Lupin The Third: The Gunslinger's Lament

Chapter 8

Ruby, though caught entirely by surprise, was further surprised at just how acclimated she had become to unexpected moments of passion such as this – for it took less than a second for her lips to catch up with Jigen's.

'I can never think of him as a father figure again,' she realized. But then, he never did particularly care for that. And in a way, it felt like a graduation ceremony of sorts.

But just when did she start taking such things in stride?

'Somehow, this is Lupin's fault,' she thought. 'Somehow all of this is his fault.'

As Jigen kissed her, the bottle of wine fell from her hand. Oh, she had promised she wouldn't spill it, but that was hardly anyone's concern now. And there truly was so very little left to spill, for they had greedily indulged... just as they were greedily indulging now. A phantom breeze caught the both of them and wrapped them up in its warm, swirling caress, playing with their hair and adding its own magic to a positively surreal moment.

As Ruby kissed him back – the abrasive and yet somehow comforting taste of bourbon, wine, and cigarettes mixing between them – she wrapped an arm around Jigen's neck, her hand traveling up in his hair, her fingers sliding up the back of his neck and along his scalp. Meanwhile, her other hand clamped his hat to the back of her head, keeping her fiery hair contained, while his own raven locks ruffled in the breeze and slid between her fingers.

Ruby was caught up in the spontaneity of the moment. Jigen's rough yet fervid kiss was intoxicating. Even the tickle of his beard – certainly a new sensation – triggered something in her, along with the quandary...

'What would it be like?'

But the longer this moment of passion lasted, the more her senses returned. There were so many things wrong with this. Ruby didn't want to stop, but that was just the problem; she didn't want to stop. If she indulged in this passion further, it would surely only cause trouble. Just how far was Jigen planning on taking this?

Gradually, it occurred to Ruby that he might want more. And she already knew... she wouldn't tell him no. But was it because she was in love with him, or was it because she pitied him his tragic past and wanted to somehow make it go away, even if only for a little while?

"Are you... in love with all of them, Ruby?"

Antony again.

'No,' Ruby found herself answering back. 'Not with Jigen. Not like that.'  

Jigen's thoughts, as he kissed Ruby, were equally turbulent. They swirled through his mind the way the breeze swirled around their bodies. Was this a good idea? Was this something that he'd truly meant to do? Was it something he would have done in his right mind?

Probably not.

But he was feeling a certain way just then. And it was something he needed to get to the bottom of. And perhaps... he could finally push the idea of being a father figure out of the girl's head once and for all.

He was not a father figure.

And he had no intention of being one.

But was he in love with Ruby?

No.

No, he could plainly say that he wasn't. Attracted? Sure. And maybe, in some way, he did love her. But he had no real romantic inclinations toward Ruby. So why was he kissing her?

Honestly, it was simply because, right then and there, he wanted to. And judging by Ruby's response, she was not opposed to the idea, for it had taken no time at all for her to reciprocate. And what a sweet sensation it was! There was an innocence to her kiss. But after everything she'd been through, there was actual finesse and skill in it, too. And Jigen found it intoxicating. He found that once you start kissing this girl... you want to keep kissing her. To feel her lips on yours... to feel her fingers in your hair... to feel her body against yours...