Goemon and Jigen were on Mt. Nosoko, where hiking the trail made them feel like they were in the middle of a jungle. The atmosphere was warm and moist, and the ground was a reddish clay, with large tree roots growing into the trail. Jigen and Goemon to a small stream with a series of cinder blocks forming a path across it. They easily crossed over, and turned onto the path that led to the mountain peak.

"Hey, man, don't your feet hurt in those sandals?" Jigen asked. "It's gonna be about an hour before we reach the top, you know."

"When one meditates, all sensations become bliss." Goemon didn't slow down at all.

They continued to walk, in silence. After passing by some ropes other hikers had tied to the trees, they reached a sign with red arrows on it. It said "mountaineering."

Jigen paused. "It's nice that you chose a place with hiding places for him and all, but I don't think Lupin's gonna be convinced by this."

"Why not?" asked Goemon. "If Lupin is too close-minded for this to work, there's nothing we can do about it."

Jigen shrugged. "I guess. Actually, I felt bizarrely offended by his reaction, too."

Goemon started walking again. Jigen followed him. "I don't know why you feel that way," said Goemon, "but the reason I'm offended is that Lupin is indirectly insulting you."

"Really? I feel the exact same way! Well, except I'm pissed off cause he's putting you down," said Jigen. A few seconds later, they passed a tree with red tape markers on it. "You know what the difference is between us, Goemon?" asked Jigen.

"No." Goemon didn't have to think about it.

Jigen smirked. "Me neither."

Meanwhile, Lupin was following them from a discreet distance. He was wearing a camouflage suit over his jacket, so he could sneak around in the canopy. Using a rocket to string up a rope from branch to branch, he could repel through the highest trees. Lupin refocused his binoculars, and lowered his microphone. He grinned. "So, you know I'm following you," he said quietly, under his breath. "You're right, guys, I am utterly unconvinced. You'll have to do better."

Lupin was sweating under his camo, but he was determined to record, and later embarrass, his friends. He reeled in the rope, so he could shoot two more lengths of it. He slid down the rope faster than Jigen and Goemon could walk up the mountain.

When the tops of the trees became tinged in golden light, Goemon and Jigen finally made it to the peak. They scrambled past some boulders, and climbed on top of the rocks. They had been blessed with a clear day, granting them a bright, panoramic view of the island. The tree-covered swells in the landscape, turned shining gold in the setting sun, gave way to a view of the town of Nosoko, and beyond that the beach, and the pristine Pacific Ocean. The water was a gradient of turquoise to sapphire.

Jigen held his fedora down, so it wouldn't blow away in the wind. "Eh. It's nice, but I've seen better."

Goemon sat down in his usual position. "Yes."

Jigen sat down on the jagged rock beside him. Immediately, Jigen wished he had stayed in the hideout where there were cushions and pillows. He lay down, putting his arms behind his neck. After a minute of watching the sky, he turned over to look at Goemon. Jigen noticed something black on Goemon's left foot.

"Hey, man, what is that?" asked Jigen. He propped himself up. "Is that a leech? I told you sandals were a bad idea!"

Goemon frowned. "What, are you going to burn it off with a cigarette?"

"Only if you want an infection. All you do is..." Jigen reached over, and slid one of his fingernails under the leech's mouth. He pulled it off, and flicked it away.

Goemon's wound wasn't large, but it was dripping blood. It stained the side of his left sandal.

"Damn it, why didn't I bring any water? It's so frickin' hot anyway!" Jigen stood back up. He wondered if any of his clothing was clean, and whether he could tear off some fabric to use as a bandage. While he was distracted, his hat blew off his head.

Before Jigen could even curse, Goemon shot up and caught the hat with the tip of his sheathed sword. "Do not worry over me, Jigen. In ultimate reality, there is no wound."

"Great." Jigen took a step forward, and took his hat. He put it back on. "Because in relative reality, I'm gonna be real damn annoyed if I have to carry you down the entire mountain."

Goemon sighed. He glanced at the view of the golden-hour landscape, then back to Jigen. "I suppose this isn't very romantic."

From up in a nearby tree, one with enough foliage to hide behind, Lupin snickered. Guess this is my cue to get going, he thought. He turned himself around on the branch, but paused when he heard his friends' conversation continue.

"Yeah... though I bet if it'd been Lupin's zany scheme it would've worked great." Jigen looked down at the mottled stone. He kicked at it, and turned around.

Goemon quickly walked in front of him. "You were well-intentioned. I thank you for your effort."

"What? Didn't I waste your time?"

"I'd rather do something than nothing," said Goemon. "Besides, now that I think about it, I realize I haven't exactly told you I'm thankful."

"Huh? Thankful for what?" Jigen scratched the back of his neck.

"Well, you see..."

The background music plays. It's a smooth, romantic ballad with the cool instrumentation of fifties' jazz floating in and out of the melody line. It's like a slow and subtle R&B number.

GOEMON:
I have misused my discretion.

Though it wasn't my intention not to say,

never did I mention,

my appreciation for the little things you do for me?

When we're dining on miso soup,

you always let me eat the larger pieces of tofu.

When I enter a house with you,

and we must remove our shoes,

you'll quickly turn mine around so that I can slip into them with ease.

I could never list all the little things you do for me.

Jigen blinks in bewilderment. He sings his own verse, while walking with long strides, around Goemon.

JIGEN:
What? Don't be so modest.

I haven't been honest myself, not really been clear,

I only let you have extra food because I don't have to fear,

that you'll steal mine, like Lupin does.

And when he's out on the town, and we're only sitting around,

you always let me be lazy.

So don't you see? You do just as many little things for me.

Goemon shakes his head, his black hair shining in the light of the sunset. He circles around Jigen instead.

GOEMON:

No. I can outdo you, because...

When I tear up as we're enjoying kabuki,

you snatch Lupin's rice crackers so he won't be noisy.

And when I quote lines from my spiritual texts,

and everyone stares like I'm reading from a fortune cookie,

you translate what I mean to say. Surely now we can agree,

that you do far more little things for me!

Jigen leans toward Goemon, and Goemon stops moving.

JIGEN:

That's ridiculous!

At the bathhouse, you always scrub my back first,

without being asked.

And nobody else I ever knew,

could stomach the bitter coffee I brew, except for you.

Goemon leans in closer to Jigen, as well.

GOEMON:

You make sure to stop Lupin from eating in my view,

when I have to fast.

If I have to leave for more training when I'm depressed,

it never makes you care about me any less.

JIGEN:

Wait, wait, why would it?

You're not like you think you are! You're not unworthy.

I mean, I know you always put my well being first.

Think of all the little things you do for me.

GOEMON:

If you're saying so, then it's truth, that's clear.

Sometimes I feel like I enjoy just sitting only when you're near.

JIGEN:

Really? I often wonder how I'd live without your point of view.

When you're not here, the crazy things we do just leave me feeling blue.

BOTH:
I guess the little things you do for me,

are not what's keeping me happy.

No, it's nothing for me that you do.

It's just you... being you.

The music stops. Jigen's and Goemon's eyes widen in realization. They whirl away from each other. Goemon stares intensely at the ocean, and Jigen hastily pulls his hat over his face.

Even Lupin's eyes grew wide as swimming pools. He gnashed his teeth and tightened his grip on his little mic. It cracked. The recorder broke off and fell out of the tree, but Jigen and Goemon didn't notice. Lupin snapped out of his angry reverie.

"Oh, come on! Curses, ghosts, magicians, frickin' magic cults, I can believe in all that crap, but this?!" Lupin groaned, feeling miserable. He dropped out of the tree with ninja-like silence. "I give up. Time for bed." He walked away.

His friends stood stock still. They refused to move, even though the sun was setting quickly, and would leave them in the dark. The silence stretched on, unbroken as the ocean view. Their shadows grew long.

A mosquito's buzzing distracted them from their thoughts. Jigen swatted it away.

"L-Let's get going." Jigen cleared his throat. "You... wouldn't want to be bitten by a venomous snake in the dark, right?"

Goemon nodded without looking at him. "I hope Lupin is convinced, now."