Chapter 3: They follow each other on the wind

"Kaito, I think I felt him that time!" Aoko squeals behind me.

I look in the rear view mirror and see her holding out her hands to Shinichi. I'm driving her to work today since she's still unnerved about her argument with Hattori-keiji from the other day. She's in the back seat with Shinichi. Her goal is to give him a high five.

"That's good. We can be crazy together," I say, focusing on the road. She laughs at this, and tries again.

Shinichi gives her another high five. "You two like being in your own space don't you?" He asks. "Just like me and Ran…" I look in the mirror again to see him frowning. Hm. It must be hard being dead. I mean that's obvious, but knowing you can't be around those you love is heartbreaking. I'm surprised he still wants to hang around us.

"Kaito, there's a parking spot up ahead." I hear Aoko say. I inwardly groan. I hate parallel parking. "You want me to spot you?" Aoko asks.

"No, I think I got it." Lucky for me, the car that I'm parking in front of gave me enough space to get in. After I turn off the car, the three of us get out. I toss the keys to Aoko, since she'll be driving home. "You want me to walk you in?"

She mumbles to herself, and avoids my gaze. I believe that was a yes.

"I wouldn't mind seeing the station again," Shinichi tells me, also noticing Aoko's fretting.

I relay this to Aoko. "Plus, you moved desks since your promotion right? I haven't seen it yet."

She's excited again. "Oh that's right! They moved me closer to the higher ups! I see Hakuba all the time in his office." She leads me through the front entrance. I've been here a couple of times so the receptionist recognizes me.

"How does it smell in here?" Shinichi asks me. "Does it smell like justice?"

"Uh, it smells clean," I answer.

He nods at this. "I guess it's a policeman thing."

Aoko takes in a deep breath. "Tell Shinichi it still smells like justice."

Shinichi laughs. "You see?"

We get in the elevator and head to the second floor. When the doors open, Aoko quickly checks around the office. Her hand clasps onto mine.

"Heiji doesn't come this early anymore," Shinichi says above us. I hate that he chooses when he wants to float around or walk. I still get creeped out when he randomly starts flying around.

I relay to Aoko.

She nods at this. "I know, but I'm still so worried." We walk past several policeman, all giving me weird looks. Aoko's desk is in the back of the room in the center. Behind her is Hakuba's, Hattori-keiji's, and Masumi-keiji's offices. "Home sweet home!" She sits down. "It's a bit scary since I'm over a lot of the newbies."

"Oh, hello you two." Hakuba walks out of his office. Watson sits on his gloved hand, angling its head toward Shinichi.

"I never knew if Watson liked me or not…" Shinichi gets back on the ground. He stays close to me, watching the hawk. Never thought a ghost would be afraid of birds of all things.

"Are you alright, Aoko?" Hakuba asks. "I swear Hattori's mouth gets him more trouble than anything."

Her smile shakes. "I'm fine, Hakuba…I should be fine for today." She winks in my general direction. "You'll have to give me some Hattori-keiji tricks, Shinichi."

"That would be hard. He's a wildcard." Shinichi chuckles. "He reminds me of you Kaito." If you say so.

Hakuba's eyes widen. "What do you mean?" He turns to me. "You're still saying that you're seeing Shinichi?" He says in a low voice.

"He started following me around now," I say. Shinichi walks over to Watson cautiously. "And he's staying or…haunting our place now."

"I always wanted to pet him…" He says.

"Spirits don't exist, Kaito." Hakuba's brow furrows. "I hate to agree with Hattori, but you shouldn't say things like that."

Aoko slumps in her seat. Watson turns his head to Shinichi, cawing. Hakuba shushes his pet.

"You've known me long enough not to lie about serious things like this. I don't like having a dead person following me either," I say. "But he knows Dad and I have to help him."

Shinichi reaches out to the hawk.

He checks his watch. "Is this something to make yourself feel better about your father? If so, it's an unhealthy attempt—" He jolts when Watson screeches and flies around the room. The three of us watch as policemen duck their heads and scramble under their desks. Hakuba grabs a whistle from his pocket and blows it. Watson turns his head to his owner and flies back to him. Shinichi gives me a bashful grin.

Masumi's door opens and peeks out. "Is it mating season?" She laughs. "Oh, Kaito! You're here! Is this another magic trick? Kind of a weird time and place for one."

After calming down his pet, Hakuba answers, "Something scared Watson…" He sighs. "I'll be outside. He might calm down when he flies around for a bit."

Aoko lets out a breath when Hakuba leaves. "Good morning, Masumi-keiji," she greets.

"I'm glad you're here, Aoko! I was afraid Heiji ran you off." She walks over to give Aoko a hug. "I gave him a stern talking to."

"Thank you." Aoko doesn't sound at all relieved. "Well, I guess I should actually work now." She laughs.

"Have a good day." I wave. Shinichi does the same. I head back to the first floor. I see Hakuba leaning against my car, deep I thought.

"Watson's taking a flight around the block?" I ask when I meet up with him. Shinichi laughs.

Hakuba doesn't. "I trained Watson for high stress situations. He doesn't get scared easily unless there's lightening. Did you do something?"

"Shinichi wanted to pet him."

He lets out a sigh, rubbing his eyes. "Watson never liked him for some reason…" he mumbles.

"Ah, well that answers that," Shinichi says.

"Alright…" He sighs again. "I'll think about this whole ghost thing. Lord knows Aoko's going to try and convince me too."

"If we're crazy, you have to be crazy." I grin.

He chuckles, pulling out his whistle. "I guess you're right. But you'll have to allow one thing." One blow and Watson's call is heard nearby. "I'll get Akako to do one of those occult things to see if something's there. If it's not Shinichi, it could be some boogey man messing with you."

Shinichi laughs. "I do sleep under your bed." Don't remind me.

I inwardly groan. Akako's not my favorite person, but if she's the key to getting Hakuba on my side then so be it. "Fine. I'll make sure Aoko's dad is out of the way when she comes." One of the few things Nakamori-keibu and I agree on is our distrust with Akako. Aoko loves her. I find her creepy. She calls herself a witch, and does séances and talks to ghosts all the time. I thought she was crazy, but here I am with a ghost following me.

Watson flies a circle above Hakuba before landing on his hand. "We'll come by this weekend. Until then, try to be sane," Hakuba says as he heads back inside.

I notice Shinichi staring at the police station with an odd look on his face. When he realizes I'm staring at him, he smiles. "I forgot how much I missed this place," he says. "The hours are terrible. You're in dangerous situations all the time, and if you make one mistake, the public might hate you for it."

"Brutal," I say.

He shrugs. "It's another home for me." He looks at the building one last time. "Are we going back to your place now?"

I shake my head. "You said Hattori doesn't come in early anymore. Where does he go?" I have a strong feeling I might regret actively searching for the hot headed detective, but I promised to help Shinichi reach out to his friends and family one last time.

Shinichi walks beside me, putting his hands in his pockets. "My grave."

I really regret my decision.

…

The cemetery Shinichi's buried in is far away from Dad's. I'm oddly relieved. Shinichi tells me that we'll be on the train for a while, so I take this time to call Mom.

"Kai-chan! Good morning," she answers.

"Good morning. Did you rest well?" I ask.

"I tried." She sighs. "I ended up talking on the phone for most of the night."

"To who?"

She's silent.

Shinichi floats above a woman reading a novel.

"It was…Yukiko."

"You talked to Shinichi's mom?" I ask loudly. Other passengers give me miffed looks, including the novel woman. Shinichi watches me curiously.

"With all this talk about him, I couldn't help it. Plus she's an old friend of mine and we haven't talked in a while." I hear her pouring something. It must be tea. "She sends her regards of course."

"Did you tell her I performed for Conan?" I ask.

"Oh yes! She was excited to hear that. She wished she was there…" she mumbles. I know she's avoiding something now. Whether she knows it or not, Mom speaks loudly. It must be a big secret if she's talking this low. "I told her about your ghost. You'll have to forgive me for being mean to you before. I forgot about what happened all those years ago…"

"Does she remember?" Shinichi asks excitedly, popping up in front of me. I almost drop my phone from the shock.

I make sure I didn't accidentally end the call. "What happened?"

"It was the strangest thing, Kaito. I don't know if you'll believe me."

"I have a ghost trying to listen to my phone call," I mutter.

Mom chuckles. "Of course. It happened few months after your father passed. Yukiko called me saying that Shinichi was acting a bit different. He was always an interesting child, watching and reading mystery shows all the time. Apparently he started writing letters."

"Writing letters?" I ask this to both Mom and Shinichi.

He grins. "She does remember."

"She found them disturbing and wanted to send Shinichi to a psychiatrist. I told her she was overreacting. Kids always write to their imaginary friends. When she told me what they were about…" she lets out a breath. "I still find it terrifying, Kaito…especially with your ghost…"

I feel a knot in my stomach. I'm afraid where this will go. Shinichi on the other hand seems excited.

"Those letters were addressed to you…but he wrote them as your father."

I feel sick. What does this all mean? I hunch over in my seat, coughing. Mom asks if I'm alright. I mumble an answer.

"It's quite shocking, isn't it? I didn't believe her when she told me."

I feel everything swirl around me. "Does…does she still have them?"

"She does. I'll be leaving soon to get them." She takes a sip of her drink. "I don't know why, but I suddenly feel relieved. Maybe it's because I blocked that memory for all these years. Anyway, I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you're doing something important."

"I'm going to a cemetery."

"Visiting Shinichi?" She takes another sip. "I feel silly saying this, but tell him I said hello."

I tell her I will and she hangs up. I lean back in my seat, groaning. All of this is crazy. Shinichi writing letters to me as Dad…what could be in them?

"Our stop is soon," Shinichi tells me. I groan again.

…

We had to take a bus after getting off the train. When we finally make it to the cemetery, a police car is already driving away. I'm actually relieved. With the news Mom gave me, I don't feel up for talking to Hattori.

"Let's visit me anyway. Don't want to waste our trip," Shinichi says, walking through the gate.

I open it, and follow him. I look around the gravesite and notice a major difference from the one where Dad's tombstone is.

"You weren't cremated?" I ask.

Shinichi shakes his head. "Ran never liked the idea. I remember she told me she didn't want to be haunted by a spirit through their ashes." Ironic. He's about to say something else, but he stops.

"Kuroba-san, I wasn't expecting to see you here." Kudo-san smiles at me. She's sitting in front of Shinichi's grave. Despite the grim atmosphere, she is still rather radiant. I wonder how the world knows to make her look pretty in any setting. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm fine, and you?" I hesitantly sit beside her. Shinichi sits on his tombstone, gazing at his wife.

"I'm alright, thank you," she says. "You just missed Heiji-kun, he was talking about you and your wife earlier. He's not good with apologies, so bear with him."

I awkwardly laugh at this. "It's fine. I am intruding in personal matters, I guess."

"As I see it, you were pushed into this matter so I don't mind. I do find it interesting though—you possibly seeing my husband." She looks at the grave. Ah, Hattori must have told her that also…

Shinichi frowns. It's terrible she can't see him.

"Alongside Heiji-kun, I visit Shinichi every morning after I drop off Conan-kun to school. Knowing that his body is here is comforting. I feel closer to him this way," She says.

Shinichi looks at the ground, sniffing.

"What brings you here?" She asks, turning to me. "I'm surprised you knew where Shinichi's resting."

I try to think of something. "Aoko found out for me," I say quickly. "I thought I should pay my respects to him, since I met you and your son."

Kudo-san pushes her hair behind her ear. "That's very kind of you Kuroba-san. I have a feeling you and Shinichi would've been good friends." The three of us laugh for different reasons.

"According to my mom I met Shinichi when we were kids. I don't remember it though," I say.

"Is that so? What a small world! Now that I think about it, I believe he mentioned you at one point." She pauses to think. "I believe your name is Toichi?"

I stiffen. "That's my father's name." I fight off the swirling feeling in my stomach. "My name is Kaito."

"Oh I'm so sorry!" She says. "I wonder why that name came first…"

"My dad was a magician—Kuroba Toichi, the first Kaitou Kid," I answer.

"Ah that makes sense! I remember him now." She smiles. "If you wish to, do you mind having some tea with me?"

I look at Shinichi. He eagerly nods at me. "If you don't mind me intruding…" I finally answer.

"Of course not!" Kudo-san laughs.

…

"Shinichi was always curious," Kudo-san tells me as she pours water into the kettle. "Even when we were kids, he was the one that leaped into action to figure out something." She chuckles. "That's what I loved most about him."

Shinichi stands beside her, watching her put the kettle on the stove and then follows her to the dining table. Kudo-san sits across from me.

"How's Conan?" I ask.

"He's fine…" She answers before letting out a sigh. "That's what I would like to say, but I know he's not. He keeps to himself now."

Shinichi also sighs. "He was very cheerful before." he says.

"Well you are dead," I remind him. Kudo-san raises her eyebrows. "I mean, your husband is," I quickly add.

"In a way you're right. A piece of me is buried along with Shinichi," she says. "I haven't been able to be myself lately." She forces out a giggle. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't worry you with my personal matters. How are you and Aoko-kun?" I can tell her smile is covering up her real emotions. As someone who does this all the time, you pick up on it pretty quickly.

"We're fine."

"If you don't mind me asking, but have you two thought about having children yet?" She asks.

I jump when the kettle goes off. Ruffling my hair, I try to think of an answer. I've been avoiding the idea of kids for the longest. Aoko's been quiet about it recently, but I know that only means she's going to make a big deal about it soon. Kudo san pulls out two teacups from one of the cabinets and a box of tea. She places a tea bag in each cup and pours in the hot water. When she comes back to the dining table, I still don't have an answer to her question.

Shinichi, who's sitting next to his wife at the table, leans over the teacup. "Mint—one of her favorites," he says.

Ran giggles again. This time it's genuine. "You're scared aren't you?" She checks her teacup. "That's good—that means you're thinking about it."

"I guess…" I mumble, messing with my tea bag. Shinichi chuckles. "Was Shinichi scared?" He immediately stops.

She laughs. "Of course he was! I remember when Conan was born he was so afraid of holding him."

"Babies are so fragile! I didn't want to drop him!" Shinichi huffs, crossing his arms.

"But either way," Kudo-san takes her teabag out of her cup, "children are a handful, but that's why they're fun to have around." She takes my teabag as well and gets up again to toss them away. "Plus, it's nice having someone here. Sometimes I get kinda scared when I'm by myself." She tells me before taking a sip of her tea.

I also take a sip. Huh, I should buy some for Aoko. She would like it.

"Kuroba-san, do you believe in ghosts?" Kudo-san stares at her cup.

I warily glance over to Shinichi. He immediately perks up.

"I've been having thoughts about them recently," I answer.

"Really?" She looks up. "I wasn't sure if I should tell anyone this since it sounds a bit crazy…but I think there's a spirit here."

"Do you think she senses me right here?" Shinichi asks, leaning close to his wife. "Do you think she could hear me?"

"Sometimes I imagine someone touching my shoulder or holding me when I sleep," She continues. She looks up and is unknowingly looking at Shinichi's face. He slowly leans in. "But that's crazy isn't it?" She chuckles before taking another sip.

Shinichi stops, and sinks through the table to the floor.

"I told Conan-kun about it to see what he thought, and he told me that I was imagining things," she sighs.

"He's very mature for his age," I say.

"He's very mature when it comes to his father." Kudo-san looks at me with a small smile and tears forming in her eyes. "He wants nothing to do with him."

I hear a small sigh from beneath the table. Shinichi is hunched over, with his back to me. "This is why I'm scared of having kids…" I finally answer.

We finish our tea in silence. Kudo-san offered me a small snack, but I quickly refused. Once again, I feel like I'm wasting her time.

"Thank you for tea, Kudo-san," I say as she leads me to the door.

"Ran." She smiles. "You may call me Ran."

I gulp. I feel a bit weird calling her by her first name already. "I'm fine with Kaito," I stutter out. I'm not, but I've been in home twice now…and sharing a room with her husband.

Ran opens the door for me, and follows me out. "Please visit again, Kaito. You're good company."

I awkwardly wave, and walk down the steps to the sidewalk.

"Kaito," I hear Shinichi behind me. "Let me stay here a bit longer…" I turn around to find him staring at his house. "I want to be here for a while longer…" he restates. His shoulders tremble, and I hear a small sniffling noise.

Kudo-san sees me and waves me goodbye again.

I try to smile as I wave back; Shinichi kneels down to the ground crying.

Finally I get to update this story! It's been a while! Since this story is a bit more serious i'm gonna try and sound more serious in my author's notes haha! not much happens here since i'm setting up for interesting plot twists in the next chapter, but the big thing is we now know that Shinichi and Ghost Toichi were communicating for a while. I wonder when we'll see those letters..ooooOOOOOOoooohh ahaha the seriousness is gone so i guess i'll leave for now. Thanks for reading and reviewing! it means a lot! See you next update!