Twice a Day

Chapter 9: Not Much Better

-- Author's Note: Do you guys remember when I used to be clumsy with updates because life was too busy? Well... It's healed now, don't worry! But I slipped off some stairs and broke my wrist. It healed about a month ago, but it hurt to type for long periods of time. Hopefully, now we can get back to business. I'm so sorry for making you all worry and wait! Goemon's adventure continues!--

Only when he thought it was safe did the two of you slow, and even then, you never fully stopped. The clock dug into your shirt, rough, old wood scratching your arms. As you began to slow, he joined you, putting a hand to your back.

"Are you alright?"

Wordlessly, you grinned and held out the clock before promptly returning to your slumped posture to heave and pant.

"I asked about you."

"I'm... Good... Energy... Kinda wi-wiped. Do we have... have any water left?"

He nodded, slowed down to a walking pace, and guided you carefully as he reached around for the water. He handed it to you, and you greedily swiped it and started drinking. Realizing you weren't going to stop, he took it from you equally as softly as he'd offered it.

"Can we... Can we st--" A crack of branches. You froze and clung to Goemon. "Should we run?"

Goemon didn't answer and just drew his sword.

As soon as the threat was close enough to form the shape of a man cloaked in shadow, Goemon struck, slicing the intruder to bits. Or at least, his clothes.

He wore the uniform of the demons of the hour, but his face didn't set right with you. Maybe it was partly due to the fact that his face fell off in equally sliced halves. You watched in horror as the limp skin fell, until you realized that there was no carnage. You looked back to the head to see a completely different face, and one you weren't sure you recognized.

Evidently, though, Goemon did. "Lupin?!"

"Ah, you got me! I was hoping to see what your deal was, totally abandoning us." The man was grinning, and his tone was friendly, but the venom of his words was unmistakable.

Goemon simply gawked at him in shock. "Why... Why would you...?"

"Same as you," Lupin said, giving a glance to what you held. It was quick enough that you hardly noticed, but Goemon certainly did. He turned his attention to you. "So!! We haven't met huh?"

You clutched your clock closer as Goemon didn't back off. You quietly introduced yourself, a little traumatized from watching his face slide off seconds ago. "And... you're...?"

At this, he seemed to brighten sincerely. "Arsene Lupin the Third, gentleman thief! Nice to meet you, though the circumstances kind of leave something to be desired."

You recoiled from his hand. "Thief?"

Lupin waved it off. "Well, it alarms some people at first but... I feel like it shouldn't startle you too much."

Goemon turned you around, getting ready to leave. "It was nice to catch up, but we must leave."

"Oh, you haven't told?"

You looked over your shoulder, past Goemon, right at Lupin. He said he was a thief, what stopped him from being a liar too? Still, you questioned him. "Told what? Told who? Me?"

"We have to return to your grandfather."

"GRANDFATHER?" Lupin cried. "That's--" Realization dawned on his face, and he shut his trap as Goemon turned to him, no doubt glaring based on how his grip on your shoulders tightened.