Shinichi could not help the wince that came after his front door had closed behind him. He had gotten used to the company of a friend, one who he had spent almost all of his time with, and suddenly coming back to an empty house was like a sharp slap to the face. It had only been two days. Two fulfilling days where he had been surrounded by the presence of a person who he had searched aimlessly for after Conan had basically disappeared from his life forever. He had been absolutely ecstatic to see that face again.

Kyo still looked like the little boy in the window Shinichi had stumbled across accidently. It had been years, but the detective could clearly remember every encounter the two of them had shared. How could he have forgotten? That fall had marked one of the turning points in his young life.

His mother had nearly completely retired from acting around that time, and his father had switched publishing companies. It meant a new publishing staff and a new editor. One that was very skilled in getting in touch with the Kudo's regardless of what they did to prevent it. It soon became a very big problem. Their simple little solution? Move to an entirely different location until the latest book had been completed. Shinichi could be home schooled for however long it took, and they could still have limited contact with everyone in Beika. Shinichi had merely nodded when his parents told him the news. He was eight. It wasn't as though he could really refuse the new arrangements. Instead he played along without so much as a fuss.

During those first few weeks he spent most of his free time placed in front of the television set or inside his father's study. Soon, though, the activated he could entertain himself with in those two rooms became overdone and increasingly boring. The TV stations had started to play nothing but reruns, and he had read nearly every book in his new house's temporary library. The neighborhood kids didn't interest him, so he took a risk of venturing outside, but a child could only take being cooped up for so long. He needed to get out of the house eventually.

However, on the bright side if things, the town he had been dragged to did have a lot of back roads and secret pathways that led into tiny forests. It was easy to get lost, to be absorbed in nothing but reaching some pointless destination until the light of day was gone. Shinichi got lost an awful lot.

One day he had wound up in a strangers backyard. To be fair, he hadn't known it was someone's backyard at the time. It had just been the general area where his soccer ball had gotten lost in. He hadn't even found his ball that day, even after minutes of searching, but he had spotted a house from the corner of his eye. And from that small glance he had seen what looked like a head of bright orange hair coming from a small circular window.

He had left soon after, but that image remained in his head. For some reason it struck a chord in him and he had not been able to get it out of his mind. He had been silent at dinner, restless at bedtime, and had finally been driven to find his way back to that house the next day.

That afternoon he finally got a decent chance to see that head of orange, and the boy it belonged to standing in front of the window. The distance made it impossible to get a good look at one another, but the detective had not cared. Not on that day. So instead of dwelling on the lack of close proximity, he focused on coaxing the boy in that attic into an innocent game.

It had been so fulfilling for something so simple. Yet it had been so short. The boy had fallen down, gotten back up, and ushered him away frantically. Shinichi wasn't sure if he had done something wrong, but had hurried off nonetheless.

But he had not been able to stay away. Instead he simply changed his approach. He climbed up a tree located right next to the house, one that was as high as the three story building, and waited. When he saw that head of hair again, he did his best to hang upside down next to the window. He had never been good at acrobatics like that, and it was a miracle he didn't fall to his death that day, but he knew he had to try. For the boy hidden in the attic, he had to try and get into that house.

The boy in the attic was soon given a name, Kyo, and Shinichi was given a brand new friend. One that could never stop intriguing him, no matter what was revealed about him after intense investigation. It was surprising how little of that had changed after so many years, after separation and lost contact.

The same red eyes, the same orange hair, the same cursed bracelet. Sure there were some minor differences here and there as a result of passing time. Kyo was taller, more muscled, and had a deeper voice than the last time they met. But the attitude was still the same, the passion dubbed in red was still very much present, and the desire to be close to him was thankfully still as strong as it had always been. Shinichi had seen proof of that the day before.

To be without it again, after too a short reunion, was like snatching away a cup of water from a man who had deprived of drink for weeks. Solitary company had always been something the detective enjoyed, but at that moment it was the worst thing he had ever experienced. A punishment he would not wish on even his most despised enemies.

"Oi, Kudo, you home?"

Shinichi blinked at the voice. It seemed to be coming from his kitchen, which was odd since nobody was supposed to be in his house at that moment. Warily he made his way towards the room in question and poked his head inside. To his surprise a certain Osakan detective was at his table with a half eaten box of pizza in front of him.

"Were you planning to save any for me?" Shinichi should have been asking a few more important questions. Ones like, 'How did you get in my house?', 'Who's check is that pizza coming out of?', or 'What are you even doing here?' He knew the answers to those though, so asking would have been pointless. Heiji had a key, had used his own money, for fear of what would happen if he did not, and was there to welcome his friend home. Whether it was with a plate of food had yet to be determined.

Heiji smiled and offered him the opposite chair. "Depended on how long it took you to get here."

Shinichi rolled his eyes, but sat down and took a slice anyway. He wasn't all too hungry at the moment. Tohru had not let him out of the house without one last meal, and Kyo had insisted on giving him snacks to take on the train ride home. He was only eating because the western detective would make a big fuss if his generosity was refused.

Heiji was pleased at the action. "So, how was your little quest?"

Shinichi could not help but smile.

Heiji could not help but notice. "That good huh?"

"I found him. That boy I told you I was looking for." The image of a teenage Kyo entered the brunette's mind. "He's not a little boy anymore, but he's still the same guy I remember."

"Did he remember you too?"

Shinichi nodded. "He did. Honestly, it was almost like I never left." His eyes darted to the bracelet on his wrist. "I was happy."

"And now?"

He sighed. "I didn't want to leave him."

The tanned detective frowned. "He means a lot to you, doesn't he?"

"The world." Shinichi ran a tired hand though his hair. "I've never told you much about him, have I?"

Heiji reached for a slice of pizza. "Just the bare bones. You met when you were kids and he's the reason why you never took off that bracelet. Unless you count the time you were about three feet shorter."

That wasn't a time Shinichi liked to remember very well. Even now, even though he was basically cured, a part of the poison that ruined his life was still with him. A part of it was still reminding him of the sacrifices he had made, and would have to continue to make. Most of the time Shinichi preferred to forget that the whole thing had ever happened.

What he had just discovered in a not too far off town was much more satisfying to think about. "His name's Kyo Sohma. I met him when I was eight after my father had moved us to a new town. I was only there for a year, but we happened upon each other on accident and became fast friends. We continued to visit each other for another year or so before he had to leave and… couldn't take me with him."

The Osakan raised an eyebrow. "That it?"

Shinichi smiled sadly. "It's a complicated situation. Paraphrasing is the only way I know how to explain it to you without getting confused myself."

That was a lie. Shinichi could have never mixed up the events those two years had made him experience. No amount of age changing, organization chasing, mind-blowing pain could ever change that. He just wasn't sure he could say it all to Heiji. So many secrets, so much hate, too many lies he would have to reveal. It was too risky. Shinichi was still bound to the Sohma family in a sick twisted sort of way because of Kyo, an in order to protect him, the detective would have to ensure that nothing of great importance was ever revealed. If that meant keeping something from a new best friend, then so be it. The first one was still a huge priority in the Heisei Holme's heart.

"I take it you'll make this trip again." Heiji asked him a moment later.

There was no need to ask. "As soon as I can." He leaned back in his chair, tossing the crust of his half finished slice back into the box. "Next time I may stay a bit longer."

"You know that's going to annoy Neechan, right?"

Shinichi nearly cringed. Ran was a very big problem when the cat was concerned. Just as Kagura was Shinichi's mortal enemy, Ran was Kyo's. It was a rivalry that had appeared during the second year of friendship between the two boys. Kyo had been dabbling in martial arts, taking classes at the expense of the Kudo family at a dojo in Beika. Ran had been partaking in that same interest that year, and when the two met…things did not go very well.

Kyo was naturally stronger, and the diligence at which he practiced his new art was astounding. Ran was just as good, but her emotional stability when fighting was seriously lacking. She often got too worked up by her opponent to properly control herself. Normally this would spell doom for the poor sap who requested a fight. With Kyo, however, it was different. Kyo knew how to keep his calm when fighting the girl, and could get her to lose control without breaking his own concentration. From there it was a simple matter of how long it would take before Ran was showed up again.

The redhead never tried to be better, which was a miracle in and of itself considering the attitude of most kids at that age. He simply wanted to survive, and in some cases, help Shinichi survive. Ran just wanted to defeat the boy she felt was taking her place in her dear friend's heart. Kyo's will and resolve always won out over hers when it mattered. The bitterness that left behind had never properly faded. God forbid you said the boy's name around Ran when she as upset, or brought up a time when he had come out victorious against her in a battle of strength.

"You didn't tell her where I went, did you?"

Heiji promptly looked everywhere but in Shinichi's general direction.

That was enough of an answer. "Thanks, Hattori, I really appreciate your unfaltering reliability." He muttered sarcastically, now mentally trying to figure out what lie he hadn't yet told that would suit the situation.

"I didn't know it was supposed to be a secret!"

"Why do you think I didn't tell her myself instead of going through the charade of going to school?"

Heiji had no answer. "Beats me."

"I should just for the trouble you've caused me." He wouldn't though. Heiji was an idiot at times but he meant well. It was Shinichi's own fault, really. He should have mentioned that no one knew where he was going, and that that was the whole point. "Guess I can't blame you when it is partly my fault." He rubbed his forehead, trying his best to will an oncoming headache away. "It just puts me in a bad spot."

"Want more good news?"

"I don't think I can handle anymore, thanks."

"Tough." The other shrugged. "I was only asking cause I had to."

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Do tell then."

"Kid is having another heist at the end of this week."

The detective was quick to frown. "He just had one a few days ago. Why so soon?"

"Don't know, but he'll probably say it's because of you."

Just what he needed. "Doesn't he always?" And suddenly, Shinichi was desperately missing the warmth he had woken up to that morning. That nice easy comfort of a person who expected nothing more from him than anything he was already willing to give.

"I don't want to say I told you so," The other began.

"But you have every right to." It would, after all, be a hundred percent true. Heiji had told him so. He had absolutely told him that things were only going to go downhill. Shinichi just didn't listen. "This is what I get for breaking the heart of a thief."

Heiji frowned. "It wasn't entirely you're fault."

That was where the other was wrong. It had been Shinichi who approached the thief for a relationship. It had been Shinichi who kept enough secrets to make the entire affair last as long as it had. And it had been Shinichi who had called the whole thing off when he saw what he had done. Though, if he really wanted to get technical, it was all Conan's fault.

Because of Conan, Shinichi had to let go of everything he had obtained in his life. Beginning with his home and ending with Kyo. The detective had held off in doing so for as long as he could. The organization had taken everything from him. His body, his job, his house, he was not about to let them have Kyo too. The redhead and those few phone calls were one of the only things the detective could hang onto, and just about the only things that could reassure him of who he was anymore. Because every time Kyo picked up the phone, it wasn't to say hi to Conan, it was to say hi to Shinichi. However, times got too dangerous, and he eventually had to let the boy go lest he be put in danger's way.

That was a particularly dark moment in Shinichi's life. Without Kyo, there was this big hole in his heart that nobody else could seem to fix. It remained empty, bitterly swallowing whatever joy its owner tried to force into it. Nothing could assuage it. Nothing could soothe it. In an effort to at least fill it with something, anything, even if it wasn't what it heart wanted, Shinichi had sought out someone to share his loneliness with. He couldn't burden Heiji, wouldn't try to ask Ran, and he couldn't string along Kyo.

Even though he desperate wanted to, he just would take the risk. The cat would be in constant danger. Not only that, but how would he have taken to seeing Conan? What would he have thought of the foolish detective who had let himself be fed a poison that turned him into a child? If he didn't outright laugh, he certainly would have been mortified with what it all meant, what it would entail for him. Kyo would have had to accept a lot, more than he should have been able to. Shinichi didn't want to break him.

Then Kid had shown up, told him he knew who he really was, and things had spiraled from there. It was about as taboo as anyone could get without being punished for the real thing, and the moments where both had been actual sized detective and thief had been rare. Yet the relationship continued, and Shinichi kept lying to himself about how much it really meant to him. He wasn't heartless. He felt an attachment to the thief. However, he knew that he meant more to the thief than the thief truly meant to him.

After all, the relationship they had did nothing to stop Shinichi from taking the permanent cure Haibara had created, and it had not even crossed his mind the moment he returned to his rightful body. Kyo did. And suddenly, all Shinichi could think about was how much of a strain his relationship with Kid would put on things. How would the two of them ever be able to coexist in his life? He was always likely to offer one more attention than the other, and if that happened all hell would erupt before him with bloody casualties. He had to make a decision. Which did he treasure more? The thief who ran the night sky, or the cat whose eyes burned with a fire's intensity?

It had been no choice at all. He had broken things off with Kid only three days later, using the excuse that it had become too much for him to handle. He told the white bandit that his appearances at those full moon heists would stop in order to make things easier for the both of them. He asked the other not to fight it, and with that he walked off. And then, and then, a few days later a boy had bumped into him on the train. One who looked exactly like him with eyes a deep indigo.

Oh he knew it was Kid. Who else would have eyes like those, a way of speaking with his entire body, and refer to him as Tantei-Kun? Granted, a good portion of the general public had adopted that nickname when referring to him because of Kid. It was popular mostly in Ekoda, though a few Kid fans in Beika had taken to calling him that, but not many would say it to his face. The boy was too bold. He was too forward. There was no way he couldn't have been the elusive thief the detective had tried to leave behind.

He had tried to cream at the other, but the hopeful look in that boy's eyes made Shinichi stop the bitter demand to get as far away from him as he could. It was guilt, more than anything, which made him bite his tongue. So he accepted the offer of lunch that day, and soon after that he accepted the friendship of Kaito Kuroba. Days later he told Kid he would keep coming to heists as a favor, and could only partly bask in the joy of the other teenager.

But those favors to Kid, that guilt ridden duty to Kaito, coupled with what he had to do to appease Ran, and any solid attempts at hanging out with Heiji, were tiring him out. He was exhausted, most of the time barely able to function normally without some kind of sinking feeling forming in the pit his stomach. He was surprised he hadn't collapsed yet from all the pressure.

"What did his note say?" He asked tiredly, suddenly feeling as though he could fall down to the ground and sleep for weeks. "You did solve it right?"

Heiji held up three fingers. "From what I gathered, there will be three so called 'acts' to this heist." He put down one finger. "The first will involve me chasing him through one of the lower gardens down on the ground. If I manage to keep up with him long enough, I get a playing card." Another finger was brought down. "The second involves Hakuba running though the first few floors of the building in order to try and keep him from getting to the roof. If he wins, he gets another playing card and the heist jewel. If he loses, then it's up to you."

"To do what exactly?"

"To have a final showdown with Kid on the roof. It's your job to make sure he doesn't get away with it."

"Just great." What he wouldn't give to be back at Shigure's house right at that moment.

A few days later

Shinichi knew it was hopeless to dream for a smooth sailing encounter with the criminal. It had been a hopeless endeavor to wish for just one night where detectives could outsmart the thief they were chasing. Still, even though he shouldn't have held his breath, he still tried to hang on to whatever shred of hope he had when he stepped onto that night's crime scene.

Heiji had almost made him believe that wishing was not a lost cause. Kid was fast, but this night the Osakan had been just as quick as the one he followed. He burst through the traps, ignored the distractions, and managed to come out with an ace of clubs as his reward. However, he could not stop Kid from disappearing soon after the playing card had been given.

Then it was Hakuba's turn. He had had much more running to do, and a lot more traps to avoid than Heiji had. Shinichi thought it was rather deliberate on Kid's part, but hoped the Englishman could actually come out on top despite the challenges that faced him. He had been the most familiar with Kid, after all, so he should have had more experience with dodging whatever the thief threw his way. That meant he should have walked away with the card and jewel after a small struggle. He should have, but he didn't.

Which meant Shinichi actually had to appear before the thief that night.

"Any minute now," Hakuba growled out, once everyone had stopped to gather in one of the main security rooms. He was presently trying to pick out the batch of feathers from his hair. It was nearly impossible to do, since a large portion of superglue had been poured onto his head not two minutes before the fluffy white things had. It was his punishment, he had been told, for being so slow. "We'll have to leave it to you, Kudo-San."

Heiji grumbled an agreement. He too had had glue poured on his head, and his hat had been shoved on his head right after, leaving him with a cap connected semi permanently to his head. The only good thing to come from his misery was the ace of clubs Shinichi was now holding.

Shinichi mumbled in the affirmative, but looked less than eager about the whole thing. He had hoped that Hakuba would have been able to keep up with Kid long enough to get that second card. That way the heist would have ended early, with no need for the Heisei Holmes to make an appearance, and they could all have just gone home. Shinichi would have been able to avoid the magician in white for another few weeks, and all would have been glorious for a little while.

Of course, luck had never been on his side to begin with, so he supposed that begging for such an unlikely outcome was just asking for disappointment.

He sighed and looked at the watch of his wrist. Any minute now he would have to try to make use of its second function, a stun gun, and somehow find a way to make Kid hand over his latest prize without too much of a fuss. Just great.

"Excuse me, Kudo-San?"

The teenager turned when a voice called over to him from a few feet away. The men on the Kid taskforce usually avoided talking to him when it wasn't necessary, as Nakamori-Keibu hated it when the teenagers who barged onto his crime scenes got too chummy with his men. Curious as to why they were breaking protocol now of all times, he turned to face the one who had called him. The man was holing out Shinichi's cell phone, and it was vibrating rapidly.

Confused, he took the electronic device from the man's hand, wondering why he had not noticed it was missing until that exact moment. "Thanks." He quickly said to the officer, pressing the answer button without bothering to look at the screen. "Hello?"

"Shinichi-Kun! Thank goodness I was able to reach you."

Shinichi frowned at the slightly distressed voice. He knew he recognized it from somewhere, but it took him a few seconds longer than it should have to realize who it was. "Honda-San? What's the matter? You sound upset."

"Well, it's just, I didn't know what to do, and,"

"Breathe." He ordered gently. "Take a deep breath before you make yourself sick." He waved off the questioning glances from Hakuba and Heiji. He waited until he heard the girl on the other line do as he had instructed. "Good. Now tell me what's wrong."

"It's Kyo." Shinichi's heart stopped beating for a moment.

"What's wrong with him?" He asked urgently. "What happened?"

Heiji immediately began to question what was wrong, and Hakuba tore himself away from his hair long enough to do the same. Shinichi ignored them both, waiting instead for the girl who had called him in the midst of an emergency.

"He just got so sick all of a sudden."

"What do you mean?" He asked calmly, trying, if he could, to at least keep her calm.

"He was fine one minute, and then he just collapsed."

The detective's eyes widened. "Is he okay? Did he hurt himself?"

"No. I managed to catch him and bring him to his bed." He would have to commend her properly later on for such a feat. Tohru looked like such a tiny little thing, and Kyo was no doubt twice as heavy as she was. It must have taken a lot of strength and determination to move him from one area to the other.

"What else?"

"He has a pretty bad fever and keeps talking in his sleep, that is, when he finally manages to fall asleep." The poor thing sounded like she was about to cry. "I didn't know who else to call. Shigure and Yuki aren't here,"

Of course. When Shinichi needed the dumb rat to be somewhere, he was conveniently absent.

"And I couldn't get in touch with Hatori,"

Why on earth not? What the heck was the other doing that was so important he couldn't answer his phone?

"And Kyo keeps calling out your name out in his sleep."

Shinichi blinked. "He does?"

"Well, I think it's you. He keeps saying 'Shin'."

The detective tried to fight the flush threatening to come over his cheeks. When they had been kids, Kyo had rarely ever called him by his full name. He usually referred to him as 'Shin', an affectionate nickname he had created when asked by Yukiko what he would call the brunette if he could. Shinichi had allowed it, not minding the name when it was the redhead who was saying it, but he had not heard it in so long. It felt oddly nice to hear it uttered again. He just wished he could hear Kyo say it himself.

"And…he keeps saying sorry to his father."

Any happy emotions Shinichi had experienced when hearing his old nickname died when Tohru finished speaking. Then his free hand tightened into a painful fist, his stomach suddenly feeling as though it was bursting forth with the acid inside of it. His mind became a sudden flurry of thoughts, making it difficult to think properly. Yet, even though his mind was now rebelling against him, Shinichi was certain of one thing.

"I'm on my way. Keep him comfortable until I get there."

"Really?" Came the overjoyed response. "Thank you so much!"

"No problem. I'll see you in a little bit, okay?"

Answering in the affirmative, Tohru quickly hung up the phone after a quick goodbye. Shinichi wasted no time in running to the nearest exit, and immediately heading for the closest elevator. Heiji and Hakuba, who had watched the entire conversation in confusion, followed after him. The other teenager was acting strangely, and it was beginning to worry them. If they simply let him leave now, without at least asking where he thought he was going, they just knew they'd end up regretting it. Who knew what would happen? Lucky for them they were able to catch him at an elevator currently rising from the first floor. It was a good thing the detective had not decided to go for the stairs on the other side of the hallway.

"Kudo." Heiji breathed out once he had stopped in front of the brunette who had his back turned to them. "Where the hell are you going?"

Hakuba, once he had caught his breath, tried to nod. "The heist isn't over yet."

It seemed as though that was the furthest thing from Shinichi's mind at the moment. "I've got somewhere I need to be."

"Now?"

"Now. As in, I should have been on a train ten minutes ago, now."

Heiji frowned. "You're up next Kudo. Kid is expecting you. He's going to be a little ticked off if you just up and leave."

"Then he shouldn't have dragged this thing out for so long!" The brunette growled out, around to face the other two detectives. The movement, and anger, had surprised the other two so much that they felt the need to take a few steps back. "If he wants to make these heists last forever, fine, but don't expect me to waste my time just because he feels like testing out a new game. Not when I have more important things to see to."

Hakuba held up his hands in a gesture of defense. "We're not going to stop you, but we are a little worried as to your current condition. Are you sure you should be going anywhere on your own?"

That managed to calm the boy down a bit. "I'm fine. A friend just really needs me right now."

A look of understanding passed through Heiji's eyes. "Is it him?"

Shinichi nodded. "He's sick, and it sounds like he's in pain. I know this is putting a lot of pressure on the two of you right now, but I just need to see him. I need to make sure he's okay."

Heiji shook his head. "Don't worry about. We'll handle things here." When the door to the elevator opened to reveal an empty compartment, the Osakan pushed his friend inside of it, waving off the confused look he received as Shinichi had done earlier. "Go. Take care of him. Call me when anything changes, neh?"

Shinichi nodded, a grateful smile staring back at the tan detective before the doors closed.

A minute or two passed on in silence before Hakuba turned to Heiji. "You realize we won't be leaving this place with our dignity intact now, don't you?"

"Yeah, but I think it's worth it. Kid is not the person he needs to see right now. Maybe this Kyo person is." He turned the other around and proceeded to push him towards the stairs. They were going to end up on the roof anyway. Might as well get a head start. "Let's just try to make it out of here in one piece."

Hakuba was quick to shove the other away, but continued on to their destination. "If that's at all possible to accomplish at this point."

Heiji just smiled, turning to look at the elevator once before taking in a deep breath. "Sorry Kid, but you can't be his top priority anymore."

AN: Hey guys. New installment. Can I start off by saying I have nothing against Kid/Kaito the character? I don't hate him, and I am not against the KaiShin pairing. This is just the way the story turned out. You know how it is. Sometimes things just end up writing themselves. Anyway, enjoy, read, and review as always. Good day to you all.

Chapter brought to you by the song 'So Small' by Carrie Underwood.