Lupin The Third: The Beast of Lykanisches

Chapter 23

Denial.
Anger.
Bargaining.

These are the first three stages of grief.

Accompanying these are feelings such as guilt and shame. And worst of all, blame. And as the three thieves reflect upon the past months, they realize there were little signs. And big ones.

"We should have known."

"We did know. That's the worst part of it. We did know."

"But if only we'd figured it out sooner..."

"How did we not? It's so obvious now."

"There were signs. From the very beginning..."

~~~

A nymph in a green summer dress runs across the lush grass. She leaps onto the back of a park bench. The thief's hands alight upon her waist. He picks her up, twirls her. He sits on the bench with her in his arms. The girl laughs. She can't stop. She puts her arms around the thief and rests her head against his chest, sending the purr-like vibrations of her laughter from her body and into his own. Lupin the Third holds her. He says nothing; only lets his body do the talking as he keeps her in an embrace that is at once both tender and possessive. He smiles up at the clear summer sky over Longwell Island.

"Lupin... My heart's beating really, really fast. It's kinda freaking me out."

"Oh?" he says with a smile. "What do you think we should do to relieve that?"

"I-I think it's the espresso," says the girl, cheeks aflame.

But she can't hide anything from Lupin the Third. The thief grins a smug little grin. For he knows it must surely be their close proximity that makes her heart flutter. And he revels in it.

Maidenly excitement.
Misinterpreted.

A tense exchange outside a museum in Milan.

"You're right! We should go find out what he knows! Let's go beat it outta him!"

"I can't allow that, Miss Robinson," says the inspector. "I appreciate your desire to help, but you're too close to the situation."

"I AM the situation!"

"Easy, kid," the gunslinger advises.

"I'm sorry, Miss Robinson. But this is a police matter."

"That's right, RuRu. Let Pops do his thing, so we can go do ours."

"Lupin! You'd better not be scheming something. If I catch you stealing something while you're here in Milan, you can kiss this truce goodbye! I'll throw you away for life!"

"But Pops... we're getting along so well! I would hate to spoil what we have now."

"Get a move on, Lupin... I've got my eye on you! As long as you're here, you won't be able to take a crap without Inspector Zenigata knowing about it!"

"Ooh. Then I'd better cut back on the fiber."

The girl leans against the wall of a nearby building, only to bend forward, hands on her knees. Desperately, she tries to catch her breath.

"Hey! Kid? You okay? Lupin!"

"Ruby? Hey! What's the matter?"

"Miss Robinson? Are you alright?"

Three men worry for her health, but for only a moment – for her next words seem to dismiss it as nothing but the stress of her current situation.

"I-I wanna go with you," the pale-faced girl gasps at the inspector. "Can't I go with you? Don't you know how hard it is to just walk away, knowing you're right around the corner investigating my brother-in-law and searching for my sister? How can I just walk away?"