Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 14

Jigen and Goemon were pleased with the progress Ruby had made with both of them. They couldn't deny; the girl had a lot of heart. And she was a fast learner. Both good qualities to have if she was going to run with their crew.

The hours seemed to pass like the breeze; a day redolent with the smell of the sea as the isolated hideaway provided Ruby a halcyon escape from the noise of her previous life. Eventually, Jigen and Goemon retired to the house, but Ruby alone remained outside, basking in the warm glow of the gradually setting sun and the sound of the waves lapping gently against the grassy shore.

Ruby imagined her day playing out like an '80s training montage. And the perfect ending to a day such as this was perhaps one last activity which she'd neglected as of late. And so, at the water's edge, by the light of the red sun, Ruby took up her ribbon and practiced her gymnastics routine with the accompaniment of smooth jazz playing from Jigen's phone, which he'd so graciously loaned her for the time being – at least until she yelled at Lupin and demanded hers back.

But Ruby was not alone for long. Walking slowly up the long drive which led to the secluded manor house was an old man with a scraggly gray beard. He had a pair of round wire-frame glasses perched upon the edge of his nose and a terribly hunched back. He tap-tap-tapped his cane along in front of him as he came upon the house. But at the sight of Ruby, the strange old man stopped and leaned on his cane with both hands as he watched the lovely red-head perform a rhythmic dance on the shore.

In that moment, she was as elegant as a goddess, twirling her gymnastics ribbon around herself as though it was an extension of her own body. It was like watching a kite fly serenely through the sky, or a rainbow serpent coast energetically through the air. This girl had an impressive talent. And.... she was deliciously flexible!

As Ruby finished her routine, she ended in a split upon the ground and caught her ribbon baton as it fell from the sky where she had thrown it. It was then she glanced up only to see the lecherous old man standing on the property, watching her.

"Bravo! Bravo!" the hunched old man applauded enthusiastically. "Such a marvelous performance from such a beautiful young woman!"

The man saw Ruby's eyes go wide as she leapt to her feet. Already, he could see -- was it Jigen or Goemon's? -- name forming at her lips. He realized, then, that if he wanted a moment alone with this flexible beauty, he would have to assuage her alarm before she could call out.

"Wait! Wait!" The old man bounded toward her, abandoning the cane where it... stood? Yes, Ruby could see it quite clearly; the cane was standing on its own! And this hunchbacked old man was actually quite spritely, showing that he hardly needed such a device.

"Please young lady! Don't be afraid! I'm just an admirer of gymnastics. And flexible women. With nice legs. And firm butts! Hyehyehyehyeh!" 

Ruby didn't cry out, though her mouth remained agape. In that moment, she put it together; just who this stranger truly was. Nevertheless, at his predatory bound, instinct took over and the moment he came within reaching distance, Ruby twirled away from him and threw out the ribbon like a fishing line. It struck at him like a snake, then twirled around his legs like a lasso and snagged him. With a tug from Ruby, Lupin went sprawling face-first into the sand.

"HULPH!"

Ruby blinked, then shook her head in dismay. "Oh shit. Lupin!" she called, running to him. "Lupin, I'm sorry! It was just instinct! Are you okay?" She dropped to her knees beside him and rolled him onto his back, which was noticeably unhunched now.

The 'hunch' actually turned out to be a backpack, which was now laying nearby. Slowly, the 'old man' sat up, turned his head away from her, and spat out a stream of sand. "Ptooooo..." before brushing his tongue clean of the grains. "Bleeeh..."