Detective Conan and Magic Kaito characters, settings, and ideas do not belong to me but to Aoyama Gōshō.

Warnings: Language, minor violence

TMPD Antics

By Taliya

XXXVI: Hakuba and Kuroba

Kuroba apparently has no sense of self-preservation, Saguru thought moodily as the aforementioned person looped an arm around his neck, crowing his good morning greetings. It was still too early in the day for Heiji to have possibly bumped into the Kaito to deliver Saguru's warning, so the half-Briton endeavored to inform the Division Three officer himself.

"Kuroba-kun. Get. Off. Me."

"Someone woke up tetchy this morning," Kaito remarked as he released the Division Two officer.

Saguru scowled. "No thanks to you," the blond grumbled under his breath, trying to staunchly ignore the pounding in his head.

Kaito's eyebrow cranked up his forehead. "Hey, you okay? Really okay?" There was concern in his voice, and his expression of mischief had slid clean off his face.

"Otou-san decided that we needed a 'bonding moment' last night," Saguru answered.

Kaito grimaced, understanding all too well what "bonding moments" usually entailed—particularly if his mother was the one to dream them up. Kuroba Chikage's version of bonding time with her son usually involved her imprisoning him by going out to a salon to get pedicures and manicures while she prodded him about every—and she really meant every—aspect of his life. Privacy meant nothing to that shameless woman, and Kaito was usually the one considered brazen.

"Man, sorry, Hakuba," Kaito apologized. "I didn't think getting your dad involved in the prank would lead him to do that to you."

Saguru chuckled sardonically. "Me neither, Kuroba-kun," he said with feeling, "Me neither."

"Was it as bad as I think it was?" the brunet questioned, thinking of his own experiences with his mother.

"Would you consider getting sloshed while watching a marathon of historical samurai action flicks bad? Particularly when he decides singing lewd pub songs in English is an excellent idea at two in the morning when he can no longer see straight?"

Kaito could only wince in reply.

Author's Note: Ah, poor Saguru—subjected to his father's drunken… whatevers? I'm always amazed how Kaito can turn situations in his favor, almost regardless of the circumstances, i.e. not getting maimed by a hungover Division Two officer. I hope you enjoyed it.

Completed: 23.10.2015