Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 25

Zenigata caught Ruby before she could hit the floor.

"Miss Robinson!"

"Ruby!" exclaimed Goemon.

Ruby was unconscious only for a short moment, but she seemed rather out of sorts as she came to. Zenigata fanned her with his hat. "Hey! Miss Robinson, are you alright?"

"D-Did I faint? I fainted, didn't I? Oh man... don't tell Lupin." Ruby struggled to right herself, but wobbled on her feet. "I feel sick. I feel really, really sick."

Suddenly, she darted forward and vomited into the elevator shaft. Zenigata winced and Goemon respectfully turned away, wearing only the slightest of grimaces.

Once Ruby completed this ritual, she straightened up and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She blinked back tears; though she didn't know if they were from relief, lingering fear, or embarrassment at having vomited in front of these two men, particularly Goemon. Nonetheless, her teary eyes fell on the samurai as she tremored out, "I-I want to go..."

Ruby stopped short. 'I want to go home.'

There was no home. Antony was 'home.' And yet, home could not be anywhere that Antony resided. Where was home anymore? Now, it was just a faraway concept. So instead, she said, "W-Where's Lupin?"

"That's a good question!" said Zenigata. "I haven't seen him since we were on the balcony."

Goemon turned to Zenigata. "Are you going to try to arrest him?" The inspector could see Goemon's hand was ready to draw steel once more. He gulped.

"Ah... not right now! We've got more pressing issues! I need to find a quick way outta here and get in touch with my superiors. Whatever Antony Del Monte's trying to pull... I'll see that the full thunder of Interpol comes down upon him!"

Giving a respectful nod to Zenigata, Goemon addressed Ruby. "Last I saw Lupin and Jigen, they were trying to dodge Del Monte's thugs. Lupin said he was procuring a way out of here."

Ruby blinked at Goemon, hoping she'd properly sucked her tears back into the vacuums of her eyes; if eyes could be said to have such things.

They could not.

"Procuring a way out? Well, I hope we don't have to go down because Antony's down there, and that thing is down there – dead or not – and there could be other... things. And with the power out, the remaining elevators wouldn't be working, and I really don't think I have the energy to climb any stairs. But if we don't hurry, it's totally gonna get all Resident Evil up in here and... and..."

Ruby was feeling dizzy again. She had to take a moment to lean against the wall. "What is happening? Holy shit, what the hell is happening?" She felt her hands trembling at her sides, and quickly grabbed an arm to try and stop it.

Noting her distress, Goemon took a gentle hold of her shoulders. Ruby trembled, if only because it was so rare that he touched anyone, much less a woman. His face was ever stoic, and yet those kind eyes gazed deeply into her own.

"The road to prosperity is often the darkest and wrought with peril... yet it's also the most rewarding." Goemon held her more firmly in that moment, as though he could transfer some of his own strength into her. "We must be strong and proceed... or else, it will all end here."

His words were philosophic and poetic, and they drew her to him. Ruby wanted nothing more than to bury her face against the bared part of his chest, but resisted the temptation. Sometimes, Goemon made her feel safe in a way that even Lupin didn't.

Zenigata blinked. "Wow..."

"W-Well, so long as we have Goe-ex-machina on our side, then m-maybe we can do this," said Ruby, attempting to smile, but succeeding only with a weak twitch of her lips. "But I really wish I had a protein bar or something because I don't know how much longer my legs will hold up."