Chapter 24

"Excuse me," Akako said with a glare, drawing more blood from Hattori who was staying silent, for the moment. Kaito was looking forward to dragging answers from his filthy, traitor mouth. "This damned house bigger than ours, I had to figure out where you two were because, oh I don't know, you didn't tell me, and then I had to deal with these two—" She gestured at Hakuba, "—failing at sneaking around, getting them to trust me, and having to enter this room from the outside because someone had to be dramatic!"

"For the last time, it was a strategic advantage—"

Kaito tuned out in favor of approaching his… boyfriend? Special person? They had to work out labels. He hovered beside him, unsure if he should even touch Shinichi. "Are you alright?" he whispered. "You didn't raise a shield until so late, I thought…"

"I'm fine," Shinichi replied, cupping Kaito's cheek. "Shields take a lot of magic I wasn't prepared to use. But are you… you're bleeding!"

"It's okay, I received worse at Furuya's hands…" Kaito turned back to the rest of the room. "Speaking of D.E.A.D., is there any particular reason why you two are here right now?" He addressed Hakuba and Aoko. "I didn't think that D.E.A.D. broke into senior management homes, but after all that's happened…"

Hakuba smiled grimly. "We were assigned to watch Furuya's house after HQ received an anonymous tip that someone was going to attack him."

"Technically, we volunteered," Aoko tacked on. "The bosses were more interested in catching you than protecting the one who let you get away, so no one questioned why we got the job."

"I—" Everyone turned at Hattori's wheeze. Akako had graduated from cutting his skin to nearly choking him. "I wouldn't 'ave sent it if I'd known ya were friends—Shit!"

Akako slammed his face back into the floor. "I recommend being quiet," she said. "I am not adverse to breaking your arms."

Hattori rasped out a laugh. "Geeze, Kudo, why'd ya make two when this one is far more vicious—!" He cried out in pain.

"He confessed to killing Furuya," Kaito told Hakuba. "You mind taking him in… and not telling anyone we were here?"

"Of course."

"Ya act like I'm not gonna tell people about yur involvement—"

Hattori grunted in pain as Akako broke on of his fingers in warning. "Quiet, maggot."

He laughed again, unsettling Kaito. Couldn't they gag him? "Does it matter?" he asked. "I'll be dead in a day. Did ya actually think I was da mastermind behind this!?"

"I don't care," Shinichi said, wrapping an arm around Kaito's shoulders for support. "I will take the rest of this organization of yours down, Hattori. Their time is limited."

"Oh, Kudo…" Hattori looked up at them in pity. "Ya don't know what yur gettin' into. Quit while yur ahead."

"Kaito." He turned to Aoko. She was watching him warily, longing in her eyes. "The rest of D.E.A.D.'s going to show up soon… but I want an explanation. Tomorrow? At the old café we used to go to together?"

He smiled. "I'll see you there. Bring my mom too. You're both not going to believe the things I've been through."

"I look forward to it."

Without a glance behind him, Kaito scooped a protesting Shinichi into his arms and jumped out the broken window with Akako right behind them. They flouted safely to the ground and raced across the lawn towards the back of the estate, sirens starting up in the distance.

On the run again. Kaito doubted that would change anytime soon, but, with Shinichi safe in his arms, he couldn't find it in him to care.

A/N: This concludes Reverse this Curse. In the unlikely event that there will be a sequel, I will post an extra chapter here informing you of such. Thank you, everyone, for reading and following this story.

If you haven't already, there is a poll on my profile about which Kaishin Drabbles story I should continue. Please pick your favorite two, or PM/review me if you'd like an extra added. This poll will be closed March 3rd, 2017.