Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 28

Author's Note

Warning: This chapter contains underage drinking.

I do not condone the behavior in this chapter, but I sure had fun writing it!
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"Well," said Ruby as she and the three men stood in the shoddy motel room, taking in their lackluster surroundings. "There's a bed. At least it's big."

The Gemstone Lounge and Motel might've been nice... maybe about 50 years ago. But now it was quite the dump. It seemed their traveling money was starting to run dry and they couldn't afford to be picky this time of night. With only one room, the four were going to have to bunk together. Ruby could almost hear her late father freaking out at the notion of her sharing a single motel room with three grown men.

She glanced up at Jigen from beneath his hat, which was still perched on her head as a trophy of pride for her competence that night. "Jigen can have the bed, if he wants. I'm too wired to sleep. Not that I'm not tired. But I don't think there's any way I could possibly fall asleep after... after everything that happened tonight."

Jigen walked past her and picked his hat off her head at last. "Oh, I'll take it... when I get back. I'm gonna find the nearest 24-hour booze joint and see what I can find. I'll be back."

"Don't rob it!" Ruby playfully called after him.

Jigen simply waved over his shoulder before closing the door behind him.

Ruby dropped her duffle bag on the floor, then thought better of it and placed it on the dresser. "This place is totally gonna have bedbugs," she grimaced. "Or mice... or both." Wincing, she took a seat on the edge of the bed. "My feet are killing me," she said, rubbing her bare, dirty, scraped feet. "I can't believe that bitch took my shoes," she muttered.

Lupin plopped onto the bed beside her, letting out a long sigh of relief. "It's been quite the day, hasn't it?" He crossed his arms behind his head as he laid back on the bed with one leg crossed over the other, arching a brow at her as though his words would open up the door to more talk of what happened between her and Fujiko. But instead...

With a matching sigh, Ruby allowed herself to mimic his posture and collapse down beside him. "You have quite the gift for understatement, Lupin," she said. And then, "I hope that liquor store is close by. I wanna get wasted."

From his seat at the small table by the window, Goemon turned his gaze to Ruby. "Isn't the drinking age 21 in this country?"

"We already went over this," said Ruby. "Anyway, I thought you were just celibate, not straight edge," she added, furrowing her brow in concern, worried that she had offended him.

Goemon looked as if he had something waspish to say, but this was Ruby. He didn't want to speak harshly to her. Instead, with a flush on his cheeks, he averted his gaze, muttering, "I never said I was celibate..."

"And the only 'straight edge' in his life is that sword," said Lupin with a chuckle.

"I was merely expressing concern that—"

"So what, Goemon?" said Lupin, gazing out the corner of his eyes at the samurai, still with his arms crossed lackadaisically behind his head. "You're not gonna spoil the fun, are you? We survived a crazy ordeal. I think a little celebration is in order!"

Goemon hesitated, his gaze lingering on Ruby for just a moment. Then, he sighed. "I hope they have sake," he said in a defeated tone.

Lupin laughed. "That's the spirit! Tonight, we unwind, have some drinks, and really enjoy ourselves." Lupin rolled over to face Ruby. "As well as enjoy the good company we keep, right RuRu?"