If a train doesn't stop at your station, it's simply because it's not your train.

Synopsis: Based on M6 – The Phantom of Baker Street. Kogoro notices that Conan called out to Yusaku on the train. There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from that…

A/N: An earlier version of this series was posted in 2015 before it was deleted. I decided to edit this and put it up again, now that I've gotten a new account.

It's over.

Kogoro can hardly believe it himself. Everything had happened far too quickly, seemed far too surreal.

All around him, parents are rushing over the barricades to meet their children. Those children that had come to them as afterthoughts during the long months they were preoccupied with campaigns, figures, negotiations their positions had demanded of them. But now, confronted with the prospect of losing them forever…there's no better time for considering a major realignment of priorities.

Ran.

She can handle herself, of course. Always did. Right now, though, he just wants to hold her, as if she was eight and a child again, wide-eyed and trusting in the unshakeable belief that his mere presence is enough to keep all the harm the world might attempt to do her at bay.

He can never thank the kid enough for getting both of them – all of them – out of this alive, against such impossible odds.

Speaking of Conan…

He must have a conversation, soon – not now, for Ran comes before all else. But soon.

Kogoro knows he misses things sometimes. He might be acclaimed as a private eye, but he isn't perfect. Nobody is. Sometimes he doesn't quite manage to see all the dots, and sometimes he doesn't quite join them fast enough.

But when he does join them, he doesn't lose them, and he most certainly doesn't forget.

Back on the train, desperate and unable to find a way out, Conan had despaired. So bleak were the circumstances that the kid with the stubbornness of an ox and the tenacity of a pesticide-resistant insect gave up –albeit only for a moment. And in that moment he had truly, completely lost all hope for survival, he called out to Kudo Yusaku.

The same word Ran is calling out to him now.

Tou-san.

Kogoro had never been overtly fond of Shinichi as a child. Shinichi had, on their very first meeting, managed to strike an impression as the irresponsible, undependable sort, always straying into all kinds of trouble. How other parents deemed to teach their children was none of Kogoro's business, of course – that is, if Ran hadn't become so close to him that she was always right next to him during said instances of trouble.

Now that they have grown, the distrust only runs deeper. Shinichi is...granted, not unintelligent. He's just a hormonal teenager with more than enough prestige but not enough hard experiences, which tend to rub Kogoro up the wrong way. Ran is strong and capable, but too young and far too trusting. Kogoro had gone through the stage himself; he knows what's on people's minds at that age.

(Of course, she could get to thirty-four and he'd still be thinking along the same lines. But that's beside the point.)

As a father, Kogoro can never let his guard down whenever Shinichi is around. The most infuriating thing is that he through his prolonged absence, he has managed to hurt her even more.

This whole situation, though…

It's just messy. And really, for all his distrust, Kogoro cares about the kid. Shinichi doesn't deserve this.

He can feel all the little doubts that nagged at the back of his mind coming forth, sliding in place to form a picture. How Conan never mentioned his parents, not even in passing, despite being a "distant relative". How he has only ever met the boy's mother for a single time and never heard from her again. How he can get paid so generously on a monthly basis, a hefty sum that far exceeds any cost he spends child-rearing.

The most damning and least concrete of all evidences, however, is Conan's distinct resemblance to Shinichi in both appearance and mannerisms.

How this has gone on for so long with everyone none the wiser is befuddling, insulting, and just edging on plain disturbing.

The timing is rubbish, of course, but now that the event is over, god only knows how long it would be until Kudo Yusaku deigns to reappear in the eyes of the public again. That couple goes missing for months at a time and can't even be reached in case of emergencies. The truly unfortunate thing is that they could be internationally wanted fugitives on the run, with a bounty on their heads and portraits in every country – for all the good it does, they'd probably still be traipsing about without a care in the world, sunbathing on a beach in Hawaii…or whatever it is they're doing these days.

There's no avoiding this. Time for a difficult conversation.

"This can't go on."

Kogoro initiates the conversation before the man opposite him has even taken his first draught of coffee. He takes in the surprise that flashed across Yusaku's face with some relish. It is almost negligible, but obvious to someone that knows what to look for.

They are seated in a quiet corner of the cafe, "catching up as old friends", so Kogoro had said. He draws comfort from the fact that Ran has Conan with her for now, but the sooner this is over and done with, the better.

She has grown quite attached to the boy too, has she not…?

Kogoro suppresses the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. This mess just keeps growing. What had they been thinking?

Yusaku lowers his cup slowly, face impassive. "Pardon?" His tone is casual, neither indicative of knowledge nor the lack thereof.

How does one broach such a topic? He doesn't know, but frankly, he doubts there exists a guide out there anyway. No point beating about the bush.

"Your son," says Kogoro.

Something akin to alarm finds its way to Yusaku's features – again, for no longer than a millisecond, but it does not pass Kogoro by unnoticed.

"Shinichi has been preoccupied," Yusaku replies. "It is a delicate situation that will take time to resolve."

"Yes, I am sure," Kogoro says, trying to rein in his temper. And then he drops the bombshell. "I am talking about Conan."

He waits for the denial, for the reminder than Conan is a distant relative, nothing more – but it does not come. Yusaku lowers his eyes to the cup of swirling coffee before him and does not speak.

"So this is how it's going to go, then," Kogoro keeps his tone deliberately light. It gets increasingly difficult with every passing second. "You dump him at my doorstep and send me babysitting funds, expecting me to take care of your mess."

"I never expected –"

"You left your responsibility to me so that you can keep gallivanting around the globe with your wife," Kogoro interrupts, dimly aware that his voice has been growing steadily louder but not caring enough about the fact to amend it.

"You heard him on the train," Yusaku says. He sounds resigned, like a man who had been expecting a confrontation, yet hoping against his better senses that it wouldn't come to pass. "Would you bear with me for a few moments – allow me a chance to explain, at least?"

"Oh, gladly," Kogoro growls. "Let me ask the first question – what the hell were you thinking?"

Yusaku sighs. Kogoro sees the weariness in the lines in his face, the way his shoulders tense in a manner that suggests it has done so countless times in the past. This has not been easy on him. He'd be surprised if it was.

"Does Yukiko know? No, of course she does. That woman's too sharp. There's no way you can keep this from her for long. Shinichi, too –running off on so many cases that he might as well be MIA, ever since his parents decided it'd be a great idea to drop his miniature look-alike on his childhood friend. I really hoped the kid himself doesn't understand it, but he's far too smart for his own good...he never talks about his parents. Of course. Good grief, he's just a kid!"

Yusaku, who has been raising the cup to his lips again, pauses mid-action. His eyes widen very slightly, "…I'm sorry?"

"You damn well better be." Having given his piece of mind, Kogoro finds himself cooling down marginally. He isn't completely calm, not by a very far stretch, but at least he isn't infuriated as hell now. "I can understand it. Really, I can. Yukiko can have a…difficult personality sometimes. I would even go so far as to say that it's not as if the thought has never crossed my mind..." Some of his humor returns to him, at that. "While this is a highly inappropriate time to critique your taste in the fairer sex…Really, Yusaku? I've been living separated from my wife for ten years, and I am not so desperate myself!"

Yusaku stares at him for three full seconds before choking on nothing but the very air surrounding them. He proceeds to heave, sputter, make a colourful variety of generally undignified noises, before spilling the coffee he is holding down the front of his expensive shirt.

Kogoro raises his eyebrows. "Problem?"

"I believe, Kogoro-san," Yusaku forces out the words with difficulty, having finally managed to compose himself. "We have a misunderstanding on our hands."

"How so?"

"…It's a long story."