~A Place to Call Home~

It had happened shortly before Shinichi turned 13; Kaito moved in. Prior to that, Shinichi had already been living at the Kudo Mansion again.

When Shinichi found out that there would be no cure for the poison and Kaito came to his rescue promising to stay by his side, things were not suddenly ok again; having the one he loved declare that his love would be forever with him wasn't enough to take away the sting of the death of his dreams. Shinichi quickly fell into despondency which led to indifference. Kaito did his best to pull him out of the agency and often took him for ice cream, to museums, movies, plays, even magic shows. Each time he was disguised as everyone from one of the officers he knew to the professor and Conan's mother, and on one occasion Mouri Kogoro since the real man was passed out drunk at a bar somewhere (drunk and maybe drugged by the thief). For all those occasions, Shinichi cheered up and forgot his troubles but, once it came to returning to the detective agency, Shinichi's eyes dulled, the light fading from them, and his movements became stiff as if he was carrying a heavy weight. Each fake smile for Ran was killing him and he even skipped out on cases to avoid having to put up the act.

Hearing about the situation from KID courtesy of a dove (which mysteriously found them across the globe where not even the publishers could find the pair) and a riddle, Shinichi's parents decided (some would say they were coerced by KID) to return to their home in Beika and take Shinichi with them. Soon the three had set up a plan for how to explain moving Conan in with his relatives, into the Kudo household. Kaito donned the Fumiyo disguise and lead the way to the agency where he explained to Ran that, after hearing Conan missed being with any family, she had decided it would be best if he moved in with Yusaku and Yukiko where she would be better able to spend time with him and he would have the benefit of having blood relatives.

:.

"So does this mean I get a tour of my tantei-kun's room now? We could have sleepovers!" Those lines coming out of 'Fumiyo' in her voice was weird regardless of knowing it was KID under that disguise.

"KID—"

"Nu-uh, its Oka-san tantei-kun~! Should I get you a full sized poster of yours truly for your home warming gift?"

"…"

"Or maybe a body pillow of me so you can sleep with me in your arms at night?"

"…." This (one-sided) conversation was not going in a good direction, he was sure.

"No! A life size blow up doll!" Then he was proven right. Shinichi knew it was bad when he usually composed (infuriating) father was trying to hold back his snickering after listening to their conversation. This was so going to come back at him later. Still, a smile found its way on his face while he looked out the window and watched the world go by. But that didn't mean he wouldn't retort.

"Only if it can replace you." It was a good thing his parents didn't know the double meaning of that sentence.

:.

The phrase, "Welcome home Shinichi" was the most beautiful thing he heard that afternoon. True to his words, Kaito explored (ransacked) his room when they got there and didn't stop at looking through what was out. When he, still disguised as Fumiyo, started going through that box hidden under his bed, Shinichi resorted to smacking him in the face with a pillow which lead to an all out pillow war. Shinichi had to wonder how it was that they ended up with several pillows scattered throughout the room when he only ever had one in there.

His parents were delighted to hear Shinichi's laughter coming from his room and agreed the thief would always be welcomed into their home if it made their son this happy. They didn't, however, know how close the two really were. Sure they knew Shinichi had a lot of help from KID when he took down the Black Organization and it was clear they became friends afterwards, but they never imagined how far their new relationship went. When Yukiko knocked and entered the room to ask Shinichi what he wanted for dinner, she was surprised; not only was KID still there, the two were watching a movie with Shinichi sitting in his lap and both covered by the white cape like a blanket. Even more surprising was when Shinichi informed her that KID would be joining them for dinner at which the thief responded with his own surprised look directed at her son.

After shutting the door and walking a few steps down the hall, Yukiko began to think there was more to the pair than she originally thought. After a few steps down the stairs she wasn't sure if it was more camaraderie from similar situations regarding secret identities or something else all together.

:.

"Kaito?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you really stay here all night? I mean, you don't have to…"

"I'm staying." There was no way he was going to leave Shinichi alone when his actions contradicted his words so clearly; Shinichi was gripping his shirt tightly with his head buried in his chest as they lay in bed together.

"… but… "

"There's no where I want to be more. I'll be here when you fall asleep and I'll still be here when you wake up. Shinichi, I promise." Sometimes, the indifferent Shinichi was more bearable than the depressed Shinichi. He sounded so broken that night because, after all he lost, it sounded too good to be true. Shinichi was afraid to wake up and find his thief gone and a broken promise left in his wake. "I promise. Forever."

:.

Despite his promise, Kaito slept light and was prepared to flee the second he heard someone approaching. Shinichi's parents didn't know of their relationship and Kaito didn't want Shinichi to be hurt if they didn't accept it. Even if Shinichi was thinking the same thing, Kaito never mentioned this concern to him. Instead of facing the potential problem like he normally would; Kaito continued to sneak in at night, sleep lightly while holding Shinichi tight, and leave before someone waltzed in to wake Shinichi for school.

It was probably a month later when Kaito began to wonder if Yukiko knew he was staying there. She never entered the room without knocking (which was very unusual for her) and she let him sleep in as long as he wanted on weekends. As long as Shinichi had his door closed she respected his privacy, something she never did before he shrank. After discussing this with Shinichi one night, they decided to tell his parents; Shinichi would be happy to have one less secret and Kaito would be able to come and go a little easier if luck was on his side (which it always was). So Shinichi's parents were told to sit on the sofa in the library and Shinichi took his seat on an armchair facing them while Kaito sat on the armrest. They never forgot that night.

Yukiko was surprised at first when Shinichi walked up to her and Yusaku, holding KID's hand and standing side by side as equals looking determined. However, when he said, "we need to talk" and turned and walked to the library expecting them to follow, she was just happy her baby boy found someone that made him happy.

:.

"This is… not what I expected." Shinichi was confused and still listening to his crying mother, hugging him and talking about how he was so grown up and didn't need her (wasn't she the one that left him on his own?) and something about…. "wait, what did you say?"

"I said Toichi-sensei's little brat son who called me old went and stole my Shin-chan away! You! How am I supposed to get precious little grandchildren now?"

"Well I could always try until—"

"Don't even finish that sentence." For once, Shinichi's glare worked and Kaito kept quiet after that.

"Yes, love~!" (Mostly.)

"… So back to what I was saying, you know?"

"With all the riddles I was passing back and forth between Toichi-sensei and Yusaku, how am I not supposed to know?"

"…"

"…I thought you were crying?" If Shinichi wasn't going to ask about it he might as well.

"Its not often I get to hug my little Shin-chan that he lets me; Kai-chan you take good care of my baby boy!" It was a little odd to watch Yukiko give one of her smothering motherly hugs that she usually reserved for Shinichi to KID but Shinichi decided to go with it and just smiled at his father when he tried to coax his wife to let the poor thief go before he passed out.

:.

Over the next few days Shinichi and Kaito gradually got comfortable with hanging around the house together and without Kaito in uniform. Of course, they didn't know that Yukiko was planning it that way or that she had Yusaku hunting down some blueprints. The hard part would be when she had to corner Kaito away from Shinichi; it wasn't often that he left Shinichi's side, maybe it was time she had Yusaku give Shinichi the talk about the birds and the bees? (She'd never admit the conversation would be only for her enjoyment).

After they opened up about their relationship, it wasn't long before she realized they had that kind of relationship. Yukiko was actually planning to tease her son about it sometime soon but first, she needed to put her plan (scheme) into motion; which started with the blueprints.

When the house was built, she and Yusaku had added a number of tunnels and secret passageways both within the mansion and leading in and out of it. This included a tunnel that lead out to a groundskeeper's shed at Beika park and another that opened into a rain drainage channel about two miles away. Part of the reason for the tunnels, and what not (because of course it was more than secret passageways and hidden tunnels), was so they could be used when Yusaku wanted to escape without finishing his work however, for the most part it was a mere eccentricity. The home of a mystery writer and actress is meant to be eccentric or at least, that was their agreed upon theory. Sharing these blueprints with Toichi-sensei's son was her way of saying he was welcome here anytime. After all, the last time she saw Shinichi as happy was back before the day he met Gin and even then it wasn't a true happiness.

Two weeks into her scheming, she gave up on talking to Kaito separate; they may as well have been glued to each other. This was when she decided plan B would be sharing the information while teasing her son without mercy. The plan was so delicious she decided it really should have been plan A.

:.

"Shin-chan! Kai-chan! Can you come to the library?" The dramatics of an actress required that she set this up similar to how their little confession went so she made certain that they would not only meet in the same room but sit in the same places as before. As soon as everyone was in their places, she began; "Your father and I have been talking and we decided to give you this, the blueprints to the house. In it I'm sure you'll notice there is a lot more to this than you ever thought."

Kaito couldn't help but think that smile was nearly as creepy as Koizumi-hime's smiles and was just about to ask about the blueprints when Shinichi cut him off.

"When did you do this? There are whole hidden rooms in here! Does this one connect to Agasa-hakase's?" According to the blueprints there were even secret doors to his bedroom!

"Shin-chan, the house was built like this! Isn't it more fun this way?"

"I think we have very different definitions of what fun is Oka-san."

"Aww Shin-chan, don't you like it? This way Kai-chan can sneak into your bed even easier than before!"

Shinichi had no idea how to even begin to respond to that. Kaito on the other hand…

"I like it! Look Shin-chan, according to this I can use this passageway from Beika park to get to the library! Oh and the room in the attic is awesome!"

It was official, he was surrounded by lunatics. Kaito was way too happy over this. The real problem though was how she phrased it. "Oka-san, did you— I mean, what did you mean when… umm…"

"Why Shin-chan, of course a mother knows! I bet you make a very cute uke too!"

Oh my god this is not happening. Poor Shinichi was now openly gapping at his mother and what she just said. "You—Oka-san! How could you—you!"

"He is very cute indeed, very demanding too. Did you know he has a birthmark on his hip just above his cute butt?"

"Kaito!"

"Yes! He's had it since he was a baby! I bet he's loud too hmm?"

He couldn't believe what he was hearing, Kaito and his mother were talking about his sex life! Where was his father to make her stop all this? Looking around the room, Shinichi noticed his father was doing his best to quietly sneak out of the library. Traitor.

After what must have felt like hours later to Shinichi who was now curled up in the armchair and covering his ears, Yukiko decided she had tortured her son enough. "Kaito, I'm sure Shinichi will deny it but, since you stay here most nights if not all, I'd like you to consider moving in. Yusaku and I really appreciate everything that you've done for him and we want you to feel like this is your home too." She paused to make sure Shinichi heard what she said before continuing. "If there is ever anything you two need, feel free to ask because, Kaito, you are family too now."

Kaito honestly didn't know how to respond to that and a glance at Shinichi showed he didn't know either. "Thank you. I—thank you."

Deciding it was time to give the boys a chance to talk alone about what she proposed, Yukiko got up to leave the room. Just before reaching the door she turned back for one last thing. "And Kaito, if you ever hurt my little Shin-chan… not even your skills as a phantom thief can save you."

With that Yukiko left the room and Kaito turned to Shinichi with a little less color in his face than before.

It took me long enough to finish this I know but, I have the next chapter done already! The one after is also almost done too so it shouldn't be too long. What happened was I started that chapter but realized I needed this one to explain some things that are said in that one then I got bored and started writing this short chapter that was more to get past writers block than for any real reason so that will be the next chapter and since its relatively short I'll be sure to upload it in the next few days, probably tomorrow.

I should note, I didn't really edit this chapter since I just finished it and I'd kind of rather put it up and have it done with than go back and read it... again. I have re-read this chapter repeatedly since I had so much trouble trying to finish it. Any mistakes you see, feel free to point them out and I'll fix them otherwise... I kind of doubt I'll get around to doing it myself.

Thank you for all reviews; I find I'm kind of addicted to them so the more the better, please?