" Fourth button: "Wha... nothing happened? That can't be right." He tapped the button several more times.
"Must be something off scre - oh shit!" He finally understood why nothing happened. It was the silent alarm button! Out of reaction he pressed every single button on that remote. Looking up at the screen he watched the bracelet's glass case slide open.
"Finally!"
Making a clear run for the showcase room, he manuevered through random cases he'd opened by accident, in other rooms. He stopped in awe of the bracelet. The dim light above it, seemed to make the precious jewels light up the whole room.
'Fu's got good taste,' he thought as he removed the bracelet and placed it in a small bag.
"Stop right there!" shouted a voice. Glancing over his shoulder it was the police and the head of command shaking his fist at him.
"Damn, that was quick. You guys have gotten good," said Lupin loud enough to hear, "But not good enough for Lupin!"
He clapped twice and three of his new remote grenades denotated around the police men. Lupin laughed hysterically while he ran for the exit. Meanwhile the police tried to sort themselves in the smoke. Some's protective gear had even caught on fire from the explosions. The head of command pushed on his walkie-talkie.
"He's heading your way," he said.
"Don't worry. The great Lupin III won't get away this time," said a familiar voice.
Lupin spotted an elevator. A lightbulb went off in his head. Pressing the button he whistled a random melody while he waited.
"Get him!" Lupin turned around to see another set of policemen on his tail.
"Pops!? Doesn't he ever quit?"
Lupin jumped in the elevator and made faces at Zenigata's blank expression while the doors closed.
"Quick! He's going to the second floor!" shouted a policeman.
"But we're on the 7th!"
The head of commands from the showcase room returned to the other set. "Then we'll take the stairs. He won't leave this building with that priceless bracelet."
Lupin whistled his random tune again as he waited for the elevator to touch ground.
The horde of exhausted policemen stood at the elevator door. As soon as it opened they pounced on the unsuspecting Lupin on the inside. Punches and kicks filled the air as the elevator door closed.
"Guys! Waitaminute... this isn't Lupin!" said head of command. He pulled up the red coat wearing fiend to discover it was a dummy! Zenigata's face flushed red with anger when he saw the comically drawn face of the dummy, too.
"LUPINNNN!!!!"
Suddenly the elevator stopped.
"Yoooowhooo!" shouted a voice. One of the policemen kicked the emergency exit in the ceiling up.
A floor above them was the real Lupin. He peered over the edge of the doors he'd pryed open just to see Pop's reaction.
"Lupin! You dirty weasel!"
"I take it you liked my gift."
"Put that bracelet back, Lupin! You won't get away with it."
Lupin smirked down at him. "Sorry, Pops. This bracelet's very special. You see, I got a beautiful girl to keep happy back at home. Besides, if you don't try and get out, the elevator won't collapse from maximum weight overload... Syanora!"
"Lupin!" he shouted, "Lupin! Get back here!! Damn it all!!!!"
====
Lupin wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled loudly. He collapsed into the chair of the clean apartment. He blinked. Clean? Come to think of it, it was quite quiet too. He shifted in his seat to find a note.
///Lupin,
Little Fujiko and I decided we'd have an extra-special dinner to celebrate her birthday and the sapphire bracelet (which you better have). We're at The Italian Balcony. Get here ASAP, Little Fu's especially hyper tonight.
-Fujiko
Oh, and you might wanna come formal.\\\
Once he'd taken a quick shower, Lupin re-dressed in a snazzier version of his infamous red coat, black dress shirt, black slacks, red shoes, and red tie. He placed Little Fu's bracelet in a black suade bag with a drawstring.
'Only the best for the Empress.'
He ran out of the apartment, hoping he wasn't too late.
====
Fujiko sipped some wine. From the corner of her eye she watched Little Fujiko reach towards the center of the table for one of the steaming breadstick appetizers. She reached out and broke a smaller piece for her daughter. She wanted to cringe looking at Little Fu's expensive American dress. By the end of the meal it'd be covered in whatever pieces of food she could get her little bitty fingers on. It was a pretty dress though, big and fluffy, red and black silk.
Then her own came to mind. It was long and made of black silk, with a slit to the thigh on each side. And a halter design, of course. She topped off her dress with diamond jewelry, strappy stiletto heels, and her signature fragrance - Chanel #5. Lupin had always liked Chanel #5. Or so she thought. Maybe he'd just grown accustomed to it after all those years.
Lupin.
He had bought both their dresses. Fujiko broke another piece for Fu. She was about to take a big bite until she shouted out, "Daddy!"
"Hey, Empress," he greeted.
He walked over to the table and kissed Fu. He whistled as he took his seat. "Now, *this* is nice. Very. There might be hope for you yet, Fuji-chan," he said. Their table was outside on a cobblestone balcony. It overlooked the beautiful starry night of an early evening in Japan. There were flowers, traditional white tablecloth, candles, and soft italiana-violin music in the background.
"Very funny," she said, "How'd it go?"
"How'd what go?"
"The bracelet, Lupin," she said irritated.
He laughed, "I haven't forgot."
Turning to Little Fu he placed the bag in front of her. Opening it, he slowly pulled out the bracelet.
"Happy Birthday, Fujiko."
Both little and big Fujiko marveled at the beauty of the priceless sapphire bracelet. The light of the moon captured the spectrums of the gems making it shine even more brilliantly in the dark.
Laying it out on the table, Little Fu stared at it relunctantly. She reach out to grab it, but pulled back - as if her touch would shatter them one piece at a time. She looked up at him. "Thank you," her usually hyper voice toned down, while still full of life.
Fujiko and Lupin exchanged smiles. "You are very welcome."
====
"Are you *sure*?" asked the 911 operator.
"I'm positive. He just walked in here dressed like some kind of tycoon," replied a man in the bathroom on a cell phone.
"Okay. We're going solely on your information - if you're wrong, we can trace this phone and you'll suffer the consequences."
The woman hung up in the man's face.
====
Little Fu rubbed her brown eyes. Fujiko took down the last of her wine. Lupin stood and stretched his length.
"Oh, boy, that was good," he said.
"I've already paid the bill," said Fujiko taking her daughter's hand. She slid out of her seat, obviously full. She shook her arm. The bracelet was still on her arm, extremely loose for a one-year-old, but still on her arm. She ran around her other side and grabbed Lupin's hand.
It seemed a peaceful enough end to a busy day as they walked through the more thick part of the prestigous resturant.
"Freeze, Lupin! Your under arrest!"
"Zenigata," groaned Fujiko.
"You two go ahead, I'll catch up." Lupin replied letting go of his daughter's little hand to turn around and face Zenigata.
Fujiko didn't seem to notice the people staring at Lupin. She even heard some whispering amongst each other. 'Lupin III?' 'That's him right there.' 'He must of stolen something.' 'Is he going to rob us?'
Fujiko had seen it too many times before, so she scooped her baby up and took a safehaven on a different dinner balcony from the one they'd had dinner on. Soon the nervous crowd would break into panic thinking the great Lupin the 3rd was going to rob them all once he pulled out his pistol. There would be gunshots. Zenigata cursing Lupin to heavens. And of course somewhere between cursing and gunshots, Lupin would of made a clean getaway.
She noticed a ladder against the outside of the balcony. 'Perfect' she thought. Only a few seconds later the crowd of uppity richmen and women had started an outbreak, just as she predicted. She placed Little Fu down as she ducked behind the wall beside the kid. Little Fu seemed taken by it all, but not moving an inch.
Then the gunshots. Lightbulbs exploded. More gunshots. Then a thin screen of dust filled the air. Footsteps reached the balcony doorway.
"I don't know how, but Pops is gettin' better at this stuff."
Fujiko patted some dust from his coat, "There's a ladder over here."
"Well let's escape this mess, shall we?"
Fujiko took Lupin's hand as she placed her foot on the first ladder rung. Lupin reached a hand into the air behind him.
"Take my hand, Empress."
Silence lingered.
"Little Fu?" he asked.
"Fujiko, no!" said Fujiko in a hushed shout as they watched her turn the corner back into the restuarant.
"What the hell does she think she's doing?" said Lupin peering around the corner. The dust was beginning to settle.
Fujiko gasped, "She's going back for the bracelet."
"What?"
"Look."
They watched Little Fujiko walk straight for her birthday present. It laid sparkling on the floor. Miraculously, it hadn't been crushed or destroyed in the rampage. But she stopped in her tracks as Inspector Zenigata picked the bracelet up first.
'Lupin, that idiot, he must of dropped the bracelet.'
Little Fu walked straight up to him, completely fearless. She tugged at his pants leg. He looked down at her, blank expression once again.
"Mine," she said pointing at the bracelet in his hand. Zenigata looked around. The resturant was a mess and near empty, except for the scared-stiff employee's. No signs of a frightened parent anywhere.
"Listen, little girl. You're cute and all, but for one, you can't just walk up and demand what you want. It isn't nice. Two, this bracelet isn't yours. It belongs to the State of Japan and I'm taking it back."
Fujiko's cute little baby face puffed up in anger. Then she shouted again, more aggresively, "Mine!"
Before Zenigata could repeat himself, Little Fu slammed her heel into his foot. He screamed out in agony and dropped the bracelet. Fu's little fingers grabbed the bracelet and ran back to the balcony. Zenigata hopped up and down, grabbing his sore foot with both hands. He yelled 'Get back here, kid' between cries of pain.
Fujiko laughed. Lupin scooped up his daughter. "That's my little Empress! Let's roll Fuji-cakes!"
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[ II: The Rochester Rock; coming soon ]
I do not own Lupin III in anyway. All rights go to whoever owns this fine show/series. But I do own the sickeningly precious Little Fu and the phrase 'Daddy's little Empress'. Reviews are welcome. Holla!