Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.

Pairing: KaitoxShinichi

Blood Red Roses

Chapter 8 - Bloom

Neither of them started breathing again until they had reached the next town. Even then, Shinichi felt his heart leap into his throat every time his eye caught the gleam of metal. And they both had their ears straining for even the tiniest whispers on the wind.

-0-

Shinichi shifted further into the shadows of the corner of the inn's common room and raised his mug higher to obscure his face. The heavy cloak draped about his shoulders felt like a flimsy shield. Blue eyes peered over the rim of the mug at the trio of armed men who had just strolled in through the inn doors and dropped themselves onto seats at the bar. He could tell from their dress that they were soldiers. Of course, around here, just about everyone who went about armed was a soldier.

"Crazy, that's what it is," the one in the middle was saying loudly. "Like some freaking ghost story."

"It's gotta be magic," one of his companions said with a shake of his head. "Can't be anything else. Not unless his lordship's got a twin."

"I guess," the last man muttered. "I know there're some magic users who can make people see things and the like, but everyone there said his lordship wasn't acting different at all either."

"But it's either an imposter or his lordship somehow managed to transport himself across hundreds of miles in one night without being seen."

A laugh. "Ya never know. He always been good at finding ways ta get things done. But we wouldn't have been sent on this search if that were all."

"So ya don't think the brat snuck out on his own, eh?"

"I'd say that's extremely unlikely."

"It's an insult to his lordship. That's what it is. And a slight to the rest of us too!"

"What I don't understand is how they knew about the party at the mountain palace. That wasn't public information."

"Ya don't think we got a spy…"

A grunt. "Who knows? Either way, we best be on alert for a while."

"Here, here."

There was a pause in the conversation as the bartender set the men's drinks in front of them. At the same time, Kaito reappeared next to the table and set a tray of food down. He cast a casual glance at the bar then sat down so that he would partially block Shinichi from view.

"Better eat up before it gets cold," he said with a cheerful smile.

Shinichi had lost all his appetite, but he nodded and began to eat. After all, they had to keep up appearances. Even so, he didn't taste any of the food, and he felt like he didn't start breathing again until they were finally back in their room upstairs in the inn.

-0-

Kaito took a long look at the street outside before he pulled the curtains shut. Turning around, he saw Shinichi seated on the edge of one of the room's small and rather hard cots. The boy's expression was pensive.

"What's on your mind?" the magician asked gently, moving to sit next to Shinichi and wrapping a comforting arm around Shinichi's waist.

The blue-eyed boy let his head rest against Kaito's shoulder as he sighed. "I was just wondering if the others are okay. It seems unfair that I'm here now and they're still there…"

"I understand," Kaito said seriously. "But you were the only one in real danger. I checked on them while I was scoping out the place. They're all settling into their new positions."

Shinichi nodded slowly. He was glad to hear that. At the same time, it didn't make him feel much less guilty about being the only one to escape. At the same time, he knew that, for now at least, there was nothing more he could do.

"Cheer up, Princess. There's no point dwelling on the past. We can go anywhere we want to now! Just tell me where you want to go, and we'll go."

"The soldiers are still looking for us…"

"I won't let them find us," Kaito said, indigo eyes going steely. The arm around Shinichi's waist tightened protectively.

Shinichi felt an embarrassing lump in his throat. He swallowed.

-0-

Freedom. It was a strange feeling. Strange and beautiful but frightening as well.

-0-

"What do you think?"

Shinichi stared in awe across the vast, glassy lake. It was dozens—maybe even hundreds!—of times larger than the lake back at home. He'd never seen so much water in once place before. It was incredible! And the reflections of the sky and the mountains in the water was so clear that the lake looked more like a window than water.

Seeing the pure wonder on his beloved's face made Kaito smile. Warmth swelled in his chest. Twining his fingers through Shinichi's, he gave the smaller boy's hand a gentle tug.

"Come on. I still have to show you where we're staying."

It was a small cottage situated a short distance from the lake shore. It sat just beyond the forest fringe. The building was surrounded by neatly tended flower beds. As the two young men approached, they saw three birds fly out of one of the windows. They each had a tiny message capsule attached to a leg.

Kaito didn't stop to knock. He simply opened the door, pulling Shinichi along behind him.

"Jii!"

There was a scrambling sound from deeper in the cottage. A moment later, an old man appeared in the living room. A broad, delighted smile spread across his face.

"Master Kaito! Welcome. I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon." Then he spotted Shinichi. "And who's your young friend?"

"This is Shinichi. Shinichi, this is Jii. He used to work with my father. He retired a while ago and settled down here. Now he runs a messenger bird service."

Shinichi bowed. "It's very nice to meet you."

The old man chuckled. "No need to be so formal. Any friend of Master Kaito's is very welcome here."

"Yeah, about that," Kaito cut in. "Would you mind if we stayed here for a while?"

"Of course I don't mind. It does get a bit quiet here with only the birds and myself."

-0-

Jii smiled to himself as he watched Kaito and Shinichi through the kitchen window. The latter had volunteered to weed the garden, and Kaito had immediately offered to help. Now the two were kneeling side by side amidst the flowers, hunting for weeds. A small pile of uprooted weeds had already begun to accumulate off to the side.

It hadn't taken Jii long to figure out that the two were in love. It was in the way they looked at each other—the way their hands lingered when they accidentally brushed against each other and the way they spoke to one another. The two spent long hours just walking the forests or sitting together by the lake, reveling in the tranquility and each other's company.

It was rather sweet, the old man mused. And rather amusing too. He'd basically watched Kaito grow up. The magician was like a grandson to hi. And it warmed his heart to see Kaito so happy.

Jii sometimes found himself wondering who exactly this Shinichi was though. He hadn't missed the fact that neither boy had mentioned Shinichi's family name. Then again, maybe it didn't matter where the boy was from. Jii liked him. He was calm and rather quiet (though he'd grown a bit more talkative once he grew more comfortable). From the conversations they'd had, he could tell that the boy was extremely intelligent and a deep thinker. He also seemed to have a natural desire to be helpful. From day one, he'd been quick to offer a helping hand with the chores, though there were some chores that he seemed oddly clueless about.

The birds liked Shinichi too.

Turning, Jii put the pie he'd just finished into the oven.

It really was nice to have company. He'd never had children of his own, but now it felt like he had two grandchildren.

He chuckled at the thought.

Still, there were times when he worried for the boy. It seemed to him that Shinichi must have been through something difficult. It was clearest in those few days here and there when Kaito would excuse himself and disappear off to the nearest towns to gather news and supplies.

On those nights, Jii would often see Shinichi sitting alone by the window, looking out at the night sky with his hands clenched into worried fists on his knees. There was a sadness in his eyes that surfaced at those times as well. There wasn't anything Jii could do for him though, not unless the boy chose to talk to him. Hopefully, time would heal his wounds.

-0-

Eight months came and went. The search for Shinichi and his rescuer was called off.

Winter came with heavy snows, and the three residents of the little cottage spent long evenings by the fire with cups of hot chocolate, talking of everything and nothing. Shinichi began to laugh again, and a weight lifted from Kaito's shoulders at the sound. It was sweet and beautiful in the way only true happiness could be.

-0-

"You want to what?"

"Go back home. I want to see what's happened," Shinichi said again. They were sitting together on their bed in the guest room.

"But we're free now. We can go anywhere you want—do everything you wished you could but never had the chance to."

"I know. I'm sorry," he added, looking down. "I know this isn't what you planned. But I…I have to do this. I need to know."

Kaito blinked then let out a quiet chuckle. "Don't be sorry for doing what you believe is right. Besides, I did say we could go anywhere you want. If that happens to be home then, well, so be it."

Shinichi took a deep breath. "Are you really okay with this? I mean, you don't have any obligations anymore. If you don't want to—" He was cut off by a hand catching hold of his chin and gently but firmly tilting his face up so that he was looking Kaito in the eyes.

'I'm not letting you go again," Kaito said bluntly. "Ever."

Shinichi blushed, relief and joy stealing his words. So instead, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the magician's neck.

Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was followed by a second, much more passionate kiss. Kaito's hands moved to Shinichi's hips, pulling the smaller boy onto his lap as he pried soft lips apart with his tongue and delved inside. Shinichi melted against him, moaning softly into the kiss, and the night melted away in silk and fire and promises for the future.

-0-

Jii was sorry to see the two boys go, though he'd expected this to happen sooner or later.

-0-

"Thank you for everything," Shinichi said with sincerity.

Jii chuckled. "You're very welcome. Do be careful though."

"We will," Kaito promised. "And we'll be back."

Shinichi nodded. He was going to miss this place, but they could always come back. There were things they had to do, work they had to finish, but, when they were ready to settle down, he thought he'd like to come back here to this place that, somewhere along the way, he'd started thinking of as home.

-0-

Shinichi wasn't sure what lay ahead for them. There were too many variables for any kind of prediction. But he knew that, whatever it was, they would be facing it together this time. Somehow, that made all the difference.

-END-

Note: I'm not sure how happy I am with this, but at least I finally finished! I didn't intend for the end to feel so melancholy originally though. Sorry about that… ^.^