Twice a Day

Chapter 13: A Parting

--Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it's taken so long again. I really have no excuses beyond a lack of inspiration and time, and the same kind of goes for my request book. Rest assured, once things get back into the swing of it, you'll all be the first to know. As an apology, I'm uploading both final chapters of Twice a Day tonight. I hope you enjoy.--

Of course, by the time you'd gotten back, Lupin had cracked open the little clock. You weren't expecting it to take long, given he was so confident in it, and it had taken long enough that you and Goemon got to take that little walk, but now what?

He hadn't yet opened it, maybe so if it ended up being empty the disappointment wouldn't all be on him. "Took you guys long enough!"

"You have taken longer with worse."

Lupin tutted at Goemon's response, but motioned for you both to come back inside. On the table, there must have been two layers of wood paneling removed, and enough tiny screws to pose as a serious choking hazard, all slightly different sizes to make it as difficult as possible to catch them all. You thought about how the back of your own clock was roughly 6 flathead screws on the back. How Lupin had imagined such a valuable clock would have such simple protection was beyond you.

You sat down in front of it, the other two leaning over your shoulders in anticipation. You grabbed the screwdriver, wedging it under the final panel. Briefly you considered that Lupin had already opened it, and that was how he knew this was it, and he had stuffed some springy snakes or something in it. Surprisingly, you found he hadn't as there was a small sheet of... moist paper? Lifting the screwdriver the rest of the way, you removed the panel, and plucked the sheet off.

You saw the reflections almost immediately. It wasn't just some of the gears, it was ALL of them. Due to age, they were varying degrees of clean, but you suspected that sheet might have somehow contributed to their shine. While you gaped at the sight, you could see the others leaning in even farther. It was safe to say they were satisfied with the result of their work.

"It really has gold gears. Springs, even!" Lupin cried, almost giddy.

Goemon was beaming too, just following the pattern the notches in the gears made, swirling up and down the clock.

"Does this mean my grandfather gets to keep his clock?"

Taken aback by the question, Goemon and Lupin laughed.

"Yes, it does," Goemon nodded.

"Then I'm happy too."

But then Goemon frowned. It seemed he'd realized the same thing that you had, at the same exact moment. "You're going to leave."

Lupin was distracted by the gold. "Well, yeah, we've bugged you plenty. I can't say how lucky we were to have actually talked to you about it! Otherwise we would've stolen the wrong clock!"

"You did."

"The past is the past."

As Lupin began to reseal the one layer, just so nothing fell out, you noticed how neither you nor Goemon could bring yourselves to look at the other. Here was where things ended. You weren't necessary to his job anymore, and you obviously knew he saw you as more, but... Could either of you really help the situation.

Lupin had proven himself to be idiotic for such a genius, but he had a heart and working eyes. "I'll leave you both to it. It was nice to meet you," he said, turning to you. "Hopefully we'll meet again one day."

"Hopefully," you repeated with melancholy. He walked outside.

Goemon simply stared at you, and that was all you found yourself able to do back. You weren't in a major city. You weren't even in a large town. What were the odds Lupin would NEED to return?

What were the odds Goemon would want to?

"I am sorry."

That shook you out of it. "What?"

"I am sorry for putting you in harm's way and... Lying. To both you and your grandfather."

"I thought-- I thought we went through this already--"

"We did. I just thought it beared repeating with the circumstances."

"Ah... Yes." You felt your eyes well up, and as soon as he realized, he engulfed you in a hug, putting his hand on the back of your head to steady you. The comfort only served to make you cry harder, wrapping your arms around him.

"This won't be the end of it," he said quietly. "I'll find a way to come back."

"But--"

"I promise."

"I'm not going anywhere, but you're going everywhere! What makes you think you'll have the time or... Or a good reason to come back?"

He answered flatly. "Because I'd want to see you again."

You absorbed the statement in silence before sighing and squeezing tighter. You couldn't argue with what you had hoped for him to say.

"When?" You didn't want to sound rude, but you wanted to know.

"I'm not sure. I will not lie to you again and say I do." You nodded at that, appreciative of the honesty, even if it hurt a little.

"How about when the money from those gears wears off?" you smiled at your own joke.

He grinned back, pulling away from the hold enough that you could see it. "Then."

"It's a date."

Reluctantly, and after a final squeeze from him, you both let go. Not wanting to make this worse, Goemon started for the door almost immediately, but you halted him. "Wait! I... I wanna give you something."

"You have already led us to the clock, you don--"

"I want to." You ran to the cabinet in your kitchen, and pulled out a small, porcelain cup. "It's a keepsake, so you don't forget about me."

He was hesitant to accept, but did so. "I doubt that would happen."

Goemon stayed still for a minute, thinking. He set down the cup and started messing with something by his hips, certainly alarming you, but when you realized what he was going for you laughed. He presented the sash he'd lost when you met, holding it out like a delicate ribbon.

"So you remember me as well."

"It'd be hard to forget you, Goemon."

With that, neither of you could think of a better way to part. You tied his sash around your wrist, looping it numerous times until it was sizeably wide, but comfortable. He kept his grip on the cup, safe and secure.

You kissed him one last time, trying to commit the feeling to memory.

And then, no more was to be done. Lupin was waiting outside, past your gate. You watched as Goemon left with him, disappearing further and further down the trail until you could see nothing but trees.

You clutched your wrist, running your fingers over the fabric of the sash. If he said he'd come back, he meant it. You trusted him.

You turned around, and closed your door.