[Book 1] Lupin the Third enthusiast, Ruby Del Monte, lives in a gilded cage. Her obscenely wealthy brother-in-law plays the role of a heavy-handed parent, keeping her locked away like a princess in a tower. But Ruby lives vicariously through the exp...
Ruby was worried that Lupin might chase after her, so once she was inside her room, she locked the door. She even blocked the windows with the mattress which was still laying on its side by the wall from earlier that day, as she wouldn't put it past him to get in that way, too.
For a moment, Ruby leaned with her back against the door and closed her eyes, trying not to cry. Her mind kept flashing back to everything that had happened and how quickly it all fell apart.
Lupin's thumb brushing gently across her lip. "You won't bash yourself in the face with this one. Think I didn't notice?"
And her own childish antics. "I'm sorry I'm not like fucking 'Fuuuujikoooo... But maybe if you gave me a chance, I could be!" And how she'd stormed off.
So immature.
And even before that, when she had been so certain that Lupin was going to change his mind about letting her stay with them indefinitely... performing her gymnastics for him. Showing off like she was hot stuff or something.
"Do you wanna see more?" Like a child demanding their parents watch and appreciate some asinine game they're playing. She could almost hear her childish voice saying such things to Lupin...
"Hey, Lupin! Watch, okay? Are you watching, Lupin? Look at what I can do, Lupin!"
Ruby shook her head and let out a frustrated cry. Pushing away from the door, she gathered up her clothes and the few belongings she had. After rummaging through the closet, she managed to find an old duffle bag (she was pretty certain the person who owned the house wouldn't miss it), and shoved everything inside.
'I can't stay here anymore. There's no reason. There's no point. If he's gonna ditch me eventually anyway, I might as well leave on my own terms than let it catch me by surprise later.'
Ruby stormed through the living room for the front door, the duffle bag slung over her shoulder. 'I DARE Lupin to try and stop me,' she thought to herself. But then she realized...
Lupin still had her phone.
'Fuck.'
Ruby never encountered Jigen or Goemon as she went out the door, which was perhaps for the best, for she thought maybe there was a chance they might've stopped her – which was funny, really, since she was pretty sure they thought her tagging along was a bad idea, too, even if they weren't as verbal about it as Lupin. Funnier still that it had been Jigen and Goemon who had given her such newfound confidence, and Lupin – her criminal hero as Antony had once put it – that dashed it all. But Ruby knew she was being stupid. And she also knew it was time to go.
Lupin sat on the shore, looking out over the water. The sun was getting low in the sky, turning the water a glowing pink. His gaze trailed down to the red jacket in his hands. He lifted it to his face. It smelled like her. And maybe it was the first time he realized that she even had a particular scent. Whatever it was, he felt there was a chance that he didn't want to be without it.
As Lupin turned thejacket over in his hands, he felt something. There was a piece of paper foldedup and tucked away into the interior pocket. Feeling nosey, he pulled out the paperand carefully unfolded it. The paper was none other than the note he'd left Rubyin return for the tie clip she'd gotten him.
Real or not, it's a precious gift from a precious gift.
Your kindness is a treasure that could never be stolen.
Thank you for seeing more in me than just a thief.
~ Lupin
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