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A Curse Marked Fate

35: A Fragile Rose

Seated behind Kaito on his Sky Cycle as the mage started the engine, Shinichi frowned, head tilted to one side. "What's that sound?"

It was a soft, rather pleasant hum that he hadn't heard before. It seemed to be emanating from the vehicle under them.

"So you noticed. It's one of the modifications," Kaito explained, pulling out of the parking spot. "There were some problems before with the Sky Cycles being too quiet. Blind and low vision people rely heavily on sound to judge traffic and determine when it's safe to cross the street. Even sighted people do to a degree, even if it's often subconscious. So the fact that the Sky Cycles were so quiet made them unnecessarily dangerous for everyone."

Shinichi hummed thoughtfully. "That's true. I hadn't really thought of it before, but I listen for approaching cars too when I'm crossing the street."

"Exactly. Anyway, this change should hopefully solve that problem."

"So what other changes did they make?"

Kaito spent the next several minutes describing the various adjustments that had been made to his Sky Cycle then recounting how he had gotten enrolled in the beta testing program to begin with. By the time he was finishing the tale, they were also pulling up outside a very familiar park.

"Oh." The gasp of realization left Shinichi in a quiet puff, half surprise and half nostalgia.

Beika Park hadn't changed much in eight years, he thought, gaze drinking in the familiar stretches of green, green grass and groves of leafy trees. Even the families picnicking on the lawns could have been the same families from back in his first childhood. The place still had that same ambience of warmth and tranquility that suffused his memories of it even now. In fact, it looked so much the same that he felt a wave of déjà vu. It was surreal.

"Have you really never been back?" Kaito asked, studying the look on his face as he took Shinichi's helmet from him and stashed it with his own.

Shinichi shook his head, momentarily lost for words though he wasn't sure why.

Indigo eyes softened, and Kaito offered him a hand. "Shall we?"

Shinichi hesitated only a moment before taking the proffered hand and letting Kaito tug him into the park.

"I come here to think sometimes," Kaito told him as they walked. They were moving with no clear direction, simply following the paths through the park, turning where they split on a whim. Every path was both as familiar as the Kudo Manor had once been to Shinichi and as alien as the Manor now was as well all at the same time. Walking its paths, Shinichi felt a little like they were traveling back in time, except that he was not the child he had once been, and, for an instant, he felt as though he had lost something.

He missed those summer days long past, he thought, when time had seemed to be standing still, and the future was still forever away.

"Isn't this kind of a long way to travel just to think?" Shinichi asked as they moved through dappled shadows interspersed with patches of brilliant sunlight.

"I suppose it is," Kaito agreed. "But I've always found this place to be worth the journey."

"It is peaceful," Shinichi mused. "I'm glad that hasn't changed."

Kaito hummed in agreement. Turning down another path, they emerged onto a grassy slope that fell away before them until it met the gleaming waters of an achingly familiar lake. Together, they made their way down the verdant hill to where a tree stood tall, its branches spreading out to form a great, leafy canopy, part of which stretched out across the waters of the lake below. For a long moment, they simply stood in reverent silence in the shade of that tree—their tree—and gazed over the lake's mirrored surface as they had done so many times before in a summer that neither of them had ever forgotten.

In that moment, Shinichi thought, it was as though the Foundation and his own cursed fate were just distant, inconsequential things from another lifetime or even another world. They were powerless here in this tranquil haven where even time stood still.

"Our tree's gotten bigger," Shinichi observed, breaking the silence.

Kaito smiled. "Indeed it has. The view from up top is incredible."

The Sky Mage set their picnic basket at the base of the trunk and wrapped it in a protective bubble of magic to keep away any bugs or small animals that might try to help themselves. Then he raised his left hand and traced symbols in the air. Thin strands of gold and green light spun into existence and shaped themselves into a series of hovering magic circles. Kaito hopped up onto the lowest circle then turned and held his hand out to Shinichi.

"Coming?"

Shinichi didn't even have to think about it. He simply accepted his friend's hand and let Kaito pull him up onto what should have been thin air but wasn't. Step by step, they climbed until they reached the largest branches of their tree. Thick and strong, they were perfect seats for the young Sky Mage and his diminutive friend. So soon they were sitting on adjacent branches with their backs against the trunk and a clear view all the way across the lake to the grass and trees on its far shore.

They could have climbed higher, but they both agreed without words that this branch was high enough for now. It was sturdy and strong, cool in the shade, and the view was one that could captivate and soothe even the most agitated of souls.

"I think I might start coming here to do my thinking too," Shinichi declared, half joking and half in perfect sincerity. This place, rich with cherished memories, seemed to touch something deep inside him. Being here where his story had truly begun—where his life had taken the turn from merely being to living… It made him feel light and free in ways he couldn't put into words. This place reminded him of possibilities and dreams—of laughter and wonder and that happiness was, in reality, a simple thing that lay in every person's hands just waiting to be acknowledged.

"It's got much to recommend it," Kaito agreed.

They fell into a comfortable silence, listening to the gentle rustling of the leaves all around them and watching the clouds drift in wisps of silk across the mirror bright waters. The tranquility of the park washed over them, soft and warm. It was Kaito who eventually broke the silence.

"So how have you been holding up?" he asked.

Shinichi blinked and cast the older boy a puzzled glance. "What do you mean?"

"The young lady gave you a lot of information at that meeting," Kaito said, voice quiet and expression neutral as he gazed out over the water. "But all you've said about it was to gripe about Ran-san fussing over you."

"I think fussing might be too mild a word," Shinichi said dryly.

"Perhaps. But you, my dear detective, are avoiding the question."

The younger boy sighed. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Well, since you ask, I'd like to know what you've been thinking. I know what Haibara-san had to say about your blessing surprised you."

Shinichi didn't bother trying to argue. Instead, he let his head fall back against the rough bark of the tree trunk. "Like I said during the meeting, I always thought near misses counted in the, well, count. But she has a valid point." So much so, he added to himself, that he was embarrassed that he had never thought about it before. "I…guess I just got used to the idea that I should expect the worst at any time."

Kaito's eyes narrowed in sudden understanding, but he stayed silent as Shinichi worked through his thoughts.

"It feels strange to think of my—situation as something tangible that can be counted down or something."

"Seems like it should be a relief to me."

Shinichi frowned in thought. "I suppose I can see how it might seem that way."

"I take it you don't agree."

"I don't know. It makes people—me—think about it. More than I really want to, and definitely more than I need to."

"And there you go again, making things more complicated than they have to be."

"And how, pray tell, am I doing that?"

"Simple. All any of this really means is that it makes a difference if you try harder to be careful and," his voice dropped, tone softening, "you are allowed to look forward too. To plan the kind of future you want."

Shinichi glanced up at the side of Kaito's face then back down at the lake. "I…guess you might have a point."

Kaito snorted. "Of course I do. Seriously Shin-chan, you should really try looking on the bright side now and then. Most of the rest of the world only gets one chance. You have—or at least had—nine."

"Most of the rest of the world isn't always at ground zero of every bomb threat that arises in their vicinity."

Kaito sighed. "There is that. But I say my point is still valid."

Shinichi took a moment to really mull over Kaito's words. When he took a step back and looked at the situation from this new angle, he had to admit that the Sky Mage did indeed have a good point. Maybe the real reason that he had been feeling unsettled was that he had realized that he had more control over his future than he had believed, and he wasn't sure what to do with that knowledge. But maybe what he should be doing was taking some time to appreciate it.

"You're right," he said eventually. Then again, with more conviction, "You're right. It'll take some time to get used to, but pretending nothing's changed would just be running away."

"Well~, I wouldn't put it that way," Kaito said, sounding amused. "More like a missed opportunity."

Shinichi smiled faintly. "Maybe. Is that what Ran asked you to talk to me about?"

Kaito blinked then let out a quiet laugh. "We were all wondering, actually. You aren't exactly forthcoming when it comes to personal things. Ran-san was worried that you weren't taking this seriously. Or that you might consider this to be a green light to, ah, not be as cautious as you ought."

Shinichi sighed. He wished he could say he was surprised, but he wasn't. "Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually go looking for trouble."

"Perhaps. But it finds you regardless. And you have to admit, you're not very good at walking away from it." He held up a hand before Shinichi could respond. "It's one of the things I like about you. Too many people these days turn a blind eye to too many problems because it's easier. I—no, we—just want you to remember that we're here to help. And I don't just mean with your cases. So talk to us. It's the least you can do."

Shinichi looked down, feeling an odd mixture of guilty and grateful. "I… Thank you. I'll try."

Kaito smiled. "That's all we ask."

Reaching across the short distance between them, he took Shinichi's right hand in his left. It was such a small hand, the Sky Mage thought, all fine bones and delicate fingers. And he was struck rather suddenly by the oddness. This wasn't the right hand because it should be bigger (so he could better twine their fingers together), but it was the right hand too. The one that had clapped for him when he'd performed his air walking spell. It was the hand he hoped to hold one day when it was the right size again. He pictured that moment, with Shinichi's sixteen year old hand in his and how it would feel different from this yet also the same, and he thought of how he would lift it to his lips for a kiss.

"Kai?" Shinichi asked softly, watching his older friend's face as Kaito contemplated their hands.

"Since we're talking about opportunities," Kaito said, gaze shifting back to the lake's mirrored waters but hand still wrapped warm and protective around Shinichi's own. "There's something I need to tell you. But first, I want you to promise me that you'll let me finish before you say anything."

Shinichi blinked. The deadly seriousness in Kaito's voice was frankly beginning to freak him out. But it was Kaito, whom he trusted implicitly. So Shinichi nodded and tried not to let his imagination run rampant.

Kaito took another long moment to gather his thoughts. Then he turned to catch Shinichi's gaze, his own full of warmth and resolve.

"I like you," he said. "As in I would like it very much if you would go out with me." He held up his free hand before Shinichi could try to respond. "Wait. I'm not done. From what you've said, I'm going to guess that this isn't the sort of thing you've let yourself think about before. So I don't want you to try and give me an answer just yet. Just think about it. And, when this whole thing with the Foundation is over—or when you're back to your proper age, whichever comes first, then you can tell me what you decide. So, deal?"

Shinichi opened his mouth and shut it again, started to say something else and stopped, then finally gave up on speaking and just nodded, cheeks pink.

Unable to resist, Kaito lifted the hand he was still holding and brushed a kiss across the back of Shinichi's knuckles. He felt a surge of delight when the younger boy only blushed harder, making no move to pull away. "Good."

TBC