Mikau: Hey guys. Rough week. We're still cleaning and restocking after Mother's Day at the flower shop, and my grandma had to be hospitalized. She's doing a lot better now, and she should be able to come soon once they get her rehydrated and stabilize her blood pressure. It's been kind of exhausting. As a result, I've only got this, CTM, and a KaiShin one-shot called "Chained at the Ankle" for you this week. Sorry to all of the HP and Roses fans! Hopefully next week…. In other news, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter: patternleap, Bunnyz-chan, MeitanteiRose, and pokemon maniac!

Disclaimer: If I owned it, Mouri would eventually wise up a bit. I know he's one of the comic relief characters, but I think we can take him a little more seriously every once in a while. Like in that time bombed rental car episode. That was beautiful.

…

Hypocrite

"Hypocrite," Kaito snorted, reaching his hand into the cookie jar once more only to find it empty. He threw it down on the couch next to him, and the teddy bear face that made up its exterior looked up at him, eyes full of sadness, hurt, and betrayal…. At least, it seemed to Kaito to be looking at him in sadness, hurt, and betrayal. With a sigh, he picked it up and set it on the side table next to him.

"Hypocrite," he spat again at the detective that was obviously ignoring him.

Kaito got up and went over to the desk where Shinichi was working. He lay down on top of all of the papers and books so that Shinichi would have no choice but to pay attention to him.

"You run off straight into danger's path all. The. Time. You throw caution into the wind and put your life at risk on a daily basis. You've been facing down your own baddies for years now. What gives you the right to say that I can't do the same?"

Shinichi placed his hands on either side of Kaito's head and stared down at the thief, leaning over his body and looking at him with such single-minded intensity that Kaito began to think, "I've never done it on a desk before. I need to get around to that before I die. Maybe Shinichi would be interested in helping me with that right now." Kaito's annoyance was slowly being forgotten.

"Lift your head," Shinichi whispered. Only half a foot stood between their lips and a torrid make-out session.

"S-Sure." Kaito swallowed hard, slowly raising his head and leaning in for a kiss.

"Thanks." Shinichi reached around Kaito and turned the page of the book his head had just been on top of.

The moment was ruined.

With a growl, Kaito sat up, forcing Shinichi to step back or get head-butted. "Jerk. Are you seriously still thinking about work when an exquisite, athletic, flexible, passionate demi-god of a man is lying on your desk, yours for the taking?"

Shinichi rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Yep. I think you overrate yourself and overestimate your abilities. There's a serial killer on the loose. Off the desk, Kaito."

Kaito was trying really hard not to whistle like a teapot. He could feel the steam coming out of his ears.

Instead of expressing his anger, he turned up the charm, deciding to play it coyly. "Oh yeah? How would you know, Shin-chan? You've never taken me for a test drive." He innocently ran a finger under his collar, slowly unbuttoning his shirt in what he thought was a rather alluring manner.

Shinichi closed his eyes and sighed. "Kaito. I'm busy. I don't have time to play with you."

"You really should consider making some. I'm super fun." Kaito slowly spread his legs and reached out to pull Shinichi in until his thighs bumped the desk.

"I like girls," Shinichi insisted.

"You could like boys too." Kaito wrapped his arms around Shinichi's neck and smiled. "You won't know until you try it, and I am an ideal specimen of my sex. I could make you scream, you know. So loud we'd wake the entire city."

"I don't want to sleep with you, Kaito," Shinichi muttered, pulling back. "You're my best friend, and I don't do that friends with benefits thing."

Kaito held on, refusing to give an inch. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Shinichi's earlobe. "Then you'll just have to fall in love with me."

"I can't," Shinichi whispered as if haunted, but he made no attempt to fight Kaito's hold. "I can't fall in love again. I don't want to. I don't ever want to feel that way for someone again."

"Shin-chan…" Kaito switched his hold into more of a comforting hug. "It's been almost five years since Mouri-chan…and I don't think she'd want you to stay stuck like this. She loved you, Shinichi, and she'd want you to be happy."

"How would you know what she'd want?" Shinichi replied bitterly, even though he knew Kaito was right. Shinichi was just hurt, and he was taking it all out on Kaito who he really had come to adore more than anything. He let his head rest on Kaito's shoulder.

"Because…I love you, and I want you to be happy," Kaito confessed.

Shinichi let go of all of the pretenses and squeezed Kaito tight. "I'm afraid. If I let myself feel all of these emotions… If I let myself fall madly in love with you… I'm so afraid I'll lose you. I'm afraid that they'll take you from me…just like they took her. I'm afraid to love you."

Kaito gave Shinichi's cheek a soft kiss. "You won't lose me. I'm like a boomerang cockroach."

Shinichi snorted in laughter at this. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I'll always come back to you and I'm impossible to kill. I'll survive the apocalypse and never leave you alone. Promise," Kaito chuckled, pulling back just enough to be able to brush noses with his intended. "So go ahead and love me already."

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Okay," he whispered, letting his eyes drift close as he pressed his lips to Kaito's.