FicWad

Chapter Fourteen: Growing Up

"No matter how careful you are, there's going to be the sense you missed something, the collapsed feeling under your skin that you didn't experience it all. There's that fallen heart feeling that you rushed right through the moments where you should've been paying attention. Well, get used to that feeling. That's how your whole life will feel some day. This is all practice. None of this matters. We're just warming up.” -Chuck Palahniuk

Kaito groaned softly, a hand raising to cover his eyes from the sunlight streaming from the window. He blinked slowly, his sleepy mind trying to remember what was going on around him. as his brain started waking up again, he vaugly remembered Saguru and a conversation on the stairs, something about...Saguru helping him and then it was all a big blank.

He groaned and rolled over, feet hitting the floor as he sat up, feet wiggling lazily. He blinked again, eyes clearing as he glanced around, realizing he was now on the living room couch. Groaning, he feel back against the couch, eyes closing as he cursed, having a guess of what had happened. Cracking his eyes open, he spotted a glass of water and realized his mouth was more then a little cottony. Grabbing the glass and the note next to it, he sipped the water as he glanced at the note. The water was quickly expelled across the room as he realized what he was staring at.

His...other half, had left a message. The thought was so odd, Kaito took a moment to marvel at it before setting the glass on the table, fully focusing on the note, drinking in the words.

Aoko and Akako dating was something he definitely didn't see coming, and he had to smile, amused at the thought of them together. He would have to talk to Aoko though, and make sure Akako was treating her right. It wouldn't do for the witch to be pulling something on his girl. The smile faded however, when he read the lines about Saguru. The note crumpled in his hands, knuckles turning white with the strain, eyes unfocused as they paid attention to something he couldn't see.

That...bastard had had sex with his boyfriend. Oh he knew, rationally and intelligently that Saguru had...something with his other half, and that they had an interest in each other, but this was jealousy and jealousy was never rational nor intelligent.

Not to mention, this was sex, and his body, no matter what 'Kid' might say. And he would much prefer, that when his body was having sex with his boyfriend, that he was actually there to enjoy it. Not to mention the whole fact Saguru was his. Okay so they hadn't actually made it official like Kid and Saguru seemed to, but Saguru knew he was interested and Saguru had seemed interested as well, if their litter interlude in the detective's bedroom had been any indication.

But...could Saguru have been picturing Kid, instead of him?

Kaito growled and threw the note across the room, glaring at the wall before shaking his head and standing. It was too early in the morning to be dealing with this. He headed into the kitchen, stopping short as his brain registered the sight in front of him.

His mother stood by the stove, stirring something in a pot, her long kimono sleeves barely held up with two straps of ribbon, to keep them out of the food. That wasn't what was abnormal, what was abnormal, was the grey haired man near the sink, cutting up what appeared to be fruit, jabbering on about things that had gone on in his snooker room. In a bathrobe.

Kaito groaned even louder then he had before, banging his head lightly against the door jam. The conversation slowed, then stopped as the pair turned to look at him. Kaito turned his head, resting it against the door as he looked at his mother and Jii. "Mom?" he asked, eyes glancing between her and Jii.

"Kaito..." she started then blushed brightly, ducking her head.

Kaito groaned yet again, lowering his head. "Jii?!" he commented, giving her a look before shaking is head.

"Kaito!" his mother chastised, shaking the pot spoon at him.

Kaito heard footsteps behind him and he turned, swallowing as he saw Saguru, dressed in his own bathrobe, which didn't quite fit considering the blond was taller and simply larger then him. Kaito took a moment to admire the flesh the small robe revealed before remembering he was angry at the blond. He sniffed, lifting his face a bit, almost snubbing the blond. "Saguru," he greeted coldly before turning back to the kitchen.

"Kaito?" Saguru said questioningly, echoed by his mother, though the questions were different.

"Mum, Saguru, Saguru, mum." he glanced at Saguru before nodding into the living room. "There's a note in there you should read, it's in a ball by the wall." he then pushed off the door, heading into the kitchen and grabbing a jug of juice from the fridge.

Saguru frowned and headed into the living room, grabbing the note Kaito described and unfolding it, eyebrows raising as he read it over before silently cursing Kid in his head. It would just figure, that the thief would find a way to fuck with him even when he wasn't around.

He headed back into the kitchen, tightening the robe as it made a bid for freedom. "Kaito, I think we should..."

"I'm not speaking to you...you...I don't think there's a word to describe you, at least not without switching languages and cursing." Kaito finished his drink, setting it in the sink and ignoring Jii's and his mother's looks, pushing past Saguru and heading outside.

Saguru sighed, watching him go. He rubbed a hand over his face before looking at Mika and Jii, reading to face the firing squad. But, instead of an angry parent and near parent, he only found sympathetic looks.

"Breakfast, Saguru-kun?" Mika said gently, giving him a small smile. "Jii, take the poor boy upstairs and get him some clothes."

Jii nodded, grabbing his glasses and heading out of the kitchen, Saguru following.

--

Kaito whistled and held out his hand, smiling sadly as one of his doves landed lightly on the finger, tiny feet curling around the flesh perch. Kaito brought his hand in slowly, until he could nuzzle his cheek against the soft white feathers. The dove cooed softly, nuzzling back before looking up at her master, her head titled curiously.

Kaito smiled again, raising the bird to peck a kiss on her peek before moving her to his shoulder, heading over to the containers of dove food, scooping out the measured amounts before making his rounds, putting the feed in the open cages.

"I don't know what to do with him," Kaito said softly, staring at the sky, watching a few of his doves swooping in and out of the trees, one circling the Nakamori home as if deciding weither or not it could land without being yelled at. "He...he means a lot to me. And I don't like...he did that..and with Kid! What's wrong with me that he needs my double?"

The dove tilted her head before flapping her wings, as close to a shrug as she could give her master. There was a crunching sound behind them and the dove turned, wings flapping again, this time agitated. Kaito frowned and lifted her off his shoulder, throwing her up into the air and watching the dove take flight before turning.

Saguru stood there, borrowed clothes hanging off of him slightly, hands shoved deep into his pockets, bare feet shifting on the grain littering the ground. "Will you at least listen, if you're not going to speak?"

Kaito turned away and busied himself with checking the water for the birds, sniffing. Saguru sighed and took as seat on a plastic lawn chair, grabbing a small white bird harness, turning the straps over an over in his fingers. "It's not about you, Kaito." He looked up at Kaito's snort before realizing he had gotten his fingers tangled in the small harness and focused on them again. "I'm serious. What Kid and I have done...and may do is not about you. We, er, Kid and I, have been dating, in a fashion, for about three months now. It was...we were ready, more then ready, to take that step. You and I...it's barely been a month, if that. Not to mention I told you I didn't want to rush into a relationship with you."

"Why not?" Kaito burst out, spinning around and nearly flinging the empty water dish at Saguru. "That makes it about me, Saguru, if you're willing to be with him and not with me."

Saguru set aside the now tangled harness and stood, moving over to Kaito. He pulled the water dish Kaito was twisting in his hands free and set it on the cage, tilting Kaito's head up. "I never said I didn't want to be with you, Kaito. I said I didn't want to rush into things. I don't think you're ready for a relationship, let alone a sexual one."

"It's my life, shouldn't I be the one the decide if I'm ready?" Kaito swallowed, his eyes closing as he felt Saguru's fingers brushing over his cheek.

"You should, if you were objective enough. If you're ready, Kaito, then tell me why the only time you ask me for something, the only time you're intimate with me, is when you're breaking down and need something to distract you?"

Kaito opened his mouth to answer and then realized he didn't have one. He closed his mouth and his arms went around Saguru's waist, burring his face in the blond's chest. "I didn't mean to," he whispered.

"I know, Kaito," Saguru said, wrapping his arms around the other teen, resting his chin on the thick strands of hair. "And I know you do want a relationship, but I can't be a back-up plan, the one you come to when you can't go anywhere else."

Kaito sniffed and raised his head. "Can't we try? Please, it hurts to much to have you close and not..."

"I know, it hurts me just as much to push you away," Saguru said, brushing his thumb over Kaito's cheek. "I want to try, but I...I can't keep being torn between you two. Kid wants one thing and you want another and one day I'm going to rip apart because you both keep tugging."

"I'm sorry, I just...when I read that, I didn't want to be angry but I felt so worthless, Saguru. That there was something wrong with me that pushed you away."

"Nothing about you pushes me away, Kaito. You should know that by now." Saguru said, smiling softly. "If anything it draws me in."

Kaito smiled and tilted his head up, being rewarded with the softest, most gentlest kiss he had ever received. His eyes closed as he savored it, the cliched fireworks exploding in his chest. Pulling away from the kiss, he gave a happy humming sound before jumping, as Saguru raised his hand and removed something from the top of his head. Laughing, he nuzzled the dove resting on Saguru's finger, before nodding the bird towards Saguru.

The dove stared at the blond detective for a long moment, before poking her head forward, pecking at his lips. Saguru smiled and kissed the top of the dove's head before throwing her gently into the air, allowing her to fly free with her brothers and sisters.

"Your mother sent me out to get you for breakfast," Saguru said after a silent moment, pulling away from Kaito and simply taking his hand. "By the way, she asked me if the Kaito I stayed the night with was you, or the other you."

Kaito stopped suddenly, causing Saguru to be jerked back. "She...knows?" Kaito jerked again on Saguru's arm, forcing the detective to turn around. "Did you tell her?"

Saguru shook his head. "I have a feeling, Kaito, that your mother is smarter then you're giving her credit for." He brushed a light kiss over Kaito's cheek. "She did give birth to you after all," he said with a grin before starting for the kitchen again, this time the one to pull the other along.

--

"My baby boy's all grown up," Mika said, giving a loudly fake sob and falling onto Kaito's bed, careful not to wrinkle her kimono. She then sat up, flinging a pair of dirty socks across the room before laying down again, tucking her kimono around her.

"Mo-om," Kaito whined, though he smiled at her reflection in the mirror as he buttoned his uniform shirt. He paused, staring at his reflection, the sun setting behind him. "I can't believe it's all over," he said softly and turned, glancing at his mother. "How can it all be over?"

"That's a part of life, Kaito-kun. You grow up, you move on, you leave things behind."

"I know but...I spent so many years, waking up, going to school, coming home, and now...it's all gone."

Mika smiled, standing and moving over to her son, giving him a tight hug before pulling away and straightening his shirt. "It's not gone, Kaito. It's a memory and our memories are never gone. And your next adventure is waiting for you, you just have to open the door and embrace it."

Kaito sniffed, rubbing his nose on his sleeve before hugging his mother. "Thank you," he whispered, burring his head in her neck, breathing in her perfume. "Thank you."

"Hey, none of that. My son is not mushy." She said sternly, though tears sparkled in her eyes. She pulled away and fixed his shirt yet again, before studying him. Her son, her boy...was now a man. She swallowed and slipped a hand into her left sleeve, removing a medium sized velvet box. "I wasn't sure when to give this to you, I thought it might have been when you were married but considering..." She swallowed and held out the box.

Kaito took it curiously, brushing his thumb over the worn velvet before lifting the lid of the box, the hinges cracking. Laying inside, on a mound of velvet, was his father's white gold pocket watch, glittering brightly in the fading light. Kaito swallowed, his hands suddenly trembling as he lifted the watch out of the box and pressed the top to open the cover.

On the underside of the cover was Toichi's name, followed by a clumsily pasted picture of himself and his mother when he was a toddler. The second hand ticked, crossing easily over the small gems embedded into the face, marking each hour. He looked up at his mother, tears sliding down his cheeks, matching the ones sliding down hers. He threw his arms around her, sobbing softly as he clutched the watch, holding tightly to the memory of his father, and the physical presence of his mother.

"He would have been so proud of you, Kaito," his mother said, her voice thick with tears, arms clutching just as tightly to her son as he clutched to her. "Not only for tonight...but for other nights. He wanted so badly, to be there when you took your first flight."

Kaito cried harder, body shaking as memories of his father filled him, remembering Toichi's laugh, his deep voice...those strong hands that easily manipulated cards to his will. "I want him to be proud of me," he whispered, hands shaking as he tightened his hold. "I want to make you both proud of me, I'm sorry I was such an idiot."

"You were never an idiot, Kaito," she answered, turning her head and pressing her lips lightly against Kaito's cheek, before burring her own face in his neck, realizing just how tall he had really grown, last time she could do this he was two and clutched in her arms. "You are Kuroba Kaito, magician, trickster and thief...and you are the greatest son I could have ever asked for."

Kaito gave a broken sniffle, holding his mother for another moment before pulling away, wiping at his eyes. "We're a right mess," he muttered, giving a watery smile. He looked down at the pocket watch clutched tightly in his hand before giving it a gentle squeeze.

The pair suddenly found themselves surrounded by confetti and weak purple smoke. Coughing, Kaito waved the air in front of him. He could hear his mother's startled laughter and reached out, grabbing her hand, forced to laugh himself, staring in wonder at his father's last trick.

The scent of roses was thick despite the age of the smoke, and both Kuroba's breathed it in deeply, feeling calmer as the scent surrounded them. The scent was a part of them, their signature. From Kid's roses, to his mother's garden, and his father's favorite scent.

Smiling, laughter still bright in her eyes, Mika sat on the bed, pulling Kaito down next to her. "Forgot about that one," she said softly and took the watch, showing her son the hidden chamber to store any number of surprises.

As he listened to his mother explain the mechanism, he studied her face, a smile playing over his lips as he truly saw his mother, for what may have been the first time. Many times, as he was growing up, he would have given anything for his father to still be there, to help him, to talk to...

But now, as they sat there, holding a piece of Toichi in their hands, he realized he would give anything if just to keep this moment a bit longer, to hear his mother's voice, so soft and sure, for just a moment more.

He placed his hands over his mother's, stilling them, forcing her to look up at him curiously. "Thank you," he said softly, seriously.

Mika smiled and raised a hand over her son's, giving a gentle squeeze. "Any time."

Kaito took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do, before letting the breath out in a whoosh. "If...if you and Jii...er...I mean." He rubbed the back of his head, messing up his hair even more. "I'm okay with it," he finally got out, looking at his mother. "Just so long as he treats you right. If not..."

"You'll be the first to know," she said and hugged her son again. "Thank you, Kaito." she whispered. She pulled away and took her own deep breath before slipping her hand fully out of her sleeve, a shining gold ring on her left hand.

Kaito blinked at the ring before looking up at his mother. "Did..."

"It's a trial. I wouldn't do anything without you. You're the most important person in my life, and nothing will ever change that."

Kaito smiled, resting his head on her shoulder. "Guess you could have done worse, and it will make things easier since it's Jii."

Mika smiled, wrapping an arm around her son, resting her head against his as they both sat in silence, allowing the minutes to wind away.

--

"Try one trick, Kuroba Kaito and I promise I will tear you apart and pickle your body for further experiments." Akako said, breathing down Kaito's neck, pinning the poor magician against the wall.

"Saguru, save me!"

"Sorry, Kaito, but I'm with Akako-chan. You do anything to ruin this night and I'll help her tear you apart and pickle you."

"Aoko..."

"Can't hear you, lalalalalala." Aoko sung, fixing one of her nylons, not used to wearing the stockings. She shook her leg before replacing it on the ground, bouncing slightly. "Besides, they're right. This is our graduation, Kaito, we can't have you ruining it."

"It's just a boring ceremony, much like every other boring ceremony we've had in the past years." Kaito muttered, ducking under Akako's arm and pulling on his uniform jacket, hot in the summer evening.

"Don't make me strip search you," Akako said, pointing a finger at Kaito and smirking as the thief yelped when a bit of magic sparked him.

Kaito turned, sticking his tounge out at her before snuggling against Saguru, making the blond more miserable now that Kaito's body heat was added to his own. "Can't we let Saguru strip search me?" he asked, batting his eyelashes at Saguru who snorted and shifted, pushing Kaito off of him.

"You four, get in your homeroom!" a teacher yelled, frowning at the four students who were loitering. Honestly, just because they were graduating they thought they were better then the rules.

"We were but we got kicked out!" Kaito yelled back merrily, wiggling his fingers at his 'favorite' teacher. The man frowned at Kaito but walked away, quite briskly for a man of sixty.

"What did you...never mind, I doubt I want to know." Aoko said.

"Hakuba-niichan?" came the not quite childlike voice from behind the group and the foursome turned, watching the small child in a suit for a moment before looking at Saguru.

"Ah, Edogowa-kun," Saguru said and shared a look with Kaito before moving away from the group, gently leading Conan with a hand on the boy's back. Saguru leaned against a wall once they were away from prying ears (and annoying pranks), blinking down at the child.

Conan's demeanor changed as the attention was off of him and a smile curled over Hakuba's lips as he watched the boy shift from his childlike personality, to his more adult side. "I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion," Conan said, tilting his head up to look at Saguru, leaning against a pole.

"It's quite alright," Saguru said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Though I am rather surprised you're here. It's a long way from the Mouri's and you, as far as I can recall, have no one related attending here."

"No, I came for you, actually."

Saguru raised a pale eyebrow, and Conan laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "We did leave on the wrong foot last time, didn't we?"

"You shot at my thief."

"Your thief?"

"Mine. I will be the one to catch him, not you, and certainly not by a bullet."

Conan took a long pause, trying to choose his words carefully. "The bullet was a stupid thing to do, I admit it. I was aiming... but I never expected to hit the bas-- him. And I didn't. As for catching him... stake all the claims you want. We'll just see who claps the cuffs on him in the end." He smirked, licking his lips in anticipation of such an event going down on his record before paling as another through pattern intruded on the happy mental picture. "In an official capacity. If you've managed it in the bedroom I don't want to know."

"Trust me, Shinichi, our bedroom activities are not for your pursual." Saguru said dryly, licking his lips as he waited.

"Good, because that's a mental image I coul...you know."

"Quite. And have for some time. The vanishing act of Kudo Shinichi fascinated me the moment I first heard whispers about it. How one day, for no apparent reason he just up and left, leaving his childhood girlfriend behind. Oh sure, he would appear every now and then, a few phone calls, a few hush hush cases, but in the end...he vanished, and left a little boy in his place."

"How did you..."

"I'm not a world famous detective for my good looks, Edogowa-kun. There are times I can put two and two together and get four. Not to mention my father knows quite a bit about you and your...other half's cases. There are a great deal of similarities in the thought patterns of the detectives in those cases. The movements of logic and reasoning. I don't study human and criminal behavior because I don't understand people, I study it because I find it a fascinating subject, much like the incident of a precocious child, able to out reason talented and capable adults."

Saguru flicked his head, getting his bangs out of his eyes, watching Kaito for a moment out of the corner of his eye before looking down at Conan again. "Plus, I've met Mouri Kogoro."

Conan's head was bowed, processing what Saguru said, his hand lightly tracing over the watch on his wrist. "Can I trust you?" he asked, finally raising his head, his eyes blank, devoid of emotion, despite the fear curling through him, thrumming in his veins.

This was...something was about to change in their lives, he could feel it in the very air around them, tight and heavy, waiting. He wanted...needed to be able to trust Saguru, to have...someone who knew, someone who would look at him and not see a bright but young child, someone he could talk to and just...be with.

Someone who wouldn't pick him up and carry him, but let him stand on his own two feet.

As much as he loved Heiji as a brother and friend, as much as he trusted the Osaka detective and enjoyed the other teen's company, there was something...something in this prospective relationship that he desperately, deep down to his bones needed.

Saguru was like him, they saw the world thought the same eyes. They had similar familial experiences, though one had stayed behind and one had left. Even their interests were similar, from Sherlock Holmes to the music the pair listened to.

Okay so Conan wasn't obsessed with time and in lust with a thief, but the important things were similar.

And Saguru wasn't four hours away by train and eight by car. He was a few stops down the road, less if he ambushed the detective at the station.

And that thick tension was still coiling around them, unsure weither to bind the pair together or tear them to tiny pieces.

"Can you ever really trust someone," Saguru asked, serious in both face and voice, staring down at the shrunken teen. "Is there ever a time you can hand someone a knife and be sure they won't slide into your back?"

He was silent, for a moment, before kneeling before Conan, staring eye to eye with the boy. He held out his hands, palms up. "I am a detective, whose whole identity and love is wrapped up in my need to know the truth and my curiosity that might one day kill me. I'm a teenager, who tries hard but often falls flat on my face. I'm also a man, in love with a thief." He turned one of his hands, offering it to Conan. "I don't ask to trust you, I just ask to be your friend."

Conan smiled softly, reaching out and taking Saguru's hand, giving it a tight grip and a shake, before he was suddenly swept up into the air, resting on a pair of shoulders. He yelped in surprise, clinging to the wild brown strands of hair, ignoring the startled yelp of pain from below.

"Are you two alright?" Kaito asked curiously, giving Conan a bounce on his shoulders for pulling his hair, but otherwise not bothering the tiny detective.

"We are," Saguru said, and smiled softly at Kaito, which made Conan peer curiously down at the teen he was sitting on, mind turning. "Edogowa-kun, allow me to introduce Kuroba Kaito. He is a fellow classmate and general annoyance."

Kaito stuck his tounge out at Saguru before flipping Conan off of his shoulders, setting the detective on his feet. He bowed low, a blue and white rose appearing in his fingers. Smiling he tucked it into Conan's lapel. "A pleasure," he said.

"Likewise," Conan said, fingering the rose before looking up at Kaito. He glanced curiously at Saguru before stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I guess I should get going, you'll be heading in soon I suspect." Conan nodded to the underclassmen who were gathering in grade lines, awaiting entry into the gymnasium.

"Is Mouri-san here with you?" Saguru asked, moving closer to Kaito and lightly resting a hand on the teen's back.

Conan shook his head, scuffing a foot on the ground. "Neither Ran nor her father wished to come, I was...un-escorted for once."

Kaito tilted his head before smiling. "Then I think, we'll just have to keep you company." he said and took off his uniform jacket, flicking it a few times before waving it over Conan. As the jacket returned to his side, Conan blinked, staring down at the miniature sized school uniform he now wore, the rose pinned neatly to the small jacket.

"How did you..."

"It's better not to ask," Saguru said as the two girls joined them, both awwing over how cute Conan looked.

"Seniors!" A voice came and the five some looked up, turning towards the teacher who was gathering the graduates together for their entrance.

"Show time." Kaito said, sliding back on his jacket and fingering his father's pocket watch. He took Saguru's hand, and then Conan's so they wouldn't loose track of the shorter boy in the throng of students, leading the way to the gathering.

--

"Stand up, sit down, stand up, bow, sit down, stand up, do the can-can." Kaito muttered, slouching in his chair as the principal started the long introduction for yet another speaker who had nothing to do with anything.

Conan snickered from the floor where he was resting, leaning against Aoko's legs. He had never had his own graduation from high school, and it was...nice, to sit here, feeling what it could have been like. Maybe one day, if things didn't work out he would end up here again, under the name he carried now, but for this moment, he could pretend.

"Kaito," Saguru said, giving his boyfriend a warning look and Kaito shut up, making a face as the new speaker starting his long, droning speech.

"Wake me when I'm needed." he muttered.

"THERE HE IS!"

Kaito shot up at the high, feminine squeal, suddenly terrified though having no idea why. It was probably just because he usually equated such a scream with Nakamori rounding a corner somewhere. But no, Inspector Nakamori was sitting with his mother and Jii, talking about...something, he couldn't hear them from here.

Next to him, Saguru had stiffened, and was silently muttering under his breath in English. Conan perked up, listening to Saguru's words before grinning. "I don't think you can do that with a broom, Hakuba-niichan!"

Kaito and Aoko peered curiously at Saguru, wondering what the blond was saying while Akako scanned the crowd behind them. "Ooh, there," she said, pointing and Kaito followed her finger, blinking at the tall blond woman who was clutching the arm of a rather portly, laughing man.

"So that's your mother," Aoko said, giggling.

"Of course not, I was spawned from a lettuce patch," Saguru muttered, chancing a glance over his shoulder before sinking in his chair.

"Come on, Saguru, it's not like you don't know our parents." Kaito said, grinning.

"I don't know Akako's."

"It's because I don't have any." She said. "They died in a boating accident."

"Oh," Saguru said, feeling rotten for bringing it up.

"Relax, Hakuba-kun, I was five when they died, I'm rather over it by now." She reached over and ruffled his blond hair before straightening in her seat. "But you MUST introduce us to your mother...or else."

Saguru gave the witch a wary look before focusing back on the ceremony. Kaito pulled Conan up into his lap, whispering something in the boy's ear. Conan blinked at him before nodding slowly and Kaito grinned, whispering again. The other three peered curiously at the magician but were soon distracted by the ceremony moving into the diploma section of the event.

"Oo, now we get to see if the principal knows his alphabet," Akako said, snickering. She pulled out a nail file, eying the stage before returning to her nails, trying to figure out what Kaito was going to pull and when.

Despite their threats, she knew that eventually, the trickster would come up with something. This was too great an opportunity to pass up.

"Hakuba Saguru!" The principal called the the blond stood, gathering every bit of aristocratic snobbery he contained around him as he strode towards the stage.

Mika watched Saguru's footsteps carefully, nudging Jii who started engaging Nakamori in conversation. Just as Saguru reached for his diploma, Mika hit the button on the small remote control in her hand, triggering an explosion that clouded the stage in smoke. She hit the second button and a large banner unfurled itself, raining rose petals on the stage, covering Saguru and the principal.

The pair turned at the sound of something moving next to them and as the smoke cleared, cheers and shouts erupted from the audience, intermixed with curses from Nakamori.

Kaitou Kid would like to extend his congratulations to the graduating class of Ekoda High School, and his intentions to steal away the boredom and monotony of such an event. He in particular wishes to extend a special congratulation to his dearest rival and detective, Hakuba Saguru, and applauds said detective's ability to graduate, in-spite of the attractively distracting midnight antics and activities of one, Kaitou Kid.

Saguru stared at his lover's grinning signature and had the distinct urge to wrap his hands around Kaito's neck. He coughed and turned back to the principal, a small smile on his face. "Annoying, isn't he." he said and the principal nodded, breaking himself out of his muted shock, handing over the diploma, bowing to Saguru.

"Good luck," the principal said with a smile and Saguru had to laugh, heading back to his seat, ignoring his mother's cheering as best he could.

"I can't believe you did that!" Aoko and Akako hissed.

"I did nothing," Kaito said innocently, leaning back in his chair with a smirk playing over his lips. He grinned widely as Saguru sat back down. "Looks like your stalker paid a visit."

Saguru reached out without looking, smacking Kaito on the back of the head. Kaito cursed, rubbing the back of his head. He stuck his tounge out at Saguru while Conan looked between them curiously, filing yet more information away. Saguru watched the boy before cursing in his head. He was going to have to talk with Conan sooner or later.

"Koizumi Akako!"

"See ya, boys." She said and raised her hand, vanishing. She re-appeared on the stage, startling the principal. Grinning she accepted her diploma, running a finger over the principals hand, starting him drooling. Walking off the stage she made sure to put an extra sashay in her walk, skirts swinging. She hummed to herself as she felt the eyes on the men around her starting at each shift of her hips.

Kaito and Saguru stood to allow her back into her seat, both raising an eyebrow at her, Kaito covering Conan's eyes. "What that necessary?" Kaito asked as he took his seat.

"Of course, I must leave them with a...lasting impression." she said, grinning before wrapping an arm around Aoko's shoulders. "Besides, it's fun to tease them. Not my fault they're all perverts."

Saguru snorted, mumbling something under his breath before shifting his legs, knowing Kaito would be next since no one else in their class came between Akako and Kaito.

"Kuroba Kaito!"

"S'my call!" Kaito said and bounced out of his seat. He didn't bother hopping over what was left of Saguru's legs, simply jumped on the seat in front of him and hopped his way to the stage. Striding towards the principal, he shifted his arm, a small silver capsule falling into his hand. He eyed the small form hovering in the shadows of the stage and smiled. Conan was a quick little buggar.

He opened his hand, allowing the capsule to fall and for the second time that evening, smoke and confetti filled the stage. Under the cover of the smoke screen he slipped off the stage, into the shadows next to Conan. "Ready?"

Conan nodded and handed his glasses to Kaito, messing up his neatly combed hair before climbing onto the stage, Kaito giving him a boost. Conan hopped into the exact place Kaito had been and the smoke started to clear, revealing what, to the audience, now looked like a shrunken Kaito.

Conan coughed, before grinning up at the principal. "Well, they can't always go right," he said cheerily and accepted the diploma from the stunned man, giving a bow before hopping off the stage and using the shock of the audience to climb over people. Granted he wasn't able to do the back flips Kaito could, but hopping from chair to chair wasn't that hard for the small detective. Conan took Kaito's seat, staring down at the diploma before carefully rolling it up, securing it with a rubber band for Kaito, whenever the magician returned.

Saguru stared down at the kid before plucking the diploma from him and handing the young detective a comb. "I cannot believe you did that."

Conan grinned in-spite of himself, brushing his hair back to it's usual look. "It was fun," he said, glancing up at Saguru before putting on a childish pout. "Hakuba-niichan, can I sit in your lap?"

Saguru blinked at the childish request before nodding, helping Conan into his lap, curious as to why he asked.

Conan leaned back, settling along Saguru's chest before turning his head, breath ghosting over Saguru's neck. "Kaito is Kid, isn't he," Conan asked under his breath, words meeting Saguru's ear and no one else's.

Saguru knew Conan had but things together, but didn't think the detective would ask here. Though he had to admit, with all the chatter it was a nice place to talk. "I cannot answer that, though perhaps, if you told him something, he might give you a secret in exchange." Saguru said cryptically and Conan nodded slowly.

A secret for a secret, both holding something over the other so that neither could make a move. Conan didn't have many secrets, at least none that would interest the thief, and the one he did have, Kid already knew.

But if Conan told him of his own free will...

"You're serious about this," Conan said softly.

"I want to be friends with you, Conan. To do that, you need to fully accept who I am and the people in my life, just as I do yours. If you can't handle it, can't accept it, you're free to walk away, but I will not give you ammunition to hurt those I love."

Meaning Saguru would not confirm or deny Conan's suspicions, nor give the detective evidence on their mutual rival unless Conan could handle knowing the truth and not doing a damn thing about it. It was a skilled offer, playing on the one thing Conan held dear. Truth.

Conan was a detective's detective, cursed with an insatiable curiosity, the need to know everything, to understand everything, the desire to see the truth in all things, no matter what it was.

But that need to know, didn't always translate in a need to act.

Kid wasn't the BO, he wasn't a murder or a villain. At most he was an annoying brat who did his best to get under Conan's skin, but not evil.

"Do you think you can arrange sometime for me to talk to him?" Conan asked, doing his best to look like Saguru's little brother when the other students looked back.

"I can do better, we are having a get together next month with our other classmates to celebrate being free of school as well as my birthday. If you would like, you are welcome to come and I can get Kaito to talk with you there."

"Perfect," Conan said, and settled in to enjoy the rest of the ceremony.

--

"Happy Birthday, Saguru-boy!" Margret cheered, throwing confetti on Saguru as he walked in the door.

Saguru blinked, staring at Margret, before turning his gaze to the others gathered in the living room, wishing for a moment he could turn around and walk right back out the door.

"My little man's all grown up!" his mother called, before wrapping Saguru in a giant hug, once more nearly suffocating her son.

Saguru could hear Kaito's snickers and struggled to get out of his mother's grasp, fishing his hair when he was finally free. "Your idea, I take it?" he said to his mother who nodded happily before bouncing off.

Saguru shook his head, toeing off his shoes before suddenly being tackled to the floor by three bodies. Blinking, he looked up at Kaito who grinned and placed a kiss on Saguru's lips before climbing off. His place was taken by Akako who leaned down and licked his lips before rewarding him with a kiss and climbing off as well.

Shifting, Saguru found himself face to face with Conan who blushed bright red before darting forward and pecking Saguru lightly on the cheek before scrambling off of the blond. Saguru blinked at the actions before sitting up, rubbing the back of his head that had hit the floor hard. Kaito offered Saguru his hand and helped Saguru stand.

"Oh, Saguru-boy, this came for you." Margret said, pulling an envelope out of her apron pocket before bustling off to the kitchen to get dinner ready.

Saguru swallowed, staring down at the creamy white envelope, the return address sending spikes of nervous fear up his spine.

"What's that?" Kaito asked, carrot stick sticking out of his mouth.

"A letter from The Metropolitan Police."

"Ah, got a parking ticket?" Kaito asked, snickering.

"Wrong Metropolitan Police, this is from the Met in London."

"Ooo," Kaito said and looked more confused as those words caused Saguru's parents to snap to attention and even Margret came out of the kitchen, holding a pork chop on a large serving fork, ignoring the fact there was fat dripping down her arm.

Saguru glanced at the people staring at him before taking a deep breath, turning the envelope over and slicing it open with his finger, hand shaking slightly. He pulled out the folded letter and stared at it, unable to gather the courage to open it.

Akako rolled her eyes and snatched it from him, opening it, her eyes scanning the words before she started to speak. "Mr. Hakuba, we at the Metropolitan Police of greater London, are proud to extend the offer of joining our leagues as a MPS Special Constable, with all the rights and respect as any other officer of the force.

We were honored to receive your application, and while it was received before you reached the cut off age, we have made a special allowance given your history and reputation.

While it is unusual to have an officer of your rank outside the country, we (The Metropolitan Police) and The Metropolitan Police of Tokyo have decided that it would be in everyone's best interest if you remained as you were, an attachment to the MPS of Tokyo, though now in an official capacity.

In a week or two, you will receive more information as well as the markings of your rank.

Thank you again, for your application and we are proud to have you serve with us.

Sincerely,

Edward St. Claire

Director

MPS Special Constable Division"

There was a scream and suddenly Saguru was tackled again, this time by his mother and father, both talking rapidly in English that neither Kaito nor Akako could follow and even Conan was slightly lost. Akako shrugged and offered the letter to Kaito who glanced at it before looking at her, confused.

"It means he's an official police officer," Conan said, smiling slightly. "A Special Constable has the same privileges as a normal officer but more...freedom."

Kaito swallowed, looking at the pile of Hakuba's. "I'm officially dating a cop."

"Pretty much," Conan said, putting his hands behind his head, grinning up at Kaito.

Kaito nodded before giving a yell and jumping onto Saguru, hugging his boyfriend tightly, laughing at the grunt Saguru made.

--

"We'll take our leave tonight, don't destroy the house." Saguru's father said sternly, before handing his son a brown paper bag. "Not a word to your mother," he said, shaking his finger before heading for the car.

Saguru's mother came downstairs, chatting with Kaito as she tried to stick her earring in her ear and put on her heels at the same time. Kaito detoured into the kitchen, intent on getting Baaya to sneak him a piece of cake before she left, and Saguru's mother continued on to her son.

"I'm so proud of you, Saguru-kun!" she said, hugging her son tightly, nearly making the teen turn purple. She pulled away and brushed her fingers over her son's cheek, sniffling. "My little man," she said, kissing both cheeks before picking a large bag up from under the end table, handing it to him. "Don't tell your father!" She winked before running out of the house. "I'm coming!" she yelled as her husband honked at her to hurry up.

Kaito joined Saguru in the door, a bit of chocolate frosting on his lips. "What's all that?" he asked, watching Saguru's parent's leave.

"Alcohol. Apparently my parents figure if they give it, we won't do something stupid to get it."

Kaito laughed and picked up one of the bags, carrying it into the kitchen, followed by Saguru. The pair unloaded the wine casks as well as the beer, sticking them in the fridge before grabbing the trays of snacks and bowls of chips Margret had prepared, carrying them into the living room.

"You boys go change, I'll handle this," Margret said, shooing them upstairs where Akako and Aoko where attempting to dress Conan. Kaito laughed at Conan's disgruntled look as Akako tied the white cloth over Conan's shoulder, attacking an olive leaf clasp to the knot.

"I can't believe you guys are having a toga party!" Conan yelled over the music Aoko was fiddling with.

Kaito grinned, pulling his shirt over his head. "What else should we have? A Pirate party?"

"I would make a sexy wench," Akako said, grinning as she tied her long hair up in a mess of curls and braids, decorating it with a wreath of gold leaves.

"You would make a sexy anything," Aoko said, leaning over Conan to steal a kiss from her girlfriend before yelping as her toga flipped in the air. "KAITO!"

"It wasn't me!" Kaito said, dashing around the room, trying to get away from Aoko, nearly tripping over Saguru's bear collection.

Saguru shook his head, moving out of the way of the pair, donning his own carefully prepared toga, fixing the shoulder knot carefully before sliding a red sash through the knot, attaching the sash at his hip with an odd grape pin Akako had found for him. He ducked a swinging broom, sparing a thought to wonder where Aoko had found it before brushing the thought aside, accepting the wreath of ivy from Akako, placing it just so on his head.

"Back, woman!" Kaito said, brandishing one of Saguru's cricket trophies as a weapon, waving it at Aoko. "Back or I'll...I'll..."

"You'll what?" Aoko said, grinning and tightening her grip on the broom. "Blind me with the fake gold?"

"No, I'll..." His eyes cast around the room before he grabbed Conan, holding the seven year old in the air. "I'll tickle this poor innocent to death!"

Aoko raised an eyebrow and shifted the broom, slipping it under Conan's legs to jab Kaito in the stomach. Kaito groaned and nearly dropped Conan who was rescued by Saguru who bopped Kaito on the head.

"HA!" Aoko said and advanced on Kaito who disappeared in a puff of smoke and confetti, grabbing his toga and trying to dress as he ran downstairs, Aoko chasing after.

Saguru shook his head, setting Conan down and heading for the stairs himself. "Hopefully they'll wear themselves out before the party begins," he muttered.

"Doubt it," Akako said cheerily, scooping Conan up and sliding down the banister to the living room, bouncing to her feet and heading for the kitchen.

The party was in full swing, teenagers of every shape and size flooding the house, dancing, laughing, talking and attempting to make out any time Saguru wasn't glaring at them. Conan was giggling manically at a trick Kaito performed, his cheeks tinged red from the alcohol the magician had snuck him.

Kaito wound up his last trick, presenting Keiko with a rose that caused her to blush before he scooped up Conan, carrying the slightly tipsy detective out to the back yard. He set Conan on the top of the barbecue before staring up at the stars, allowing the cooler night air wash over his heated body. "Saguru said you wanted to talk to me," Kaito said softly, turning his head slightly, shadows falling over his face as he looked at Conan.

Conan's brain shifted from the free thinking he had been enjoying and back to a working semblance. "I do," he said softly and shifted his own gaze to the stars, trying to figure out how to broach the topic. "I..." he licked his lips before shifting his gaze back to Kaito, studying the teen. He was taking a giant risk with this, inviting another person into his life, another person that could be hurt...or that could hurt him.

But in the end, if things worked out, so was Kaito. And Conan had to pause, and wonder if it was truly worth it, to endanger both of them, just to come to a level of understanding. But in the end, it wasn't his choice, not entirely. This was a fifty fifty deal, and Kaito had his own choice to make.

"A year or so ago, I went to an amusement park called Tropical Land," Conan started, turning his gaze back to the stars, speaking to them rather then Kaito. "It was a date with my best friend Ran. I...I guess I discovered why there's a saying that curiosity killed the cat. I stuck my nose into something I shouldn't and was poisoned by a dark man. Instead of killing me, however, the poison did something far worse. It took away my identity, my family...my life. And left me seven years old, hiding, terrified that at any moment, my life, and those of who I loved, would be over." Conan went silent, staring at the twinkling stars for a long moment before shifting a glance at Kaito.

Kaito was staring at him, his face un-readable, shadows hiding whatever words his eyes might have spoken. The pair stood there for a long moment, silence breathing around them, and Conan started to fidget, not knowing what was going to happen, or what Kaito was thinking, and the idea scared him.

Then, Kaito spoke.

"Nine years ago, a magician named Kuroba Toichi died in a magic show in Hong Kong. No word came to his family about what happened, and they had assumed, for eight years that he had simply vanished." Kaito swallowed, doing his best to keep emotion from his voice, pulling on the mask he wore as Kid. "A year ago, the magician's son discovered a secret about his father, a whole other life. He went out that night, trying to find his father when hints that the man might still be around came to him. Unfortunately he found out the truth, that his father was dead, murdered and the man that could have been, was nothing more then a helper, angry with the passage of time."

Kaito turned his eyes back to the sky, watching the stars as they moved above the pair, remembering that cold night he saw Jii in his father's clothes, the helpless anger he felt when he found out his father had been murdered.

The night he truly discovered what a bitch destiny was.

"So the son, enraged from the news and determined to find answers, took up his father's mantle, diving into the secret life of his father, eager for answers, for a reason. And then one night, he met a dark man." Kaito's gaze shifted to Conan, who was staring, eyes hungry for information, eagerly drinking in everything Kaito said.

"The Black Ops," Conan breathed and Kaito shrugged.

"I can't connect Snake to them, but then again, it's very hard to connect any member to the crows. I just know there are stunning similarities, and I'm taking a leap to guess Snake may be connected, or at least have ties to the organization."

Conan turned this over in his mind, and gave a bitter laugh, staring at the night. "All this time, I was chasing a shadow. How could I have been so stupid?"

Kaito smiled. "It's not like I offered you the information, tantei-kun. Besides, I enjoyed the chase."

"So, why tell me now?" Conan asked, sliding from the barbecue to stand next to Kaito.

"Because things are changing. If I end up dead, I want the people that matter to know the truth." He glanced down at Conan, smiling. "Besides, I can see what's coming and it's better to have you on my side, then against me. I won't put Saguru between us."

"I'm going to still chase you," Conan said mildly, a bit of a smirk curling over his lips.

"I hope so, tantei-kun." Kaito said. "It would be rather boring, without dodging your soccer balls and darts." Kaito scooped Conan up, holding him in a loose embrace. "What will you do, when you find your truth?" he asked, staring at the sky, feeling lighter then he had earlier, the stars smiling down on the pair.

"Live." Conan said simply, resting his head on Kaito's shoulder. "I will live."

Kaito smiled and turned back into the house, leaving behind the heaviness of the night and the secrets both held about each other.

One day, they would live. But for now, things were alright.

--

"I feel sick," Conan groaned, his head in Akako's lap as he held his stomach.

"You shouldn't have tried out out eat Kaito-kun." Akako said, running her fingers through Conan's hair.

"Ugh, how can he eat that much?" Conan mumbled and shifted, trying to put his stomach in a position where it would feel better.

"It all leaks out the hole in his head." Aoko mumbled from her place on the floor where she had laid when the world started spinning around her.

Conan just groaned in reply, before glaring at Kaito who had bounced into the room. "You are far too chipper for someone who drunk as much as you did." Conan muttered, throwing a potato chip weakly in Kaito's direction.

"I didn't actually drink that much," Kaito said with a grin, plopping himself in Saguru's lap, waking up the detective.

"Everyone settled?" Saguru asked with a yawn and Kaito nodded, snuggling up against the detective.

"Everyone who needed to be is bedded down, and the last of the stragglers left in a cab." he said, resting his head on Saguru's shoulder. "Now it's just us awake."

Everyone was silent for a moment before Aoko tilted her head, looking at Kaito. "Why are we awake?"

Kaito blinked at her before smiling. "Too lazy to walk home and there are drunk people in our beds?" he offered with a shrug.

"I can't believe it's all over," Aoko whispered, staring at the ceiling. "What do we do now?"

"Same thing we've always done, annoy the world." Akako said with a smile. "Only now we have more time to do it."

Aoko gave a weak smile before sitting up. She leaned against the coffee table, drawing her knees up to her chest. "I just...it feels like we're all moving away from each other. I'm going to collage and you're doing your magic studies and the boys are...what are you doing?" she asked, looking at the two boys on the couch.

Kaito and Saguru looked at each other before shrugging. "I will do the same things I've done before," Saguru said, petting Kaito's hair. "Solve crimes, arrest murders and hope Kid's next trick doesn't turn me bright yellow."

Kaito shifted, laying his head on Saguru's shoulder. "I'm going to put more time into being Kid. Without school I have more time to dedicate to it, to focus."

"But," Aoko shifted, turning fully to face Kaito. "What about collage or a job, you don't need to be a full time thief, you don't even need to be a thief at all!"

"Aoko," Akako said softly, trying to quiet her girlfriend.

"No, Akako. It's time he paid attention. He's getting shot at. He's...it's not right!"

"Aoko, this is what I do, it's who I am," Kaito said.

"No it's not, Kaito! This isn't anywhere close to who you are. This is who your father was, and I hate to say it but you're not Toichi! You will never be your father and it's not healthy to keep trying! It's wrong," she whispered the last words, arms wrapped tightly around herself, tears sliding down her cheeks.

Kaito slid off of Saguru's lap, kneeling next to his best friend. "Aoko," he said softly, reaching out for her.

"No!" She jerked away from his touch, standing, keeping her arms wrapped around her body to keep her from trembling. "I tried, I tried so hard...but I can't just accept this, Kaito. I can't...it's wrong! It goes against everything I believe in, everything I was raised to believe in." She swallowed thickly and looked at Saguru. "How can you just let him do this?! How can you sit there, with your grand speeches and your ideals of right and wrong and just...let him do something so against the very values you hold dear?"

"Aoko..." Kaito tried again, a flash of hurt on his face before he buried it.

"And you!" Aoko said, whirling on the sick Conan who looked rather startled to be dragged into this. "What are you even doing here? You hate Kid, you've never kept that a secret, and now you're here, chatting merrily instead of calling my father or that incompetent detective you live with."

She turned back to Kaito, anger and pain on her face. "What have you done, Kaito? What magic have you weaved that destroyed something so pure and brilliant in them, that tore apart a piece of who they are?"

"Aoko, I haven't..."

"That's enough, Aoko." Akako said, her voice firm, giving no room for argument. Aoko stared at her before collapsing onto the ground, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Why?" she whispered, unsure who or what she was asking.

"There are bigger villains out there, Nakamori-chan, then an annoying thief." Conan said softly, sitting up. "There are dark things, men who wouldn't care to destroy the world so long as their target died. Women who wouldn't bat an eyelash as they slit your throat before re-applying their lipstick."

"Yes, Kid is a criminal, but he's rather low in the bigger picture," Saguru added. "What is Kid, compared to murders, rapist, drug dealers and the like? At most, Kid is a brat. A thief who brings happiness to the crowd, security some of the worlds most priceless treasures, attention to things that deserve it. He never kills, never steps beyond the fine line he walks, and always returns what he takes."

"He's a performer, brightening the night of not only those who follow him, but those who chase. He's a moon beam, illuminating the shadows and freeing us to see." Conan shifted against Akako, gently rubbing his stomach. "I will never stop chasing Kid, but..."

"I would rather catch the darker criminals waiting in his shadows, and to do that, I need Kid, to shine his light." Saguru finished and Conan nodded.

Aoko looked between them before standing, body trembling violently, tears still wetting her cheeks. She swallowed and raised her head, looking at Kaito, eye to eye. "I am going to college, and then I am going to join the force. My father has already offered me a spot on the Task Force." She swallowed before gathering her strength, body slowly stilling, anger radiating off of her instead of the pain. "I will find you, and I will catch you, and then I will show you face to the world as you're locked away." she said before turning and racing out of the house, nearly running into the front door before managing to get it open, fleeing.

Kaito was staring at where Aoko had been, his eyes wide, shocked to his core that Aoko, his dear, sweet Aoko, had...had drawn a line between them. He heard something moving behind him but he couldn't move, couldn't stop turning Aoko's words over in his mind. Arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly and it was then that Kaito realized he had been moving, clawing slowly at his chest as if he could rip out his aching heart and be rid of the pain.

"Come on," Saguru said softly, and managed to get Kaito walking, leading the teen into the kitchen.

Conan watched the pair leave before looking up at Akako. "Shouldn't you be going after her?" he asked softly, moving to shift away in case Akako wanted to stand.

"No," Akako said, wrapping her arm more firmly around Conan. "She can deal with this on her own. If I go after her now, we'll just fight. She needs some time to rage and cry before I approach her."

"Oh," Conan said before yawning and leaning against Akako. "Good, you make a nice pillow." he mumbled, blushing.

Akako smiled, ruffling his hair before laying back against the couch, pulling Conan into her lap so the pair could rest before dawn.

--

"I thought you would be inside, wooing my mother with more magic," Saguru said, climbing the tree Kaito was sitting in, settling himself on a branch next to his boyfriend, looking at him curiously.

Kaito shook his head, drawing a leg up to rest his chin on his knee. "I...needed to think about things."

"Is this about what happened earlier?"

Kaito shook his head before nodding. "A bit. It..this changes things."

"Not really," Saguru said, wishing he could wrap his arms around Kaito. "I was honest, when I said I would rather chase your shadows then you, Kaito. I'm not going to jump up and arrest you tomorrow just because I can."

Kaito smiled softly at Saguru and stood, jumping from his branch to Saguru's, curling up in Saguru's lap. "It's just...different, to think of you not as a teenage detective but a real, honest officer of the law."

Saguru smiled, holding Kaito close. "It's a bit weird to me as well, I've wanted it for so long and now...now it's here and I don't know what to do with myself. I'm torn between screaming from the roof and hiding under my covers."

Kaito laughed, resting his head on Saguru's shoulder, the stillness of the night wrapping them in a bubble where all time froze and they simply existed. Up until Kaito broke the moment, shifting and pulling something out of his pocket. "I...found this in the work room." he said, offering Saguru a small, gold wrapped package.

Saguru blinked, staring down at the present, looking curiously at Kaito who was staring off to the side, as if not wanting to witness what was occurring. Saguru turned back to the package, gently pulling on the gold ribbon, allowing it to fall open before carefully removing the gold foil wrapping from the package.

Underneath the wrapping lay a trademark light blue velvet box, shining silver English lettering picking out the name of a world famous American jewelry store. Swallowing, Saguru lifted the box lid, staring at the softly glittering titanium inside.

He lifted the bracelet first, the wrist cuff heavy in his hand, despite how light it looked. The mesh screen glittered tiny crystals reflecting the limited light, bouncing it between each other, almost outlining the dead space that was the ID plate, elegant script curling and wrapping around Saguru's name.

He set the wrist cuff down, and lifted the matching cuff links, smiling at the carefully engraved characters, wondering what the engraver thought as he cut out Saguru's name in Japanese. He returned the cuff links to the box and plucked the scrap of paper peeking out from under the velvet, opening the small note.

Saguru-chan-

I'm writing this, hoping that Kaito has found and given you the contents. I'm sorry I will not be able to be there on the glorious night of your eighteenth birthday, but I feel I have lingered too long as it is and must return our body to Kaito.

I'm writing this as you're nestled against me, sleeping off a late night Task Force meeting, the principal's speech lulling you into dreams I wish I could see. It still surprises me, how beautiful you are, and how lucky I am to have stolen your heart away.

I hope that these trinkets are decent enough to grace your body. I have heard that Tiffany's is a rather decent company, and titanium is a rather nice metal. Don't worry, they are legally acquired, from start to finish.

Happy birthday, my dear Saguru.

Kid

Saguru swallowed, tucking the note back into the box and closing it, slipping it into his pocket before pulling Kaito close, kissing his shoulder. "Thank you, for bringing it."

Kaito nodded silently, leaning back against Saguru, staring at the stars, trying to push away his jealousy and hurt. "Happy Birthday," he said softly, turning his head and giving Saguru a gentle kiss.

Saguru smiled into the kiss, holding Kaito close, thanking the teen silently for being there with him.

TBC