Lupin The Third: The Secret of Stardust

Chapter 31

Author's Comment: Please note the edited Author's Note at the bottom of this chapter. ;)
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The Fiat was packed so tightly, Ruby had to wonder if it could even carry them all to wherever they needed to go. She hadn't even thought to ask Lupin where they were headed now. All she knew was that they had to leave.

Ms. De Luca stood at the threshold of the old, run-down farmhouse for a final goodbye. "Thank you for everything," said Ruby, trying really hard not to cry, as the old woman folded her into her warm, matronly embrace. "I know we caused you a lot of trouble, but it was so nice staying with you. It was like having a grandma again."

"È stato un piacere averti. You are certainly a far better youngster than my ungrateful grandchildren. Your mother would be very proud of you, I am sure. Even if you do hang around these no-good teppisti."

Ruby laughed through her tears. "Yes, but my mother would have loved Goemon," she said whispered.

Grinning, Ms. De Luca spoke softly. "Anche io." So do I.

Both women shared a giggle.

As Ruby was giving Ms. De Luca her final farewells, Jigen was tying the blue Vespa to the roof of the Fiat. This little car was full of so much stuff, now. Between their usual belongings - weapons and gear and such - and Ruby's recently accumulated belongings, they had far more with them on this trip than they had when they first started out. Ruby had obtained so much on her date with Lupin. And Lupin was insistent on not leaving a single thing behind.

Goemon returned from the fields. He'd been busy for a while, and the dirt on his kimono, along with the shovel in his hand, was the only clue as to what he'd been up to.

"It is done," he told the others.

"What's done?" asked Ruby.

"I had to bury-" Goemon stopped himself short, realizing that admitting what he'd just finished doing might have a profoundly ill effect on a sensitive girl like Ruby. On the verge of panic, his gaze shifted to Jigen in supplication.

"Ruby," said Jigen. "Help me secure this thing, will ya?" He indicated the Vespa. "Get on the other side and fasten that bungee cord." Goemon gave Jigen a grateful look as he hurried away to return the shovel to where he'd found it.

During all this, Lupin was talking on his phone. From the sound of the conversation, it was with the man who owned the Plymouth. "Yeah, it's at this little farmhouse. Yeah... A little north of... Yeah, right about there. Things have gotten complicated, but the car is safe. You can send someone to pick it up without a problem. Sure thing. Just give the money to the little old lady living in the house... Let's just say I owe it to her."

With the money Jigen got from the palomino, the gang was in pretty good shape. Though it would have been nice to keep some of the reward money offered to Lupin for retrieving the stolen Plymouth. But Ruby was in agreement that they owed Ms. De Luca big time. It was right that the reward money for the car go to her.

"Um, Lupin," said Ruby, gazing at the overly-laden Fiat. "Are you sure about bringing the Vespa? I'm sure it's not, ya know, necessary."

"I thought you'd want keep it since you worked so hard on restoring it," he said with a kind smile.

Ruby blushed and lowered her gaze. "You're spoiling me," she murmured.

"Hey, you deserve it! Besides, it may come in handy. Especially, if we can give it a few... uh... upgrades." Lupin grinned and chuckled impishly. Ruby could only imagine what 'upgrades' in this context might entail. Considering the off-model additions to the Fiat, she could guess.