"Would somebody please explain to me what on Earth is going on here?"

Shinichi gave Yuki a bland look. "Did the two covered up bloody bodies not give you enough of a hint?"

Yuki threw back that same expression. "So, I see dead bodies are still following you around like a lovesick puppy. You would think that you'd grow out of that by now."

"And you would think you'd start looking more like a man by the end of high school. Life's funny that way."

"Anyway!" Kyo interrupted swiftly. If he did not intervene, there would no doubt be an escalating feat of violence. The last thing he needed was a fistfight to occur right in front of Tohru. And if Yuki laid a hand on Shinichi, there would be hell to pay. "Just what happened here Shinichi?"

"A double murder." The detective answered solemnly. "A brother and a sister known as Komine and Sensui Taganashi."

"I know that much." Kyo interjected softly. "They were classmates of mine."

Shinichi looked almost guilty. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Kyo stored away that apology for a later time. Shinichi had a bad habit of blaming himself for the deaths of the people he came across. He used to say it was some kind of curse, that death followed him around so much because he was destined to always make people perish before his eyes. The opinion had apparently stemmed from Yuki when they had all been kids. The rat was always teasing Shinichi about how often he ran into murder cases, and how it must have been his fault. Death didn't follow just anyone, after all.

Kyo had done much to ensure that the detective never had time to believe in such taunts. His efforts had worked back then, but someone had obviously brought up that line of thinking once more. It looked like Kyo would have to start dismantling those thoughts all over again.

For now he would do what he could to get Shinichi out of there as fast as possible. He had learned from experience that it was often better to remove oneself from a painful scene of than it was to try and understand the meanings behind it. "Don't worry about it. Have you figured out who the murderer is yet?"

"Yes." Shinichi motioned to the open door of the bakery where several officers rushed to and from in a frenzied hurry. "The local police are in there now reading the man his rights."

Kyo had to raise an eyebrow. "You don't seem so excited."

Shinichi smiled nervously, and the look in his eyes when he turned to Kyo was nearly heartbreaking. "This wasn't what I had in mind when I took the trip down here."

The redhead tried to smile back, tried to make himself look as reassuring as possible. Tohru said that small things like that were often the best ways to comfort someone who seemed low in spirits. "What, your idea of a good time doesn't include dead bodies? Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?"

The joke earned him a small laugh and a playful punch in the arm. "I was supposed to be here on vacation." Shinichi explained to Kyo. "But as you can see,"

Death never took a holiday, and, unfortunately, it wanted to see to it that its favorite detective never did either. "You were sidetracked." The redhead shrugged. "It happens."

"Only to him," Yuki muttered under his breath.

To which Shinichi responded. "Hey Yuki, anyone asked you out to the prom yet? I'd love to go with you to help pick out your dress."

It took the combined efforts of both Tohru and Kyo to keep the two separated this time. Yuki looked ready to take a swing at the detective and Shinichi's leg was beginning to twitch with the silent threat of a painful movement. It was only Yuki's fear of hurting Tohru, and Shinichi's refusal to risk Kyo getting caught in a crossfire, that made them settle themselves down and simply glare at the other.

The cat had almost forgotten how volatile the atmosphere between the two of them could get. As far back as Kyo could remember, the two had never gotten along very well. In fact it had been WWIII the second they first laid eyes on each other. Yuki thought Shinichi was an unwanted outsider and Shinichi was of the opinion that the rat was an abomination to creation. It was common knowledge by now that the two should never be in too close a proximity to the other, lest a long bloody battle be issued out. It had happened once. Shinichi walked away with a bloody nose that was lucky enough not to be broken and Yuki ended up with a nasty looking black eye that did not begin to fade for weeks.

"Anyway," Shinichi refocused his attention on Kyo. "I was just wrapping things up here before I headed out to try and find a hotel." He sighed. "Though, after this morning, I think I'm going to need a walk to clear my head."

"Good idea. I'll go with you." Kyo ignored what sounded like the beginnings of a complaint from the rat behind him. "You shouldn't be alone right now." That, and Kyo was unwilling to leave the boy's side. He had not seen Shinichi in years, and had had no contact with him since the year before. It was about time the two caught up, his mind whispered to him desperately. It was obvious that something deep within him wanted to spend a bit of alone time with a detective he had adored since his childhood.

Shinichi looked almost relieved. If Kyo wasn't reading the signals incorrectly, that meant he had wanted the same thing to transpire. Had that walk been some sort of subtle invitation? The detective wasn't always known for saying what he meant, so the idea might have been said nonchalantly to give the cat an opportunity to refuse. As if he ever would.

"We do have school, you stupid cat." He heard Yuki say. "You can't just not show up."

"Sure I can." And he most certainly would. He turned to Tohru calmly, resisting the urge to go odd on a tangent about his cousin. "I know you don't like lying to people, but, do you think you could make up an excuse for me? Just this once? I promise I'll pay you back for it."

She would not make him do any such thing. That smile on her face let him know that much. She was too good to him sometimes. "I'll tell the teachers you had something important to do, and I'll take notes so you won't miss out on anything important." She saluted him. "You can count on me."

He could not help but laugh.

They had spent the better half of three hours simply walking around aimlessly, relishing in the comfortable silence that surrounded them. It was funny, how the two of them could feel so at ease with each other after so long. How they could say nothing at all yet still smile and laugh as though they were taking part in the conversation of the century. None of it was awkward. None of it was even remotely forced. It simply was, and it was one of the most amazing things Kyo had ever experienced.

"So, what have you been up to?" Kyo asked once the two of them had taken a seat on a nearby bench. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"

"It has." Shinichi stretched himself out before relaxing into the wooden seat he now rested on. "One year without written correspondence, two years without phone calls, and about ten years since we've seen each other face to face." He smiled at the cat. "It's been way too long."

Kyo smiled back. It was far too easy to do so when the brunette was around. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

For anyone else, for any other situation, those words would have been mortifying. The cat did not handle mushy situations, like that, very well. Anger he could do. Sadness he could kind of handle. Emotional exchanges like the one he had just partaken in? It wasn't likely to happen. Kyo Sohma was a proud socially awkward loner who did a lot better at avoiding the situation than trying to make himself comfortable inside of it. With Shinichi it was different. Then again, everything was when it involved the detective. Shinichi himself was different to begin with.

He was the boy who had appeared out of nowhere. The child who had been befriended a shy, quiet, cursed boy who always played in his attic, yearning but never daring to venture outside into the world he had barely experienced. The cursed child who wanted more than anything to just find someone to play with. Someone who wouldn't flinch every time they came near him.

The redhead had, by the time he was eight, put aside those childish dreams in favor of the harsher reality. He was destined to always be alone. It wasn't a fun realization, but it had been one he needed to make in order to survive. Truly, it was the one thing he needed to know as fact lest he wanted his heart broken.

Then came a little boy dressed in blue, one with an obsession for mystery, who had been drawn into the fire that was Kyo Sohma. Anyone else would have run away in fear. Shinichi only drew closer in fascination.

It was incredible in ways that could not be described.

"Sorry we had to meet like this." The redhead said apologetically. "Murder's never fun when you're trying to enjoy a vacation."

"Actually, I have a small confession to make." The detective scratched the back of his head. It was a quirk of his. One he was fond of utilizing when he was feeling particularly bashful about something. Kyo had seen it dozens of times when they were kids. "This isn't exactly a pleasure trip."

"A business trip then?"

Shinichi shook his head, and then set blue eyes on the boy next to him. Kyo wondered if there would ever be a time when he would tire of looking at that remarkable gaze. Even after having not seen it for so long, it was still enough to leave him breathless. "I came here for you." He looked at the black and blue beads surrounding his wrist. "I wanted to find you, I mean."

Kyo did not try to stop the flush that appeared over his face. It wouldn't work, and Shinichi had no doubt already seen it. "Oh really? Why after so long?" The question was not harsh, though coming from Kyo it probably sounded that way. He wasn't mad, not really, not in all honesty. Just curious.

Shinichi understood. "Something happened a little while ago. Something so chaotic it all but shattered my life. For the past three years I struggled to turn chaos into order so I could finally get back home. Unfortunately, because of all this, I slowly lost touch with just about everyone I was close to. You included."

So the cat hadn't been singled out? "Sounds hectic."

"It was." The detective sighed. "You wouldn't believe how mad it made me, having to push away everything until matters sorted themselves out. Then, when I finally had a chance to reconnect with everyone, the first person on my list was nowhere to be found."

Kyo blinked. He pointed to himself, head slightly tilted and eyes narrowed in confusion.

The other smiled and nodded. "Yeah you. You had relocated completely. No one knew where you were. Or, nobody would tell me where you went off to. All they said was that you'd left the mountains and had found some people to live with." He ran a hand through his hair. "No specifics of course. I swear your entire family is against me."

"Not all of them." The redhead assured. "Just some."

"As a last resort I thought about the one person in your family who would be willing to give me a piece of information, even if did cost me my dignity. Shigure was the only one who fit the criteria."

"Shigure was the first person you thought of?"

"It was either him or Kagura, and we both know how she feels about me."

She despised him, almost as much and Yuki did. Though, her hate was a bit more understandable. Her precious fiancé was often times more preoccupied with the 'outsider' than her. When they had been boys, after Shinichi had learned the shameful secret of the Sohma Zodiac members, the detective had come up with dozens of ways to keep the boar at bay when he and his best friend were playing. His favorite trick had always been to let her get close enough to Kyo to hug him, only to intercept the embrace and turn her into the little pig destiny dictated her to be. Then both boys would run as far as they could before she turned back to her human form. It was a fairly dangerous move, but Shinichi always managed to pull it off with little trouble. Kagura hated him for it. Kyo adored him that much more for it.

"Low and behold," The brunette said after a short pause. "I find you here."

"Congratulations. You get a cookie."

At the mere mention of food, Shinichi's stomach began to growl. Red faced and embarrassed, he looked away to a very interesting spot on the ground. "You wouldn't happen to actually have a cookie, would you?"

Kyo narrowed his eyes. "Did you forget to eat again? What have I told you about doing that?"

"I think I have a pretty good excuse!" Shinichi defended. "Two dead bodies and a reunion are awfully acceptable distractions in my opinion."

The boy got a slap to the back of his head for his efforts. "Idiot." Kyo rose from the bench, dusted himself off, and motioned for Shinichi to do the same. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"To get something substantial in you. I know a good place."

Shigure was surprised to hear the opening of the front door so early in the day. The three teenagers that lived with him could not have been home so soon. School had not even been in session for very long, not nearly enough time for the final bell to have rung at any rate. Though, he thought to himself as he put down his pen on his desk, a few hours time was long enough for the short tempered to get aggravated even to leave.

"Kyo?" The dog called as he ventured out into the hallway. "Get tired of school already?" He blinked when he came to the front door. Not only was Kyo there, grumpily taking off his shoes, but so was a familiar visitor who only laughed at the redhead's sour attitude. "Well I'll be." He said a moment later, eyes now twinkling in recognition. "Is that Shinichi Kudo standing in my doorway?"

The boys stepped closer to the writer and Shinichi bowed. "Nice to see you again, Sohma- San."

"Now, now, Shinichi, we remember what I told you about using that name correct?"

Kyo snorted, nudging his friend in the shoulder. "It makes him feel like the old pervert he is."

Shinichi hid his laugh behind his hand. "Ah, my apologies Shigure."

Shigure pouted. "Still polite as ever I see. Meanwhile Kyo remains as cruel as he's always been." He dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "And after I took him into my own home, despite the challenges I knew it would present. Yes it was a hard decision to make, but I knew I couldn't leave him out on the streets to suffer-"

"Yeah, yeah, woe is you. Can you move now?" The cat pushed his cousin out of the way, proceeding to the kitchen with Shinichi following close behind. "I need to feed him."

Shigure blinked. No screaming, no cursing, no mentions of how full of it he was? That was something new.

The writer walked into the kitchen, intent on asking if the cat was sick, just in time to see Kyo take out a plate of leftovers from last night's dinner, beef stew and a side of white rice. It was Yuki's portion, Shigure recalled. The rat had not been feeling well that evening and had opted to save what Tohru had served for when he got home from school the next day. Yet, it didn't look like he was going to get the chance to eat it. Kyo was currently heating it up and setting out some utensils so that Shinichi could devour it first.

"You do know that's Yuki's, don't you?"

Kyo snorted again, and Shinichi merely smirked. "Oh? Is the little princess going to start crying over some lost food?"

Kyo shrugged. "He shouldn't eat it anyway. Needs to watch that figure if he's going to fit into that dress for prom."

The two snickered and Kyo set the plate in front of the other when it was warm enough. Shinichi dug in as though there would not be hell to pay for it later.

Shigure just shook his head. When one was around, Yuki was in for a headache. When the two of them were together, the poor boy was going to be in a putrid hell. "You two haven't changed a bit."

Both smiled. They obviously considered that a compliment.

"I see you still have some underlying issues with Yuki, Shinichi."

The detective rolled his eyes. "He's the one who has a problem with me. He has ever since we were kids."

"It's funny," Shigure said, leaning against a kitchen wall. "I can't seem to remember when it became Wolf vs. Rat instead of just Rat vs. Cat. Wasn't there even a second where you two got along?"

"No." Kyo answered for his friend, who was still enjoying the finer points of heated leftovers. "Damn rat hasn't liked him since day one."

"When was that exactly?"

Kyo couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his face. "My ninth birthday party. It was the only one I had ever been thrown." He turned to Shinichi. "Do you remember that?"

Shinichi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, nodding as he set the now empty plate down. "Like it was yesterday. That was the first time your family had ever voluntarily tolerated my presence. It was right before the cake was brought out. Yuki-hime managed to find us right before we got to the table…"

"He looks weird." Eight year old Yuki said as he gazed at Shinichi for the first time.

Said detective simply glared in response. His feline best friend, however, bristled at the mere implication of an insult aimed at Shinichi.

"He does not!" He whined like an impudent little brat. "He's smart, handsome, funny, a really good soccer player, and a brilliant detective!" For added immaturity he stuck out his tongue. "You're just jealous."

Yuki huffed and crossed his arms in disgust. "Yeah right. Why don't you get your head out of the clouds and think for a change, you stupid cat?"

Shinichi narrowed his eyes. "Why does this girl feel the need to pick on you?"

Yuki quickly turned his head back towards the young detective. "I'm a boy!"

Shinichi shook his head. "You're thin, feminine, have no sense of body muscle whatsoever, and you're wearing a kimono."He said condescendingly. "In fact you look more like a princess than a-" He paused for a moment before turning to Kyo. "What is he supposed to be exactly?"

"That's Yuki. He's supposed to be the rat of the zodiac."

Shinichi nodded. "That explains it then."He shifted dagger eyes to the boy. "You're a dirty little rat princess."

Yuki made to take a swing at the soccer child, but an arm around his neck halted his attempt. The three looked up to see a smiling Shigure, accompanied by a collected Hatori, gently trying to keep a fight from breaking out.

"Now, why all this commotion on such a lovely day, hmm?" Shigure took note of the looks on three small faces. Angry Yuki, annoyed Shinichi, and vengeful Kyo. Not the best way to start a party. "Isn't his supposed to be a day of happy times and wonderful memories?"

Kyo pouted. "It was." He glared at a still restrained Yuki. "Until he decided to show up."

"Now, Kyo that's not very nice." Shigure said as gently as he could. "You two are cousins. You need to learn to get along better."

"He started it!"

Yuki turned his head. "All I did was make an observation."

"You insulted Shinichi."

Hattori sighed. "Yuki, that was not a very polite thing to do."

Yuki huffed again. "He shouldn't even be here."

"That may be, but its Kyo's birthday party, and it was his choice who he wanted to bring as a special guest. He chose Shinichi."

The doctor continued to softly scold the young rat while Shigure reassured the boy all would be well. During that time the birthday boy managed to slip away with his best friend without the other three noticing their vanishing act.

"Who is he?"Shinichi asked once the two of them were out of earshot. He periodically looked behind him, glaring as though a mean face could ward of any unwanted company.

"He basically is a rat princess." Kyo caught sight of a low stone wall sitting near a small fish pond. They were tropical fish, if he wasn't mistaken, and for a moment he marveled at how huge they were. Could they get that big in real life? They must have been expensive. "Everyone thinks of him as some special prince of the family." He took a seat on the little wall.

Shinichi followed his lead. "Is that because of the story?"

Kyo nodded. His eyes followed a set of fish swimming around each other in what seemed like a perfect circle. "The rat was the first to cross the finish line, meaning he was the best of the best. Anyone with that zodiac sign is treated like a winner."

Shinichi frowned. "I don't think that way."

"You're biased." The child said sadly. "If you had been Yuki's friend before mine, you would think the way everybody else does."That hurt to say, hurt to admit. Shinichi was the best thing that had ever happened to the cat. Yet, he knew that that may have not been the case for Shinichi. Kyo may have very well been the worst thing the boy had ever come across.

"The rat cheated."

Startled, Kyo looked to the serious face of the boy sitting next to him. "Huh?"

"The rat cheated throughout that entire race. He tricked the cat into not coming so he wouldn't have as much competition, and then he tricked the ox into carrying him so he wouldn't have to work as hard." Shinichi looked down angrily. "I would never like someone like that. Even if I had met Yuki first, I wouldn't be able to accept the rat. I'd just run off and find the ones he mistreated so that I could somehow make it right." He looked back to Kyo determinedly. "I would still find my way to you and end up your best friend!"

The area became silent. Shinichi was red faced and breathing just ever so harder than he normally did. Kyo could only stare at the small detective in shock. Without thinking he crushed the other to him and clasped onto the hand that was circled with blue and black marble beads. Shinichi returned the gestures tenfold.

"I mean it." The brunette said softly. "You know I do."

Kyo nodded. "I know." The boy had never lied to him before. This time was no different. "I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough."

"What for?"

The redhead laughed slightly. "This is all because of you, you know. I never had a birthday party before."

Shinichi pulled back slightly. "Never?"

Kyo shook his head. "I'm the cursed member of this family. No one wants to throw a party for a monster. The only reason they're being so nice this time is because they want to make a decent impression on you. That's why they went out to actually buy me gifts and rented this place out for the party. It would look bad on them if they acted the way they normally did in front of a guest. If they act this way for now, they can go home later and pretend like they did their good deed for the day." Still, he smiled. "But that's okay. I'm happy they let me bring you today, and I'm glad we'll be able to have a good time, even if it's not because that's really the reason for people being so nice."

Shinichi tightened the hold on Kyo's hand. His best friend did not deserve this.

"What are you two doing?"

Kyo barely had the sense of mind to look for the voice. When he located the owner, he almost wished he had stayed in la la land where he and Shinichi were the only ones present. "What do you want, rat?"

Said boy glared at the brunette holding his cousins hand. He looked like he wanted to comment. Instead all he said was, "Cake is ready."

Kyo sighed and jumped down from his perch on the wall, taking Shinichi with him. As they passed Yuki bye, Shinichi tightened his hold on the cat's hand and blew a raspberry at the rat.

...

"…Happy Birthday dear Kyo~" The group sang out moments later. "Happy Birthday to you~"

Those around the table clapped as the redhead blew out his candles. A camera was then held up to the birthday boy as a smiling Shigure Sohma focused the lens on the child and his cake. "Smile."

Kyo blinked. He then reached over to the right side of the table and pulled over his shocked best friend. "Take a picture with me Shinichi."

The detective and cat wrapped their arms around each other. They sent the older Sohma matching grins that did not disappear even after the flash had gone off. Those grins only widened when they were handed their pieces of cake. Kyo's was the biggest of the bunch and had a large fan with his name written in Kanji. Shinichi's was second biggest, and his had a small cat with its paw up in the air.

Kyo was happy when he tasted fresh strawberries within the large pastry. Strawberry was Shinichi's favorite, and Kyo wanted everything to be perfect for the detective's first visit to a Sohma birthday party. He had meant what he said earlier about the reason for his relatives supposed kindness. It was forced, from most of them anyway, but it meant they would behave in front of their guest. This was good news because he wanted to impress the detective as much as he could.

"Time for presents!" Shigure gingerly brought over boxes of beautifully wrapped parcels in all sorts of sizes. Some were as tiny as the palm of his hand, some as big as his head.

Kyo tore through most of them in a flash. Kisa and Hiro had given him a card each. Inside both saved up enough to give him ten dollars collectively. He would find good use for that money when he and Shinichi went to the amusement park next week. The trip was a gift from Shinichi's mother to Kyo. He found it oddly nice that his friend's mother had seen fit to get him something as well, and the small outing would be much appreciated. Ayame had made him and Shinichi miniature detective outfits. They were, of course, modeled after Shinichi's favorite detective and his assistant, Holmes and Watson. Hatori had given him a set of books, ones he had expressed interest in when Shinichi mentioned his father had yet to include them in his library's collection. The two shouted in victory when they realized they would able to brag about it to the older Kudo. Shigure had surprised him with his gift. A promise to take the two with him the next time he traveled to America for a 'vacation' from his editor, all expenses paid. Kyo, seeing the opportunity to test out the bit of English Shinichi had taught him, was very excited.

Kyo had gotten quite a few more gifts, but none of them were marked with a name. Shinichi found it odd, but Kyo knew they probably wanted to deny the day ever happened. Not having their name on a gift would only work in their favor in the future. Still, he got free gifts and that was enough for him. There were gift cards, games, CD's, and toys. One he found particularly amusing was a stuffed fish with rainbow shimmering scales. It might have been meant to make fun of him, but it just looked so funny and cool that he found himself smiling at it. He spent the better half of the next hour chasing Shinichi around with it.

Later it was time for everyone to depart. Kyo would be going home with Shinichi for a week at his house. Shinichi was still being homeschooled for that year, and Yusaku said that if the boy didn't mind he could sit in on the lessons. Then Shinichi was his for the rest of the day. It was the elder Kudo's birthday gift to the young Sohma who his son had grown so attached to.

Yuki was one of the last to depart. Before he left, he swallowed harshly and stood before the birthday boy. Kyo was ready to start an argument, but was stunned into silence when Yuki said, nervously,

"Happy Birthday Kyo."

The redhead blinked repeatedly. Yuki never called him by name. Ever. This was…very unusual and oddly good to hear.

The moment was spoiled when he turned to Shinichi, glared, and said very harshly, "Bastard wolf."

"He did not say that."

"Oh yes he did." Shinichi seriously insisted to the older Sohma. "Little brat ran away before I could get enough bearings to slap him."

Kyo ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't even know he could swear at the time."

"He probably didn't even know what it meant! He just wanted to sound like he could beat me in a match of insults." The detective folded his arms and very nearly pouted. "He just always had to be smarter than me."

Kyo leaned into the brunette slightly, a gesture that seemed to calm him down. "He's not. Trust me. I doubt he could even imagine half the things you're capable of doing."

That made the detective smile. "You're good for my ego."

"And you're good for my sanity."

Shigure shook his head and smiled. Things were bound to get fairly interesting very soon. If past experiences were anything to go by….

He blinked, and then slowly started becoming worried. If past experiences were anything to go by, his house was mere moments away from being torn to tiny non repairable pieces. And then chaos would suddenly reign in his life until he was little more than a sobbing mess on the ground. And if he was lucky, the dead would show up to give him a well deserved break. If he was unlucky, the dead would multiply until they became another issue entirely.

"I'm going to go invite Hatori to dinner." The writer said hurriedly as he rushed to find a phone.

The two teenagers could only stare on in confusion at the space Shigure had previously occupied.

"What's his problem?"

"No idea."

AN: Okay, ladies and gents I have an announcement to make. I normally don't do this, so savor the moment. Thanks, okay? I realize it's been centuries since I updated this, but you guys have been great in not pushing me too much. I haven't gotten a death threat or a 'man up' carelessly thrown around from this story, and you have all been very understanding. I know this might not be my best work, but I wanted to get something out for guys.

So, humiliating me time is over. Enjoy and as always, thoughts are appreciated.