A pen taps against paper, ink leaving a small mark where it hits. The light from the desk lamp illuminates his workspace- a notebook filled with writings, an outline specifically, a couple of books beside it with one open. Dark eyes glazed over the text before gliding over to what he'd written. A sigh escapes before he lets the pen roll out of his hand and onto the notebook.

Hayato leans back into his chair, his head tilting up with eyes on the ceiling. They focus on bits of nothing before letting his vision be swallowed by darkness.

Homework was so dull and pointless, at times. But, it wasn't something he could simply neglect. His mother wanted him to keep up with school, to have a life that wasn't so dangerous. And, truly, he wanted to listen to her wishes. To be a good student and quit his nightly activities.

'If only homework was as exciting as running away from the police,' he thinks.

A low rumble comes from his throat, a chuckle at his own self.

"Maybe I'm not cut out for a normal life," he breathes out.

"Hayato…?" A little voice prompts him to sit up in his chair, to turn to the source. His younger brother was at the door, poking his head in to see him.

"What is it, Yuuta?" Hayato asks while already getting up from his desk.

"Shun fell asleep on the couch."

Hayato pulled out his phone to check the time. Almost 9 o'clock. While not late for him, it was a different story for his brothers.

"Alright. I'll get him into bed. You know that means you have to sleep now to, don't you?"

Yuuta hesitates on responding, pouting a little. "Yeah. But I'm not that tired, you know!" He gave his best face, full of determination to show that he was wide awake. Too bad a yawn had managed to escape from him.

"Not tired after that big yawn, huh?" Hayato grinned.

The younger huffs in response, arms folding. "I'm not…but I'm going to get ready for bed anyway!" With that reply, he rushes ahead back to his room.

The older chuckles softly as he reaches the living area. It didn't hold much besides the basics. A tv, a couch, a table, a few shelves to place some decorations on…as well as toys. The only thing that mattered for the time being was his brother on the couch. Who was fast asleep, holding one of his old dinosaur plushes in hand. Hayato wore a soft smile as he saw him. So peaceful and at ease. He was almost envious at how easily and comfortably he could sleep.

Gently, he picks the younger up and into his arms. He was getting heavier, growing bigger. Would there be a time he would stop doing this? Never.

The peaceful moment is broken when he hears a knock on the door, followed by the sound of someone messing with the lock. Panic rises and he instantly holds his brother closer to him, protectively. He would hate to have to fight in his own home, but if he must, then he would. When the door swings open and reveals the perpetrator, Hayato isn't sure if he should be relieved or pissed off.

"Munemasa," he hisses. "What the h- What are you doing here? And I swear if you broke my door…"

"Didn't break it. Just did a little trick to open it since you didn't answer." Munemasa wears a proud look as he shuts the door behind him. As he looks to his glaring rival, he notices the younger boy in his hands. "Who's that?"

"My brother," he replies. He loosens his hold on him once realizing they're safe. For once, he's glad that his youngest brother is a heavy sleeper. "If you don't mind, I have to get him to bed."

"Hayato, is someone here?" Yuuta speaks up, waiting at the door to his room. Eyes are focused on the stranger in their home. "Who is he?"

"A friend of your brothers," Munemasa states before Hayato could get anything in. If he could shoot another glare at him, he would do so. Many, many times.

"Don't worry about him," Hayato says too Yuuta, turning his back to his friend. "Let's get you to bed."

"Okay…"

As he walks over to their room, he stops at the door. His head turns, eyes on Munemasa. "Don't do anything to this place while I put them to sleep." It's a simple warning with a threatening undertone. Munemasa only shrugs and takes a place on the couch…well, the whole couch actually.

The oldest brother shakes his head before returning to putting his brothers to sleep. Inside their room, he sets Shun down onto his bed, making sure that plush never leaves his hands. The blankets are pulled over him and he makes sure that his younger brother is comfortable. That gentle smile from before returns as he pats Shun's head. Content, he turns his attention to Yuuta, who was already in bed.

"For not being tired, you sure seem cozy."

"I might be a little tired."

"Get some sleep, okay? And make sure your brother does too."

"You know he won't wake up once he sleeps, Hayato! And I can't watch him if I'm sleeping." He points out.

"You know what I mean."

Shun smiles at him, moving under the blankets to keep warm for the night. Hayato goes over to him, making sure he's alright to. And he can't help but give his head a pat, messing with his hair a little and gaining a chuckle.

"Hayato?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that person really a friend? I haven't seen him before."

Ah. Of course he'd be curious. Guests, visitors, friends were a rare thing in this household. And having him appear out of nowhere, picking their lock to- had Shun seen that?- would be strange.

"He's an old friend. Used to know him when I was younger."

"Then why hasn't he come over before?"

"He moved away and came back recently. Don't worry, Shun, he's a good guy." If not totally full of himself.

"If he's your friend, then I know he is!" Shun chirps.

"Yeah, yeah. You done asking questions so you can avoid sleeping now?"

"I wasn't doing it for that…"

"I know." Hayato pulls himself away from Shun's bed as he heads toward the door. "Goodnight."

"Night!"

Hayato enters the living area, slowly shutting the door to his brothers' room behind him. Now that he had dealt with them, he was given a more annoying problem to deal with. Who was still lying on his couch, looking as if he owned it.

"Now, do you mind telling me what you're doing here?" He asks as he walks over to the couch, leaning against it with arms crossed.

"Just thought I'd drop by for a visit. Nothing wrong with seeing you off work, right?" Munemasa replies while reaching for the remote. He turns on the tv, instantly surfing through channels.

"Lower that," Hayato demands. Munemasa gives him a glare for once, but obeys. "Don't tell me you're crashing here for the night."

"I'm not. I have my own place." Not finding anything interesting on, he gives up channel surfing. Finally, he begins to sit up, turning his attention to Hayato. "Wanted to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"That detective-"

"Really?" He cuts him off, deadpanning. "He's what you came to bother me about?"

"I just wanted to know how he is and why he's so different like you said."

"It's not like you to want to know about your chasers," he pointed out. "Usually you don't care."

For once, Munemasa is the one to look bothered. "I just want to know a little about him. He already seems better than the other cop I had to deal with."

"Someone was on your tail?"

"Mmm…yeah." Munemasa's expression turned sour. He hated having to admit that. "She was pretty bad. She almost got me." His fists clench. "I couldn't stay around there any longer…"

"Is that why you came back? She was just getting to close to catching you?"

"Hmph. As if she'd catch me," he says defensively. "I had to come back for my grandparents."

Hayato figured that he was holding back or at least not wanting to admit that whoever was chasing him while he was off training was getting to close to sniff him out. If his identity was revealed…it would all be over. He would lose everything. It was the risk he- they took when becoming phantom thieves.

"So, you just want to know if this guy is just as bad as she was?"

"Kinda."

"You could just say yes," he sighs. "Like I said before he is the most determined one to try and catch me. I don't have to tell you how he can…read people. He tries to predict things but I don't think he's quite used to what we do. I do think that, eventually, he'll get used to the tricks I use and I'll have to keep coming up with better ones. He is…annoying, but I don't think he's dangerous. He does make life a bit more lively, I'll give that to him. And…" A pause as he frowns. "There's just something about him that seems familiar…"

He couldn't forget that first night they crossed paths. His image was something he'd seen before, but couldn't place where. And even as he placed it back against his mind, only thinking that it was probably some doppelgänger, it would come back to nag at him moments later. There had to be a reason why he gave off that feeling.

"I only asked how he is not why you have a thing for him." Munemasa's annoying reply shakes him from his thoughts. A pillow is promptly grabbed and thrown at him for making that comment.

Now he knew to hold back on telling Munemasa that they had met outside of work…more than once to. He'd never hear the end of it then.

"Is that enough for the great Mammoth?" He says his name in a mocking tone. Too bad he takes it as praise instead, a grin on his face already.

"Good enough! He's scrawny enough that he won't get close to fight me."

"I don't know why you bothered asking about him if you're just going to rely on brute strength…"

Munemasa keeps that grin on his face before his gaze turns towards the tv. A special report shown about a new display being brought overseas to one of the grander museums. A piece that was priceless in the eyes art and definitely worth stealing. The phantom thieves were given a new target. With a smirk, each stated-

"That treasure is mine."