A story based off a story Becky wrote based off an alternate universe I wrote based off a series. How much more confusing can you get?!

Waiting
By Icka! M. Chif

Ever woken up in the morning and know you were going to die today?

It's an interesting feeling. Giddy, almost. A sense of relief. Which is funny, because for most people, it would probably be a sense of dread.

Not me.

Today is the day I get to see Aoko again.

Driving home to be with you

I get up and stretch, then start making the bed. It's a bit odd, knowing that I'll never rest here again. But then its been a bit odd for nearly the past decade, sleeping here with out her beside me.

I miss her.

I miss my other half.

The highway's dividing, the city's in view

Aoi greets me as I head downstairs downstairs, and he immediately knows that something's different. To him, something's wrong.

To me, something's right.

We talk over break fast, little things, mundane topics, normal chatter, just like we have since he moved in 'to keep an eye on me' a few years ago. Really, he was getting to be too much of a handful for his parents. We get along fine though.

I don't have much of an appetite for breakfast, but that's okay. Aoi's a growing boy, and it seems silly to waste food on the soon to be dead.

As usual I'm almost on time

We clear the breakfast dishes away and tidy up the kitchen, all normal routine. It's mindless, putting really, both of us dancing around the real subject in a way that only two true performers can.

Aoi reaches the end of his patience before I do, and he reaches over and envelops me in a hug, holding me like an awkward kit instead of the self-assured young hanyou I know him to be. At 16, he's bigger than I am, and lanky in a way that he's yet to grow into despite the grace that he moves with.

"It's time?" He asks, his voice somehow between a mellow rasp and an un-even squeak.

"Aa." I agree. I'd waited this long, waiting for him to grow enough to stand on his own. He's now the head of our clan, as well as the shouldering the burden of wearing the mask of the Kaitou Kid. It's a heavy load for one so young, but I know he'll be alright.

I wouldn't go otherwise.

You're the last thing that's on my mind

I tell him he'll be fine, of how proud I am of him, and how Aoko would be too. I tell him that I love him. He sniffles, trying not to cry, and it's okay. The tears will come later and there's no shame in it.

We hold on to each other, each taking a measure of comfort before that which must happen does.

I wish I could tell you the way that I feel

Finally he releases me, informing me huskily that he promised to meet his cousins for training. I smile and give him a final squeeze before I let him go.

His eyes are a bit pink and puffy from the effort of not crying, as mine probably are, but nothing too noticeable. He goes to the bathroom to wash his face anyway before gathering his things.

I meet him at the door, wishing him fare well as he leaves.

We both know it's the last time we'll meet like this.

The door slides shut, and I'm alone in the house.

But tonight is the night I feel asleep at the wheel.

There are small chores to be taken care of, plants to be watered, bedding to be aired, laundry to be done, furniture to be dusted. I'm tempted just to blow it all off, but water the plants anyway. Who knows when the next time someone will water them is, and I don't want them dying out in the mean time.

We don't need any more deaths today than is already scheduled, thank you.

Thank goodness taking care of the doves is Aoi's job now, I don't have to worry about their upkeep too much.

I guess it's over now

And then it's time to go.

I walk out the door, closing and locking it behind me, leaving the place where Aoko and I lived and raised our kits. And our kit's kits as well. It'll all go to Aoi, he'll take good care of it.

I walk down the path to the street without looking back.

Cause I've never seen so much

My body certainly doesn't show any signs of old age, and I'm filled with an euphoria of calm urgency. I head towards the east, enjoying the feel of the sun on my skin and the wind through my hair.

I can almost feel Aoko again.

My body is strong, it's my spirit that is lonely.

Never seen so much, never seen

I turn a corner and head down another street. It's like I already know where to go, but then, this is the usual route to go to his house.

A flash of light in my periphery vision catches my attention and the sound of a finely tuned engine fills my ears.

I turn to meet it.

And everything fades to black.

So much blood

"Dumbass." The words greet my ears and I blearily open my eyes to look into the endless orbs framed in the face of an old friend and cousin.

I smile. Typical Shin'ichi greeting for the intellectually challenged. "Fancy running into you here."

He snorts, vaguely amused as he offers me a hand up.

Belatedly, I realise that I'm laying on my back in the middle of the street, and everything around me seems to be blue. Not the warm blue of her eyes, but a faded washed out colour.

I reach for his hand. "Aoko?"

Now I'm floating above looking in, as the radio blares and wheels spin. I can see my face slumped with a grin

He wraps his hand around my wrist and gives it a tug, pulling me to my feet. There's a pulling sensation, almost a ripping and I glance down to find my self looking at, well, myself.

I don't look well, if I say so myself. The red of the blood pooling under my body is not the best colour for me. But at least I died with a fond smile on my face.

"They messed up." Shin'ichi informs me, not letting go of my hand as he looks in the direction the vehicle that hit me most likely went. "There were witnesses. The cops will have a license and a description to follow this time."

"And with a little help, they can put some of the pieces together." I grin. "Good." The Black Organisation may have finally succeeded in getting me out of their hair, but there would be a price to pay for it.

He grins back, the look of a hound on the scent on his face and a silent promise in his eyes to back that up. There would be no escape for them this time. Not with a God of Death on their trail.

And you... You're the last thing on my mind.

"There's someone waiting for you." He comments, changing the subject. "Rather patiently. But if you don't hurry, she may fetch a mop."

I grin fondly, feeling like my self again for the first time since she passed on. "Yeah. Thanks, Shin'ichi. For being there for me."

"You're welcome." He releases my hand and I feel like I'm floating. In fact, I am, slowly drifting upwards, the earth and it's inhabitants growing into a hazy grey. "Good bye, Kaito."

"Take care, Shin'ichi."

You're the last thing on my mind

I turn away from him, turning towards a familiar presence like a flower turns towards the sun for warmth. She's there, waiting for me, just out of sight of my cousin, looking as radiant as I can remember her.

She smiles, reaching a hand out to me, and I take it, feeling whole again.

"Hi Kaito. I've been waiting for you."

You're the last thing on my-

-fin-

Lyrics are from snippets from the Barenaked Ladies song 'Tonight is the night I feel asleep at the wheel' off the album Maroon.
It was running through my head the entire time this fic was being scribbled down. The song has always struck me as being very poignantly sad.

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