Chapter 6: Reprieve for the Restless

When I say it was on fire, it was on fire. Small embers were all that was burning now and the windows and door were blown out. This wasn't the result of a fire, this was a bomb.

Hakuba ran in the building and I followed.

Burnt wood and plaster crumbled under our feet as we made our way inside. Upon first glance the pool hall was deserted. The tables had been blown apart and burnt beyond repair. My traitorous thoughts told me that if someone had been in this room, they wouldn't be alive to tell about it. I cursed myself and followed Hakuba to the back room. The smoke hadn't had time to clear and I tasted the chemicals in my mouth.

"Why didn't we take them with us?" I heard Hakuba say between clenched teeth. "I knew I shouldn't have…." he stopped his ranting, most likely thinking of all the things he should and shouldn't have done. I was too busy looking around.

My brain must have been working better than his because it was cataloging vital information. There really hadn't been anyone in the pool room. There were no bodies and that meant there must have been a warning. Jii wouldn't have ignored something like that.

When we got in to the back room I was sure of it.

The pool cue that I had gotten back for Jii was no longer on the wall, meaning that man had time to grab it on his way out.

"Hakuba-kun, it's ok." I tried to catch up to him. "They made it out before the explosion."

Hakuba turned to me from another burnt room. "How are you so sure?"

"Look around you, detective. No one was here. No one got hurt." I saw his eyes dart around the room as comprehension slowly dawned on him.

"Where are they then?" He looked at me as if I had all the answers.

My heart was finally starting to calm down and I could think clearly. "Kane-kun!" I hit myself in the forehead with my palm, leaving dirt on it. I tried to rub it off as Hakuba made to back to me. "I left him a place to go before heading out."

Hakuba nodded. "So where are they?"

I smiled. "They're at my house."

…

It didn't take us long to get to my house from Jii's. We made it there just as the sun was setting and my mom got home.

"Kaito? She asked, confused as we both reached the door at the same time. "What are you doing outside?"

I paused and looked over at Hakuba. My fingers tapped my legs as I thought of how to answer her. I hated lying to my mom and if I could help it I just avoided the subject. "I've got a bit of a situation on my hands," I admitted.

She looked me over again to make sure she couldn't see any new wounds. I was happy I'd gotten shot on my chest where it was going to be hidden no matter what I wore. "Did you change your bandages today?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I've had a lot on my mind." I pointed over my shoulder at Hakuba. "Can he stay the night?"

She looked Hakuba over this time, taking in his baggy clothes that were now covered in a fine layer of soot. His hair hadn't stayed in place for long and fell almost completely in his eyes. Mom went up to him and held out her hand. Hakuba bent down and slightly bowed to her. "Hello, Kuroba-san. It's nice to meet you. I'm Hakuba Saguru."

Tch, Chivalry.

Mom looked quickly between the two of us after she heard his name. "Kaito?" Her eyes looked worried but she didn't let go of Hakuba's hand.

"It's fine, mom," I reassured her. "He's cool with everything," I added, not admitting anything mind you, just informing my mother that Hakuba wasn't going to two-time me in the middle of the night. Gross, I made us sound like a couple.

"Hello, Hakuba-kun. You are welcome in my house. I hope nothing too dangerous is going on." She turned back to him after opening the door. "I'm sorry, but why are you wearing leather gloves with that outfit? It really doesn't match."

"I've been told I've no sense of fashion by your son as well today. I hurt my hands and I need the gloves for protection," he explained as we entered the house. Mom shoved us in the kitchen.

"Kaito, I'll be right back so don't go anywhere for a second." She went up the stairs into the bathroom. I grabbed a chair and sat down.

"So where exactly are the kids?" Hakuba asked, not sitting. I pulled out the chair next to me.

"Safe. We'll go see them in a minute unless you want to get my mom angry."

He looked around the kitchen before sitting down. "Does she know, then?" I heard him whisper to me. I looked down.

"I guess she does. We don't really discuss the matter."

He watched me for a while and I saw his eyes start to close.

"Hakuba, you should really get some sleep. When was the last time you had any?" I asked him intently.

"I was able to get an hour at the pool hall." He closed his eyes all the way and rested his head on a hand. "And I had about two hours the night you left in the morning, after the kids woke up. I think I managed about thirty-minutes to an hour at school. I didn't sleep at all after the fire."

"How have you managed to stand on your feet for three days with three hours of sleep?" I stood up and towered over him.

He glanced up at me with red eyes and dark circles that made him look dead. "I had to take care of the children. If something had happened and whoever was after them showed up at my place while I was unconscious I could never have forgiven myself. I had to go to my house and my worst fears were correct; They'd followed me when I brought them to the pool hall which means they'd already been watching my place. If this group had done anything at the pool hall while we were there and sleeping, the old man couldn't have taken them alone and you were hurt."

"So you deprived yourself of sleep?" I couldn't keep my voice down.

"Kuroba-kun, you would have done the same thing in my place." He put his head on his arm and laid down on the table "but you doubtlessly would not have passed out like I did."

"Don't act like that something to be ashamed of!"

"Kuroba-kun, I'm tired. Let me sleep while you're up and wake me before you go to sleep. You need it to."

"We're both going to sleep." I sat down but my tone didn't change, just the volume.

"It's not safe. They could have followed the kids out of the building to where ever you're keeping them now."

"No, it's safe. We're both going to sleep there. I don't think they'd do anything to my house with just my mom here."

"I'm not really listening to you at this point you know" he mumbled from inside his arm. "When I'm more coherent you can explain it to me. For now I'll trust you."

Hakuba had his right arm out in front of him with the left wrapped around his head like a pillow. I'd fallen asleep at the table plenty of times and knew it was uncomfortable when you woke up. I couldn't get him to bed without help but I let him pass out for now. I wanted the detective sleep for as long as he could before waking him so I didn't say anything about how stupid he was being.

My mom came in after the yelling had died down. "Kaito, give me your arm so I can re-bandage it."

I was about to take my shirt off when I noticed it would show my newer bandaging. "Can you just cut the sleeve?"

"Sure. Give me your arm." I cringed when I drew my arm away from my body and she noticed. "Does it hurt that bad?"

I shook my head. "It hasn't been a good day." My mom didn't need me to explain further

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

I shook my head again. "Just don't look for us in the morning. We won't leave the house without saying goodbye to you unless it's an emergency."

"I understand, Kaito. I'm here if you need anything so don't forget that." She finished washing and rewrapping the first burn and I made a noise when she moved my arm further to get at the burns on my shoulder.

"Kaito, just how badly are you hurt?" She dropped her gentleness in a second and stared me hard in the eye.

"Would you believe me if I said it was nothing?"

"No."

We stared at each other for a few minutes. I really didn't want to tell her but she's the kind of person you couldn't lie to even if you tired.

I took hold of her wrist with my left hand "I got shot earlier today. It didn't hit anything major but it hurts when I bend my arm."

"Kaito, you should have told me!" I saw the tears in her eyes but she was angry. My mom took my arm slower this time and dealt with the burns. Her actions were meticulous and strained as she tried not to cause me unnecessary pain while she was trying to stay mad. She put the cloth down and finished tying it up. Her shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. I know what your doing is important to you but it makes me makes me sad when you get hurt. I start wishing things I shouldn't."

"Don't worry so much, mom. I'm taking care of myself."

She messed up my hair. "I know."

She went over to Hakuba's sleeping form and took his right hand that wasn't supporting his head. After removing the skin colored gloved she inspected the wrapping underneath before taking out the scissors and cutting it away.

His burns were much worse than mine and there was fresh blood on the area below his knuckles, most likely caused when he'd stopped me from falling.

She dipped a fresh cloth in the water bowl she had brought and washed his hand lightly. I saw him twitch a few times before he settled down, never waking up. Mom cut the cloth in half to wrap it around his fingers more comfortably before wrapping up the rest. His hand hadn't stopped bleeding.

She took Hakuba's head and tilted it to the side so that she could get at his other hand. This one wasn't bleeding and I could see the blisters that were still on it along with raw skin covering large patches of his hand. She took care of it just as quickly as his other hand and rinsed the bowl out.

"Is he hurt anywhere else that you know about?" mom asked me. I had to think through the fog of sleep that was attacking me.

"Yeah, his ankles got burned pretty badly." I put my hands up "Mine aren't that serious. I've already forgotten about them. We have to thank the flame resistant clothing for that." And it was true; my ankles hadn't been bothering me all day.

I scooted my chair away from Hakuba so she could help him. I would have been helping too if my arm would have let me and I wasn't afraid I'd pass out. Mom pulled up the leggings of his pants and removed the bandages to reveal angry burn marks that had made their way up most of his calves. I frowned when I thought back to the fire; I hadn't remembered them being that bad but at the time I was scarcely holding onto consciousness so I couldn't trust my judgment.

She washed and wrapped up his burned legs as well, which only got a reaction out of him when she went over a blistered area. She put the supplies back.

"You should both get to bed. Where are you going to sleep?"

"We're going to be in the 'other' room." I didn't know if she'd understand what I was talking about but she nodded. I was surprised at how much she knew.

"I take it that it's not too safe to be seen in the house." I nodded to her. "Then I'll go get some heavy blankets from the closet upstairs to make it more comfortable."

I shook Hakuba's shoulder with my good arm. "Hakuba-kun. Get up Hakuba-kun, I can't move you to the other room by myself." He must have been exhausted because he didn't move an inch. Only slow steady breathing told me he was alive.

"Mom" I spoke to her when she returned with the blankets. "Can you help me get him over the room? Jii-chan's going to need to stay the night as well with some… other guests. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Is it okay?"

"Of course, Kaito. Are they in there now?"

"Yeah. When we get him over to the room Jii-chan can help get him inside."

I went on Hakuba's right so that I could lever him up with my good side. Mom took most of his weight herself as she put his arm over her shoulder and we lifted him up."

"Um?" Hakuba muttered, the most unintelligent sound I'd ever heard from him.

"We're going to sleep now and I have to get you into the other room. Can you walk?" Hakuba wasn't really conscious but he still tried to help us along. Mom was good at keeping him balanced.

When we made it to the portrait I gave his full weight to her and she wrapped her other arm securely around his waist. She supported him easily and I wondered how much the detective weighed. Pushing the frame inward, I found the main light for the room off and a little lamp on the cluttered side table was the only illumination.

"Jii-chan," I called out. "Where are you?"

"I'm right here, young master." I heard his voice come from the corner of the room and saw as he got up from a bundle of other shapes. "The children are asleep."

"So is Hakuba-kun. Can you help us get him in?" Jii looked at me as if I'd gone mad.

"Young master, this is very dangerous. That boy is a detective and he could turn you in to the police. Here you are not only helping him but letting him into this secret room. I can't allow it, young master. I can't allow you to do that you yourself."

"Fine, Jii-chan, I'm not asking you anymore, I'm telling you. Help me get Hakuba-kun into the room right now," I hissed through my teeth. I had a bad habit of getting mad at anyone who tried to tell me what to do. My teachers could attest to that.

"I'm sorry young master, I can't."

I was about to yell at the old man when my mom pushed me out of the way and stared him down. Even in the dark with Hakuba hanging loosely at her side she looked threatening. "Jii-san, my son is asking you to help him and if you can't trust his judgment I suggest you leave my home right now."

Jii didn't know what to do and was outnumbered. He looked crestfallen but took one of Hakuba's arms from my mother "Yes, madam." I was worried about the detective when Jii also seemed to have no problem supporting his weight. Being as tall as he was, Hakuba should have been more of burden on the two of them.

I entered the room after Jii got out of the way and received the blankets from my mom. "Good night and be safe," she told me.

"You too." I reached over to kiss her on the cheek. "I love you mom."

"I love you too, Kaito."

She closed the portrait while I unfolded the largest and thickest of the blankets and laid it out on the floor. "Put Hakuba-kun on the end, by the table," I told Jii, not turning to face him.

"I'm sorry that you're angry at me young master." He positioned Hakuba so he wouldn't hit his head on the table leg if he moved in his sleep. "But I only do what I think is best for you and the situation is already out of hand."

I grabbed a large, lighter, blanket and threw it over near them. "I know that Jii-chan, and I can't say what I'm doing is smart but I'm the only one that can do it right now and he needs my help."

"He could have slept in your room."

"No, Hakuba-kun would either get killed, since they're already after him, or he'd wake up before us and panic when he couldn't find us. I don't think that would be good for him in the state he's in right now. He's been trying too hard." I placed another blanket on the ground and grabbed up Kei-chan, placing her in the middle of the two blankets, she moaned in her sleep and turned to her right when I put her down but didn't wake up.

"You two share that trait then. You've been trying to hard as well, young master. I'm not sure how much more you can handle." He placed an arm on my good shoulder as he said this.

"I just need to know that you'll be there for me, Jii-chan. I'll be alright."

"I hope so, I truly do." Jii picked up Kane and put him next to his sister; the boy opened his eyes but closed them after he knew he wasn't in danger. Once next to Kei he put his hand out and grabbed hers before falling back to sleep. Jii laid down on the end of the second blanket, as far away from Hakuba as he could get, as I went to retrieve Hisa.

Picking the girl up hurt but I didn't make a noise; I didn't want to wake her up. After putting her between Kane and Jii I took the lighter blanket and covered them up, the end half covering Kei.

"Damn, I forgot to get pillows," I muttered to myself. Turning around to head back out I saw a bunch of them stacked just inside the room. My mom had a good head on her shoulders to go along with her heart. I gave one to Jii and placed one under each of the kids. I put one next to Hakuba and put the last one under his head without resistance.

I took my place next to him and put the last blanket over both of us and Kei. She turned to look at me with sleepy eyes at the movement and smiled before turning back to her brother.

I would have stayed up and worried about everything that was happening around me so fast it was hard for my fortitude to keep up if I wasn't so wasted already. I should have stayed awake and planned out the next day. I should figured out what I was going to do with the kids and if I was going to put my mom in danger by leaving them here. I should have at least decided on something.

Letting my thoughts drift as only one thought came to me, spontaneity suited me better then regimen, and I fell asleep, not worrying about a single thing.

…

A high-pitched noise woke me up and I jumped.

"Sheesh" I rubbed my head from where I struck the car with it. Why had my father thought I was a good idea to keep a car in the room?

Kei looked down at me from the front end of the vehicle with the birdcage on her head and my cape around her shoulders. "I'm a birdie," she giggled.

"Yes, you're a very cute birdie." I took the cage away so she wouldn't hurt herself on the metal frame.

"Kuroba-kun, could you watch where you're swinging your arms around next time?" The detective moved from where he'd fallen asleep and rubbed the side of his cheek "Getting punched in the face isn't the best way to wake up."

"Sorry, Hakuba-kun. I didn't know I hit you."

A sneeze came from the stairs and I turned to find Hisa trying to sit on the railing. "Don't do that Hisa-chan." I ran over to get her before she could hurt herself. "If you fall you could land on the heater."

"Okay." She sat back down on the steps but was mad at me from ruining her fun.

Kane was being good and just sitting in the car's passenger seat, watching his sister with a trained eye that showed years of routine.

Jii-chan wasn't in the room and I looked it over once more just to make sure I hadn't missed him among the clutter.

"Hisa-chan, where did Jii-chan go?" She turned her head away from me and refused to answer. I scowled back at her. "Kane-kun, do you know where he went?"

The boy reached over the car door and pointed at the portrait.

"Thank you Kane-kun, I appreciated it." I stuck my tongue out at Hisa as I passed her.

"Kuroba-kun, grow up."

"I refuse," I snickered at Hakuba and stuck my tongue out at him too.

"I'm in a room full of children" he sighed and looked around. "You know what, where am I?" He turned to face me.

"You're in my changing room," I disclosed. "We're still in my house but I don't know if you want to stay here. The room's kind of small."

Hakuba stretched out and got to his feet. "Its fine, but I think the children might destroy your things." His expression told that'd already destroyed some of his.

"Most of the stuff here isn't breakable. We still need… to …find…" I smelled my mom's cooking and pushed the frame a few inches.

"Food!" Kei yelled and got off the hood of the car, still dragging around the cape. Kane followed her as she swarmed me trying to get out. The boy gave me an apologetic smile as he passed and Hisa got up off the stairs to follow them, giving me the cold shoulder.

"It looks like we'll be eating breakfast first. We can confirm the information we got yesterday later and I can ask Jii-chan if he knows anything about them." I held the frame to keep it from shutting so Hakuba could get through; his eyes were still taking in the room.

"You sure know how to make a mess look organized," he commented.

"Most of it's the way my dad left it. I only need the clothing and a few supplies." I tapped the airplane hanging from the ceiling. "The rest aren't my doing."

"You left the rest the way your father had it out of respect."

I eyed him but said nothing.

"Hey that's mine!" I heard Kei yell from the kitchen. We both looked desolately into the other room.

"Let's go." I let him out before me and eyed the room one last time before turning the lights off.

By the time we made it to the kitchen the argument had been settled and all the children were eating. Jii was with my mom, trying to get milk for the kids.

There was grilled salmon and I turned to run away.

"Kaito, don't worry, I only made it for the kids and our guests. I have an omelet for you."

Hakuba looked at me as I froze, turned in the other direction. "Mom," I moaned, "I can't sit at the table with that."

"It'll be fine Kaito, it's not like I'm trying to make you eat it this time."

I sucked in a breath and turned back towards the table. I sat on the end, as far away from everyone and their fish as I could get. Mom placed the omelet, rice, pickles, and Miso soup in from of me. "See, it's not that bad."

"Young master," Jii sighed, "If the chocolate cravings weren't bad enough-"

"Hey, lots of people like chocolate!" I yelled back, quieter I added "and chocolate can't look at you."

Hakuba took a seat between Jii and me. There weren't any other spots open since Kane was the middle of the two girls and my mom was at the head of the table. He moved his fish so it was closer to the old man then me. I was taken aback that he didn't tease me about my unreasonable fear of the creature.

Well, out loud it sounded unreasonable but my brain didn't see it that way. You couldn't get me near the thing unless it was strictly necessary.

The children helped keep the uncomfortable silence at bay through the meal. Kei and Hisa got mad at one another and threw their pickles at each other. With a little intervention on our part, we succeed in making them throw their pickles at us as well. My mom couldn't stop laughing when Hisa hit me with one on the nose and made me looked like a pig, I even heard Hakuba stifle a laugh, which rewarded him with a pickle in the face, courtesy of me.

"Can I watch TV?" Kei pulled on my mom's shirt and still had rice all over her face.

"Sure Kei-chan, but clean yourself up first." Kei rushed over to the counter while Kane grabbed her dishes along with his own. "You're such a good boy." My mom played with his hair "I remember a little boy who always used to put my dishes away too."

"You have two feet of your own Okaasan" I mumbled, snagging just my dishes when I got up. I saw her eyeing me as I waited for Kane to rinse his out.

"Fine, fine" I removed her dishes as well and piled them up like Kane had, separating the bowls and plates.

Kei turned on the TV and I could hear it blasting way too loud. "Kei-chan, turn it down!" I screamed over a commercial for some type of cereal. She didn't hear me and started flipping channels.

"Kids," I sighed.

"Tell me about it" came the reply from all three of them. Mom blushed and Hakuba discretely coughed in his hand. I started laughing.

"…we'll cover it later tonight, when the notorious Kaitou Kid has warned he will steal the Black Orlov Diamond which is…" Kei changed the channel again to a cartoon and sat down to watch it.

It was actually funny how quickly everyone in the kitchen froze.

"You didn't" Hakuba beseeched.

"Of course I didn't" I rested my arms on the counter. "As if I even had time for something like that." Everyone looked at one another.

"Well." Hakuba stated nonchalantly. "That's some impeccably atrocious timing."