Mikau: Hi guys! This one's kind of sad. It'll be the last one for a while. I haven't had a case of writer's block for a while, so we've gone through my stockpile. Thanks so much to all of my reviewers, especially everyone that reviewed last chapter: MeridianGrimm, Bunnyz-chan, patternleap, and MeitanteiRose!
Disclaimer: If I owned it, every once in a while it actually would be lupus. Oh wait. Wrong show.
…
He's Starving
"I demand you leave at once," Hakuba Saguru growled at the moonlight-clad thief sitting on his balcony.
"Not until we talk, Detective Hakuba," the phantom replied, so softly that the other boy could barely hear.
"We have nothing to discuss. Now go before I call the police," the blonde hissed, looking oh so intimidating in his Kamen Yaiba pajamas.
Kid sighed and let himself in, ducking under Hakuba's arm and striding over to the sofa where he took a seat. "Tantei-san, you have to talk to someone. And soon. It doesn't have to be me, but I won't sit by and watch you slowly unravel. I'd be more than happy to listen, if you'd like, but, if not, maybe there's a classmate or some officer that you trust to talk things out with…. So?"
"'So' what?" Hakuba snorted, crossing his arms and refusing to meet his rival's gaze. "You make it sound as if I need counseling. I assure you that nothing is the matter. Now go!"
"You're not made of ice, Hakuba," Kid whispered, looking up forlornly. "You may pretend that it doesn't affect you, but in reality it's eating you up on the inside. Edogawa Conan died in your arms; you can't tell me that you felt nothing."
The detective sighed, sinking down into the couch and running a hand through his hair. "It's always hard when a child is killed like that, but there was nothing I could have done. We just have to accept it and move on. It wouldn't change anything; discussing it will accomplish nothing. I don't need to talk, Kid."
"Well, maybe I do," the magician muttered.
Hakuba said nothing for a minute or so, but then he nodded. "Alright. What is there to say?"
"…I can't believe he's gone." In truth, there were no words for how the thief was feeling. He'd lost a friend, a rival, and maybe, just maybe, something more. "I…I can't believe he's gone."
"It's not your fault either, Kuroba," Hakuba assured softly, placing a hand on his classmate's shoulder in support.
"I just wish I could have done something," Kaito mumbled.
"You took off your gloves and used them to stop the bleeding," Hakuba reminded. "You called an ambulance. It's not your fault that they didn't make it in time."
Kaito nodded. "Yeah, but… I just can't believe he's gone."
"Kuroba, your mother's out of town, yes? Why don't you leave for a second and then reappear at my front door in your street clothes in a few minutes? You can use the guest room or sleep on the couch in my room, if you prefer to be closer to another warm body."
Kaito looked up at Hakuba, the magician's brow knit together in confusion. "I couldn't—I mean, I'm not—"
"—I need to be close to another warm body. You're right. It's been a week, and I'm falling to pieces, Kuroba. Come stay with me for a while. Please."
Kid nodded, getting to his feet and letting himself out.
An hour later, Kuroba Kaito with a large duffle bag showed up on the Hakuba manor's front porch.
Saguru smiled at the sight of his classmate. "Come in. Make yourself at home."
"Thanks." Kaito gave the detective a half-hearted smile. "Can we watch old movies with Charlie Chaplin or Frank Sinatra? I'm kind of down in the dumps; a good friend of mine just died."
Saguru nodded. "I know exactly how you feel. I just lost a dear colleague that I really admired."
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. I can't believe he's gone."
"Me either," Saguru responded solemnly as they climbed the stairs. "Me either."
"You have hot chocolate?" Kaito inquired hopefully.
"Of course, Kuroba."