Manipulation

by LostInTheMystery

Conan is taken and the dark man behind it has a few demands that push the bonds of friendship. Those close turn out to be enemies and enemies, friends. There are many shadows in the dark and they are out to win. -centers around the DC boys and Takagi. TBC in Deception

38. Possession Arc Epilogue: Home

Okay, several things. First, Amazing Bluie will be taking a break for betaing in. Everyone knows how some of us have things irl that come first so it's now just me beating again.

Second, there's a song I mention and it's pretty hard to find by the right singer. I can't put links on here so I'm going to put it here without the beginging of the address and see if it works
Add the . c-o-m without spaces or dashes after myspace (it was the only way I could get it to work)
myspace/558481830/music/songs/oborozuki-yo-moonlit-night-78153686(number sign)scomm1341974187634

The translation of the song was a mix of me looking it up and someone who had already traslated it.

---

Chapter 38: Home

"Get away from him!"

Nomura heard the voice of the kid from before at the door but didn't want to move; he was having way too much fun with Heiji-chan and knew Murata was there. He pulled the kid hard, getting another cry from him, and called out, "You... decide to... track us down... to join... I'm sure... Heiji-chan here... would... loooove... if you... join in... your choice... on or in?"

Kaito was absolutely livid. He held himself still, his arms continuing to shake of their own accord and the knife a pathetic excuse for a weapon. Just keep breathing, you bastards. He had to hold himself back... he had to. But screw that. They were gonna be knocked out, anyways, and at least one of them was out in the open where he could get him. He wished he'd grabbed a blunt object instead, but he was stuck with the knife. He pulled Hattori's cap further down over his eyes, just in case the man could see his expression change. Then he ran at him. The least he could do was make them breathe in the gas faster, and as much as he hated it, as much as he wanted to cut up the guy under Hattori, he knew he'd have to be breathing the fastest out of all of them, just because of what he was doing.

Murata saw the kid, who had somehow gotten past their security, coming after him. He freed up his hands and turned to the kid in time to more or less catch the knife. It still cut up his hand pretty good, but he hadn't gotten where he was without knowing how to fight. Catching it was the easiest way to stop a blade so it wouldn't hit anything important, while his other hand shot out and grabbed the kid's arm, swinging him around with the momentum and letting him hit the wall, falling close to the head of the bed.

Kaito couldn't help the movement but he knew how to direct it. He shifted his weight, making sure his back hit the wall and crouching down with the knife still in his hand. He saw the other man near him, saw his chance at an attack on him while the first one had now put him out of arm's reach, and pulled his card gun out, using the butt of it to hit the man in the head. He didn't want them dead... and now he had a chance to at least get one of them, this one in particular, to stop moving- distracted him- anything until the sleeping gas got to him.

The sounds of a struggle, rather than concerning him, made him smile as Nomura pulled the kid onto himself harder. The boy was still crying out every few times, but he knew he was about to finish only to get the chance to get the two boys together... and maybe he and Murata could take them both. It'd be interesting to see what old and new tricks could come from it. "Make... sure... he's... good... for... some... fun... in... a... sec." He reached one of his hands further around, hearing Heiji-chan cry out once more. This one was the sweetest sounding yet.

The kid didn't seem to hurt Nomura, so Murata took the opening and grabbed him, putting his hands around the kid's neck and shoving him into the wall. The kid dropped whatever was in his hand and went to claw at his fingers, but he knew it was pointless. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. I'll just make sure you pass out. Then we'll all be-"

He wasn't sure what the boss wanted, but the people responsible dead was a definite. He didn't want to cross who the boy was working for, but the kid put himself in danger and he took the shot right at the back of the guy's head.

Kaito hadn't figured out how to free himself when he heard the loud pop, quieter than a gun but that was due to a silencer. The man's arms fell limp and he shoved the guy off of him, coughing and taking a cloth out of his pocket as he did so his breaths wouldn't be tainted. He kicked at the man once he was ready to get up, glaring towards the direction the shot had come from, but he'd find some time to deal with that later... Hattori first. He looked awful, and it was clear what had been happening. Kaito knew how he would have reacted, but physical pain to him was nothing, humiliation was nothing. To Hattori... it was a lot more. He checked the guy first, making sure he was out of it. Then Kaito went and undid the cuffs on Hattori's wrists, and the straps on his ankles.

Heiji felt a touch to his hands. He was tired but the pain was overriding everything. He still felt the man in him, touching him. Two hands. This must be the other one. He was up to something more. He didn't want more pain... but what else was there? More tears came to his eyes as he tried to pull away yet again.

Kaito saw Hattori move, which he really didn't want. "Settle down, baka." With a wave, Kaito took Kid's cape out. He had the whole costume but at least the cape would be enough to cover Hattori. They were the only extra clothes he had, so the cape it had to be.

The material covering every bit of skin scared him. He turned his head, tears streaming down his face as he tried to move again, still feeling the man inside him and afraid of what this new material was intended for. He choked and coughed, unable to speak or plead for it to at least not go further. He didn't think he could take any more.

"Hey, Hattori." Kaito saw him, almost struggling to breathe or something. "Relax, man. I'm here." Kaito moved his arm under Hattori's arm and under the back of his legs, the cape getting caught under it. He had to move fast once he started because Kaito knew he was tired and knew Hattori was heavy.

Heiji felt the continued contact and knew it was only going to get worse. Pleasure and pain. He squeezed his eyes shut, sobbing. This was to be expected, no reprieve, just more of the same, however long they took.

"Kami... I'm sorry. I tired to get here faster." Kaito had to take a breath, but one wouldn't make him pass out. He grabbed Hattori, pulling him away and feeling his own body give. He wouldn't let it. It hurt, his arm hurt the most, the muscles beyond weak and, whatever had been done, he wasn't sure his arm could take much more. He didn't care. Kaito held him to him as best he could, walking more or less out of the room where he let himself fall, breathing hard and looking down at Hattori, putting his hand over his mouth so he wouldn't get the wrong impression.

Heiji felt the man pull out... or himself be pulled off. Either way, it hurt still and he cried out. The material hadn't done anything yet but he understood it was only a matter of time, torture in itself waiting for the pain. He was shaking so bad and just waiting it to end and the pain to continue. Heavy breathing sounded and stopped, no doubt getting ready to get him again... or both at once. That must be it. He was moved so they could both-... Heiji choked and turned his head to the side.

The man looked at both the young teenagers and back into the room. One man was still alive and that was one man too many. He had no reason to kill him yet, so he held off. He also had no reason to help the teenager in front of him take care of his friend, so he watched, finding the scene rather pathetic.

Kaito watched Hattori, feeling it become his own pain. He wanted to help him. He got up, finding a bathroom nearby that he had passed before. Screw evidence and screw the cops- Hattori needed help. He took a washcloth and ran it under lukewarm water, going back and kneeling at Hattori's side. Kuroba Kaito was no friend- at least, not in a real sense of the word. You bond, but you don't become someone's friend in just a day- not that he was gonna tell Hakuba that. There was someone who'd cemented that role already, and it had gotten him to pull himself back together before, so Kaito fell into it. Kudo's voice came out instead of his when he spoke, wiping the washcloth down his face. "Hattori. Gomen. You have to stay with me though. You're fine. You're safe. Everyone's safe. They're gone."

A wet, warm cloth stroked his face and he jerked away, expecting a cold one next. He'd felt this before. It would be warm then cold, back and forth, back and forth. He shook but as little as he could move he still felt everything on his body, the material that was still on him, the one that touched his face, water that dripped down it. Every bit in detail.

Kaito finished wiping his face off, just to make him more comfortable. Then he put his hands near Hattori's shouldes, shaking him just a bit, more than enough emotion of his own to put into his words, real tears, though only a few, falling down his face. He hadn't meant to keep Kudo's voice... it just happened. "Hattori you complete baka! You're safe! Do I look like one of those disgusting perverts?"

The hands by his shoulder caused him to tense. One of them must be ready to mess with him again. He took a quick, deep breath and swallowed before biting his lip, trying to put them off for a few more seconds anyway.

"Stop it!" Kaito moved his right hand, seeing Hattori already bleeding, and put his two last fingers between his teeth so Hattori would be biting him instead of himself, likely not even noticing it since he hadn't shown pain at it. Sudden movements weren't the best... so something slow and constant and friendly. He moved his other hand, his fingers protesting as he moved them to brush at Hattori's hair. Takagi-keiji had done it, and he couldn't seem to get rid of Kudo's voice, so he had to hope this would get through. "You're fine. No one's going to hurt you- I promise. You've got about the entire world on your side right now. The cops'll be here in a few minutes. Well... some of the cops will be here in a few minutes. I had to delay them a bit... sorry. But you're fine. Everyone's fine. You did great, Hattori. Don't let it get to you now. I know you're the type of guy who doesn't give up, even when he's drowning. That's more than I can say about most."

As soon as he felt skin in his mouth he froze and took the teeth away, scared for some reason about what would happen if his teeth touched the skin of what was in his mouth. He was still quivering but he kept his mouth closed and teeth away, but still trying to breath around it and just as he felt his hair be brushed he tried to move the obstacle in his mouth slightly with his tongue, just for an extra breath.

Kaito felt his body shake, his eyes watering up as he halfway closed them. He had been so freaking slow... He wasn't going to lose Hattori, not like this. He didn't care what came from it- he was tired and exhausted and sick of being the strong one. He'd seen the burn, so he was careful of it when he took his hand away and put it around Hattori... not really letting himself but not able to hold back on his own pain as he put his head against his chest and cried, feeling his body shake and Hattori try and get away from him. It only made him cry more, using the cape that was still there to try and stifle it. "Gomen nasai. I should have gotten here sooner."

The person was on his chest. Heiji struggled but barely moved as the person didn't seem to notice or care. He was shaking and still waiting for the next step. They were taking their time this time. That just meant it was going to be that much worse. He sobbed and fresh tears fell down his face. He knew it was only a matter of when they picked up where they left off.

Kaito let himself calm down, feeling even weaker than before. He sat up, brushing his hand across his eyes. He looked down at Hattori, seeing he had started crying too and Kaito knew he had been the cause. Nothing that could be mistaken for them- Kaito didn't think either of them could handle that- but he brushed Hattori's tears away, wincing as he did. Stupid burns. It was him now, not some stupid cloth, and he wanted to show that he was someone friendly. After wiping the tears, he moved and wiped his bangs back, moving some of the hair about again and sniffing due to his earlier hysteria.

It was a hand that time. Strange. The other guy had licked his face every time. It must have been the other, maybe a version of his 'pleasure' to go with the pain. More mind games. Heiji took a shaky breath and tried to ready himself for the guy's next move.

The idea came to him, almost feather light. He made his touches just as soft. Maybe it came from his mom, or Aoko, but either way he'd had the song sung to him when he was a child and had trouble sleeping. It was calming... and soft... and was luring Kaito there even as he was just thinking it. He didn't think Hattori had had the same, but it was a child's lullaby- it should have the same effect. "Miwatasu yama no ha kasumi fukashi. Harukaze so..yofuku sora wo mireba. Yuuduki... kikarite nioi awashi..." On the edge of the mountains, look! The spring wind flows, and when I look at the sky the evening moon is up, and the smell is gentle"

He felt the touches soften and tensed, waiting for the next step, the tension driving him crazy. He'd almost welcome whatever pain they had in store just to stop this delusion they were giving him. He felt rather than heard a sound. Soft, but it was unlike anything he could recall. Nothing was like this. It was too- too- What was the word... not painful. His breath caught in his throat as he wondered how this cruel trick was possible. Nothing could be like this. Nothing was this... soft? He sniffed and decided if he was getting one non-painful moment, he might as well make sure to enjoy it. It would be something to hold on to, as much as it made no sense whatsoever, as much as he knew it would hurt when it was taken away, because it had to be. That would be painful. That was what he got. That was all there was... but this wasn't. He tried to crack his eye open and see what could be doing this, focusing even more to try and get himself to hear what he was sensing.

Kaito smiled, happy that at least something was working. He continued to sing, weaving it the same way he did magic- because someone had already shown him the pattern... he just had to follow it.

Heiji was still shivering but he fought to look at the only person near him. He didn't recognize him at all. It wasn't one of the other two it was... someone else. How was that possible? Of course. The person looked younger, maybe he was like him, someone who was also hurt. But if they were the only ones there, maybe this meant he could enjoy it without expecting pain any time soon. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to speak and he didn't know what the person was doing, but maybe he could try. He tried a couple times but his throat was so sore he couldn't do anything besides make strange sounds and mouth the first question in his head.

Kaito kept the smile. He didn't really get what Hattori was trying to say but he could tell he was confused. There was no light of recognition when he'd seen him. "I'm you're guardian angel, my friend. I'm here to take you back to your friends, your real friends." He didn't want him to mistake him. Kaito put his arms back under Hattori; sure that he was watching him this time. He couldn't sing and lift him at the same time- Heck, he couldn't even really lift him. This would be the last time and all of his energy. The man next to him had just stood there, obviously not going to help. Kaito looked at Hattori before moving. "You ready to fly back home with me? I kinda gave you my wings." Kaito winked. "But I suppose diving's just as good."

Heiji felt and this time saw himself be lifted again. What friends? There were just the other two. He didn't want to go back and when the person started moving he shook his head and tried to get back down. Here was safe. Here he didn't have pain. The other place, he did. He managed to get a sobbed sound out into the 'No' he had to get across as more tears sprang to his eyes. He tried to turn, twist anything to be put back down.

Kaito winced, trying to hold him but it was so hard as it was. He felt his body shake, barely getting anywhere before he had to stop and put Hattori down. He was out of breath and both his hand and arm hurt like fire. He looked at Hattori then back up at the man. Kisama, he couldn't but... "Go check on the other man," Kaito told the person who had come with him. "He might wake up. DO NOT kill him. There should be something to tie him up with."

The man nodded. Kaito was a bit surprised he was taking orders from him- half afraid the man would go in there and kill the guy anyway. To be honest, that wasn't his problem right now. In a flash and two seconds, Kaito had his outfit on sans the cape. He looked down at Hattori with a gentle smile. "Don't you trust me, detective? I'm trying to get you somewhere safe."

Heiji's eyes widened as first there was light, then the same person wearing white. More white, but he'd called him something strange. Detective? That didn't make any sense. He curled a bit closer in on himself, wincing and returning to his original position, but still much happier knowing he wasn't moving from this area. He didn't want to go to the others. He knew they'd come for him. They would want more fun... but he'd stay here every second he could. He squeezed his eyes shut and let a few more tears fall. He just wanted to stay there.

Kaito watched, his eyes widening when, not only was he not recognized, it seemed the detective had taken something the wrong way and he'd upset him again. Kaito ditched the outfit, afraid the other man might walk in on him too soon. Damn it. Everyone was hurting enough as it was... EVERY FREAKING ONE. He couldn't let them see Hattori like this. Kuso. What was it? What could get him? Anything at this point Kaito was willing to try and one thought came to him. He was afraid though because if Hattori didn't react to it he'd not only make himself worse off but would scar him even more. He had to try. He took out a box cutter- a glass one was just too painful. If there was one thing that always did it... "Hattori, look at me." Kaito put the blade against his skin, closing his eye a bit as he thought of the pain. "You're always trying to do everything yourself. Well, I'm a lot like you. I do things that way too. If there's anything I've learned about you, it's your heart. I need to know that there's something of you still there." He let the thing cut slowly into his arm, because he needed to know- knew that before, Hattori had been just like him in that sense. They hated pain, especially another's. If Hattori wouldn't even react to that... Kaito didn't know.

Heiji risked a look and saw the person beside him was in the other clothes again... and holding something. His eyes widened as he saw him cut himself. The others gave enough pain, he couldn't let him hurt himself. He forced what bit of his voice he had to get the words out of his painfully sore throat, sobbing and choking the entire time. "S...St...no...don'...'elp'em" He tried to reach over but couldn't do more than touch the person's leg. He sobbed and tried to use his eyes to get the kid to not give himself more pain.

"How can someone who doesn't even know themself think they have any right to tell me what to do? How can a person who would go through so much for their friends... have friends who would go through hell and back just for them, forget about them so easily? What you're doing... it's far more painful. I won't let you hurt them like that." Kaito could feel the tears in his eyes, two of them falling. "Tell me, because I could never do that to myself or to them. Hattori, you did what I never thought you would do. You ran away from your friends." Kaito held out his hand to him, putting the cutter away and seeing his arm shake. "Please... come back." Again, he hadn't meant too, and their voices were so close to each other anyways, but the last words were said in Kudo's even tone.

Heiji tipped his head. The voice sounded different there. He didn't know how this one person could sound like two... but what friends? Those two- no way. They hurt him... but, did he say that he was hurting others? "Wha'... o'hers... 'ey... 'urt... me... 'ut... who... do I?" He tried to reach a shaky hand up. "You?"

"Yeah," Kaito said, his voice shaky as hell, along with his body. "Me." He took Hattori's hand. "And everyone who cares about you. Kudo-kun's... likely going to hurt the most." Kaito sniffled, blinking back more tears and sliding his bottom lip between his teeth so he could try and clear his throat. Kaito closed his eyes, his words ringing true. "You'd have to boil me alive, skin me, torture me for a millennia, and still... I won't forget. All those people who went through everything with you, every day of your life." Kaito raised his arm with the stitches to show them to him. "Hakuba-kun's burns, Tantei-kun's wounds. That little girlfriend of yours who'll probably never stop crying when she sees you," Kaito let out a shaky breath, his eyes closing so the tears wouldn't fall. "All of it. All of them will be hurt, and all of it would be pointless... because you lost that strength. They had you for thirty fucking minutes. You're friends have been with you forever, or long enough." Kaito opened them. He had no family, really. He had just his mom. His whole world was made up of his friends. And for Hattori to have just... "For Kami's sake! Please." Kaito felt the stupid tears fall again. "Remember us! Or at the very least, them!" Kaito put a hand to his chest. "Go on and forget me! I don't care! But don't you dare do that to them!"

Heiji was shocked. So many others. Names. He took a few breaths but, while something danced off to the side, just out of his grasp.

Kaito heard something, and it wasn't the guy he had come with. He'd left. Kaito had heard him head out... this was from another side of the house. Damn. He didn't- couldn't let Hakuba or Kudo see him like this... but he couldn't leave with him either. He was just too tried. Kaito sat there, feeling very defeated. That was a first. The noises were coming closer. "Well, detective, times up." Kaito sighed. "For both of us. I wish you could just forget about whatever little of your time they took. It was minutes, really, and if-" Kaito was through with 'if's', he was through with it all. A part of him, seeing someone so like him in a different, mirrored kind of way, give up- made him give up too. Something he never thought he would do. "There are friends coming, understand? They won't hurt you. Please, if you don't remember me, at least trust me." Then the noises were right there and Kaito sighed again, waiting for the inevitable.

Heiji wasn't sure what to think. More new people... and they wouldn't hurt him either. He wasn't sure how plausible that was but the other kid had not tried to hurt him. "Frie... li' you?"

Kaito smiled. "Yep, just like me."

…

Takagi glanced around. The men outside didn't seem to be doing anything, and most had backed off when they'd come close. He didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad but it certainly seemed like they were in the right place. The door was... open. That was... new. Takagi looked around, not hearing or seeing anything. He stepped aside, letting Sato in, his gun drawn.

Sato stepped in, staying low to best be able to cover her partner and avoid being spotted quickly. The room was empty but she was careful to move quietly anyway and proceeded forward, keeping her eyes and ears open for any sign or sound of where Hattori-kun or the kidnappers were.

Takagi wasn't sure he heard something but he thought he might have. It sounded a bit like whispers, which made it hard to place. He continued down the way he thought it was coming from, checking the rooms as he went. He wouldn't be sloppy. He wouldn't do something wrong again. He turned a corner to a side section of the house almost dropped the gun when he saw who he'd immediately pointed it at. He quickly put it away before stopping and looking around. There was someone with Hattori, obviously younger but anyone could be an accomplice. He drew the gun again and aimed it at him- he could at least tell it was a male. "Who are you?" He kept his eyes looking around, not daring to believe there was only one and not having any idea what he was doing to Hattori. "Back away. Now."

Heiji heard a new voice saying to back away. He didn't want him too. He shook his head, reaching out to keep him there and tried to get a loud enough 'No' out but wasn't sure if it worked. He had barely heard it, voice completely gone now.

Sato spotted Takagi holster then redraw his weapon and aim it at someone, she hurried to the side and took a position next to him when she saw what he had. "Go. I have him covered." Hattori-kun was really close to the other person but her angle afforded her a good enough shot if she really needed to take it.

"Calm down," Kaito said half-heartily. He took off the hat, keeping his eyes on Hattori. "It's only me. Stop freaking out over nothing." Kaito met Hattori's eyes and winked. "Don't be scared. They were just worried about you."

Takagi didn't know how to respond. He saw the teen, as he had before, and all those thoughts on what had happened, how they happened, and why came back to him. He didn't know where it came from, maybe the paranoia he'd been feeling, but something told him this kid was dangerous. "Good for you. Now back up."

Heiji opened his mouth but couldn't get more than a rasping sound out. He really couldn't talk. He could only shake his head as his body started to shiver. Could he really trust him? Was this other man not going to hurt him, or did he just want to have... fun too?

Sato raised her weapon upward and moved in, spotting a door near where the two teens were. "Anyone in there?"

"Further down." Kaito tipped his head. "I guess there was some kind of fight or something. Some guy came in and just shot one of them. The other guy I knocked out. He should be tied up in there." Well, at least one of them had calmed down. He turned to look at Takagi-keiji, his eyes skeptical. "Really? Just put it down already. Who do you think gave you this address?"

That made Takagi flinch. Kuroba... but... "How did you know where he was?"

Sato hurried forward and turned the corner only to be met with a blast of heat and flames licking the walls. 'How did we not smell this?'

"I had him followed. After the man left the hospital I cut off the escape routes to most of the public. I followed the cars that had managed to leave and fo-"

"GET THE BOYS OUT! THE PLACE IS ON FIRE!" Sato yelled back toward the others. She pulled her jacket off and wrapped it around her head and covered her nose and mouth. Most of the men that were behind this, apparently a ring, had been killed but if one was still alive like Kuroba-kun said, she was gonna make damn sure he had to rot in a cell, not get a quick death while he was out cold.

Kaito heard that, his thoughts changing in an instant as he half stood up, resting on one knee. He looked down at Hattori. "Takagi-keiji, get over here. NOW!"

Takagi didn't know what to do but he had heard Sato and he wanted to get Hattori OUT. So he bent down and had Kuroba push him away before he could touch him.

Kaito grabbed Takagi's wrist, making sure he didn't give the detective the wrong idea. He locked their fingers together and looked at Hattori. "Kaito," he gestured to himself. "And Takagi-keiji." He gestured to Takagi. "Friends." He moved his hand and Takagi's, feeling like an absolute fool. Kaito pointed behind Hattori's head. "Fire. Fire hot. Fire bad. Takagi." He motioned to Takagi again. "Is going to get you away from bad fire. Okay?"

Heiji wasn't sure what to think about the way he was talking... but 'Kaito' and 'Takagi' again seemed to be something that he knew. He couldn't register what it was but he moved his hand toward the area that had been burned by the gloves, shaking at the thought that he'd be hurt more just like that and nodded, but only able to mouth 'OK' with a raspy sound.

Kaito nodded, eyes turning steady again, almost as if who he was just seconds ago was gone. "Careful. He's got a slight burn on his chest. His wrists aren't pretty but they're not really bleeding." Then Kaito was on his feet and running the opposite direction of the exit. Damn that bastard. What the hell was he thinking?

Takagi raised his hand towards the teen. "Ah- Kuroba-kun..." But he didn't have time for him. He felt bad because it seemed like he was really helping. But Takagi still didn't understand. Sato would make sure he got out. Takagi turned his attention to Hattori. Fire or not, he was just glad to see that he was there, that he could make sure he was safe this time. "Gomen." And then whatever else he wanted to say was gone. Takagi was just so sorry. He took Hattori's hand in his, seeing the marks on his wrist. "I couldn't protect you again." Again. Three times now. Strike, you're out. The first time it should have been that way. He was an officer and Hattori was a detective, but he was still just a teenager.

Heiji looked toward where... Kaito had gone toward before looking back up at the officer. He didn't recognize him but he wasn't trying to hurt him. Yet. And he was... apologizing? He shifted slightly, uncertain about what the man was going to do, but the movement just caused the pain to remind him it was still there and he gasped.

"Hattori-kun...?" He'd hurt him... somehow. He didn't want to do that. Takagi looked into the house though, where he couldn't see anything but he was definitely hearing it now. "I'm going to get you out." Takagi moved, picking Hattori up when it didn't seem he could do it himself. That hurt. What had happened? Why did it have to be Hattori? It was always him. Takagi just wanted to protect him from the very air at this point.

Heiji tensed and started breathing faster. He had been told that Takagi wasn't going to hurt him but the earlier pain was still pain and he couldn't think of anything but being taken back to the other two. They'd be ready to do more, he knew it, but didn't want to go back.

Takagi noticed that- not fear- panic. Hattori was panicking. And there only seemed to be one reason for it. He'd had it happen several times already, he knew how to recognize it. Hattori was afraid of him touching him... Takagi brought him as close to himself as he could. It was a bit hard considering he wasn't that much taller than Hattori-kun himself. His hands shook with strain and most likely emotion from the reaction. "I'm so sorry, Hattori-kun. I promise I'll protect you this time, no matter what."

Heiji started to shake as he was pulled closer but he heard the words and while he still didn't get what the man meant he felt like as long as he was still there maybe, just maybe, the other two wouldn't hurt him yet. He brought his hands up, shaking, and weakly grabbed at the man, getting one arm over the man's shoulder, the other barely able to hold the fabric of the man's shirt. He didn't like being in pain, but he was already in pain, but maybe he could avoid more for the time being... until the other two came for him. He buried his face in the man's chest, not wanting to see what they were getting ready to do to him next.

Hattori didn't push him away, and that was good enough for him. He actually made it a lot easier to carry him. So Takagi ran, not knowing where the fire was or how strong it was. He did all he could not to shake Hattori, taking quick steps out the door. He and Sato had left it open- you always leave your exit open. He didn't know where to go but he wanted to get away from the house. Towards the car seemed the best idea so that's where he went, leaning against it and doing what he could to keep holding the teen. He didn't want to put him down, and he'd noticed a while ago, since he'd picked him up, that he wasn't wearing anything. Away from the fire, half of his wanting to know Sato was alright and the other half being drawn to the boy in front of him who didn't even seem to be able to talk- was afraid far worse than he'd ever seen him before. Takagi knew- knew that he'd been too late to stop anything that really mattered from happening. He closed his eyes, trying to keep Hattori close again, now that he wasn't running. "I'm so sorry. I should have made sure they didn't take you. I'd promised you." I stupidly made you think you were safe because I didn't want to worry you.

Heiji was crying. The pain from the movement was too much but he couldn't even make a sound. His voice was gone and his throat sore enough as it was… but Takagi apologized for him being taken from him. Was he really supposed to protect him from those two? Was it possible that he and... Kaito, were different? He couldn't figure out how it was possible but he couldn't think of any other answer. He didn't have the strength to hold tighter but he managed to shake his head slightly, keeping his face firmly into the man's chest.

Sato knew her partner would get Hattori-kun out. She had to get the man that had done it. She dashed through the flames and entered the room that was apparently where Hattori-kun had been held. Her stomach churned at the man on the bed and the restraints. She spotted the scattered clothes and the remains of what she recognized as what Hattori-kun had been wearing. All this taken in at a glance, including the man on the bed still, both tied up and tied to the bed. 'Damn, this isn't gonna be easy.' Sato ran over and started to try and untie the man.

Okay, first things first. The fire. Well... there didn't seem to be a way to stop that but he could at least slow it down. It seemed the fires had been started at the end of the hall and the rooms... Kaito had no way of closing the doors but to touch the knobs. He knew breaking the windows was impossible. He wound a cloth around the knobs like a hook and shut the doors, going about it quickly. It would make it harder to breath in the hall but at least there would be less heat. Kaito had to physically get through fire around where they'd been, running into the room with a cloth over his mouth in time to see Sato freeing the guy. Kaito didn't know what to think about that, but with the gas, at least he'd be out for another ten minutes- the smoke most likely making that longer. He'd stayed in the room after all. Kaito ran over, getting rid of the bonds just on the bed. He didn't want the man completely freed and he was a lot faster than the officer. He turned to her and held out another cloth so she wouldn't be breathing in the fumes. It smelled like some kind of fuel was on the carpet. "Can you carry him?

Sato took the cloth and nodded. "Anything here that can be evidence, grab it. We need to make sure this guy doesn't get off on the technicality because he was tied up." She was beyond disgusted that the man had nothing on... and the blood on him and remembering her glimpse of Hattori-kun, she wasn't sure which was better, letting the man be seen for the disgusting piece of filth he was, or making sure that Hattori-kun wasn't confronted with it. The second won out in a second and she yanked at the sheet under him, pulling it over him and dragging the sorry excuse over her shoulder. "We need to get out. Let's go."

Kaito nodded, going to go first but in passing he looked at the guy. He'd heard Tantei-kun before but hell... he was mad, he was a kid, and technically the police didn't have him 'under control' yet, so Kaito elbowed the guy as hard in the ribs as he could, grabbing Sato-keiji's arm so she wouldn't be thrown off balance. He took the cloth away from his mouth for a second so he could talk to her. "Sorry. Thought he was waking up." His expression told her what a lie that one. "Be careful. I closed the doors so the hallway will be stuffy." Better to actually stay behind. He'd be able to make sure everything stayed somewhat controlled. Kaito's heart almost stopped, fumbling inside of his pockets. He had something!Small camera, about the size of a note card, and Kaito took whatever pictures of the room he could. Kid used it for stakeouts, but hey, this worked too. Evidence and all.

Sato was thankful for the added cloth with how thick the smoke in the hallway had become. She wondered briefly if Wataru had had time to call the fire department or if Hattori-kun's state was preventing it. She turned sideways to call back to the boy. "Kuroba-kun, this way. Stay close." She did not want to lose him in the smoke and heat and she couldn't even crouch down with the man on her shoulder. They had to get out fast. "Don't lose me."

Kaito stood there for a moment, thinking. The dead man was dead. He didn't care about proof or evidence or whatever about that. He looked around the room, his eyes stinging. He'd already made a decision with Hattori. He'd get to that outside. First he had to worry about the stupid evidence all burning. Physical evidence, check. Proof it was unwilling, check by photo. Proof that he was working with the man who had kidnapped Hattori... not check. Kaito went over to the dead man, kicking him to the side so that he could get a picture of his face. The man's eyes and mouth were open and he had to look away as he took it, running out of the room to get himself the hell out of there. He had the place memorized; he didn't need his eyes.

Sato was near the door and glanced back. "You out... first. Kuro... KUROBA-KUN!" How had she lost him? She started to kneel and drop the man there so she could head back. She was NOT going to let the boy die. She'd run back though the fires herself first.

Kaito wasn't watching where he was going as much as he was sensing it, knew how long each hallway was and where each turn was- until he smacked headlong into something and fell on his butt. "Ow."

Sato fell over and dropped the man when something hit her. She looked over quickly when she heard who it was. "Kuroba-kun. You OK?" She held out her hand to let him get himself up before she grabbed the man again.

Kaito shook it off, standing and angry he'd lost his good air. The whole house was getting stuffy. "I'm fine. Just get out." His eyes were really starting to sting and she was in his way.

Sato shook her head but gathered the man back over her shoulder, using the doorjamb to lift herself back up and moved out the door, glad for the fresh air.

Kaito followed her, breathing in and wiping at his eyes. He grabbed her arm before she could move. "Sato-keiji, I need to speak with you."

Sato slowed and looked at the teen. "What's wrong? Were you hurt?"

"Yes- no- that doesn't matter." Kaito shook his head. "I need you to know so you can deal with it. I don't know how far it's stretched but Hattori didn't recognize me. I don't think too many people should be around him right now."

Sato looked at him hard. They had seemed like they had bonded so much and Hattori-kun didn't seem like the type to take those lightly. "I'm sure it was more just shock. He may have been disoriented so don't take it personally. It's been known to happen.

"Shock wears off." Kaito closed his eyes and opened them slowly, looking at her. "And don't worry, I'm not. I'm more worried about the others. Hakuba only just started trusting people and the guys hard enough to get to. T- Ku- Conan-kun, heck, he can barely take care of himself. I was with him for a good while, talked to him. It's not shock, and if it is, it's gonna take a lot of a time getting ride of it. I'm just saying not too many people, 'kay?" Kaito looked at her with a smile. "Let him get over himself and the shock first. Few people only."

Sato found herself nodding and wanting to toss the man back into the house, if only for a few minutes, then just drag him back out. She also noted Kuroba-kun stutter on Conan-kun's name. "I'm sure just Kudo-kun being near him will help, and you and Hakuba-kun would be appreciated by him, as well. You all seem to have become really close."

Kaito got mad that she just wasn't getting it. Slow people. What is with you guys?Takagi-keiji was like that too. "Too many people. Maybe one at a time, but not all at once. I know what the hospital is going to be like. Just... slow. And for now, let him be, okay? Don't force anything on him."

That further concerned her and she sighed. "If it's that bad I would say you would be the best for right now. He's seen you and it would be less new people. Takagi-kun will have to stay with you too. Even though we have this guy and I saw the other. Seems the dead guy and someone else was behind the kidnapping. Even now there''s still one more out there." She glanced back at the house as she rounded the corner, spotting Wataru leaning against the car and holding Hattori-kun close to him.

Kaito nodded. "Yeah, I lost track of the other one. Not sure what happened. I didn't see him in the house though." Kaito walked with her, feeling really tired all of a sudden. He blocked it off, going next to Hattori and seeing him crying again. "Hey, I'm back." He looked at Hattori and smiled. "You're probably really uncomfortable like that. I've got some pants. They're clean. Want them?" Kaito lightly reached around Takagi and put his hand gently on top of Hattori's fingers. "Just tap once for yes and two for no. Should be easier than moving."

Heiji heard the question and realized he wasn't sure. It may hurt but how could he ask? He took a bit of time trying to decide but, even if it did, what was the difference? It was less than what he'd gone through but how could he? He finally tapped once but pressed his face against the man holding him.

Kaito let out a small breath of air with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm gentle. Most can't even feel when I change their clothes. Putting on just one will be easy." Kaito moved so he was on the other side, seeing Takagi's hands in the way. Hattori would feel him move him, but he'd make it fast. Even hurt, he could make his hands do what he wanted, though Hattori would, essentially, be walking around with Kid's pants and cape. There were too big on him anyways. They should fit the detective. Kaito shifted his body, making sure he could still do the trick right. No flash was needed and his cape was covering both his movements and the detective. He'd had him moved and more or less clothed in just a few seconds, letting his right arm fall to his side and hiding a wince. He looked over at Hattori and smiled. "Better?"

Heiji wasn't sure what he had felt but it was so quick it seemed to not be much but he still shuddered a bit before nodding against Takagi. He started to turn his head, hoping to see the other person was really still OK and not in pain.

Kaito saw Hattori turn towards him so he took his right hand and interlocked his fingers with the detective like he had the officer. "Friends, right? Gotta look out for each other." With a wave of his hand he had Hattori's hat between his fingers. "Remember this? It's yours. I promised I'd give it back to you." Kaito put the hat, slowly, on the detective's head. He saw him try and draw away, but it only made it easier to get the hat on. If it made him that upset, Kaito would find something else, but right now it was cutting Hattori's view in half. It would work much like blinders on a horse did. The less he saw, the less there would be to be upset about.

Heiji looked up at the two that were by him. Kaito and Takagi. He was still hurting but couldn't tell them, not to mention the new lack of vision made him worried. He hadn't wanted to see before when he knew what was happening. Now that he didn't, his ability to find out had been cut. He realized that he would be forced to trust these two even more. Not only were both moving him, now one had reduced his sight, but at the same time... it was his? He had- he looked up at it and then back at Kaito. He did his best to mouth 'thanks' and hoped he understood.

Kaito felt his eyes start to close, though really, all he could do was smile at him. Kaito himself felt nothing less than absolutely betrayed by someone he'd let a little too close. He couldn't yell at him again though, so he kept those feelings that were Kaito's and let Kid, who saw only someone weak and in need of help, do the rest. "I took it. Only right I give it back." Kaito looked behind the officer, than over at Sato-keiji. "What are we going to do about the car? They can't both be in there."

Sato looked at the man, having just hung up her phone after calling in the fire, and agreed with that. She didn't want Hattori-kun and this... monster that close at all. "I don't want them together either and back up is on the way, along with the fire department. There's a chance to save some of this place, maybe see how long they've been doing this. I'll stay here until someone gets here with a car but I'm not sure about waiting that long getting Hattori-kun to the hospital."

Kaito didn't mind the wait, it was all the people and all the noise he was worried about. He sighed. "I can drive. I'm not sure how safe or legal it would be, but I won't scare him and we'll get there faster than waiting." Kaito cocked his head at Takagi. "Unless you want to put him down, and that would just be more moving." He looked at both officers, very much asking them if he was allowed to break the law.

Takagi didn't want to put Hattori down. He was crying and hurt and he didn't want anyone one else to bother him. Hattori had been through way more than the others and he deserved to have some rest. That didn't mean he thought the teen in front of them was up to driving. He still had that doubt about him, but if he'd been able to find Kudo-kun and Hattori-kun when they couldn't, it didn't really surprise him that he could drive. Takagi couldn't make a decision, but in the end, he sided with Kuroba.

Sato looked between them and thought about all the things that Kuroba-kun had done, even more what Conan-kun, even in his body, had accomplished. He looked back at Wataru and shrugged. "Your call. Just be careful and I'll meet up with you after this baggage is sent to where it belongs."

Takagi nodded, looking over at Kuroba-kun. "Fine. Sato-san has the key's though."

Kaito nodded at the implications and walked over to the other officer, offering her his better hand, which, oddly enough, was his right now. He couldn't grip anything with his left. "Keys?" he asked with a sideways smile.

Sato pulled out the keys and placed them in the teen's hand. "You get them there safe. I'm sure Hattori-kun would be better off with you two than an ambulance."

"I know. No worries. Safety's my middle name." He couldn't help a little laugh but he waved off his inside joke. "Don't worry. Just don't advertise. I don't have my license yet." Kaito walked away, finding it funny what the cops were letting him get away with right in front of them.

"Conan-kun didn't either when he drove off of that skyscraper but desperate times as they say."

Kaito hardly though this was a 'desperate time' but he kept walking. He stopped in front of Takagi and Hattori first, so he could open the door for him. Look how nice and polite they were making him. Ick. Kaito looked down at Hattori before letting them in. "We're gonna go for a little car ride. There are friends like us, nice friends who are worried about you. We're going to take you there so you can see them and you can get better."

Heiji was felling a bit overwhelmed but at the same time... hopeful. He nodded when he heard a sound that made him freeze than start shaking.

Nomura wasn't sure what the hell happened but he had a headache-his throat was scratchy- the kid was gone, but he knew he hadn't finished with him yet. He groaned and coughed but opened his eyes. Outside? He was wrapped in the sheet but the first thing he focused on was that officer from before... holding Heiji-chan. "Drop him."

Takagi ground his teeth, moving to get inside the car and Hattori-kun away from this man when Kuroba got in his way and immediately started talking to Hattori-kun. He was angry and confused and that stilled him long enough for him to see what Kuroba was doing.

Kaito moved. Right when he heard the words he didn't even have to look at Hattori to know what had happened. He placed his arms lightly on Hattori's, stopping them when Takagi-keiji seemed to want to move. He had to snap him out of this and the longer it went on, the longer he was afraid, the harder it would be to break. "Hattori, look at me." Kaito's voice, while still his own, started to drop to Kid's insistent tones. "You're with us. You're with your friends. Someone just recently told me that together we're strong, not matter how they try to use us. You're strong Hattori, and we're here. He can't touch you." Kaito hoped, prayed, and doubted at the same time that something would get through. He wasn't Kudo. He knew that. He would never be him. But he was Kaito and heaven and earth be damned if he didn't at least try. "Hattori, you're one of the strongest people I know. You'd go through so much for your friends. You're that guy everyone turns to when they just can't do it by themselves. Don't let him take that from you. You are the only one who can control who you are. And you're with us, which multiplies your strength. Don't give him the satisfaction and stop feeling so damn sorry for yourself."

Heiji was shivering and holding on to Takagi but Kaito was... could he still be safe? He knew he heard him again. He didn't want to feel that man again. It hurt too much. He took a shaky breath and tried to nod but he wasn't able to control his body again, as much he wanted to. He wanted to be the person these two seemed to think he was but he wasn't sure how to be.

Kaito needed him to fight this, and fast- but baby steps. His still had his hand on Hattori's "Okay then. First, look at me." The words were soft and strong and far steadier than Kaito himself was.

Sato looked down at the words and just saw Kuroba-kun and Wataru turn their attention to Hattori-kun so she let her attention fall on the man at her feet. She dropped to her knees and grabbed the man's arm. He may be physically restrained but in this case his words were doing a great deal of harm to Hattori-kun so she figured even Kudo-kun would have allowed this. "You say one more word to that boy and I'll snap your wrist. You've done enough to him."

Heiji turned his gaze to Kaito. The fear from the pain and... something at the back of his mind telling him something worse than his own injuries and the pain he was feeling and the- the feelings back in that room, with both those men and one was there, likely trying to get him back. He swallowed and went to touch Kaito's hand.

Nomura watched Heiji-chan's reaction and couldn't help the small grin on his face. The woman and the other officer were nothing... but Heiji-chan and the other boy that the blond had called 'Kuroba' were both there. He already looked forward to getting them both. The thought of his earlier offer to the other teen wasn't forgotten. "You really want Heiji-chan... don't you?"

Heiji froze. What? Kaito...No- no, it couldn't be. He locked eyes with Kaito before closing them and struggling to get away.

Kaito couldn't help the look of disgust- he couldn't help the pain of the doubt that must have gotten to Hattori either. "Hattori, I said I was you're friend. I wouldn't hurt you." He patted his hand. "I need you to trust me, if you can't, then I need you to tell me to leave. I will if I'm scaring you. You can nod and shake you're head at least. If you want me gone, that's all you have to do, okay? Simple as that. You won't have to be afraid of me then. Do you want me to leave?"

Sato twisted and slammed the guy's head to the ground- silent, painful, even a bit satisfying. He'd be out for a while now. She just wished she had done it before the man had got those words out. She looked up and saw Heiji twisting in Wataru's hold and at Kuroba-kun's words he seemed to freeze, still shaking noticeably but seeming to be trying to not move.

Heiji was fighting within himself. The man's words were clear in their implication, but Kaito hadn't made a move to hurt him yet, the only pain being from the injuries he already had received. He wanted to trust him, both of them, but what if they really were just taking him to use him themselves? He took a few shaky breaths and felt tears leak out from between his tightly closed eyelids. He didn't know but... he knew the other men really hurt him. These two may be worse- or they may be truthful. He'd take the risk. He shook his head and reach out, hoping to grab something of the other teen and keep him there.

Kaito didn't want Takagi-keiji to lose his balance. He had to think carrying someone only around twenty pounds less then himself was hard, so he held Hattori's hand before he could shift his weight too much. "Look at me then," he said softly, letting the demand fall away to Hattori's own will.

Heiji cracked open then blinked his eyes, the tears blurring his vision but he had to hope that he was right in his choice to trust them. He searched Kaito's face, still breathing hard and not knowing he was still shaking but he had to see.

Kaito kept everything calm, gentle, like his mother's touch when he'd been sick. "You're still alright, aren't you? You heard him, but you're not hurt, right?"

Heiji nodded and relaxed a bit more before he tipped his head to the car. He wanted to get away now, wherever they were going to take him, just to be away from the man... further away.

Kaito looked at Hattori and then to the car, throwing the keys in the air before catching them. "Fine, good enough. I'll be right next to you. I'm going around the other side." Kaito did as he said he was, going around the other side of the car and getting in the driver's seat, wiping the blood from his arm off on his pants and tying a cloth around it before either could bother to complain about it.

Takagi looked over at Sato before looking down at Hattori. "Don't worry, we're getting away from him." Kuroba-kun had opened the door but it was a bit hard getting in, and the teen had to grab Hattori-kun's legs and put them in his lap when Takagi all but shoved them into the car. He hadn't meant to but it was hard to move with him in his arms. Slowly, Takagi moved so Hattori was in his lap, his arm going behind his back as he held him up and closed the door.

Should have sat in the back seat, Kaito grumbled.

Heiji winced and groaned when he was seated, the pain causing more tears as he tried to fight the need to cry out, knowing it would hurt even more with his throat to try and vocalize it he just gripped Takagi's arm.

Takagi held him close, trying to move in a way that he could support Hattori better but it was impossible. The best he could do was lean into the door, his arm under the back of Hattori's neck like a pillow. "I'm sorry. You won't have to move when we get there." Takagi grabbed Hattori's hand. "Just don't hurt yourself. If it gets bad, squeeze my hand."

Heiji took the hand but didn't feel right making him feel pain. He couldn't. That was what the others had done. He couldn't do that too. He shook his head a couple times before turning toward Takagi. He was able to get his head on the shoulder right there so he just cried, hoping it would relieve the need to scream.

Takagi couldn't say anything, couldn't do anything, his heart just going out to the poor kid. It took him a while until he was sure he could speak. "Hattori-kun, I can tell you're tired and weak. You won't hurt me... I'm just trying to help. Please..." Takagi couldn't help it. There was a child in his arms and he was crying, no matter how old he was. Takagi held him closer, his head resting towards him but not touching him, putting Hattori's hand gently down and his other hand up to brush away the hair and the tears. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."

Heiji wasn't sure what to make of that but he finally allowed his hand to try and grip Takagi's, praying he wouldn't hurt him. The pain was so much he was likely crushing it and he slowly shook his head, wanting to let him know how sorry he was for it.

Takagi could feel Hattori's hand around his, the teen still looking away and seeming to be in a great deal more pain than he thought. Takagi moved his thumb along Hattori's fingers. "We'll get you medicine that will make the pain go away soon. I can promise you that much." He looked over at Kuroba-kun, almost desperate. The boy could do a lot, why not something to help this?

Kaito hadn't driven more than a block when he felt the eyes on him. He looked over at Takagi and Hattori before pulling over. "Damn it." He leaned against the seat, tired enough as it was. "I can put him to sleep, but odds are he'll dream and I don't want him to have to go through that again so soon. I've got nothing for this kind of pain." Kaito opened his eyes and looked down. "But maybe I can help a little." He tapped Hattori on the leg. "Hey, I'm gonna move you so that you're laying down more, okay? I'll try not to have it hurt, but it might, just a bit."

Heiji didn't think that he could be in more pain but if a bit would lessen it then he would take it. He nodded, wishing again he had his voice.

Kaito grabbed his legs and looked over at Takagi. "We're going to lay him down on his side. That should help. Side first, then move him, got it?" The officer nodded to him and Kaito cursed under his breath as he helped turn Hattori on his side, facing them so he wouldn't be scared, then moving him down more so his body wasn't leaning against the door. "That better?" Kaito asked when he got his voice back.

Heiji nodded. Now that he wasn't sitting the pain was less. He still held Takagi's arm close to his head as best he could. He gasped out a relieved breath.

Kaito shifted the car back in gear, driving off. He was a great driver, normally a fast one too, but he didn't want to rock the detective too much so, as much as he hated it, he started going on like some old lady. It was too quiet and he didn't feel like talking to the officer and Hattori couldn't speak, so he found himself singing, picking up the same song from the beginning and giving it a softer melody, calming, quieting. "... kiite kitte. Hitomi tojitara, kaze no hoshi no, uta ga kikoeru..." Listen, listen... If you close your eyes you can hear the song of the wind and the stars.

Heiji listened to the song and held the cloth of Takagi's shirt, letting the sound wash over him.

Takagi was getting tired and Kuroba singing was probably what was doing it. He was really good and Takagi had already been tired. He yawned, still keeping one arm wrapped around Hattori. Then his eyes shot open when they passed the hospital. He hadn't even thought of giving the teen directions but he had taken them back... and was passing it up. "Whoa. Hey, you missed the street."

"I know," Kaito said dully. "I just occurred to me that I didn't want to turn, so I didn't."

"Kuroba-kun, we need to get him to the hospital. They need to help him." Takagi had seen the teen go through a lot to help them, however he had done it, but taking they away from where they were intending to go was the first out rightly opposing act he'd seen from him.

"I know that too." Kaito ran a hand down his nose. "I also know that that place will have nothing but bad memories. While they can help him physically, I doubt they can do it mentally."

"You need to turn around. We'll figure something out." Kuroba-kun had a point, but the others were back there and they were expecting them.

"I don't think waiting around while it gets dark out, alone in the car while you officers decide what's best isn't what's best either." Kaito broke open a few things in his pocket. He had something for Hattori so he wouldn't be out more than a minute. Kaito was being an idiot but he wasn't going to wait while stupid protocol and all those foolish things that ignored a person and their feelings took place. "Calm down. I'll turn around in a while. I just want to drive around for a bit. We're in no rush."

"Yes we are. I don't know how hurt he is. The doctors should look at him. We don't know what they did." Takagi kept his voice low, only for Hattori's sake. He didn't want to sound worried. "This is not the time to be out, doing whatever you want."

Kaito sighed, his eyes bored. "You know, it's not so much what I want but what needs to happen. If there were another way I'd take it in a flash. I'm being pretty stupid about this but at least I know it."

Takagi heard the implications. "What are you going to do?" He kept fluctuating between thinking the teen was the best and worst thing that ever happened to them, but good or bad... maybe that's what scared him. The teenager somehow had an ability that let him find two boys before the police, slip out under watch, be the first out of three to really act after they'd been found- and acting while they'd been taken. He was... not dangerous, but-... Powerful also seemed the wrong word. There was no word to put to the kid, but a question did come to mind. "Who are you?"

"Kuroba Kaito. We went over this before. In fact, you knew my name before I had to tell you." Kaito looked at him dubiously. "Out of everything, that's really what you wanted to ask?"

Takagi felt his eyes start to close and he didn't know why. The sleep he'd felt was gone when his worry came back, but then he was tired all over again, still worried and confused. "What's... going on?" Not the question he wanted to ask, he wasn't even sure where it had come from and he was too tried to hear the answer.

"Woops." Kaito pulled over quickly, making sure the car didn't rock. He put his hand in front of Takagi before he could fall on Hattori, rolling the windows down. "There we go. Arguing with you would be pointless." He looked down at Hattori. "You okay?"

Heiji had started fading out, the blackness both comforting and scary as he wasn't sure if it would be an escape from the pain or a reminder. He barely caught Kaito's words as he had been losing track of the conversation recently. "Hmm..."

"We're not far. I'm gonna take you to my house. You can rest there. That sound good to you? We'll be all safe and warm there." Kaito looked over at Hattori, taking out his five-fingered discount phone. He'd have to return that soon. He wanted to make sure that Hattori both knew where they were going and was okay with it. While he waited, Kaito took the seat belt and put it around Takagi-keiji, pulling it until it was tight and letting it hold him up instead.

Heiji wasn't sure about it but, if he couldn't do anything else, staying with Kaito and Takagi, his guardian angels, was a nice thing. He couldn't open his eyes now and simply took a deep breath before tipping his head down, intending to lift it back up but the darkness was too much.

"Wha oh. No falling asleep yet. I need you to know you're safe first. Memories are still too fresh. I'm sorry about this." Kaito took some smelling salts and opened it before putting under Hattori's nose. "Just stay with me a little longer, okay?"

Heiji fidgeted but managed to open his eyes again and attempted to turn his head away from the smell.

Kaito went back over in his seat, dialing Jii's number. He didn't want the old man doing it again so he'd have Taki do it. The boy was only fourteen but he was a great pickpocket- which made him fast. He told Jii the words to put in a note to Sato-keiji, slipping it under the door in about fifteen minutes. That would do. Then he hung up and looked at the phone. He hadn't seen his mom since... well, school the day before. She had to be worried. He was almost afraid to call her, but he needed her help in this. He dialed his house number, pulling away from the curb.

She had been pacing and nervous since she heard Kaito had left the school with the police and Jii had all but avoided telling her anything except he was OK and even that had taken awhile. She knew with his extra activities that there was a chance something could happen and her sleep had been broken, much like on nights when she would lay awake waiting for the sounds of the portrait before she'd fall asleep. Now she was sitting with yet another cup of tea, or half a cup of cold tea, waiting again. The phone had her up and to it by the second ring, composing herself before answering the unfamiliar number. "Kuroba residence. Who is this?"

"Hi mom. Sorry for not calling. I swear I really didn't have time." Not that that was any kind of excuse. "I need your help."

"Kaito." She was relieved at first then heard the request for help. "Kaito what do you need? Where are you?"

"On my way home actually. I'm doing something really stupid and totally illegal because I'm not going to let the cops put him through hell for nothing. I've got a friend with me. He's hurt. I wanted to know if you could get the thickest blankets we have and make a bed for him for when we get there."

"I'll try. How far away are you?" And why did she have the feeling one of his new 'illegal activities' was driving since Jii would have called sooner.

"About twenty minutes away. I haven't been in the area. You know, maybe fifteen sounds better. If you can, maybe get a wet rag and some soup. I don't know if he can eat, but I can at least see." Kaito was grateful. He wasn't going let this be some police business. The Kuroba's were gonna see to it the victim came first. He'd have Jii come over after he made sure Taki did what he should and maybe get some pain medicine in him. "Odds are they're gonna know where to find me. The least we can do it is keep them out until they get a warrant, right?" Kaito smiled after that sentence. He was gonna put his mom through hell with him if this ended badly. "He really needs the rest and a nice home. His is too far away or I wouldn't be asking."

"Kaito you have pulled a lot of crazy things off before. I just hope you have your father's knack for it now too. I'll be ready in ten. We can put him in the guest room."

"No," Kaito said immediately. "My room. I'll see if I can't speed things up a bit. I don't want them getting there before I do. Thanks mom." And really, thanks. He didn't know what else to do besides this.

"If you want. See you soon." She sighed and hung up, taking a deep breath before heading upstairs. 'I know you have a good reason for this and I'll always support you.' She looked at one of the photos with the three of them and touched her husband's face. 'He's become so much like you. Help him now.'

Kaito hung up the phone, shoving it in his pocket, patting Hattori gently on the leg by his ankle. "You and me are gonna see about getting something to eat. If it hurts or you can't, don't worry about it. My mom's making a bed for you. I'll see about putting Takagi-keiji in the guest room once I find someone who can carry him. We won't all fit in mine. That okay, Hattori?"

Heiji managed to start to shrug then just nodded. Food. That sounded good but his next thought was, could he? He swallowed again and winced. If just that hurt...

"Don't worry, just do what you can. I'll see about getting you some medicine." Kaito put his hand back on the wheel before thinking on that. He sighed. Okay, fine. One more call. He dialed Mouri's number, because he didn't want to have to try dealing with fooling the inspector right now.

Kogoro was sitting, watching Hakuba-kun continuing to keep contact with Conan. With how out of it Conan was he wasn't sure if it was actually doing anything or if Conan would have been just as still if no one was touching him. When his phone vibrated he answered it quickly. "Mouri Kogoro."

"Hi," Kaito answered uncertainly in a very young, and very feminine, voice. "My daddy just told me my cousin was there. He isn't picking up his phone. When I called the station, they told me to call you. Please," Kaito sniffled a little. "Can I talk to Hakuba-niichan?"

Kogoro looked at the phone in his hand for a minute. He'd been watching the initial uncertainty Hakuba-kun had displayed around both Conan and Kudo-kun, even Hattori-kun. To think he had a young cousin that was this worried. He shook his head and walked over to the teen, putting his hand on his shoulder to get his attention. "Here. For you."

Saguru took the phone but was extremely confused. Who would call him via Mouri-san's phone? He held it to his ear. "Yes, Hakuba Saguru. To whom am I speaking?"

"To someone who will immediately hang up on you if you say their name out loud right now," Kaito said, his voice back to his own. "I need to talk to you. Can you make this more... private?"

Saguru searched his mind, wondering who he could believably be talking to. "Of course... You know me..."

"Hakuba, geez. First thing, if they ask, I'm your cousin- girl, young, would have put the range around Conan's age. Second, I meant leave the room. You might not be able to hide what I need to talk to you about."

"You will not be able to... but there are plenty of guards and police officers around. I will be right here for a while yet." Great, a young cousin, just about that of the girl that was processing the kits.

Kaito had to think on that. "Bathroom then. Say you're not feeling well. Should be secluded enough. Say it's personal. I'm hysterical in worry for you or something. Just make sure you don't speak too loudly and it should be fine."

"OK, calm down, calm down." He lightly covered the mouthpiece. "Shiratori-keibu, I am going to step into the bathroom. she needs some reassurance that... may be a bit embarrassing."

Shiratori looked at the teenager. It wasn't like the bathroom wasn't in the room and there was more than enough people around. They'd have to get in the room before they got to the bathroom. "Feel free." Even he was starting to feel a bit crowded. A personal phone call at a time like this would be better off spent in some privacy.

"Domo arigatou." Saguru stood and headed to the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it before stepping further into the room. "Kuroba, have you had any luck finding Hattori?"

"Yep. He's right next to me. That's kind of where the problem starts." Kaito sighed. "He's... alive. I can say that much."

Saguru's heart stopped. "What did they... how far?" He did not really want to know but knew just as well from what they went through with Conan-kun that not knowing would be worse than what one's own mind could create.

"Halt, stop, desist, freeze, and another other fitting word that will stop that question-asking mouth of yours." Kaito took a breath, more for the air than to sigh. "I'm gonna start at the beginning. I found him- had to work with some people I didn't really like to do it. I got there and what we were afraid of before I pretty much walked in on. There's a dead man, probably burned all up by now, and the person from earlier. Sato-keiji's got him. He's not... really hurt per say. At least, not in any way you wouldn't imagine but..." Kaito did sigh there. He couldn't help it. Even his words were tired. "He doesn't know me. Or you. Or anyone right now."

"He did not recognize you... Could you try Kudo-kun? That may-"

"Hakuba, he's afraid of his own shadow. You know how many people would be on him the minute he got to the hospital?- A hospital which I passed up about ten minutes ago, by the way." Kaito felt that sleep pulling at him, knowing it was most likely from blood loss again, or lack of food. It had been worse before though. "I'm not going to let them do that. I'm about to get in the most trouble I've ever likely been in because, legally, the cops can't allow this. I'm taking him to my house. I'm letting him rest. Until he can at least walk and talk on his own, I'm going to do whatever I can to protect him. Do you understand? You know- to hell with that. I can even bring you over if you wanted. I'm not asking for your help though. Just offering you an option. Of course, that's if you don't turn and tell everyone you're with what I just told you."

'Ha- Hattori... that was not possible. The guy was the most reckless, even fearless person he knew, and while he had not understood what drove it before, now that he had spent the time they had together he realized it was something that he did not believe could be touched except...' "Two things. First. Conan-kun was taken for some tests prior to Hattori's most recent abduction. He is still nearly comatose and hooked up to machines to monitor his condition. I do not feel right leaving here in the event he does awaken any time before Hattori can be near. Second, if Hattori is in such a state that he would not recognize you or even Kudo it makes me wonder what they did to accomplish that. For him to somehow be forced to forget, or perhaps suppress, any knowledge of us… I need to know anything you know about what you saw. It may let us figure out how to help. He would not just choose to forget us, or at the very least Conan-kun. There has to be something, anything."

"Hakuba, I said I had him right next to me, and even if I didn't, that's not something you need to be burdened with unless he chooses to tell you. I can call you back later, give you a little, but not now. I hope you understand."

Saguru sighed. "Very well, but try to see if there is any pattern to his behavior. Ways he acts or reacts to different things. That may let us know the 'why' and allow us to figure out how to get him back." That felt extremely strange to say but he realized he meant it and there was no other way to say it.

"Words don't work. I can tell you that right now- I tried. Touch is bad. That's pretty obvious though. And he's scared of absolutely everything, like I said. I don't know. I don't think he's ever really been afraid of Takagi-keiji though. Drew away from me, but he's been clinging to the guy for a while. Oh- right. I'm also kidnapping a cop. No idea how I'm gonna pull that one off. He's asleep right now."

"Kuroba..." He ran through Takagi-kun's attitude at the news. "That note they received with the location, that was you, correct? Does he know it was?"

"I told him after he pointed his gun at me and didn't take it away when he knew who I was. Can't say he was listening too well though, why?"

"His reaction to that news when he read that note said a great deal about how he feels for Hattori. If you make sure to show him that your alternate plan this time was as good as what he was dragged through yesterday for Conan-kun then I believe he will do what is best for Hattori over what the SOP dictates. I will not bother telling you to take care of him, because I am certain you will... however, be sure to take care of yourself too."

"Perspective, Hakuba. Some things come first, but I will. Do you want to- never mind, you're going to. Hattori doesn't seem to think there are really people out there who care about him." Kaito brought the phone into his vision for a second and hit the speaker button. He glanced over at Hattori real quick and put phone in his direction so he could hear better. "Hattori, this is Hakuba. He's a friend of yours. You guys usually fight all the time but it's always over something really stupid, and you've stopped doing it so much recently. He's worried about you."

"Hattori... Hattori, I am so relieved that you are safe. Kuroba is someone to be trusted. He will take care of you. I will be sure to find a way for us to reunite. Conan-kun- Kudo will be too. He has not been apart from you much recently and this is- he will not be leaving your side any time soon. Hattori you have to take my word on this. We are you friends and we would never want any harm to come to you." He paused and listened, hoping for some sound from the Osakan.

Heiji heard another voice but he couldn't place it. The person sounded young, about his and Kaito's age. The word 'Conan-kun' struck something but it was gone just as quickly. He nodded and opened his mouth but the only thing that came out was an extremely painful cough.

Saguru caught the cough and just from that he knew it was worse. Hattori's cough was not a 'sick cough', rather a 'sore/injured throat cough' and, with the lack of any other response, he'd hurt his throat or the kidnappers had done it or both. He settled on the kidnappers, deciding that even if Hattori had been yelling at them, as was his typical fashion, they were the ones making him. "Hattori, just rest."

Kaito took the phone back, switching it off. "You're all mine again. Don't worry, he heard you. I'm going to see if I have medicine he can take. A friend of mine might have something for the pain- I don't think he can swallow." Kaito shook his head, not really wanting to fall asleep behind the wheel and it was dark enough that it was hard to see. Then something kinda funny came to him. "Hey... I'm letting- no, forcing a detective and a police officer into my house. That's..." Kaito laughed a little. "Something I never thought would happen."

"Kuroba, with you that statement was meant to be broken. Look at everything that has happened since yesterday. Tell me you can count the number of times that statement has been or could have been used?"

"No. It's me. You have no idea how far ahead I can predict." He laughed a little louder at that. "Hey, people might be getting suspicious. I just wanted you to try and keep the hellhounds at bay for me. I don't think I should be driving without a license andon the phone."

"No you should not but since when do you conform to the letter of the law? However, considering Hattori's condition, it could be considered a good enough reason." Saguru sighed. "I shall do what I can on this end but you said there was one dead and the man from before in custody. That leaves the second man that actually committed the recent kidnapping."

"Yeah, that's the funny thing. I know I saw him in the car but when we got back on them he was gone. My driver was-... he liked to take the long way around. Wasn't fond of attention himself. Anyway, he won't know where I live, so there's no reason other not to bring him with me other than everyone thinking that they should be dragging him back to the hospital. Just do what you can. There'll be a note coming around the time Sato-keiji does. Won't say much but odds are she'll worry, call Takagi-keiji who will, courtesy of me, still be sleeping until I can get Hattori settled. I'm not up to pretending right now. Kind of relying on you for that part. Just do what you can. I'm almost home anyway. I'm gonna hang up now, kay?"

"Very well. Tell your mother to take care of you, as you will be too busy taking care of the others."

Kaito rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He hung up on him. Kinda felt nice to have a back up who wasn't about to stab him in the back. He looked over at Hattori, picking up the speed a little. They were almost there. In the time he took to reach his house, Kaito started up the song again, if only to pass time and give Hattori something other to focus on, since he had nothing to talk about. He pulled up to his house, looking down at the detective. "I'm gonna have to pick you up. If you can, try not to move too much. I know it hurts." Kaito moved in-between the first two seats. "I don't want to drop you though. If you can do what you did for Takagi-keiji and get your arm around my neck, that would be great."

Heiji reached up and grabbed on as best he could. He knew this was going to hurt again but he knew that, if they were truthful, he would be able to rest for a while. He took a shaky breath and nodded, letting Kaito know he was ready and bracing for the expected pain.

Kaito didn't want to hurt him, and Hakuba did have a point with his warning. He did tend to overlook himself. With Hattori though, if it had to be one of them, Hattori didn't need it. Kaito had to step on the seat and get his arms under him. Using his strength, what little of it he still possessed, he grabbed Hattori the way he was laying, letting him fall towards him only after he'd lifted him in the air. It was hard, the car was small, and he had to gasp and make those 'look how strong I am' noises to get out, but once Hattori had gotten his arm around the back of his neck after he'd had him, it had been at least something he could pull off. He kicked the door closed, almost tripping, and went up the walkway, leaning against the frame, this time as he kicked the door a couple times. "Mom, it's me." He didn't want to yell too loud with Hattori right there, even if he wasn't facing him.

She opened the door as soon as she heard her son's voice only to see him carrying a boy his age and the cape around him was easy to recognize. "Oh, Kaito, what happened to him?" She pushed the door as wide as it could go, stepping to the side but torn between helping the two boys in and letting Kaito do this himself. The teen in her son's arms appeared to be shaking slightly, clinging to Kaito's neck. Her heart just went out to him.

"Hattori." Kaito looked down at him. He could try this on his own, but he was tired and barely managing as it was. He was still leaning against the doorframe too. "I can try... but you are pretty heavy." That being a complete understatement. Hattori weighed more than he did. If Kaito weren't who he was, carrying him would already have been impossible. "It's my mom. She won't hurt you. Can she help me get you upstairs?"

The teen, Hattori, turned to look at her and her heart broke. He looked as if he didn't believe he had a friend in the world, but she offered a smile and held out her hand slowly and carefully. "Hi, let's get you more comfortable." He watched her a moment before nodding. She kept the relief to herself but reached forward, moving her arms close to where Kaito's were, ready to accept any part Kaito choose to give, not knowing where his injuries were.

"Sorry mom. Just a second. Hold him where I am." Kaito hadn't been able to rearrange his hold or he was afraid he would have dropped him. "I just need a sec. Hattori, can you try and hold on better? We don't have that much farther to go."

Heiji took a deep breath and tried but wasn't sure how much tighter he could hold on.

She nodded and slid her arms right were her son's were. "There. Alright Kaito."

Kaito slowly let go so his mom could take some of Hattori's weight, moving his arms so he could hold him better and stretching the muscles on his back and shoulders to get rid of the tension. "Thanks. Me bedroom door open?" Kaito moved, nodding that he was ready. They couldn't both make it up the stairs and he didn't want this to be more trouble than it already was.

"Yes and the covers are turned down, ready and waiting. Soup is too if you want."

"That'd be great. You think you can go get some salt for it?" Kaito left the implications where they were, tipping his head to his mom so she could do that while he went upstairs.

"OK. Take care." She was concerned for both of them now but with Kaito back holding the teen she stepped to the side so he could pass first and allow her to close the door.

Kaito went past her, going up the stairs and glad she'd left the door to his room open. The blankets were laid out like she said and he moved so he more rolled Hattori off his arms and onto his side rather than laying him down. Kaito knelt next to him for a few seconds, catching his breath and doing his best to hide it so it wouldn't bother him. "There, not so bad, right? Mom'll be up here in a sec, and we'll see if you can't eat something." Kaito left his cape where it was and pulled the covers over him. "I'm gonna be right over there." Kaito pointed to his bed, right next to him. "You need something tonight, I'll give you a bell or something. Just ring it an I'll help you."

Heiji nodded, wishing he could actually say something. He was glad this place didn't look or feel like the other place. Even if the people had been different it was good the room was too. Besides, he had been put down here rather than the bed. He had to stop thinking about that, he didn't want to. He was away from there. Away.

Kaito stood up for a second. "Hey, I'm gonna go see if she needs help. Kinda surprised her with this. I gotta go get Takagi-keiji somehow too. You don't have to worry. No one's going to hurt you here, and no one who would want to would ever set foot in this house. Trust me on that. This place is special." And has a very special occupant who wouldn't let anything like that happen. "Will you be okay for a few minutes? If you want, I can send my mom right up when I see her."

Heiji wasn't sure about being left alone but it was far better than being alone with someone else. He shook his head and held the blanket. He would wait for Kaito or Takagi to come.

"'Kay, I'll tell her to wait then." Kaito leaned over and patted his shoulder before going back downstairs to meet his mom in the kitchen. He sat down, waiting for his mom to do the same. He had some explaining to do.

She heard him come in and sit, half of her ready to demand answers for worrying her sick, without a heist, the other half wanting to praise him for doing so much for the teen no doubt up in Kaito's room now, resting. She left the soup to cool and turned, sitting across from him. "OK. From the beginning."

"Fine," Kaito sighed. "Beginning. I'm gonna skip some though. Can't be here all night. A classmate of mine was accused of something he didn't do, by the police." He added, thinking that, since he'd said school, she might have thought it was something less serious. "A kid had been kidnapped. I helped him out, met a few others doing the same. Hattori's one of them. We found the kid, more or less. Whole lot of us wound up in the hospital last night though." Kaito held up his hand, realizing this was the first his mom would be seeing of his arms and neither was at all pretty so he quickly put them to his side. "I'm not all that hurt. Aoko and her dad showed up. I should have called you then, but they showed up on their own and everything got all crazy before I could call you. My classmate is off the hook and not all that hurt either. The kid we got out's pretty bad, he's in the hospital still, and Hattori," Kaito nodded his head outside of the room. "Drowned. Was hurt pretty bad before that too. That's more or less what happened yesterday." Yeah, because there had been A LOT more that happened today.

She had expected one of a number of things but this was... and the way Kaito had said 'yesterday' as well as the condition that Hattori was in and the obvious signs that her son was hurt recently led her to fight to fix her gaze on him. "So things today also kept you from even once calling me, leaving it to Jii to tell me you were fine and helping a friend."

"I was- am. I only barely woke up, find out the kid got sick or hurt again, and hear my classmate's been spirited away by the doctor looking after him. Turns out he was one of those guys you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. So I found a way to follow them, tried to do what I could to fix the situation, then found out the guy had a partner and had grabbed Hattori when I wasn't there. Both were knocked out so I had a bit of trouble. Cops showed up and got us out of it. We got out of that more or less uninjured. Hattori didn't get like that from that." He looked at his mom, making sure he was understood. "Guy got away from the cops. I learned that a little after we got back from the hospital. I called in some friends, tried to find the guy. I needed Jii to watch out for anything going on where I couldn't see, so we were both a bit busy to call."

She had had her hand over her mouth when he had mentioned the classmate again. Having heard from Aoko the previous day after school about how 'First Hakuba-kun didn't show up and then Kaito went and disappeared,' she was able to figure out who the classmate was. And for them to be taken by men like that... She managed a nod but wasn't sure if she could even make it to her son. She wanted to hold him, so thankful he was here in front of her at least. "So... Hattori-kun. What did happen?"

"Guy got past me," Kaito said as he closed his eyes. "And the cops. He touched my net though. I followed him. Two new guys. Not sure, lost one in transit, but the other had grabbed Hattori and took him to the guy that had escaped. I was a bit slow the second time- couldn't stop it. One guy's dead- not me- gotta watch who I bring with next time. The others are with the cops. They wanted to take Hattori to the hospital. Guy can't even walk or talk on his own, let alone want to be around so many people. Not to be mean, but you're- you know- female. And you're my mom. I thought that would be fine." Kaito opened his eyes. "Kinda didn't give the cops any choice on that though. One's sleeping in the car they more or less let me borrow, though with different intentions on where I was going."

"Well... we will certainly make sure that your friend gets well and is able to trust again." She stood and made her way around the table, bending down to look her son in the eye. "It sounds like whatever they managed to do, you were still able to find him and rescue him as well as getting yourself back out too." She wrapped her arms around him gently.

Kaito leaned into his mom, feeling everything about him that was tired and hurt cling to her. He kept his left hand to the side so he couldn't get any blood that had stained though on her, acting like he was using it to lean over better. His other arm went around her. "Thank, Okaasan." He just let himself rest on her a bit, because he both needed and wanted it. Then he let reality set back in. "...but the real reason I brought him here, besides what happened, is Hattori seems to have forgotten everyone from before about an hour ago. To him, we're new people in this world. I want you to come up with me, get him to see you. See you're not a bad person, because he's been doubting everything."

She was so happy with her son and smiled at the direction his concern was for. "Of course. We tend to Hattori-kun now..." She pulled back slightly and touched his arm. "But you are going to let me take care of those as well, and no complaining. I can't have you bleeding all over the place and scaring our guest."

Kaito smiled, his eyes still have closed. "No problem." He sighed looking away. "I've got to do something about the guy in the car though." Kaito thought about it. If he could get him on his back he might be able to carry him in the guest room. Nah, too much work. "I'm gonna ask the guy next door to help. Tell him he's some friend of yours that's had too much to drink. That fine with you?"

"I'm not sure how well that will get by without him smelling of- hmmm. He did call last night because my light was on. He knows we had a 'family crisis'. I didn't specify but we can say he's a relative that is finally sleeping and we just don't have the heart to wake him."

"That'll work too." Kaito got up, stretching a bit more. He'd been sitting down too long. "Don't go near Hattori until I get back. We've got to do this slow. I've tried snapping him out of it but it doesn't work." Kaito passed him mom, waving to her. After he stepped out, he left the door open, throwing some more sleeping gas in with Takagi before knocking on the door and getting their neighbor to come out and help him. They didn't usually ask for help and the guy had known his dad a bit before he died, so he was at least not angry to be helping. It took some time, but Kaito managed him get Takagi on his back, too heavy to carry, and Kaito held his arm in front of the officer while he lead them to the guest room. Kaito thanked his neighbor, leading him back out the door, his mom coming out to thank him as well. Kaito closed the door, smiling a bit at her and locking it. "He'll be out for maybe twenty more minutes. I think it's time we try and go see if Hattori can eat something. You up for this task?" Kaito asked as if he were a game show host, grinning at his mom.

"Kaito, honestly. I was married to your father and raised you." She smiled back and grabbed the tray with two bowls of soup, one more broth than the other, and a plate of rice and two glasses of water.

Kaito grinned a bit more, walking past her and up the stairs. He introduced himself before making any noise. "Hey, it's me." Then Kaito rapped his fingers lightly against the open door.

Heiji curled up a bit but it hurt so he had tried several ways to relax but the thoughts he'd had just before Kaito had left were coming back. He heard the man yell out to Kaito about him- he heard the other talking too. He was shivering and couldn't get them to stop talking... 'That, or you become, in a way, the one responsible for the death of whoever I happen across first that has a connection to you.' 'You don't want your stubbornness to be the death of someone you care about, do you?' No. No. Kaito... Takagi... He couldn't let them kill them, not because of him. He knew they had got him away but they weren't there now. What if they got killed because of him?

Kaito looked in and saw Hattori either lost in though or having fallen asleep and obviously upset cause the guy was shaking again. Kisama, can't leave you alone for two seconds.Kaito went quickly to his side, back on his knees and moved to shake him before stopping short of touching him. "Oi, baka! I told you you were safe." He shook the sheet a bit instead to try and snap Hattori out if it.

'Kaito?' He turned his head and saw the teen kneeling beside him. Heiji reached out and wrapped his arms around the kid's waist, just to make sure he was there.

Kaito was surprised when Hattori touched him. It was the first time he'd had any contract with him that was voluntary. Kaito smile, letting out a breath of air. He patted Hattori's head. "You miss me that much? Told you I was getting food. Rest- breath for a second." He didn't want whatever Hattori did manage to eat to make him sick. "Like I said, several times, you're safe. No one can hurt you here. My mom's here. She's behind me. She wants to try and help you. Will you let her?"

Heiji opened his mouth to answer only to not be able to so he pointed at Kaito then pointed outside and held up two fingers. He teared up as he put his index finger to Kaito's head, his hand shaking but hopeful it was enough.

Kaito held up a hand to his mom at the same time he took Hattori's with his other. "Hattori... I'm safe too. Look at me when I say this. No one will be hurt. I just went outside, came back, and I'm just fine. Those two men? One of them is gone- they're never coming back. The police- the good guys- they have the other and this time they aren't letting him go. There are a lot of people out there- friends. No one wants you hurt, or me, or Takagi-keiji, or Hakuba-kun, or Tantei-kun." Gah, habits. "We're all safe. Everyone. You need to calm down and you need to trust me. I can take perfectly good care of you and myself. We're safe." He changed his posture and demeanor as he spoke, sure of his words and trying to give Hattori the same assurance.

Heiji wasn't sure but Kaito looked fine and had kept him away from the other men. Not to mention the other man, while he had heard him, hadn't touched him... or killed either Takagi or Kaito, and they had been right there. He glanced over as the woman knelt down off to the side and he was surprised at what she held.

Chikage wasn't sure if she would be able to get to close even if she wanted to, and the motions the boy had made scared her and intrigued her. Kaito had told him he was safe only to have the boy show he'd been fearing Kaito being... She wanted to ask Kaito something later. This boy seemed like him.

Kaito smiled when at least something distracted Hattori. "I can get some pillows under your side. Wanna try some soup? My mom made it special. Might be a bit salty- don't know, didn't see how much she put in- but it will help your throat." Kaito backed up a bit. He didn't want Hattori to be solely reliant on him. If he could get his mom in there too, that would be great. "I can hold you up a bit first, so you don't choke. Wanna try some?"

Heiji nodded after briefly touching his throat and wondering if he could. He didn't see how it could be any worse than what had been in there, no matter what it tasted like.

Kaito walked around, afraid of what walking over Hattori would do, and grabbed the pillow off his bed before kneeling on his other side and helping him prop him up sideways, holding him steady. He wasn't even sure about that little contract. "You gonna be okay? I'm just helping you keep your balance. That's all."

Heiji felt a bit of pain at the new position but it was a lot more bearable than when he was sitting in Takagi's lap or even some of his attempts when he was laying down. He held himself up as the woman placed the tray beside him and pointed to the left bowl.

"Do you want to try the soup first or just drink some water to see how your throat feels?" She felt giving the boy choices of his own would show she wasn't going to try and force him to do anything against his will. When the boy pointed to the water first she nodded and lifted the glass. "Here. I'll help you steady it, but try not to drink too much too fast."

Heiji nodded and took a small sip. The liquid tasted... wonderful, and it both stung and cooled his throat. He tried drinking more, not wanting to stop, when the woman held the glass in place, so he pulled away.

"Better than an IV anyway,."Kaito said quietly. Louder, he spoke to Hattori. "It's fine. She doesn't want you to choke. You're throats sore and you can only take so much at once."

She watched how her son was treating the teen and how the teen was still responding, but the hesitancy was still there as though, even with the earlier display, he was still unsure about Kaito. 'What happened to him that could cause this? It's so sad.' She kept her light smile. "Well, I let this cool a bit so it should be alright. I'm just going to come a bit closer and handle it. I don't want you to spill it, OK?"

Heiji nodded but when she held the spoon up he couldn't help tensing a bit, another image overlapping this one for a brief second.

Kaito was holding him and felt the tightness in his shoulders. "Hey, look." Kaito took the spoon gently from his mom and had a bit of the soup himself. "See? Just soup." He handed it back, his hand going back to Hattori's arm, gentle, and really only touching him in the back so it didn't feel like he was holding him down. "My mom's a good cook. Trust me, its Aoko you should be watching out for. She's been cooking a lot with fish recently." Kaito wanted to shiver but forced back the motion, which felt like biting nails. Unconscious actions were the hardest to hide, but it could be done.

Heiji looked down at the bowl, knowing he wanted some but the image in his head... he didn't want to see it come back.

She watched the teen. He had looked at the bowl longingly but had drawn away from the spoon, so perhaps it wasn't the soup itself. Kaito had said he had been with some men that had... and if Kaito was too late to stop them... "Well..." She placed the spoon down and dropped a napkin over it, then picked the bowl up. "Just like the water- nice and slow."

Heiji nodded and leaned forward, drinking in the best thing he'd tasted. It was warm, and his throat stung a bit again but he had to fight with himself to not try and down it.

Kaito watched. Hattori had to have been as hungry as he was, even without all the spent energy. He didn't want to distract him or scare him, so Kaito just looked up at his mother, giving her a sideways smile and a nod of gratitude.

She caught Kaito's actions and smiled back but kept her attention on the teen her son was supporting. After he had downed almost half of the bowl she moved it away. "There. Now breathe for a moment and you can have a bit more water. You're doing great. Just stay relaxed."

Even with it being his mom, Kaito didn't like the way she'd said that... at least just the 'just stay relaxed' part. Most of the time someone told him that he'd get antsy. "Hey, you feeling better? You don't have to answer, just shake you're head."

Heiji had been slowly tiring out and now that he had had something he was feeling... he didn't know. He sighed at the question and let his body go slack, any desire to remain ready to stay on the defensive was gone. He felt tears in his eyes again but they were not so much of pain they were just because he didn't have to fight anymore- he didn't have to, didn't want to, couldn't now if he needed to.

Kaito moved, about the time he felt Hattori begin to, and took his pillow away from him has he rested- there was another one there for him to use. Kaito tossed his own to the side, having second thoughts on where and if he was going to sleep. "We're all here, so you don't have to worry about anything." There were some things he was going to set up incase the cops tried to come in without him knowing as well as any other guests. "I have to go to the bathroom real quick but I'll be back and my mom's room is right across from here. The guest room is downstairs, but I'm sure Takagi-keiji will find some way of getting to here to make sure you're okay when he wakes up. You can just rest." Kaito grabbed the sheet again, fixing it over him. "I'll be right here too, in a few minutes."

Chikage watched the boy as Kaito laid him down and gathered the food. Keeping her voice low, knowing her son could hear him, she addressed him. "You are going to eat your share too and I still intend to bandage those."

'I know,' Kaito mouthed as he made sure Hattori was set before getting up. "That's why I said the bathroom. Meet me there. I'm going downstairs to make sure no one comes in un-expectantly." He only said the words when he was sure just him mother would hear them.

"Fine but don't be too long." She took the tray but left the half finished glass of water beside Hattori-kun in case he wanted some later, and headed out the doorway.

Kaito slipped downstairs. Slow? As if. There were more than just locks on their door, though Kaito hadn't known it before. His dad had a pretty good system set up, kinda like he did on the picture. There were wires just about everywhere. All he had to do was slip into Kid's room, get the little device that had three lights glowing, showing those doors had been moved from their sensors, and he was back out. Just to make sure that anyone prowling around knew that he could watch though, he'd grabbed a camera. Fake, but hey, no one could tell. He went outside, stepping up before running at the house, kicking off of the wall a bit and grabbing onto the gutter. His left arm could handle that. He put the little fake camera up, mostly with stuff that wouldn't last a week outside in the weather because it could get weak and come off, but a few days was fine. He dropped down soundlessly, walking back in and heading up to the bathroom, which he also really had to use.

She saw Kaito walk in, the bandages and antibiotics out and ready. "Well I hope you went easy on yourself. So give me one of your arms." She held out the long bandage in her hands.

Kaito handed her his left. "My rights fine. Just my wrist." His left wrist was much worse and there was still that cut. He hadn't meant it to be deep, but there weren't many things that made him so upset before as Hattori just... completely forgetting about everything that was not only important to him, but to everyone he knew. He was still upset about it. "Thanks."

She nodded and tended to the injury. "So, Hattori-kun, how much would you say he cares for you and his other friends?"

Kaito thought about that. "Now or before?

"Before. I want to know what he would think or do for his friends."

"Die." Kaito didn't even question it. "Situation already came up. I've no doubt about it."

So she was right- a lot like Kaito. "Also, these men that had him. How bad?" Her thoughts were disturbing but if it were true it would explain the boy's reaction when she tried to feed him the soup.

"I don't know." Kaito blinked slowly. "I walked-" Like he'd want to talk to his mother about this. Ah. "I didn't really let it keep happening. One guy had him, the other was pretty open. He got stopped pretty fast. Took care of the other after."

She finished with the arm and took her boy in her arms. "You said one of these men had been working with someone that took another. It was Hakuba-kun right? Now just listen. If this man knew how Hattori-kun felt for you, would he have told him to expect it again, to take you all- his friends? Yes or no?"

Kaito closed his eyes, the topic not letting him rest and too tired to try and hug her back. "We weren't friends yet, not really. We aren't at the moment either. We were just pressed at the time. But we're people he was close with. I'd have to think if he did know Hattori as well as any of us do, it could be something to use against him." Kaito swallowed and leaned a little closer to her, knowing things would have been so much different if he'd just been alone and not had the others to worry about. "He used it against me."

"Perhaps Hattori-kun felt the same way. He didn't want his friends used against him, so he denied himself them for the sake of their safety. Just like you do."

Kaito was quiet, just standing there as his mind played around with the idea. He could deny it, hide it, but he would never really force himself to lose those he cared about. He knew the losing on their part was just as painful, if not more, than on the one leaving. He'd never put someone through that, no matter what. But this wasn't him, it was Hattori. "They already knew us though. It would be pointless..."

"But what they were doing, would he be able to think that, keep the images out of his head of you or Hakuba-kun or whoever Hakuba-kun was accused of kidnapping - I assume another friend - if he was seeing you all be subjected to the same things he was going through? What would that do to him?"

"It's not like it would have stopped anything." And that got him even angrier but he was just too tired to hold onto it. He didn't even know what else to say. It was possible, and if it had happened that way, he was angry. Hakuba had denied him the ability to keep himself at a distance when it really was protecting them- and Hattori had done it to protect himself, because he knewthey already knew about them. Saying they weren't friends wouldn't have kept them safe at all.

"Unless he did it so they would stop getting a rise out of him. When you threaten someone with something they don't care about and find out it won't get them to do what you want, you focus on them themself and it takes your attention away from the other target."

"Okaasan." Kaito backed away from her, looking at her for a moment. "Thanks." He turned on his heels and left the room. Kaito could lie easily enough, but he wasn't sure Hattori could. He went back in his room, kneeling behind him and pushing Hattori's hair back softly. "Hey, Hattori. I need you to stay with me for just a little while longer. Please. I need to talk to you." He didn't want to keep him awake, but right now, he needed to. "You don't have to move. Just open your eyes and show me you're listening."

Heiji had started to drift off when he felt his hair shift. Before he could react he heard Kaito talking to him. He sighed but managed to blink his eyes open a bit, confused as to what was going on now.

"Good enough." Kaito made sure he was looking at him, really looking at him. "Hattori, you've trusted me to help you. I have, I still will be. I'm something to hold onto, right? I'm not hurt. I'm alive, fine, and right next to you. I didn't know how you could push me away before, I do now. You don't have to. You made that call yourself. You're here; I didn't force you. Just remember that I'm going to be here, just as safe as you, and all your friends will be too. You let us go to help us, and I know some part of your mind must know that. I need you to get us back now, because we need that more." He wasn't going to force him, not now. Hattori was tired and they'd both had a long day. "At least hold onto that thought." Kaito backed up, leaning against the wall right in front of him and taking his own bowl of soup, drinking it the way Hattori had just because he was too tried to try and work the spoon with a shaky hand. "I'll be here all night, and so will you, and we'll both be safe."

Heiji wasn't sure what to make of that but he felt like he was being tossed a line that, for one reason or another, was just too hard to hold onto... but that didn't mean he couldn't hold onto the thought that he had known Kaito, Takagi and those others that he had listed off. He nodded before his eyelids closed on him. He really wished he had his voice back, if only to help these people that were helping him.

"Yeah, I'll be here all night, once I go to the freaking bathroom." The soup reminded him he still had to go. His mom had kinda distracted him. Kaito got up, as quietly as he could and went back to where he had come from. He caught his mom still in there. "Hey, I kinda gotta go." He tipped his head to the toilet so she didn't think he was leaving.

"OK. Should I go in and watch him until you're done?"

Kaito let the thought linger before shaking his head. "Just go to bed. He'll be fine on his own for the whole minute it'll take me."

"Alright then. And you did eat, right?"

"Yeaahhh, Okaasan." He said a bit dramatically. "I was hungry. I ate. I gotta pee." Kaito pointed out the door. "Come on already. Next you're gonna ask me if I washed my hands like I'm five."

"And you're not acting like it now?" She said with a smile as she walked out and shut the door, going to collect the dishes first and taking them downstairs.

Kaito went to the washroom, making sure to wash his hands after just so she didn't get him for that. He went back to the room, taking out a scratch piece of notebook paper, drawing a big red arrow and folding it so it would stand just outside his door. There. Takagi-keiji could at least find him now but that meant he couldn't sleep just yet. He didn't want him to run in and wake Hattori.