Note:

In this story, Aoko is dead and she never met Hakuba. Also Kaito is 22 years old and this will be in three parts. The first with Hakuba, the second with Shinichi, and the third with Heiji.

TOAK CHAPTER

MY DADDY, the KID

Part 1

Kaito sighed as he sat cross legged before the stone surrounded by the most beautiful of all flowers; roses. Roses of every assortment, followed by several other magnificent type of flowers sat in full bloom beneath the rays of the dawning sun. With a large swallow of the beer bottle he held in his left hand, he took a swig and tossed it backwards into the trash bin by the road.

"Another year without you Aoko, another day I wish it had been I who died in your place. I know that's impossible, but it doesn't stop me from wishing."

Stretching as he stood, he looked down at the beautiful engraved marble headstone. He could still remember that day all those years ago when he presented her with a rose upon first introducing himself to her as a child.

It seemed like forever ago and yet, not hardly long enough.

"Goodbye my love," he whispered, running his hand over the top of the grave markers smooth surface and without a look back, the young widower headed home.

Upon reaching his front door several minutes later, he paused and took a deep breath, allowing his mask to fall into place.

"I'm home!" he called out in a cheery tone.

His mother stepped out, alongside his best friend, Akako.

"Hey dear, how did it go?" Chikage Kuroba asked.

"Fine. She looks beautiful as always," he smiled sadly.

Akako smiled sympathetically from where she stood. She had known Aoko when she was alive and knew how much her friend had loved her while they were in school. Now, she did all she could to support him and the two children; the family Aoko had left behind.

"Daddy!" two voices shrieked as small feet padded into the kitchen and barreled towards him.

Kaitos sadness fell away as a true, genuine smile graced his expression.

"Hello my doves!" Kaito yelled, hugging the two twins to his chest. They were the final remnants of his and Aoko's love and he treasured them dearly because of it.

"Are you ready for your first day of kindergarten?"

"Yes Daddy!" they yelled in unison.

Kaito smiled, ruffling their hair affectionately.

"Mom, I have work late tonight. I'm not sure what time I will be back. Can you pick the twins up?"

"Of course Kaito," his mother smiled, "See you tonight."

Kaito smiled back as he took his children's hands.

"Alright guys, let's go."

The three walked down the road, smiling in a friendly open manner to all who smiled at them or waved at them as they passed. Everyone loved babies, Kaito had soon found out, and he didn't mind the attention, so long as people minded boundaries when around his children. If there was one thing you didn't do, it was mess with the children of a single father who happened to be both a magician and a detective in the theft department of the police force and well… not to mention his night escapades as popular teen idol and professional gentleman thief, Kaitou Kid.

Slowing to a stop, Kaito knelt before the entrance of the school in front of his children, checking them over.

"Alright Akio," he whispered to his son as he fixed the toddlers ball cap, "You ready for this?"

"Yes daddy," the boy grinned.

Kaito smiled.

"Alright, make me proud son."

The boy nodded and rushed inside, leaving Kaito with his daughter who hid behind her father's leg.

"Kaori, you can't hide behind my leg forever you know," he sighed.

Kaori peered out from behind his leg, up at her father. Kaito felt his heart melt at the sight. She was named after him, looked like her mother and acted like him. When Kaito had been a child, he had been shy and unsure at the beginning. Aoko on the other hand had always been outgoing and ready to meet new people.

Akio was a lot like his mother who he was named after, though he looked like Kaito. It was funny how fraternal twins could be so completely opposite and yet alike at the same time.

"Daddy, can I go back home?" Kaori whispered, her nose sniffling with barely held back tears.

"No darling," he smiled and kissed her forehead as he pulled her to him, "Should I walk in with you?"

Kaori nodded as Kaito took her hand and began making his way inside. The teacher looked up when he arrived at the door and gaped at the adorable sight before her.

"Um… hi… you are…" the young woman swallowed as she smoothed out her gown.

"I'm Kaito Kuroba and this is my daughter, Kaori Kuroba. You have my son Akio in here as well."

"Hi Dad!" Akio yelled from where he sat surrounded by boys his age.

Kaito sent a small wave his son's way.

"Oh yes, I guess we do. Um… Kaori is it?" the teacher asked, forcefully dragging her attention from the father to the daughter, "will you come with me?"

The teacher reached out a hand and Kaori hesitantly -with a glance at her father who nodded- took the hand and was led to a nearby table with girls her own age.

"Thank you miss…" Kaito paused when he realized he didn't know the teachers name.

"Kiyomi. Ms. Kiyomi Rei."

"Well then Ms. Rei, have a good day."

Kaito left, frowning, as he felt the stare of the woman on his back. He would definitely be running a background check on her.

TOAK

Kaito slammed his head onto his desk when he arrived at the station. He was so tired, what from his nightly activities, to his wife's death anniversary, to his job, to his home life and so on. Maybe if he was lucky, they wouldn't have a case today.

"Kuroba!"

Kaito groaned. Of course he wouldn't be that lucky.

Fate couldn't just be kind and give him at least five minutes to relax. Oh no, that would be far too simple.

It didn't help of course that his partner happened to be the most nagging, nosy, irritable brit alive who also happened to be one of the only men in existence who believed him to be the Kaitou Kid (Not that he was wrong), but still…

"Tired from too many late night activities?" Hakuba asked with his usual self-righteous smirk.

Kaito really wanted to wipe that smile off his partners face, but he refrained, thinking of the effort it would take. A new idea however popped into his head. With uplifted eyebrows, Kaito spoke.

"Why Hakuba, I didn't know you were into hearing about that kinky stuff~…"

And Oh! It was too good when that prideful little jerks smug face turned red as a tomato.

Clearing his throat, Hakuba excused himself to his desk and Kaito hid his grin. Hakuba was just too easy sometimes.

"Good morning fellows," another voice called from the door.

Kaito peered up at the police forces savior, Shinichi Kudo. Kudo was a legend in his own time. The man was a death and crime magnet who had solved more murders and cases than Kaito could ever hope to solve, mostly because they literally fell into the guys lap. LITERALLY!

Kaito did not envy him for it either. He would rather stick with his too few theft cases. Still, like Shinichi was the savior of the murder squad, Kaito was the savior of the theft squad, much to Hakubas disgust. Then there was Kudo's partner, Heiji Hattori.

"Hey gang!" Hattori cheerfully called out as he walked in, a donut stuffed in his mouth as he dropped a load of papers onto his own desk and then hiked his boots up in a care free manner across Hakuba's desk.

Kaito smiled when he noticed Hakubas reddening face. If there was one person Hakuba couldn't stand more than Kaito, it was Heiji Hattori. The two fought like an old married couple and sometimes, Kaito thought (and maybe suggested) that they should just kiss and get it over with. Still, he didn't dare say that to them (too often). He wasn't that crazy (most of the time).

"Shut up you!"

Kaito feigned ignorance. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I never said a word."

Hakuba just narrowed his eyes and Kaito could make out within his mumbles "you were thinking it, you stupid dirty-minded thief."

Kaito grinned.

Looking at the scene before him as the two argued and Kudo looked on in amusement, Kaito was amazed this was his life. In high school he had dreamt of pursuing a career in magic. With Aoko's untimely death right after graduation however, he had changed goals and set out to provide for his family.

What better way than catching thieves? He was after all, the most famous thief in all Japan so who would better understand a thief's mind, than him?

Since joining the police force as a part time detective and consultant, he had furthered his own career and in the process discovered more about the workings of the police and their teams than ever before. Say goodbye unplanned night risks and hello careful strategy. Still, there were some loose cannons to take into account while on a heist. That crazy organization out for his head, for instance. His irrational coworkers were another.

Since joining the police force, Detective Inspector Saguru Hakuba who definitely did not want Kaito as his partner, had adamantly claimed and set out to prove that Kaito was Kid. How the blonde figured that out, Kaito will never know, but he had to hand it to the guy, he was very persistent and quite smart, though he was loathe to admit it. Since then though, three years have passed and the blonde has not gotten any closer to proving his declaration and instead, the two have grown begrudgingly closer and more into friends than the blonde or Kaito wished to admit.

Kudo and Hattori also had slowly become close friends with the two of them and soon all four had begun hanging out occasionally on the weekends or going out with the other guys for a drink at the bar. Kaito didn't drink often. He had too much to lose if he got smashed, but occasionally, like today, he was desperate for some emotional reprieve.

"Do you guys want to get a drink tonight?" he asked casually.

The other three glanced at him. He rarely suggested it, so he wasn't surprised by their reaction.

"Sounds good to me," Hattori shrugged.

"I don't mind, but only after my work is done." Nodded Kudo.

Hakuba just gave a silent nod, though his eyes were narrowed in on Kaito suspiciously.

Kuroba ignored the look, knowing it was a concern for him that he didn't wish to fully acknowledge yet in their friendship. Hakuba and the others he worked with knew nothing of his past nor his family and he wanted it to stay that way. He didn't want them pitying him or thinking this slowed him down from other obligations. His business was his business. Last year, luckily, he had been off on this day; the day his wife died. This year it felt like nothing was going his way.

"Kuroba…" started Hakuba.

Kaito looked up at him with an inquisitive expression, hiding his emotions that no doubt had flittered across his expression for a moment. He couldn't help it. The sadness was unbearable at times.

"Boys!" a shout interrupted before Hakuba could ask about what he had just seen on his partners face, "theft downtown. Get on it!"

"Good luck guys," Shinichi called as the two swiftly headed out.

TOAK

Hakuba and Kaito rode in silence the majority of the way. Normally they bickered back and forth nearly as bad (though not quite) like Hattori and Hakuba do when together. Today however, they were both in their own thoughts. Kaito was thinking about Aoko and Hakuba was thinking about Kaito.

The blonde had gotten to know the brunette over the past three years fairly well in terms of personality and skill, but still there was so much about his partner he had no knowledge regarding. Such as his partners family. His partner's hobbies. His partner's friends outside of work. Anything personal, Hakuba had no knowledge of regarding Kuroba and for the first time in three years, it truly bothered him.

Glancing at his unusually quiet passenger, Hakuba cleared his throat before speaking.

"My full name is Saguru William Hakuba. My mother is British and my father Japanese. I was expected to take over the family business in England upon my eighteenth birthday, but never did after refusing to do so much to the disapproval of my family."

Kaito searched his partners face inquisitively as he spoke. Just where was the blonde going with this?

"I am now twenty-three years old and unmarried. I am currently dating a doctor by the name of Izumi and plan to ask her to marry me in the coming year once she finishes school. I am a Detective for the larceny crime unit and work with the annoying, but amazingly talented and resourceful detective and part-time magician, Kaito Kuroba. I live at home by myself with my cat Sherlock and…"

"Where are you going with this? Or is this just a new way you devised to torture me?" Kaito asked, a deep frown marring his handsome face.

Hakuba shot him a glare for that last comment, but sighed and went ahead and answered the question.

"I… I suddenly realized we know little to nothing about one another and our personal lives and I wanted to be the first to share considering it's my idea to … to talk."

Kaito wrinkled up his nose, about to comment, when he noticed the sincere gaze Hakuba had trained on him and for once, Kaito felt the urge to spill his entire life story, from start to finish. The only thing that held him back, was the man's insistent need to arrest his alter-ego and claim the glory of unmasking the Kaitou Kid.

"I appreciate the inquiry, but I think it best we remain just partners and not friends."

Hakuba couldn't help the surprise (and maybe a little hurt) he felt when hearing those words come from Kuroba of all people. The guy talked nonstop and always seemed so happy and energetic. Then again, Hakuba suddenly realize, the guy talked about everything and nothing at the same time. Was it a defense mechanism with which to hide behind or was it perhaps, just a part of his personality? The mystery that was Kaito Kuroba suddenly became too interesting to ignore and Hakuba knew he was going to solve it completely before he would be satisfied.

Recognizing the gleam in his partner's eye, Kuroba inwardly groaned. Just what he needed, his rival becoming a snoop in both his professional and his private life.

The police cruiser pulled up to the scene of the crime and Kuroba got out, stretching his arms as he looked around at all the broken glass lying strewn on the ground from a window being busted out. Whoever had done this burglary obviously had been in a hurry. No doubt an amateur on his first run.

Shaking his head, he walked up to Nakamori who was on scene. When the man wasn't chasing the Kaitou Kid around, he was working the different smaller crimes that came up in every day society.

"Inspector Nakamori, what's the situation?" Hakuba asked beside Kaito.

Nakamori acknowledged Kaito with a nod before turning to answer Hakuba. Kaito already new the situation, so he didn't pay it much heed. Instead, he began looking around the scene of the crime for any obvious pieces of evidence that the crime scene investigators might have missed before their arrival.

"Kaito-kun," Nakamori called, snapping Kaito from his thoughts.

Kuroba looked up. "Yes Nakamori?"

The inspector hesitated and Hakuba gave a confused glance between the two of them, no doubt reading the tension. Inspector Genzo Nakamori was the father of Kaito's deceased wife, Aoko Nakamori Kuroba. Aoko and he had been childhood friends and Genzo, like a second father to Kaito when his own father passed away when he was eight. No one was happier about the two getting married then Genzo when they tied the knot a week after their high school graduation. Of course, it was not even a year later that Aoko died in childbirth.

Nakamori peered at the boy with concern. He knew how hard today was for himself let alone the husband of his deceased daughter. It pained him to think back on that day so long ago, five years ago today. He would never forget the lifelessness his son-in-law had back then while attending Aokos funeral. Never before had he witnessed the normally energetic and lively boy look so depressed…so dead. He thought for certain he had lost more than his daughter that day. He thought he had also lost a son. Then of course they heard the cries of those adorable little angels Aoko left behind for her family and Kaito came out of it, running to them and caring for them better than most married men. The boy hadn't looked back. Still, Kaito is only human and everyone looks back from time to time…he was no exception. It didn't take a genius to see he looked worn more than usual today.

"Its fine, Nakamori-san," Kaito stated, reading the man's concern in his expression, "I'm fine."

Genzo nodded, glancing at Hakuba who was now watching them with narrowed eyes. No doubt he was the reason Kaito was playing it off. He understood why Kaito didn't want others knowing about his loss, but was it seriously such a big deal that he couldn't even tell his partner about it?

"Right well, any ideas on who might have done it?"

Hakuba spoke up before Kaito had the opportunity.

"I think you will find it was a high schooler, probably a second year, and his name will be Naoki Karu."

"And how do you know that?" Nakamori asked Hakuba with a stunned expression.

Kaito just rolled his eyes which Hakuba ignored when the Brit smiled his 'I'm smarter than you' grin.

"Oh I don't know. Maybe this…" Hakuba stated holding up the ID of a high schooler. He had picked it up from the ground earlier while the two had been talking.

Noting his partner didn't look surprised, he realized Kaito must have snuck a peek over his shoulder or found it before him. Well whatever, he would just let it go this time. Kill joy. (No, he was not pouting… much.)

"Where was that?!" Nakamori exploded, swiping it from the blonde.

"Under the cabinet," Kaito said. "Our little thief must not have even realized he let it slip, no doubt out of his school bag that he stuffed the jewels into."

Hakuba deflated and Kaito couldn't help the small smirk that escaped across his expression when he noticed. The blonde sighed, shrugging off his depression.

"I think it's time we pay our thief a little visit," Hakuba stated. Kaito nodded in agreement.

"Kaito-kun, I will see you later?" Nakamori hollered.

Kaito paused, turning with a nod. "Yeah, later… Genzo."

The man gave a sullen nod as the two young detectives headed back to their cruiser. Upon reaching it, Hakuba was silent for a moment.

"Kuroba-kun, are we still on for tonight?"

"Yeah," Kaito answered as he turned to the older detective, "I will see you tonight as planned for a drink. Why do you ask?"

The man pressed his lips together in a pensive manner as the police cruiser pulled away.

"Want to tell me what that was about?" Hakuba asked as they drove.

"What, what was?" Kaito asked, playing dumb.

"You called him Genzo and it seemed like you were making plans to see each other soon."

Kuroba was silent a moment before shrugging.

"Not that it's any of your business, but he is coming to my house for dinner tomorrow," Kaito finally explained.

"Since when has Nakamori gone to your house for dinner?"

"Since I invited him," snapped Kaito, tired of the interrogation.

Hakuba was silent for a moment. He suddenly realized he was on the edge. Everything he said was pushing his partner away rather than forcing him to trust in him. Then again, he supposed his night activities had a part to play as well in why his partner didn't trust him. Hakuba doesn't know why Kaito does what he does at night, performing magical heists and running the rooftops, but he wanted to know. He wanted to understand.

Ture, in the beginning he had only wanted the glory of taking down Kaitou Kid, but after discovering it was more than likely his partner and after getting to know the man, now, he just wanted to help. Surely there was a good reason for his actions.

"You think this kid will talk to us?" Hakuba asked, changing the topic.

He knew for now, this conversation with Kaito needed to end. It wouldn't help him find out the truth if he angered his partner to the point he quit or asked for a transfer which he felt was something Kaito might actually do. He definitely wouldn't put it past the man.

Kaito sighed in relief at the change in topic. "Maybe. He will definitely talk to me. Rest assured."

Hakuba glanced at his friend. Sometimes he got the feeling Kaito was much more dangerous than he let on.

"Alright then, you can talk to him."

Kaito grinned a Cheshire cat-like smile. "Perfect."

A shiver racked the blonde and he found himself feeling a bit of sympathy for their young thief who would probably never again, meet a detective quite like Kaito.

TOAK

To say their plan didn't work as well as they wanted it to, would be an understatement. As soon as they arrived on school grounds and their thief caught sight of them, he took off running. Kaito was right behind him and Hakuba was lagging a bit behind, not able to run as fast as the other two.

Kaito narrowed his eyes, sprinting and leaping over obstacles as the kid tripped and clumsily staggered over objects in his path. The phantom thief was gaining on the young burglar, when something happened he wasn't expecting.

The floor gave out from under them. Literally.

Hakuba who had been further behind stared in horror as the two vanished into the sinkhole. An old wooden board had been placed over a large opening in the ground, no doubt to prevent someone falling in, however due to rain, the board had grown moldy and moist making the wood soft. With the combined weight of two running full sized men, it couldn't withstand the tension and collapsed, sending its victims into the twenty foot drop below.

"Kaito!" Hakuba screamed as he dropped to his knees in the mud beside the hole, "Kaito!"

A groan could be heard and Hakuba leaned further down, attempting to better hear any sounds below.

"Kaito are you okay?"

"Hakuba?" Kaito called weakly.

Hakuba sighed in relief.

"Oh thank God. Hang on okay, I am going to call the police."

Rushing to an area with signal, Hakuba dialed work and alerted them to the situation. With the police aware of where they were and what had happened, Hakuba turned his attention back to the two trapped below ground.

"Can you move?"
"…Not really. Pinned."

"By the boy?"

"No…"

Hakuba hesitated. "Then how?"

"There are… old metal posts sticking up from the ground down here. Probably left behind by the construction crew. When I fell, one went through my leg."

Hakuba grimaced. "And the boy?"

"He… He's dead."

Saguru stared down into the darkness in surprise. "Dead?"

"He fell straight onto one of the posts and it stabbed him through the chest. There is no way he could have survived."

Hakuba nodded, silent for a moment.

"I'm coming down okay?"

"What?! No, what about rescue, they…"

"They will be here soon. I told them where we are and what happened. Trust me okay?"

With those words, Saguru ignored the squishy mud that squelched beneath him as he slid to the opening.

With a deep breath, he allowed himself to begin the climb. Slowly and with his hands buried in the earth behind him, he made his way down. Sure enough, five posts, each broken from rust poked up from the ground below. On the right side, the teenage boy they had been chasing laid unmoving on his back, his eyes still open as he stared up at the sky; his chest no longer moving. He was definitely dead.

Turning his attention to the second person, he winced at the sight before him. Kaito laid mostly in the mud, but his right leg had been stabbed through and he looked extremely pale in the dim lighting.

"You alright?"

Kaito shot him a glare.

Hakuba nodded, swallowing. "Right, stupid question. How about, will you make it?"

"Should," Kaito choked on a laugh, "you look good in brown."

Hakuba glanced down at his mud covered clothes and sent a cheeky grin his partner's way. "Suppose I could win awards looking like this, hmm?"

Kaito laughed.

"You couldn't even before this, why think that now?"

Hakuba smiled, shaking his head before his expression became serious again.

"You know with the rust on these pipes… it could cause serious infection and possibly blood poisoning."

Kaito grimaced and swallowed hard. "Yeah I… I kind of noticed that. Luckily right now, the mud is numbing my leg a bit. I can't really feel it."

"I suppose that can be a good thing," Hakuba stated with uncertainty.

Hesitantly, the blonde paced the area, watchful any other tricks this death trap might have for them.

"Hakuba…"

Saguru turned to his partner with a cocked eyebrow.

"Thanks."

Hakuba shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.

"You… you would have done the same for me."

Kaito studied his partner for a moment. "…Yeah."

The two were silent, waiting and listening for any sound that might alert them that help had arrived. They heard nothing.

"It's kind of chilly down here, isn't it?" Hakuba asked, rubbing his bare arms. The mud was cold on his skin.

"A bit…" agreed Kaito.

Hakuba froze and turned to his partner. Kaito's eyes were drooping and his skin color was much whiter. His teeth chattered and he seemed barely aware of his surroundings.

"Woah there partner," Hakuba hurried to his friend, "don't leave me now."

He was startled by how cold Kurobas skin was to the touch. Here he had been complaining about the cold and Kaito was literally sitting in the freezing mud not saying a word. Bloody Hell, could he be any more of a whimp!

Pulling his friend against his chest, he ignored the chill the mud wall sent through him as he huddled against it, trying to warm Kaito up a bit with his own body heat.

"Stay awake now. Tell me something. Anything. Just keep talking."

Kaito was silent and Hakuba feared he had drifted off when suddenly he spoke.

"Today is the day my wife died five years ago."

Saguru blinked, unsure of what to say regarding that news. What could he say? Was that why Kaito was acting so weird today?

"What was her name? Tell me about her. Just talk to me. Stay with me."

Kaito chuckled; the sound was a bit choked and Hakuba pulled his partner closer in concern.

"Her name was Aoko. She was…" he stopped and Saguru could feel the desperation, the pain in his partner's voice when he spoke again. "…She was everything I'm not."

"Good looking?" Hakuba attempted a joke.

Kaito snorted and it relieved the brit to hear the sound. His partner wasn't so far gone yet it seemed.

"She was perfect. She was beautiful, friendly, outgoing, loving, cheerful, and just…"

Kaito's voice shook and Hakuba felt his own heart break in response.

"She was my wife," he cried, his eyes closed as tears trailed down his dust coated cheeks.

"She sounds… like an amazing woman," Saguru whispered.

Kaito was silent.

"How did she die?"

The thief hesitated. He already told this much, what did it matter if his partner knew the rest. Besides, if he died today, someone needed to inform his family.

"Childbirth."

Hakuba tightened his grip on the man in his arms. Three years. They had been partners for three years and he never knew.

"You have a child?"

Kaito smiled, thinking of his children.

"Two of them," he answered, "twins."

"Twins," Hakuba repeated, "…I'm sorry Kuroba."

Kaito would have shrugged if he could, but it was getting harder and harder to stay awake.

"Kuroba?"

Kaito couldn't do it anymore. The last thing he remembered seeing was the face of his partner staring down at him and were those… were those tears on Hakuba's face. Huh. What a horrible day.

"Kaito!"

TOAK

Kaito opened his eyes, the beeping of a machine in his ear. Opening his eyes, he blinked away the blurriness that met him and gazed around the room in surprise at who sat waiting by his bedside. His mother was sound asleep on the couch in the back of the room. His two children tucked in closely by her sides. Akako sat asleep in a chair close to the couch and in the chair across from her, Genzo sat snoring.

What time was it? Kaito wondered, looking around for a clock.

A sound brought his attention to the chair next to his bed and he was surprised to find it containing his sleeping partner who looked far worse than Kaito remembered him ever having looked. Before Kaito could do anything more than think about a fun way to wake his friend, two unison shouts of "Daddy!" had those in the room coming up from their chairs as two little bundles of energy jumped onto the bed before anyone could stop them.

Kaito gasped in pain when his son accidentally pressed on his injured leg, but he held it in as he pulled his children to him.

"Daddy!" they cried, snuggling into his chest.

Kaito smiled, albeit tiredly as he kissed the top of their heads.

"Sorry I worried you guys."

"A lot. You worried us all a lot," Genzo corrected, patting his foot.

Chikage wiped tears, happy to see her son awake. Akako glared at him. No doubt he would hear an earful later from her about being more careful on the job.

Turning his attention to Saguru, he expected him to be stone faced like he normally was, but when he looked at his partner, all he saw was relief.

"Thank you, Hakuba."

Saguru shook his head, his eyes darting to the two children in his friends arms.

"No. I should be thanking you."

Kaito tipped his head in a curious manner.

"For trusting me."

The thief stared at his partner for a moment in surprise, before a small smiled made its way to the front.

"Remind me when I get out here… I have someone you should meet."

Hakuba narrowed his eyes.

"Who would that be Kaito-kun?" Nakamori questioned inquisitively.

"Not a girlfriend is it?" his mother teased.

Akako glared at the woman and Kaito silenced a laugh.

"No, just… a phantom, of my old self."

Saguru smiled.

"I think I could make time for that, but tell me… should I bring my handcuffs?"

The entire room froze.

"Oh God, Hakuba," Kaito groaned, slapping a hand across his face. The blonde looked around in confusion.

"What did I do?"

"I am stepping out for a bite to eat," Chikage whispered, quickly hurrying from the room.

Nakamori cleared his throat. "I am heading home. Good night Kaito."

"Goodnight old man."

Genzo waved as he walked out in a hurried manner.

"What?!" Saguru demanded, staring back at the glaring Akako.

Kaito just laughed, his arms still wrapped around his children who had fallen asleep against him.

"Nothing you blonde bastard. Nothing at all."

Authors note:

Next part of this story will be Shinichi discovering the Kuroba family.