-1Author's Note: Think of this as a teaser. Its big-- new epic story I've been working on for probably three or so years now. Maybe longer-- (Originally I was going to post it as one, but I figured it was silly since it the word count got to be ridiculous). And don't take the fic at face value… This is far more of a prologue than the actual story--

Disclaimer: I am not Gosho Aoyama. I'm far meaner to them

"Honey… Have you seen the news this morning?"

"Not yet…" The woman glanced up from where she was pouring a glass of juice. Catching site of his face she replied, "Is something wrong?"

Worry fell over the man's face as he glanced up at his wife over his coffee. He frowned as he said, "Your teacher's family… Apparently his wife and child were both caught in a house fire last night- according this article-" he handed her the newspaper, "Apparently it was burnt completely to the ground. They found a few remains among the ashes, but by the time they arrived it was too late to save anything…"

"God.. " The woman's eyes went wide as she looked over the paper. "After everything else-"

"Apparently it was the boy's birthday… You'd met him a few times hadn't you?" The woman gave a quick nod still reading the article carefully as she brushed at her eyes. "They said they found evidence that it started in the kitchen… they ruled out arson since there was quite a bit of evidence the blaze started from some sort of electrical malfunction…"

"Yusaku…." her eyes grew wider.

"Ironic isn't it? Wasn't it just two years ago or so that Toichi died in that accident on stage? Some sort of malfunction there too… I thought there was a fire involved in that case as well. Very little evidence left after a fire too" he watched his wife carefully as she crumpled the paper.

Her eyes flashed and she shook her head, "Yuusaku don't talk like that. You know as well as I do that it wasn't an accident. Toichi always was prepared for the worst, and there was no way that could have happened- Just like I know Shumi-chan and Jii-san were as careful as they could be in making sure there was no chance of an accidents as they call it here." She shoved the paper at him angrily.

The man shook his head ruefully, "That's the problem with arson. No proof in most cases, and by the time you might get a chance at the scene everything's been cleaned up. So unless you catch the person red handed- You know I tried to look over the Kuroba case, but there was nothing left by the time I got there-"

The woman was pale and her face was grim, "He never deserved that. Even you have to agree Yusaku, he was a good man. And his son? He reminded me of Shinichi in so many ways-" she sat down in the chair next to her husband. "Quite a little prodigy, and from what I understood always ahead in his class. I once thought maybe we should let the two play together, only I wasn't sure what would happen… something tells me it'd be a little too similar to what happens if you and Toichi were left alone too long in a room-" she let out a small smile and the man gave a wave of his hand.

"Quite a troublemaker then?"

"Mmm… but probably would have made just as good as a magician as his father- perhaps even better. You remember how I told you how he gave me that rose when he was what? Five?" she murmured softly.

Her husband gave her hand a delicate squeeze. "There's nothing you could have done-"

"I know… but It just seems so unfair…"

"I know Yuki-"

"Mom? Dad? Is something wrong?" A young boy walked in blue eyes with concern. It was easy to see something was up even for as young as he was.

Immediately Kudo Yukiko put on her best smile and shook her head ruffling her son's hair, "Mmm Shin-chan? Ah its nothing for you to worry about love-" She grinned, "And don't you have a date with Ran-chan?"

"Mom!! Its not a date-"

"Of course not darling! Now remember to be a nice young gentleman-"

"Mom!!"

"I'm sure you're father will give you the money to treat her-"

"Oiy oiy! Mom! Didn't you hear what I-"

"Ne Yusaku?" She said smiling happily…

Her husband shook his head ruefully and gave a nod, "Fine… Fine.. Have fun son-"

Sometimes Kudo Yusaku was truly amazed by his wife… But then she always had been a great actress, and she'd learned to wear her masks from the best he'd been told.

But something told him he'd be inquiring about the Kuroba files later- Even if it was far too late for any of those involved.