Disclaimer: I don't own DC or anything remotely related to it.

Stones in a Glass House
Chapter 1 - Running Away
08.01.04

Moonlight spilled between the parted drapes bordering the open window, illuminating Shinichi Kudo and bathing his feet in a pool of moonshine. A cool breeze carrying the scent of roses gently ruffled his hair and caused the curtains to billow and sway. Shinichi's pale, slender hands clenched the windowsill, and his normally clear, blue eyes were murky with trouble. Leftover disbelief from dinner was still etched on his face. The rustle of footsteps behind him caused him to turn around and come face to face with Yukiko, still resplendent in the periwinkle evening gown she had worn at dinner.

"Shin-chan!" Yukiko exclaimed, starting in surprise. "I expected you to be asleep. Why don't you change and go to bed?"

Instead of answering Shinichi raised an eyebrow at Yukiko's dress and smirked, knowing his parents had stayed up discussing him. In a second, the smile vanished as he recalled the reason for the attention directed at him. Anger at being forced into marriage and treated as a pawn rose in him at the sight of his mother, and he began chewing his lip petulantly. Seeing that her son wasn't about to lay out the red carpet for her, Yukiko sighed, but began speaking anyway.

"Shin-chan, there's a lot you haven't' seen of the world. You haven't even been outside of the palace walls, save for a few visits to the Mouris' palace in the neighboring kingdom. You've never seen anything beyond your own privileged life."

"Blah, blah, blah." Shinichi sighed mentally. "I hate these lectures. But I will try to handle this maturely. I can handle things. So what if I haven't been outside of the palace?" Out loud, he inquired, "And so? So I must marry, right?"

"Look, despite all of your father's efforts, out grasp on this country is pretty tenuous. To the north, we've always had allies in the Mouri family, but to the south, well, you know how there's been a rebellion, leaving the heir with little power. The late king and queen sought peace between our countries, and your marriage would not only continue that legacy but make our family ruler of both countries, widely expanding our resources and giving us valuable sea ports. Their army is very weak right now, which is why we were able to propose the wedding and deal with the upper hand. If the young princess is disposed, we potentially face very hostile neighbors to the south; and while their army is weak now, theirs is a country of vast resources and population. Already, the rebels have led forays against your border." Yukiko explained, taking a place at the window beside Shinichi. She paused to drink in the beauty of the night, admired the gardens below, and tilted her face towards the moon to bathe in its silver beams. "Your father and Eri Kisaki have always maintained a close friendship, but since she left Kogoro in anger, Kogoro has become more and more sporadic and unreliable. What your father and I ultimately fears if becoming sandwiched between two hostile countries and eventual annihilation."

"So we're in dire straits here, and I'm the pound of flesh that will be paid for peace and security." Shinichi remarked acidly as he stormed towards his bed, throwing off his blazer en route.

"The princess..." Yukiko began, but was cut off as Shinichi resolutely and firmly pulled the velvet curtains of his four-poster bed shut.

"Good night, Mother."

"The wedding will probably be in six months, Shin-chan." Yukiko said cheerily as she realized she was facing an intractable Shinichi. Thoroughly amused, she turned and returned to her own bedchamber, where Yusaku was pacing nervously in front of the ornate marble fireplace.

"How was it?" Yusaku demanded anxiously.

Yukiko smirked. "Oh, you know, Shin-chan has never suffered anything. And while we've taught him to always serve his country first, his arranged marriage is the only order that's crossed his wishes. So he's a bit shocked."

"So you think he'll come around?" Yusaku asked, his face losing its lines of haggardness in relief.

"Of course, he may need to leave and work it out by himself, but he's our son, and he won't forget his country." Yukiko answered, smiling angelically at her husband.

"Then he's not refusing because of Ran?" Yusaku queried, much relaxed by Yukiko's words.

Yukiko giggled and rolled her eyes. "Really, Yusaku, they're just childhood friends. Are you in love with Eri? Anyway," Yukiko grimaced. "Ran seems to be a tad empty-headed to me. Also, since you're so close to Eri, a relationship between Ran and Shin-chan would just seem incestuous, don't you think?"

Yusaku nodded emphatically in agreement. "I agree that it's merely an infatuation, but what if it gets in he way?"

Yukiko's lovely features froze into a mask of stone and ice. "If Shin-chan puts his foolish feelings over his country, he's not our son."

Back in his own room, Shinichi tossed and turned on his bed, his mind churning with confusion and rebellion. "I know I should serve my country, but I always pictured myself helping by leading troops into battle or making just laws, not being pawned off as a husband to some 'young princess'. I don't even think I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with someone else. I always assumed my parents would give me over to Ran; it was just one of the facts I grew up with. And now... I don't know, it seems as if I always accepted a lot of stuff without really questioning. I have to see and think for myself. I have to get out of here." Suddenly, the clouds in Shinichi's mind were swept away, and every fiber of his body was concentrating on experiencing more for himself.

"I have to get away." Shinichi announced, the words echoing in the dark. His resolve strengthened with every reverberation, and his blue eyes lit with determination. Thus, with his mind made up to leave the palace, Shinichi flung open his velvet bed curtains and leapt to the floor.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form