Chapter Text
He hasn’t realized he had voiced the question until two pair of eyes, one still filled with tears and the other with startled worry visible in them, turned towards him.
Seeing such expressions on his kids' face managed to snap him out of his numb, frozen state.
“We will talk about it later.” He decided, urgency clear in his voice. “Ran call Eri, she needs to be here too. I’ll grab the first aid kit.”
Ran nodded, already making her way towards coach to gently put Shinichi there.
“Wait!” The boy protested and both Ran and Kogoro froze. "That’s-Uncle-It’s dangerous-"
“I know.” Kogoro cut in, he had guessed as much if the kids’ state was any indication. “But we’re a family, so we will talk about it and deal with it together.”
"But-"
This time it was Ran who cut him off, voice soft and pleading.
“Shinichi… Please…” The boy turned to look at her, before his mouth closed slowly and his body slumped in her hold.
Kogoro nodded at them reassuringly, before reluctantly leaving to find a first-aid kit.
Not even half an hour later, Eri barged through the door of Mouri Detective Agency, took one look at their kids and blanched as much as Kogoro probably had done.
Her eyes scanned Ran, then turned to Shinichi, and with a voice decisive yet strained with worry she asked: “What happened?”
He didn’t quite know what Ran had told her over the phone, but it seemed that she was as much in the dark about the situation as he was.
“What has Ran told you?” Kogoro questioned, as Eri reluctantly tore her gaze away from the children.
“Nothing. Only asked me to come to Detective Agency because something happened to Shinichi-kun.”
It was no surprise, then, that she rushed here so quickly. Ran, for her part, shifted guiltily in her place on the couch, barely an inch away from Shinichi.
“I’m sorry… I-I wasn’t sure how to tell you over the phone, mom.”
His heart broke a little at the unsure, stained with guilt tone of his girl’s voice. However, before he could comfort her, Eri beat him to do it.
Tone softening, she said. “You were right to tell me to come, Ran. There’s nothing to apologize for.”
Ran smiled. It was a tiny, shaky thing, but still warmed Kogoro’s heart. Eri answered her with a small smile of her own before her eyes moved towards Shinichi, who through the entire exchange and well before that, even while Kogoro was bandaging his head, sat silently staring at the floor, body not quite tense but alert.
Though, he had answered Kogoro’s routine questions in a quiet voice. He didn’t seem to have a concussion, but without a full story it was too early to decide that, and Kogoro would much rather leave such judgment to a professional.
Right now, they needed to know what had happened, so that whatever actions were necessary could be taken. Kogoro let the boy have his space to process whatever had happened to him but worry kept gnawing at his stomach and Shinichi’s prolong silence and spacing out wasn’t helping either.
“How are you feeling, Shinichi-kun?” Questioned his wife, looking at him with concern. The boy startled badly at the question, clearly unaware what they had been talking about. Kogoro felt his stomach twist with worry, as well as tension building within. Judging by his daughter and wife’s reactions, he wasn’t the only one.
“A-Ah, sorry. Could you repeat the question, Aunt Eri?”
“Yes. I asked how were you feeling, Shinichi-kun.” Her concern was palpable.
“I’m okay.” Came the automatic response, and obviously no one believed it.
Eri raised a disbelieving eyebrow. Shinichi shifted guiltily, eyes moving away. She softened her expression, adding: “I just thought that if anything hurts you, some medicine will be welcome.”
“Thank you, but there’s no need…”
“If you say so…” She conceded. “But I would still like the doctor to look at you.”
“Okay…” The boy agreed, awkwardly. The silence lasted for a good few minutes until Kogoro sighed heavily. They have been avoiding the topic for too long.
“It’s time you tell us what happened.”
That gained him three entirely different reactions. Ran looked at him anxiously but also with newfound determination, which made Kogoro’s heart warm with pride.
Shinichi, on the other hand, looked as though Kogoro has just signed his death sentence. His body tensed, some of the previous paleness returning to his face. The haunted look passed through them so quickly, it knocked some air out of Kogoro’s lungs. He didn’t know which was worse, the haunted look or the following weary and resigned gaze. Like this, the boy looked as though the weight of the world had been set on his tiny, tiny shoulders, and Kogoro’s heart clenched at the sight.
Eri sent him a glare, to which he only shrugged. If she wanted him to be tactful, she should have started that conversation herself, not wait for only gods know what.
The hardly agreeable woman he calls his wife only sighed exasperatedly before adding: “Some tea would be lovely, don’t you think? Ran, could boil us some water? I’ll help you with making it in a second.” Ran nodded, already making her way towards the kitchen.
“Maybe, let’s have it upstairs. It will be much more comfortable to talk there than here. I, for one, do not want to have a lung cancer before even reaching forty.”
The comment was obviously directed towards him, to what he answered with a glare.
“Oi.”
Eri ignored him, however, and turned her attention gently smiling at Shinichi.
“Shinichi-kun, do you think you can walk?”
Shinichi nodded, already rolling up his too long pants sleeves. They both frowned when the boy made his way upstairs barefooted, but Kogoro understood. Eri was giving him space, a sentiment which was definitely appreciated by Shinichi.
Still, Kogoro couldn’t help but mutter, “Bossy woman.”
If Eri heard him, she gave no indication. Well, at least until they reached the apartment doors, which she shut right in front Kogoro’s nose.
The tea laid long forgotten on a table in a wake of the story the kids were telling. Through it, he learned about the case that had happened while being on a rollercoaster ride and of course about Shinichi following the Man in Black.
Kogoro had an urge to smack his head for such recklessness, but it would be neither productive nor good for Shinichi's health given a probability of concussion. Instead, he opted to do something far more productive, like scolding the boy. However, Eri beat him to it. "Shinichi-kun! What was that idea supposed to be!? Going after a man you clearly sensed was dangerous. You could have died!"
Shinichi flinched at that, his posture had already been tense, but now he just looked down, expression closed off.
"Mom..." Ran interrupted, likely to defend him, but his wife was relentless.
"And Ran! Going after him as well! You could have been attacked as well!"
"Sorry..."
"Honestly, what you should have done was call us or stop him entirely!"
"I'm sorry, Aunt." Shinichi finally cut in, voice rather quiet. "It's not Ran's fault. She tried to stop me, but I didn't listen. I'm really sorry."
They could have lost Shinichi forever, if those criminal hadn't done whatever they did. A simple 'sorry' can't bring back the dead, nor can it turn back the time. But, Shinichi looked so haunted and miserable, and Kogoro thought that the price he paid for his recklessness was already too high.
"Eri. That's enough."
She sent him such a fiery glare, he honestly thought he might get burnt. Gosh, that's why he always hated arguing with her. But it wasn't about them, but their kids. Kogoro subtly shook his head and gestured at Shinichi.
The boy’s overall exhausted and miserable appearance and the apology must have calmed her down somewhat because she sighed and said, "We'll talk about this later. Please continue."
And then they learned about a drug that was meant to kill, but didn't. Some hysterical part of him wondered if they lived in some science fiction movie, another wanted to find those men and hurt them in return. Because who, in the world, does it to the kid!?
(The answer was unfortunately quite obvious.)
Through the years of his police and detective career he has sadly witnessed plenty of gruesome things, which was one of the reasons for his apprehension whenever Shinichi goes to the crime scenes, but still. To have your own kid be poisoned by some experimental drug, no less, hit hard.
By the end of the story Eri’s face looked pale (whether from anger, fear or worry, or everything at once was anyone’s guess, but judging from the way his insides were all squeezed up, he probably had the same expression) and the kids didn’t look any better. Relieving it must have been second to the worst part of the day, and a part of Kogoro felt guilty, another one just wanted to hug them and never let them go.
Eri took a calming breath as a familiar practicality and logic of a long-standing lawyer kicked in. She reached out towards their daughter and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, which Ran gratefully accepted. If not for a table blocking her way, she would have long reached for Shinichi too.
"Okay." She started, making eye contact with the kids. “Firstly, I’m glad both of you are relatively okay. Really. But we need to talk about your recklessness, understand?” She pointedly stared longer at Shinichi, to which the boy nodded meekly. Ran nodded as well, evidently remembering Eri’s earlier words.
"The second thing is Shinichi-kun don’t go to the manor for now. Nor you Ran. Especially not alone. However, if you really want to, we can go together tomorrow to get more clothes for Shinichi-kun. I found some in the closet while Ran was making tea but they are not enough.
If those people think they killed Shinichi-kun-” Here her voice got understandably venomous, before she took another calming breath and continued, “the first place they will check is the Kudo Manor. If they don’t see anyone there for a longer time, they will likely think they succeeded.”
In media and the government’s eyes, Shinichi’s official address is his previous home, after all. Never mind that the boy himself goes there maybe once every two weeks, not counting the neighborhood area, of course, because Shinichi might not live in his family house anymore but Professor Agasa still lives there.
He understood Eri’s logic, and the kids nodded in understanding, as well.
“Good. I would like to meet with Professor Agasa face-to-face and explain the situation to him. Maybe he would know what to do. I would also like a doctor to see you, Shinichi.”
Shinichi’s eyes widened in obvious panic and his slightly calmer appearance, tensed once again, almost immediately, “But Aunt Eri- The Professor-”
“I know you are worried. But Professor is your family as well, and he should know what had happened. Besides, just as us, he needs to be extra careful from now on.”
Shinichi’s small hands tightened in fist and the obvious dilemma was written all over his deathly pale face.
“Shinichi…” Ran whispered worriedly as three pairs of eyes were staring at him with obvious concern.
Ultimately, though, the boy nodded seriously, “I understand.”
Kogoro mentally slumped in relief and he saw Eri’s posture soften. “That’s good. You can get changed if you want, Shinichi-kun. The clothes I prepared are waiting in the bathroom. If you need any help, just call for us.”
Shinichi nodded before exchanging comforting glances with Ran and made his way towards the bathroom.
“I’ll make you some warm tea, Ran.”
“It’s alright, mom. I’ll go.”
Eri smiled warmly,“Thank you, dear.”
Ran’s lips twitched into small smile. “And you, dad?”
Kogoro answered gratefully, “I’ll have some tea, as well. Thank you, Ran.”
Ran nodded and made her way to the kitchen. In time she was gone, they managed to start arguing because that bossy woman just so decided (all on her own of course!) she will stay for the night and remaining week in this small flat.
“It’s given, of course. Both kids could use additional pair of eyes on them. Besides, I’m just as worried for them as you are.”
And well, Kogoro couldn’t really argue against logistics of this (nor could he say he didn’t understand her feelings) but it’s a principle of the thing.
(He, of course, lost the argument overwhelmingly but at least Ran smiled as she saw them bickering, which Kogoro counted as a win.)
Seeing as Ran sobered suddenly as if lost in memories after setting the tea on the table, the previous relief and more relaxed atmosphere was replaced by gnawing concern and tension.
“Ran?” He asked gently.
Her eyes teared up and she took a hitching breath, “...It’s Shinichi-”
Alarmed, Eri quickly embraced their girl, voice trying to be calming but there was undercutment of urgency and worry in it, “Ran, what happened?”
“-He...Mom! He was in so much pain! While I was searching for him, I heard his screams! He was in agony!” And then she crumpled into sobs and Eri could only try to soothe her by whispering softly and gently petting her back, but he could see on Eri's face that she was shaken by this news as much as he was. No wonder the kids skipped this part during the initial story.
“It’s alright now, Ran.” She whispered gently. “I want you to know that both of you were very brave and me and Kogore are so proud of you.”
Kogoro nodded in agreement and in attempt to make his voice soothing, he said, “Yes, Ran. We are.”
Eri continued, “And Shinichi-kun is okay now. Alright?”
Ran nodded but only hugged closer while Eri’s grip on her tightened. That’s when Kogoro noticed the missing member of family. Shinichi’s eyes were sad and far too old for a 16 years old and his overall emanated bone-deep exhaustion and sadness.
“...I’m sorry.” He whispered.
Hearing his voice, Ran startled and bolted towards him, immediately swooping him into a hug. “It wasn’t your fault, Shinichi.” She said, her voice hoarse and breathy from crying.
Kogoro nodded and gently added, “Ran is right, kid.”
Because as reckless as he might have been, Shinichi has done nothing to deserve such fate.
Eri joined the kids and gently embraced both of them. “It will be alright.”
Then she looked up to exchange a weighty look of agreement with Kogoro, because as much as they might normally argue, in this, they are a united front. They will protect their kids and all of them will be alright.
(They are a Mouri family, after all.)