Hey there everybody! Sorry it took me so long to update this story, but I lost the file after I typed it up the first time due to a hard drive crash. Eventually though, I did manage to get it typed up again. Of course, all standard disclaimers apply, as with all my fanfics, though I feel I must add that parts of this chapter seem... a bit off to me. Still, after all the effort it took to type it up again, I really had no desire to make any changes to it at the moment. So, I'll offer a compromise. If enough of you guys review and don't like it, then I'll do my best to change it. Anyway, I suppose that's all, aside from big thank yous going out to ibogal, xana, RickGreen, and Daisuke. Sorry about the paragraph spacing in the last chapter, I wrote it really, really quickly, and sorry about the rather depressing start, but I simply couldn't help myself. And I promise, the next chapter contains big surprises, so be on the lookout, hopefully it wont take me as long to get the next one up as it took me to get this one up. Anywho, enough with the formalities, onto the fanfic!
Ariane
Chapter 2 A Plan Begins To Unfold
Within three hours of hearing the master thief's single shot, the two men who were closest to him had purchased tickets for one of the short flights from France to England, and were seated aboard the plane anxiously awaiting take-off. When the two had left the flat they had been consumed with grief, they had railed against the fates that had dealt their friend such a horrible hand, but it had only lasted for a few moments. For both men knew, without a doubt, exactly who was responsible. A month before they had come to France they had heard on the news that Fujiko had gotten herself married to some pretty English Duke.
Two weeks later Lupin had disappeared, only to show up at the flat in Paris three days ago. Since then he had been sequestered in one of the flat's bedrooms, neither Jigen nor Goemon had seen him at all in the time from when he came in to the time they left. Now the small scrap of paper still in Goemon's hand solidified their pain into a burning hatred for the woman who had pushed Lupin to his limits. "Always knew the broad was bad news, now she's proven it. Damn it all, Lupin, how could you let her do this to you? I thought you were stronger than that. Since you're gone I guess we'll have to take care of her ourselves, once and for all." Jigen muttered, and Goemon nodded his head in agreement. "We will do what we must to restore his honor," Goemon replied, his voice hiding his emotions, "We will be able to mourn Lupin properly once we have settled this."
Still, neither man could figure out how she had done it. Jigen and Goemon sat, waiting to board the plane, trying to puzzle out why this time had been so different. Fujiko had pulled these marriage stunts so many times before it was an old trick they all knew by heart to weasel some poor man out of his money. Even the times she had pulled this act before hadn't affected Lupin, in fact, nothing had affected Lupin, he had always found some way to rationalize her behavior, make it tolerable, wait it out until he could chase her freely again, wooing her all the while. Fujiko being married never would have stopped Lupin, never even slow him down. Until now. There had to be something about this time that had pushed him over the edge. And since Lupin wouldn't be talking anytime soon, they'd just have to get it out of Fujiko. Quietly they discussed the best way to worm the information they wanted out of Fujiko. Before they realized it they were aboard the plane, touching down on English soil, ready to get to work.
Coldwater Estates, England
In a light peach colored room a stunningly beautiful woman with dark black hair and pale skin sat in front of a large mirrored vanity. Dressed in a simple white shift, she looked rather like an angel, though anyone who knew her would be more tempted to call her a fallen angel. Slow repetitive motions brought an ivory handled brush through her hair over and over again, the mother-of-pearl inlays on the brush glinting and shining in the candlelight. The room itself, though huge, was sparsely furnished. A bed, dresser, and nightstand were the only other objects of furniture. A large candle-lit chandelier served as the only light source for the room, heavy drapes were pulled tight over the large bay windows, ruthlessly slaughtering any traces of the sun setting outside. Despite someone's fierce attempts to distance the room from the sounds of the world, some sounds still broke through. So it was that downstairs the doorbell sounded and high above, in the large bedroom a hairbrush, frozen mid-stroke, was the only indication that anything was heard.
Downstairs a remarkably calm-looking Jigen and Goemon were led through a marble foyer into a leather-filled library. Both had agreed that the best way to get information from Fujiko would be to keep calm and avoid telling her what Lupin had done. Once they had their information they would have their revenge. The ancient butler indicated that they should take seats and wait. Goemon selected a green leather couch, Jigen a matching armchair. A short time later the door opened, exposing the marble of the foyer once more, and into the room slipped a dark-haired woman. She smiled as she sat down across from Jigen, in the loveseat that matched the other two pieces. "Hello boys. Did old Pops finally catch Lupin? I imagine he's gotten himself into trouble, hasn't he? He'd be here if he wasn't."
She smiled but the sarcasm and pain in her voice confused the men, if only for a moment. "Yeah, well... that's what we're here to ask you about. Was he acting weird when he was here? We know he came to visit you, but what the hell happened? One minute he's fine..." Jigen had to remind himself not too give away too much. "... The next he's acting all weird. We just wanna know what happened between you two." Jigen demanded, avoiding her questions, demanding answers for his own. "Fujiko, we must know what transpired between you when he was here." Goemon chimed in quietly. The elegant woman shuddered, and grasped the arm of the loveseat so hard her knuckles turned white. For a moment Jigen and Goemon were sure that she looked ready to pass out, but somehow she managed to stay conscious.
"Please, don't make me do this." She pleaded them, "even after... what he did, I just can't tarnish his name like that." Her voice was soft, and the tear that streaked down her face smeared her make-up. Jigen's irritation got the better of him. He had never hit a woman in his entire life, but Fujiko wasn't a woman, she was a traitorous worm. He found himself crossing the room, slapping her, sending her careening to the floor. "Cut the crap Fujiko! We know you did something to him! Just tell us what the hell you did!" he demanded. "Fine! You want to know? I'll tell you." Her eyes blazed up at him with unbridled hate as she continued. "That bastard- he came here drunk. He told me he wanted to congratulate me. I knew I shouldn't have let him in, but god, I did. I-I told him no so many times, but he just wouldn't stop." She paused, and gave a bitter laugh. "I told him I never wanted to see his face again, I told him that I'll be the firs to dance on his grave in ecstasy. I do hope he dies!"
By the time she was finished her head was buried in her hands and tears were pouring through her fingers. Jigen and Goemon stared at her aghast. If she was implying what she seemed to be, then there was quite a bit of information that they were missing. "Fujiko," Goemon quietly probed, dazed by her revelation, "why did you not tell us before? Had we known-" he continued, but she cut him off. "There was nothing you could have done. Just keep him away from me. I don't want to see him. Ever again." She stopped to catch her breath, and press a handkerchief to her eyes. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need to be alone now." And with that she slipped back through the door the way she had come, leaving Jigen and Goemon in stunned silence.
Even when the old butler returned and led them back through the foyer out of the house the uncomfortable silence continued, neither man wanting to even consider the implications of Fujiko's words. It wasn't until they had reached a small inn, one of many in the small neighboring village. Goemon was the first to break the silence. "Could it be true, what Fujiko says? Would Lupin have done such a thing?" Jigen shook his head. "Lupin may have been a complete idiot when it came to that bitch, but I can't believe he would do such a thing." "Yes, I too find it most difficult to believe that Lupin could commit such atrocities, but what if what she claims is true? What could Fujiko possibly gain from lying about this?" "I really don't know. But this sure is one hell of a mess Lupin's gotten us into this time. If only we could talk to him..." Jigen trailed off, unwillingly reminded of Lupin's untimely demise. Suddenly he stood and stormed out of the room, headed to the inn's tavern for a drink.
Back at Coldwater Manor a very handsome blonde-haired, blue-eyed man was interrupted as he read the paper, by the entrance of the dark-haired woman. They shared a look of contentment for a plan going smoothly. Softly, Daniel Westly, twenty-third Duke of Coldwater, chuckled and ordered, "Take those hideous things off. Don't you dare wear them a moment longer than necessary, understand darling?" Kristiana Dubvoc smiled and reached up, pulling the dark wig off her head, revealing blonde hair expertly pinned up beneath. Next she shed the long, embroidered dress she had been wearing, returning to her pencil-thin boyish body, discarding the voluptuous curves that had been sewn into the dress. Last came the contact lenses, shifting her eyes from black to a blue-green. When she was finished she stood in front of him, naked as the day she was born. Slowly, seductively, she crossed the room to stand before him, just within reach. His hands shot out, circled her waist, as she slid into his lap, squirming against his desire. "Did those two buffoons actually buy it?" he whispered, his breath tickling the inside of her ear. Kristiana turned to face him, leaned over and slanted her lips over his own in a deep, heated kiss.
When they broke apart she breathlessly answered him. "Of course ze bought it. I am, after all, ze world's greatest actress!" Without thought she had slipped back into her French accent, which only served to fuel his lust for her, as it always did. "Did you have a good day, I mon amour /I ?" she queried. At the thought of the day's events he smiled wider than he already was. "Well, yes, my love, I had a wonderful day. Today Lupin the Third committed suicide, and now nothing can stop us, most especially that pitiful excuse for a woman." Kristiana slid off his lap as he spoke to kneel in front of him. She leaned back in, close to his face, her hands busy unfastening the soft red velvet of tie of the bathrobe he wore. "Soon, my sweet, you will be able to rid ze world of ze filth zat iz zat deceiving little hussy." She assured him. Her speech was lost on him, he was too far gone into the throes of pleasure she was creating, echoing through his body. Or so she thought, until she heard him mutter, "yes, Fujiko will soon have served her purpose, then we can be rid of her for good. Then we will be free... to be together." If she had seen the look on his face it would have terrified her beyond her darkest imaginings. As it was she never looked up, but simply discarded his words and the chill they sent down her back, and finished pleasuring him.