Chapter Text
Life moved on, even as Conan stayed the same. It was frustrating, feeling like the world’s loneliest man, and the shortest ten year old. His skin felt unnecessarily dry, his bones ached. Shiho, Ai, had finally restored at least their ability to age even if it was the long way around. At least he was even moving at all.
There were still cases, still criminals to chase. His parents had given him the option to leave for America, be their new son there. Shinichi could pass on. But even if Conan was no longer Shinichi his home was still here.
At least the old man was still tolerant of him. Even when Ran moved out, uncle Kogoro had let him stay.
‘I’m not losing my good luck charm! Keep this up and you’ll almost be as good of a detective as me!’ Kogoro had proclaimed, clapping him on the back and almost looking proud of Conan.
And now, this.
“I’m so sorry about how short notice this is, Conan!” His newly discovered cousin, Kuroba Kaito and now one of his top KID suspects, was applying makeup in the mirror. “Usually Saguru babysits but he's the one taking me out to the movies in the first place.”
This was another strike of evidence for Conan’s ever growing theory. There was a KID heist tonight and possibly Kaitou KID himself was placing him in charge of the one treasure he couldn't give back. It would look strange for any average ten year old to turn down some extra spending cash to go chase a criminal on a school night. Conan’s mind raced with possibilities. Was it a dangerous heist? Did Kuroba just not want him there? Was it just funny to him to have the KID killer himself looking after… KID’s kid?
Little Kaori was the splitting image of her father, and sitting on the mat beside the two. She had a teething toy she was meticulously inspecting with her chubby fingers.
It was some comfort knowing that Kaori hadn't existed during any of the times Conan had risked KID’s life. He hadn't thought about anyone being orphaned, and he certainly didn't understand why Kaito would continue with all of this now that he did have Kaori.
“If there's an emergency, my friend Aoko’s number is on the fridge and she’ll definitely race over to help.” Kaito stepped back from the mirror, more bounce in his step then KID had at the first heist after his hiatus.
The timing on everything pointed to a clear reason, although Conan had no evidence as to who was KID during the few months before his hiatus. Knowing what he knew now, the smile every time Kaito said his name, Hakuba Saguru would have been a strong candidate but plenty of evidence put Hakuba in England up into two months after Kaori’s birth.
“It's no big deal!” Conan didn't have to put on as much of the cutesy voice now that he was supposed to be ten but it was basically force of habit. “I’m happy to help, especially because my parents couldn't be bothered to even tell me I had a cousin.”
“My mom didn't think a whole *two* cousins were relevant, so, same.” Kaito laughed, and leaned down to pick up Kaori. “I thought when dad died that mom was my only family and now I got a daughter, two cousins, and an aunt and uncle all in one year. Hopefully auntie Yukiko didn't pressure you too much to be here. ” It had been his mom who had volunteered his time to babysit at any time for Kaito.
“Just a little, but she's always been like that.” Conan sighed.
“Oh I know. My mom is…well, when I found out about Kaori I definitely knew I wanted to be a better mom than that.” Kaito poked Kaori on the nose and recieved a giggle in return. “Here,” Kaito passed Kaori onto Conan.
“Babababaa” Kaori just babbled as Conan adjusted her in his arms.
“No Kaori, Baaya isn't going to be here either, this is my cousin Conan.”
Kaori stared at him almost thoughtfully. Could babies even ‘do’ thoughtfully. Then she excitedly babbled “cohcohcoh!”
And it was the first time in a long time that the name Conan felt right.