AN: This is Part 3 to the ongoing story that is posted on our page, written by Mysteryfan17 and me, Lostinthedreams. It will not make sense at all without reading the previous parts, being "Manipulation" and "Deception".

Chapter 112: Fireside

Saguru had found a nice spot off to the side and sent Watson to a perch. After getting Kaito to finally turn and go off for a moment it took scarcely 14 minutes for Watson to find his own supper. He recalled Watson to him and went over to Kaito. "We still need the wood for the fire. If you would, I can have you take Watson and bring the wood myself."

"I can do both." Kaito didn't even worry about the stupid glove. He didn't like it and he pulled out a sheet of cloth instead, wrapping it around his arm. Kaito whistled the same one Saguru used to call the hawk, watching it actually listen to him even when it was in his brother's possession. Kaito grabbed part of the cloth and held it in his fist so it wouldn't slip too much. "Come on then, lets look for some sticks. Can't be that hard to find dead trees in the forest." He also thought it was kind of cool, holding the bird. It wasn't like it was more than a few pounds.

Saguru could not believe it backfired. He had meant for Kaito to not have to take so much. They headed back, slightly further in the woods than before and did find a tree that had fallen over and were able to gather quite a few branches. "We know where to find more for when we need it at least."

"We're in a forest," Kaito muttered with a laugh, getting a little pile for himself while he bent his knees, grabbing up what he could hold in one arm once it was gathered. "It's not all that hard to find wood."

"Even I know it is easier to burn dead wood than green. This is far better than pulling branches from a still living tree." Saguru said as he shifted and turned with a load in his arms.

"We're probably just going to cook with it anyway. It kills your night vision and it's way too hot out for it now." Kaito watched Watson while they headed back instead of in front of him. He was sure of his footing and he had the wood situated well enough. He didn't like taking his brother's bird from him so he was going to savor the feeling of holding - kinda - such a creature outside and in the daylight. It felt very different then holding him in the hospital or at night at Saguru's old place. It was cool now.

Saguru watched the ground, making sure he did not trip until they reached the tree line and he turned toward the campsite. He saw the tent there while he spotted no one else, though as they neared, he saw the zipper was closed and wondered why she would do that.

Kaito whistled a few times, just whistled and looked at Watson, bobbing him a little on his arm in tune with the noise. He looked over where Saguru did at the tent, catching sight of the feather and figuring mom went exploring on her own. "Guess we have to wait until she..." He turned his eyes, figures in the distance catching his attention. It took him a second longer to know one was their mom. It was a camping ground so he wasn't all that surprised to see someone else, though he still had trouble with trusting strangers. Considering how calm mom looked around Chris, he couldn't tell if the person following her was dangerous or not so he sat down, pretending he hadn't noticed them with his body language, though his eyes wouldn't leave until they were close enough to notice. "I guess we're having company for lunch."

Saguru saw them too and crouched, dropping the wood into a pile by Kaito's. "Should I send Watson into the air? If it is a threat, Watson dropping down would give us the advantage."

"It'd take too long and they might notice a signal. Better to keep him close." If there was danger, mom still could have called Kiri. Watson was trained well enough and, honestly, the dove's safety wasn't worth their lives. "There hasn't been a warning from her yet, so she's either perfectly fine or anything like a whistle will give away our intentions."

Chikage saw them but didn't bother looking back. '"Well, seems they've seen us."

"And they seem more anxious than I am." Toichi looked at Chikage's back. "I hadn't wanted any of this to happen to you both, I had just wanted you to live as normal and happy a life as you could."

"We are Kurobas. I don't think 'normal' applies."

Toichi chuckled to himself. "I said as you could. I wasn't shooting for perfection."

Chikage couldn't help joining, a talent Kaito had got from him. If one of them starts laughing, it spreads to others.

Toichi slowed his steps as they drew closer, his steps matching hers once he thought of how cowardly standing back was. "I do not know how to initiate or explain this."

"I would use Kiri, but with Watson there, I'm not sure. Maybe just be yourself?" She turned to look at him and smiled. "Saguru may not recognize you, but Kaito may, even if he never saw you without your mustache." She laughed again and half turned, still looking at him.

Toichi smiled more and rubbed the place where it had been. "When someone only sees half your face, it was a bit of a giveaway." He didn't hesitate now to take a few steps to be beside her, doing what any good performer would do to make himself obviously not armed - holding her hand from underneath so she could easily let go and his other going loosely to his side. He smiled toward her. "Thank you for being so forgiving," he breathed, barely moving his mouth so neither of the other two who weren't far would show talents much like his own.

Kaito was more than a little surprised. He tensed up when the man moved but their mom had smiled about it. That... that was something she wouldn't do if she was trying to warn him of anything. Watson was stilly tying up one arm so he whistled to him to dismount and stay, indicating downward where the hawk fluttered uncertainly since there was no perch. He moved one of the gathered branches for him to rest on and looked up, his brother close and behind him. "Picking up strangers in the woods?"

"No more than you bringing a detective home," Chikage said with a smile.

Kaito relaxed a little more, nothing hidden in her words. Was this guy a detective? He wasn't sure but she seemed fine and the other guy hadn't made any wrong moves. The way she said it was still threatening in a way because it meant it was her doing something stupid, like him bringing a detective into a house of thieves. "What's as bad as a detective?" he asked, half playfully.

Toichi couldn't help laughing to himself. She and Kaito weren't so different. That was not a terrible thing but it was certainly funny. "I'm not too sure if I'm worse than a detective though I have been called a phantom in the past and have been living up to the name," he took the hat off as he spoke, knowing his son was no fool, though he had not seen the boy since he was no more than eight years old.

Kaito just kind of froze, not able to react anymore. It felt like there was something heavy in his stomach as the... the person... human... thing took his hat off and looked... a lot like a member of his family, though one he hadn't seen much. There was a certain member and the wording that just had him staring blankly up, his eyes trying to go to his mom for some explanation but not staying there long enough to read her expression.

Chikage smiled at Kaito and knew it would be a moment for him to regain speech. "Is that what I looked like?"

Toichi smiled and took his eyes away from his son to meet his wife's. "You were a tad more feminine about it, but yes. I did not think it was amusing but in hindsight, most things can be." He took his hand from hers and offered it as he looked back at Kaito, still some feet away, no farther than Chikage had been. "We have a lot to catch up on."

Kaito still didn't move. It wasn't possible and he had been lied to way too many times before.

Saguru was still not sure what was happening. All he knew about the man this was supposed to be was what he had heard and inferred. When he extended his hand to Kaito, Saguru was tempted to keep him from going any closer until they had absolute proof. He raised his hand to reach for Kaito's shoulder if he gave any indication but made no physical contact and his eyes never left the man standing there.

Toichi looked up from his son who seemed in just as much shock as his wife had been in. He could not fault either of them for that. The other boy he had never seen or heard of and seemed the more jumpy of the bunch. It was understandable. He wanted to talk with Kaito but it wasn't fair to the other boy. He had waited ten years, a few minutes wouldn't kill him. "Hello Saguru-kun." He took his hand back and knelt slightly before sitting on the ground, leaving himself vulnerable to try and put the other two at ease. "It seems we all have things that need to be explained. I've never heard of you before today." He tilted his head forward slightly. "I'm Kuroba Toichi," at least, that had been his name. His English one wasn't something he wanted to be known by any longer, or the fake Japanese one he had. "I've only recently returned and your name is the only thing I know of you, so do not feel put off. I do not have much more information on you than that, and that was only through Chikage."

Saguru flicked his eyes quickly to her after he had sat, though he fixed them back on the man within a second. "And what I know of Kuroba Toichi comes from Kaito. Who is to say you are truly he and not yet another person in disguise?"

"I don't know many that would go so far to look like someone they believe is dead. I've been hearing what's been happening, somewhat - It's been rather general - so I can understand your skepticism. I do not know what I can do to prove otherwise to either of you though." Kaito was far too young to remember him well and he had nothing of magic on him, hadn't in some time and none while traveling. It was still too dangerous.

Kaito looked at the guy who looked and kind of, maybe, sounded like his dad. It was really hard to tell. That wasn't physically possible though. He was dead, he had been dead. Kaito had run into his murderer. He didn't know what kind of cruel trick this was but he scooted an inch or two towards his brother. He wanted to believe it, he wanted to believe his mom, but he couldn't understand it.

Saguru felt Kaito back into his hand and an idea came. "Kaito, you learned from your father, he should be able to tell you something that he taught you that only the two of you know. I know you remember him well enough."

Kaito didn't move his eyes but his mind went to working again, thinking. There wasn't much he had learned from his dad that he hadn't seen other people do. He had no... well, there was one thing he did that really only he'd seen his father do. He let his eyes dart to Watson, not willing to let himself miss something.

Toichi smiled. He had been able to read the other boy's lips more than he had heard him, and mixed with the impression he was getting from the quick look away, it wasn't hard to guess. "I'd need to know how to call him. I don't think working with a hawk" and yes, he could tell easily enough it was a hawk, "that someone is unfamiliar with is best but I do believe I could do it if I know that much." He looked up at his wife. "You should have the other few things I need. I did notice you have several of the same pockets I normally have."

"Single, steady whistle calls him to you," Saguru said as he saw their mother nod and reach into her pockets. She pulled out a few things, handing them down to the man.

Toichi got to a knee and took them, seeing that the way he made them was different. He wondered if Chikage had changed them or Kaito. "I think my design was better." Not that he had left many smoke bombs. The pressure in these was stronger. He didn't want to cut up his arm so he took one of the shorter, steadier sticks from the pile that was there and called him to it. He stood once he was on it. "I hope you don't mind me borrowing your friend." Another thing he hadn't worked with was birds even longer than magic.

"While he is well trained, I have never exposed him to magic," Saguru said, catching on in a way and slightly curious as to what exactly he was intending to do.

"Doves are easier as far as stagehands go because of their intelligence and appearance. Both work in our favor. I've worked with larger animals and, as long as he doesn't spook as easily as most wild ones, it should be fine." Toichi put his hat back on. He wouldn't roll up his sleeves. He wasn't like most of the modern day magicians in that aspect. He held the stick out to his side so the hawk on it was as far away as possible. This would hurt a little because it was untrained but he had been through worse. He didn't feel right using a powerful smoke bomb on it so he aimed towered the ground when he flicked his other wrist, turning his face away from the smoke that quickly took up that half of his body. It vanished just as quickly and he dropped the now empty stick on the floor with a smile before bending back down to look Kaito in the eye, taking the brim of his hat and removing it, the hawk sitting atop his head. "I haven't lost my touch just yet."

Not everyone could have done that and, if it had been anyone else that had seen his shows, no one knew he liked this one the best and had done it himself, once he got the hang of it. His father had made up so many that he was sure no one could have picked this one out of the many. He was sure. He had to be sure... It had. Kaito lost any of that fear and restraint he had, going and hugging the man that... that was his dad. He had to be. He couldn't stop himself from crying, feeling when he knocked him back on his butt. He had nothing to say. Nothing. He was so tired of it all and his dad was here and how and he didn't care how and just Kami... his dad was here. He was alive.

Toichi wasn't used to taking on a teenagers weight and fell back when Kaito half tackled him. The bird became scared and flew off with some flaps around his face before he was back to looking at his son in front of him who didn't get angry with him or any of the things he had assumed from him. Something truly had gone wrong. He'd figure it out later, he thought, as he put his hands around him in return. "Hey, I'm not as young as I used to be."

Chikage smiled down at the two of them taking a step to the side so her husband would see her. "See, I told you."

"That you did," Toichi whispered back, taking a second to close his eyes and hug his son back the way he had her. He had thought he'd never see them again, likely the same way that they had thought of him, the only difference- he knew they were alive and out there. Only now that he was back before them could he not understand all his arguments with himself of staying away. He moved his head and looked at the other boy, running his hand through Kaito's hair since it didn't look like he was going to release him anytime soon. "Would the both of you mind catching me up in a more orderly fashion than what I've heard and I shall do the same? Your story seems more pressing."

Saguru had started to turn, knowing that Watson's claws likely left their mark during the importune trick. When he saw that he was the one being addressed he paused and met the man's eye. Kaito had broken down completely and that alone told him this was no trick. "It is rather complex, though you need some tending to first as a precaution. As soon as that is done, I will give you what I know."

"That's fine. I have no where to be and all the time in the world." Toichi really did now.

Saguru nodded and went to the tent, retrieving the first aid kit and returning to the others. "You do not need to move him either. Now stay still."

Toichi couldn't help smiling, a teenager talking to him as if he were the child. He was more than double the boy's age. "I won't." He felt the boy part his hair and dab at where he knew the hawk's claws had got him. He hissed in a quiet breath, feeling Kaito's arms tighten around him. He clenched his teeth instead and brushed his hand through his son's hair.

Chikage smiled at her husband's expression. "With the 'patients' he's had to deal with, that's become a normal thing I think. If he'd only listen to it himself," she added with a look at him and seeing him react but continue working.

Toichi looked up at Chikage with his eyes alone, wincing when it stung. He remembered her saying that she and Kaito had been injured but only something about some, to quote her, bastard, and this other boy.

Saguru finished and patted the area dry. "There. That should suffice." He shifted to glance at Kaito's head and then over at the man before nodding and going to stand.

"Isn't this where you explain things to me first?" Toichi asked the other boy as he started to stand and walk off. "I would rather hear things from you than Chikage. I'd like to know more about you as well and hearing you speak it from your side should give me an idea of you. Not to sound inconsiderate but your as much a stranger to me as I am to you." Though this boy seemed utterly disinterested in him, and he could not fault him for that either. He didn't share the same lack of interest. He was not about to force Kaito to release him though.

Saguru looked back down at him. He knew little and as much as he wanted his own questions answered, he knew enough to know that Kaito would need what time he had like this to compose himself. "I-" He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over at their mother. All she did was smile, nod, and take the things from him before walking toward the tent. Saguru glanced down at his empty hands, knowing she had taken them so he no longer had a reason to leave.

Toichi held Kaito a little tighter before letting go with one hand and patting the grass beside him. "Come sit. Even if you do distrust me, I can't really move right now. I'd really like to hear what you have to tell me."

"I assure you, if I truly distrusted you, you would not be so close to him," Saguru said, tipping his head to Kaito before stepping over and sitting off to the side. "I believe you must be who you claim."

"Are any of you in danger right now?" Toichi looked back down at Kaito and over at the other teen. "She said you were hiding. I didn't notice anyone tailing you but is there a chance someone could have, or do you believe it's safe?"

"We should be safe here, though the possibility is more likely as you managed to follow us fairly undetected."

"I've an acquired talent at moving undetected," Toichi said with a smile. "I was behind you so I would have noticed someone that close to you. I wasn't followed." So they were safe. "You don't need to explain anything then. We have the time. I'd rather have this reunion be something natural than something full of bad memories and fear. If you don't mind though," he turned his smile to Saguru. "How did you wind up as part of this family?"

Saguru looked at Kaito briefly and nodded his head. "The result of some of those 'bad memories' was the main reason for it but I would not be here if it were not for him."

"I'm am sorry to hear that. Someone your age shouldn't be exposed- either of your ages- to that type of danger. Most people shouldn't. You have shared sympathy from me. I know the feeling."

"I see that he will never feel it since you care about him." He looked at him. "Dangers, in some measure, I chose. Others were just a matter of time and circumstance."

"Feel what? The fear and pain of mortality?" Toichi noticed the boy had trailed on a different thought path than what they had been on.

"I expected enemies, choosing to be a detective. I never expected for one of them to be the man that use to share my name."

"Ah," Toichi breathed, closing his eyes for a moment. "The world is full of unexpected things. People turning on their children has not been one of the most shocking I've encountered, I'm sorry to say. I do hope humanity has made up with good for the amount of bad you have seen. It is sad for those it has not, though if one thing can be said, it is that life truly isn't fair and we should not expect it to be."

"Kaito and our mother are still alive, as am I. That you are as well makes them happier than I have seen and very close to what I heard."

"I came here to put grievances aside, not to reintroduce myself to this life. I couldn't help it once the opportunity was there though. What about you? From what I've seen of you, you don't look very happy yourself."

Saguru shifted and could not meet his eye for a moment so he glanced over at Kaito again. He managed a small smile and took a deep breath. "As you said, it may be best to enjoy the moment rather than mar it with what happened before."

"I didn't mean to. I mean you don't look very happy now."

Saguru shook his head. He knew he should be, especially for Kaito, but he couldn't help feeling that small bit inside that once wanted the ability to do the same thing. Nakamori-ojisan was easily the closest, though he still saw him as an inspector as well. "I would say that it is because of you that the other two have improved so. No offense, but it does not have quite the same effect of lifting my spirits as it has theirs."

"I didn't expect it to or try to have it. You just seem like someone who's naturally more pessimistic. Whether that impression came from whatever you've gone through, I'm not sure. It was only that, a feeling." He reached out his hand again. "You seemed pretty worried for Kaito. Come closer."

Saguru shifted to a crouch. "You are correct about that. You mean a great deal to him and yet this is the longest he has been silent while still being awake."

Toichi reached out his hand and grabbed the boy, pulling him closer since he still seemed hesitant on the matter. Even if he was half on his side, he was at least close enough for Toichi to give him a half hug with his free hand before taking it back and messing with Kaito's hair once more. He had been crying but it looked more like he was half sleeping on him now. "It was taking in a lot at once." He smiled, not looking at Chikage since she had not made herself known.

Saguru was not sure how to react. This was so much like when Kaito had taken him by surprise on the landing to the agency - unexpected and strange. However, even when he was released, he did not pull away. The closer view and slight change in perspective of his brother showed he was closer to sleeping than anything else. "He has not been that relaxed since..."

"Since he passed out on you."

Toichi thought that sounded like a bad thing though when Saguru-kun's cheeks started turning red he had a feeling it was more of praise toward whatever connection Kaito had made with the other teen. He smiled over at him. "You have a special bond with him I take it. Kaito seemed nervous enough when I saw him that having him be more relaxed around you than his own mother says a lot about your character."

"It was... most likely he was worn out." Saguru finished. It was not unlikely. Each time had been when Kaito had done something or stayed up for him to the point where he would collapse 'on' whoever was there.

Toichi smiled a little more. "He had more energy than any child I'd ever come across. I don't feel he would have lost that if he didn't trust you, especially to be around you while he was so vulnerable."

"It did take me by surprise considering how we met each other."

"It takes me by surprise now, though not much, that you're a detective and you're here. The world is full of wonderful surprises like that."

"Instead of me catching him as I had originally intended, it seems, like one of his heists, he turned the tables once again."

"I had to guess you knew, that's more than I did, if things went so far. You've been thrown off a track of normalcy and that isn't the worst thing, though even I can sense the tension without knowing you well. It is hard to tell someone to be something they're not, though I think you should try to open your mind and make yourself more adaptable to new situations. Besides that, if they already have and I am not leaving, I would be honored to think of you as a member of the family, faults and all, whether you share the same grace of me or not. "

Saguru looked at him and back at Kaito. "With all the changes in my life this past month, and even before that, I have to say I did not see this coming." He caught a small laugh from behind him and looked over.

"So, you thought Ginzo-kun was the only one that would offer that or... oh, being genuine about it." Her laugh stopped and she gave him a sad smile. "If you're thinking of Inoue-san again, you better not put the two together."

Toichi looked back up at her. "I do not think many can be associated with me."

"Not like that. This man claimed to be a friend of his family and was suppose to take him in if something happened. A week ago, he proved false too."

"Twice you've been scorned." He looked back at Saguru-kun. "You have worse luck than most and still you're here. Associate what and whom you wish with me. I will make sure to be only myself so you cannot place someone else's bad deeds on every new person you meet. "

Saguru straightened slightly and nodded. "I accept." He glanced over his shoulder at their mother, back at Kaito, and then over to the man's face. "This family seems to have the luck aspect Kaito goes on about and 'third time is the charm' right?"

Toichi thought that funny and chuckled to himself. "It's not common for a family member to accept another. I supposed that makes you more odd that you seem to act. Take that as a compliment. I prefer the oddities in people to the commonality of the populous." Toichi also felt he had been in America too long. The conservative nature of one was far different from the other. He settled on reaching his hand out to go over to teen's since his other arm was full. "We will see where life takes us all."

Chikage chuckled and leaned over, putting her arm behind Saguru to place her hand on Toichi's shoulder and her other hand touching his and Saguru's. "In a couple weeks, after the boys take their exams and a favor is returned, the answer is England."

Toichi closed his eyes and turned his head to the side with another chuckle and a smile. "Well now, doesn't that make things work out considering I don't want to go around in a hat and under a false name any longer."

Saguru looked over at him from between the two of them. "Was it a legitimate one or were you simply in hiding yourself?"

"It was legitimate. I went through legal channels where I normally wouldn't." Toichi looked back over at the boy. "Why do you ask?"

"It does not mat-ter." Saguru glanced back when their mother had shifted. "That is, if you had not been, I could legitimize your return."

"I would not risk it. My name and appearance are known to too many who would try and kill me. I choose life over that bit of happiness." Toichi looked up at his wife. "Don't worry. My name is still in the bureau so it is not as if it is not still my own or that I do not think of it more as my own then the one I was given. Is that what was bothering you?"

"No different than I. I was merely inquiring as to where your ties had been."

"I do not mean to insult you Saguru-kun but I wasn't talking to you."

"Like he could tell, you looked over his head." Chikage finally said around the smile as she felt Saguru shift and look away without answering. She shook her head. "He was right though. And I would never care what name you went by."

"Nor I you. As far as things are concerned though I would prefer my birth name as much as possible. It had seemed as if it bothered you that it wasn't legally mine any longer." It was impossible for him to move the way he wanted so he ended up pulling his hand away from theirs and around Saguru's back, leaning as much as he could backwards so he could touch his forehead against Chikage. "It does feel good to have my family back. You'll never know how much I've missed that."

Chikage nodded slightly against it but his words may have been exactly what Saguru was thinking. They had changed his name and, rather than asking or having it go to his mother's maiden name, they'd made it their's. "As much as we missed you being here with us." She lowered her voice to less than a whisper. "Family is family, even if it isn't by blood."

Toichi's smiled curved up, a bit of mischievousness of his own there now that he was more relaxed as well. "Look who you are talking too. You are not related to me by blood either and I couldn't love you more."

"And not only am I not the only one now..." She looked at Kaito. "I guess you have to wait."

"Wait for what?"

Chikage sighed and smiled but shook her head slightly against his. "You need to wait for your son to tell you. It's his news."

"I didn't get to talk to him much at all. There are many things that will have to wait." Toichi moved just slightly and felt when Kaito's hands tightened, though he didn't look anymore awake. "I don't think I'll be able to move before then," he said with some laughter in his words.

Saguru smiled to himself, having deduced what she was talking about. "We know Kaito will invite him, that is for sure."

Toichi had to smile at them, knowing when something was being hidden from him. He was curious as to what he was talking about and when he thought of what he could be invited to it fully dawned on him what month it was. He hadn't kept track of dates recently, more coming because it had been bothering him so much, but his son would officially, an in some ways already was, be an adult soon. That made him feel terrible and old at the same time which made him laugh.

Chikage smiled and squeezed closer. "Try as you may, you won't get it, since you admitted to not knowing what was going on around here."

"A shame really. I had no contacts here though. I hope you'll catch me up."

"We will, but I think his first stirrings will be to supper." She brushed a hand through Kaito's hair. "Saguru and I can handle it. You're right, you're not moving for the moment."

"Don't let me keep you." Toichi leaned over more to kiss her on the cheek. "I won't and can't be going anywhere this time."

Chikage smiled. "I know. He doesn't let go of anything."

Saguru watched her stand and thought of the evidence that showed the one time, but that part had not made any papers. He glanced over at Kaito before standing himself and going to the woodpile to start breaking it up.

Toichi held Kaito as close as he could while he didn't have to put stress on either of them, having to watch his wife and new son - which he hadn't expected. He came back to more family then he'd left - set up the fire so that they could cook over it. It was kind of painful sitting hunched over so he straightened them as best he could without startling Kaito, also turning a bit so he could see better. It was obvious neither was an amateur to cooking though he hadn't remember his wife doing much of that type of thing. The boy was a bit more of a surprise considering he was a boy. It was calming to watch and catch that attractive smell of the burnt wood and later the cooking food. He'd only gotten a fast breakfast but the want for food was no where near his happiness at the moment that things had a chance at being similar to how they had been before.

Saguru took the food off the fire after he checked it and looked up as their mother brought over some plates. There was easily enough for four due to the extra that would likely have gone to Kaito otherwise, though he was not sure if he received his high metabolism from his father or not. They walked over to the two and Saguru set the pan down on the blanket their mother had spread next to them. "It is not much but there should still be enough for the four of us."

"It was as unexpected for me as it was for you. I could go shopping for myself tomorrow if I'm freed by then," Toichi spoke lightly with some laughter. "Considering everything, odds that you have enough for me besides what you're already splitting is unlikely and that's easier than having everyone still hungry after." He put his fingers through Kaito's hair, letting him go, but his son seemed to have no interest in either the food or waking himself up. "I don't think I have the heart to bother him at this point."

Saguru looked over at their mother. "He will have to move sooner or later and he has not eaten since breakfast that I saw."

Chikage smiled at him. "You think it'll work again?"

Saguru looked over at him. "There is only one way to find out."

Chikage chuckled and looked over at the two of them as well. She walked over and knelt right beside them, leaning close and putting her mouth right to Kaito's ear. It wasn't perfect but with the way he was, it didn't need to be flawless, luckily. "Kaito, wake up."

Kaito twitched, the noise in his ear loud and tickling him. He tried to hide it behind his shoulder. "Shoo."

Saguru chuckled and reached over to tap his shoulder. "You need to eat now so you can go back to sleep in a more comfortable position for you both."

That snapped him more awake. When had he fallen asleep with Aoko and what the heck did he mean by comfortable? What did he walk in on? Kaito moved, feeling his chest kind of sore, pushing himself up with his arms before he looked around and started to remember things he forgot. His eyes turned right to his dad, still wide and his mind still half not understanding this. He wanted to grab him again and did all could to keep himself sitting once he pushed himself up on his butt. He was only half aware of the other two or anything really.

Toichi smiled gently at his son. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'm not some ghost either and there's food and frankly I'm hungry." He reached out for a plate and put it on his now free leg. "Eat, then we'll talk."

Saguru sighed when Kaito made no move for it. He placed some food on a plate and crouched next to Kaito. "I do not want to go through with you what I did with Hattori. Just eat something."

"When did you go through that with Hattori? The agency? That was easy," Kaito spoke tonelessly, his eyes not leaving his father.

Saguru touched his shoulder and held the plate just in front of him. "And he was not my brother. Here. You know how patient I can be."

Kaito sighed, relaxing and looking over at his brother instead. It was hard to do but strangely... easy in other ways. He took the plate from him and frowned like a spoiled child, taking it. "Fine, I'm eating. Next time we go for ice cream you'd better eat it all too or I'm using this against you."

"So long as I order the size."

"So long as it's bigger than a small."

"A medium."

"Maybe."

"I do not have your extensive sweet tooth and you know it."

"No one hates ice cream."

"Few can eat the amount you can in a single sitting."

"Lots of people can handle a large."

Toichi laughed at the two. Saguru-kun had been withdrawn a few seconds ago and now he wasn't and he didn't know his son could be so stubborn in such an odd way. Fighting over the size of a desert in exchange for eating. It was one of the strangest things he'd seen to the point it was almost comical.

Kaito looked back at his dad where his attention had suddenly shifted back to before taking a plastic fork and eating his food. "You can eat a large."

"One topping then," Saguru muttered as he stood and turned to get his own.

"Fine," Kaito agreed to, looking back at his dad and the smile on his face. "Hey." He put the down for a second. "Can I ask you the obvious... How are you alive?"

Toichi's laughter had died down but the aftereffects of it had him smiling more at his son then he would have if the question had been brought up normally. "I faked my death with the help of Kudo-kun. He'd noticed things weren't playing out the way they should have and offered me his help. I took it. I needed to make sure that I was the only target. I didn't want you or your mother in danger, though it seems a bit pointless now."

Kaito waited while he thought on that and how stupid and pointless and how much he'd rather have had his father with him... though he had to admit he wouldn't want him trying to get murdered over and over again. He could understand why but that didn't mean he liked it any more. He picked the food back up and started eating, wondering how his dad hadn't at least told them anything.

Saguru took another bit and once he swallowed, as no one said anything, he did. "Why did you choose to cut yourself off and never give them the indication at least that you were still alive?"

"Because you can't miss something you think you can never have as much as you can miss something you can see, but never touch. I wouldn't have done things halfway. It would have been more painful" Toichi spoke, somewhat quietly while he ate some of the food himself with the others.

Chikage leaned over. "OK, happier note. Kaito, I think your dad wants to know something about you."

Kaito looked up at her, not too sure what his dad couldn't know about him or how much had gone on when it seemed he'd passed out. "What?"

"It's your news. Thought you'd tell him yourself... invite him to it." Chikage moved her hand out of her husband's vision and moved her ring finger.

"OH!" Kaito smacked himself in the forehead. "Right. Other things have been on my mind." He peeked his eyes open from under his hand. "Ah, dad?" And at that sounded weird... he wasn't used to having his dad here and not dead and here. "I'm ah, kinda engaged. I'm going to get married in... I guess a few months. I don't think I really have to invite you like, verbally. You're my dad but yeah..."

With how much had happened, there wasn't much that could take him by surprise though this was higher up on that topped off rating. "You are marrying a lot younger then I did, but that's beside the point. Congratulations should be said first, so congratulations. I hope you're happy. Why aren't you out here with-… The danger. Ah. I should have thought of that."

Kaito smiled at his dad and nodded. "Yeah, it's Aoko. I'm sure you remember her. She hasn't changed much. She's safer with her dad, though we are kidnapping her to go to England."

"You two always were cute together. I'd like to see her now when I get the chance. It doesn't seem far off. She should be congratulated as well. I'm sure you two will be happy if you've moved things along so fast. You've done a lot more than I had by the time I was your age."

Kaito shrugged a little. "You know when you love someone and thanks," he said with a wide grin, showing off some of his food when he went to finish chewing it. "I'm a fast learner."

"Although his method was a bit more public than yours," Chikage said from behind her hand.

Toichi smiled to her. "Ours was a bit more unique."

Chikage smiled and leaned over. "But still romantic."

"I would not have settled for less."

"You wouldn't have risked me saying no."

"You wouldn't have said no." Toichi laughed at how they were sounding like the other two. "You literally fell for me."

Chikage blushed at that, loosing any chance hiding her thoughts now.

Toichi got up, moving and sitting directly next to her, taking her face and turning it to kiss her on the lips. "In memory of a wonderful night out."

Chikage smiled and leaned in to meet his lips. It was still the same. Nothing changed in all these years. Her hand came up and touched his sleeve.

Toichi hadn't even held a woman, let alone kissed one since he had left and the fact that she accepted him back so easily, and the touch on his arm, made him keep the contract a few seconds longer than he normally would, keeping his fingers against her skin even as he backed off.

Chikage sighed and her eyes opened again. "Still like magic."

"What can I say to that?" Toichi said jokingly as he pulled back. "Right now, this all feels like magic to me. You've even given me the joy of having another son."

Chikage smiled. "Kaito gave you that one. I didn't know until it was done."

"It does not matter who, it is you who are one of the parents here, aren't you?" Toichi touched her leg, not taking her hand so she could eat instead and he could keep close to her. "Who knows? We might have more."

She eyed him. "We do have a lot of things to catch up on," Chikage said with a smile.

Toichi laughed. "I meant between the two of us. I hope you didn't take that the wrong way. It doesn't mean I'm not interested in more. Lots more. Dozens more," he said with another laugh.

"Oh, I knew what you meant. That 'we' was 'you and me'."

"You've likely had doubts. I just didn't want it to be about my fidelity. You've been my only and you always will be. No one else could handle my offset sense of humor if I even tried and I'd never want anyone to either."

"As though anyone would or could come close. Kaito was the only man-" Chikage laughed lightly. "Well, Ginzo-kun helped like I did with Aoko-chan, but nothing more. I had one man I loved and that was you."

"I supposed there's not many who could handle either of us, though I do think," Toichi said quietly with a smile, looking over at both his sons. "I have found some even more difficult."

"Aoko has become a young woman more than up to the task. She can put him in his place faster than I can," Chikage further dropped her voice with her smile widening slightly. "That's why I used her to wake him."

"Then I suppose we only have to work on the second one. He seems a totally different person when Kaito is awake or asleep and not able to see him."

"Let's just say, in the past month, when they haven't known where the other is, something as happened to one of them."

"What terrible luck. Seems sad when you think of it that way if neither is confident enough to do what they want in favor of following the other. I suppose I have an idea on how to help with the anxiety issues. I had more than enough myself and it becomes harder the more you let things fester. For now though." Toichi leaned back over and kissed her just on the cheek this time since they both were eating. "I think you and I have more catching up to do than anything else."

"Mmm" Chikage swallowed and smiled. "We have over a week out here, and personally, I'm more than happy to catch up even after that."

"It is hard to get years in hours, on explanation and emotions, so no need to rush things."

Kaito ate, looking more at his food than his dad. He wasn't going anywhere and if he did, Kaito knew he could be as fast, if not faster. He was younger, he was more in shape. He wasn't worried about that and seeing his parents together was odd enough but he didn't want to watch them kissing. Of course though, he ate slow, only thinking of something long after he should have. He looked at Saguru. "Hey, I didn't make us lose Watson, did I? "

Saguru looked away from the water toward Kaito and shook his head. "You should know he is trained better than that. I will call him back once we are finished eating. He would not have gone far enough to not hear."

"I wasn't sure. I thought you'd have him near." Kaito kept his... the doves near. He would never have left one for so long. It was just lonely for him or the birds.

"I will, though if it will put your mind at ease I heard him call while we were cooking so he is nearby. Besides, I had to clean up after him, as he was startled from his perch."

Clean up? What did he poop everywhere. Kaito nodded though. "Yeah, I guess we have food but it's nearly gone. Can you call him back?" He didn't know how much more well trained the hawk was to the doves but he'd never seen him gone so long without orders. "And ah... we don't know how that dog thing reacts around other animals and I haven't seen it, so I think it's better to keep him close."

Saguru placed his empty plate down and retrieved the glove. He stood and, placing his fingers to his lips, gave a whistle.

Kaito could have called Watson if he wanted to, but he was his brother's bird and, with him here, it was kind of stupid and mean do it himself. He watched the hawk sore over when he got closer, having been somewhere hundreds of feet away and near a different part of the shore. It landed on the glove, looking no worse for wear. Kaito smiled and petted his front feathers. "Sorry about that big guy."

Saguru smiled as Watson seemed to eye him. "He may take flight next time you run toward him though."

"Hey, that wasn't my fault. I couldn't help it." Kaito moved to his wing and tried to get Watson used to him again so that he wasn't jumping away from him. Most of the time Kaito had - might be a permanent had now - to move fast. He didn't want to be spooking him each time.

"Perhaps if you can do it without disrupting his perch he will relax again. Here, see if he will step over to you."

"Step over to me? How do I get him to do that if I don't want him to leave your arm?"

Saguru shook his head. "I thought it would be better to make certain he still trusts you. If you would rather wait, I can understand apprehension."

"You told me to get him to move and not disturb his perch. That's a contradiction and you just confused me." Kaito took the cloth back out and around his arm, calling the bird over to see if he would come.

"I meant knocking his perch out from under him, as you did before. This is allowing him to change for himself." Saguru was tempted to rub his forehead. How had he, as Kid, out done him so often when he was confused by something like that?

Kaito put his arm out, happy Watson came over to him. He held him kind of close to himself so he could support and pet him at the same time without having to put too much stress in his body. "Yeah, well, won't you hate it when I'm the one using him and I stick you with Kiri." That made him laugh. "Man, that would be funny just to see if I didn't think he'd eat her."

"If he eats enough beforehand, he should be fine. There are blinders I could use on him and if you wish to bring her out and introduce her. I can also place him in his cage for a short while. I know they all need their share of time to stretch their wings."

"She's fine. She's close. Unlike you I don't keep mine in cages, ever. Well, maybe not ever, but most of the time." Kaito bobbed Watson up and down, trying to get him used to it and see that he wasn't shooing him off. It did make him hold on freaking tight though. His voice, when he spoke, was quieter. "Everything likes to change at the last second, doesn't it? I think I like this change though."

"It does seem to be a rare positive change." Saguru looked over. "While you were sleeping, he offered the same stance for me as he has for you and I said yes."

"Good," Kaito said, not really feeling happy. In fact, none of it had really made it happy yet. He had to figure he was still in shock about it. "Don't you dare ever do something like that. This is a heart attack I can only take once."

"I do not plan on it though, considering how things seem to go, if something does appear to happen, I will not wait to alert you."

"No you won't because I won't have you keeping something like this from me, or them. Them keeping secrets from us and vise versa I mean. We can talk about that later though… they seem busy."

Saguru did not bother to clarify though he did not look over at them. "I will take your word on it."

"I promise I'll tell you if something happens to me to. I'll admit to not telling you the whole truth on that matter so far though. Don't hold it against me, it just hasn't come up."

"I held out on you too, if you recall. It was because of something Kudo-san said that I decided to tell you about my mother..." Saguru paused and took a breath. "That was not mentioned either, so he does not know where, exactly, we are going when we go to England."

"Who, dad?" Did that, out of everything, really matter? "Well, we'll talk later. There's some things that are... well, my problem and I'll tell you and everything, but you've got to do the same, 'kay? I promise, no more big things from you."

"Nothing big," Saguru replied though he could not help but wonder how big something had to be to be classified as such.

Kaito wasn't sure what to do or say anymore. His arm was kind of getting tired but he still kind of like the idea of having a bird companion. That gave him a few ideas, though he'd need either a few days at his house or a session with the old man to get it. That didn't seem impossible. He could head back there before they left. Of course though, those were his thoughts before. He didn't know how different they'd be with his dad around... and that still was going to take a very long time to get use to.