A.N. Hello everyone! Nothing like not having internet and having to use your cellular data to upload today's chapter. I had the first three chapters written back in October/November, right after I had my stint in ICU. I took a bit of a break to figure out the pacing of the rest, and visit a dear old friend in Florida. I am currently working on the next chapter, I am so glad that both music and rewatching some Lupin is really helping me with the pacing of this story. So enjoy, and as always, reviews are appreciated. :D
Tidbit: Sandra was originally in my first Lupin story. A best and dear friend suggested that Zenigata should have a partner. Her Scottish ancestry is jsut a fun way for me to add Scottish Clan and history to the story, as the big history dork I am (I also blame Outlander) Maybe one day I will post both the Mackenzie and Campbell Clan tartans just for fun. But I can share their battle cries "Tulch Ard" and "Cruchan" respectively. ^ ^
You know the spiel. I do not own Lupin III, or his crew. Suiza, Nana Miya, Sandra, Genny and her girls are all mine. For they come out of the inner machinations of my mind (spilled milk). Today's chapter and song is "How Soon is Now?" by the Smiths. Written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr.
Ghost Opera
Chapter Three: How Soon is Now?
"I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular."
"At the end of the opening night of Marriage of Figaro, I will abscond with you, and The Emerald of Hesse.
Signed, Lupin III."
"Lupin the Third?" Suiza whispered as she continued to read the letter.
Francine was standing in the door frame with the bottle of water she had brought for the young soprano, her eyes widened behind her glasses as she heard the name. "Um, Miss Shikibu?" She knocked, "I brought you the water you asked for."
Suiza was still as she tried to comprehend the message she had received. What was the Emerald of Hesse? Was it the ring she was recently given? And why would a notorious thief such as Lupin the Third want it?! Why would he want her? "Miss Shikibu?" Francine tried again, "Susanna?"
Suiza snapped back to reality, she turned her head to the door and saw Francine with the water she asked for, "Oh, thanks." She said as she walked up to her and took the water bottle, "Do you know if my grandmother is here yet?"
Francine nodded, "She came in not too long ago, she's meeting with the vocal coach as we speak." The assistant glanced at the red note the performer had clenched in her hand, and she no doubt knew from whom the roses and note came from. It was confirmed by the familiar obnoxious grinned character by the signature.
"Good," Suiza responded as she placed the water bottle on the vanity, "Pardon me, I must speak with her." The soprano kindly excused herself as she walked away from her assistant and walked back to the elevator.
Francine looked back, watching Suiza walk away with the letter still in her hands. "So, you are in the city, Lupin." Francine went into her pocket to take out her phone, "Damn, I just remembered I don't get good reception down here, guess I must go outside."
Suiza was a bit frantic as she was waiting for the elevator, her anxiety was shown by her tapping her left foot. "Come on! Jesus H Roosevelt Christ," the elevator door opened, "Oh thank god." She sighed in relief as she walked in, pushing the button to go to the next floor up. Suiza's nerves were getting the better of her, a plethora of ideas went swirling in her mind. She was used to a life of danger as the granddaughter of a Yakuza lord, but never once was her own life threatened, at least none that she was made aware of. The elevator doors opened, allowing her to exit.
Suiza walked down the hall, passing a few of the ballerinas, including Genevieve. "Oh, Susanna! Hello again." Genevieve replied sweetly.
Suiza stopped and turned back to acknowledge Genevieve, "Oh, hi Genevieve," she answered, "Sorry I don't mean to be rude, but I need to go talk to my grandmother."
Genevieve glanced at the note in Suiza's hands, her eyes widened when she saw Lupin's signature; but she kept her composure, making sure not to give anything away. "Everything okay?" She asked.
"I just have a small matter to attend to, please excuse me." Suiza then walked away back to her task of finding her grandmother.
One of the ballerinas looked back at Genevieve, she was a lighter skinned woman who has long dark brown hair pulled back into a single braid. She wore an earthy green athletic tank that revealed a sunflower tattoo on her right forearm, that connected with vines that hugged her forearm up to her elbow. Her black leggings clinged to her small frame, and her green eyes looked back at Genevieve, "What's gotten into her?" Asked the girl in what seemed to be a light posh accent.
"Didn't you see what she held in her hand?" Asked the other ballerina, a raven haired, brown skinned woman who had a short black afro. She wore a short sleeved athletic top, (which complimented her ample bust) and black leggings. Her dark brown eyes looked at the green-eyed woman, "Juliette, if I am not mistaken, the prima donna just got a letter from a mutual friend of ours."
"Oh Ellie, you're silly," Juliette chided, "You'd find any excuse to want to see Ari again."
"Eleanor isn't joking, Juliette." Genevieve interrupted, "I looked at the note as well, it is Ari's signature. I know he's after the Emerald, and I did see him back at the ferry building not too long ago. He made his move early, quaint."
"So then what do we do now?" Eleanor asked.
"Our plan will now have to be accelerated ladies," Genevieve responded, "Call Albert, let him know. And make sure the Okami and Gerard are up to speed as well."
Suiza finally approached the singer's rehearsal room. She saw her grandmother speaking with the vocal coach and director. 'Good, no one else is here,' she thought to herself. Almost as if they knew what she was thinking, her grandmother and the two men looked back at her, "Ah, Miss Shikibu. Shall we begin?" Asked the director.
Suiza stutterd, "Um, beg a pardon Director, I need a quick moment alone with my grandmother if that is alright."
"Is something wrong?"
"I just need to speak with her on a family matter, I am sorry I don't mean to impede on rehearsal but it is very urgent."
"Please make it quick." The director looked back at Miya, "Madam Shimada," He said as he excused Miya to speak with Suiza.
"How can you say I go about things the wrong way?"
-The Bar inside the Palace Hotel-
"Did you think it wise to send the prima donna roses and a note?" Jigen asked Lupin as he took a sip of his dry martini.
"No, why do you ask? Also a dry martini? Really?"
Jigen shrugged, "I guess I miss New York. And I think it was hasty, what if she calls the cops and they have the premiere swarmed with the local PD? Security will be tight, and we are going to see the show, and for the record I am in no mood to wear a disguise."
"Ah, but see Jigen you've been gone from the mafia life for a long time. Do you really think a woman in her position is going to call the cops? She's either going to have a bodyguard, or prepare to defend herself. Trust me, I know what I am doing."
"And if you're wrong and she calls the five-o?"
"Then I will work out that angle if it becomes a possibility. Besides, I can't be too flashy right now. I don't want the She Wolf of France to catch on."
"Have you encountered her before?"
"Once, before we teamed up." Lupin took a sip of his bourbon, "She isn't a pleasant person, she is damn right scary."
"I've never known you to be afraid of any woman," Jigen replied, "I am surprised you haven't tried to make a move on her."
Lupin choked on his drink, "Mon dieu! Why on earth would you assume I'd hit on her?"
"Lupin, really? This is you we are talking about." Jigen chided, "Any adversary that comes along with a cute face and a pair of tits, and suddenly you become the biggest sucker out there."
"First off you think she's cute? Second, not all the time."
"She's okay looking, blondes aren't my type."
"I didn't even think you had a type, what with how repressed and misogynistic you are."
Jigen rolled his eyes, but Lupin couldn't notice what with the fedora covering them, "Ha, ha."
Lupin's cell phone chimed, "Hm? I think I got a message." He took his phone out from his jacket pocket, he looked at the screen and saw a message from Fujiko, "Woah! It's from Fujiko!" He grinned.
"Huh?" Jigen asked as he glanced at Lupin's phone, "Well, what does she want?"
"Saw your little gift to the prima donna, red roses are a nice touch. Got me a bit jealous, winky face." Lupin read.
"Jealous my ass."
"Meet me tonight at the Absinthe Brasserie on Hayes, eight o'clock. Kissy face."
"Don't fall for it, it could be a trap."
"At an absinthe bar?"
"You ever drink that shit? Stuff gets you high, not drunk."
"No it does not."
"Someone obviously forgot New Year's Eve five years ago."
"Hey, Fujiko is in the area, and she wants to meet. If you're really afraid for me, then come with."
"No thanks."
"Fine, I'll take Goemon then."
Jigen sighed, "Fine, I'll go if you pay."
"What the hell do I look like? Santa?"
Jigen chuckled. "Well you do wear red."
"I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does."
-Back at the Opera House-
"At the end of the opening night of Marriage of Figaro, I will abscond with you, and The Emerald of Hesse. Signed Lupin the Third," Miya Shimada read as she saw the letter her granddaughter had received. Both she and Suiza were in one of the empty practice rooms close to the rehearsal hall, she raised her eyebrow as she looked up at her granddaughter, "When did you say you got this?"
"When I walked into my dressing room, it came with a dozen red roses."
"How romantic, they say he is quite the ladies man."
"Nana, focus please. This is a threat on my life, he wants something called the Emerald of Hesse, and me! He wants to kidnap me!" Suiza's grandmother chuckled, "Nana, this isn't funny."
"I am sorry dear, but it is. You should be flattered, really. The world's most notorious thief who is also known to be a lady's man wants you. I know you must be frightened, but believe me, the last thing he wants to do is kill or rape you."
Suiza pursed her lips,"Gee, that is reassuring." she sarcastically replied.
"Dear, there is something you should know about the ring and the history of it." Miya began, "While that is my engagement ring from your grandfather, he inherited it from ill-gotten gains from his grandfather. I won't elaborate too much, but you are wearing The Emerald of Hesse. A ring once belonging to the Czarina Alexandra of Russia. When she and her family were killed by the revolutionaries, your great-great-grandfather stole that along with some other things and left Russia."
Suiza was astonished, "You're saying I am wearing a valuable part of history?! Nana, why didn't you just give it to a museum?!"
"Because it's my engagement ring! And because there's something more to that ring than just the legacy of some dead Hanover-Romanov descendants." Miya continued, "The fortune that was used to start the Shikibu businesses came from those ill-gotten gains, which is why the whole feud with the Funizawas happened, well that was one reason among many others. Around that time, Lupin the First attempted the very same thing, he boasted about wanting to steal the ring as well. But he came in at a very bad time. Lupin doesn't just want the ring, he wants you, and me."
"Why?"
"I think he needs some questions answered about that time, and I have some questions for him as well. Do not worry, we will play his little game, for I myself have a few tricks."
"But shouldn't we call the cops?"
"There is no need for that my dear."
"Nana, normal people call the police when they receive roses with a threat."
"We are not normal darling, you need to realize that."
"Then what do we do?"
"As I mentioned, I will take care of it."
"I am the son, and the heir, of a shyness that is criminally vulgar."
-An apartment suite in Millenium Tower, later that evening.-
"Was it really wise to stay in a building that the press say is already starting to crack?" Eleanor asked as she lay on the couch in the living room. "This is California, what if the next big earthquake hits while we are in this piece of shit building?"
"Really Ellie?" Juliette asked as she was practicing her gymnastics not too far away from her. The woman was standing on her hands, stretching her legs. "We've dealt with assassins, dictators, drug lords and many other unsavory types, and you're afraid of an earthquake?"
"At least with the unsavory types, I can put a bullet in their skulls. Not nature."
"Of course, mother nature isn't human after all. But one must not fear her."
"Ladies," Genevieve spoke as she sat in front of the desk, reading a file that was given to her by a man. The man was tall, with a fair complexion. He was wearing a black button up shirt with a dark blue tie and beige colored dress pants. His short red hair was neatly combed, accenting his blue eyes. "Thank you Gerard, this is some good intel." She said.
""Merci beaucoup," He responded, "This is much I can remember about the Shikibu princess, or should I say Queen, now that she is the head of the family. The Okami found some more information, as for the "cop" he has been informed. I am currently having her prepare the systems for the premiere as we speak, when she isn't too preoccupied with her...time of leisure."
Genevieve scoffed, "Children. And call the Soprano whatever you want, at the end of the day, we overthrow leaders, do we not?"
"Of course, Genevieve."
"Genny, I thought we just wanted to get our hands on the Emerald, "Juliette asked as she did a backflip to stand up, "Not topple some spoiled mafia heiress."
"Let's just say, some old habits die hard." Genevieve smirked.
"But what are you going to do now?" Gerard asked, "Your brother is after the Emerald, and he's clearly let the princess know he is after it."
"Don't worry about my idiot brother, trust me." She smirked, "He will lose, just as he always did when we were children."
"There's a club if you'd like to go, you could meet somebody who really loves you"
-The Absinthe Brasserie, two blocks away from the Opera House-
"Swanky place this is," Jigen said as he sat at the table with Lupin and Goemon, "I am surprised we are not getting stared at."
"Why is that?" Goemon asked.
"Have you seen what you're wearing?"
"It's San Francisco," Lupin chimed in, "Goemon in his hakama is nothing compared to the eccentricities of the people who dwell here."
Jigen looked at his rolex, "She said she'd be here at eight, it's already eight fifteen."
"I didn't realize my attendance was being taken," came the familiar sultry voice that belonged to Fujiko. Her brown hair was up in a neat top knot, she was still wearing the glasses that befitted her disguise as Susanna Shikibu's assistant, Francine. She was wearing a white button up blouse which didn't do much to hide her notorious bust size, along with a black a-line skirt and matching heels.
"Well hello there, beautiful," Lupin winked as he got up and pulled out the chair next to him, allowing her to sit.
"Frankly, I was surprised to see you send a card to Miss Shikibu, got a thing for opera singers?"
"Not really."
"Then why send them? Miss Shikibu sure was frantic when she got them. She then went off to cry for her grandmother."
"And you know this why?"
"Why do you think you haven't heard from me in two months? I've been working as her assistant."
"Now why on earth would you decide to get a day job as a glorified secretary?" Jigen asked.
"Have you noticed that huge rock on her finger?"
"The Emerald of Hesse?" Goemon replied.
"Yes-wait! How did you know of it?"
"It's what we are after as well." Lupin added.
"...what exactly did you write to her?"
"That after opening night I'd not only steal her, but the emerald."
"Okay, if you're not into opera singers, then why do you want to kidnap Susanna Shikibu?"
"It isn't her I am after."
"What?!" Goemon, Jigen, and Fujiko all asked at the same time.
"So you go and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own."
-SFO-
"Robson, did you grab everything?" Rebecca Rossellini asked her trusted butler.
"Of course Miss Rebecca," Robson replied, "Are you cold? There may be some sun, but that breeze doesn't seem kind."
Rebecca scoffed, "Nonsense Robson," she said as she admired herself in her pink designer short skirt, and white chiffon blouse. "It's not all bad, I even have a flower in my hair, like that one song."
"Which one is that?"
"Why the anthem of this city! "San Francisco"", she winked.
"See I've already waited too long, and all my hope is gone"
-The next day, SF Police Department-
"I was surprised to receive your call, chief." Sandra began as she sat herself down on the chair that was in front of the desk of the chief of the SFPD, "Were you able to call the CIA and FBI like you said you would?"
"I did, and to be honest, they aren't going to send too many resources. So much bullshit thanks to bureaucracy, but you will have the resources of the SFPD I can assure you. However, when you mentioned that the She Wolf of France's younger brother is Lupin the Third, it did get me thinking."
"What about?"
"Well, have you ever considered working with the head of the Lupin the Third case?"
"No. I do not know much since I work in a different ICPO branch, but I do know who is on that case. And frankly, it'd be a waste of my time to work with that bumbling inspector."
"...oh shite. I didn't realize you felt that way."
"...oh for fuck's sake. You did not call him here."
"He is already on his way ma'am, once I mentioned Lupin the Third, I could swear I sensed him boarding a plane for SFO."
Sandra let out an involuntary groan, "Oh bollocks."