This thing may skip around a lot. Not really sure. It's basically just supposed to tell of the events from the last month and how they lead up to the present day. But it will go back to the present day when it needs to. Hopefully it won't be too confusing.

The Second Time Around

by D.Ant

Chapter Two

One Month Ago

Lupin and Jigen grinned as they shoved wads of money into cloth bags, Goemon standing guard outside of the vault as the two worked quickly.
"So, where are we celebrating tonight?" Jigen asked as he tied off another bag and tossed it in the growing pile of stuffed bags.
"I'm afraid you'll have to celebrate alone tonight," Lupin said with a stupid grin on his face. "I'm gonna be busy doing other...things."
Jigen rolled his eyes. "I still don't see why you keep dating that bitch. You always end up poor and broken hearted. What's the fucking point?"
Lupin looked at him and shrugged. "Sometimes love doesn't have a point, Jigen."
Jigen sighed in annoyance. He hated what Fujiko did to his friend, but he didn't feel it his place to tell Lupin how to run his life. "I'll go get the van," he said, passing Lupin and leaving the vault.
Lupin watched him leave and then turned his head, staring down at the pile of bags. He sighed, his grin quickly fading. 'Sometimes I don't get it either, Jigen. Maybe...maybe it's just me I don't get.' He sighed once again and closed his eyes. 'Why do I continue to do this? I don't see the point anymore...'
"Is something wrong?"
Lupin jumped slightly as Goemon walked up behind him. "No, no. Everything is...everything's fine." He gave a slight smile, one which didn't stay long. He knew he could never fool Goemon, especially with such a sad attempt at lying, but he always did it anyway. He did it for himself, to try and make himself think there was nothing wrong. 'I don't buy it, either.'
"Hmm," was all Goemon said in response. He never pried into the others lives. He didn't really care about their problems, but he always felt it polite to ask how they were if they seemed down. It made it seem like he cared. Plus no one opened up to him, so he got off easy.
Lupin watched as Goemon walked to the back wall of the vault and took his sword to it, large pieces falling to the floor in front of him.
Both then watched as Jigen backed the van up to the opening.
He parked, leaving the engine running as he jumped from the drivers side and opened up the back doors, he, Lupin and Goemon tossing in the bags.
Lupin worked at a slower pace than normal, his mind obviously on something else.
Jigen didn't seem to notice and Goemon didn't really care.
'Who am I doing this for?' Lupin wondered. 'For me? No. I don't need to do this anymore. For them?' He watched as Jigen tossed the last bag in, he and Goemon heading towards the front. 'Maybe that's it. But, then, who are they doing it for?' He stepped into the back and pulled the door closed.
Jigen put the van in gear and sped off, sirens wailing in the distance.
'Are they doing this for me? For themselves? For someone else?' Lupin sighed silently. Sensing something, he looked up, out the back windows, spotting the familiar man who stepped out of the shadows. Their eyes locked for a moment before Jigen turned the corner, a building obstructing each others view.
Lupin looked down in shock. 'Was that...? No, he died. Didn't he?'