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Relative Truth
by Becky Tailweaver
File 13: Tug of War
Shinichi stood, head down, in the middle of the living room floor, having just given a compulsorily detailed account of his past and present associations with his cousin, Kaito Kuroba. Everything, from his first attempt to capture Kaitou Kid to their recent interactions and alliance was eventually forced out of him by the stern, acute, pointed questioning of his father, Yuusaku Kudo. And from the grim, dissatisfied look on Yuusaku's face, he was none too pleased with the information his son had given him.
Shinichi couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this; he'd been small, like he was now, and truly young--and in trouble for something major, though right now he couldn't recall what that was, or if it had been anything close to this. He wished fervently that Ai had given him that pill--at least then, he wouldn't be feeling so little and loomed-over. He could have faced his father eye to eye.
As Yuusaku stood frowning down at his son, Yukiko sat on the living room couch, uncharacteristically silent, hands folded in her lap and eyes tightened with worry. She hadn't said anything more than muted greetings when Shinichi had arrived, and had since retreated to her seat with atypical quiet that totally unnerved her son.
This was far from the usual reception Shinichi had come to expect from his parents; as they were now, he felt almost like a stranger in his own home. His father had never treated him so sternly--always before their lectures were tempered with laughter, their scowls with hidden smiles. Never had he been stared down so grimly.
"And Friday night is the very last time you saw him?" Yuusaku asked after a few moments, having reached the conclusion of his questioning.
"Yes," Shinichi answered quickly.
Yuusaku briefly paced across the living room floor, mulling the information he'd received. "Well then?" he asked sharply, facing the boy once more. "What have you decided?"
Shinichi looked up at him, confused. "Decided...?"
"I'm asking what your decision is. What have you decided in regards to Kaito's offer?"
"I'm...not sure yet," the boy admitted with a gulp. "We've only just sort of...compared notes, and agreed that...something has to be done and maybe we could do it. We haven't discussed the particulars yet..."
"You do realize what will happen if you go along with him," Yuusaku put in.
"What do you mean?" Shinichi glanced up at his father again--damn, he hated feeling so small!
"Are you prepared to become a thief and an outlaw?" Yuusaku demanded, eyes hardening. "Because that's what will happen if you agree to 'join forces' with Kaito. You're already putting yourself in danger merely by associating with him--"
"What?"
Yuusaku's glare did not abate. "Toichi's family is already under past suspicion by your enemy--suspicion which has increased now that Kaitou Kid has returned to action. By linking yourself to him, not only will your identity be uncovered, but the fact that you are still alive will be revealed--as will your connection to the Kurobas. Are you willing to put your family, friends, and integrity at risk simply to join that boy's game?"
"Game?" Shinichi's frown became a true scowl, and behind Conan's glasses his eyes narrowed. "Is that all his efforts are to you? A game? He's working his ass off to bring your brother's murderers to justice! And all you say is--!"
"Do not take that tone with me, young man," Yuusaku cut in sharply.
Shinichi's jaw shut, but his expression set stubbornly. Now openly glaring, he held his tongue but did not back down.
"I'm not trying to be an ogre, here," Yuusaku said, his voice softening just a little. "I'm understandably concerned about my son's safety. The things that I did...were to protect you and your mother. I didn't want you involved with my family's enemies, but by chance you involved yourself."
"I wish I'd never followed those bastards at Tropical Land--" Shinichi muttered, only to be interrupted by his father again.
"No, that's only part of it," Yuusaku explained. "You've drawn attention to yourself from the moment you began solving so many impossible crimes. Tropical Land was only your first direct confrontation."
Shinichi's eyes went wide; gaping, he said nothing, waiting for his father to continue.
"So now I try my best to keep you secure and hidden, and still allow you to seek your justice and cure instead of taking you away to safety," Yuusaku went on. "As long as you remained Conan, and kept barely scratching the surface, you wouldn't come to any harm. But working with Kaito will put you at too much risk--I should've brought you to America from the first, and spared us all this nonsense..."
"Nonsense?" Shinichi breathed, stung. "All I've done...all I've worked for...is...nonsense...?"
"Shin-chan..." Yukiko whispered, covering her mouth in sympathy.
Yuusaku's introspective look vanished as he gazed directly at his son. "It would be in your best interests to decline Kaito's offer and break off any contact with him. The closer you are to him, the closer you are to them."
Shinichi's hands fisted. "No way!"
Taken aback, Yuusaku's hands dropped to his sides. For only a moment he was startled at Shinichi's defiance, before his anger returned. "You don't have any idea--!"
"No, you don't!" the little boy snarled, sounding more like his old self than he ever had before. "You've been gallivanting around in America with Mom, having a grand old time--you have no idea what I've been going through! And don't say you watch me, 'cause you're hardly ever home--just when something big might be breaking, or your little secret might be revealed! And you don't know what Kaito's been through either! You've never even talked to him!" His face was a picture of pure anger, not comical in the slightest even with the form he wore.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that," Yuusaku gritted right back. "I know plenty--I know that Kaito could have the whole Organization come down on his head at any moment. You think they don't know Kaitou Kid had a son? You think they don't know who might be behind the latest heists?"
"It's a risk he's willing to take!" Shinichi shot back. "He won't let them get away with what they've done! He's doing more than you ever did--all you did was pack up your wife and kid and run for it! And you lied and hid--!"
"Would you rather I be dead right now?" Yuusaku demanded. "And perhaps your mother with me? Would you rather be an orphan, living with the Kurobas on what little would be left of our money, always in danger of being murdered simply because of who you are?"
"Hey, that might not've been so bad," came a new voice--breathless, young, but undeniably familiar.
Yuusaku stared at the teenage boy standing in the doorway, while Yukiko shot straight to her feet with a strange little cry of realization and recognition. Shinichi whirled to see the newcomer, his face lighting up. "Kaito!"
Panting, Kaito Kuroba wiped sweat from his chin and grinned, looking the small boy right in the eye. I'm with you, his gaze seemed to say, almost as clearly as if he'd spoken it aloud. Then Kaito's eyes slid up to regard Yuusaku, and he readied himself for confrontation; shoulders straightening, Poker Face sliding into place, he stepped into the room with what appeared to be utmost confidence, pulling up alongside Shinichi.
"Hello, Ojisan," Kaito said softly, politely, to the man who stood staring at him. "Nice to finally meet you."
For a few moments, the house rang with an agonizing silence so thick it almost hurt the ears, could almost be felt in the air. Yuusaku was pale, as if he were standing face to face with a ghost--a phantom of his own past, a living image of his brother in their younger days. Their eyes locked, the same piercing blue gaze that marked their bloodline; one was sharpened by disbelief, the other masked by studied indifference.
Shinichi gulped through a suddenly sandpaper-parched throat, silent witness to this uncomfortable first meeting...and for all his knowledge and intelligence, he had no way of predicting how this encounter would go. He hoped--he prayed that it wouldn't turn any more painful and bitter than things already were.
"Kaito...?" Yuusaku's voice was a dry whisper of sound. The way he spoke, it seemed as if he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing--as if the youth before him were merely a figment of his own imagination.
Kaito seemed to brighten just a little at the acknowledgement, but his Poker Face didn't slip. He wouldn't let it--not now, not yet. Not with what they faced. "Sorry for messing up your appointments, Ojisan...but I thought this shouldn't wait."
Yuusaku took a sharp breath, remembering their purpose here; reality flooded in again, halting his incredulous stare, bringing him back in control of his emotions. Shinichi saw his father's own version of the Poker Face slip over his eyes--a stern, humorless expression, as opposed to Kaito's neutral, almost amused look. Kaito saw the change, and shifted to accomodate; the amused look vanished, replaced by wariness--gearing for the battle of wills ahead.
"I guess you're mad at Shinichi," Kaito began, speaking almost pleasantly, his usual unruffled tones. "You really shouldn't take it out on him--after all, the whole thing was my idea. If you want to get upset at someone, then get upset at me. I'm the one who chose to drag him into this."
The challenge did not go unnoticed; Yuusaku's eyes tightened. "You've got a lot of nerve destroying what took me years to build."
"I know," Kaito acknowledged, still conversational. "That big thick wall of secrets and lies you built--I can see how you'd hate to have that torn down. Leaves you a little exposed, doesn't it? Also leaves you in the position of explaining to your son that the nice, safe little world you built for him is just a lie."
If Yuusaku flinched at that, none of them could tell. "I would do anything to protect my family," he said, almost grating. "I will not leave them exposed to the same men who killed Toichi. I had hoped that you of all people would understand that."
Perhaps Kaito's Poker Face wasn't as strong as Yuusaku's--or perhaps he was more vulnerable to his uncle's barbs. Either way, his expression did darken, becoming something much colder. Shinichi watched silently, feeling rather out of his depth; he was a newbie to this particular battle, where Kaito had been waging the war of secrets at least long enough to know how the game was played.
"I understand all right," the youth replied, losing none of his even tone despite the darkness in his eyes. "What do you think you've gained, Ojisan? Have Dad's murderers been brought to justice? Have you kept them from attacking your family? You kept Shinichi in ignorance, and look how safe he is now." His quick gesture to the small boy beside him brought sharp focus to Shinichi's problems.
"How dare you presume to think--!" Yuusaku bit out.
For some reason, Shinichi got the impression that Kaito had just won Round One. Yuusaku had raised his voice--his mask had cracked. Kaito found an opening and exploited it.
"How long do you think you could have hidden him?" Kaito asked, his tones turning even more bright now that he knew he had a foothold. "And I don't mean as Conan. The nail that sticks up always gets hammered down, Ojisan--and from what I've seen, Shinichi sticks up as much as I do. Maybe even more. Do you think they would have just let him go?"
"Even if he was already under surveillance, he would at least be safe from suspicion," Yuusaku replied, getting a handle on himself again. "If they couldn't connect him to Kuroba, they wouldn't connect him to Kid."
"Anyone who has eyes could do that, Ojisan," Kaito drawled, exaggerating the indifference of his tone to hide the pain he felt. Looking at his uncle was like looking at his father again--slightly different, yes, but the mirrorlike image was the same as the one he and Shinichi shared. "And besides that, I don't think Shinichi would meekly keep his head down and his mouth shut even if you told him to. Would you, Shinichi?"
Having Kaito's eyes suddenly turn to him made Shinichi take a step back. "Um...huh...?"
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't have just ignored what the Black Organization was up to, would you? Even if you didn't follow those guys at Tropical Land, you'd still want to catch the crooks--you'd eventually get mixed up in it."
Shinichi gulped and nodded. "Well, yeah," he admitted. "I know I just couldn't let them keep doing whatever they wanted..."
"At the cost of your life?" Yuusaku demanded. "Shinichi, you know better! You're no good to anyone when you're dead!"
"Yuusaku!" Yukiko's voice was sudden and sharp, almost plaintive and warning--and it brought her husband's ire to a stop. "Please..."
"Don't worry, Obasan," Kaito said, much more gently than when he spoke to Yuusaku. "He's right, after all. Ending up dead doesn't help anyone...least of all the ones we love."
Yuusaku's flinch was at last visible--the anger and tension was somehow broken, and softer feelings could begin to emerge. "That was Toichi's mistake. Kaito...he...he pushed too hard. He went too far. By being that nail that sticks up too much, he made himself too big a target. I tried to warn him, but..."
"Jii told me," Kaito said simply, hiding the pain behind his mask.
The short silence that followed was interrupted by a soft, brief knock on the house's front door. Everyone jumped, not really expecting company; to relieve the ensuing awkwardness, Shinichi jerked out of his stupor and hurried toward the door. "I'll get it!" he piped, trying to sound halfway cheerful, hustling before anyone could think to stop him. He reached up to pull open the door, standing on tiptoe.
"Hello," he greeted the worried-looking lady standing on the doorstep. "Can I help you?"
She looked down at him in surprise, then blinked, her eyes filling with something that made him gulp and hesitate. "I'm...looking for Kaito Kuroba," she said uncertainly, looking confused herself.
"Oh...um...he's inside," Shinichi told her. "Come in."
The woman stepped in the door, politely removing her shoes and following the little boy down the hall and into the living room. Shinichi was surprised to see his mother lurch to her feet yet again, her whole face lighting up as she rushed across the room to the newcomer.
"Fumiyo-chan! I'm so glad...!"
"Yukiko-chan..." The two women embraced once more, ever glad to see one another again. The menfolk remained rather surprised, watching them. Both Yuusaku and Kaito broke out of their uncomfortable stare; Yuusaku frowned but remained silent, and Kaito suddenly looked abashed. "Oh, Mom...uh...sorry for leaving you behind back there..."
"You'd better have behaved yourself, young man," Fumiyo told him seriously.
Yukiko patted her arm comfortingly. "There there, he was a perfect gentleman."
"That's...your mom," Shinichi stated rather dumbly, glancing up at Kaito with wide eyes.
"Yeah." Kaito continued to look rather sheepish. "I sorta ran off and left her when I figured your dad was reaming you out for this..."
"Not really," Shinichi replied, watching the two women speak softly to one another. "He was just asking me--"
"What his decision was regarding your offer," Yuusaku broke in, suddenly standing next to the two.
Confronting Yuusaku again, Kaito's mask returned, while Shinichi made a monumental effort not to look startled. The two mothers quieted their soft greeting chatter, and Fumiyo's eyes grew wide.
Shinichi's brows drew down. "Dad, I told you--"
"And I told you, son," Yuusaku interjected firmly. "The consequences you'll face if you go with him--"
"They wouldn't be nearly as hard as what I'd face alone, would they?" Shinichi demanded, his voice suddenly stronger.
"My dad was alone," Kaito murmured softly, his voice edged with whispering steel and his eyes fixed upon his uncle's face.
Round Two--and the point went to Kaito once again. Yuusaku froze, caught in a moment of pain so raw it was palpable--both boys could see the flinch, the anguish, before it was masked by a cold anger that chilled Shinichi to look upon. His father seemed to have become a completely different person in that instant--someone full of hidden resentment, rage, remorse, regret; someone who was dark and harsh with enduring grief and guilt.
Shinichi gulped, unable to force his voice to work; almost frightened, he looked to Kaito for support and found, to his surprise and unease, that Kaito's expression held its own brand of sorrow and suffering, hidden deep inside those darkened blue eyes. The small boy was out of his league again, both at masks and at memories--he'd never been through the pain that these two had.
Both Yukiko and Fumiyo were utterly silent, as wide-eyed as Shinichi; the staring contest between the two males filled the room with tension...until something burst--Yuusaku's expression tightened down again, and his voice rapped out sharp and quick.
"I believe this discussion is over," he said, his order encompassing everyone present whether they'd had part in the "discussion" or not. "I didn't come here to negotiate--I came to settle this problem and see to it that my family is kept safe. Shinichi..."
"Y-yes Dad?" Shinichi stepped up to a safe distance, eyes wide in his small face.
"How long would it take you to pack your things at Mouri's?"
"About twenty minutes if I--" He blinked. "Wait a second--Dad, you're not saying--!"
"We can be back to Hawaii in no time if we take the flight out at five PM," Yuusaku continued. "At this point it's the safest place to be. Get your things together, and make whatever excuses to Ran and Mouri that you have to--just do it quickly."
Shinichi's expression hovered for a moment between abject horror and sheer panic, and his voice went shrill with frantic denial. "Dad, no!"
"Yuusaku--!" Yukiko breathed, struck to the core by the raw plea in her son's tone.
"And you..." Yuusaku rounded on the still-impassive Kaito. "As a responsible uncle, I ought to be collecting Toichi's equipment this very minute and shutting down your little game. But you're not my son, and I suppose it's not my decision if you've made up your mind to die the same way your father did. You can go ahead and earn death for your mother and your friends, but if your trail leads back to my son in any way I will see to it that you eternally regret it. I haven't protected Shinichi for seventeen years just to see him sentenced to death by a selfish, vengeful young fool!"
Fumiyo's gasp seemed louder than it actually was; apart from greetings, the dark-haired woman had refrained from commenting on the argument itself, nor had she addressed the subject matter of the unraveling discussion. No one had expected her to react so.
"You're right, Ojisan," Kaito replied smoothly, unflinching. "It's not your decision to make. I've been the man of my house for a long time now, and you've had nothing to do with it. Although your financial contribution has been...helpful...my mom and I don't really need you or your money. And to hear tell of it, Shinichi doesn't either."
"Shinichi is my son--don't compare your situation to his," Yuusaku spat.
"His situation is just that, Ojisan--it's his." Kaito cocked an eyebrow; his returning easy mood somehow signaled that he was regaining the upper hand in the argument. "Not yours. Since when have you been a part of his situation? From what I know, for three years now he's been on his own. You've been hiding from book editors and Black operatives in America. I don't see that as a stellar example of fatherhood." His eyes narrowed slightly. "At least my father has a reason for not being around, instead of just cowardice."
Shinichi whirled on Kaito. "Hey! You watch what you're saying about my--!"
"How I raise my son is none of your business!" Yuusaku retorted almost viciously.
"Far as I can tell, he's none of your business either, Ojisan," Kaito replied, deadpan. "I'd say he's old enough to make his own decisions, wouldn't you?"
Shinichi blinked, gazing at his cousin with a strange, renewed awe. He knew he'd never be able to face down Yuusaku Kudo--not like this. His father was...well...his father. The hallowed office of Parent seemed downright unimpeachable, but Kaito's irreverence and sheer gutsiness parried Yuusaku's intensity like a skilled swordsman turns aside a deadly thrust.
So he gulped and gathered his nerve. "Um...Dad?" he began, loathing his little-boy voice for its tendency to squeak under pressure. "I...I don't want to go to Hawaii."
Yuusaku's sharp blue gaze switched to him, eliciting an involuntary backward step. "You're willing to risk--?"
"Someone's got to," Shinichi interjected quickly, before he lost his courage. "Toichi-san...my ojisan risked everything to stop those bastards. And he even did it alone."
No one missed Yuusaku's second flinch.
"Maybe being a thief wasn't the right way to do it, but he still tried," Shinichi continued, his words growing stronger as moments passed. Beside him, Kaito's presence radiated support and reassurance that he could feel, as if his cousin's hand were on his shoulder. "Maybe being a detective isn't the right way either, but I'm trying too. Someone's got to stop them, and maybe Kaito and me together can do something that we couldn't do alone. So I'm...I'm not going to Hawaii, Dad. I can't."
Yukiko cleared her throat, keeping one arm about Fumiyo. "Yuusaku, please..."
"This is ridiculous." Yuusaku shook his head in near-disgust. "I told you to get your things and get ready! Tell Ran something and--"
"I'm not lying to her any more!" Shinichi burst out, shouting loud enough that even Kaito jumped. "I won't leave her--not when I promised her--!"
"She knows?" Yuusaku's voice was thunderous, athough he never raised his volume.
Shinichi recoiled but persevered, even as Kaito turned him an astonished look. "You're damn right she knows about Conan! I told her myself! I won't leave her behind just to save my own skin and I won't lie to her to cover my ass any more!"
"And I suppose you're going to tell her about this, as well?" his father demanded sharply. "About your cousin--and about Kid?"
Shinichi set his jaw, glancing at Kaito's equally concerned expression. "If she asks me, I won't lie to her. No more lies, no more secrets! Your lies hurt enough--no more!"
"One more life to risk--and to put you at risk!" Yuusaku strode forward, expression fixed. "When will it be enough? How many deaths until you understand? I've risked your mother's life--I won't risk yours! We're going whether you want to or--!"
"No! Don't touch me!" Shinichi backpedaled from his father's grasp with gritted teeth, small hands fisted in warning. If Yuusaku caught him, forcing him to go to Hawaii was as simple as tucking Conan under his arm. "Don't you dare! If you grab me I swear I'll...I'll--!"
Kaito abruptly interposed himself between father and son, stopping Yuusaku in his tracks with a keen blue glare. "I think he's made up his mind, Ojisan," the youth stated.
Yuusaku drew back a step, his voice and emotions once more under iron control. "Stand aside. This doesn't involve you any more."
"He's my cousin," Kaito replied flatly, in a tone that allowed no argument. "And he's his own man. I choose to stand by the decision he's made. No offense, Ojisan, but I don't think his life's up to you any more."
"He is my son," Yuusaku said in a quiet, steely voice. "I care about what happens to him, and I won't let him be killed or made a pawn. I refuse to make my brother's mistakes. I won't simply ignore my family and friends to set off on a fool's errand for the sake of my own misguided mission. I won't let my family become a target just to preserve my own notorious reputation--!"
Shinichi gaped, but Kaito's eyes flashed--and the Poker Face suddenly became a mask of fury as Round Three abruptly degenerated into a verbal brawl. "Ojisan, you just crossed the line! My father was no fool and he wasn't doing it for himself--you have no right to judge him when you ran off with your tail between your legs--!"
"That's enough!"
Two female voices cut through the rising heat of the quarrel like a sword through a straw dummy. Startled, all three males cranked their heads around to stare at the women who now stood--instead of cowering near the door--in the center of the room, hands on hips and sporting identical fed-up expressions.
All three of them suddenly realized that when all is said and done, men may have their fights but when the women get exasperated, even Hell has a good chance of freezing over.
Yukiko's eyes were ablaze in a way that Shinichi hadn't seen in ages; with her head high and her shoulders set, she looked just like a beautiful, glorious heroine from one of the movies she'd starred in years ago. Fumiyo stood beside her with a steel-piercing glare, not quite as striking a figure but no less unyielding in expression. Kaito couldn't remember having seen his mother quite so resolute.
Surprisingly, it was Fumiyo who spoke first, breaking the brittle stillness with firm, quiet words. "I've been silent for ten years now, Yuusaku. I promised Toichi that I wouldn't reveal anything to Kaito until he was ready...and I promised you that I would never disclose the secrets of Kid or yourself to my son. I gave my word that I would never speak of it." She fixed her brother-in-law with a determined gaze. "Kaito has proven himself more than ready, so my promise to my husband is fulfilled. Since my promise to you has become redundant, may I now be released from it?"
Yuusaku blinked and stared, as if remembering. Mutely he nodded, looking at once both startled and almost admiring.
"There, now speak your mind, Fumiyo-chan!" Yukiko patted the other woman's shoulder in support.
Freed from her ten-year vow, Fumiyo took a deep breath, as if setting down a heavy burden. She went to her son and smiled at him. He stared at her, wondering. "M-Mom...?"
Her dark eyes welled with a mother's love, beyond what mere words can speak. "Kaito...your father would be very proud of you."
Knowing that she knew and understood everything, her simple words alone were enough to make him gulp and choke up.
Yuusaku frowned. "Fumiyo, don't encourage--"
Yukiko's lips pursed. "Yuusaku, darling, I think you need to cool off for a while, don't you?" It was phrased sweetly, almost a question, but the dangerous flicker in her eyes made her words a rigid command. "Really, I don't think this is getting anywhere. I've held my peace as you asked, but this hasn't been smooth or brief."
"Yukiko--!"
"Honey, I think there's been enough said." Though her face seemed as gentle as ever, there was iron in her words and fire in her eyes. As Fumiyo stood beside Kaito, Yukiko moved in next to her and stood at Shinichi's side, one hand touching her son's hair in a mother's unconscious gesture. "This has turned from a discussion to a war, and you're doing nothing but hurting each other. I--we won't stand for it."
Fumiyo seconded with a nod, while the two boys just stared at their mothers with identical awed expressions.
"You're still going about this the wrong way," Yukiko continued, soft and serious. "You used to be a phantom thief--you know you can't lock up the people you love like precious jewels in a safe. I told you that before, remember? Right after I got shot..."
Yuusaku's face contorted briefly once more. "Yukiko, I don't want any of you to--"
"I know." Her hand stroked Shinichi's hair instinctively, ruffling the soft dark locks. She fully understood how close she'd come to losing her life--and her son--on that terrible night long ago. "And neither do I. But you're still wrong. Running away hasn't solved anything, darling. It's only postponed the inevitable."
"No."
"Let it go, Yuusaku," Fumiyo put in quietly. "Toichi couldn't do it alone. Scattered and hidden, we just let them pick us off one by one. They've hurt us too many times--first Yukiko-chan, then Toichi, and now Shin-chan..." She glanced at the small boy, in whose form dwelt her teenage nephew, and drew herself up. "Yuusaku, if you choose to withdraw your financial assistance, I'll understand, but I will continue to support my son and his efforts to stop this organization. And...I'll stand with my nephew as well, if that's what Kaito chooses to do."
Yuusaku stared at her, surprised at her quiet vehemence. He'd never known his brother's wife to have so much resolve! "Fumiyo...you...?"
Yukiko smiled at her longtime best friend's strength of will. "Hear hear! Me too--I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Fumiyo-chan on this one, dear. Our boys are all grown up now, and they can make their own decisions. It's time you let Shin-chan...Shinichi...be his own man."
Yuusaku's gaze shifted to his wife, still struck by the steadfastness of the four who stood opposite him. Even Yukiko's cheerfulness was tempered with a loving tenacity that clearly said she wasn't backing down.
Shinichi took a breath to speak. His mother's gentle touch was reassuring and familiar; it calmed his overwrought nerves and restored his confidence. "Dad...?" He flinched only a little when his father's blue eyes fixed on him, but continued bravely. "I know you're worried about me, and I really do appreciate your concern. But I can't leave Ran, and Fumiyo-san...um, Obasan's right--I can't just let them have their way. Not after all they've done to me--and to us, and to so many people."
Kaito nodded in full agreement, feeling his own confidence rise when his mother's hand rested on his shoulder. "And I won't let them get away with murdering Dad--and everyone else they've killed," he added. "I'm the one who brought Shinichi into this, Ojisan, and you have my word I'll always be there to back him up."
Yuusaku found himself faced with fourfold opposition--his wife, son, nephew, and sister-in-law standing together against him. They were fortified by love and resolve, equipped with determination and unity. His plans for shutting down Kaito's heists and whisking Shinichi away into another decade of hiding evaporated before his very eyes, as the four members of his surviving family stared him down with firm resolve. The hardest gaze to bear was Kaito's--blue eyes and youthful face so like his own brother's, as if Toichi were reaching out to scold and implore him from beyond the grave.
Shoulders sagging, Yuusaku Kudo stepped back. "Fine," he spat bitterly, vexed by his defeat and troubled by thoughts of what might come of it. "Do what you wish, Shinichi. I wash my hands of it. Yukiko, let's go."
With that, he turned and strode from the room, leaving a relieved silence behind him. Shinichi let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, while Kaito tried a game smile for his mother and aunt to lift everyone's mood. "I suppose that went well," he offered brightly--but his grin vanished when he noticed Shinichi's rather stricken expression, and the frown that darkened Yukiko's brows.
"Mom...?" Shinichi said, his voice quavering into an unspoken question.
Yukiko smiled down at him, pushing away her own dark expression. "It's okay, Shin-chan. He's just worried about you. I'll talk to him--don't worry, I won't let him sulk about this for too long."
"He's gotten more intense than I remember," Fumiyo commented softly, glancing at her friend.
Yukiko's face flashed serious for but a moment. "Leaving guilt to fester often does that to a man," she replied shortly.
"I'm sure Ojisan didn't mean for anything bad to happen," Kaito offered, a little hesitantly. "He was just trying to do what he thought was right."
"A minute ago you were accusing him of abandoning your father," Shinichi remarked, cocking an eyebrow.
Caught, Kaito shrugged guiltily. "Yeah, but...sometimes what we intend to do and what actually happens are two very different things. A lot of times it doesn't turn out the way we want it to--sometimes it just gets worse."
For a few awkward moments there was silence between them, as everyone digested the morning's events and resolved them in their hearts. It had not been easy, and nor was it over--not so long as the family remained divided and the Black Organization continued to loom over them all.
"So now what do we do?" Shinichi ventured at last, looking up to his cousin.
Kaito appeared thoughtful. "I dunno...I suppose some planning would be a good idea."
"You had both better do some careful thinking before you decide to do anything," Fumiyo cut in firmly, hands on hips. "This isn't a game, Kaito--your lives are on the line. Both of you."
"That's right," Yukiko agreed. "Think sensibly and use your mind the way you've been taught, Shin-chan. Notice everything, and take nothing for granted." She and Fumiyo smiled briefly at each other before she continued. "The truth is, a detective and a thief aren't that far apart. Wisdom, cunning, awareness, and prudence are essential to both."
"There's no room for contests, games, or rivalry," Fumiyo concluded, fixing both boys with an equally stern gaze. "There's a lot you can learn from each other--how to observe, what to notice, when to act, how to move."
Shinichi nodded smartly, wide-eyed, while Kaito raised eyebrows at his mother. "Um, is that something out of the phantom thief's guidebook, Mom?"
Both Fumiyo and Yukiko giggled, sharing a wink between themselves. "There are things one has to understand when becoming the wife of a thief," Yukiko laughed.
"Your father taught me some of those things," Fumiyo added. "Yukiko and I had a lot to learn coming into the Kuroba family. If you boys are going to work together, Kaito, you're going to have to teach Shin-chan those things--like how not to get caught."
Yukiko smiled broadly. "And Shin-chan, you'll have to teach Kaito how to track 'em down and gather evidence for the police. All your work's for naught if they get away in the end."
"Mooom..." both boys groaned in typical teenage fashion.
Once more, the two women giggled at each other. Kaito and Shinichi found the laughter contagious, and caught themselves smiling. At least they still had the support of their mothers, even if Yuusaku remained angry.
Through her laughter, Yukiko's eyes were drawn to the door her husband had exited. Fumiyo caught her gaze and quieted. "Yukiko-chan, I think Kaito and I will head home now--you need to settle in after your flight, and I'm sure you're rather tired. Shin-chan, it's...good to see you." Her eyes glistened with understanding as she smiled down at the small boy, awkwardly affectionate.
"Thanks, um, Obasan," Shinichi replied shyly, ducking his head. "Thanks for being here for me and Kaito."
"I appreciate you coming, Fumiyo-chan." Yukiko said, smiling brightly and embracing her old friend, then turning cheerfully to her nephew. "And you too, Kaito-kun. It's nice to see you again after such a long time." She gave him a hug and an affectionate kiss on the cheek, eliciting shuffled feet and blushing from the embarrassed teen. "My, how big you've grown! The last time I held you, you were just a little baby...Kai-chan."
"Aw...if I'd known this is what obasans were like, I'd've stayed home," he mumbled bashfully, red-faced, scratching the back of his head and pointedly ignoring his cousin's grin and his mother's soft giggle. Kaito hadn't really met Yukiko before, but Shinichi and Fumiyo knew her quirks very well indeed.
"Yukiko-chan, if you do plan on staying for a while," Fumiyo added, "let's get together for tea soon."
"Great idea! I'll call you," Yukiko replied.
"I'll see myself out. Goodbye, Yukiko-chan, Shin-chan...come along, Kaito." Fumiyo nodded to each of them and led her son out. Kaito glanced back and, receiving a slight nod from Shinichi, half-smiled in return and went on his way. With his mother on his side, the teen-turned-child would be all right.
Shinichi sighed when his aunt and cousin were gone, leaving him and his mother alone in the living room. "Well...that's that," he murmured.
Without guests in the house, Yukiko's usual cheerful demeanor dimmed somewhat. She seemed...tired and concerned as she looked down at her son, more worried than he'd seen her in some time.
"Mom?"
Yukiko sighed as well. "I'm fine, Shin-chan. It's just been a trying time for your father and I. This has brought up a lot of old issues, many of which have never been resolved. And it's hard to resolve an old argument when one party is...deceased."
Shinichi swallowed. "Is Dad okay...?"
"As okay as he's always been, since then..." Yukiko admitted. "Yuusaku and Toichi were close...and the separation hurt all of us..." She shook herself. "Look, I've got to speak with your father. Why don't you run along? I'm sure Ran-chan's worried--especially if...you said she knows?"
Shinichi shrugged nervously. "Yeah. I don't know how it happened exactly, but I ended up telling her yesterday. Scariest moment of my life, I think...but I feel a lot better now that I don't have to lie to her..."
"I'm sure you do." Yukiko knealt down to his eye level, gazing at him with a mother's love. "You still have to be very careful, and you know exactly why...but I trust you know how to handle it yourself. You've done a great job so far." She patted his cheek gently. "I need to talk to my husband now--you go on back to Mouri's, and take care of Ran-chan."
"Mom...will you be okay? I didn't mean to make Dad mad, I just--"
"It's not your faut, Shin-chan." Yukiko's voice startled him with its vehemence. "You're a responsible young man...despite appearances...and you're doing what you believe is right. I haven't agreed with Yuusaku about this whole thing for a long time...he's been so guilty about Toichi, and he's trying to make up for it, but I can't let him make his problems yours. Do what you need to do--and don't worry about us."
"Mom--"
Yukiko wrapped him in a hug, suddenly and strongly, warm and reassuring. "But...do let us know if you get in over your head? We won't abandon you...I won't abandon you...my Shin-chan..."
"Mom..." He embraced her in return, using all the strength his little arms could muster as he fought back tears of relief and appreciation. "I have to admit...everything's been 'over my head' lately," he replied wryly, eliciting a chuckle from both of them. "But somehow I manage..."
"That's my boy." When she released him, he could see that she had shed the tears he hadn't. "Go on now--I'll try to call you tonight. Take care!"
"Thanks Mom. I love you. And...Dad too." He smiled at her briefly before he hurried out, heading for his shoes, the door--and Ran, who waited for him at the place he now called home.
To be continued...
AN: ("Alright, she's back in the saddle--!" *thwap!* Quiet, Muse--you're the lazy one anyway!) Ahem, er, anyway...sorry for the wait, folks! But I guess I've gotten myself back in gear, so File 14 should be coming soon.
Now that this little family battle has been hashed out--for the most part--we can get on to the more interesting stuff...like, for example, what are Kaito and Conan going to do with themselves now? They've agreed to work together--but how will they manage it, being used to working from opposite sides? It's a whole new ballgame for these boys! And, as in any new game, they have to have rules...