[The quiet words spoken from behind sent Lupin's heart leaping in his chest. His posture straightened, alert, and recognition of that voice, that tone left him torn between smacking the ronin over the head with that damnable book and hugging him.

He opted for a compromise instead. He tossed the book into the dirt again--and clapped the samurai on his shoulders.]

Goemon... [Lupin's voice trailed off. He dropped his head, his shoulders shaking in suppressed mirth.] Come here, you!

[He wrapped his arms around his friend, clinging to the first thing he had found in the day that actually made sense. The man was solid, real. Lupin felt assured that he wasn't as mad as he was starting to believe.