Back at Home

                                    

                                          
Keys turned inside a familiar lock before the door opened with a soft creak and Kuroba Kaito stepped into the condo, yawning softly. It had been a long week without Shinichi, and Pandora had him yearn for his company more than ever before. It was strange to be so dependant on someone but Kaito knew it was just the gem influencing him again.
                          
He took off his shoes, casually slid out of his jacket and lifted it onto the wooden coat hanger before quietly stepping into the living room, adjusting his tie. Finally his tour was over. Finally he could have some peace and quiet. It was difficult flying back and forth all the time to spend some silent peaceful time with Shinichi and his half, but else he knew the distance would have been unbearable.
                          
"Kai-chan!! You're finally here! We've been waiting for hours!"
Kaito flinched at the unfamiliar voice and looked up, only to come face to face with unexpected company inside his own living room- and a dead inside looking Shinichi whose eyes screamed Help.
"How are you doing, Kaito? How was your tour?"
Slowly his jaw began to fall.
                          
"K-kaa-san?! And... Kudo-san?!"
"Eh?! Call me Yukiko! Everybody does! I thought we already made that clear last time I've seen you!"
Kaito's mother chuckled and extended a hand towards her son, gesturing for him to sit down with them and lend them his company.
"Come on, sit, tell us something."
                          
Slowly and without another word, Kaito slid down onto the couch, tensed as ever. Yes he remembered Yukiko knew his real identity thanks to Yusaku, but best friends with his mother? He knew their fathers used to be close but still-
Kaito shook his head, falling out of his thoughts, and shot a questioning look at Shinichi which went unanswered.
                          
"I'm... doing fine. As fine as I can be. As you see, I've got a supposedly dead flatmate now, I've finished my tour, and I reestablished some old connections."
Chikage let out a soft hum and nodded.
"Yes, you told me. Haibara, was it? And Koizumi? I'm surprised, Koizumi was such a creepy girl when you were young."
"Oof", Kaito sneered, "I'm not that old you know?"
                          
Shinichi snickered amused to himself, not without catching a dramatized look of betrayal from his counterpart.
"So uhm... how come you decide to visit...?"
Yukiko immediately beamed and wrapped her arms around both Shinichi and Kaito.
"We wanted to see you! Chi-chan and I were so deeply engrossed into our chatter that we suddenly realized we were close to your condo. So why not?"
Shinichi flashed a glance at his mother, then sighed, finally putting up a smile.
"So you knew all along?"
"Of course I did. My son wouldn't die that fast, and the short but suspiciously sudden appearance of a twin named Kuroba Shinobu was too weird to ignore. Especially since I called Chi-chan and she spilled the beans."
                          
"Mom!!" Kaito whined, earning a cheeky grin from his mother, "What? I'm not going to lie just so you can live your life as a lone wolf."
Kaito forced another whine of betrayal. How unfair.
Shinichi clasped his hands together, slowly getting up.
"Well... It's getting late... and Kaito is probably very tired from his journey home." He flashed a gauging glance at Kaito who immediately sprang into action as well by letting out a yawn.
"Yeah I am..."
                          
"Aww really?"
Yukiko didn't seem too happy but Chikage seemed to realize what was going on. A knowing grin into Kaito's direction, she stood up from her armchair.
"Then I think it's best we leave you two alone. Get some rest."
                          
Pause.
                          
"Say, Kaito, how thick are the walls of this condo again...?"
"Medium, why?"
Chikage just grinned and took Yukiko's hand to lead the protesting woman towards the door.
"Oh, I'm just curious. You know how loud some of your magic tricks are~ Goodbye~"
She purred a sweet farewell, then abruptly left the house together with Kudo Yukiko, both of them giggling like school girls.
                          
The men exchanged a confused glance.
"...to be honest, Meitantei, I have no idea what is going on."
"Me neither."
Finally, a warm and happy smile sprawled all across Shinichi's face as he stepped forward to hug Kaito as a greeting.
"I'm happy to see you. It has been getting lonely here without company."
"You're awfully honest today."
"I always am, Bakaito."
                          
Shinichi glanced down at his lips and shyed away again, looking awkwardly to the side.
"So... how are you?"
Way to go Shinichi, that was your best attempt at smalltalk you have ever done.
Kaito let out a laugh and nudged Shinichi to follow him back into the living room.
"I'm in the mood to watch some tv. Want to join?"
And of course, Shinichi did. While a show was running neither of them had any interest in, it was still noise to fill the room that made it less quiet and less awkward. Shinichi kept glancing over to Kaito, drifting off to dangerous areas with his thoughts, smiling away. Those gentle yet piercing eyes, his soft and fluffy hair that was an adorable mess as usual... Shinichi blushed as Pandora, as usual in sync with his heartrate, pulsed a bit faster. Kaito paused and flashed a questioning glance at him, only to blush and look back at the tv as he noticed Shinichi had been staring at him for quite a while.
                          
The air became just the slightest bit more electric this very moment.
                          
***
                          
Yukiko was walking contently along Chikage, chatting with her about god and the world, enjoying all the different kinds of people, smells and views around her. She never liked being indoors too much, she loved to interact with people outside under the free sky.
All of a sudden she paused and her brows furrowed, causing Chikage to stop as well.
"Hm?"
"Wait... But Kai-chan and Shin-chan are immortal. They don't sleep. They don't get tired!!"
Chikage bursted out laughing and patted the back of her friend in a comforting gesture.
"Oh dear oh dear. Didn't you read the atmosphere? I'm sure Shinichi was really excited to see Kaito again since a whole week. I mean, Kaito kept me updated all the time. Don't you think a bit alone-time would be... beneficial?"
Chikage wiggled her eyebrows meaningful and finally, Yukiko understood, and snickered along.
"Alone time, huh..."