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Relative Truth
by Becky Tailweaver
File 14: Rules of Engagement
Following his mother back to the bus stop, Kaito paced along silently, keeping his ruminations to himself. Fumiyo remained quiet and introspective the whole way, not commenting on the family conflict, nor asking him for his thoughts. He hadn't enjoyed confronting his uncle, not by any means--the whole episode had been painfully unpleasant. From the looks of things, Shinichi hadn't had so great a time either.
The tragic events of the past kept their family split into jagged shards, unable to find a resolution...and that, in Kaito's opinion, was truly saddening. That blasted far-reaching syndicate had driven a wedge between the Kuroba brothers sixteen years ago, shattering bonds of love and trust, driving one brother into hiding and the other into drastic retaliation that contributed to his own death--and that death had done nothing but intensify the gap between the two broken halves of the Kuroba clan.
Both Kaito and Shinichi--one readily, the other unwillingly--had inherited that shattered birthright. Both halves of the family were damaged in their own way; Kaito's by his own long ignorance and his father's death, Shinichi's by secrets and lies and his father's sorrow and guilt. Their parents--who had lived through the ordeals of years past and seen the battle begin--still lived with the pain of loss and heartache. Shinichi and Kaito had suffered wounds in this war, but they were young and resilient--and determined to see the conflict end.
Since their parents seemed unable to come to terms, perhaps it was up to the younger generation to bridge the chasm and heal their family, making it one again.
Kaito sighed loudly, drawing himself out of his ponderings as they approached the bus stop. He checked his watch, blinking in surprise as he realized the time. "Sheesh! It's only nine-thirty! I thought we'd been in there longer--it seemed like hours."
"It's a good thing, then," Fumiyo replied, glancing at her son. "We'll be able to catch the early bus back home."
He cocked an eyebrow at her unruffled composure. "Say, are you okay? You seemed a little upset back there--"
"I'm fine," she replied quickly, sitting down at the bench to wait for the bus. "I'm more worried about Yukiko-chan, and Yuusaku--they've been through a lot, and Yuusaku is still grieved by the loss of his brother..."
"Hn." Kaito snorted. "Maybe, but he doesn't have to take it out on the rest of us."
"And poor Shin-chan...he looked so hurt and bewildered by all this," Fumiyo sighed sadly. "If what I'm told is true, he's only known the truth for a few days--he must still be awfully confused. Poor child..."
Kaito fought back a chuckle at his mother's pitying expression. "He's not really a little boy, Mom. He's my age."
"I know that, dear. But...it's hard to think of him that way, since I've never met him when he was...older." Her eyes grew distant. "He is...was...a darling little boy. He looks just like you did at that age."
"Aw, you too? Everyone's gotta make a comment about how we look alike..." Kaito grumbled, then leaned against the bus stop sign and half-smiled. "If you want to know what he really looks like, just picture me. And, um...well...a little more like Yukiko-obasan, I guess. His hair doesn't stick up. Much." He ran an unconscious hand through his own unruly locks.
Fumiyo eyed her son wryly. "He must be a handsome young devil," she teased.
Kaito merely eyed her right back. "And don't I know it."
There was a shared laugh, then a long silence. "Kaito...what are you planning on doing?" Fumiyo asked, soft and concerned.
The youth shrugged. "Today? I'm gonna go home, change out of these stiff funeral clothes, and get out of the house for a while. I got a lot of thinking to do."
"I see."
"Beyond that, a lot of it's up to Shinichi," he confessed, his voice dropping to a low tone that wouldn't carry far. "I've got no definite plans. If we're gonna get started on this...this thing...he's gonna be the brains of the operation. I gotta admit, he's better at the 'catch-the-crook' kinda thing."
"Know your strengths--and your weaknesses," Fumiyo whispered, recalling one of her husband's little proverbs, her eyes shining up at her son. "I have faith in you. Both of you. You'll make as good a team as Toichi and Yuusaku--probably even better."
"Thanks, Mom." He looked up at the sound of a rumbling engine, rising from his place against the post. "Hey, there's the bus! Nine-forty--right on time."
Little more was said on the subject of the Kudos or the new partnership on the way home. Mother and son rode silently side by side, both deep within their own reflections, as Kaito thought ahead to his next meeting with his cousin--what they would say to each other, how they would feel...and the inevitable plans they had to make.
Shinichi had practically run all the way back to the Detective Agency, trying not to think about the worst parts of what had happened at the Kudo residence. He concentrated on slipping into Conan to divert his thoughts, trying to keep his mind on the task of maintaining appearances. If the pensive, anxious, despondent feelings in his heart were to show on his face, he knew for a fact he'd never be mistaken for a normal grade-schooler. Little kids didn't get upset like that. Not about deep stuff.
So he focused on being wide-eyed and jovial, as per Conan's usual behavior, waving cheerily at familiar faces from his neighborhood. His mask was brittle but he held it, moving along at a cute brisk trot and smiling at a few kids from school who lived nearby.
Conan arrived breathlessly at the Mouri Detective Agency, making the climb to the third floor over stairs that were always too high. Inside, he kicked off his shoes and flopped down on the nearest cushion, probably left there by Kogoro that morning. He lay flat on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling, attempting to keep his mind empty and uncluttered by thinking happy thoughts...even though such were hard to find.
"Conan-kun! You're back!" a cheerful voice called, coming out of the kitchen.
Oh yeah. Ran. She was a happy thought. A very happy one.
"Ran," he greeted, sitting up to offer her the best smile he could muster.
"Did you have fun?" Ran asked brightly, though her expression didn't match her tones. She held one finger over her lips while her other hand gestured surreptitiously toward the kitchen she'd just emerged from. The message was clear--her father was just on the other side of the door.
"Oh...yeah!" he responded lightly, in perfect Conan-voice. "Thanks for making me an early breakfast, Ran-neechan."
She winked playfully, still voice-acting the Neechan. "How about I treat you to lunch, too? It's a beautiful Sunday for shopping, and afterwards we can get ice cream."
Now that was a bit unfair. How could he refuse? Kids just didn't say no to ice cream. "Yeah!" he chirped, hopping back to his feet. "Let's go!"
"Get your shoes, Conan-kun. I'll just tell Dad we're leaving, and be right with you." Ran disappeared back into the kitchen, while Conan slipped his shoes on again and waited just outside the door, listening to Kogoro arguing with his daughter about her stepping out without first securing him a midday meal.
Finally, Ran emerged, dressed in casual going-shopping clothes, purse in hand. "I'm ready," she said, beginning to drop the Ran-neechan voice.
Conan followed her downstairs, chuckling to himself--amazing how being around her improved his mood, even after the events of that morning. And surprisingly enough, playacting together to pull the wool over Kogoro Mouri's eyes was actually pretty fun. It was their secret, their own private joke on the world.
"Okay, you got me out of the house and away from suspicious ears," he stated as they headed down the sidewalk toward the shopping districts. "Need I ask what this is about?" He came alongside her, reaching up to take her hand. It was natural enough to onlookers--and privately rather reassuring to him. There was something about being small that needed an anchor when they reached the crowded streets.
Ran blushed a little, glancing down. "I just wanted to see if you were okay. About your parents, I mean. How did it go?"
His other hand in his pocket, he shrugged. "Okay, I guess..."
"You didn't look okay back there in the house," she said softly, so that he could barely hear her over the city noise. "You looked...really sad."
"Oh..." Silent for a while, he dropped his gaze to think, wondering how much he could tell her and how she would react to his other "secret." He wasn't even sure he could let her know everything; it wasn't his secret alone, really. Kaito had as much or more to lose...
He shook his head, reminding himself not to dwell on the bad parts--he'd had enough that morning. Hurrying along with Ran, he found himself trotting to keep pace. Was it just him, or had her stride increased? By the look on her face, she was upset about something--and that might explain why she was speeding up, expression tight, her thoughts turned darkly inward. "Ran? Ran-neechan, wait up!"
His plaintive Conan-voice got an automatic reaction; she glanced down at him, snapping out of her reverie as she slowed her pace. "Oh, sorry...Conan-kun. I wasn't paying attention."
"It's not that," he responded, shaking his head. "I'm used to getting dragged along. What's wrong?"
Ran flushed slightly, suddenly aware of how many times she'd towed poor Shinichi around like a puppy on a leash, without a care for his short legs. She gulped, grateful for his dismissal of the matter, and replied to his question. "Shin...ah, Conan-kun...are you going to tell me...about this thing with your family? You said...you weren't keeping secrets any more."
"Oh..." The small boy swallowed hard, his eyes darkening. Suddenly the people around him seemed too close, their ears too open. "Um...can we save it for somewhere private? It's...kind of...a sensitive topic..."
Ran let out a breath of what seemed like relief. "Sure. That's not a problem." As long as she knew he wasn't going to lie to her any more.
With that cleared up, they continued on, both with somewhat lighter hearts. Conan tagged along hand in hand with his "Neechan," and Ran adjusted her stride to a speed comfortable for him to keep up with. Both of them played their parts flawlessly, a little boy and his big sister--while as always, no one but them knew who was truly inside the small child's skin.
Even though she'd just gone shopping with Aoko Nakamori, Ran hadn't bought anything during the little "double date" they'd shared Friday night. That foray through several favorite department stores had been more for the girls' amusement than for any acquisition of clothing and accessories--mainly an opportunity to show off for their men and enjoy themselves with fancy dresses and new styles.
Today, however, was a more "normal" shopping trip--plain old Ran-neechan and Conan-kun, just like any other time...or maybe not. This time, the little boy hung back from the more intimate womens' apparel sections, instead of innocently following his "Neechan" in; it had been his practice before so as not to look suspicious--and since she dragged him in anyway--but now that he had less to hide he'd prefer to spare himself the usual hidden embarassment. And, blushing, she didn't insist that he come in this time.
Another marked difference in their usual shopping habits was Ran's method of acquiring garments for Conan. Instead of picking out lovable little-boy outfits and testing them by how badly Conan reacted, she followed him around the boys' department and let him do the browsing. The only suggestion on her part--fuzzy blue footie pajamas decorated with emblems from Blue's Clues--was mainly a joke and was answered by rolled eyes and a long-suffering sigh from her young "charge."
Truthfully, Conan was rather delighted to be doing his own shopping for once. Freed from the necessity of hiding from a sharp-eyed Ran, he could choose clothes that he liked--clothes more like what Shinichi Kudo had once worn. A little less adorable than Conan Edogawa's usual wardrobe, but it was a welcome respite from childish cuteness. Many of the garments he would have liked to get were too large for him, but with Ran's patient help, he was able to find a few things in the boys' section that were near-equivalent to the ones in the young mens' department.
By the time noon rolled around, both Ran and Conan were in considerably better spirits--and hungry enough to eagerly welcome the prospect of lunch. Their conversation at their chosen restaraunt was lighthearted and strangely comfortable despite the newness of knowing. For Ran, it was still a bit awkward looking into Conan's face and remembering that Shinichi was behind it; Shinichi's habit of automatically dropping into Conan Mode in her presence was only gradually beginning to fade. Although hidden behind the roles of little boy and older sister, it felt good to be able to talk to each other even a little like they used to.
Despite all this cheerfulness, nothing particularly noteworthy happened until dessert.
There was a particular ice cream parlor on a street corner--a real ice cream parlor, the kind of place that served all ice cream and only ice cream, in more flavors than most little kids can count. That ice cream parlor was the agreed-upon dessert establishment for the two mismatched shoppers, since it carried several of their favorite flavors--and Ran-neechan had promised Conan-kun ice cream, so if he didn't come back with at least a little something sticky on his shirt, someone might ask questions.
Then again, Ran was the only one he had to worry about really fooling--Kogoro wouldn't even notice. Ah, another boon--he no longer had to dribble melted ice cream on his shirt, let crumbs collect on his chin, or occasionally remember to drop food in his lap!
Conan bounded in the door of the establishment, every bit the excited kid in a candy store--or ice cream parlor, in this case. "Look, look, Ran-neechan! They've got seats at the front! Right at the counter! Hurry!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Ran giggled, rather enjoying the cute, energetic, shrill-voiced spectacle of his flawless acting skills. At a more sedate pace, she followed the small, quick figure to the parlor's front counter with its high old-style soda-shop stools. The place was merrily busy, full of conversation and the noise of other happy children reveling in a Sunday ice cream treat.
Conan was already gamely beginning the arduous climb to the lofty seat of one stool, grunting in mild irritation as he strove to swing a leg up onto the cushion. Even as nimble as he was compared to most children, the stark metal pole-leg gave no purchase even with its footrest, and the slick vinyl cushion-surface wasn't helping him any either.
Ran smiled softly at his efforts--not in amusement, but in appreciation of his independence and determination--and set her purse and parcels down in the adjacent seat. Catching him under the arms, all it took was a little lift on her part and he was perched on the stool, looking rather startled at her.
"What?" she challenged softly as she claimed her own seat. "You looked like you could use a boost. I'm sorry if you didn't want me to."
Red-cheeked, he ducked his head and shrugged, small hands gripping the countertop's edge. "I...I don't really mind," he mumbled quietly, feeling safe to speak frankly with their conversation shrouded amidst the cheerful din of the parlor. "I just didn't think you'd want to...you know...do anything like that since you found out who I really am."
Ran found herself giggling at his rather abashed look. "Well, I won't exactly be scooping you up and carrying you around...um, especially not like I used to..." She blushed as well, remembering, as she grew more serious. "But if you need a lift, or any sort of help...I'm not going to just sit back and watch you struggle."
"Thanks," he murmured, still suddenly self-conscious--but there was gratitude and relief shining deep in his blue eyes.
The arrival of the pleasant-looking young employee behind the counter helped alleviate the awkwardness, mainly because they both had to once again don their masks as they ordered double scoop cones of their favorite flavors--French vanilla and black raspberry for Ran, and chocolate chip mint and cookie dough for Conan. They shared secretive giggles as they waited for their ice cream, Conan's legs swinging absently as they dangled from the seat, Ran watching him affectionately as her heart swelled once more with gladness at knowing the truth.
The ice cream arrived at last, and they were well underway on the topmost scoop--Shinichi relishing the fact that he didn't have to smear it all over his face--by the time something unusual happened.
"With as many things as we have in common, it's a wonder we didn't run into each other more often," said a familiar voice behind them.
Conan almost choked on his ice cream, while Ran gasped and whirled, startled at the sheer incongruity of hearing that voice. She stared at the newcomer for a couple of seconds, eyes darting to Conan and back--until realization sank in and she sighed in relief. "Kuroba-kun! You scared me--I thought for a second you were Shinichi."
"Aw, c'mon," Kaito chided, grinning rakishly. "I know we're alike and all, but really--I thought you knew."
Ran paused, eyebrows raised, remembering that Kaito was also one of the People Who Know. "I do," she said with a conspiratory smile. "But you did surprise me."
Beside her, Conan stared at the newcomer, surprised to run into his cousin for the second time that day. "What are you doing here?" he asked abruptly, confused.
Kaito hefted his own ice cream cone blandly. "Eating dessert--what's it look like? I come here pretty often, actually. I should be asking you the same question."
Conan blinked. "Me and Ran are...uh..."
"On a date?" Kaito offered, deadpan, as the would-be "couple" went bright red. "Thought it was something like that."
"Not really!" Ran corrected hastily. "We just went shopping and...had a talk, that's all."
Meanwhile, Conan was scrutinizing Kaito's dessert, peering carefully at what little remained of the topmost scoop of ice cream. "Say, is that...?"
"Yup." Kaito grinned again. "Chocolate chip mint and cookie dough--that's what I was talking about. What're the chances we both order the same two flavors--in the same sequence?"
Ran's eyes widened. "Wow, that's an amazing coincidence!"
"Maybe." Kaito's eyes sparkled with hidden secrets. "I just thought it's odd we share so many favorite foods. Our meals on Friday were...interesting."
Conan narrowed his eyes at the teasing, trying to mentally nudge his cousin into remembering not to say too much in public. He turned his attention back to his ice cream just in time to catch a couple of wayward drips that had almost reached his fingers. It was never a good idea to get distracted when dealing with an ice cream cone--otherwise he'd end up really looking like the little kid he wasn't, messy shirt and all.
Kaito seated himself on the other side of Conan without hesitation, as he too returned to the business of cone management. He no longer wore the neat, formal clothes he'd appeared in that morning; his current ensemble was a simple combination of jeans, shirt, and jacket.
"Fancy meeting you here," Conan offered, once the drips were under control. "I didn't expect to see you again today."
"Honestly, me neither," Kaito admitted. "But I guess after this morning neither of us wants to sit around at home."
"That's for sure," Conan murmured, glancing at Ran. She was watching them keenly, a concerned expression growing on her face.
"But hey!" Kaito went on, grinning, suddenly jovial and totally oblivious to Ran's scrutiny. "Ice cream is the greatest Cure For What Ails You known to mankind. So let's eat, slurp, and be merry, for tomorrow we...have to go to school. So then--a toast to favorite flavors." Accompanied by Ran's giggles and Conan's rather cynical snort, he hefted his ice cream cone like a champagne glass. "Cheers!"
Ran responded with a humorous twinkle in her eyes, raising what was left of her black raspberry cone. "Cheers."
"You don't need to wish him cheers," Conan put in. "He's cheerful enough for all of us."
"Mm-hm," Kaito agreed indistinctly, already hard at work at what was left of his chocolate chip mint.
The conversation remained light and playful until the dessert was gone; Kaito did most of the talking, distracting Ran rather skillfully from the subject of parents with good-natured banter that even got Conan snickering. By the time the last drop of ice cream was gone and the final cone crunched, Ran seemed to have lost her suspicious air and Conan was as bright-eyed as a true child. If nothing else, Kaito was a master entertainer, even if his magic tricks were confined to merely turning a paper napkin into a real white rose.
It was during the contented quiet after the desserts were eaten, while all three leaned against the counter and relaxed amongst the bustle of the Sunday afternoon customers, that Conan finally spoke up--and ruined the relaxed atmosphere that Kaito had worked so hard to cultivate between them.
"Kaito, we really need to talk."
Ran's expression sharpened again, while Kaito sighed deeply and resignedly. So much for keeping Ran calm... "Yeah, I know. But this isn't the place."
"You want to go find somewhere quiet?" Conan asked softly, eyeing Ran warily.
"Sure, why not?" Kaito glanced at the girl as well, raising an eyebrow. "Um, I don't suppose she..."
Conan dropped his voice to a near-whisper. "No. I haven't told her yet."
"Told me what?" Ran demanded instantly, but with enough presence of mind to keep her volume quite low. "Shi--Conan-kun, you promised."
"I know," the boy replied. "But...this is...I can't just..."
Knowing a confrontation when he saw one coming, Kaito cleared his throat. "You know what? I'm gonna just wait out front, 'kay? Just to give you two some privacy. See you in a few." He politely extricated himself from the conversation, heading for the door before either of them could respond.
Conan watched the youth go, surprised at the amount of faith his cousin was showing him. Kaito trusted him with the potential of telling someone the secret of Kid, their family, their mission. Trusted him...and trusted Ran, too. Now if only he could find an easy way to tell her. He didn't have a clue how she would react to the undeniably illegal nature of his true heritage.
"Um...Ran...can this wait?" he mumbled, a little dismayed at the growing anger on her face. "I need to talk to Kaito about this--he's one of the people involved, so I can't go blurting things out--"
"You told me you wouldn't lie to me any more," she stated, her voice so soft and so hurt that he flinched visibly.
"I'm not lying!" he hissed, leaning closer so that only she would hear his quiet, intense words. "And I hate to keep putting you off like this. But it isn't just my secret to keep, you know. It's Kaito's--hell, it's my whole family's. It might hurt them if I'm careless--just like the secret of my true identity. You don't just go around divulging private things about your family, do you? Not even to me. Please understand--if it was my secret alone, like with Conan, I'd tell you right now."
Ran frowned. "What, you think you can't trust me with it? What about--?"
"No!" Glancing around, Conan gritted his teeth and moderated his tone, hoping no one was paying attention. "Listen. This is something that's...hard to understand. Almost more than the Conan thing. And...I'm not sure how you'll take it..."
"'The Conan thing' is about the weirdest, hardest to swallow, most shocking thing I've ever had to understand," Ran sighed, sitting back in her chair to regard him frankly. "And your family--Kaito included, I suppose--is eccentric enough that I can't imagine anything that hard to take."
Against his will, the corner of his mouth quirked. "You'd be surprised."
"Is it...really that bad?"
He sighed, looking down. "For me it is."
"For you...?" Ran noticed his discomfort immediately, and began to regret her mistrust and forcefulness. "Shin...Conan-kun...what's...?"
"Not here."
"Oh, fine!" She sat back with a sigh, turning away from him. "I suppose it can wait until you get home. With the way your family is, I suppose you'll be telling me that your dad moonlights as the Kaitou Kid and your mother counts the cash for him after every heist."
A sudden and very pronounced hush fell on the little boy beside her. Small hands tightly gripping the counter's edge, wide eyes fixed on his own white knuckles, the rigid little form broadcast sudden anguish with every fiber of his being. He was silent so piercingly that her mind halted mid-thought and backpedaled like a spooked mule, her own words ringing back in her ears. Careless, unthinking words--but suddenly there was the frightening, inconceivable possibility...!
"Oh...oh no...I was just...kidding...! It's not...!"
"It's not," he said quietly, not looking up. "Not like you think."
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, covering her mouth, her previous anger long forgotten. "I didn't mean..."
"I know." He looked up at her, eyes dark with shadows that no ordinary child's could hold. "I'll tell you tonight, Ran," he whispered earnestly, turning to lean close so that only she would hear. "I'll tell you everything that I can. I have to ask Kaito if he...if he's okay with it too. He has a lot at stake in this...his life's on the line as well. Can you understand?"
Mutely, she nodded, her eyes still glistening with apology and apprehension.
"Thanks. I promise I'll tell you later," he concluded, a faint smile finally returning. "I'm sorry our Sunday couldn't be better. I wish to God I were still myself..."
"No, don't--!" She cut off her protest before it grew too loud. "I enjoyed it--I really did. No matter what size you are. Don't apologize for being with me however you can."
Gratefully, his smile quirked up just a bit more. "Well, I guess I should get going--the sooner I talk with Kaito, the sooner I can get back to you." He glanced over his shoulder at the still-busy roomful of people--and Kaito, just visible through the glass doors, waiting absently on the sidewalk. "I'm hitting the road again--wish me luck."
Ran managed a smile as well. "Good luck, Conan-kun. Take care, and stay safe."
"I will." Getting off the stool was considerably simpler than getting on, despite the drop to the floor. He landed with the ease of long practice, grinning up at her; he was once again completely Conan, a cute, ordinary grade-schooler. "Bye, Ran-neechan, I'll be back soon!" he piped sweetly, loudly and innocently enough to lay to rest the doubts of anyone who might have seen too much or overheard strange things.
She watched him dash off through the parlor and out to the crowded sidewalk, bouncing to Kuroba-kun's side with a merry cry of "Kaito-niichan!"--shrill enough to be heard through the slowly-closing door--for the benefit of the onlookers. Kuroba-kun hammed up his part beautifully, patting his "little brother" on the head with a friendly grin and leading the small boy out of her sight down the sidewalk.
Her smile faded when she could no longer see them. Her mind still spun with suppositions from her own evocative words; she couldn't even begin to surmise the truth of what had upset him, but she couldn't allow herself to run away with a mere hypothesis. Theories and assumptions would only make things worse--would only hurt them both, as she had done before while pushing for the truth about Conan.
She sighed, gathering her purse and shopping bags and preparing to head home. Once again she was left alone, waiting for him. But she had the solemn promise of his return, and that he would tell her what he could. Even if that wasn't what she wanted to hear, she had faith in him. She loved him.
And at this point, with all that was going on around them, and all that loomed ready to tear their lives apart, she had little else to hold on to.
"I honestly thought you'd be at home moping after what happened this morning," Kaito commented, once they were out of the more busy section of the streets. "With Ojisan fuming mad and all..."
"I couldn't stand to sit at home either." Away from crowds, the Conan act wore thin quickly; walking alongside his nemesis/cousin/friend down the quiet sidewalk, it seemed pretty unnecessary. Pointless enough that he didn't check the unchildlike sardonic smile that twisted his lips. "Actually, Ran dragged me out of the house to get away from her dad. She wanted to talk."
Kaito wisely kept his snicker to himself. "So...I take it you're planning on telling her?"
"Yeah." Shinichi's gaze dropped to the concrete. "I hope you don't have a problem with it. I trust her with my secret, so--"
"No problem at all," Kaito replied with a shrug, marshalling his voice so that not a single iota of hesitation showed through--but while he strove to keep it level, he forgot to seal away the hint of sadness. "Ran's a lot more patient than Aoko is, that's for sure. I think she'll understand."
I hope so... Shinichi didn't speak aloud the words in his heart, the feelings both of them shared.
Somehow, his feet led him along the quiet streets in the direction of Beika Park; Kaito followed him silently, content with whatever destination his small companion chose. Shinichi himself didn't realize where exactly he was headed--not until he pulled up short just inside the park's borders, blinking in surprise. "I came here with Ran yesterday," he stated, half to himself, breaking the silence between them.
"That's right--I forgot that cure you had lasted twenty-four hours." Kaito grinned a little, glancing down at him. "So I guess you made good use of your time, huh?"
Shinichi scowled. "Didn't have enough time."
"You had all morning," Kaito observed. "What, did you change back right in front of her, and that's how she found out?"
"No," the small boy grumbled as they continued on through the park, following the small path. "I got away before it happened--and ended up telling her the truth later, at my house. But it was here in this park; I started changing back when we were just about to--um..."
Kaito cocked an eyebrow, quickly catching on. "Ouch."
"Oh, shut up," Shinichi growled, flushing red.
By this time, they had reached the little "river" and the footbridge that spanned it. Shinichi's expression became pensive and wistful as he paused in the middle of the bridge, exactly where he and Ran had stood close together yesterday. He could barely even reach the handrail now; vexed at his size, he gripped the lower railings and gazed out at the water, heaving an involuntary sigh. "This is where it happened..."
Kaito kept his comments to himself, waiting until Shinichi looked up at him again, ready to resume walking. He felt he only had a vague idea of what his cousin suffered being trapped in the body of a child; he had his own problems and tribulations, but at least he wasn't forced to change shape and unwillingly lose his identity.
They continued on once Shinichi drew himself away from the bridge rails, crossing to the other side and venturing off the path, into the shade-dappled grass. They came to a stop upon some unspoken agreement, choosing a section of cool grass on the small slope down to the waterway, shaded by softly rustling maples. Kaito sat down first, settling with a relaxed sigh and leaning back on his hands. Shinichi remained standing, still preoccupied--but it didn't matter since Kaito's position put them roughly at eye level.
It seemed a long time that they both just remained that way, side by side, staring at the flat water, the quivering maple boughs. Both gathered their thoughts for the agreed-upon negotiation of terms; they'd consented to unite against their enemy...but now they had to decide just how they would work together.
"How are we going to do this, Kaito?" Shinichi broke the silence first, still staring off across the water.
Kaito shrugged. "I thought I'd tag along when you go on investigations that might have to do with the Organization, and back you up whenever you encounter them. I figure an extra pair of eyes wouldn't hurt, and I know you occasionally need an extra set of hands. And any legwork that needs to be done, I can do--you know, things that...well, a little kid can't."
"Sounds okay," Shinichi admitted, closing his eyes to think. "There's not much I can do for you, though..."
"Oh, I think there is." Kaito's sardonic smile slipped in around the corners of his mouth.
"What?" Shinichi was finaly jerked out of his distant staring, his wide eyes turning to his cousin.
"You'd be surprised. Even if you're small, I can still use that brain of yours. Planning, tactics, and execution of strategy--I'd bet money you can niggle out details that even I'd miss."
Shinichi gaped at him. "You expect me to help you steal...?"
"You can help me find the right targets--the things most likely to draw them out in the open--and even plan the thing so I can drag the police across them. That's the whole point of my heists, you know; I find them, and I invite Nakamori and Company to make the party interesting--you can help out with that in a big way, since you're so good at that sort of detective thinking..." Kaito noticed his cousin's wary look. "Hey, I won't make you do anything you don't want to--I know how you feel about Kid's...activities. I can go by myself--I have before, so it's no problem. The main thing I'm concerned about is getting the Organization. I can work alone, but having you along to help will double our chances of success--"
"All right, all right, I'll do it," Shinichi stated, interrupting. "But only so we can get them. And you'd better not cause any major damage, and we aren't keeping anything we take--"
"Hey, I'm pretty good at keeping things under control," Kaito put in. And since when did it become "we" in your mind? "I don't let the cops take the chase too far, I try to cut down on property damage, and the only thing that's bruised is Nakamori's ego--or sometimes my own hide, if I miss."
"You'd better not miss," Shinichi said lowly. "If you get arrested..."
"I won't."
"I'm not going to let things get out of hand, either. We won't do any more stealing than absolutely necessary."
"I trust you'll keep me honest," Kaito drawled.
"Damn straight I will," Shinichi shot back. "Or else we're no better than them."
Kaito merely cocked an eyebrow. "I knew I could depend on you."
Expression set, Shinichi paced a few steps forward, pausing to turn and face the youth seated on the grass. His little-boy face was so stern, so serious, that it was almost comical--a seven-year-old staring Kaito down with such utter gravity. He almost chuckled aloud, but just managed to refrain, knowing who was really behind that young face.
"All right...if you're expecting me to be the conscience of this partnership, then I'm going to set some ground rules," Shinichi announced firmly, pinning Kaito's gaze with his own. "You're going to have to abide by them if you want this to work."
"Great, go ahead," Kaito replied, all ears.
Shinichi took a deep breath. "Okay...Rule One: When we're in public, my name is Conan Edogawa. I have enough trouble by myself trying to keep my identity a secret. Don't call me Shinichi Kudo when others are around--Hattori's bad enough as it is."
"Fine; with you so far," Kaito responded, nodding.
"Rule Two: When we're dealing with cases, I call the shots--got it? I'm in charge. If you hang around, keep your mouth shut and your eyes open, and try to make yourself useful. You've got quick wits and sharp eyes, and you're old enough to be credible. Just make sure you clear everything with me before you flap that fast tongue of yours."
"How am I supposed to talk to you in the middle of a case?" Kaito asked, perplexed.
"You're smart, aren't you? You'll think of something." Shinichi smiled grimly at him, then went on. "Rule Three: No stealing."
"Hey! I only do that when I'm in uniform--"
"Good. Then you won't have any problems with Rule Three," Shinichi interrupted. "Acting as Kid is one thing--but when we're on my terms, you keep your hands off. This deal is over if I catch you lifting anything when we're not on a serious job--and if I even think you're taking something I'm gonna find the nearest kickable object and--"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it already." Kaito sighed. "Anything else, Mon Capitain?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Shinichi replied. "Rule Four: Keep the magic to a minimum. You can run around with your flashy tricks and confetti all you want on your own, but when we're working together I'd rather you not make a jackass out of yourself. When you get going, everybody watches, and it's hard to keep a low profile when you're doing that. I don't need to attract anyone's attention, and the more noise you make the harder it is to keep me a secret."
"Oh, yeah....that's for sure," Kaito agreed thoughtfully. "Okay--tone down the tricks during serious time."
"Rule Five..." Shinichi hesitated, taking a breath and looking just a bit discomfited. "I prefer not to be manhandled. It's one thing for the people who don't know to treat me like a little kid; it's something entirely different when the people who do know start hoisting me off my feet. It's not funny; I'm not a doll or a pet or even a real kid--I don't enjoy being grabbed, lifted, or hauled around without warning whenever anybody feels like it. If by some chance you do need to pick me up, ask first."
With an effort, Kaito schooled his features into complete gravity. "Gotcha. Obtain express permission before hoisting; no problem." He paused for a beat. "But...Ran didn't--"
Shinichi hesitated, a little flushed. "Ran is...different. She doesn't have to ask because I know her, I trust her, and she's careful about it. Understand? Unless it's absolutely necessary, only Ran picks me up." The boy fixed him with a sharp, adamant look. "Only Ran."
"Ah..." After a moment of silence, Kaito shrugged. "Okay. Is that it?"
"I guess so." Shinichi shrugged. "Oh, wait, one more thing--somewhat related to Rule Five. If you bop me on the head, I'll let you have it with the Shoes on full--and I'm not kidding."
Kaito blinked at him, so Shinichi explained himself. "I let Kogoro Mouri get away with it because he's a moron and I have to keep up my act. I'm not going to tolerate it from someone who's in the know."
"Except maybe Ran," Kaito murmured innocently.
Shinichi glared. "Hey!"
"Sorry, sorry! Bad form, I know--that's below the belt..." Despite his "apology," Kaito's expression was completely unrepentant. "But if Ran's your exception to Rule Five..."
Shinichi's disgruntled glare made him stop talking, but couldn't make him stop snickering. "I'm serious about the rules, Kaito," the boy stated, scowling. "If you expect this to work, we've got to be careful."
"All right, agreed," Kaito replied, sobering. "Well then, since you've stated your guidelines for working together, I suppose I ought to tell you my own set of rules."
"You have rules?" Shinichi asked incredulously.
"Of course," his cousin retorted, as if it were galactically obvious. "If I didn't, I'd be no better than them, right?"
Shinichi stared at him for a moment, as if surprised to hear the legendary Kid speak of rules and standards. "O-okay...go ahead," he said after a few seconds.
"Rule One: Same as yours. When we're out and about, I'm nothing more than Kaito Kuroba, the son of the famous magician. No Kid, no thievery--show me the same consideration you want, and keep my identity a secret too."
"I understand," Shinichi replied quickly.
"Rule Two: When we're doing a 'performance,' I call the shots," the teen stated with a twinkle in his eye, amused at playing off his cousin's rules. "I know you know your way around a crime scene, but your experience with the art of thievery is somewhat limited, despite your...talent. So when I say 'Duck,' or 'Run for it,' you do it--got that?"
"Yeah," the boy admitted, looking down.
"It's for your protection. I can't let my cousin get arrested, now can I?" Kaito sat up, still speaking pleasantly. "Rule Three: If you're with me on this...no tripping alarms or tipping off the police if you get cold feet. If we're working together, we have to stay working together--or we'll end up working against each other again." Kaito's face was utterly serious, eyes focused on the small boy's.
Shinichi nodded mutely, startled at his cousin's sudden intensity. It reminded him of the confrontation with his father that morning...
But then Kaito was smiling again. "Okay then, Rule Four: No property destruction that can reasonably be avoided. I'm a thief, not a vandal or a burglar--the objective is to take the target, and not wreck everything else in the process. I pride myself on a clean getaway...and a clean crime scene." His eyes twinkled a bit. "So rest assured that we won't be causing the citizens of Japan vast amounts of financial trouble, and most of the damage is caused by Nakamori and his goons chasing me--which means the police department has to pay for it..."
Shinichi couldn't help the little chortle that snuck out.
Kaito's expression grew more serious again. "Rule Five: No human collateral damage. Nobody gets hurt."
"I agree to that one wholeheartedly," Shinichi stated with rapid nodding.
"I knew you would," Kaito responded. "It's the most important rule, really. I'd be no better than the Organization's thugs if I just cut through anyone and anything to achieve my goal. That isn't the phantom thief's way. It's been...most upsetting those times that I snuck along on your investigations, only to have someone die before I could stop it, or because I didn't see..."
"Especially if someone was murdered in your name," Shinichi observed. "I know what you mean--I feel the same way. But I don't think anyone can stop that sort of thing from happening--"
"I should have been able to," Kaito interrupted, staring at the water. "A big part of being a phantom thief means being able to read people, and to tell what they're going to do before they do it, so I can act insead of react."
"I don't think either of us can ever understand or predict what goes on in the minds of those kinds of people," Shinichi murmured, finally deciding to sit down on the grass beside his cousin.
"Oh really?" Kaito snorted. "It takes less than you think to make someone consider murdering another human being." His eyes darkened. "Sometimes even I think about doing something real nasty to the guys who killed my dad. Something terminal. And you--not even you can be immune to that kind of anger. What if somebody hurt someone you cared about? Like Ran--what if some bastard really hurt her, maybe even killed her?"
Shinichi stared up at him for long moments, aghast, his own mind awhirl with disbelief, denial, and the cold frightening thought of "What if...?" Something he hardly allowed himself to think about during waking hours--how angry, how inconsolable, how anguished and enraged he'd be if Ran were dead by some madman's hands... It was the stuff of not a few of his worst nightmares...nightmares where nothing--nothing--could stand between him and the one who had done it to her. Not the law, not his friends, not even his pitiful size...
"It's not a good thing to think about, is it?" Kaito asked after a while.
"No..."
"But with what we're up against, it's always a possibility--you know that."
"Yeah."
"I think I understand Ojisan a little bit though. He lost Dad, and came so close to losing you and Obasan. It's hard to even think about my family or friends dying like Dad did. Once was bad enough...and if I lost..." Kaito swallowed, shifting his weight back to his arms as he spoke, almost inaudible. "I couldn't bear it again."
"I can only imagine it," Shinichi confessed at length. "I've never had anyone I love die like that. I've had it easy in my life, I guess. It took Gin and Vodka and that night at Tropical Land to shake me out of my nice happy little world."
"I thought they put you into a 'little' world," Kaito drawled, slightly deadpan, staring off at the maple trees as if ignoring Shinichi's resulting glare.
"And then you had to go and do another shake-up," the little boy snorted. "Between you and Dad and the Organization, I'm surprised my brain hasn't been rattled out through my ears." He quieted, glancing at the youth beside him, a small smile at the corner of his mouth. "By the way, about this morning...thanks. I'm glad you came to support me."
Kaito shrugged, turning up a rather humorous grin. "Yeah, well, I figured you didn't have enough altitude to stand up for yourself, so I thought I'd add a little weight to your argument."
Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Aw, shut up..."
"But I'm glad you didn't back down in front of your dad," Kaito offered. "I know it's gotta be hard to disagree with him like that. But I knew you'd rise to the occasion."
"Knock it off, wise-ass," Shinichi grumbled--but his own features were touched with humor. "I don't really need any reminders about my vertically challenged status, thanks."
"Moi? Use your physical shortcomings as fodder for teasing? Would I do a thing like that?"
"Do pidgeons fly?"
"Yes."
"There you have it." Shinichi turned a sardonic glance toward his cousin. "If that's your stance on things, I hope you don't mind a few 'walking park statue' jokes when your doves are around. Say, do you have to shoulder-train your birds, or is that the reason you wear a white suit?"
Kaito's grin fell to a look of surprised indignation. "Hey!"
"Turnabout's fair play, my dear cousin." Like Kaito's had been, Shinichi's smile was highly unapologetic.
Composure regained, Kaito cocked an eyebrow complacently. "So if I don't like your jokes and I decide to toss you in the drink, would that be considered a breach of your Rule Five?"
Shinichi jumped, glancing at his cousin warily. "Of course!" He also kept a close eye on Kaito's hands. "That's not fair, anyway."
"Hm?" Kaito leaned over, looming. "And who says?"
Shinichi was on his feet in a heartbeat. "You wouldn't!"
"Oh? Wouldn't I?" Kaito grinned--it was supremely hilarious how his little cousin was backing away, looking quite worried. "You know me...always the prankster..."
"But...that...that's not fair...! You're bigger, and...that water's cold, and--and you know I can't fight back and...you...you wouldn't ever...really..." Shinichi's eyes got even wider when Kaito rose to his feet--and suddenly seemed a lot taller than usual. "Hey...I'm not really a kid, you know...if I was my real size there's no way you could...Kaito? What--? Hey, no--don't...don't you dare...!"
A single step forward on Kaito's part--complete with smirking grin--was all it took to start Shinichi running with a rather panicked squawk. Laughing, Kaito took off after him, wondering if the boy would realize he was only kidding--poor Shinichi took things so seriously sometimes. As accustomed as Kaito was to being pursued by determined detectives, it was rather fun to be doing the chasing for a change--even if there was less at stake than life and limb and a stint in jail. His amusement wouldn't endure long, but he'd enjoy it while it lasted. He could tell the little squirt that he was joking...after he caught him and dangled him over the water a bit.
The look on Shinichi's face would be absolutely priceless. And then maybe he'd let his cousin chase him around for a bit of revenge. The laughter would lift their spirits, and the friendship would strengthen their hearts.
To be continued...
AN: And another chapter is completed! Just hang in there, File 15 is underway as you read this! I'm working at a darn good clip, and I hope to have it done very soon! See you then!