Chapter 20

Kaito's throat burned like a bitch.

This wasn't anything new. Whenever he got hurt or used his power too often and went to bed without a drink, he'd wake up ready to maul someone. It once got so bad that Shinichi had to install a mini-fridge and microwave in his room just in case. But rarely did his entire body ache like this.

He tried to open his eyes, but a sharp bolt of pain lanced through his stomach. A groan escaped.

"He's waking up," someone said. Who… who was that? He knew him… "Hand me that pitcher of blood, will you? It will help flush the silver out of his system."

"Here." He definitely knew that voice. Kaito tried to speak, but just like the rest of him, it didn't work, resulting in a dry croak. Someone gently shushed him.

"Thank you," the first voice replied. Warm liquid spilled onto Kaito's lips and he instantly recognized the coppery flavor of blood. He swallowed, relishing the metallic taste on his tongue, and more flowed into his mouth. Guzzling greedily, Kaito felt the pain in his stomach grow dull. His arm, formerly an irritating itch, was soothed and the various cuts on his body stopped hurting. "This is… quite disgusting."

The second hummed their agreement. Soon, the blood stopped pouring and Kaito whimpered in disappointment. He pried open his eyes only for his jaw to drop when he saw the people hovering over him. "Hakuba?" he rasped. "…Mom?"

She smiled down at him, her eyes full of tears. "Hey sweetie." She reached down to touch his cheek, but hesitated. "You need to get up now. We're not safe here."

The events of the past few days came back to Kaito in an instant. He still wore the remains of his black sweater and he recognized the room they were in as the cell he'd been… Oh, God. He'd been tortured. He had nearly died. Looking down at his hands, Kaito lightly touched the pink, new skin on his arm that he'd managed to grow back. People weren't supposed to just grow back skin in what? A few hours?

Hakuba shook him lightly, making Kaito blink up at him. "You can freak out later, but right now, I need you to focus. Chikage is going to sneak you out of here in her car while I make a distraction. Can you walk?"

Kaito nodded and almost fell off the bed while trying to stand. His mom quickly came to his rescue, holding him up. "I'll be fine," Kaito said. He started at Hakuba, searching his face for any lie or untruth. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because—"Hakuba paused, licking his lips, "—you're my friend, Kuroba. No matter how you've treated me, I've always considered you a friend. And if you say that there's a reason for this, that you've chosen this, then I'll trust you."

His eyes widened as Hakuba turned to leave. He'd treated Hakuba like crap for so long, always pushing him away, jealous, hateful, and angry. And yet… Hakuba still cared? Reaching out, Kaito grabbed Hakuba's shoulder, nearly pulling both of them to the floor. "Thank you," Kaito blurted out to Hakuba's surprise. "Thank you for trusting me. Take care of Aoko for me?"

"Nothing could stop me from doing so," he reassured Kaito before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Mom appeared behind him, moving his arm so he rested his weight on her, and she practically dragged him out the door. They staggered through the halls, encountering no one much to Kaito's confusion. "Where is everyone?" Kaito whispered as they passed another room filled with empty workplaces.

"It's currently one in the morning, sweetie," she grunted, cutting into the next hall. "And I'm a Diviner, remember? It would be rather pathetic of me if I couldn't even divine where the night guards were."

Eventually, we escaped out one of the back entrances where a car with tinted windows was waiting. Mom helped him into the passenger seat, to which he allowed only because he could barely walk. She climbed into the driver's side and, without anyone knowing they had been there, drove off.

They sat in silence, exchanging looks back and forth when they thought the other wasn't looking. But Kaito could always feel her staring at him, specifically at his face. Finally, he spoke. "Did Hakuba explain to you about the whole—" he gestured at his eyes and mouth, letting her make her own conclusions.

"Yeah, a little," she said, her eyes leaving the road for a second. "He said…that someone turned you into a Demon, to save your life. That otherwise you'd still be in a coma. I didn't really believe him at first but… here you are." She finished lamely.

"Here I am," he agreed, rubbing his shoulder. He should tell her about dad. It… it wasn't fair for her not to know. She had to know that he was… he was evil now, not dead just evil. But… she looked like she was barely keeping it together. Her roots were showing, indicating that it had been weeks since she'd last been to a salon. Her makeup, while perfect, did little to cover up the puffiness of her eyes and there were new winkles where there hadn't been before. "It's okay, Mom," he told her, trying to cheer her up. "I did choose this. I chose to become a Humanoid. And it's not all bad. I've got a bunch of cool powers that I never knew were possible when I was magickless. Like, I walked up a wall the other day, without any wires or anything! And, I think I even have a boyfriend now!"

A laugh sprung out, surprising them both. She smiled at him, looking ten years younger in an instant. "You suddenly get awesome powers, yet it's the boyfriend you're excited about the most?"

Kaito shrugged. "In my defense, I'd say he's a pretty amazing boyfriend. He's very kind and considerate, but may the gods help you if you make him angry or hurt someone he cares about." This was… him now. He grinned, a warm, fuzzy feeling washing away the last of his pain.

His mom's smiled faded a bit. "You're so grown up… and I missed it." She whispered, turning towards him to place a hand on his cheek. No hesitation this time. "Kaito… I love you. No matter what you are, you're always my little boy—Shit!"

Startled, his mom slammed on the breaks as a black shadow rose up from the road. The car swerved, desperate to avoid collision, but it followed them, diving through the windshield and into the backseat. Mom continued to curse as the shadow took the form of a familiar pain in the back.

Akako smirked at him as Kaito tried to put his body between her and his mom. "What's with that face, KID?" she asked, one eyebrow arched daintily. "You look like you're facing an enemy."

"How do I know I'm not," he countered. "Humanoids shapeshift."

"Gin's a Fumos; he would have teleported on top or in," she said. "If you'd think for more than five seconds, you'd remember I went straight through the glass—a Speculum trait if you'll recall." She was right. Kaito settled back down in his seat.

His mom glared at Akako, something she apparently found amusing. "Kaito, who is this?"

"She's Akako. She's like me," he told her. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. "She's been helping get the people who killed me."

She swallowed. "The same ones who killed your father."

He didn't correct her and fortunately, Akako didn't feel the need to either. Instead, he asked, "What are you doing out here, Akako? Why aren't you guarding Shinichi?"

"I'd be there if he allowed me," she scoffed. "But no, ever since you two kissed, all he's been able to focus on is getting you back. He knew where D.E.A.D. took you, it was only a matter of getting inside—Take a left up here," she ordered. Mom glared but complied. "—but fortunately you got out of your own mess. Thank the gods for that; whatever they did to you caused some feedback. Make a right here and then across the bridge."

"You're taking us to Shinichi, right?"

"Of course. Though I am not comfortable with her knowing where we are."

"She's my mom, Akako," he sighed.

"And I'm not leaving my son to fight alone," his mom announced, "Especially not with people who just phase into others' cars."

"Why not?" Akako shot back. "It didn't stop you the first time."

"Stop it!" Kaito yelled, his voice cracking. "Mom, you're not helping with this." She opened her mouth to argue, but he continued. "I know you're older and you know magick, but… I'm not losing you too. Not to this guy." He could imagine the look of horror on her face when she saw Gin for the first time. He'd do anything to prevent that. "You're a Diviner. You're not offensive, not defensive. You don't have what it takes to fight him."

She looked like he'd just slapped her and emotionally he had. Slowly, she nodded. "Alright. If… you think that is best."

Kaito blinked in surprise. That had been almost too easy. He'd been sure that she'd argue… Akako suddenly said, "Take a right. It's the first building."

Mom did as Akako said and parked outside what looking like an old storage building. As Akako phased out the back window, she turned to me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Go, Kaito. Do what you need to do. Just… come home when you're done."

"Okay Mom. I promise." Kaito slid out of the car, his leg buckling before he hauled himself back up with the door handle. He lurched away from the car, watching from the corner of his eyes as its headlights disappeared.

He was barely inside the building before Shinichi lunged at him. The two fell against the door, Shinichi cradling his head as he checked for injuries. "Kaito… I'm so sorry, I didn't want to leave you, we shouldn't have left, they hurt you—"

Kaito silenced him with a quick peck on the lips. "It's alright. It's not your fault. I'll be fine." Eventually. He winced at the memory. "But right now, we have more important things to worry about."

Shinichi drew back. "Worse? Were you followed?"

He shook his head. "No. I think I know who's controlling Gin."

A/N: November update-day has been cancelled until further notice due to Nanowrimo. Thank you for your consideration.