Chapter 98: Strikeout

Chikage smiled. Suzuki-san had left for something, but everything had been set up, and she had the recording she wanted. "Kaito, I want you to bring Saguru to the music room."

Kaito looked over at their mom. His brother had gotten out of his little 'time out' days ago, but none of them had really been to that room. The old man didn't seem to use it at all. Kaito had to wonder why it was even there. Whatever his mom was up to, he was willing to be in on it. He winked to her as his reply, since he had no idea how enthralled Saguru still was with his computer.

Chikage nodded and slipped away. It would get him away from the computer and lift their spirits a bit. He was also using news reports to call in tips when he wasn't doing schoolwork or searching on the computer. With the risky meeting in two days, maybe it was just as much for her.

Kaito looked over at Saguru. He was clicking away at something, but he had no idea what it was. He left the TV on while he got up, sneaking up behind him and tickling him while he back was turned. "Boo!"

"Kaito!" Saguru jerked and pulled his arms close as he attempted to twist away, made nearly impossible with how close the table was to him.

Kaito ticked him a second or two more before grinning at him. "You're starting to sound like Aoko. Hey, I need you for a second. Do you think I could steal you from your electronic overlord? Wait a minute. Look who's talking. Of course I can." He grabbed his brother's arm. "The rest depends on whether you're going to come willingly."

Saguru quickly checked the screen, so he knew where he was before his hesitation was taken as resistance, and he was pulled away.

He pulled his brother. "The screen isn't going anywhere, and it's not like there was a million things on there that you were looking at. Come on; it'll be really quick." He could knock him out, but getting him there would be harder, and he might hurt him. "Stay sitting, and, being here or not, I'll give you bubblegum pink hair." That made him pause a second. "Before we leave, do you mind me... changing a little?" He didn't know how much longer they would be here, but that would keep his brother safe, at least for a while, if he wanted to jump into this trial thing.

Saguru, now on his feet, sent a confused look at his brother but nodded.

Kaito's smile was uneasy. He'd let Hattori, and, whenever it was, and however far it got, he'd see to it his brother did what he wanted as well. "Come on then." He pulled him out the door. Besides everything he'd, as Kid, made his brother very well known the way he looked now. Who knew when one of the crazier fans of his may jump him- in the good way. Well, the way Kaito considered good. Keiko would get jealous, and that made him laugh lightly, pulling his brother along with him still. "You know, I'm not too sure how much of my fan base turned into your fan base, but with the one you already had, I have to guess you got a lot more popular-" He turned to him while he was still walking and grinned, "-especially with the ladies."

Saguru rolled his eyes. "I am not sure if that would be classified as ironic or not, considering the circumstances. Where are we going?"

"Who knows?" Kaito spoke offhandedly. Of course he knew, but that was the best answer. The house was a little too big for him. It made getting anywhere time consuming, and it weaved an awful lot, like a drunken person had designed it.

Chikage looked over at the door when it opened and Kaito and Saguru walked in. "You had me curious on Sunday, so I have the rest ready to play. It just lacks one violin." She held it out to Saguru.

Saguru took the instrument but his eyes were still on their mother. "You were planning this as of Sunday?" He glanced at Kaito. "Were you in on this the entire time?"

"In on what? You know I don't hold off on anything tomorrow that I can do today." Kaito grinned and knocked his brother lightly in the arm. "That should tell you enough."

Saguru shook his head as their mother held up a remote.

"I want to hear it, and there's nothing to distract any of us right now so…" Chikage pushed a chair toward him, and, as soon as Saguru sat down and raised the violin, she hit the button.

Saguru took a deep breath. This was more challenging then most think, as each conductor can set a different tempo. Without the visual cues, he would have to play it by ear. However, as soon as it began, he recognized it as a famous performance and joined in, letting go and allowing the music to absorb him.

The song was really quiet and he knew his brother was already really good. The soft music was almost lulling, The low with random high pitches from his brother made it sounds like something sad with just that bit of 'uplift' to it that left him feeling neutrally calm. Maybe this feeling was kind of like what he normally got his brother, a weird kind of personification if he had one, for something calming when his world was more chaotic. Aoko... he wouldn't call her calm.

Chikage hadn't listened ahead of time and was glad. It was just... moving. It was like the two different types of instruments were going back and forth. When Saguru stood, what came out made her want to cry. It was just slow, calming and fit him.

Saguru drew the bow across the strings one last time and took a deep breath. He smiled as he recalled the last time he had played that piece.

Kaito put his hands down and lightly clapped for him. It was all he could really do. "I don't think you need any more praise to go to your head, but I know what you could take up if you ever stopped being a detective- not that you would."

Saguru nodded his head forward. "You have many options yourself. Suzuki-san mentioned why he suddenly choose to add a few cameras and sensors near the room we are using. Aside from magic, you would do well as a security consultant."

"Yuck. Helping with security. Don't bring it up again; it's insulting," Kaito said with a laugh. "There are actually some people out there like me. I wouldn't want to make their life any more difficult."

"Like they'd have to go after you've been there?" Chikage said. Saguru seemed to have been struck speechless and was just eyeing Kaito in disbelief.

"Fine. Maybe some of the places I hit already, if I'm sure they don't need to be hit again, it could be a possibility." Kaito shrugged. As long as the world had bad people, there would be those like him, his mom and dad, and people like Ruby - who just went about things the wrong way. "I'd rather be an actor than a security guard. Actually..." A security guard wouldn't be that bad. The decisions would be in his hands then. He shook his head. "Enough with the 'what-ifs'. I am who I am, and it's staying that way."

Saguru held up his right hand with the bow between his thumb and forefinger. "Very well, though," He turned the bow to point at Kaito. "Since you know the same can be said of me, I will not make it easy on anyone else either."

Kaito smiled sideway. "I hope not. Everyone would be doing it then, and we are technically breaking the law."

Saguru turned to place the violin and bow in the case off to the side and shook his head. "I do not want to know who else decided to do that. If they do so for the same reasons as you have, it may be wiser that they leave this area to you. He was arrested by the way, for the forgery as well as insurance fraud."

Kaito laughed. "He tired to do it even after? I really hadn't been thinking that all the way through. If it weren't for you and your stupid booby-trap, there probably wouldn't have been a way to prove I didn't switch out that stone tablet. More planning next time. I'm not really used to 'breaking' things- well, besides windows."

"Unintentional on your part, but it was because of your actions that Sunday that I did that."

Kaito slanted an eyebrow. "You knew I was going to break it?"

"Now that would be something." Saguru closed the case and turned, a small smile on his face. "It was targeted at you for setting me up the way you did. The powder was my own idea. If you intend to pull repeats of that stunt, you will need to think it through. I am no mind reader." Although he made a metal note to find some way of marking future targets to prove they were the targets and not replicas.

"I swear, sometimes I can be too lucky, and another days I have none." Kaito let out a sigh. "And if you think last was the last of my fun, you're wrong; at least, as far as heists go. I still want to do something like the ice skating on Sunday. I just have to wait for you two to," he air-quoted, "'mature'. Then it'll be a lot more fun."

"Mature?" Saguru folded his arms and looked hard at Kaito. "You telling me to mature? What did I miss?"

"I meant in the other way," Kaito said with another light laugh. "Do you really want me to tell you what Aoko and I do when the door is closed?"

Saguru closed his eyes. "I would rather not, considering what I heard when I was sitting right next to you."

"See? You're still a kid." Kaito smiled. "That immaturity makes you younger than me. Once you get passed holding hands, I'll see what I can think up."

Saguru shook his head and eyed him. "The two of you were close enough as it was. Not to mention, I do not plan on advertising the way you do."

"I'm your brother. Besides, once you stop being such a stick in the mud, even if she's not the one that changes things, I think I'll know."

Saguru had a feeling that, no matter his efforts, that would be the case. He sighed and glanced over at their mother who had been standing there with a hand over her mouth. When she saw him looking she held the other up and turned, walking out the door.

Kaito frowned at their mom. "What was that about?"

"I believe she was reacting to your comments and is accepting that you are becoming a stereotypical teenage male."

"I am not," Kaito said defensively. "I'm a guy though. I can't help that. Trust me. You won't be able to either. Once you really know you like someone, and they like you, and just their touch can make you go half crazy." He chuckled to himself. "Well, you'll see when you see. Just don't take years to finally grow into those hormones."

Saguru felt his face heat up and was tempted to try and make his way past Kaito and out the door when his brother turned and walked out of the room.

Heh. Saguru tired to go first. Kaito left, feeling his phone in his pocket. He had some things he could do, an outfit he needed to borrow. He had to actually use the front door, since he made sure that he wouldn't be able to leave. It was worth it to make sure no one could come in. This would just take some time... He had plenty of that.

Saguru had taken nearly a full hour to resettle at the table in the room he and Kaito shared. He moved a few pieces of paper, planning on what he would order as soon as he could.

Kaito didn't bother knocking as he came in, seeing his brother messing with his stuff. Carefully, he took it way and put it on the floor. "I'm not hurting it," he said with a raised hand before dropping the container of the remaining cheesecake was in on the desk. "I have a little surprise, since you haven't been playing the field much."

Saguru looked from the container to Kaito, leaning back slightly. "And what exactly are you planning?"

Kaito went back to the door and opened it for Keiko-chan. He'd gotten her into a dress, but only after a lot of fuss. He had to hide her after that and make sure no one had followed them back. Aoko was waiting for him in another room. He couldn't really pick up one girl and not the other. Of course... Aoko didn't need a dress. "You two haven't done anything alone. I figured now was the perfect time, since no one in the world could bother you, and I'm going to be busy for a while. At the very least, I'm not taking her back until tonight, and she's with you until then." Kaito nudged her in, getting out himself then closing the door behind him.

Keiko sighed and looked over at Saguru-kun, her hands in front of her. She was used to skirts but not dresses. "Sorry. Kaito-kun can be persuasive when he wants. If it's a bad time I can go do something else." She'd gotten some story about a case, and that was why they were here, but Kaito-kun blindfolding her and Aoko had been very strange.

Saguru had stood when Momoi-kun entered, not wanting to say anything to his brother with her there. He shook his head. "I know he can be, and no, there is nothing pressing at the moment." He looked at the container. "Would you like some cheesecake?" he asked, motioning to it.

"Sure." Keiko walked over and sat on the bed next to him. "What happened to you? Not the disappearing." She lightly touched a darker mark on his face. "This. I watched the news, but there wasn't much. I had to figure you were fine, but you don't look too fine."

Saguru reached up too. "I was 'surprised' leaving the Kid heist last week, and the man used his fists on occasion while waiting for his demands to be met."

Keiko felt pain and sympathy towards him for that. She'd never known anyone who'd been kidnapped before. "Well, you don't look terrible." That was the best she could say, and it made her laugh lightly. "That's an awful thing to say, isn't it, but you are still bruised pretty bad." She looked him over, but didn't do more than move her head to the side to see something she couldn't. "Is it only your face?"

Saguru nearly said, 'It does not matter,' but instead he shook his head. "No."

Keiko invaded without asking and lifted up his shirt, seeing other marks there. They were old and dark, and she poked him on his side lightly. "Does that hurt?"

Saguru was speechless for a moment before giving a single shake of his head. "No. It is just the remaining discoloration, as nothing was broken."

"Well that's good." Keiko let go of his shirt and looked at his eyes. "I mean, it's not good you were kidnapped, er," she giggled. That sounded a little funny. "You know, it's good nothing was broken, and that it doesn't hurt." She folded her hands back in her lap. "You were saying something about the cheesecake?"

Saguru nodded and picked up the container, turning slightly toward her. "It is quite good, although I need to go get some silverware."

"Sure." Keiko looked around. "Um, while we're at that, where are we? Kaito-kun blindfolded us for some reason. And, if you're going anyway, can I look around? This place is huge."

"You may come with me if you wish. I believe the reason is that the kidnapper escaped, and I suppose Kaito wants to make sure no one can track us down. If you do not know, there is less threat that you can slip or be forced to say." He rose, holding the container in one hand and offering his other arm to her.

Keiko looked at him funny. She wasn't sure what he wanted at first, but she'd seen a lot of foreign movies with her mom. Putting your forearm out to someone still felt weird, but she held onto him, if only because it felt insulting if she didn't. "I wonder what else you do different. This is the first thing I noticed." Her voice held interest, and she smiled at him.

Saguru led her out, heading to the kitchenette. The environment had made it feel as though it was second nature, and he explained. "British customs are different, and although escorting someone is considered more 'formal' than 'common' nowadays. I still feel that it is the polite thing to do."

"Well thank you then." Keiko didn't really like the image she got with the word 'escort,' but that was probably a 'custom' thing too. "You can't tell me where we are then, can you?"

"Suffice to say, your hero provided access to this place through some agreement with the owner. Aside from him, only those that live here should know for now."

Keiko smiled a little more before nodding in understanding. "You know, technically he'd be your hero too now, right? Or did the cops get you?"

Saguru smiled slightly as they reached the kitchenette. "Kid was there, I believe, though Kaito was the first non-thief there, followed by Nakamori-ojisan." He set the container down on the counter and moved a chair for her to sit.

Keiko sat, watching him over her shoulder. "Yeah, I don't know where Aoko's dad gets all the energy. Mine gets home from work and just goes to sleep or out with my mom." She was finding it somewhat harder to bring up conversation when it was about his kidnapping, and she didn't know if he wanted to talk about it. "What type of person are you, really? Like, outside of school? I thought you were like him."

Saguru held out a fork and paused. "I never considered that. Outside of school here, I would go to the station for news on heists or conduct research. Aside from that, I had a couple side interests that I kept up with."

"I guess I don't know a lot about police stuff. What are the side projects? And sit. It's hard talking to you when you're not next to me."

Saguru sat down with a fork and turned the container, so they could both have some. "I train with my hawk, Watson, though it has been a week, since I have seen him, having left him at the Nakamori's house. I also play the violin."

"I didn't know you could own a hawk." That was cool. "We just have a fat, lazy, mean cat." Keiko giggled, cutting off a piece and trying some. It wasn't bad. She didn't usually eat cheesecake.

Saguru nodded. "Falconry is the raising and training of falcons and hawks. It is a time honored tradition in my family, and one that I enjoy."

Keiko fidgeted a little. She wasn't really sure how to follow that, since she knew nothing about the birds and didn't want to look like an idiot.

Saguru smiled and waved his hand. "Do not feel bad. Few people know of it and even less participate. If you would like, once we leave here, I would not be opposed to giving you a demonstration."

"Sure. I'm up for trying anything, and I don't know what to expect. I don't think I've seen anything bigger than... well, her." Keiko poked lightly at the dove on his shoulder. "I didn't know they acted like pets."

Saguru reached up and coaxed her to his fingers. "Kid came by the first day here and left her. Seems she is to be a 'messenger' if there is an emergency." He thought quickly as he said this and shrugged. "I believe he took a personal offense to the kidnapping with it immediately following his 'heist'."

"I would have in his shoes," Keiko spoke with a bit of anger, standing up for Kid's actions. She didn't know him personally, but any good fan could have seen him doing that. She reached up and pet the dove, knowing it was Kid's instead of Kaito-kun's. "I guess I just assumed it belonged to Kaito-kun, him being here and all."

"Some magicians do use them, so it is not that surprising, and he does have some of his own." Saguru took another bite of the cheesecake and placed his free hand near his chin. "Although he may have one or two with him anyway."

"Why is Kid's with you?"

"I suppose because I was the one targeted, he believes that I should have her."

Keiko ate some more of the cake and looked him in the eye. "So, you're hiding because someone's still on the loose, right? Are you going be hiding until they're caught?"

"With how protective the others have seemed, I am not sure. There is one in custody, so there is the likelihood that he will make a deal and turn in the other person." Saguru was not sure which outcome was preferable. "Also, as I am much better, I do not believe it will be as much of a necessity for much longer. Here." He moved the last bit toward her.

Keiko shook her head, pushing the plate back. "No thanks. I'm not really used to eating it, and with anything I'm not really familiar with, I can't eat much of it." She switched topics quickly, out of interest. "So, if it's so dangerous, and you're going home only because you're hurt, how is this helping in the long run? You shouldn't put yourself in danger. but you guys really should get back to school somehow."

"We have been receiving and turning in schoolwork and homework via E-mail. It has been no trouble keeping up." Saguru finished the dessert and looked over at Momoi-kun.

"But you can't hide forever, and if someone is looking for you guys it's dangerous." Keiko looked at him, not really sure what to feel about that just yet. "What are you going to do? Go back home anyway?"

Saguru paused. "I would not have hid in the first place, if Kaito and our mother had not insisted. In this case, one person knew me well, and it seems possible that he passed on the information. The one at large," Saguru took a deep breath. "If not turned in by the other, we may never see or hear from him again."

"Well yeah," Keiko poked at him pretty hard in the shoulder since it was closest to her. "If you are in danger you should hide. If you'll be safe, then go back home. If whoever passed on whatever information, will you be in danger?"

"Depending on what he shared. I had let him pretty close."

"So, don't you care about yourself? What if you left, and someone tried to hurt you again?"

Saguru shrugged. "As much as I do not want a repeat of that, I do not want to just sit back and allow him to get away with it. Cold cases like that really bother me."

Keiko shook her head, playing her finger across the back of her hand nervously before just leaning on the table and staring at it. "I don't understand it, but if you know what you're doing, okay. Tell me when you're heading back."

"I will." He reached over and touched her hand to reassure her. "I may have to wait until then to show you Watson, however, if you wish, I could play a piece on the violin."

Keiko relaxed. "Sure. Won't it bother... whoever though?"

Saguru smiled and stood. "Not at all. There is a music room, and I was just playing there earlier. You may request something you like, and I will let you know if I can play it."

"I don't know a lot of songs." She blushed and stood with him. "Sorry. I never really... got into that kind of thing or know which ones you could play on the violin." He let go of her hand, and he offered her arm again, but Keiko took a step closer and grabbed his hand back. "This way we can both hold each other. Is that okay?"

Saguru suddenly thought of Kaito's words before he had disappeared. "If that is what you are more comfortable with." He set off and led her to the room, the violin case still where he had left it.

Keiko looked at the large room. All the rooms must be huge. "Wow." She followed him and sat down, seeing one of the cases in particular that he picked up.

Saguru raised the bow and glanced over at Momoi-kun. "I know this was made popular by a movie some years ago, however the piece of music itself is very pretty."

Keiko didn't know what movie it was from; she didn't recognize the tune, but it was played almost better than she thought that someone could make a song sound with just one instrument - or at least, anything besides a piano. He was showing off. She liked that. He was doing a lot of it around her, and the other half of the time he was withdrawn. It was very confusing. The song was nice though, and she stood up when he was done. "That was pretty. Can I try?"

Saguru nodded. "It may be a bit difficult at first, but I would be happy to teach you. Here." He moved around to just behind her left shoulder. "Use your chin to hold it against your shoulder, and take the bow in your right hand."

Keiko set the violin up like he told her too. It felt lighter than she though it would. Then she took the bow, Saguru-kun putting his hand on hers to guild her. It kind of felt like a hug and made her blush, but her thoughts returned to the instrument when she focused back on the notes he was trying to teach her. "I just want to try. I don't think I'm that good with instruments. I don't have good hand coordination."

"Then just relax, and I'll guide you." Saguru moved his left hand, to position hers over the correct strings and moved her other hand to pull the bow.

Keiko heard the noise, and it wasn't nearly as pretty as what he'd been playing. He was more playing it for her than she was after he had a better hold on her hand. It was still kind of fun though, just not something she saw herself learning. She giggled after a while. "You're showing off more than you're teaching at this point."

"I thought you should feel it first. Which way do you tend to learn new songs? Going through and memorizing each word, or listening to it a few times and singing along to pick it up bit by bit?" He smiled.

"I guess by listening to it. You mess up words then, and it takes a lot longer." Keiko laughed a little more and let her grip relax. "I just wanted to try. I don't think I'd be good at learning the violin."

"My mother was not able to play the violin either." Saguru smiled and continued to move her hands to the end of the song.

Keiko finished what she started, waiting for him to let her hand go, so she could turn around. It was weird being in that position with him, and she felt some heat on her face. "Thanks for letting me play- showing me. I don't know if I want to learn so much, as I can't do it." She was careful with the violin, handing it back to him with both hands.

Saguru took it back, noting some color on her cheeks. "Ah- Did you learn to play any instruments?" he settled on, knowing that the recorder was often used to teach music.

"Nothing fancy. I wasn't one much for instruments. I liked acting more than playing, so I've been in a club for that for a few years, but no, no instruments."

"Acting? Stage or screen?"

"We've put on a few performance for the school, but what do you mean screen?" Now Keiko knew she was really red. "We're only in high school, and I'm not that good. It's just something fun to do."

"The interest you expressed, I was asking which you like or would like, acting on the stage or for the screen." Saguru smiled. "I knew early what I wanted to do, I did not mean to make you feel pressured or embarrassed."

"In the future? I don't think I want to do acting. I think I want to just get a nice steady job somewhere, maybe own a place of my own when I'm older. I never really wanted anything fancy. Maybe a breakfast place, where I can talk to people. Something small like that. I'm more an in-person person than I am a professional actor. Do you just want to be a detective all your life?"

"As long as I have a ready and able mind I will use it. I had never considered doing anything else as far back as I can remember."

"I figured. You make that pretty clear without saying, I thought I'd just ask." Keiko was left with nothing to say again. She twirled her fingers in one of the ruffles on the dress, wondering again how she'd gotten talked into wearing it. There really wasn't much reason, and it was so bright, but she did think it was pretty.

Saguru returned the violin to the case and offered his hand. "We can walk around if you would like or head up to the room and see if the other two are all set."

Keiko shrugged. "If I look around, I'm going to want to look out the windows." She turned her head childishly to the side. "At least I'm being honest. I do want to know where I am. I can't help it that I'm curious." She didn't break his hold though, and she didn't know if she felt like leaving.

"You will not see much aside from the yard as it is, so there is no real danger there. If we go up the south staircase, there's not much else visible."

"Can we go in the backyard? Or do you want me to leave? You looked like you were busy."

Saguru thought on that and then nodded. "I see no harm in going into the backyard, and it is nothing that can not wait until tonight."

"Then let's go. Oh. And I guess I kind of made a promise about something. It was kind of a trade, and I don't mind, but I don't want to get you mad." Keiko looked up at him, wondering if she could keep up her part of the deal. She had little to no problem with it because it had been a while, and she was counting this as the third.

Saguru started for the door and held it open for her. "Why do I have the feeling it involves my brother?"

"Because he said I could keep the dress if I did. If I wasn't okay with it I wouldn't have agreed, and I'm not being bought off." Keiko walked out into the path leading from the house to the huge backyard, and all the bushes and trees and random flowers spread out before them. He looked back at his hand holding hers. "I don't want it to seem like I was either by telling you."

"It is lovely on you," Saguru said and looked over at her, as they passed under one of the trees. "So, what did he ask of you?"

"He said that you were shy, and considering we are officially dating, I should try kissing you," Keiko spoke honestly, looking over at him.

Saguru stopped in mid-step. He had considered kissing her cheek when she actually left that night but... he could not even come up with a single thing to think at Kaito.

"It's just a kiss. People do it all the time on TV." Keiko knew her own resolve wasn't strong so she raised herself up on her toes and lightly kissed him on the lips, falling back to her own height right after. She blushed. "There. At least it's technically the third date, if you count the time I went to your house."

Saguru knew he had to be close to the same color as she, if that was her coloring and not simply the setting sun. "A kiss like that leaves sin upon the lips, so the proper thing to do is to return it." He leaned down before he lost his own nerve and gently kissed her back.

Keiko blushed bright red, though she kissed him as well when he kissed her. She looked up at him, seeing him colored as well and didn't know what to say for a few seconds before she smiled. "I thought you were shy."

"I also felt I could not leave it as from you to me. That feeling overruled the other."

Keiko laughed in her throat. "Power hungry, huh? It's good to know you're passionate about something other than cases or catching Kid - and the violin." She couldn't get the heat out of her face, and she took his hand and made them walk again. That was her first kiss-kiss.

Saguru looked over at her. "Aside from formalities such as hands or cheeks, I will admit that that was first for me."

"Me too." Keiko slowed down, looking over at him and not the back yard they were supposed to be sightseeing. "You- you didn't mess up or anything. That was nice." And she blushed even harder at that because that was a stupid thing to say.

Saguru looked at her, seeing her green eyes seemed to be mixing with the color of her face and giving the feel of an ocean at sunset. "I concur."

Keiko just smiled. They were supposed to be looking around, and they weren't doing much of that. Her mind had officially stopped working, and she was just standing there, looking at him with that silly smile since she couldn't move her feet. The backyard wasn't interesting anymore.

Saguru was at a loss as to how to proceed, as he had not spoken to her father about officially courting her yet. It did seem it was not expected to be needed, however, that did not stop it still feeling strange... but not in a bad way either. "Would you care to sit?"

Keiko was a little too ready, going to the side and sitting in the grass, though she stopped halfway, since she was still holding his hand. "Yeah, let's sit."

Saguru was taken by surprise and realized he had nothing to set down for her to sit on, having expected them to continue to on a bench. "Alright?" He stepped beside her and sat on the grass as soon as she was settled.

Keiko looked at him, still somewhat in shock. It was wearing off though. She looked up at the sky that was starting to darken. That was fine, and Saguru-kun almost stood out against it with his lighter-colored skin. "Can I ask you something kind of personal, just because I want to know your answer?"

Saguru took a deep breath and nodded. "I give you my word; I will answer truthfully."

"What do you like about me? If you had to pick one thing. If it were me choosing about you..." Keiko took a second to think. "I like your devotion to your interests, and the energy you put behind it. I guess, in a way, your passion for work. It's admirable, and it's just something that makes you stand out in a good way." She half shrugged. "What do you like about me?"

"Your honesty," Saguru said at once.

Keiko laughed. "People don't usually like me for that."

"It is rare and refreshing. Those I have encountered, even growing up, would say what they thought I wanted to hear or what they thought would benefit them. You do neither, and I respect you all the more for that."

"You're pretty honest yourself, when you decide to talk. I guess I see your point. If you lie about important things, like things that would affect someone else - Oh, I don't know how to explain it, but I can figure it would get annoying. I wouldn't have it." Keiko shook her head. "That's why Aoko's been my friend for so long. It's so hard for her to lie that it's funny. With you, I just feel like half the stuff you aren't saying is because you can't, and I get that." She smiled more, not sure what her point was.

Saguru nodded and smiled. "I will not deny I have had to be deceptive in part in the past. Partly due to the criminals I deal with, partly because I felt certain things had to be hidden."

Keiko nodded again, feeling like a bobble-head. "I get that. Don't worry about it. Just don't lie to me about things you don't have to, like what you like to eat or wear or do or read or anything, because that'll get me a little mad. If I'm going to know about you, I want to know the truth and not the lies." She fidgeted a little. "When you can come back home, I want to go somewhere and do something we both like. That'll be fun. Right now though," she flopped back in the grass and looked at him. "Want to wait and do some star gazing? I know it's hard to see them, and I don't know constellations, but you don't have to know something to like it."

Saguru shrugged. "Stars are actually important in nighttime navigation, especially at sea. I could point out a few if you are interested."

"Hm. Sure. Nothing too complicated if you wouldn't mind. I'd never remember it. I know, or heard that they change with the seasons. Besides the pole star and the Dipper- whichever one, I never learned. I know one that I ah... looked up because I read a book, but I'm not sure where it is or what it looks like anymore."

"The Little Dipper, or Ursa Minor, is the constellation with the pole star, called Polaris, which is located on the end. The stars appear to move, but it is the Earth that is moving, though Polaris is North, and from our point of view, a point around which the rest of the stars rotate."

Keiko tried to think about how the earth revolved around the sun, but still managed to keep one of the stars directly above it. She decided after a second that schoolwork like that wasn't necessary. It was a fact of life, and she didn't need the outline. "Why did you learn about the stars? You don't normally go getting yourself lost at night, do you?" she asked with a giggle.

"I learned them as navigation tools and because it is useful knowledge to avoid becoming lost." Saguru looked over as the sun disappeared, leaving the pink-tinged sky to the west and the darker blue-black coloring extending from the east.

"Have you ever needed to use that knowledge?"

"Yes, I have. It's a fast way to figure out wind direction at night or determine and relay an escape route." Saguru looked over at Momoi-kun.

Keiko giggled again. "I see. How can you tell the direction of the wind by looking at the stars?"

Saguru smiled. "When the wind blows, you check it and use the stars, namely Polaris, to determine the direction. Watch." He stuck the tip of his finger in his mouth and held it up, a faint breeze cooling the left side of it. "The breeze is from that way, and even without knowing the sun set in that direction, locating Polaris as north means the breeze is from the south."

Keiko nodded. "Like a sun dial with different tools." She looked over at him. "Don't you want to lay down with me?"

Saguru had nodded once when she first commented and had been about to confirm it as the nighttime equivalent, however her question caused him to stop. He looked up as stars were beginning to show up.

Keiko reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Laying down isn't going to kill you, and it's easier to see the stars this way."

'She is as forceful as Kaito,' Saguru thought as he leaned back, settling on the grass. Gazing up, he quickly found a few of the more well-known constellation, including both Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, which he pointed out.

Keiko followed his fingers though the stars were almost indistinct. It was still pretty bright and the moon wasn't helping anything. She looked over at him instead. "Wow, you have really good eyesight."

Saguru paused, recalling when, just a few weeks ago, he had lost it. "A blessing that I will never take for granted, no one should."

Keiko moved her glasses. "If I ever had it I don't think I would."

"I did not mean it like that. You still are able to see." Saguru sighed and looked up. He had not intended to insult her vision. "I was referring to seeing in general. One of the repercussions of the attempted murder was some swelling, and I was nearly blind due to it. I could see some motion given the right lighting however, at this moment, it would have made no difference to me having my eyes open or closed."

"I didn't take it any wrong way. I was agreeing with you." She moved her glasses and looked over at him. Her world was blurry without them, but she couldn't imagine not seeing at all. "When you came back to school, I didn't really notice anything. I didn't mean anything negative by it either, I mean what I said before." She took off her glasses and put them on him. "That's how I see without them - at least, Aoko said it was all blurry to her. That's all I mean. I don't really want to get contacts though. It's too much trouble."

Saguru's first instinct was analyzing the difference to determine the variation between his sight and hers. "I can understand that. Some people would prefer glasses as contacts can slip out of place or fall out and are difficult to find once they do. Other people prefer contacts, namely those that do some form of contact sports." He reached up and removed the glasses, placing a white handkerchief over them before replacing them on her. "One thing that the lack of sight gave me: my remaining senses heightened. Sounds and scents were the more noticeable."

Keiko itched her face where the cloth touched her. She had to giggle though. "I don't think I'd want my sense of smell to be better, especially if you were around everyone. You must have smelled a lot of body odor."

Saguru paused. After they left the hospital, he had been in a back room with Watson or outside a majority of the time. "The hospital's disinfectant was strong enough while I was there, and I was not that close to many others at a time, as it was after we left."

Keiko took the handkerchief off her eyes, not able to see anything and having gotten his point. "I didn't think you were alone. That's kind of sad, just so you know. I like to be alone too, but not if I was hurt." She reached over and put it on top of him, not waiting for him to bring his hand up and take it. "And I hate the smell of hospitals. It would be worse to smell it more."

Saguru lifted the cloth and folded it. "It was already common enough for me that the smell did not bother me. The restriction of movement was what I disliked most." He returned the cloth to his pocket, not looking over and wondering why he was being so open.

"Oh, I don't think I could ever get used to it. I actually kind of get sick when I smell it. I know it's all in my head, but my body doesn't know what." Keiko looked over at him. "I guess, doing what you do, it wouldn't be uncommon. I wouldn't like that though, personally. I'm not big on cooking either. I guess there really aren't any smells I like more than others, except maybe new wood or carpet. I like that smell." She laughed to herself. "I'm not going to become a home-builder or anything, and a decorator is little too much too. Compared to you, I guess I'm pretty plain. I like it that way though."

Saguru shook his head. "Would you think a star is plain if it is not as bright or well known as another?"

"Depends on how you look at it. I'm not comparing myself to a star or humanity to the galaxy though. There are a lot of differences between them. Stars die when they burn their brightest. People aren't supposed to."

Saguru paused. That was quite true. He had yet to see the clip Kaito had played him of Kuroba Toichi's final performance, but the sounds were clear enough. "That is all too true, even when it does happen."

Keiko smiled softly. "When it happens, it happens. That's how stars are different. They can't die before they naturally do. Anyway... I think it's bad to talk about things like that when it's dark out. It brings bad luck because ghost aren't afraid to come out at night, and we call them by talking about death, so let's not."

Saguru nearly pointed out that ghosts did not exist, but when he looked over he simply said. "Very well, change of topic. Can you point out Polaris now?"

"Yeah, you already showed me. It's pretty bright." Keiko pointed to somewhere off to her side. "It's over there. Schoolwork isn't fun either though. Looking at the stars without knowing them is just as good, and I don't know what you want to talk about, but I'd really just like to talk to you."

"I never considered it school work, though I suppose others could see it as such." He took a deep breath of the night air. "You may make a choice of what to talk about next."

Keiko smiled and shook her head. "You don't just pick something to talk about. You just talk." She looked up at the stairs and thought about it. "I guess we don't have much that we still need to say."

"Non-school related maybe." Saguru glanced over at her. "You know my current family, but all you have really told me of yours is you believing your father was Kid, until you took him to a heist."

"There's not much to tell. He's nice and all, but I don't see him much. He's a manager for a real-estate company, so he's out pretty much seven days a week. My mom's kind of goofy, and she just stays at home and does housework. We head out after I get back from school and do things sometimes, or I'm over with my friends. Again, none of it is very exciting. If there was anything different about us," Keiko took a second to think. "I guess that I'm one of the only people to have their mom older than their dad, but it's only by five years."

Saguru nodded. "My mother was younger by two years." He looked back to the sky, fighting to keep himself in check, so he could speak as plainly as Momoi-kun had. "She was very high-spirited and supportive of my choice to be a detective. Even though she preferred to do certain things for herself, she was very proper and formal." He debated for awhile, not sure if he wanted to continue on her with Momoi-kun's reaction the last time, but knowing he was not going to bring him into the conversation either.

"I guess that's where you get that from huh? It's not bad, but it is kind of sad. Doing things a certain way stops you from doing things the way you want to because you were taught differently. It's nice, and it's different, but formality is a way to hide natural human nature, so there's less problems - but only when you have to be formal." She reached over and touched his hand, finally relaxing around him. He really was too distant.

Saguru looked over at her hand on his. "The family line on that side has been that way for generations." He took a deep breath before turning his hand a bit to hold hers. "It can be said it is expected because of lineage."

Keiko looked over at his eyes. "And do you want to be just like everyone else?"

Saguru shook his head. "No, and my very choice of being a detective is something that is a first." He looked up again before deciding to go right ahead. "I said I would not lie, and this is something that I would like to keep to just a few. I only told the ones that were with me on the trip, and few besides know," He looked over at her. "But the lifestyle you see here is much like what I grew up with. The responsibilities and expectations require certain decorum."

Keiko lost her smile and sat up, looking at him. There were a lot of lights on in the house, so it wasn't really that dark. "However you grew up, I get that it changes you. That makes sense, and I've seen it enough. That's all normal. I don't think I could be with someone who has to act a certain way though. It's stifling, even for those around them." Her hand curled up around the grass she let go of him with her other. "I'm sorry, but you're right: I can't lie to you. I wouldn't be able to stand that, to stand you acting like you were before without any sense of freedom."

Saguru nodded. "From what you mentioned earlier about your thoughts for the future, I expected as much." He attempted to find something else to say, but he couldn't find the words.

"I'm very sorry Saguru-kun. You're nice, and I do like you." She shook her head. "But I'm not ready to deal with you if you're going to be someone who has to hide like that - who has to be someone they're not in front of others. I'd never really know you." She stood up and wiped at her eyes. "I'm going to go home. I won't tell anyone where you are, okay?"

Saguru stood with her. "I trust you, but please, allow me to ask someone to give you a ride. It is dark, and the walk would be long from here."

Keiko shook her head. "I can call my mom to pick me up." She wiped her eye that was closest to him. "And I- I really do like you. I hope one day you can find someone who doesn't mind following your rules or who you love enough to change for. I wish I knew before, but," she sniffled, shaking her head to fix herself. "We really - I guess we're really too different. Good luck with... whatever case you're on or whatever."

Saguru removed the handkerchief again and passed it to her as he took her hand. "You are a very special person, and the man you chose will be blessed indeed." He leaned over, kissing her cheek.

Keiko turned her head away. "Please don't do that." She was shaking a little but trying to stop herself from crying. "It's not proper, is it? To kiss someone you don't plan on being with?" She took her hand from his and ignored the handkerchief, walking off. She stopped for a second. "I- I know you've been through a lot, but I don't want you to be hurt anymore so please, just- just stay there." She couldn't completely control the sniffling. She'd only been really dating him for a short time, but she did like him, and it did hurt.

"My intention was simply a farewell, hence the cheek, nothing more." Saguru bowed toward her but remained where he was. "Have a safe trip home."

Keiko left, going back in the house because she had no idea where the front door was. The hallway would lead there. She got on the phone while she did, trying not to cry as she talked to her mom. Once outside she walked a street down. The large house she could have cared less about was left in her wake before she was able to give her mom a street name. She hung up and cried by herself in the dark.

Saguru turned away and headed to a bench further down the path. He sat down and looked again at the stars.