FIC: Faded Roses (4/?)
Title: Faded Roses
Author: Saitaina
Word Count: 3,772 / 20,123 total
Characters: Saguru Hakuba, Conan Edogowa, Kaito Kuroba, Mika Hakuba, Toichi Kuroba
Rating: NC-17ish
Warnings: Sex, crack, drama, angst, melodrama, teenage idiocy, violence, slight abuse, and INCEST
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to their original artist.
Summary: Toichi's just trying to be a normal seventeen year old thief, but when a one night stand comes with repercussions, he does what any good teenager does and flees the trouble.
Chapter Summary: It's been a month and things are still a tangled mess. Toichi plans a heist while Saguru wonders if he should just walk away.
Notes: Part of the "Hakuba-Kuroba Universe" (see: "Miraculous Conception", "Night Child" and "Little Conversations"), written by special request. ...it's a crack soap opera, don't blame me for it's contents.
Previous Chapters
Chapter Four: Unfaithful
Every man wants a woman to appeal to his better side, his nobler instincts and his higher nature -- and another woman to help him forget them. - Helen Rowland
"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It has been two weeks since my last confession." Toichi whispered, clutching his rosary beads in his hand as he sat on the small bench in the confessional, not looking up at the shadowed man on the other side of the grill.
"And what sin do you have to confess, my child?"
Toichi swallowed, really wishing he hadn't waited two weeks to show up to confession, chancing a glance at the figure he couldn't see before closing his eyes, too many Sunday morning lessons coming back to him, making a nice, neat list to prove how far he had fallen from God's graces. "I have committed the sins of blasphemy, perjury and false oaths. I have committed the sin of Sunday obligation, I have committed the sins of scandal, drug abuse, and hatred. I have committed the sins of pornography, homosexual acts, masturbation, and the temptation of another to commit adultery and incest." Toichi heard the unconsciously sharp intake of air from the priest and tried not to squirm. "I have committed the sins of theft and cheating. I have committed the sins of adulation and lying. I have committed the sin of lust. I have committed the sin of envy, and I have committed the sin of ingratitude. For these, and all sins of my past life, I ask pardon of God, penance and absolution from you, Father."
"Oh my child," the priest whispered, almost wishing he could reach out and touch the boy whose voice quivered as he voiced each of his sins. So many, in only two weeks. He wondered about the poor soul on the other side of the grate, but pushed it away, instead focusing on the task at hand, eager to help. "Do you wish to further examine any of your sins?"
"Not really, father. I've examined them enough in my mind."
"Very well, then I want you to fast for three days, reciting the Lord's Prayer at morning, noon and before you retire. I also want you to make amends to those you have sinned against."
"Yes, father." Toichi bowed his head again, playing with the rosary in his hands. "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen."
The priest had already started the absolution while Toichi was mid-prayer, so that their prayers almost ended at the same time. The priest then went on to pray for Toichi as the teen clutched at his beads, tuning out the familiar prayer and instead turning his attention inward, wondering how long it would be until he stopped being so...stupid.
"You can go now, my child," the priest said and Toichi jumped, startled.
"Er, right, thank you, father." Toichi mumbled, crossing himself before stepping out of the confessional. He walked down the long aisle to the alter of the church, kneeling and lowering his head, saying a silent prayer as he lit a candle before crossing himself and heading outside to meet his father, swallowing thickly.
--
Kaito wrapped his arms around Conan's neck, smiling as he leaned in for a kiss, opening his mouth as Conan's tongue gently lapped over his lips, asking for entrance. His body still move to the soft, slow jazz spilling out of Conan's stereo, hips pressing against Conan's as they kissed.
Conan gave a low groan, his hands sliding down from around Kaito's waist to gently grip the other man's ass, giving it a squeeze, a chuckle spilling into the kiss as Kaito yelped, the thief's hands moving from Conan's neck to swat at the hands gripping him. Conan pulled free of the kiss, instead moving his mouth down the column of Kaito's neck, gently licking, sucking and biting as his hands slid to Kaito's hips, steering the man backwards and towards the hallway.
Kaito followed Conan's urgings, deftly stepping over empty beer bottles and the shopping bags they had brought home from and impromptu trip to the mall. He almost missed the pair's dinner plates but managed to skip over them, moaning deeply as Conan's tongue traced a pattern over the sensitive flesh of his collar bone. He turned suddenly, shoving Conan back against the wall, staring up at the too familiar face before kissing the other man hungrily, biting and sucking on Conan's lips as he slid his hands under Conan's shirt, shoving it up and over the man's head.
Conan tossed the shirt somewhere to the side, his hands sliding into Kaito's un-ruley hair, pressing their mouths harder together as he returned Kaito's passion, ignoring the hands now divesting him of his belt in favor of maneuvering them even further down the hallway, hissing as Kaito's hands got rid of the belt and now found a home somewhere below his waistband. Pulling away from Kaito's mouth again, he grabbed the teasing hands, holding them tightly in one hand, the other going around Kaito's waist, lifting the man into a fireman's carry, laughing as Kaito squirmed, trying to get free. He carried Kaito into his room, kicking the door shut behind him.
--
It had been a month since the mess with Yuki. Toichi was now healed and fit for service, though, despite his father's promises, he had yet to lead a heist himself. Ever since Conan had re-joined the chase, it seemed as if Toichi was being pushed further and further to the sidelines the more he healed.
It was frankly staring to piss off the seventeen-year-old. It had been years since he had done a heist on his own, from planning to completion, but every time his father walked away, he was tempted to do it again, to strike out on his own.
The only problem with it being, is that they shared the name, Kaitou Kid. Which meant he couldn't exactly strike out on his own considering his father would hog tie him and drag him back home for the very idea.
Then again, he was a teenager, expected to rebel against un-reasonable (and sometimes reasonable) constraints.
Which was why he was standing on the edge of the Fukushima Museum, a small smile playing on his face as he watched his parents and Conan below him. He stood, black clothes blending into the night as he raised his arms, a wind rushing past him, energizing him for the night to come. He closed his eyes and whispered a silent prayer, almost feeling his grandfather smiling as he prepared for a show that took over a month to plan.
"Everything's set up," Mika said softly from the shadows, watching her brother. She turned away as he turned to look at her, instead, turning her gaze to the night, looking out at the lit up city. "Be careful," she whispered before vanishing into the darkness, heading downstairs to meet up with her parents.
Toichi watched her go, checking his watch once she disappeared, heading in himself in order to change and start the events of the night in motion.
--
"Remember what the door mouse said..."
The voice was soft, whispery, floating around the large room, causing some of the younger recruits to jump, almost running into each other in their fear.
Saguru blinked in the sudden darkness that had accompanied the voice, before turning as a light came from behind him. He blinked again, staring at the small blond girl on the wall, before spinning in a slow circle, studying the same scene from every angle, even featured on the ceiling and floor.
"Oh wait! Don't go, please!"
"Very well then, third chorus!"
"Oh no, no, no...thank you, but-I just wanted to ask you which way I ought to go..."
Kaito drew his attention away from the cartoon surrounding them, making his way towards the glass case that had been targeted for the evening, throwing a hand up in front of his eyes to protect them as strobe lights started flashing, multi-coloured flashes from hidden stage lights joining. While dis-orienting at first, it was easily overcome, only to be forced to clutch a wall as the illusion of the room melting and spinning hit them. Kaito mused, through his sudden nausea, that it was a rather interesting effect. He slid to the floor, holding his stomach, shutting his eyes tightly so he was effected less from the illusion, still hearing the old cartoon play.
"However, if you're looking for the White Rabbit, I'd ask the Mad Hatter."
"The Mad Hatter? Uh...no, no, I do-I do..."
"Or there's the March Hare, in that direction.."
One of the police officers started mimicking the Cheshire Cat, causing his partner to snicker. When the officer pointed, he ended up spinning around so far he fell over, his laughter ringing out. The others started staring at him funny, before giggling themselves. Kaito found himself snickering, unable to stop, despite the fact it wasn't really that funny.
"Oh, thank you. I-I think I shall visit him."
"Of course, he's mad too."
"But I don' want to go among mad people!"
"Oh, you can't help that. Almost everyone is mad here..."
Saguru leaned against the wall, swallowing against the sickness rolling in his stomach, a handkerchief covering his mouth and nose as he made his way over to where he husband was nearly convulsing with laughter. Conan joined him, the other detective looking a bit light headed and spacey. Every so often, Conan would slip off his glasses, blinking around the room before sliding them back on, more often then not even more crooked then when he pulled them off.
Kaito rolled his head, peering at the pair, giggling. "There's two of you!" For some reason, the thief found this hilarious and actually fell over, snickering into the floor.
Saguru blinked down at his husband before shaking his head. He turned to speak with Conan, only to find the younger detective hugging him, unable to stand upright without falling.
The animated cat's laughter faded, now blending into a more human, and more real laugh. "You may have noticed, I'm not all there myself." Strobe lights flashed, illuminating a figure resting on the arm of a statue, before the figure vanished as the light danced away again.
Saguru frowned, gently prying Conan off of him and helping the other man to the floor before heading for the statue, curious at the figure that only appeared when light was shining on the arm. Before he could get two steps though, the figure had moved, now crouched above them on a modern art sculpture, lounging easily, the night's target (an antique teapot, gifted to the Emperor by Queen Victoria), dangling oh so gently from one gloved finger.
There was a moment of silence, even the movie's sound track cutting out, before Nakamori shouted, leaping for the figure. The Inspector fell straight through the lounging figure, hitting the ground hard on the other side.
Toichi, now dressed as Kaitou Kid, tisked, wagging a finger at the man he considered a grandfather. "Now, now, Inspector, was that really necessary?"
"KID!" Nakamori roared, taking another flying leap, with the same results of sailing straight through what should have been a very solid phantom thief.
Kid tisked again, shaking his head. "Really now, haven't you learned by now?"
"Kid's a ghost!" one of the officer's screamed and Saguru smacked his hand to his forehead.
"Honestly, it's an illusion, you idiot." he muttered and fished his flashlight out of his pocket, clicking it on, casting the beam around the room, ignoring the flashing lights and smiling when his light reflected back to him from an area none of the strobe or spotlights hit. "Found you," he murmured and made his way towards the reflection, using the flashlight to shatter the glass instead of attempting to find a seam in the dark.
Toichi blinked at his father from the other side of the glass, resting against a black replica of the sculpture his 'ghost' had appeared on. "Bye!" he called out cheerfully, a puff of smoke following his words, masking his mad dash out the back door.
Saguru took off after him, hearing the faint sounds of others following a few moments after fresh air spilled into the room, clearing the laughing gas from their systems. Somewhere between the back alley and the next few blocks however, he lost Toichi and cursed, turning to see Conan and Kaito catching up to him. He shook his head at them, kicking the wall out of frustration, before heading back to the museum to check on the others.
--
Conan looked up from his book, raising an eyebrow at the silent figure in the window before returning to his book, making the page and setting it aside. "Can I help you?"
The figure glanced at him from under the brim of his hat before his gaze traveled back to the night outside the window. "Are you alright?"
Conan tilted his head before nodding. "I have recovered from the effects of the gas, though I'd appreciate if next time, you were to stick with your signature blend."
Kid smiled, turning in the window and slipping off the sill, toeing off his shoes before making his way across the room, straddling Conan's lap. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"It was...different." Conan murmured, leaning closer to the thief in his lap, brushing his nose over the curve of the bare neck before him. "Toichi," he murmured, pulling away, looking up at the thief's shadowed face. "Why are you here?"
"Why not? Is it a sudden crime to visit my lover?" Toichi asked with a smile, leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over Conan's, pouting as his boyfriend pulled away from the kiss.
"I mean, why are you here, dressed like that?" Conan asked, his hands resting lightly on Toichi's hips, gently rubbing them through the cotton of the boy's slacks.
"Because...you like me dressed like this," Toichi said against Conan's lips. "It helps you close your eyes, and pretend that it's someone else sitting here, someone else in your arms."
Conan turned his head, breaking the kiss, his face blank. "Get off." He said softly, thought it was laced with the steel that came with being hurt by someone you cared about.
Toichi blinked, but stood, fighting the impulse to fidget nervously as he tried to figure out what was going on. Kaitou Kid did NOT fidget, there for, Kuroba Toichi didn't either...much. "What, it's true, isn't it?"
"This," Conan said, standing and gesturing to Toichi's costume before turning, pouring himself a drink from the wet bar. "Is not how I want you, Toichi. I don't want a replacement, a copy. I want the real you."
Toichi gave a soft, hidden smile that Conan couldn't see, once more fighting an impulse to do something that Kaitou Kid did NOT do, but this time it was the urge to jump around like a lovesick schoolboy. He then gave an internal sigh, lowering his head, hiding in the shadows. "What if...this is who I am? Who I've always been?"
Conan turned, to ask him what he meant, only to find an empty room behind him, blue curtains fluttering the in the breeze coming in from the open window.
--
Kaito was sitting on the couch, absently flicking through television channel after television channel, trying to find something to focus on, his mind wrapping around the events of last week. It had been a long time since Toichi had pulled such a stunt, and Kaito was a bit at a loss as to how to crack down on his son. Grounding never worked, and apparently, neither did keeping the boy from heists. Kaito had, before last week, enough confidence in his son to assume the boy could pull of a heist perfectly fine alone, but obviously he had been wrong. The boy had been reckless, using a relaxant that was un-predictable at best, at worst...well, at worst was something Kaito didn't really like thinking about.
He was distracted from his musings by the sound of Saguru's footsteps on the stairs, a loud thumping following which generally indicated Saguru was attempting to manhandle his overly large military duffel back down the stairs. The bag, when stuffed full, was easily as large as Kaito, and almost as heavy.
Kaito muted the television as Saguru and the 'corpse carrier' as it was fondly called got closer, curious as to what was going on, as he knew Saguru didn't have any trips coming up, nor had anyone from outside of Tokyo requested Saguru's services. He stood as the blond appeared, struggling under the weight of the bag, which appeared to be stuffed to the brim and then some. Between the two of them, they managed to get it near the front door, before Kaito turned, looking at his husband.
Saguru's face was rather blank, an expression of cool detachment Kaito hadn't seen in a while outside a courtroom. Kaito frowned, reaching a hand up, brushing the tips of his fingers down the side of Saguru's face. The blond's eyes fluttered closed at the familiar touch, head turning slightly towards Kaito's hand. Then those golden eyes opened and the moment was broken as Kaito took a step back.
The pair turned as lighter footsteps sounded on the stairs, followed by the squeaking of wheels. Mika appeared a moment after, her pink Hello Kitty suitcase following her. She paused, glancing at her parents before quietly wheeling her suitcase over to join her father's, before vanishing into the kitchen to leave the pair to talk alone.
"Saguru...what's going on?" Kaito asked, looking from Mika's retreating figure to Saguru, confusion etched across his face.
"I...we're leaving, Kaito."
"Leaving? For a case? I thought you didn't ha..."
"Not a case, Kaito." Saguru interrupted and ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly. "Come here," he said, taking Kaito's hand and leading his husband to the couch, taking a seat, gently puling Kaito down next to him. Saguru took a deep, steading breath before looking up at Kaito. "I know, Kaito. I know about Conan, about the affair, I..."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair again, looking away from Kaito, staring off into space. "We got married at eighteen, you got pregnant at eighteen. We...hell we had barely even been with someone else before each other. We rushed into it the moment we found out about Toichi, never giving a second thought to what would happen five, ten, fifty years down the road."
"Because we loved each other!"
"Still love each other," Saguru said softly, hopefully. "But sometimes..." he closed his eyes, trying to block out the memories of other couples, other situations so similar. "Sometimes love isn't enough, Kaito. We've had seventeen good years, and that's a pretty damn good run, but...maybe it's time to close the curtain. I love you, Kaito. Nothing can or will ever change that, but I'm not willing to sit here, forcing you to be trapped in some faded dream if you'd rather be somewhere else." He raised his hand as Kaito opened his mouth to speak, shaking his head. "And I'm not willing to sit here, watching you with someone else. It's to painful, for everyone."
"And this isn't painful?" Kaito asked, tears sliding down his face.
Saguru reached out, gently brushing his thumb over Kaito's cheek. "It's not forever, Kaito. I just...we need some space. We haven't had that in seventeen years. I think...I think it's time we took a break, a breather, to re-group, and figure out things. You can, you can see what your heart really wants."
"I don't' want a break, Saguru, I want you!"
"Kaito, you can't say that. If that's what you really wanted, then...well, to be blunt, you wouldn't be fucking around with Edogawa." Saguru stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm going to be staying in the apartment above my office, I've already re-routed my business line here to that address so you shouldn't be disturbed."
Kaito swallowed, closing his eyes, the realization that this was really happening, that Saguru had already prepared for it, and was prepared to go through with it, no matter what Kaito said. "What about the children?"
"Toichi will be staying here, for obvious reasons. Mika has already requested to join me and I've agreed."
"You can't take away my daughter, Saguru!"
"I'm not taking her away, Kaito. You can see her at anytime, I'm simply giving her what she wanted."
"I won't let you take her, I never agreed to that." Kaito said firmly, his heart clenching at the idea of losing one of his children.
"Well, luckily, you don't have to." Saguru said, not looking at his husband. "She's my daughter for all legal intents and purposes. We agreed each of us would claim them separately, to protect their rights."
"But I never thought...you can't do this, Saguru, legal or not she's my daughter, I gave birth to her!"
"It's already done, Kaito." Saguru said softly, trying to block out the hurt from his husband's voice, instead heading into the kitchen to collect Mika.
Kaito reached out for his daughter as they passed, stopping just short of the sleeve of the girl's coat, his hand curling into a fist, before he buried his face in his hands, blocking out the world as it fell down around him.
Mika turned back to look at her father, before turning forward, a tear sliding down her cheek as she gathered her suitcase and slid on her shoes, taking her father's hand. Saguru looked down at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before leading her outside.
--
Note: This may be the last chapter of Faded Roses. What started out as a rather crackish and 'just for kicks' storyline has obviously become a lot more serious, a lot more twisted (and a lot more soap opera ish), and while I still have ideas for the series, and enjoy writing it, I'm not sure if anyone's even reading it, and if it isn't better to just let it go, rather then dragging the characters down the road we're following.
Author: Saitaina
Word Count: 3,772 / 20,123 total
Characters: Saguru Hakuba, Conan Edogowa, Kaito Kuroba, Mika Hakuba, Toichi Kuroba
Rating: NC-17ish
Warnings: Sex, crack, drama, angst, melodrama, teenage idiocy, violence, slight abuse, and INCEST
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to their original artist.
Summary: Toichi's just trying to be a normal seventeen year old thief, but when a one night stand comes with repercussions, he does what any good teenager does and flees the trouble.
Chapter Summary: It's been a month and things are still a tangled mess. Toichi plans a heist while Saguru wonders if he should just walk away.
Notes: Part of the "Hakuba-Kuroba Universe" (see: "Miraculous Conception", "Night Child" and "Little Conversations"), written by special request. ...it's a crack soap opera, don't blame me for it's contents.
Previous Chapters
Chapter Four: Unfaithful
Every man wants a woman to appeal to his better side, his nobler instincts and his higher nature -- and another woman to help him forget them. - Helen Rowland
"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It has been two weeks since my last confession." Toichi whispered, clutching his rosary beads in his hand as he sat on the small bench in the confessional, not looking up at the shadowed man on the other side of the grill.
"And what sin do you have to confess, my child?"
Toichi swallowed, really wishing he hadn't waited two weeks to show up to confession, chancing a glance at the figure he couldn't see before closing his eyes, too many Sunday morning lessons coming back to him, making a nice, neat list to prove how far he had fallen from God's graces. "I have committed the sins of blasphemy, perjury and false oaths. I have committed the sin of Sunday obligation, I have committed the sins of scandal, drug abuse, and hatred. I have committed the sins of pornography, homosexual acts, masturbation, and the temptation of another to commit adultery and incest." Toichi heard the unconsciously sharp intake of air from the priest and tried not to squirm. "I have committed the sins of theft and cheating. I have committed the sins of adulation and lying. I have committed the sin of lust. I have committed the sin of envy, and I have committed the sin of ingratitude. For these, and all sins of my past life, I ask pardon of God, penance and absolution from you, Father."
"Oh my child," the priest whispered, almost wishing he could reach out and touch the boy whose voice quivered as he voiced each of his sins. So many, in only two weeks. He wondered about the poor soul on the other side of the grate, but pushed it away, instead focusing on the task at hand, eager to help. "Do you wish to further examine any of your sins?"
"Not really, father. I've examined them enough in my mind."
"Very well, then I want you to fast for three days, reciting the Lord's Prayer at morning, noon and before you retire. I also want you to make amends to those you have sinned against."
"Yes, father." Toichi bowed his head again, playing with the rosary in his hands. "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen."
The priest had already started the absolution while Toichi was mid-prayer, so that their prayers almost ended at the same time. The priest then went on to pray for Toichi as the teen clutched at his beads, tuning out the familiar prayer and instead turning his attention inward, wondering how long it would be until he stopped being so...stupid.
"You can go now, my child," the priest said and Toichi jumped, startled.
"Er, right, thank you, father." Toichi mumbled, crossing himself before stepping out of the confessional. He walked down the long aisle to the alter of the church, kneeling and lowering his head, saying a silent prayer as he lit a candle before crossing himself and heading outside to meet his father, swallowing thickly.
--
Kaito wrapped his arms around Conan's neck, smiling as he leaned in for a kiss, opening his mouth as Conan's tongue gently lapped over his lips, asking for entrance. His body still move to the soft, slow jazz spilling out of Conan's stereo, hips pressing against Conan's as they kissed.
Conan gave a low groan, his hands sliding down from around Kaito's waist to gently grip the other man's ass, giving it a squeeze, a chuckle spilling into the kiss as Kaito yelped, the thief's hands moving from Conan's neck to swat at the hands gripping him. Conan pulled free of the kiss, instead moving his mouth down the column of Kaito's neck, gently licking, sucking and biting as his hands slid to Kaito's hips, steering the man backwards and towards the hallway.
Kaito followed Conan's urgings, deftly stepping over empty beer bottles and the shopping bags they had brought home from and impromptu trip to the mall. He almost missed the pair's dinner plates but managed to skip over them, moaning deeply as Conan's tongue traced a pattern over the sensitive flesh of his collar bone. He turned suddenly, shoving Conan back against the wall, staring up at the too familiar face before kissing the other man hungrily, biting and sucking on Conan's lips as he slid his hands under Conan's shirt, shoving it up and over the man's head.
Conan tossed the shirt somewhere to the side, his hands sliding into Kaito's un-ruley hair, pressing their mouths harder together as he returned Kaito's passion, ignoring the hands now divesting him of his belt in favor of maneuvering them even further down the hallway, hissing as Kaito's hands got rid of the belt and now found a home somewhere below his waistband. Pulling away from Kaito's mouth again, he grabbed the teasing hands, holding them tightly in one hand, the other going around Kaito's waist, lifting the man into a fireman's carry, laughing as Kaito squirmed, trying to get free. He carried Kaito into his room, kicking the door shut behind him.
--
It had been a month since the mess with Yuki. Toichi was now healed and fit for service, though, despite his father's promises, he had yet to lead a heist himself. Ever since Conan had re-joined the chase, it seemed as if Toichi was being pushed further and further to the sidelines the more he healed.
It was frankly staring to piss off the seventeen-year-old. It had been years since he had done a heist on his own, from planning to completion, but every time his father walked away, he was tempted to do it again, to strike out on his own.
The only problem with it being, is that they shared the name, Kaitou Kid. Which meant he couldn't exactly strike out on his own considering his father would hog tie him and drag him back home for the very idea.
Then again, he was a teenager, expected to rebel against un-reasonable (and sometimes reasonable) constraints.
Which was why he was standing on the edge of the Fukushima Museum, a small smile playing on his face as he watched his parents and Conan below him. He stood, black clothes blending into the night as he raised his arms, a wind rushing past him, energizing him for the night to come. He closed his eyes and whispered a silent prayer, almost feeling his grandfather smiling as he prepared for a show that took over a month to plan.
"Everything's set up," Mika said softly from the shadows, watching her brother. She turned away as he turned to look at her, instead, turning her gaze to the night, looking out at the lit up city. "Be careful," she whispered before vanishing into the darkness, heading downstairs to meet up with her parents.
Toichi watched her go, checking his watch once she disappeared, heading in himself in order to change and start the events of the night in motion.
--
"Remember what the door mouse said..."
The voice was soft, whispery, floating around the large room, causing some of the younger recruits to jump, almost running into each other in their fear.
Saguru blinked in the sudden darkness that had accompanied the voice, before turning as a light came from behind him. He blinked again, staring at the small blond girl on the wall, before spinning in a slow circle, studying the same scene from every angle, even featured on the ceiling and floor.
"Oh wait! Don't go, please!"
"Very well then, third chorus!"
"Oh no, no, no...thank you, but-I just wanted to ask you which way I ought to go..."
Kaito drew his attention away from the cartoon surrounding them, making his way towards the glass case that had been targeted for the evening, throwing a hand up in front of his eyes to protect them as strobe lights started flashing, multi-coloured flashes from hidden stage lights joining. While dis-orienting at first, it was easily overcome, only to be forced to clutch a wall as the illusion of the room melting and spinning hit them. Kaito mused, through his sudden nausea, that it was a rather interesting effect. He slid to the floor, holding his stomach, shutting his eyes tightly so he was effected less from the illusion, still hearing the old cartoon play.
"However, if you're looking for the White Rabbit, I'd ask the Mad Hatter."
"The Mad Hatter? Uh...no, no, I do-I do..."
"Or there's the March Hare, in that direction.."
One of the police officers started mimicking the Cheshire Cat, causing his partner to snicker. When the officer pointed, he ended up spinning around so far he fell over, his laughter ringing out. The others started staring at him funny, before giggling themselves. Kaito found himself snickering, unable to stop, despite the fact it wasn't really that funny.
"Oh, thank you. I-I think I shall visit him."
"Of course, he's mad too."
"But I don' want to go among mad people!"
"Oh, you can't help that. Almost everyone is mad here..."
Saguru leaned against the wall, swallowing against the sickness rolling in his stomach, a handkerchief covering his mouth and nose as he made his way over to where he husband was nearly convulsing with laughter. Conan joined him, the other detective looking a bit light headed and spacey. Every so often, Conan would slip off his glasses, blinking around the room before sliding them back on, more often then not even more crooked then when he pulled them off.
Kaito rolled his head, peering at the pair, giggling. "There's two of you!" For some reason, the thief found this hilarious and actually fell over, snickering into the floor.
Saguru blinked down at his husband before shaking his head. He turned to speak with Conan, only to find the younger detective hugging him, unable to stand upright without falling.
The animated cat's laughter faded, now blending into a more human, and more real laugh. "You may have noticed, I'm not all there myself." Strobe lights flashed, illuminating a figure resting on the arm of a statue, before the figure vanished as the light danced away again.
Saguru frowned, gently prying Conan off of him and helping the other man to the floor before heading for the statue, curious at the figure that only appeared when light was shining on the arm. Before he could get two steps though, the figure had moved, now crouched above them on a modern art sculpture, lounging easily, the night's target (an antique teapot, gifted to the Emperor by Queen Victoria), dangling oh so gently from one gloved finger.
There was a moment of silence, even the movie's sound track cutting out, before Nakamori shouted, leaping for the figure. The Inspector fell straight through the lounging figure, hitting the ground hard on the other side.
Toichi, now dressed as Kaitou Kid, tisked, wagging a finger at the man he considered a grandfather. "Now, now, Inspector, was that really necessary?"
"KID!" Nakamori roared, taking another flying leap, with the same results of sailing straight through what should have been a very solid phantom thief.
Kid tisked again, shaking his head. "Really now, haven't you learned by now?"
"Kid's a ghost!" one of the officer's screamed and Saguru smacked his hand to his forehead.
"Honestly, it's an illusion, you idiot." he muttered and fished his flashlight out of his pocket, clicking it on, casting the beam around the room, ignoring the flashing lights and smiling when his light reflected back to him from an area none of the strobe or spotlights hit. "Found you," he murmured and made his way towards the reflection, using the flashlight to shatter the glass instead of attempting to find a seam in the dark.
Toichi blinked at his father from the other side of the glass, resting against a black replica of the sculpture his 'ghost' had appeared on. "Bye!" he called out cheerfully, a puff of smoke following his words, masking his mad dash out the back door.
Saguru took off after him, hearing the faint sounds of others following a few moments after fresh air spilled into the room, clearing the laughing gas from their systems. Somewhere between the back alley and the next few blocks however, he lost Toichi and cursed, turning to see Conan and Kaito catching up to him. He shook his head at them, kicking the wall out of frustration, before heading back to the museum to check on the others.
--
Conan looked up from his book, raising an eyebrow at the silent figure in the window before returning to his book, making the page and setting it aside. "Can I help you?"
The figure glanced at him from under the brim of his hat before his gaze traveled back to the night outside the window. "Are you alright?"
Conan tilted his head before nodding. "I have recovered from the effects of the gas, though I'd appreciate if next time, you were to stick with your signature blend."
Kid smiled, turning in the window and slipping off the sill, toeing off his shoes before making his way across the room, straddling Conan's lap. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"It was...different." Conan murmured, leaning closer to the thief in his lap, brushing his nose over the curve of the bare neck before him. "Toichi," he murmured, pulling away, looking up at the thief's shadowed face. "Why are you here?"
"Why not? Is it a sudden crime to visit my lover?" Toichi asked with a smile, leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over Conan's, pouting as his boyfriend pulled away from the kiss.
"I mean, why are you here, dressed like that?" Conan asked, his hands resting lightly on Toichi's hips, gently rubbing them through the cotton of the boy's slacks.
"Because...you like me dressed like this," Toichi said against Conan's lips. "It helps you close your eyes, and pretend that it's someone else sitting here, someone else in your arms."
Conan turned his head, breaking the kiss, his face blank. "Get off." He said softly, thought it was laced with the steel that came with being hurt by someone you cared about.
Toichi blinked, but stood, fighting the impulse to fidget nervously as he tried to figure out what was going on. Kaitou Kid did NOT fidget, there for, Kuroba Toichi didn't either...much. "What, it's true, isn't it?"
"This," Conan said, standing and gesturing to Toichi's costume before turning, pouring himself a drink from the wet bar. "Is not how I want you, Toichi. I don't want a replacement, a copy. I want the real you."
Toichi gave a soft, hidden smile that Conan couldn't see, once more fighting an impulse to do something that Kaitou Kid did NOT do, but this time it was the urge to jump around like a lovesick schoolboy. He then gave an internal sigh, lowering his head, hiding in the shadows. "What if...this is who I am? Who I've always been?"
Conan turned, to ask him what he meant, only to find an empty room behind him, blue curtains fluttering the in the breeze coming in from the open window.
--
Kaito was sitting on the couch, absently flicking through television channel after television channel, trying to find something to focus on, his mind wrapping around the events of last week. It had been a long time since Toichi had pulled such a stunt, and Kaito was a bit at a loss as to how to crack down on his son. Grounding never worked, and apparently, neither did keeping the boy from heists. Kaito had, before last week, enough confidence in his son to assume the boy could pull of a heist perfectly fine alone, but obviously he had been wrong. The boy had been reckless, using a relaxant that was un-predictable at best, at worst...well, at worst was something Kaito didn't really like thinking about.
He was distracted from his musings by the sound of Saguru's footsteps on the stairs, a loud thumping following which generally indicated Saguru was attempting to manhandle his overly large military duffel back down the stairs. The bag, when stuffed full, was easily as large as Kaito, and almost as heavy.
Kaito muted the television as Saguru and the 'corpse carrier' as it was fondly called got closer, curious as to what was going on, as he knew Saguru didn't have any trips coming up, nor had anyone from outside of Tokyo requested Saguru's services. He stood as the blond appeared, struggling under the weight of the bag, which appeared to be stuffed to the brim and then some. Between the two of them, they managed to get it near the front door, before Kaito turned, looking at his husband.
Saguru's face was rather blank, an expression of cool detachment Kaito hadn't seen in a while outside a courtroom. Kaito frowned, reaching a hand up, brushing the tips of his fingers down the side of Saguru's face. The blond's eyes fluttered closed at the familiar touch, head turning slightly towards Kaito's hand. Then those golden eyes opened and the moment was broken as Kaito took a step back.
The pair turned as lighter footsteps sounded on the stairs, followed by the squeaking of wheels. Mika appeared a moment after, her pink Hello Kitty suitcase following her. She paused, glancing at her parents before quietly wheeling her suitcase over to join her father's, before vanishing into the kitchen to leave the pair to talk alone.
"Saguru...what's going on?" Kaito asked, looking from Mika's retreating figure to Saguru, confusion etched across his face.
"I...we're leaving, Kaito."
"Leaving? For a case? I thought you didn't ha..."
"Not a case, Kaito." Saguru interrupted and ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly. "Come here," he said, taking Kaito's hand and leading his husband to the couch, taking a seat, gently puling Kaito down next to him. Saguru took a deep, steading breath before looking up at Kaito. "I know, Kaito. I know about Conan, about the affair, I..."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair again, looking away from Kaito, staring off into space. "We got married at eighteen, you got pregnant at eighteen. We...hell we had barely even been with someone else before each other. We rushed into it the moment we found out about Toichi, never giving a second thought to what would happen five, ten, fifty years down the road."
"Because we loved each other!"
"Still love each other," Saguru said softly, hopefully. "But sometimes..." he closed his eyes, trying to block out the memories of other couples, other situations so similar. "Sometimes love isn't enough, Kaito. We've had seventeen good years, and that's a pretty damn good run, but...maybe it's time to close the curtain. I love you, Kaito. Nothing can or will ever change that, but I'm not willing to sit here, forcing you to be trapped in some faded dream if you'd rather be somewhere else." He raised his hand as Kaito opened his mouth to speak, shaking his head. "And I'm not willing to sit here, watching you with someone else. It's to painful, for everyone."
"And this isn't painful?" Kaito asked, tears sliding down his face.
Saguru reached out, gently brushing his thumb over Kaito's cheek. "It's not forever, Kaito. I just...we need some space. We haven't had that in seventeen years. I think...I think it's time we took a break, a breather, to re-group, and figure out things. You can, you can see what your heart really wants."
"I don't' want a break, Saguru, I want you!"
"Kaito, you can't say that. If that's what you really wanted, then...well, to be blunt, you wouldn't be fucking around with Edogawa." Saguru stood, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm going to be staying in the apartment above my office, I've already re-routed my business line here to that address so you shouldn't be disturbed."
Kaito swallowed, closing his eyes, the realization that this was really happening, that Saguru had already prepared for it, and was prepared to go through with it, no matter what Kaito said. "What about the children?"
"Toichi will be staying here, for obvious reasons. Mika has already requested to join me and I've agreed."
"You can't take away my daughter, Saguru!"
"I'm not taking her away, Kaito. You can see her at anytime, I'm simply giving her what she wanted."
"I won't let you take her, I never agreed to that." Kaito said firmly, his heart clenching at the idea of losing one of his children.
"Well, luckily, you don't have to." Saguru said, not looking at his husband. "She's my daughter for all legal intents and purposes. We agreed each of us would claim them separately, to protect their rights."
"But I never thought...you can't do this, Saguru, legal or not she's my daughter, I gave birth to her!"
"It's already done, Kaito." Saguru said softly, trying to block out the hurt from his husband's voice, instead heading into the kitchen to collect Mika.
Kaito reached out for his daughter as they passed, stopping just short of the sleeve of the girl's coat, his hand curling into a fist, before he buried his face in his hands, blocking out the world as it fell down around him.
Mika turned back to look at her father, before turning forward, a tear sliding down her cheek as she gathered her suitcase and slid on her shoes, taking her father's hand. Saguru looked down at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before leading her outside.
--
Note: This may be the last chapter of Faded Roses. What started out as a rather crackish and 'just for kicks' storyline has obviously become a lot more serious, a lot more twisted (and a lot more soap opera ish), and while I still have ideas for the series, and enjoy writing it, I'm not sure if anyone's even reading it, and if it isn't better to just let it go, rather then dragging the characters down the road we're following.