#I really need to catch up on DCMK content

[blackkatjinx]

So like almost 10 years ago I drew this

And while I haven't stopped drawing, I haven't posted much art here in YEARS. And today I decided I was gonna redraw these nerds.

[raifuujin]

Hello! I may regret asking this bc I'm doing it out of impulse. I always respect your opinions, it's really nice to see a person who can differentiate canon/fanon well, being realistic. I like that you spend time, enjoying things you love. I'm also amazed how you can passively ship everything and not judge others about it too hard. Anyway. Even if I feel unreasonably guilty for others, I want to know what you think of romantic compatibility?.. of HeiShin. Since you made good points with KaiShin-

To be fair, my passive shipping is also a kinda generic ‘does this idea someone has presented look cute? yes, yes it does’ thing. I might not actually ship everything (some exclusions do apply), but if other people are making content and just enjoying something, I just chill in the corner and go ‘cool, not my thing, but you do you’. Chilling is a nice way to go about staying long term in fandom in general.

But anyway, yes, logic overanalyzing of HeiShin. Hmm... It’s always been a little odd to me why KaiShin tends to be what I see casually compared to HeiShin, tbh.

I mean, I get why KaiShin is popular and all, but... the friendship between Heiji and Shinichi is one where you can change pretty much nothing about how they interact with each other and just say they’re romantically interested. It’s the kind of relationship that, if it were done with another female character instead of a male, there would already have been a love rivalry story with Ran. The kind that male writers tend to only portray so well because they have a very specific idea for what romance is and, because the two characters are guys, casual intimacy and camaraderie can exist without any very obvious romantic attraction writing throwing it off. Then the fans can take that foundation and add a romance however they want, whether by using the tried and true love drama that works for any ship, or by doing a subtle shift where it feels almost too natural how the canon characters could end up together.

It might be that people are too used to a friendly rival character relationship in media in general. It can come out of any genre, while the ‘rogue and the lawful one trying to catch him’ is slightly less common and the one people gravitate toward when given the option. (And Kid stands out so much.)

Heiji and Shinichi have plenty of compatibility, though. Even... five years ago (which I had to look up and I’m not sure how I feel about 30 days of DCMK being that old), I thought they had the best chemistry from a pair who wasn’t a canon ship. (And more than a few who are canon ships, really. The HeijiShinichi relationship is OP, but shouldn’t be nerfed.)

Strictly focusing on how they might be when romantically paired with each other, just imagine this: Them just hanging out, Heiji doing something stupid that makes a mess, they’re both laughing. Shinichi good naturedly calling him an idiot, but also becomes aware that he’s focusing on Heiji’s smile, has a moment of ‘oh no’, and then tries so hard to not blush. Heiji is 100% oblivious to other people’s interest in him, so Shinichi has a lot of time to process his exact feelings before deciding how to approach Heiji with them.

Heiji being dense to feelings while Shinichi tends to understand how people are feeling (and can then consider why they might be feeling certain ways) in general is a fun idea to play with. Certain parts of their personalities are complete opposites, but the kind that either can appreciate about the other. Completely in sync when it comes to logical thought process, but they sometimes have different ways of approaching things on a personal basis, just overall good supporting and working off of each other. ShinRan compatibility would best be compared to like. A puzzle whose pieces connect perfectly, solid connection in complementing each other. (Most canon ships are meant to be this kind of complementing.) HeiShin would be when you have another puzzle in the same mold, put the pieces from both wherever looks good, and it still makes a good looking picture. It’s a similar concept, but not in the way it was built for, or how it was expected to interact with other pieces. How their personalities and backgrounds were built to interact as rivals works perfectly in creating the base for a different relationship. (Moreso than KaiShin, which probably wouldn’t include a border to the overall puzzle, and not everything slots in as nicely because they’re not even from the same brand of puzzle much less mold, but man it can look great when done well.)

There’s probably more I could say, but I know I’m rambling at this point. HeiShin is a ship that I’d need to try and pick one aspect at a time to hit all the points that could be made about how it’d work as a romantic relationship. I don’t have it narrowed down to any individual aspects atm to talk about though, so a general ramble happens. ^^;

[trouvelle]

PB & (Alcoholic) Punch

i d e k  let me start by apologizing ;-; I have no idea what made me do this bc it just wrote itself in the middle of the night. For any grammatical and punctuation errors, pls add them to my growing list of apologies! Me is sorry if you don’t like it and hate it TuT

Fandom: DCMK Pairing: mostly Heiji/Kazuha and Kaito/Aoko, side Shinichi/Ran and Makoto/Sonoko Rating: NC-17 Genre/Tags: Comedy, Crack, College!AU Warnings: crack!fic, mild sexual content Summary: Sonoko throws a party and when a Truth-or-Dare game takes off, certain things comes into light. (a.k.a Kaito and Aoko finally kiss and Kazuha finds out about Heiji’s daddy kink)

•

“Kuroba is so drunk,” Heiji slurs, pointing towards the other side of the room where Kaito currently has his arms stretched across the window, “Look at him.”

“I know, right?” Shinichi leans back against the wall, and takes a swig from his beer bottle, lazily waving his hand over at another corner of the house. “Look at those two. No, not the dudes in tank tops, there—those two with the bleached hair by the kitchen island. Don’t they know what peanut butter is for?”

“I can think of thirty different ways to use that jar of peanut butter, and none of them involve sandwiches.”

“Wait, Hattori, look at that guy hugging the window. I’m so glad we’re not friends with these weirdos here. ”

“How drunk are you, Kudo? He is our friend. That’s Kuroba, you idiot. Now look at those two over there.”

“That’s us in a mirror, you idiot.”

“Oh yeah.”

Makoto picks his way through the crowd of drunken fools, cringing every time he accidentally steps on some trash or a limb. Wait—was that the crunch from some spilled food on the floor that he stepped on or was it someone’s body part? “This party is such a bad idea,” he mutters. He probably wouldn’t have been here if it’s not his girlfriend who’s hosting the party.

Shinichi and Heiji snicker at his dismay.

Making his way to stand beside them, Kaito sighs into his red cup, already looking like the world’s ended thrice over. “This cruel, sad existence of mine,” he sighs, for the thirty-ninth time, and he downs the cup, already reaching for another on the table he’s conveniently placed himself next to. 

“You’re one of the saddest drunk people I’ve ever met,” comments Makoto mildly. Kaito doesn’t even react, he just sighs again. He’s at the point where it hurts to not let his pent-up feelings out. If anyone wants to make fun of him, so be it.

“Yeah. What’s up your ass?” Shinichi slurs.

“I think I like Aoko,” utters Kaito dolefully, staring out into the crowd, where Kazuha and Ran are teamed up against the horrendously inebriated Sonoko and Aoko for a beer pong challenge, to a group of cheering spectators. “Since you guys said that it’s troublesome to fall in love with girls you grow up with, I have come to the conclusion that I will live my life in pain and sorrow and never again see the light of day as I bury myself in a cave of my own despair.”

Heiji blinks. “God, that is depressing. Let’s get out of here.”

As they move through the crowd, ignoring Kaito’s sighs, and the agonized shrieks that come from a few unfortunate people who they shoved out of their way, a person pops up in front of them suddenly, and Makoto nearly trips over himself in surprise. No more people-stepping for him. “Gah!”

“Holy shit,” says Shinichi, eyes wide, clutching at his chest, “What are you doing here?”

Shiho is bouncing on her heels, smiling wider than a kid at a candy store. “Sonoko dragged me here, duh!” she says, and her voice is high and squeaky. This is rather alarming. “Did you know that there is a secret stash of Red Bull in the pantry? She told me I can make a punch with it. A lot of people like it. I also dropped a bottle of Absolut in there. Do you guys want some? Wait here.”

And she slips away, giggling, leaving the four of them standing in profound silence.

“I’m scarred for life,” says Kaito.

“Never drinking again,” says Shinichi, but then he looks down at his half-full bottle, and he raises it to them, “Cheers!”

“Hey boys!” Sonoko calls out to them in a sing-songy voice, Makoto immediately zig-zags across the room to her side, “Wanna play Truth or Dare with us?”

“Sign us up!” shouts Heiji, and he drags Shinichi and Kaito, who’s still downing his last bits.

The girls and some others are seated in a circle, already playing, and Aoko says, “Truth,” voice cracking due to her skyrocketing anxiety at the anticipation.

“Who here, do you really want to get into bed with?” asks Sonoko cheekily, ignoring the obvious fact that probably, literally, everyone else already knows her answer. Aoko turns even redder, if it’s even possible. “Come on, answer!”

“Can I just switch to dare, please?” begs Aoko under her breath, looking at everyone but at a certain boy.

Sonoko is not giving up. People don’t call her Cupid-sama for no reason. “I dare you to kiss Kuroba-kun!” She says gleefully. Maybe too much glee. Kaito’s eyebrows flew mile-high to the ceiling.

“Well, here goes.” Despite the fact that she’s stuttering, she makes her way to Kaito and plants a shy kiss on Kaito’s mouth, taking him aback. The rest of the room whoop extremely loudly around them.

Kaito, his head spinning and his entire body going red, still reeling from the kiss, goes, “... Aoko?”

She offers him a shy smile and takes the empty space next to him before dropping her voice an octave lower so only he can hear her, “Later,” she promises. “We have to make the best of this game right now.”

“Okay, Kazuha!” Aoko’s eyes glint, and Kazuha gulps, thinking back on all that she’s ever done to Aoko, and what kind of revenge might be swirling around in her head right now. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” says Kazuha, because she can do anything that anyone dares her to, because she is a fierce, independent woman. When Kaito leans down to whisper something to Aoko, her confidence wavers. But nevertheless, she has made up her mind. “What do you have for me, Aoko-chan?”

“I dare you to call Hattori-kun ‘daddy’ for the rest of the night,” says Aoko, and the rest goes ‘uuuuuh oooooh~’ in the most annoying, drunken voices possible.

Kazuha blinks. This is the easiest dare that anyone has had, as of tonight. There’s literally no harm that can come out of this. “Done!” But then when she turns to Heiji, she sees that his eyes are wide, and still staring at Aoko and Kaito. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” stutters Heiji, but he’s already glancing nervously between Kazuha’s confused face, and Aoko’s girlish grin and Kaito’s evil eye, tries to distract himself by averting his gaze to Shiho, who just reemerged from the kitchen.

She is walking her way to the group, juggling four cups, and accidentally knocking over a random guest who falls over Sonoko’s beautiful leather couch. 

“Is that her special punch?” Ran observes slowly, who’s been sitting on Shinichi’s lap. 

“Don’t drink her punch,” comes a feeble voice from behind the sofa, who sounds suspiciously like Saguru.

“So, daddy,” tries Kazuha casually, and Heiji freezes in place. “Are you okay? You look a bit flushed, daddy.”

“I’m fine.” Heiji tugs at his t-shirt, and fans at himself. “I need to… go get some fresh air. Or something.”

Kazuha watches in confusion as he dashes away, and she follows, not even noticing the drunken cackle that escapes Kaito’s throat. For a guy who’s a sad, lovesick drunk not half an hour earlier, Kaito sure recovers really fast. Thank Aoko for that.

Kazuha manages to find Heiji pretty easily. She speeds up her pace and catches him just as he is about to close the bathroom door. He nearly jumps, spinning around to face her. “Are you okay? You don’t usually—Oh my God, Heiji! When did that happen?”

Heiji has pitched a rather big tent, clearly visible through the line of his jeans.

“Uh,” says Heiji, and he looks flustered. “Just now?”

“What do you mean just now? We barely even touched each other tonight! We were only playing—“ Kazuha stops herself there, and a flashback of the game runs through her mind. “Oh. I see.” Her lips curl up into a sneaky grin, and she adds for a good measure, “Daddy~”

Heiji quickly pulls her in and locks the door.

“Do you like it when I call you that?” She takes a few steps forward, and Heiji exhales, not taking his gaze away from hers. 

“Christ,” whispers Heiji, just as Kazuha’s fingers trail lightly up the expanse of skin under his t-shirt.

“Come on, daddy,” She whispers in return, snaking a hand around his neck to pull his head down, “I’m all yours, always.”

She can see something in Heiji’s eyes just break, and then he crashes their mouths together in a hot, searing kiss, backing her up against the nearest flat surface, knocking down some things in the process. He kisses like he’s in control, and she lets him. 

Resistance is futile, Heiji realizes, when it comes to Kazuha.

[purplellamanator]

#21 with ShinRan? Because your writing is really amazing, it always makes me smile and there's a lack of ShinRan cuddles ❤️

21. "You're like a heater!"

A/N~ Thanks!!!!! Your artwork, dcmk memes, and just anything you post makes me smile! So thank you for reading my small drabbles and actually sending me an ask as well!! And yes! The fandom needs more ShinRan cuddles!!!!!! *SHINRAN FLUFF BELOW* and the link to the fabulous prompts to credit her

oOo

It was their first Christmas together- well. . . their first Christmas spent as a couple that is. It was still something she hadn't completely gotten used to yet; being in a relationship with her childhood best friend.

It wasn't like things hadn't changed- because they certainly had. The fact that she would end up pressed against him with nothing but a fleece blanket proved that much.

But that aside, Ran was coming to the understanding that she'd never be fully used to being this close with Shinichi. He had already stated it, probably as a way to tease her, but she also knew it as well that-

She embarrassed way too easily.

And she knew her boyfriend mostly exploited that fact. Sometimes she knew her shyness could annoy him or rub him the wrong way, but most of the time, he liked using it to his advantage.

Like now. As they lay on his living room floor on a pallet of pillows and blankets that they had made.

She'd also confess that most of the time, she didn't really mind his slight taunts. She knew he didn't really mean to upset her with the things he said. But other times, it bothered her.

She was really trying! Did he think she blushed on purpose? Or that she suddenly developed a permanent stutter around him? Her reactions annoyed her as much as they did him!

Never once though did she realize that she held the same power over him. Shinichi was always so confident; so calm and collected.

That night she realized however, that he was just better at hiding it.

What usually held Ran back in their intimacy was taking the lead. She couldn't do it. She didn't have the confidence. But once the deed was done and after the fact- lets just say. . . she had no qualms of wanting space.

Oddly enough, her boyfriend was the opposite. He had all the confidence in the world when initiating anything with her but the moment she had that same bravado- he fumbled. It was almost like a more sure and more confident Ran made him panic.

It was cold that night; freezing. The blizzard raging outside caused a power outage and with that, took the power for a heater. All they had was the wood burning fireplace that was in his sitting room.

And body heat.

If it wasn't already obvious, he threw that one out there. Probably mostly as a joke but with a hint of seriousness that if she wanted to, he would be %100 okay with that. She could tell by his cheeky smirk however, that he had not been expecting her to take that bait.

So wanting to be different; wanting to catch him off guard and turn him into the bumbling fool he always had her acting as, she readily agreed.

Like she knew, he did not argue that but surprisingly, he couldn't steady his breath to save his life. She hadn't ever seen him this nervous. Not even when he confessed to her in London or when he demanded to know her response in Kyoto. Yet the fact she clearly wanted him in such an obvious way had him tripping over himself.

She was starting to see the appeal of why he liked teasing her. . . 

After the fact and when they were pressed against each other, it had been silent save for their even breaths.

Until he started snickering.

"How is it that after that, you still feel like an icicle?"

Cheeks puffing slightly with her annoyance, she lightly punched him on his bare chest. "Shut up! You know I don't do well in the cold," she mumbled.

"I thought you did fine," he muttered under his breath so lowly, that she had a feeling he hadn't meant for her to hear it.

And her face exploded with heat. That's when she understood that he was making fun of her again. Before she could get too angry however, he was tugging her closer by her waist.

"There," he said content as he snuggled her closer. "Now you're like a heater."

So he had meant for her to hear it.

She was ashamed to say she wasn’t very angry anymore. 

[lisatelramor]

Black Cat (or a White Elephant)

Every now and then I pull out a DCMK genderbend fic I started in 2012. Probably never going to finish or edit it to be honest. But. Because it took a sidestep and became an AU of an AU partway through (thus why it either needs compatibility editing i can’t be assed to do or made into 2 different things...) I had a few scenes that no longer fit. This is one of them, so the genderbending is kind of a side note. Also in this AU Kaito and Saguru started forming a sort of tentative friendship sooner than later. 

***

Kaito poked the box with her toe. The creature in it growled and thumped around the plastic interior. Kaito pulled out her cell phone. It was answered on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Did you mail me a kitten?” Coughing and sputtering came from the other end of the phone conversation.

“…What?”

“Did you mail me a kitten?” The cat in the box was quiet again. Too quiet.

“Why would you think I sent you a kitten?” Hakuba sounded like she swallowed a sip of tea wrong.

Kaito squatted down to the box’s label. “I just signed off on an air-mailed package from Europe. A package containing a cat.”

“And you thought I sent it?”

“Well…” Not really, no. She couldn’t see Hakuba sending anything other than the occasional letters from halfway across the world, and certainly not something like a cat. “It was kind of a stretch, but I don’t really know anyone…from…Europe. Huh.” Kaito peeked through the hole in the box. Black fur.

“I take it you figured out your mystery cat mailer?” Hakuba’s dry tone was something Kaito found herself missing.  She could go without the superior attitude it often accompanied, but Hakuba could be a wonderful straight-man to Kaito’s goofiness if she’d play along.

“I think I might have an idea.” She did know one other person in Europe. And Chat Noir was probably the only person who would think to send Kaito a black cat.

“Does it have a name?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t opened the box yet.”

“Great, call it Schrodinger.”

Kaito snorted. “I’m not naming a cat Schrodinger. And I’m pretty certain the cat in there is alive since it was growling at me just a minute ago. Besides, that’s a mouthful.”

“Then shorten it to Schrodi. Or Ding.” It sounded like Hakuba was holding back laughter.

“Just a sec.” Kaito opened the cat crate. A black furred body shot out of the opening in a blur of fluffed fur and claws. It hid under the couch glaring at Kaito irritably. It probably blamed her for the nasty cross-continental trip. Taped inside the crate was a short letter. “Her name’s Estelle and she’s supposed to keep me company.”

“Does this person realize you have enough doves to supply wedding halls with complimentary flights across the chapel?”

“Probably not.” Hmm, a cat and doves. This wouldn’t turn out well would it? The cat growled from under the couch. “Well I can’t ship it back to Europe.”

“Keep it on a trial basis,” Hakuba advised. “If it gets into trouble, Aoshi seems like the type who would like a pet.”

“Good idea.” Kaito crumpled the note and went in search of something a cat could eat. She was pretty sure there was canned chicken in some cupboard. Honestly this could just as easily be a way of messing with her than Chat Noir sending a thoughtful gift.  She would have appreciated some notice at least. “Cats eat chicken, right?”

“And fish.” Kaito flinched, almost dropping the can and her phone. The damn f-word. “I wish you luck as the new, proud owner of a cat.”

“I’ll let you know if it lasts the week.” She set the dish of canned chicken in the center of the living room and retreated to a chair on the opposite side of the room as the cat. “Thanks for not being the one sending me a cat.”

“I can safely say that I will never be the person air mailing you a cat, Kuroba.” Hakuba was surely smiling on the other end. “I should be able to visit Japan in the future. This is your fair warning.”

“I’m not KID,” Kaito said automatically. It was practically a scripted part of their conversations by now. “But it will be good to catch up. I’ll pass along the news to Aoshi.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll get to meet Watson.”

“Can you get a European sparrow-hawk through customs?”

“With the right papers you can get just about anything through customs.”

“True.” The cat stuck her head out from under the couch. Her ears flicked back and forth in Kaito’s direction in time with her voice. Paw-step by paw-step, she crept until she reached the bowl in the middle of the room. Her tail twitched. Kaito could see her preparing from a trap. “I’ll see you around, Hakuba.”

“Have a good morning, Kuroba.” The phone disconnected and Kaito closed her phone silently. The cat finally stooped to eat the chicken. It looked like this would be a long process to get it to trust her. Thankfully Kaito was a patient person when it came to animals. She’d just have to keep the doves far away from dangerous kitty claws. “Hey, Estelle,” Kaito murmured. Ears flicked forward, but she kept gulping down the chicken. “What is Chat Noir thinking sending you, kitty cat?” Estelle growled. It was going to be a very long process.

*o*o*o*o*

“Allô? C'est de la part de qui?”

“Ms. Jones?” Kaito purred in her best Kid voice. “Just calling to inform you that your gift might not live until her adult fur grows in.”

“Kaitou Kid,” Chat Noir said, sounding pleased. “So you received Estelle.”

“Yes.” Kaito glared at the cat currently trapped under a laundry basket. It was alternating between batting at a feather and glaring at her with big, yellow eyes. “I don’t think we’ve hit it off.”

Chat Noir laughed. “Cats are picky. Friendship is something that must be earned.”

“Well she isn’t really helping me like her.” Kaito shifted her phone to the other ear so that she could better soothe the dove on her forearm. Poor Karui was missing feathers from her tail and still shaking an hour after Kaito found her trying and failing to escape the cat. “She tried to eat my doves.”

“You keep birds?” There was a sigh from the other end. “No, no, of course you keep birds. You are self-proclaimed a magician-thief. You have kept them separate; you would not be so foolish as to let a cat into the roost, so to speak.”

“Of course, I’m not stupid.” Kaito skritched at Karui’s feathers along her head and neck like she enjoyed. The trembling became soft coos of contentment. “Accidents, however, happen and I can’t watch her all the time.” The cat in the basket chose that moment to meow loudly and authoritatively, like it could convince Kaito to let it out. She scowled at it. “The cat likes my neighbor for some reason. She climbs onto his shoulder and everything.”

“Does this neighbor like Estelle?”

“Terribly.” Estelle meowed again. Karui ruffled her feathers and shuffled higher along Kaito’s shoulder.

“Give her a bit more time. If she remains a nuisance, your neighbor would be a good home.” Chat Noir sounded amused. She probably was enjoying one-upping Kaito in some way even if it was in the form of a gift-turned-irritant.

“Fine. I wanted to be sure that there would be no hard feelings if this were the case.” Kaito transferred Karui to the perch she kept in her room for when she trained her doves. Karui scooted to her favorite place by the edge that was scored with hundreds of claw indentations from generations of doves. Kaito squatted to look at the cat. Surprisingly, Estelle didn’t hiss.

“None at all,” Chat Noir said. “She was sent with good intentions. I am glad to hear that you have companions of the human sort.” There was almost a question in her tone. Kaito frowned.

“He doesn’t know. I have friends who do, so please butt out.”

“Territorial, no?” Chat Noir was definitely laughing on her end of the phone. “Do I count among these friends, Petite Phantom?”

Kaito snorted and stuck out a hand for Estelle to sniff.  The kitten sneezed. “Maybe. Maybe not.” She was still annoyed that Chat Noir knew where to send the package. Kaito would have to respond in kind… Although knowing her phone number probably was equally invasive for people who liked their private lives to remain private. “I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.” Estelle licked Kaito’s fingers before biting her pinky with needle teeth. Kaito winced. Thankfully she couldn’t bite too hard since she was still a kitten.

“Then I wish you luck with this…male friend.” She was grinning and Kaito was going to send her something nasty. Maybe a package that spat blue dye onto everything the moment it was opened. Or combining it with a glitter bomb. She would find glitter in places for years.

“It’s not like that, and thanks anyway.” Estelle was licking her hand again, but she was keeping her teeth to herself. Aoshi was going to love his new kitten. Love. And Kaito would gladly send the cat-toys, litter, food, and water dishes with her. “A pleasant day to you.”

“And to you, Kuroba-chan.”

Kaito winced. “Please don’t.” Chat Noir laughed and Kaito hung up the phone. It was probably a waste of an international phone call. At least she knew that the cat hadn’t been sent just to harass her. She was sure there was a little bit of harassment involved though. Chat Noir seemed intent on fitting into some kind of older sister role. It was annoying. Kaito could take care of herself and she certainly didn’t want anyone meddling. But Chat Noir wasn’t too bad. Kaito had wanted someone for cross dressing tips after all. Estelle bit Kaito’s finger again. She glared at the innocent, wide yellow eyes.

“You. You are going to live with Aoshi.”

Estelle purred low in her throat, rubbing against Kaito and the laundry basket. There would be fur stuck to the plastic next time Kaito went to use it.

“Don’t play cute. You just want out so you can murder my pretty birdies.” She was too much of a softie if a bit of purring and rubbing earned her forgiveness. Estelle mewed and butted her head against Kaito’s fingers, rubbing her whole body along them. “That counts as bribery. You’re not winning any points.” The kitten made a churring sound deep in her throat. Kaito sighed. “Fine. But far from Karui. You almost scared her to death.”

She lifted off the basket and scooped the ball of fluff into her arms. Pinpricks of claws immediately dug into her chest and forearm. “Yeah, yeah. I know.” Kaito scratched the fuzzy triangular ears and the kitten purred even as she tried to eat a button on Kaito’s shirt. “I’m sure Aoshi will spoil you rotten.” The kitten went back to the living room where she was supposed to be and Kaito closed her door firmly with Karui safe inside. The dovecot was closed for the night as well and not even a particularly intrepid cat would get in or out of there tonight. She’d talk to Aoshi in the morning. He’d probably even hug her for it. That was one upshot of an unwanted cat. And Hakuba would laugh her head off when she told her… internally. Kaito couldn’t really see Hakuba laughing hard out loud for anything short of Kaitou Kid doing something both embarrassing and entrapping. And even then it would be smug. Actually, screw Hakuba. Kaito wasn’t telling her anything. Estelle, after a day of mischief, was finally asleep.

[momocicerone]

Hi can you recommend some dcmk blogs to follow (preferably with coai and little to no shinran) since the fandom is kinda.... dead on tumblr TT.TT

((Sorry for randomly tagging people, please ignore if you got a notif.))

Hello friend, thank you for reaching out!( ◞･౪･)

Ah, yes [le sweats] the CoAi fandom is pretty much dead nowadays, specially since the last development from chapters 997 and on; from what I know many people are disappointed in the way character development was poorly handled, and the unnecessary dragging of the plot for twenty years, etc. 

I like to say that I’m not really in this fandom but this is a half-lie. I dont’ really follow many dcmk blogs? I do reblog and post dcmk related things but with all honestly I haven’t watched it in a decade nor am I interested in catching up, ever (Reasons above).

I asked some of my friends that used to be more active in the CoAi fandom but sadly they have retired already driven by sheer spite to Gosho, I’m kidding, it’s joke shhh  and moved to greener pastures. They also mentioned that most of the active Coai blogs on tumblr are multifandom (*coughs* as per yours truly over here *coughs*). I am also multishipper trash so follow at your own risk babe (I cry about ginsherry, ShiGo, ShiRan, KaiShi every once in a while, regardless that ShinShi IS my OTP).

SORRY, I’m digressing.

The only blog that’s 100% CoAi that I know of, would be @dc-partners which is run by @mayonaka-no-sasayaki, who is also the author of partners (10/10 must read)

@multiply014​ is also a fave author of mine and altho she has vamoosed from the fandom I still hold hopes of her coming back someday because her fanfic snap is one of my all time favorite (also check her Spell collection if you’re at it)

@lovelastart​ does some beautiful CoAi fanart every once in a while so don’t forget checking them out!

my friend Poe over here @polaris-a​ writes CoAi once every blue moon and their blog is multifandom but I promise u the writing is worth it.

[Sweats] I don’t know any other CoAi centered blogs but here are some general recommends:

@experiment4869​ has some hilarious dcmk jokes and i’m extremely cheap for memes

@askkudoprotectionsquad​ has slow updates but bless their souls for CoAi and HeiShi BrOTP (which admittedly is the next best thing for a deprived shippeer, right?)

I’m afraid that’s about it. The other dcmk blogs I follow are painfully pro shinran and I do feel the need to bleach my eyes every once in a while but it kinda comes with the territory and I’m not one to talk since I am a shameless multishipper (if ur into it i do know one or two gingsherry blogs lmao) .

I mean the only reason why I haven’t died of Coai deprivation is because I 1) ignore the canon; 2) write my own content and 3)feed myself with japanese doujins on twitter.

There u have it, good luck my friend and please come off anon and let’s be friends since there’s like five of us still alive in this fandom and it gets lonely.

[trouvelle]

Striking Balance // Emogust 13.08—Misunderstanding

For the second prompt of the second week of DCMK Emogust — Misunderstanding! 

A/N: I hope this comes out somewhat decent and isn’t confusing. Loosely based on Avatar: The Last Airbender/ The Legend of Aang. And by loosely based I only mean, the only things similar between the two here is (the fact that) it’s set in the same universe hahaha. This is slightly longer than I intended it to be and I have to hold back from writing more. I hope you like it!! @mintchocolateleaves @sup-poki

It’s these soft arms that are rousing him, forcing him to pry his eyes open despite the heavy lashes gluing them together, and Kaito—he tries to blink, to make his bleary eyes focus. The face above him is the kindest he has ever seen.

With such beautiful, cloudy blue eyes, long hair like a halo of moonlight whipping around in the wind, Kaito’s sluggish mind determines that this must be a Goddess. Or a Spirit.

“You’re okay now. You’re safe.”

The voice is as harmonious as bells, sharp and clear yet somehow infinitely soft. Warmth caresses Kaito’s shoulders and a shudder wracks his frozen frame. The spirit’s face crumples in concern.

Kaito’s eyes slide close, darkness enveloping him just as he begins to feel himself moving, those arms locked around him and lifting, lifting, until Kaito feels like he might be flying. It would—and should—be horrifying, but all he can think of is the warmth of the spirit’s arms and the little soothing words— ah, alright there we go, now if I just do this... you’re safe, don’t worry...

Φ

When he awakens again it’s to a hand on his chin and hot, foul liquid trickling down the back of his throat. He chokes, spitting it out, his eyes flying open.

“I know, this has a bit of a repulsive taste. But you need all the nutrients you can get, and you can’t eat anything healthier than this!”

His eyes and throat burn and his brain is foggy but he can make out, even in the low lighting, the figure standing above him. His spirit, lingering over him and looking slightly less ethereal in the lamp-light, seems more like human now, with her cream-colored skin and dark hair and those eyes made not of glacial ice but warm blue sky.

“What’s your name?” she asks, a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from propping himself up.

All Kaito can think, all he can say is, “Who are you?”

The girl laughs, and Kaito couldn’t help but think that even her laughter sounds really light and has a gentle tone to it.

“I’d like to call you something other than Rockslide Boy, if that’s alright with you.”

He shudders, summons his energy, and against his better judgment, he finally croaks, “Kaito.”

“Kaito,” The girl repeats like those two syllables are preciously delicate.

“Now go back to sleep, you need rest. We’ll be there soon.”

Kaito obeys.

Φ 

There is something cool on his chest, chilling his skin and reaching down deep inside him. Strangely, nothing about it is unpleasant, but rather soothing like peppermint or a sea breeze or a cool bath after a long day of training.

It calms him, and through the overwhelmingly pleasurable sensation, he hears voices.

“This was a mistake, you should have just left him.”

“But why would I do that?”

The response sounds like a hiss. “That man sure as hell isn’t from one of our tribes.”

“No. He’s from the Earth Kingdom. Or did you not notice the color of the clothes he was wearing? And the coins we found?” Ah, Kaito recognizes this as the earlier girl’s voice.

“Does he look Earth people to you? Just because he was dressed like one doesn’t mean that he’s from there.” So came the gruff reply. This second voice sounds lower, definitely a man’s. 

“I was too busy trying to keep him alive, Shinichi! Why would I ask of his identity right after he survived a crash that big?”

There is some shuffling, and Kaito himself is fighting to stay awake so he can hear more. They are talking about him after all.

“I know you’re only trying to help him, but we have to be really careful out here. We can’t afford to trust the wrong person and you know that. Bringing back a stranger like this… I really don’t think it’s a good idea, Ran.”

Footsteps retreat and, soon after, the cold sensation in Kaito’s chest slips away. He shudders. He isn’t sure if he’s awake or asleep, but he feels oddly relieved of pain. There is a cool contact on his forehead, and in his sleep, he sees it as a faint glow in the darkness. He’s surprised to find that the glow is warm rather than cold, and it reminds of someone. Aoko! He feels panic rising in his throat and the realization makes him feel as if his heart just dropped.

The same sensation moves from his chest to his forehead and he finds himself rapidly losing control of his consciousness. He falls back into the darkness, all the while chanting Aoko’s name as if she can hear and reach out to him. 

Φ 

The ground below him isn’t moving. When his eyes open and his head finally clears, this is the first thing he notices.

The second is that he cannot feel the wind.

His breath is caught in his throat and he shoots straight up to a sitting position, frantically searching around him for some explanation, some understanding. His eyes are immediately well-adjusted to the dim lighting around him. The walls surrounding him looking rough in texture, the humidity and the lack of air circulation in here all contributes to the gnawing in his gut, right next to something far more potent and familiar—the terror that has his heart and lungs and ribcage locked in a vice grip.

He tries to tell himself to calm down, and it almost works until he remembers he has absolutely every reason to panic. His brain, foggy as it had been the past few times he woke, is working on overdrive now and he cannot deny what he knows must be true:

Somehow, Aoko is not with him. 

Somehow, he is trapped underground. He knows from the way his body moves that he is still physically hindered from making a swift escape from wherever he’s at, but he has to do everything he can to go back out there and find her. She must be injured as badly as he is and Kaito can only pray that he get to her before anything worse happens.

He has heard tales—horror stories—of the Savagers who occupy the underground land. Cannibalism, his father had told him once. Amongst other things. Truly, nobody wants to know. What if Aoko—

“Kaito! You’re awake!”

There, standing across gigantic hole they’re occupying, peeking in from the dim passageway, is Ran.

When the girl moves, Kaito cannot keep his eyes from her—not because he fears a threat, but because Ran glides across the room like water flowing down a stream, every bit of her fluid. Her hair floats out behind her, settling over her shoulders when she comes to a stop at Kaito’s side and sits. Her bangs have been woven into two thin, loose braids and swooped back around her head and partially covering her ears, before falling with the rest of her hair down her back to the waist.

Her eyes, though—her eyes are exactly as Kaito remembers, as cloudy and blue as the sky.

“Not before you get better. How are you feeling?” Ran asks, her head cocked to the side. At this moment, a man emerges from the passageway and stands next to Ran, eyes staring at Kaito up and down like a prey. Kaito takes a moment to attempt to calm his breathing to a more even pace. 

“Good,” he says eventually, and it’s the understatement of the century. 

“Ah, we should get a better fire going, then.” Panic seizes Kaito’s chest all over again, until he notices the man making his way to what must be a makeshift hearth. “Your body will never heal if it still thinks you’re about to freeze to death.” His brow furrows in concentration as he strikes spark rocks together vigorously until a flame finally appears and catches on a log of bleached driftwood. 

He spots it, then, as his eyes scan the room—his brown bag, hanging on a hook on the wall.

“Is that…?”

Ran straightens, looking away from the fire, and winces. “Ah, yes. We’re sorry. Shinichi insisted on going through it, when we got back earlier.”

The said boy doesn’t look guilty in the slightest, instead narrowing his eyes at Kaito even further.

Ran crosses the room, grabbing the bag off of the hook and a pot of water from the ground, placing both at Kaito’s side. “I told him there’s probably nothing harmful in your bag, but he insist we be careful. We haven’t met the kindest people out here lately.”

Not a prisoner, then, at least until Kaito screws up or lets something slip. Did the Savagers take anything from his possession? He tugs open the bag, emptying its contents onto his lap.

“Was I alone when you found me?”

At his side, Ran fidgets. “Yes. Were there anyone else with you before all that happened?”

Kaito nods, not trusting his voice. His jaw already aches from the worry that he’s been holding in, but he cannot show weakness in front of these Savagers—at least no more than he already has.

“I’m sorry about whoever you had to leave behind. I hope you get to see them again.” The girl sounds sincere. However, Kaito knows better than to offer her any further information. She extends her hand out to touch his shoulder and offer comfort but he jerks away sharply.

“I need to leave.” Kaito doesn’t miss the way Ran’s shoulders deflate at his rejection. He has a more important problem at hand than to worry about to apologize to a Savager. 

“Believe me, we’re planning to let you go as soon as possible.” The guy named Shinichi sighed. Kaito senses exasperation.

Ran, to her credit, doesn’t seem bothered for long. She shifts her attention to the pot at her side and, in a single, fluid motion, streams the water out into mid-air and lets it surround her hands like gloves.

Kaito gasps and flinches back before he can even register what has happened—his voice lags far behind his reflexes, “...You’re a waterbender!”

Ran looks just as startled as Kaito. She draws back, ever so slightly, giving Kaito some distance. The smile on her face looks slightly forced. “Are you surprised?”

Kaito’s mind is racing. These two aren’t Savagers, and that renders his self-drawn conclusion completely out of the window. He has misunderstood them and probably their intentions as well. What are they doing here anyway if they’re not part of the Savager people?

“Is it your first time seeing waterbending, then?”

“Us Water Tribes keep to ourselves,” Shinichi continues, eyes ever so calculating, “I don’t think you’d have many encounters with waterbenders, being from the Earth Kingdom.”

Kaito stays silent. This feels like a trap. Like he is supposed to correct him, like Shinichi is testing to see if he’ll correct him, but—no, they don’t know. They couldn’t possibly know the truth. All they have to go on is the contents of his bag, unambiguously Earth Kingdom, but ultimately reeks of secrets.

Kaito doesn’t reply to Shinichi one way or another, and Shinichi doesn’t pry further. Meanwhile, Ran is occupied in passing the water between her hands, streaming it back and forth and pulling out small flecks of dirt as she does. Kaito finds himself unable to look away, the movement utterly mesmerizing.

“Okay, Kaito, can you lay back?”

Kaito looks up to see Ran’s gaze intent on him, hands covered once again in purified water, extended slightly toward Kaito. Every single hair on Kaito’s body stands straight up. His spine goes ramrod straight.

“Why?”

Ran blinks. “To heal you, of course! I thought you said you needed to leave?”

“Yeah,” Kaito shakes his head as if to clear his mind, “I need to find someone. But you, how are you gonna heal me?”

“You don’t remember?” Ran’s eyes widen in confusion.

“Don’t remember what?”

“On the way back here. I explained it then, I thought you were awake, but maybe I was wrong.” Ran frowns. “I’m a waterbender-healer. Well, I’m trying to be. But I promise, I know what I’m doing! You’re in good hands.”

Kaito notes how much she resembles Aoko, and it’s kind of creepy. This girl looks as if what Aoko would look like if she was born as one of the Water tribespeople, with their neat, braided hairstyle and long flowing robes. Kaito fidgets, only then realizing that he has been sleeping on a hard surface. Honestly, he could care less. As long as he gets to go out there and finds Aoko as soon as possible.

Ran laughs lightly. “Have you never heard of this? It’s nothing to worry about, I assure you. I’ve tried to heal you as much as I could while you were sleeping, but there are a few that I missed earlier, can I…?”

She’s holding out her hands, still surrounded in floating water, toward Kaito’s left hand. There are a few nasty bruises on his arm, he observes. Being a human catapult during the rockslide had left his body completely torn up, he’s pretty sure he broke a lot of bones—but, come to think of it, he feels great, not at all like someone whose bones are broken everywhere.

Kaito extends his hand and Ran takes it in hers. The water in her hand envelopes his arm almost completely. There’s a small crease between Ran’s eyebrows as her eyes narrow in focus, but Kaito’s gaze is torn from Ran’s face as he notices something start to glow.

The water. It’s the water, glowing brightly that for a moment he fears his skin is about to be burned. There’s no heat, though, only a tingling sensation, and when Ran’s hands pull the water away, the bruises are almost completely faded. Aside from his constant discomfort (if he could gnaw at his nonexistent collar, he would. This uneasiness is suffocating him.)

“Woah,” Kaito silently agrees, his eyes flickering wide back and forth between his hand and Ran’s pleased smile.

“See? All I do is use the water to connect with your chi, and redirect it to help your body heal itself faster. Nothing to worry about at all!”

“Nothing at all,” Kaito echoes, clearly stunned. “And is this, can you all Water people…?”

“No, Ran is one of the few people to manage to do that,” explains Shinichi, the rough tone from before completely gone.

“As I said though, I’m still learning. But don’t worry, Kaito, I’ll have you back in good health in no time!”

And, despite the thousands of questions and uncertainties and fears-bordering-on-terrors bouncing around his mind, Kaito realizes he can believe in them.

“Where are we anyway? Why are we taking shelter in Savager-like habitat?” Kaito fires the questions he has been aching to ask. His throat feels extremely dry and it hurts when he swallows. He circles a hand around the front part of his neck to help ease the discomfort.

Shinichi looks amused, and he responds without skipping a beat. “Quite sharp for someone from Earth Kingdom. Did you think we were Savagers?” 

Kaito hears a high-pitched “What?!” from Ran. He figures she must be offended, but he wants his answers when he asks for them, “You didn’t answer my questions.”

“We’ve exposed enough that we’re Water Tribe, being in Earth Kingdom territory, and that’s already more than you need to know. As for the location, I cannot inform you any further without risking everything. For all we know, you could be reporting to your King and have us arrested immediately.” Shinichi points out, a smirk on his face, but not looking snide. 

Under normal circumstances, Kaito would have shot him a disparaging look of what-the-actual-hell and bit back with a quick-witted reply. He doesn’t want to admit this, but he is in dire need of help. He prefers working alone, but he knows he needs all the help he can get if he wants to find Aoko quickly. His arrogance won’t get him anywhere at this point, let alone to earn anyone’s trust. He figures the sooner he confides in them, the sooner they can help him. 

“Look, I think you misunderstood,” starts Kaito slowly. He draws a long breath.

Shinichi has one eyebrow raised like he’s been expecting this, and crosses his arms, waiting for Kaito to proceed with his explanation.

Kaito turns to face Ran, throwing her an apologetic look (at least he hopes it comes across as apologetic). He continues, choosing his words carefully, “My friend and I⁠—we’re far away from home and we’ve been staying in the city of Gaoling. We decided to keep moving north but unfortunately, the whole region north of Gaoling is, as you know it, terribly mountainous terrains and that’s where you found me.”

Ran finally exhales. She knows where this is going. Shinichi is right from the beginning. She doesn’t like it when Shinichi is proven right, but then again, he always is. 

Kaito squares himself in the shoulders to admit, “I used to be part of the Air Nomads.” 

That, Shinichi didn’t see coming. He has his suspicions that Kaito was sent from the Fire Nation, the thought that he might be an airbender never once crossed his mind. Then it hit him all at once. The short ragged breaths (even though Ran said that Kaito sustains no internal injuries to his respiratory system), his hands constantly coming up to feel his neck and chest.

“Yeah, the air flow down here isn’t exactly the best,” Shinichi grins sheepishly. 

Beside him, Ran is starting to panic. She rises up from her seat and exclaims, “Oh dear, you must be very uncomfortable down here.” 

“I’ll live,” Kaito assures her, nodding in affirmation. He is grateful, and he certainly owes her a big one. If she hadn’t found him, he wouldn’t have been healed and would probably still be lying out there, heavily injured and in no condition to find nor help Aoko.

Sure, he’s separated from her right now. But he’s determined he can find her. He always does, anyway.

Part II ✥ III