Warning: AU, age gap
Shinichi quietly watched The Avengers on the TV, careful not to wake up 7 years old Kaito that snored softly beside him.
Kaito was his new neighbor, just moved in less than a week ago. He is also Shinichi's new friends at Teitan elementary. The little guy babbled about how excited he was for school the next week to Shinichi earlier, an antic that put smile on the older boy lips.
Shinichi was absent mindedly changing the channel when Kaito's family came to his house; his mother was cooing someone and then called him to come to the living room. There was a man sitting on the sofa casually chatting with his father, and also a beautiful lady with short brown hair standing beside his mother, a messy brown mop and violet eyes peeking shyly behind her dress. The lady ushered the boy, her son, to Shinichi and his mom told them to have fun.
They were sitting side by side when the boy introduced himself to Shinichi, he held his and awkwardly and throw the older boy a beaming smile, "My name is Kaito Kuroba, nice to meet you!"
Later when his mom came to check on them Kaito was already asleep, leaning on Shinichi's shoulder. The blue eyed boy smiled sheepishly at his mom and quietly told her about the younger excited talk earlier. She shook her head fondly and got them a blanket from Shinichi's room, neatly covering both kids on the couch and going back to her guests at the living room.
In the end Shinichi fell asleep too, all warm and comfortable in his half cuddling with Kaito.
-KSKSKS-
"Hey"
The teen that was sitting casually and reading on the bed paused and stared at the peering boy at his room's door "Yes Kaito?"
"Congrats on your school level-up Shinichi-nii," Kaito pouts a little, "Now you've got to wear that cool mid-school uniform."
"Thanks," The older one grinned at the other displeasure, "I guess you better grow up faster so you can wear that cool mid-school uniform and catch up with me."
"I will," Kaito puffed up his cheeks, climbed to the bed, and laid on his stomach. Feet still half dangling off the bed, "Just wait."
They stayed silent for a while, save from the rustling of paper when the older one turned the pages.
"Hey," Kaito rolled around, staring seriously at the ceiling, "When I grow up I will marry you."
Shinichi looked up from his book, "Really?"
"Yeah," The little boy turned his staring to the neighbor, "I am going to marry you then we'll live happily ever after together!"
"You know we are both too young to marry."
"I said when we are all grown up silly," the younger one chastised the other, unaware of the other quiet laughter, very much amused, "it's good to plan something way before."
"Why me?"
"Yesterday my mom said when I grow up I will marry someone nice," Kaito got up and sat cross legged on the bed, facing the other boy and said something like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "And you are the nicest person in the world!"
Shinichi already got his talk about boys marry girls and everything from his parents, so he knew he couldn't be with Kaito even if he really wanted to. He closed his book and was about to say so at the other when he saw the hopeful violet eyes staring at him, "You will marry me right?"
The rejection died down in his throat, it was unfair how Kaito could do that to him! "I will."
Kaito looked at him determinedly, "That's awesome!" the brunette hopped down the bed and made a beeline to the door, "Now I am going to ask Auntie Yukiko for cookies."
-KSKSKS-
"Shinichi-nii."
"Hm?"
"I heard uncle and auntie will go to America today."
"They are."
"Are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know, aren't you sad they will go away? "
"It's my parent's job, I can't help it."
"Won't you be lonely?"
"I don't know."
"You know you could always come to my house, mommy can bake us some lemon pies."
"Sure."
"Or maybe I will sleep over here, everyday if you want, so you won't ever feel lonely!"
"Thanks Kaito."
"Yup."
"Thanks a lot."
-KSKSKS-
When Shinichi was fifteen, someone offered him to become a professional football player.
He was ecstatic of course; he practically screamed the news over the phone when he got home that day. His mom approved just as ecstatic as he was, the same with his dad, tough he told Shinichi to think about it first.
Shinichi spent the rest of the afternoon in his neighbor house, snacking on buttery popcorn while waiting for Kaito to come home from his friend's house. When the brunette came back and he told him about the news, Kaito glomped him so hard he almost lost his footing on the carpeted floor.
"Shinichi-nii!" Kaito hugged him, hands barely tied together behind the older back, "I'm so proud of you!"
They just fell into routine after that, playing Mario Kart and chatted about their day. Kaito was a little bit annoyed about the fact that he wouldn't be able to meet Shinichi as much as like again if the teen really became an athlete, but it was quickly forgotten with all the promise of lots of visit. They had dinner and Shinichi bid his goodbye before the night became too late.
Later that night, all tucked up and ready for bed. He thought maybe he shouldn't accept the offer.
Shinichi thought he denied the offer because he wanted to be a detective like Sherlock Holmes rather than a football player. But honestly he didn't want to go because he didn't want to see how sad and lonely Kaito would be if he left him alone.
-KSKSKS-
Shinichi just got home from school when his neighbor bolted through the door, screaming demandingly so fast, "You will come to a magic show with me Shinichi-nii!"
"Sorry, what did you just say?"
"You will," the messy haired boy crossed his arms, "Come with me to Kazumi Sanada's show this weekend."
"Talk slower, even if you are excited," Shinichi patted the brown mop teasingly, "That's a good boy."
"I am serious Shinichi-nii!"
"No can do buddy," he laughed at the pouting boy before him, "I have a practice to attend that day."
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Pretty please?" Kaito looked pleadingly at the other, "Daddy won't let me watch if you don't come with me."
What it is with him and his inability to say no to those hopeful violet eyes? "Alright, we'll go."
"Yay!," a grin and a quick hug, "You are the best Shinichi-nii!"
That sunny grin totally worth the scolding he would surely get for missing practice.
-KSKSKS-
"Today my friends were fussing about kissing."
"Really? I don't know that's what six graders talking about these days."
"You sound like an old man Shinichi-nii, you are just seventeen!"
"That's still lots older than you, kid."
"Don't you remind me every day about that? I can't help it."
"I live to serve."
"I was saying, my friends were talking about kissing today."
"You are still too young to ask about this."
"But I'm curious!"
"No."
"But!"
"No."
"Why do you do it?"
"…."
"Kissing I mean."
"Because you love the person you kiss."
"Like how I love mom? I kiss her on the cheek every day."
"Well, yeah. But you kiss the person you love love differently tough."
"Love love?"
"One day when you grown up you'll meet someone really important to you, someone you really care about."
"You are important to me; does this mean I love love you?"
"And you want to be with this one person every day."
"I want to be with you forever!"
"I am not done, you will do anything, you will try the hardest to protect this someone from every single danger you could ever imagine, and you will give your whole heart, you everything to h-"
"…."
"…."
"I love love you Shinichi-nii."
"Oh."
"I really, really love you."
"Okay."
"And you know what Shinichi-nii?"
"What?"
"Your lips taste like vanilla."
-KSKSKS-
Ran was the first girl who confessed her feeling to him.
Sure, Shinichi was a famous high school detective by that time, ha had had bunch of girls practically screaming their adoration for him everywhere. But Ran was the first girl he really knew, and boy did he know that she was a good girl. So he decided to say yes.
It was around the time Kaito got accepted into middle school. He was waiting in Shinichi's house, clad in Teitan mid-school uniform, and proceeded to show off his uniform to the older one who just got home. He also declared he was now old enough to call the other by the name and promptly discarded the 'nii' behind Shinichi's name, totally uncaring to the five years gap between them.
Kaito also decided he would call him 'Shin-chan' from now on.
Dating was nice, he had someone he could call his, a beauty he could bring everywhere, someone he could share his worries with, a girl that he could shower with attention and affection.
Months passed and everything went swimmingly, but every time Ran came to his house and met Kaito, It seemed the younger one grew cold around her. It didn't happen before she became his girlfriend; it was almost like Kaito was jealous.
But that couldn't be it, could it? There was no way Kaito was jealous of Ran. There was no way Kaito really meant the words he had said to him, Kaito was just twelve!
One day, right after Ran got home; Kaito pulled his arm and ask him solemnly. As if he was ready to give up on something whole heartedly.
"Are you happy Shinichi?"
He should be happy, he shouldn't have any problem answering the teen standing before him; Ran is everything he could ask from a girlfriend, yet he couldn't say it. Shinichi looked at those violet eyes and suddenly he knew what he was missing, what he really wanted, and what he could never have.
Maybe he should let Ran go if he couldn't love her the way they wanted it to be.
-KSKSKS-
The ride to the airport was quiet, and so was when they both arrived at the airport. Neither of them really wanted to say good bye, and they were just standing there awkwardly. A fine young man and teenager with messy brown hair, stood still in the middle of busy airport. The younger one finally gave up on their silent, sighed heavily, and began talking,
"So," Kaito bit his lips, "Here we are."
"Yeah."
"I would never guess you will continue your study in America Shin-chan."
"Neither did I," Shinichi grimaced lightly, "But you know how mom is."
"She called you out of blue and practically demanded you to continue study abroad," The brunette laughed, "Auntie Yukiko always get what she wants."
"And we both learn that in the hard way."
The laugh that followed eased the uneasiness between a little bit. When it died down the younger one looked seriously at the other, "I will miss you, a lot."
"Me too."
"Promise me you'll write."
"I promise."
"Promise me you will come to Japan and visit me."
"I will see about that."
"Can you just promise me about this?"
"I can't do that," Shinichi clicked his tongue disapprovingly, "Who knows what's waiting for me there, what if I will be too busy to even planning about a visit?"
"Can you just promise me and make me happy?"
"Sorry Kaito, but I can't,"
"You are cold Shin-chan! Even from we were little kids," Kaito pouts, "How not cute~"
"That's being said by a cheeky, totally not cute fourteen years old kid."
"I am not cheeky, and I can totally pull off the cute!" Kaito said petulantly, "Shinichi is so mean."
"But you still like me right?"
"Oh yes," The teenager admitted begrudgingly "Don't worry, that will never change."
Shinichi looked at the younger boy and smile sadly. He really hoped the brunette would never change, even if he wouldn't always around anymore. That Kaito would always be the adorable little kid that he cared about, the one that he came to love.
They shared a hug and the inevitable good bye. The taller one pulled his luggage toward the gate, fast and steady. Unaware of the longing look the brunette gave him; neither did he hear what was said behind his back.
"I like you Shinichi," Kaito stared at that broad back, whispering quietly, "More than you could ever imagine,"
But he didn't know that.
-KSKSKS-
'Guess who just got an awesome scholarship and will totally continue his study with you~'
'You applied to a scholarship? How come I didn't know that?'
'Done that a month ago really, I didn't tell you cause I didn't want to disappoint in case I got rejected. Doesn't really matter cause I got it anyway~'
'Still annoyed because I am the last one to know'
'Don't be mad, I barely had a chance to email you in the middle of exams. But aren't you proud I'm going to study in America with you?'
'Well, sure I am happy for you Kaito, congrats.'
'Thanks~'
'When are you going?'
'This summer break, I want to adapt a little while before the school start in fall, can I stay in your apartment tough?'
'Sure, you do that. I have two bedrooms here anyway, might as well be roommates and everything.'
'Lucky me to have an awesome person like you by my side~'
'I guess you are going to leave the glory of Japanese high school uniform to study here.'
'Yeah, I can't help it.'
'And who were so happy and made a big fuss when he received his mid-school attire?'
'I was, I never said I am happy to miss said awesome high school uniform.'
'You were so cute! All dressed up and ecstatic babble right after I stepped a foot inside the house.'
'I was thirteen! But I am all mature and grown up now'
'It was just three years ago Kaito.'
'Ugh, I bet now I am way taller than you!'
'No way kid, no way.'
'I've got this growth sprout thing last summer and shot up a lot, you better believe it.'
'Seeing is believing'
"I guess so, I'll see you this summer to prove it then."
"Yeah, I'll see you this summer."
-KSKSKS-
Shinichi's apartment looks every bit like Kaito imagined it to be, neat and simple.
The room is painted chartreuse and grey. The first thing could be seen from the entryway is a set of leather couch set around a flat TV. There is a big window right behind the TV, concealed by dark curtain. To his right are a black kitchen set and a small dining table, and to his left is what looks obviously like a bathroom and a small hallway that probably leading to bedrooms.
"Your room is the one in the end of the hallway," Shinichi starts walking inside, "Come here."
Kaito dutifully trails the older one through the hallway, red luggage rolling slowly behind. When they pass Shinichi's room he can see a pile of clothes on the bed, as if Shinichi tried them all earlier, couldn't decide what to wear when he was about to picked Kaito up in the airport. Kaito shakes the thought away when the blue eyed man opens the door through his room.
A big bed with blue sheet, a wardrobe, a book shelve, and a set of computer in the corner, "Nice."
"We can buy more furniture later," Shinichi drops himself the bed, "When your other things will come anyway?"
"It will be sent on tomorrow, so probably Monday," Kaito discards his luggage and stands by the big window beside the bed, "This is awesome!"
"We are on the seventh floor kid, of course it is awesome."
"I am not a kid," Kaito whines and starts leaning his hands on the window, childish excitement shown on his every gesture, "And I am totally allowed to enjoy the view."
"I am not forbidding you to," Shinichi laughs heartily and lies down on the bed; pillowing his head on the linked arms, "Let's talk about your new school, how far it is from here?"
"Only a block away," Kaito grins cheekily, "I'd really love if you show me how I should get there."
Shinichi chuckles amusedly, "You planned this whole scholarship thing, didn't you?"
"To the last detail, love."
"Aren't you well prepared," Shinichi pays no attention to the sudden weight when Kaito lies beside him, on the same line of sight because the teen is as tall as Shinichi now. That growth sprout really did wonder on Kaito, "Do you need my help with unpacking?"
"Not really, it's just clothes so I'll do it later."
They falls into comfortable silence after that, just like when Shinichi drove back home from the airport earlier. It's the kind of silence that tells they are warming up again after so long not seeing one another, silently welcoming the other back into his life.
"Hey Kaito," Shinichi moves to lie on his side, looking at the sleeping teen beside him, "Did you leave a girlfriend back in Japan?"
"What? No," Kaito stares unhappily at the ceiling, "I don't have a girlfriend."
"Why?" The older one pokes the brunette cheek, "You should start looking for one, you are not getting any younger you know."
"I am sixteen, don't make it sounds like I am thirty six or something," Kaito grabs the other's hand and lies it on his chest, "I am not interested in girls," Kaito links their finger together, "Besides I don't want to betray you."
"Betray me?"
"Remember that promise we made when we were kids?" Kaito closes his eyes, "You are practically my fiancé."
"We were kids Kaito; it's just a childhood dream."
"Doesn't mean I don't want it become reality"
Shinichi's heart skips a beat, "What do you mean?"
"I want to marry you someday cause I really love love you."
"What?"
"I always thought you already know about my feelings," Kaito gets up and sat cross legged on the bed, facing the blue eyed man and says something like it's the most obvious thing in the world, just like all those years ago, "I kissed you."
"You were twelve! The kiss could be anything!"
Kaito looks at the laying man thoroughly before moving to straddle his lap, forcing Shinichi to lies on his back again. The teen leans his hands on the other side of the older head, effectively pinning him to the bed. Shinichi only has a chance to start pushing the body above him before Kaito kisses him, with all the passion and loves that has grown over the years. It isn't long before the hands pushing him away moves to curl around Kaito's neck, trying to tug him closer and closer.
Kaito leans back and staring at Shinichi's blue eyes, an adorable blush staining his cheeks.
"Do I make my feeling for you clear Shin-chan?"
The kid that he took care years ago now is able to leave him breathless, unbelievable, "Crystal."
Kaito drops his weight and hides his face on Shinichi's neck, sighing contently, "Does this mean we are lovers now?"
"I will never let you go even if you beg me to," Shinichi moves around so they are now cuddling comfortably, "I still can't believe this is all real, that we were too oblivious to realize this earlier."
"It's you," Kaito murmurs softly, "I already know I am in love with you for a long time."
"You don't tell me clear enough kid."
"I said I am going to marry you, didn't I?" Kaito nips the other neck playfully "I will never back down on my own words."
"Perfect."
posted today cause it's my birthday O(≧∇≦)O
this is a collection of snapshots through the boy's life over the years, in case you are confused with the writing format :3
thanks for reading everyone~
