“Your blood is special. Your lineage, your birth, your soul. There’s a rare alignment there, impossible to predict or intentionally duplicate. Drinking your blood will make vampires stronger.”

“Miyano?” Furuya’s whole face opened again, and it was like the sun coming out. “Not Miyano Shiho? She’s alive?”

“You’re not tired? That a vampire thing?” Shinichi almost shrugged but didn’t want to dislodge Kaito. “I wondered about that at first, but I don’t think sleeping during the day and being active at night is exactly new for me. I just prefer to stay up late and sleep in.” “This isn’t ‘late’ though,” Kaito mumbled. “This is morning.” “Then go to sleep,” Shinichi laughed. “’kay.” Kaito melted into a puddle across Shinichi’s lap, fully horizontal now, and stretched like a cat before going boneless. “I didn’t mean on me!” “If I get up, the sleepy will get away.” Shinichi snorted. “Would you like me to carry you, KID-sama?”

She stepped into the portal. “Quite the pair you two make.” With that, Akako vanished from their home, leaving Kaito and Shinichi standing dumbstruck at the foot of the stairs. After a few seconds of silence, Kaito startled back to attention. “Are you okay?” he asked, taking Shinichi by the shoulders and turning him to look him over. “Yeah,” Shinichi breathed out on a laugh. “Yeah, I’m… I think I’m great, actually.” His smile was bright as he settled a hand against Kaito’s cheek.

Kaito stood close at Shinichi’s side in the quiet of midnight in the Kudous’ back yard. He was bundled into a coat, scarf, and gloves, his breath clouding in the air, but Shinichi didn’t feel the cold. His current body couldn’t freeze to death, it could only burn.

“So that’s my story,” Furuya said, and he turned back to Shiho. “But before we go any further, I need to know what that is.” He pointed to Shiho’s neck. Shiho reached up and touched the bulky metal collar she was wearing. Within the metal were plexiglass tubes, some of them red, others clear. She smirked. “Are you concerned these fools have somehow clapped me in irons?"

Shinichi and Kaito had both pushed themselves hard against Jirokichi’s veritable obstacle course. They were exhausted, and Shinichi was hungry. If they were just going to crash on Agasa’s couches anyway while work continued in the basement lab, they might as well go next door to sleep in a real bed and have privacy. In the genkan, Shinichi and Kaito leaned on each other to keep upright while pulling out of their shoes. “Sorry, I know you must be starving,” Kaito said as they trudged up the stairs. “Lemme wash up really quick. I feel gross after all that running around tonight.” “There’s no rush,” Shinichi answered, though he knew his need was pressing already. “I wanna clean up, too, anyway.” “Mm. Good thing the bathroom is big,” Kaito said, and maybe his smile was a little tired, a little worn, but he was still smiling.

Kaito breathed out a laugh. “Maybe I’m doing the same. Or, at the very least, it hasn’t sunk in yet. Thought I’d be happier. Instead I’m just nervous.” “We can give it time.” Kaito nodded, then cupped Shinichi’s face in his hands and leaned down to kiss him, something sweet and affirming that slipped into something more carnal. “Well,” Kaito breathed against Shinichi’s cheek when he had the chance. “What are you waiting for?”