Epilogue

Shinichi brushed his fingers through Kaito's nappy hair. The thief rested on the study's couch, his head safely in Shinichi's lap. On the coffee table laid the remains of the meal they had just eaten, simple, easy foods so as not to hurt Kaito's stomach—being starved for two months made it hard for his stomach to digest anything. Of course, Shinichi's food had been significantly less drugged than Kaito's, but the other hadn't noticed and he thought Kaito needed the sleep anyway. Sleep deprivation had played an important part in getting Kaito to this point and while Shinichi was grateful for the effects it brought, it was no longer necessary. Now it's time to bring Kaito's body back to its former glory… no, he'd become better than that. He smiled to himself.

Like a phoenix, Kaito was reborn. All Shinichi had to do was make sure he didn't fall back into ashes.

Someone approached him from behind, but there was no need to turn. He knew who it was, though not why they were there, spoiling his moment of triumph. "Funny," Yusaku Kudo said, "that the police finally stopped looking for him just days ago." A newspaper folded closed. "I thought they'd been more urgent than ever after two months. Now they've concluded that he ran away from home."

"What's surprising is that they searched for so long. The first 24 hours are the most important in missing person cases; after that, the chances of survival drop to ten percent. For the police to have actively looked for so long… he must have good friends." Shinichi traced the edge of Kaito's jaw, gazing at his sleeping face like he'd never see it again. He took Kaito away from them, those friends that cared so much. He smirked, peering over his shoulder to look at the third person in the room, only to scowl when he saw what they were wearing. "Will you take that off? And burn it while you're at it. If he ever sees that face again, you could ruin all I've done here."

Vermouth obeyed and tore the mask off her face, blond hair falling perfectly from its hair net and dressed in a suit with extra padding in the shoulders and a binding top underneath. She pouted. "You're no fun anymore. I had hoped to give you a little scare. The ghost of Christmas past, as it were."

"It'll take a lot more than that to scare me, though your flirtations with Gin get close. What do you want?"

"I thought I'd check on the puppet you made." She shrugged her shoulders, sauntering up to sit on the couch opposite of him with a mysterious smile on her face. "It's such a delicate thing, though, if you think the face of a dead man is enough to rip his stitching."

"Are you still annoyed that I chose Toichi's son as mine?" Her silence said it all. "Ah, don't fret Auntie, I don't break my toys without reason, promise." Looking down at Kaito, his body splayed out with his hands by his sides… he looked like a sacrifice to an angry god. "He might be breakable now, his mind still reeling from all the sudden shifts in perspective, but soon he'll out class all of you. My number one." Or at least, so he hoped. Psychological manipulation was more guess work than science. There was no idea how sane Kaito would be upon waking, if he'd be Shinichi's perfect counterpart or never want to look at a gun again. Shinichi wouldn't get rid of him either way. If there was no escape for one, there would be no escape for the other. "I want someone completely loyal to me alone. The Black Organization members are loyal to Anokata, a man without a face they respect and fear. Only Gin is close enough to be loyal to me, and not Anokata, but that's not enough. I need a shield, both as Anokata and Absinthe."

"Do you not consider me loyal, boss?" Her voice was mocking.

"Your loyalty is like a gun to the head—completely unwanted and overall annoying."

She steepled her fingers. "And if I tell him the truth?" She asked, back on the subject at hand. "If I reveal all your lies, do you think he'd stay at your side?"

"What lies?" He cocked his head to the side. "Everything I've told him is the truth, if a few years old. Besides, he'd never turn against me now. I have him, heart and body—it's only the mind I'm worried about."

"You can't guarantee that."

"I can. You see, while torture through pain can be effective, I know something far more devastating to a person's psyche. Kindness." He sighed, staring down at Kaito. His face looked so gaunt and haunted, even in sleep. He'd have to put him on a strict diet when he wakes to get his body weight back up. "I gave him relief in hell, healed him and protected him. I hugged and kissed him, made him look forward to seeing me and touching me. I made him see me as the only good thing he had left, after the evil Irish in the evil organization took them all away. And then he was put into a situation where he had to protect me, the poor innocent prince who just wanted to be happy with him. Add his fading memories to that and is it any wonder why he succumbed? Why he chose me over freedom?"

That kind of loyalty… it's addicting. Kaito was solely and forever his.

There was still work to be done though. The murders had been decent tests, proving that Kaito had the nerve and stomach to kill if Shinichi's life was on the line, but Rum, Anokata's new favorite, would have to do so much more than that. Hacking, weapons proficiency, sniping, coordinating a team… he'll have to do all of those things and more, Shinichi decided. At least larceny and crime planning could be struck from the list.

Vermouth frowned at them, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You've gotten attached to him," she accused.

"Of course." He smirked at her. "He's… infatuated with me. He'll be looking for positive interactions with me: approval, affection, love. And why shouldn't I feel those things for him? He's mine; it's only right that I be his as well." Checking his watch, Shinichi pretended to be surprised at the time. "Oh. You should probably go now; Sherry's coming in just a few minutes to discuss her new drug. Why don't you be useful and figure out who's been leaking our information to the FBI?"

Vermouth sneered but reluctantly obeyed. Fortunately, she wasn't stubborn enough to outright ignore his orders—he was still the boss after all—but he'd have to have Gin look into her activities soon. She was starting to get discontent and the last time that happened, she helped him put a bullet in the previous Anokata's skull.

But now wasn't the time to worry about that. He had Sherry to focus on. It was thanks to her that his remaking of Kaito was successful. She created an airborne drug that targets long term memory, specifically the events and experiences of the victim's life. It had taken her a long time to get it right, and still it was not perfect, but even the slight fading of Kaito's memories had a greater effect than anticipated.

He'd have to quiet her though. She knew too much about Kaito and even knowledge of his existence before he was ready could end with Shinichi's new right hand dead. But Shinichi had planned ahead. A different scientist in the Organization, one without a codename, had modified her drug into something far stronger, yet less extensive. It would target the last week of her memories and wipe Kaito from her mind. He had to keep him safe, after all.

But she did deserve a reward. He stroked his chin. Maybe… he should have her work on that poison. Apotoxin 4869.

Yes, that would be a suitable reward. And then, he could finally rest.

Kaito was his now and no one would ever get in their way again.

A/N: Thank you all for reading. There is an idea for a sequel, however I doubt it will be out anytime soon. If and when I do make one, I'll post an update here. I hope you all enjoyed reading this.