Lupin The Third: The Gunslinger's Lament

Chapter 9

It was just after midnight when Ruby bolted up in bed, gasping for breath. It had taken her no time at all to fall asleep, fatigued as she was. She'd slept deeply, only to be plagued by another bad dream. Only this time, the Riccis were in it.

Sergio Ricci II had gunned down Jigen while Aderlass watched on in approval, his monocle giving a sinister flash as his lips curled into a feral, wolf-like smile. And somewhere off in the distance, she heard Antony's voice calling to her, "Ruby! Come to me!" And even fainter still, Diana's scream...

Ruby knew she wasn't going to be falling back asleep any time soon. With so much anxiety and excess energy, she needed to do something to expend it. As far as she could tell, the others were asleep – if the snores from the other rooms were any indication. She wasn't sure if she could identify three separate snores, but at least she was certain she was the only one awake. Quietly, she slipped down the stairs and into the gym.

The gym lights were off, and frankly, Ruby preferred to leave them that way. She didn't wish to draw attention. In fact, just now, she wanted to be alone. Just herself, her thoughts, and the equipment. Fortunately, on a night like tonight, there was little need of light. Four rows of windows high above, just where the walls met the ceiling, spanned the perimeter of the gym, allowing for plenty of nocturnal luminance to shine through.

It was a clear night, one where the moon is bright enough to see dust motes dancing in its vaporous beams. Suddenly, childlike whimsy took possession of Ruby, and with her ribbon baton, she found herself helpless to join in their somnolent dance. Twirling her ribbon, Ruby danced in and out of silver beams and shadow, spinning to a music that none but she could hear. In case there was a floor routine at the event, she ought to practice her rhythm gymnastics, as well. After all, not every gymnast did rhythm. It just might give her the edge she needed.

Ruby landed in a split at the center of the gleaming hardwood floor, and when she rose to her feet it was with newfound determination. Her little dance had invigorated her, and now she was eager to try something more challenging.

A few feet away from the balance beam stood the asymmetric, or uneven bars; or in gymnast jargon, the AB or UB, or simply "the bars." Ruby inspected the steel frame and fiberglass, wood-coated bars. They looked pretty sturdy. Lupin and Goemon did a good job setting them up. Granted, this was likely under Izzy's strict instruction.

The bars ran parallel to one another, but at different heights. As far as Ruby could tell, they were set at the proper standards and measurements. There was a container of white chalk nearby. Also, likely, Izzy. Ruby doubted Lupin and Goemon knew about the chalk.

Chalking up her hands, Ruby used the spring to aid her in her leap to the high bar, gripping it with her chalked-up hands. It was sturdy, and her grip solid. She swung herself back and forth on the high bar, building up momentum. It had been a while, and yet feeling that bar between her hands, it was like riding a bike. You never really forgot.

Just like that, Ruby was in her element. And it felt good. As had always been the case, all of Ruby's fears and anxieties flitted away as she spun round and round on the high bar, managing a full rotation, pausing briefly in midair, fully vertical with her legs up and her toes pointed to the ceiling. Then, she leapt to the low bar.

It was the perfect dismount from the high bar. But as her hands clamped onto the low bar, the pressure from her leap jolted through her arms and the gunshot wound on her right arm gave a painful throb. With a cry, Ruby lost her grip and fell to the crash mat. Heat seared through her wounded arm. It was excruciating!

Gripping her bandaged arm, Ruby rolled onto her good side, nostrils flaring and tears streaming down her cheeks. Convulsing, she stifled her screams of pain against the foam mat. Whilst writing in the throes of agony, Ruby never noticed the other presence in the gym that night; the person who kept to the shadows near the memorabilia display case, and whose dark, thoughtful eyes had watched her dance with a desiring hunger, and now watched with an intensity which silently urged her to try again.