#shinichi takes off kaito's gloves in the same way

[hayaku14]

THIS FUCKING KAISHIN ART BY KDKIIZ IS MAKING ME LOSE MY MIND LIKE HOLY SHITTTTTT I've seen this done with KID's gloves before but never with Shinichi's socks like??!?!$("(#+'+$+' THIS IS SO STUPID SEXY HOT OF THEM WTF#??#?#)$$)($) OHHH I'M DEAD FRFR IM GONE BRO like im not even a feet enioyer but i feel like i won 😳

[hayateart]

The Eye of the Storm - part 6

Part 6 of my contribution to the KaiShinShi week 2022. Sorry that i’s so late.

Theme: ShinShi, shared healing

Read part 1 here.

Read on AO3 or under the cut:

It was late afternoon, when Shinichi returned to Agasa’s house. Alone. Kaito claimed he had his part time job that he couldn’t miss – he already took a holiday the day before for the heist. He could not afford missing two days in a row.

In an inconspicuous bag, Shinichi had what was apparently a cursed pen. Kaito had found it in his backpack after a rather unfortunate series of events that nearly left him hospitalized. His friend, who was a witch left it there for him.

“A friend?” Shiho asked

“They’re better now, or so he says” Shinichi answered.

They were in the basement. Over the years, Shiho managed to create a proper lab only for herself down there. Far away from Agasa and his often explosive inventions.

Shiho put on gloves, and took the pen out of bag. She looked at it and noted:

“It’s just a pen.”

“That’s what I said. Kaito refused to touch it. He actually used thongs to get it in there and was very reluctant to let me go on the train with it. He only agreed because it was the fastest and safest way to get back here.”

“If it’s so dangerous, why did he give it to you in the first place? If his friend is really a witch, he should have more magical trinkets.”

Shinichi shrugged. “This one is presumably the most powerful and as such should be the easiest to study.”

Shiho hummed agreeably. That made sense. If magic turned out to be something she could measure with her equipment it was better to start testing with something easily detectable.

She took a voice recorder off the drawer and made sure the battery was charged.

“A voice recorder, really?” Shinichi asked. “I’m sure you have an app on your phone that you could use for that. Or on you laptop.”

“All laptops and phones come with internet connection now. Even if you turn the option off, they are still way to easy to hack remotely. If magic is a thing, well… we’re most likely not the first people to study it but still, we don’t want to make it public knowledge.”

“And you’re worried about people spying on you.”

“Obviously. The Black Organization leftovers still come to KID’s heist, apparently. Why wouldn’t there be some observing me or you.”

“Touché,” Shinichi nodded. After a few moments he asked: “How worried should we actually be about them? They haven’t made any moves as of now and really there should only be lone agents left, most likely, with very limited resources.”

“If you look at it from a certain angle, I started as a lone agent with very limited resources, and look at me now,” Shiho pointed out.

“Noted, stay on my toes. For the rest of my life.”

“Well…” Shiho was not the sentimental type, she really wasn’t, yet… “We have allies. Smart, powerful, clever allies. Kaito may join them soon. And if anything, we have each other’s backs, don’t we? I say altogether, our situation is pretty good.”

Shinichi sighed, his features softened. “You’re right. Actually, I suppose Kaito will get pretty close to us, pretty fast.”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

Even though she properly met the thief just the evening before, she already let him stay the night. She couldn’t deny that he was growing on her pretty quickly. As long as he fit into the dynamic she and Shinichi had, they could be friends. And maybe something more one day.

At the same time, she cared about Shinichi deeply. She could not deny the attraction that she started feeling once she got her adult body back. Children don’t feel attraction the same way. Ai did not look at Conan the same way Shiho was looking at Shinichi.

The first few days after taking the antidote had been the worst. Both of them suddenly found themselves back in grown up bodies, full of hormones, and urges, and unfulfilled desires. Shinichi did not feel those urges in full force when he had been taking the prototype and that was how they both knew, this time, the cure worked.

It took them days, weeks, to get the feelings under control. Shinichi had been avoiding Ran nearly the entire time of his recuperation. Afterwards, they finally split for good.

And what did Shiho do? At first she cried. She cried for her sister, for the years that were stolen by the Organization. She cried because she was finally free. And when Shinichi came over to visit, because his own feeling were too much for him to handle, they cried in each other’s arms for all the pain they went through was finally over.

Shiho developed feelings for her friend in that time and they never went away. And she knew, Shinichi had feelings for her too. They just need to take steps in proper direction for them to bloom. But there was no need to hurry. They lived right across the street – they had time.

But this time had once been stolen from them. Who’s to say, it won’t again? They should think about moving things along faster.

The recorder was light in her hand but the cursed pen sat heavy in the other. Kaito entered the picture just the evening before, but Shiho felt he already complicated the situation with his appearance. Shiho fell for his charms way to quickly and he hadn’t even been trying to woo her.

Shinichi knew him much longer.

“Do you want to stay for the first session of experiments?” she proposed.

Shinichi blinked at her. “Huh?”

“Do you want to stay, help me research?”

“I thought you didn’t like people watching you work.”

“You’re not just some people. You’re Shinichi.”

He blushed. Good, Shiho knew the feelings were still there. That knowledge made her inexplicably happy, so her own feeling remained unchanged, as well. All that was left, was to figure out how Kaito fit in that equation.

Shiho was a scientist. She had confidence, she could do it.

She sat down to work, taking samples, recording her observations, noting down the more interesting results, which, truthfully, there weren’t many of. As soon as she noticed something unusual about the pen, it was gone, as if it was never there and she just imagined things. If magic was real there must be a reason why it was never properly researched. And that reason was – it was hiding.

Throughout the process, Shinichi made helpful observations. And some not so helpful, downright annoying. Yet, she was happy he stayed.

They worked till early hours of next day morning, at which time Shiho was too tired to look through the microscope and called it quits.

Shinichi had fallen asleep on the couch just an hour or so before. Shiho stretched and got up, ready to head to bed herself. But first… She reached into the closed and found a blanket for her sleeping companion. Gently, as to not wake him up, she wrapped it over his shoulder. Shinichi sighed in his sleep contently. A gentle smile smoother the line of Shiho’s lips.

Yup, she loved that detective freak. She wanted to see his silly sleeping face every night.

They would talk about it after a good nights sleep.

Leaving Shinichi downstairs, a few samples in the incubator in case magic turned out to be something alive, Shiho headed upstairs to her own bed. At the top of the stairs, she turned off the lights.

“Good night, Shinichi.”

Magic, in fact, was not alive. Or at least, it didn’t show any signs of life after eight hours. Shinichi on the other hand was very much alive and very much uncomfortable if his posture said anything. When Shiho descended to her lab after the morning shower, Shinichi was sitting at the couch, massaging his neck, with a grimace on his face.

“Tough night?” Shiho asked, smiling sweetly.

She received a glare in response.

“I am never sleeping on the couch again,” he grumbled.

Shiho chuckled, sitting at the desk. Her hair was still damp, but she already had her lab coat on and was just pulling on gloves. Her safety glasses sat on the desk.

“Nobody forced you to sleep there.”

“You said I could stay,” he pouted. He actually pouted. As he would, when he was Conan. Or maybe, pouting was something Shinichi always did.

“That I did. I did not say you have to sleep on the couch. We have a guest bedroom, you know? That’s where Kaito stayed.

“I will try to remember about it next time. Breakfast?”

“I haven’t made any yet.”

“I was asking if you want any breakfast,” Shinichi clarified. “I’m a terrible cook, but I can pop out to the cafe and get us some fruit salads and cinnamon rolls for dessert.”

“And coffee?” Shiho asked hopefully.

Shinichi just rolled his eyes because, yes, obviously, he would get coffee. It’s not like the two of them were addicted to caffeine or something and needed a kick in the morning.

“I just need to get changed first.” He sniffed his shirt. “Yup, stinks.”

This time, Shiho full on laughed.

“Go get changed, take a shower, make yourself presentable. No need to hurry, I’ll be here.”

“Thanks, Shiho, see you soon.”

With a quick wave, he was off. Still smiling, Shiho went back to work.

It could have been minutes, it could have been hours later, Shiho didn’t know. Time seemed to flow differently when she was focused on work. All she knew she was performing another test, when she smelled the glorious aroma of freshly ground, strong coffee.

Shinichi was slowly climbing down the stairs, bag in one hand, coffee on a tray in the other.  Shinichi liked his black but he remembered to grab a fistful of sugar, creamer and gum syrup for her. Ever the gentleman.

Shiho set down the equipment and reached for a cup. Shinichi put the bag on a free space on the desk and sat down next to her, already sipping his own coffee.

“How is it possible that a cafe bought coffee always taste better?” he wondered.

“You have an outdated coffee maker at home and the beans you buy are very, very poor quality,” Shiho replied bluntly.

“Hey, it was expensive!”

“Just because it was expensive ten years ago doesn’t make it any good today.”

“I was talking about the beans,” Shinichi muttered.

“Just because they were expensive doesn’t mean they are good quality.”

“Sure, sure. Eat your salad.”

The breakfast passed fast as they joked and bickered. Shiho was almost sad she would have to go back to research after. As they munched on the last bits of cinnamon rolls, she couldn’t help but wish every day started like this, the same way she wished that every night she could see Shinichi’s silly sleeping face only th

It was time, she supposed.

“Thanks for the breakfast.”

Slowly, so Shinichi could move away if he wanted, but fast enough so she wouldn’t lose the courage, Shiho moved closer and placed a chaste kiss on Shinichi’s cheek. Immediately, Shinichi turned red. Shiho could feel her own face heating up.

“Is that alright?” She asked, searching his face.

Shinichi nodded and opened his mouth as if to speak. No sound came. He cleared his throat.

“Very much alright.”

His voice sounded scratchy. Embarrassed, he looked up at the ceiling, his hands restless, fingers worrying the cinnamon roll wrapper.

“I was hoping I would be the one to make the first move.”

“With how flustered you are right now? We would be waiting years for that to happen,” Shiho joked.

Shinichi chocked out a laugh. “I suppose you’re right. I’m happy at least one of us has the guts.”

“Don’t worry.” Shiho patted him on the back. “You will get used to it and then, one beautiful day, you will initiate a kiss. For now, leave it to me, lover boy.”

Shinichi’s face burned even a more brilliant red and Shiho felt ridiculously proud with the knowledge that it was because of her.

One problem solved. There was only one equation left and Shiho did not mean the magic.

What to do about Kaito?

Part 7 END

[tantei-chan-4869]

Chapter 2: Shinichi is Back?!?

Last Chapter..........

"You must've have guessed. Of course, for a brilliant detective like you, I have nowhere to hide. Yes. It is I, the Moonlight Phantom. Kaitou KID." Slowly, a smug begin to form on his face as he put his poker face on. "Looks like we'll have a lot to talk about tonight~" he said seductively as he slowly approached the unguarded detective. She slowly backed away, her heart beating wildly. She was fearful. What does he wanted do to her?

As his steps echoed closer, Shinichi shut her eyes in despair. "Help me..... someone. Anyone. Help me....."

--------------------------------------------------

Suddenly, the panicked detective felt something cold and metallic against her forehead. Immediately, her face paled from nervousness.

"Oh? Who would've thought the detective who had fired a bullet on me a year ago would've been in the same situation." Kaito's voice can be heard, very close in her ear as Shinichi stood frozen in fear. Is this it? Must her life as Shinichi be so short?

With the sound of trigger being heard echoing across the empty alleyway, signaling that the gun had been fired. Shinichi strangely didn't feel any pain. Strange, she thought. The death must've been quite an easy one. But by the time she opened her eyes, she was perfectly fine. Alive and well. No blood gushing out of her forehead and was staring into the indigo eyes of a certain thief.

The detective gasped and immediately was alert and on guard. However Kaito was quite pleased with himself.

"I wasn't going to do anything to you. You seemed to have forgotten my rule that no blood shall be shed when I'm around Meiantei. Never think you'd be so freaked out like that. Quite amusing to mess with you~"

Shinichi glared daggers into Kaito's eyes as he whistles while twirling his card gun around his finger. Frustrated, the detective turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving Kaito behind to catch up.

"Oi, oi Meiantei! Matte yo! (Wait up!)" Kaito called as he ran after her. "Hey, I'm sorry for pranking you like that. It's not everyday you hear the news that the kid you deal with on your heists is actually a high school detective." He chuckled. "I mean, I had guesses that you're not someone ordinary but this was too much, even for KID himself. So, will you forgive me my dearest Tantei-chan?"

But Shinichi's mind was not on Kaito at all. She was afraid that someone from BO was hiding in the dark who happened to hear everything and someday they'll rebuilt and hunt her down again. She vividly remember how her childhood best friend Mouri Ran almost died because of a mortal bullet wound to the stomach. She didn't want anymore innocent people lose their lives for her. Not even KID the master of escape himself.

"Earth to Shin-chan, are you here?" Kaito asked with a cute headtilt as he tried to get her attention. Shinichi was quite annoyed at this point. She stopped abruptly, whipped around and scolded Kaito.

"Go home. It's quite late. Besides, what's a thief doing with a detective so late at night like this? And we're both a guy and a girl. Do you think it's normal for someone to still be friendly after they found out the person had been their rivals the entire time? I don't think so! I regretted meeting you in the park. In fact, I wish I never ran into you in the first place!"

The last of the sentence was shouted out. Each words she said was a dagger being driven into Kaito's heart, wounding him. Sure. He could shrug it off with his poker face, but he would rather not do that in front of his favorite critique. He only listened with silence as his Meiantei lets out her anger on him. Shinichi however, was displeased. "Don't just stand there. Say something for yourself Kuroba Kaito. Why do you steal? Why do you live under the alias 'Kaitou KID'? What are you trying to hide?"

"When I was young...." Kaito hesitated but decided to continue. "My dad died in an accident while performing magic. I always thought his death was not normal, so I decided to look into it. Let's just say..... He was involved with a group of shady men. They were trying to find this jewel called 'Pandora'. It's said to be able to grant anyone's wish for immortality. My dad didn't want that to happen so he took up the job of stealing, hoping to find the jewel before them and to destroy it before they found it. Apparently, the men found out my dad's identity and..... Murdered him. However, I still believe that my dad is still alive. And..... I want to complete what he started. So yeah. Basically why I took up stealing."

There was a hint of sadness in Kaito's voice, as Shinichi noticed. For a minute, she didn't know what to say. The feeling of having to keep 2 identities was too similar and painful to not acknowledge. For a minute, she felt bad for Kaito.

" I...... I'm sorry Kuroba- I mean, Kaito." She apologized. " I just want to let you know, I understand and I'm here for you. Now I understand you're now really stealing. Sorry for misunderstanding you..... "

Kaito only gave the detective a wry smile. "I'm used to being misunderstood. It's nothing new for me. However, like you said, it is getting quite late. I should probably head home anyways. See you next illusion Meiantei."

He turned and was about to go until Shinichi's voice stopped him. "I- I mean, you can stay over for the night if..... If you want. It's not safe to walk alone on the streets so late like this anyways....."

The said thief looked back to see a quite flustered Shinichi offering him hospitality while trying not to sound too awkward. He had to smile, seeing his favorite detective in such a situation. It's quite cute, he thought to himself.

"Are you sure? Who said a guy and a girl can't be alone together? Definitely not me~" he teased while walking back to her. Which flustered the poor detective more as she blushed pink. "You don't have to take up the offer if you're not interested." She pouted as she proceeded to head over to her house's direction. Kaito only grinned as he followed after her.

Once inside the manor, Kaito couldn't help but marvel how big the place was. He whistled as to see how many compartments this house had. "You've been living in here growing up? Sheesh, your parents are filthy rich Shin-chan." He commented as he stood in front of a framed artwork to examine it.

"Eh, it's nothing if your mom is a popular retired actress and your dad is a world renowned novel writer." Shinichi shrugged as she proceeded to hang up her jacket, glove, and scarf on the hanger at the entrance of the house. "Can I get you something? I'm guessing you want both something to eat and something to drink?" She asked as she proceeded into the kitchen. "Just a heads-up, I don't cook a lot. My childhood best friend comes over and cook once in a while for me. But my cooking isn't good so bear with me." She explained as she tied an apron around her waist only for it to be untied by Kaito.

"Oi what are you-" Shinichi was about to protest until Kaito shushed her. "Let me handle it. I usually live alone and I've had to learn to cook quite a few dishes by myself. Don't worry, won't burn your house down if that's what you're worried about." Kaito winked at her, earning a flustered stutter from her.

"No I'm not worried about that- it's just- well, I can't make a guest cook-" She chased after Kaito, trying to get the apron back from him. But Kaito only dodged her.

"Aw, and here I thought you were going to worry about me. How cruel are you Meiantei~ my heart is in pain~~" Kaito teased her in a playful manner. Poor Shinichi was quite red at this point to the point where she seemed like she was going to pass out. Laughing, Kaito was quite pleased with his doing before he waltzed around the room getting ingredients out.

Soon, the Kudo manor was filled with the delicious aroma of something cooking. Shinichi, who was reading a Sherlock Holmes book in the library sniffed the air and immediately felt drolls in her mouth. The female detective followed the smell into the kitchen to see a beaming Kaito coming towards her with plates of food in his hands. Shinichi was quite impressed. "W-we had that many food materials in the house-?" Her gaze followed the plate of food as Kaito moved about the room setting the table.

"Of course. You had quite a lot of left overs that can be made into a table of feast. It's just up to your creativity." Kaito hummed as he set some utensils on the table. "Well, don't just stand over there Tantei-chan." Kaito waved. "Come and have a taste!"

The two enjoyed a quite filling meal. After Kaito had cleared take, Shinichi pushed back her chair quite contently. Kaito only sat across from her with a triumphant smug. The detective only rolled her eyes playfully at him before smiling. His cooking had definitely captured her stomach.

"So, what now?" Kaito asked as he folded his hands together. Shinichi noticed how slender and well-cared for they looked. "Well, I suppose perhaps I should help you on your heists." Shinichi replied as she looked at her nails rather casually while waiting to get a reaction from him.

True to her prediction, Kaito almost fell off of the chair he was sitting on. "Seriously? Meiantei is going to help me-?" He asked in disbelief as he tried to process what Shinichi was telling him.

"Yep." She replied simply. "Your dad was somewhat of a sensei to my mom who taught her how to disguise. So in a way, my family owe you one."

Kaito gave Shinichi a genuine smile. He never thought that this day would come. Who knows your rival would suddenly just stop being your rival and actually side with you?

Shinichi, had a knowing look as she stared at Kaito's idioticly hopeful face, decided to wake him up from his daydreams. "However, we'll still be somewhat of a rival." She smiled mysteriously as Kaito pouted.

"B-but why?" Kaito whined. The smug high school detective mused at how cute he looked. "Well, it wouldn't be fun for me if I can't triumphantly take you down myself, would it?" She smirked. "Isn't it your job to entertain your audience, Mr. Magician?"

Kaito huffed and pouted. Shinichi only laughed it off. "I'm off to bed. You can sleep in my parents' room if you want. I got you a pair of my dad's sleeping wear ready and laid on the bed for you." Then she paused and turned to look at Kaito dead in the eyes. "Do. Not. Try. Anything. Funny. While. I'm. Sleeping. Do you understand?"

The said magician just raised up his hands in surrender. "Never planned to do anything anyways. Please Tantei-chan, I'm not that perverted to the point of not having any self respect. Unless...... " Then, Kaito lowered his voice into a quite deep and seductive tone. "You want me to snuggle next to you while you're asleep~"

"Ew you pervert!" Came Shinichi's flustered voice followed by a slipper flying to his way, to which Kaito easily dodged. He laughed at how easily she reacted to his playful jokes and went to get ready for the night.

Early the next morning, a loud and rapid rapping could be heard outside of the Kudo manor followed by a voice that Shinichi couldn't be more familiar with. "Shinichi! Shinichi are you back? I'm coming in!"

"Hang on I'm coming!" The high school detective jumped out of bed with a messy bedhead rushed to the door, almost knocking over a very confused Kaito who was also not very pleased about his morning sleep being interrupted. He followed Shinichi to the front door to see her childhood best friend Mouri Ran, who was, staring daggers into Kaito's soul as he came face to face with the karate champion.

"Yo, good morning." Kaito yawned and waved.

"Kudo Shinichi, could you explain the meaning of this-?" Ran growled through his gritted teeth.

"Oh crap-" came Shinichi's reply. She's as good as dead.

-----------------------------------------------

Author's Note.........

Oh no! What will happen to Shin-chan!? Sounds like a love triangle/secret crushes compilation! I hope you guys stick around long enough to find out because cliffhangers will be a thing in my fan fics 👀

[squidpro-quo]

Murphy’s Law

AN: For @sup-poki and @mintchocolateleaves‘s emogust, I admit I’ve had this idea floating (pun intended, :P) around for a while, and it might not fit the prompt exactly but I thought it would be fun to write

KID cursed as he tripped down the stairs, narrowly missing the officer grabbing for him and landing flat on his ass at the bottom with a sizable bruise lined up for viewing bright and early tomorrow. He got to his feet with a wince, feeling less steady on his feet and like his shoes weren’t quite touching the ground the right way. On top of this disaster of a heist, he was probably sporting a concussion now as his prize for the night, instead of the mystical Emerald of Elevation that he’d only barely been able to touch before the police had arrived. 

His cape had caught under his foot when he stepped back from the squad and he’d almost choked at the sudden yank, only barely managing to keep his balance while the police swarmed in. It had been a close call after close call, stumbling and staggering around every officer’s lunging attempts to catch him while wondering how he was ever going to save face after the night was over and Inspector Nakamori had seen him do a nose-dive while dodging another of his policemen. 

If he’d been more of a believer in Akako’s mumbo-jumbo, he’d almost have thought his cape was conspiring against him. It caught around his ankles, flew into his face and obscured his view of his attackers more than once and tangled around his arms the first time he tried to run for the vents. He’d never had any problems with it before, it was usually almost like an extension of himself, his magician’s veil to cover any and all tricks he performed in front of his hostile audience. It was betraying him now, and the treachery was rather disheartening to realize. His own flowing cape, the signature of his exits and the dramatic base that provided all his moments of excessive flare, was now his worst enemy.

None of his usual tricks had worked either. The smoke-bombs went awry and he’d gone down coughing with the rest when his aim was off, managing to spot the vent he needed to leave in and crawling in with tears streaming down his face and ruining the makeup he’d applied for the night. The escape route had been cut off too and he’d had to leave the ducts to find another way to the roof. So much for tonight’s grand plans, he was just going to have to turn tail and run away, the Magician under the Moonlight reduced to a runny nose and ducking around corners to avoid getting spotted. 

One more floor, he could make one more floor and if his horrible, damned luck would just stop messing him up for five minutes, he’d make a clean getaway on the glider. All it took was five minutes without a mishap, that was all he needed. 

As soon as he stepped foot on the roof, he knew his wish hadn’t been granted. Kudo Shinichi stood with a triumphant smirk on his face and the propeller KID had been planning to use was propped against the railing beside him, the screws falling between his fingers to land on the concrete to roll off the edge. 

“Not going anywhere tonight, KID. Wasn’t the smoothest operation either,” Shinichi noted, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he strolled towards him. 

KID straightened up, wiping at the raccoon-eyes he probably had left over from the night’s horrific accidents, and tried on his most charming smile as he met the detective in the middle. 

“I should’ve known that you were the one responsible for the closed ventilation shafts,” KID said, with more confidence than he really felt at the moment. It just figured that the great detective would finally show up to give him a challenge on the night when he was most off his own game. Any other night and he would have been over the moon for a chance to match wits, to see that gleam in Shinichi’s eye when he outsmarted him in a move. Tonight was just embarrassing, he’d gladly scrap the whole initiative if he didn’t think the emerald still held promise. 

“Didn’t stop you from getting all the way up here, however. Sounds like you lead them around by the nose this time.”

KID kept the confusion off his face, but just barely, wondering why he thought it sounded like Shinichi was almost praising him for getting this far when it was a ridiculous farce of a heist so far. 

“Little under the weather, are we?” Shinichi asked, tipping his head to the side and gesturing to Kaito’s nose as he sniffed yet again, the gas still messing with his sinuses. Kaito sneezed, with the worst timing possible, and shamefully nodded. 

“You know, you don’t have to do a heist every week.” Passing over a tissue, Shinichi smiled slightly as Kaito pulled off his gloves to stuff them in his pocket and blew his nose. “If you get sick, just take time off. You look like you haven’t slept in a while either.”

Kaito almost wanted to retort that he was looking just fine when he remembered his mess of a face and figured that having a cold was likely the best excuse he would get in this situation. It wasn’t like he could seriously blame it on his cape acting up without being laughed at. 

“Is that concern, detective? I’ll have to remember this tactic in the future then.” Kaito knew it wasn’t a good attempt at brushing it off but he needed to save face somehow. This caring side to the detective was a rare occurrence and threw him off balance about as much as the rest of the evening had. 

“I look forward to your next performance, I’m sure it’ll be marvelous,” Shinichi murmured softly, leaning in and reaching slowly up to rest a hand on Kaito’s forehead. “You look flushed, are you sure you’re safe to be out here?”

Before his hand could touch, however, Kaito was dragged backward, away from Shinichi and his warm hand. Kaito swore under his breath, tugging at the fabric bunching around his wrists. His damn cape was freaking cockblocking him, even after everything it had already ruined tonight!

“I wouldn’t want you to catch it, might mess up that brain of yours,” Kaito said instead, bowing low to cover his attempts to free his hands.

“Wait, how are you going to get down? Don’t get so close to the edge, you’ve been unsteady all night!” Shinichi ran towards him and Kaito was dragged back at the same pace, barrelling towards the rather flimsy-looking safety railing that was all that separated him the yawning depths below. 

“Haven’t you ever heard?” KID asked, “A magician never reveals his secrets.”

Those were his last words as he pitched over the edge and Shinichi’s panicked shout was all he heard as he fell. 

The cape, after all the mischief it had wrought that night, caught him and pulled him back up in a flight as smooth as he’d ever achieved with his glider. It felt like he was truly flying, weightless amidst the stars and the air threading cold fingers through his hair as he rose back up to the level of the roof and grinned at the stunned look on his dear detective’s face. 

“Till the next showtime!” he yelled, hoping the cape knew where it was going as it swooped away, because he sure didn’t.

[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

[mintchocolateleaves]

希

Notes: In celebration of the lovely @bakathief ‘s birthday! @cherelleholmes and I worked together to make her a birthday ficlet, with a mixture of a story (by me!) and art (Cherelle!). This here, is the writing side!!

This is a KaiShin fic! The title ‘希’ translates into ‘hope’ and I sincerely hope you enjoy it! And of course again to @bakathief, happy birthday!!

The first time invisible hands scrawl ink into Kaito’s hand, it’s not meant as a message.

It’s the name of a book, a memo that Kaito glances down at. He’s heard of the book and even though he’s only thirteen, and the book is typically aimed at adults, it’s a trend that’s spreading through the school like wildfire.

Kaito looks down at the name of the mystery novel, rolls his eyes, and grabs his pen from where it’s been left at the edge of his desk. He’s never been the biggest fan of detective books, and so he crosses out the detective Samonji with a single line.

Then, he focuses back on his class, trying not to think any more about what the writing means. Soulmates, Kaito’s been told ever since he could listen to the words, have been capable of sending messages to one another with ink pressed against skin.

Kaito, who’s never looked too intricately into the scientific research available on soulmates, decides that he’s not going to make a big deal out of things. Or rather, he isn’t going to now, not when he’s in the middle of a math lesson, trying to focus on what his teacher is saying.

He feels more tingling on his hands. Glancing down shows that the message has been erased and rewritten. Kaito smiles, crosses it out again. This time, he adds a recommendation of his own, a more adventurous book with magic and fantasy intricated into the plot.

The recommendation – one of his favourite books of the year – is crossed out with the word ‘no’ written beside it. Then, the detective Samonji book is written out, the words – Stop crossing it out – written beside it.

His soulmate, Kaito presumes, is going to be fun to mess around with.

He crosses the title out again.

It’s not until a few days later however, that it really sinks in what this means.

Kaito is on his way to school, having walked half the route, Aoko swinging her bag as she walks beside him, when the realisation sinks in. He stops walking, almost abruptly, and tilts his head.

He has a soulmate.

Somehow, he’d thought he’d fall into the larger demographic of people without them. Kaito doesn’t know, but he’d always just assumed that the closeness he’s got with Aoko, their playfulness was something akin to romance, and yet – the universe has come to change things up for him.

He doesn’t even know his soulmate’s name.

All he knows is they’re Japanese – wait… not even that. He knows that they speak Japanese, and that they want to read a mystery novel. Kaito wonders whether he should read it, just to see if his soulmate has good taste.

“What’s up, Kaito?” Aoko asks, turning back to look at him.

Kaito offers her a smile, falls back into step beside her, and says, “oh it’s nothing. I’m just thinking about my soulmate.”

Aoko takes it in about the way Kaito is expecting her to. She snorts, turns away from him and says, “Aoko pities whoever ends up being Kaito’s soulmate. The amount of stress they’ll have to go through while enduring all of the pranks.”

Laughter echoes the street, Kaito’s own, as he realises it’s true, and that if he’s going to impress (see: torture) his soulmate with various pranks, he’s going to have plan better things. Bigger ones – he’s working with someone who likes mysteries, he’s going to have to fool him.

Later, in class, he scrawls words onto his hand.

Did you read the mystery book?

He only has to wait a few seconds before the word ‘yes’ is scratched into his skin, something he removes with spit as he readies himself for a response. He doesn’t ask if he’d enjoyed it, because the Samonji books are on their forty-first edition and his soulmate wouldn’t be at this point if he didn’t like the series.

Who reads a series with more than ten volumes though – it’s unreal. That much content for a single series, Kaito wonders whether his soulmate has ever gotten bored of reading the same characters over and over.

Good, now you have time to read my rec!

The response is immediate. No.

Kaito pouts, and sticks his tongue out. Which, is hardly any use, seeing as Kaito is sat in the middle of class, reacting to someone who can’t see him, only the words written on his body.

Mean. Kaito writes in response, adding a small doodle of a sad face, and a thumb’s down. It’s a good book.

Maybe, but it’s not the genre I typically read.

Kaito decides that somehow or the other, he will force his soulmate to read the goddamned book. Even if he has to write the entire thing on his hand, sentence after sentence – he will succeed and force his soulmate to broaden his horizons.

I’m Kaito, he writes after a while. He’ll go through with the book idea on the weekend, he thinks. For now, an introduction will suffice. The response is longer this time, and Kaito isn’t sure why, but there is a hesitation, as if giving away names is something to be wary of.

It’s got to be all those mystery novels, making the other boy paranoid. They’re only teenagers after all.

I’m Shinichi.

They decide on rules as they continue to age.

Most of them, of course, are stupid rules that they’d follow without the need to make rules at all, but they’re there just for the comfort value. No messages to one another during exams. No writing on… intimate areas, or the face.

Obvious things that Kaito wouldn’t do, but wants to now that they’re rules. He’s always had an inclination towards breaking rules, something that he’s not really been disciplined against, and some days he finds himself wanting to break every rule they’ve place on themselves.

He doesn’t – although he often imagines scenarios where he does. Kaito thinks that he’ll spare Shinichi any trouble until they actually meet, and find their own boundaries as a pair.

A pair, because even by the time they turn sixteen Shinichi hasn’t been able to decide whether their soulmate bond is platonic or romantic. Kaito’s pretty sure with the faint amusement he feels every time he sees words pop up on his hands that it’s romance.

Oh well, Kaito will just have to let him remain oblivious. If only for now.

He almost puts all thoughts of romance on hold however, when he takes up the mantel of KID. Kaito dons the signature white suit, monocle and top hat, makes sure to wear gloves to avoid any police officers catching on to the fact that he’s got a soulmate.

And it works, for the two of them at least.

Kaito feels an all too familiar ache every time he reads about Shinichi’s day, about what he’s done with his friend Ran, the girl he seems to be completely in love with. And it churns his stomach because they’re soulmates and they shouldn’t… they should love each other, not other people.

Shinichi is throwing away the entire premise of soulmates.

It’s frustrating, unwritten words wrapped around Kaito’s throat, because he can’t write them, they need to be said, but he can’t just… Kaito can’t say them either, seeing as they’ve never even met.

They both live in Tokyo, and yet – Kaito feels a sigh rise, lets it slip from his tongue – they’ve never come across one another.

I want to meet you, Kaito writes one day, during the middle of science, when he should be listening to the teacher drone on and on about titration curves. He’s slightly sleep deprived, lacking sleep from his heist the day before, and he writes the words before he really thinks about it.

He’s not sure why he’s writing it, what exactly will change? They’ll meet, and then what? Shinichi will still love Ran, and Kaito will have to hide his feelings in person rather than in writing.

And yet, there’s also a part of him that hopes Shinichi will see him and realise. Everything muddles in his head, the thoughts malformed, interweaved from tired thoughts and painful optimism.

Okay, Shinichi writes back.

It takes a little longer for the words to come out, but they still appear. Shinichi’s hesitant… Kaito isn’t sure why he would be. He waits a little longer, thinks to himself a good enough date, or a place for them to meet.

Is Sunday okay? Shinichi writes. I’m at Tropical Land with Ran on Saturday. But the day after-

Kaito bites his lip. Their trip to tropical land together isn’t a… date, is it? He doesn’t feel brave enough to ask, so he doesn’t. Instead, he says Sunday sounds good, and they decide to meet in Café Poirot, in the Beika district.

The fact that they’ll meet soon, fills Kaito with a giddy sort of glee.

And he only has to wait a few more days.

Hey, I’m excited for tomorrow!

Kaito knows he probably shouldn’t write that, but he grabs a pen from his pocket in the evening, grins as he spreads ink across his hand. It smudges slightly, but he knows Shinichi will understand what he means, having been reading his handwriting for years now.

The ink sinks into his skin. It fades away.

And Kaito glances down at his hand, wondering where exactly the ink has gone because within all reason it shouldn’t be possible for ink to just disappear, not all at once within seconds – Shinichi isn’t that fast at washing things off.

His eyes widen.

Shinichi?

He adds, horror spreading through him when he realises that the words are disappearing before his very eyes. Kaito glances towards his laptop, practically dives towards it attempting to find a search engine that can explain this phenomena to him.

After fifteen minutes of searching, his heart thumping against his ribcage with a ferocity that makes him feel like he might pass out, Kaito clicks onto an old research project. He scours the page, breath stuttering in his chest as he realises that this… this can’t be possible.

Soulmates, the article reads, will only transfer words unto one another when they are both living.

Kaito blinks away something that might be tears, sees white and bites into his lip. They’re cracked, bleeding where his incisors have pierced skin and he almost feels as if this is some sort of bad dream, but when he pinches himself, Kaito does not wake up.

His heart aches.

His hand sends a jolt of pain down the bone as he flings it towards the wall, mutters ‘dammit’ as he slumps against his bed, knuckles split and bleeding, sore but not the type of pain he spends much time thinking over.

“I’ll go to the café tomorrow anyway,” Kaito mutters, because this must be a joke, he’d been talking to other boy earlier this morning, feeling angry about the boy’s connection with Ran, “he can’t be… he can’t be dead?”

Shinichi just… can’t be gone.

There is no one to greet him other than the waitress at the café.

Kaito sits in a booth by himself, waiting, fingers itching for the pen he carries for every message he sends to Shinichi, and shivers. He does a quick search in Shinichi’s name and tries to figure out the surname of the boy he’s fallen in love with.

They’ve never given them. In all the years, Kaito had always thought they’d exchange names upon meeting one another, it had been another silly rule they’d imposed, so the other couldn’t get any preconceived ideas about the other through the internet or the news or…

Now, he searches until his eyes grow wet, tears forming and dripping down into hot chocolate. He’s not cried in years, and yet now it feels too painful to keep up a poker face, especially when he feels he needs it the most.

It’s as if… some part of him has been severed and he doesn’t know how to cope without it. Red string cut, leaving him aching, lost without an idea of what he should do next.

He grabs his pen from his pocket, pulls off the lid and pushes a single line into his hand. The words fade, lost, just like his connection with Shinichi.

If anyone notices a change in Kaito’s actions following his planned meeting with Shinichi, they don’t bring it up. Maybe they realise something has happened because he’s not scribbling on his arm, or maybe they don’t pay enough attention in the first place, but there is no talk of Shinichi at all.

Kaito goes through his average day to day life, attempts not to think about the fact that Shinichi is obviously dead, and plans his heists instead. He searches newspaper articles for any mention of his soulmate’s death – finds nothing regarding a young teenager in the obituaries.

It does not fill him with hope, but rather, dread.

Something has happened to Shinichi and he will never know for certain what exactly that means. He throws himself into his work as KID, plans more and more heists, each one more outrageous that the others.

Kaito pushes himself every time he receives a challenge, becomes a better phantom thief than he’d ever imagined he could be, and slowly… he crumbles apart. He fades like the words against his skin until at last he finds himself a ghost, the perfect thief who wears nothing but a poker face and a faked, widened smile.

Time drags outward until finally he decides to steal the black star from the Suzuki family, people he vaguely recalls from conversations with Shinichi. Or rather, he assumes the youngest daughter is the Sonoko that Shinichi complains about.

Maybe a part of him is wishing to get some understanding about what has happened to his soulmate, to know whether he is dead or not, but Kaito isn’t sure. He’ll steal the jewel for the father he’s lost, and he’ll find out the truth about the soulmate who’s gone.

He’ll disguise as Ran. She’s easy enough to impersonate from the gushing rambles Kaito’s read over the years, and it’s not even like dressing up as her requires much work – she’s a good target. Plus… Even without him present, Kaito wants to be the object of Shinichi’s affections, even if he needs to be someone else to receive it.

Not that Kaito thinks the dead care for identity theft anyway.

Mouri Ran – a karate champion, it’s obviously the same Ran he’s heard about for years – will probably care for it. But he’ll give her a dose of sleeping gas, bring her to the brink of sleep before leaving her for the heist.

First, he’s got to send his heist notice. He wants to do it in two parts, one for April fools, to see who exactly he’s going up against, and the second part to ready himself for the actual event.

The fireworks catch him off guard when he climbs to the roof of a hotel. There’s a small child, arrogance rolling off of him in a way that catches him off guard, but he quickly catches himself, readies himself for the mass of police officers that he knows will arrive soon.

“I know you did that on purpose,” he tells the child, and then, “who are you?”

There hadn’t been any indication that a small child would show up at his pre-heist. It’s beyond late, and Kaito’s lacking any information on a child like this – probably just a straggler who’s somehow come across his heist notice, Kaito will have to research him a little more at some point, see what the internet brings up.

“Edogawa Conan,” the child says, “a detective. What will you do next?”

Kaito grits his teeth.

It’s not that he doesn’t have a plan – he does. Kaito’s got plans for every element of his heists, if something goes wrong he’s got hundreds of outs, multiple possibilities for what can happen as his crimes continue.

“You’ve really got me cornered kid,” Kaito lies. He glances at the police helicopters, imagines if Shinichi would have ever come to a heist, and turns away. He escapes with ease, leaves his heist notice behind, and tries not to wonder about a child wanting to catch him.

Of course, as soon he realises that Edogawa is living with Ran, Kaito knows he needs to mess with him a little bit. He’s got the biggest crush on his neechan that Kaito has to bring it up in some format.

He messes with him the littlest amount when they’re alone on the cruise ship, the black star in his hand. Kaito has to dodge a flying soccer ball, the force enough to break wall – frankly, he doesn’t deserve this – but it’s all worth it for the way the kid goes red at the thought of his precious neechan being left naked in one of the lifeboats.

Edogawa, however, is someone Kaito decides he doesn’t want to see again. He’s freakishly smart for a child, is only six or seven, and yet he’s capable of seeing through his disguises. Not even Aoko is capable…

So, with a wave, and a crackle of a smoke bomb, he removes himself, and the black star from the cruise ship.

Of course, because the world is cruel and seems to hate him, Edogawa continues to show up at heists. He thinks it’s Suzuki Sonoko’s fault, she’s practically as big a fangirl as he would be, if he weren’t actually KID. And it’s frustrating, because as much as he hates seeing the kid, it’s almost fun having heists where he needs to think on the spot.

Although, he does start to despise footballs. He’d be a masochist if he didn’t.

All of the heists with the kid are fine, Edogawa is scarily smart – which is alright, as long as he doesn’t get Kaito caught, or meddle too much – but ultimately, Kaito enjoys them.

Until, of course, he has to prepare for a heist where they stamp ink for recognition onto the hands of people who have been proven not to be KID. Kaito, still unable to place ink on his hand, less it disappear, finds himself borderline freaking out as he wonders who he needs to disguise as.

It takes a while to think over the possibilities. Until finally he remembers the way Aoko’s father, Inspector Nakamori, had found a soulmate in his wife, and hasn’t been able to write words against his own skin since she’d passed away years before.

He’s always avoided disguising as the man for that simple reason, but now… in a situation like this, it’s the only disguise he can really have.

Not even Edogawa seems to catch on, until he’s breaking free past the bottom floor, shimmying through a vent leading to the lower floors – his motorcycle is just out back, he’ll have to take that.

The gem feels like lead in his pocket. Even now, Kaito knows it’s not Pandora. He checks anyway, lifting the jewel up to the sky, peering through it to see the moon shining above.

The sky is warm, and the light is bright, but it doesn’t leave him washed in red, he is not blinded with red. Of course, he’s failing with Pandora, but it’s his goal and Kaito knows he’ll fulfil all goals he sets for himself.

Well… All but one.

He starts up his motorcycle, turns to glance over at the sound of footsteps. It’s only Edogawa – scarily smart Edogawa Conan – so he doesn’t feel the need to speed away immediately. They always seem to have short conversations, before Kaito makes his hasty exits.

“I didn’t expect you to impersonate the inspector,” Edogawa breathes when he comes to a stop, meters away from the motorbike. Kaito turns his head to glance at him, the front of his cap pulled down to cover his face. “Why would you make things harder for yourself like that?”

Kaito bites the inside of his cheek. He lifts his chin, and offers a smile, “I’m a magician, we like doing the impossible.”

“The inspector lost a soulmate,” Edogawa says, “ink disappears from his skin, not even magicians can fake that eff-”

The child pauses, glances down at the pavement. Something swims in his eyes, an emotion that Kaito doesn’t quite care enough to decipher, and after a moment, he clenches his hands together.

“You had a soulmate,” Edogawa says, more a statement than a question, “didn’t you?”

Kaito bites his tongue – the kid detective might have his respect, but he will not go into this with a child.

“I’m sorry.” Edogawa adds, and then, as if he’s not apologetic at all – “what happened to them?”

He smothers a bitter laugh. Kaito knows that as smart as Edogawa is, he’s still young, doesn’t deserve any spite thrown in his direction. And yet, still he feels it rising up, a twisted smile tugging at his lips as he looks the boy in the eye.

“Who knows,” he says, and with a flick of his fingertips, there’s a poof of smoke as he changes from a cap to his motorcycle helmet. He turns his keys in the ignition, heaves out a sigh. “Won’t you solve that one for me, detective?”

“Kaito,” Aoko says when she finally reaches her limit of sympathy regarding what she calls Kaito’s ‘Shinichi situation. “Aoko is getting tired of this, just talk to Shinichi and fix whatever argument the two of you have had.”

Kaito flinches at the idea of being able to fix anything, and shudders when he realises he’s never actually corrected Aoko on the fact that Shinichi’s dead, and not just ignoring him.

“It’s not that easy…” Kaito tries, raising his hands in a mock surrender. He’s been trying to keep an efficient poker face, and yet, he’s obviously let Aoko know that his ‘Shinichi situation’ is weighing on his mind more than he’s letting on.

“Of course it’s not,” Aoko sighs, exasperated as she stalks forward and crosses her arms. “It’s never easy to stop an argument because Kaito is way too stubborn to apologise for things, and the same goes for what Aoko knows about Shinichi.”

Kaito glances away, unable to refute because he’s always been strong-willed, but unwilling to admit that there’s a different reason. Both he and Aoko know that he keeps too many secrets, he’s not ready to disclose any of them.

“Kaito met with Shinichi right?” Aoko says, and Kaito doesn’t miss the movement of her hand flicking into her pocket, hand clenched around what he expects to be a pen, “did you two argue when you met one another, is that why you don’t write anymore?”

An awkward laugh. Kaito readies himself to leave his chair, to escape from Aoko in the small gap between class changeover, as they wait for their next teacher to enter the room.

“He didn’t show up,” the truth, although he doesn’t mention that he’d known from the evening before that Shinichi wouldn’t… couldn’t… show. “And we’ve not talked since. It’s not stubbornness, Aoko, it just is.”

Aoko shakes her head. “No, it’s more than that, Kaito is sad, and I want to make him feel better.”

She lunges forward before he has time to react. Which is certainly, something, seeing as she’s going up against Kaitou KID. Kaito moves just in time to avoid her arm crashing into his, moves his arm from reach as she uncaps the marker pen she’s been hiding in her pocket.

“Aoko what the hell?” Kaito says, as he scrambles away from his chair, jumping across one of the desks. Without any hesitation, Aoko continues to advance, weaving between their classmates as she attempts to mark his hand.

“Shinichi will respond,” Aoko says, “if Kaito just bridges the gap.”

Kaito lets his eyes widen. There is no talking to ghosts, just becoming a phantom himself during his heists. You can’t-

“I tried,” Kaito says, and Aoko falters just for a moment, “I’ve tried, so just leave it be-”

She doesn’t, she keeps coming nearer to him until finally Kaito is cornered, ready to slip away from Aoko’s grasp. And then – He feels pressure against his hand. Just a line, something he looks down at in horror.

He’d forgotten that Aoko would have asked for Hakuba’s help. Of course she would.

“What is wrong with-” Kaito pulls his hand back, away from their view, staring down at the marked skin. They’re… they’re going to know now, that Shinichi’s dead, that Kaito has been lying in order to make sure no one worries about him… “with…”

Except… the line doesn’t fade.

“What…?” Kaito breathes, glancing at the light blue that’s remaining in view. Aoko and Hakuba are quiet, watching as Kaito numbly returns to his seat, staring at the line as if it’s the most wonderous thing he’s seen in his life.

And then-

Kaito?

The writing is so familiar it sends a shiver down his spine, and it’s all Kaito can do not to sob in the middle of class. His poker face cracks, but holds together, somehow, as Kaito glances down at the same penmanship he’s been reading for years.

He reaches into his pocket, shiver running down his spine as he pulls out his own pen. Something easy to wash off, something that will be gone quick enough for a second message to take its’ place.

You died.

A pause – the ink doesn’t disappear, and yet the lack of an immediate response leaves acid churning in his stomach, nervousness filling him up, ready to spit him out with nothing but anxiety spurring his actions.

Almost. But I’m okay now.

Kaito lets out a staggered breath. Excuses himself from the classroom with the excuse that he needs the bathroom. As soon as he’s inside, he splashes water against his face, grabs his pen.

The ink kept disappearing. That only happens to the dead.

Another pause. It fills him with trepidation.

I’m sorry. It’ll be sorted soon, but I won’t be able to write again for a while. One day I’ll explain it to you.

This time, his breathing halts, shudders jarring through his body as bile rises to his throat. Shinichi’s going to just disappear again…? This isn’t how it’s supposed to work.

I’ll give you my phone number instead, okay? Kaito?

All Kaito can do, is nod. It’s half hearted, breathless, a response that Shinichi cannot even see, and yet, for a moment it’s all he can give. Then, he scrawls ‘yes’ against his skin.

Shinichi’s number, something Kaito types into his phone before the ink has any time to dry, stays on his hand for all of three minutes, until Shinichi rubs it off. He replaces it with, text me from now on, I don’t think we’ll be able to write messages for a while.

Kaito wants to know why, wants to find Shinichi and shake him until he figures out the reason why. Instead, he grabs his pen and writes.

If you’re alive, why’d you miss our meeting?

This time, the words fade.

Kaito doesn’t have the courage to ask through text.

Knowing that Shinichi, is, in fact alive, brings less comfort that Kaito would have expected. Mainly, because it brings more questions. Why hadn’t Shinichi arrived at the meeting they’d set up? If Shinichi’s alive, how come their bond had been broken, something that breaks only when a person dies.

And Shinichi himself – he’d known more, had stated he couldn’t explain right now, but that eventually he could… Kaito isn’t sure what that means, and the ‘almost’ dying leaves Kaito with unreasonable chills as he tries to figure out what it means.

He can’t just ask, but he can attempt to do some research. Not as himself, of course, because he doesn’t want anyone to lead it back to him and start treating both Shinichi and him as biological anomalies, but he is KID, so disguising himself will be fine.

Kaito creates a fake identity, gets the paper work together and assumes the role of medical reporter Haneda Satoshi. His fake ID and papers get him into a research lab with leading soulmate researcher Ito Megume.

“So,” Ito begins once they’ve both sat down, a coffee table between the two of them. Kaito pulls out a notepad from his bag, a voice recorder too, just so he fully fills the role of reporter. “You have some questions for me?”

Kaito nods. “Yes, we want to run a special on soulmate bonds, seeing as many people know next to nothing about them.”

He turns the recorder on, presses the record button.

“That’s because most people don’t show physical traits,” Ito begins, “so they think they don’t have a soulmate and they don’t learn about the bonds.”

“How do we know that everyone has a soulmate if we can’t see it?”

“Well…” The researcher taps a finger against her chin, takes a moment to think. “The signs are all very different. We know the obvious yet rare signs of soulmates, ink transferring across skin, birthmarks that match that of your soulmate. But there are more internal ones – sharing one’s pain across two people, being more in tune with one another’s emotions.”

Kaito nods.

“Soulmates are always present. There’s always a red string of fate that keeps us tied together, whether we wish for it to or not, whether it’s easily seen or not.”

Now, Kaito leans forward and crosses his arms. He rests his notebook on his knee, pretends that he’s looking at a question before proceeding.

“And these red strings of fate, there’s no way of breaking them?”

Ito shakes her head. “None, not if we’re excluding death. You can’t just decide, ‘this person isn’t going to be my soulmate anymore’, they’ll always be there, whether you decide to act on it or not.”

Confusion blossoms inside him like a flower. “Do you mind if I use an example, for a moment?”

The researcher nods, grey strands of hair drooping by her ears from the bun she’s pulled her hair back into. “Go ahead.”

“I’ll use a physical trait,” Kaito begins. “The soulmate bond where ink transfers across to the user, for example. When a person dies, the ink has nowhere to go, so it disappears, right?”

Ito nods.

“But suppose,” Kaito continues, “the ink disappears when they’re both still alive. Is there a way that could be possible?”

The researcher rubs at her ear as she thinks, before shaking her head. She says, “I don’t think so. As soon as both soulmates reach puberty, their bond comes into effect. It’s irreversible while alive. Only children and the dead don’t carry the bonds.”

Kaito nods, despite the fact none of this makes sense.

By the time he leaves the room, he’s determined to find an answer. He pulls out his phone, pulls up Shinichi’s number and sends out a text, demanding he explain everything.

Soon, Shinichi texts back. As soon as I can, I will.

Soon turns out to be three months later.

Shinichi sends Kaito a text message when he is scoping out his latest heist location, dressed as a maintenance worker in order to get some idea of the electronics within the area.

Kaito glances at his phone, opens the text and blinks at the fact that there’s just a location. Sakura bridge. He stares, takes a moment to think about how long it’ll take to drive there – with his motorbike, it should take no more than twenty minutes.

Come now, Shinichi adds after a moment, if you can.

Kaito responds that he’ll be right there. It takes a minute to worm his way out of the maintenance work, another minute to shed his disguise and get into the car park.

“Shinichi,” Kaito says, but the name is swallowed up by the sound of his motorbike as he revs and makes his way out of the car park.

Sakura bridge, despite its name, is not littered with cherry blossoms. The nearest plant to the bridge are hedges, perfectly cut – the trees that could leave cherry blossoms floating among those wandering across further back from the bridge.

It’s not packed, like Kaito remembers it being during festivals, which should make it easier to find Shinichi. He bites into his lip, realises that without an idea of the person he’s looking for, they won’t be able to find one another.

As soon as he comes to this realisation, Shinichi seems to as well. His phone buzzes with an incoming call, and Kaito presses answer with a quiet trepidation filling his bones.

“Kaito?” Shinichi asks, when he realises Kaito’s not spoken first. His voice is soft, slightly worried but with a kindness to it that Kaito had thought would sound sarcastic instead.

“I don’t know what you look like,” Kaito finally says, and he turns, glancing around the entirety of Sakura bridge for a teenage boy and coming up short. There are many, but he doesn’t really think they give off a Shinichi vibe. “I’m going in blind here.”

“Yeah,” Shinichi says, “we’ll meet in the middle, and then… well, I’m wearing a red scarf, if that helps?”

There are hundreds upon thousands of red scarfs in the world, and yet, somehow it does. Kaito hums approval, walking further down the bridge until he’s at the centre, his eyes searching around for red fabric.

“Okay,” Kaito says after a moment, running a hand through his hair and messing it up further, “I’m here. Are you?”

“Yeah.”

Kaito’s pretty sure that he sees him then, red fabric across a teenager who he knows as Kudo Shinichi from newspapers. A face missing from the news as long as their bond has been broken.

For a moment, Kaito can only stare, ignoring the voice from the phone. This is – He’s –

Alive.

Clicking the call off, Kaito pockets his phone, walks up behind Shinichi, and taps on his shoulder. Shinichi turns, offers a smile and says, “you must be Kaito.”

“Shinichi,” Kaito says, “you’re late.”

The detective frowns, confusion across the lines of his forehead. After a second, they fade into a grimace, “the café meeting… I’m sorry about that – I can exp- Kaito… are you crying..?”

Shinichi takes a step towards him, looking uncertain about whether he should just stand there, or attempt to comfort him. His awkwardness only grows as Kaito lifts his fingers to his cheeks, surprised at the absence of any mask.

“Yeah,” Kaito says, wiping away his own tears. “I am.”

He offers a smile, the brightest he can in an attempt to override the idea that his tears are caused by sadness, and adds, “I guess I just thought I’d never get the chance to meet you.”

Because Kaito had thought–

Shinichi glances away, almost guiltily.

“I’m happy,” Kaito says, urges himself to release the small laugh that’s been bubbling up his throat, “even if it’s a little late.”

Shinichi turns back now, eyes steeled as if he’s ready to tell a painful story. Kaito wonders whether he’ll be dragged into sharing his own, he rather hopes he won’t be.

“I’m am sorry,” Shinichi says, “I wanted to tell you I wouldn’t–”

“It’s okay,” Kaito says, and he points towards the end of the bridge, in the direction of a small café that they could make their way towards. He thinks he’s told Shinichi about it before. “Just explain it now.”

Shinichi nods. Together, they start walking towards the edge of the bridge.

“Explain everything.”

[meirilorii]

Wintery Kiss

A Detective Conan and Magic Kaito (DCxMK) fanfic

Summary:

“How did you even find me here Shin-chan?”

A fond chuckle. “Of course I’d find you. I’ve been chasing you for years now that you won’t be able to hide from me anymore, KID-san.”

Kaito pouted, curious, but smiling all the same. “That doesn’t answer my question the slightest bit oh great detective.”

Kaishin/shinkai

Cross posted from Ao3 under MeiriLorii

It was a dark, cold night.

The wind blew past in low freezing degrees as everything around him constantly turned colder, moving his clothes and mussing up his already tousled hair as a few more unruly cowlicks were swept up in several different directions. Exhaling a puff of warm condensing air, the young man sitting desolately by the only occupied bench tugged his light thin clothes —certainly not ones for this kind of weather— firmly around his body in a weak attempt to conserve body heat, contemplating.

It was pretty useless, he knew, as he could barely feel the frigid air. Although.. should he be worried..? Some panicky part of his brain had been whispering that the numbness should be an alarming forewarning that his body was not getting the right temperature it needed. Warmth. But he could barely remember the feeling as he stared at the hand he had been unconsciously rubbing the entire time he had been sitting there. Waiting.

Oh. Right. He had been waiting for someone to make an appearance, right? But for the life of him he couldn’t remember who he’s been waiting for this entire time. Who’d be so important to warrant his patience to wait out in the open with the weather this unstable? Was he even waiting for somehow who will make it or would this be in vain?

Actually, he couldn’t really remember much from the time he had woken up from that brightly lit room. Just that he had to come to this place, something familiar, whatever it might cost him because apparently some part of him feels that this place was important; that it held a remarkably meaningful memory that refused to be recovered from deep within the pit of scrambled mess that was his brain.

This had to some kind of weird dream. He knew from some part deep inside him that people don’t just forget everything in one day. They don’t just wake up from an unknown place he subconsciously knew as a hospital room only to go someplace they thought they should be but apparently couldn’t seem to figure out the reason behind as to why.

He couldn’t even remember his name.. Why his left hand had been covered in bandages —something that had become a makeshift glove— and the faint desperate feeling still thrumming through his adrenaline pumped veins when he had run away from that room.

The young man had to be missing something important, and the thought itself made his head hurt that he had stopped trying to think of it too much in hopes that the pounding headache would just stop.

Somewhere far across the male, the large clocktower chimed its musical bell, the large hand moving to point directly upward towards the sky as it rang its call before midnight.

One more hour..

Just then, sometime after, something soft dropped down bellow his left eye to turn into freezing liquid, moving down his cheek before the wind started to pick up again from its earlier lazy breeze.

Snow. His mind supplied once more as he held his bare and almost frozen hand outward to catch more of the falling white flakes as they started to descent down from the puffy greyish-white clouds overhead.

He could barely recall —a memory?— being drenched as the cold ball of ice soaked through his coat and clothes, someone throwing him a handful in retaliation to start a playful snowball fight. Either that or they’d form something out of the pile that had accumulated that day. (Who’s idea it was or if those were even real or a figment of his imagination, he’s not sure anymore.) Of warm fireplaces, shared blankets and cups of hot beverages. Lazy and comfortable silences that droned on as the nearby grandfather clock slowly ticked away the seconds to lull him into a light sleep..

It was somehow disconcerting how he was starting to long for something he couldn’t even fully remember, but nonethess, he surmised that the winter chill couldn’t be much good for his sore and bandaged up self. (He’s only clad in a pair of what should be his jeans and a light long sleeved shirt. Not exactly heavy and heat conserving.)

But.. He was starting to feel sleepy. He’s tired and he just wanted to take small nap..

Unable to stop his lids from dropping, he fell into a light daze like slumber..

“Hey, Kaito, what do you want to do for Christmas?”

The innocent question snapped said magician out of the mathematical equation he had, for once, been studying about for exams. Normally, Kaito would just wave his hand and skim through his text books with an uncaring air. He usually passed with flying colors anyway even with his obvious inattentiveness during lessons but for now, he deemed a few brush ups and advance topics would do him fairly well especially with his course of action for next week.

Which he hadn’t informed Shinichi as of yet.

And the detective had been the one to bring up about the incoming holidays.. Which was a bit unusual ever since he had known Kudou Shinichi and had started to drop by frequently by the mansion after they had sorted out their own individual mess. Out of the five years that he had known him, this was a first for Christmas, —this year being the one he had managed to finally have the courage to ask Shinichi if he could room with him because despite one of the guest rooms practically being his by now, he still wants to make sure he’s welcomed to stay for far longer than a few days. It was just too spacious and quiet by himself and he just figured that with both of them living by themselves, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Well, it had always been Kaito forcing him out of work for a much deserved break so..

Ah. Shit.

“Eh.. Christmas?” Chuckling sheepishly, Kaito scratched the back of his head lightly, tapping one end of his mechanical pencil by the corner of his lips as he sent his roommate a crooked grin.

Shinichi in return just blinked at him, one raised eyebrow urging him to go on and elaborate as he went back to typing away in his own laptop. Kaito willed himself not to read in too much on the small shift of his body language, telling himself that it was most definitely not disappointment that had shined through the other’s azure eyes for the briefest of seconds before it went back to the usual indifferent stare.

Thief or no thief, he still thinks that the detective was very much annoying whenever he does that. Closing him off as if he couldn’t read him. And well, maybe the smallest bit challenging and attractive. But that’s from a tiny part of his brain that he had tucked way back since it always sprouted nonsense about adorable snappy detectives..

Shaking his head to rid himself of such distracting thoughts, the magician opened his mouth for a response, feeling much like a bastard who’s just making excuses and he cringed inwardly even as his face outwardly showed his deepest sincerity.

“It was just yesterday and I would have told you about it right away but then you’ve got a case until late in the evening.. ” Shrugging lightly, he leaned his head over the heel of his right hand, left hand absently flipping his pen between his fingers and nervousness showing through as the pace picked up with the detective’s show of near callousness.

“Anyways, Kaa-san called and informed me about having scheduled a magic show over New York. Something about a Christmas reunion between her and Oyaji’s common friends that I just have to make a small show for.” Trailing off, he counted off a few seconds before adding. “I was scheduled to go next week and will probably be gone for the duration of about two weeks until after Christmas and well.. I was wondering if somehow you’d be able to come too since we’re given an early break..”

Kaito already knew the answer, but he mentally crossed his fingers anyway.

The continuous clicking and clacking of keys stopped momentarily as Shinichi leaned back on his armchair after a beat of tense silence from Kaito. He looked worn out around the edges and the magician made a mental note to himself that he’d have to pester the detective this weekend just to have the other stop wasting away his day offs solving through a bunch of case files and either going or stumbling over crime scenes.

Apparently, Kaito was Shinichi’s living, walking, and working omamori that cancels out the detective’s corpse magnet abilities. Kaito would always remind him so whenever he’d drag him out for an impromptu vacation and Shinichi would just sigh every time and submit to his whims with little to no struggle. Though the magician secretly likes to think that that’s because his companion might enjoy those out of the blue outings with him.

And it wasn’t like he has anything to lose when they both have everything to gain out of it anyways.

Shinichi’s a detective, but as much as he loves his work and would do anything for justice, Kaito knew that sometimes things just felt too dark that sleep couldn’t even save him from nightmares, the magician dragging him out whenever he felt like the detective needs an out for a while. He empathized with that fairly well. “That sounds great Kaito.” Shinichi’s grin looked genuine although it doesn’t seem to reach his eyes. Kaito knew that look far too much —he’s pretty used to that by now, so why did he feel as if he had just been punched in the gut?— that he had anticipated the next words even before the other opened his mouth to continue, “Your mother must be really proud of you and I’m happy that you can finally start your career from here but.. ”

Kaito cut him off when Shinichi’s words skirted around the conversation, his mind, for once, was unable to come up with the correct set of sentences.

Lips twitching upward into a slight smile —the magician couldn’t do more than that else it would be too fake. “ Yeah. Kaa-san won’t stop telling me that over the phone, so kind of guessed she was.” His normally cheery tone was a tad more neutral than usual, but Shinichi, who he was sure to have caught the slight change, didn’t say anything. Kaito sensed the guilt however, the tenseness over the other’s shoulders, and he suddenly felt undeniably warm as his smile softened into a decidedly indulgent grin.

“But hey, after you’re done with that case with Takagi-keiji, we could always celebrate the new years together, right?” If his words had come out more hopeful, neither decided to comment about it.

The detective should have expected that part really, what with the moonlighting thief’s habit of sending his doves after him after a certain accident —not so much of an accident as it was a cleverly planned one. Though.. That meant Kaito knew and had still tried to ask him if he would be able to make it. Isn’t it just sad that this almost felt like he’s abandoning the other?

He should be feeling annoyed with all the stalking, but he only felt fond exasperation, the latter one winning out over his features as he crossed his arms with a soft sigh.

“Why do I even bother?” Shaking his head, Shinichi could feel a tug on his lips and he didn’t even bother to hide his amusement as he faced the magician fully from his position. “Just try not to blow the house up with all the fireworks.”

And Kaito’s laugh, relieved and content, rang over the halls of the Kudou residence, filling the previously empty house with its warmth.

“-to! ”

He could faintly hear someone shouting something, the words and meaning lost to him as he was still feeling groggy from the impromptu nap.

“Oi! Kai-”

Someone was shaking him now, and even though he felt quite annoyed with the treatment to his limp body, he couldn’t bother to bring himself to move just yet. His eyes felt as if it was bolted close and his arms and legs heavy with lead.

“—you said…”

What were they saying? He couldn’t really think much of anything else at the moment, head feeling as if stuffed with cotton. That was before his head throbbed with a vengeance, more vicious and twice the earlier pain, forcing him to move much closer to that comforting wamth. A soft near inaudible whimper left his dry throat when the movement aggravated what should be numb skin and flesh, bandages slowly being stained red.

“You idiot!”

As the fog over his senses slowly lifted, Kaito could feel his source of warmth shake but he was still unable to discern the reason as to why with his brain still trying to reboot.

“Why’d you..” A choked whisper as the speaker tried to regain composure. “Gods Kaito.. We’ve been searching for you for hours and you’re nowhere to be found. I thought.. I thought he got you this time for good and..”

..What?

Oh. Was that Shinichi? It sure sounds like it. He must be suffering from a pretty bad concussion if he’s ever forgotten his favourite critic for even just a second. But that also doesn’t sound quite about right. Why would Shinichi be acting like this and be reduce to such a mess?

“-nichi?” His voice was horribly hoarse that Kaito gave a brief thought about drinking something to patch the soreness of his throat.

The detective immediately froze before he slowly leaned his head back from the embrace he’s wrapped the magician with, turning wide blue eyes at the groaning bundle in his arms and clashing with hazy and clearly pained and disoriented indigo.

Unable to word anything out the first few seconds with waves of relief spreading through Shinichi’s stiff form, he sagged back down around the other, arms holding him in a carefully tight hold to avoid aggravating his wounds any more that they already are.

A comforting silence settled between them, Kaito returning the hug as much as he could without hurting himself by moving too much. Both of them just basking in each other’s presence, not wanting to break the moment just yet.

It was Shinichi who did.

“I’m sorry.” His memories are still a jumbled mess but Kaito supposed that he should have seen this one coming from Shinichi. The amount guilt from the words alone does not sit well with him. “If only I had picked you up at the airport in time then..”

No. It wasn’t his fault, really. “I don’t blame you Shinichi. The case was important and—”

“You don’t understand Kaito!” Cutting him off, the other male raked a frustrated hand through his otherwise neatly combed hair, which Kaito only now realized looked much like his own nest of messy strands from the abuse it must have gone through this whole time. “The guy we’ve been after, the serial killings all pointed towards the same thing and.. and after we finally traced the next victim..” Another choked sound escaped him and the magician suddenly had a horrible feeling where this was leading to.

He decided to shut the detective up before he could start getting all logical on him. He likes that part of Shinichi, —he’d even admit to having admired him because of it, that strong sense of justice— he really does. But sometimes, when it comes to times like this, letting him go on gives him more reason to blame himself for something and thus pulling him deeper into self-reproach.

“Shinichi.” He started, breathing through his mouth and noticing his companion shiver lightly in his arms. “It’s not your fault. I can’t remember much but I think I saw you before I black out. You were able to stop him before he was able to really get me right?”

“Yes, but—”

“The plane landed earlier than planned considering the anticipated heavy snow. Not your fault I was planning on surprising you at the precinct.” Kaito waited for more rebuttals from the detective and continued on when nothing came. “You came to stop him. That’s all that matters to me.”

Shinichi shook his head, a shaky breath slipping past chapped lips. “I could have lost you. I.. He was able to escape as I was checking you for serious injuries. I thought he got you for real when you disappeared from your room.” It ended with a soft whisper, traces of fear still evident.

He snuggled closer towards his roommate, content, more than willing to provide physical reassurance. “I’m fine. I’m here. I could only imagine that you caught him this time with a painful hit by that soccer ball of death of yours.” A simple statement that spoke volumes of how much faith he had on the other.

“Yes.” It seems that Shinichi understood perfectly well, the implications not lost to him with how he tightened his hold around the weakened magician. “Yes I did..”

The silence stretched on as the tension slowly left the detective.

“How did you even find me here Shin-chan?”

A fond chuckle as Shinichi propped his head over Kaito’s, rubbing his back soothingly, willingly sharing body heat. “Of course I’d find you. I’ve been chasing you for years now that you won’t be able to hide from me anymore, KID-san.”

Kaito pouted, curious, but smiling all the same. “That doesn’t answer my question the slightest bit oh great detective.”

Faint snicker. “To be honest? I’ve sort of had a feeling that I’d find you here. You’ve always been the sentimental type and this was the place we’ve first met so I just went with my instinct.”

“Really?” The magician let out an amused snort, knowing there was more to it that the detective isn’t telling but willing to let it go with how tired he was.

Shinichi lightly laughed, shaking his head. “Kaito?”

“Mmh?”

“Please just.. don’t do that again.”

Smiling from his position on the detective’s lap, Kaito hummed, not wanting to risk nodding his head as he shifted just the tiniest bit closer, enjoying the scent of pine and mint that was solely Shinichi. “Okay.”

“..and Kaito?”

He was starting to get sleepy again, only this time he felt safe and warm, being wrapped securely with Shinichi watching over him. He certainly could get used to this. “Yes?”

“Let’s get you back home.”

“Yeah.” Grin stretching wider, and with all the warmth he could muster, Kaito glanced up towards Shinichi as he was carefully lifted up into his arms. The first time the other had admitted it to be just that after the past year of Kaito moving in with him. “Home.”

And as the clocktower strike midnight, Shinichi gave the now slumbering magician a feather light kiss on his forehead, silently promising to himself to always treasure something so precious.

[squidpro-quo]

Life/Death Swap

AN: Little late for @sup-poki and @mintchocolateleaves‘s emogust, but I’ll catch up :P I love houseki no kuni, with all its shiny sadness so i can’t resist an au

Shinichi stares down at the shattered pieces in his hand, his own left thumb missing and his neck on the verge of breaking. But it’s his heart that hurts, though he doubts the Master had made them a specific organ for that, but his metaphorical heart hurts regardless. He should’ve been faster, stronger, more unbreakable because when it came down to the line, he was the one that should’ve taken the blow, it was his job after all. 

Kaito’s job had been to do his tricks. To look for the right material, the purest of diamond or the hardiest of amethyst and mind the cracks and watch for the chips and scuffs that might bloom into faults. Shinichi had heard of a mother’s supposed duties, the nurturing and apparent materials that went into creating a human and Kaito wasn’t quite that, more a little brother’s antics than anything approaching motherly, but he did the same job. Creating new gems, making them ready to be infused with life and open their eyes onto a new existence free from the earth. Even now, Kaito’s bag was full of his usual chisels and picks, spilling onto the softly waving grass and left behind as Shinichi picked up the shards, hands full of the largest glittering pieces and pocketing the tiniest lest they be lost. 

He settles Kaito’s legs on top of his chest, refusing to look at the crater gaping under the torn white shirt and wishing it didn’t sparkle such a beautiful blue inside. It shouldn’t be dazzling, that color should be confined to Kaito’s eyes and hair, a mess that now lies still as Shinichi stands up. Kaito’s parts click together, the sound becoming worse as Shinichi starts to run towards their home, sword left behind as unnecessary weight and his eyes stinging with what must be the wind and nothing else. 

He steals a look down at Kaito just as his right eye blinks open, the left one stays an empty hole. 

“ —nichi, did they get you too?” Kaito forces through cracked lips, the movement only forcing them to chip further in small flakes of blue. 

“No,” Shinichi mutters, wishing they had. “It was only you.” 

“Ah, I was wondering…” Kaito falls silent, his remaining fractured eye looking like a starburst had become embedded in it, right along with the lunarians’ cursed arrows. 

“What?”

“When did you stop hating me?” Kaito’s voice is soft, the whisper barely making it out and Shinichi only hears him by chance, but the words make his thoughts stutter. That was so long ago, so much time lost, and Shinichi doesn’t want to bear the thought that it might not be the Kaito he knows now any longer.

“Stop talking, you’re only going to lose more of yourself,” is all he manages to say. 

Shinichi doesn’t stop until they’ve made it back, unloading Kaito onto the examining table while Akako emerges from her storage room with a heavy sigh at the sight of the damage. 

“Did he leave his expected route again?” she asks, setting down her armful of dusting chalk and taking up one of Kaito’s instead to examine the break. 

“He said he saw a promising piece of topaz, best he’d ever found…” Shinichi curses his past negligence, that he’d given in to Kaito’s excited grin and goofy looking jeweler’s loupe stuck to the bridge of his nose. He’d known the coast was dangerous, the thought of how infrequent the attacks had been recently had passed through his mind and he’d dismissed it, like an idiot. Kaito was liable to shatter from falling down the stairs, the barrage of arrows had reduced him to little more than dust in the areas where he’d been hit. 

“Always running off after the biggest, shiniest stone,” Akako chides, lining up a few limbs and piecing Kaito’s legs back together. 

“ — should’ve seen it, Akako,” Kaito says, an old gleam refracted in his eye as he looks at her. “Hakuba would’ve been jealous of that luster.”

“You’ll have to show him once you’re in one piece again.” 

Shinichi hovers in the back, watching Akako work, relieved to see Kaito’s legs and arms reforming but leaving his chest still in smithereens, along with his face. 

“What to do about this eye…” Akako pulls out a few drawers, searching through her supplies before finally sitting back with a frown on her face. “There’s nothing here to replace it. He never brought me a piece of his own gem.” 

She fiddles with Kaito’s jeweler’s tools, her expression uncharacteristically melancholy. Until she surges back into action and bends over Kaito’s head with a small hammer and begins her work in earnest again. 

Shinichi’s glad she’s found something to do for the eye but the chasm in the middle is still his main concern. Like she’d said, Kaito brought back samples of them all, but not himself. It was too rare a specimen for him to find and now he would never be whole again. The one who’d helped carve them, had been carved up himself, left to be incomplete. 

“There,” Akako declares, standing back with her hands settled on her hips. “On to your chest.”

Shinichi steps up and sees Kaito’s face, one eye restored and closed while the other’s crystal blue has been somehow diluted, shards of clear white interspersed throughout and he realizes what Akako did. Kaito’s jeweler’s loupe is no longer in his bag, it sits in front of his face as it always did but now as a part of it instead. The white rim is set into his cheekbone, melded to fit around his eye and Shinichi wonders what Kaito will say when he wakes with a permanent monocle. Likely laugh and tip an imaginary hat, say that it’ll save him having to put on and remove it every time but Shinichi will miss the way it always slipped when Kaito got started on an animated explanation of his latest project. 

He turns to see Akako excavating Kaito’s chest and shaking her head when she catches his eye. 

“He’s not going to get up with this much lost, it’s a miracle he even remembers you.” Akako’s gloves are tinted with Kaito’s blue dust and Shinichi doesn’t want to correct her, thinking the way Kaito had barely spared him more than a confused glance throughout the entire rebuilding. What Kaito remembers isn’t who Shinichi is any more. 

“I can give him part of my core.” He starts to pull up his shirt, shooting down Akako’s startled start to a sentence. “I can just go in storage, he’s the one who finds the pieces of us anyway. Without him, we won’t have any more of us around. If he sees something made of me, then tell him…” 

He can’t know when Kaito might find a piece to fill him again, it could be decades, centuries, and he might not care enough to do it anyway. But there’s a small part of Shinichi that doesn’t want to be around to see a Kaito who doesn’t remember how far they’ve come, back to the glares and anger. 

Akako considers his logic and the reluctance is clear in her eyes when she nods, but also understanding. When she starts to cut into his chest, it doesn’t hurt, but he can feel the memories slipping away like sand, a few grains left behind the only indication he ever knew anything. He tries to hold onto what he can but he finds himself going blank in the middle of a thought once too often and his eyes slip closed, letting go before he can be cast off again. 

Notes for this: I doubt that they can just trade material like that in hnk but I pictured something more akin to what happens with Padparadscha with being brought back 

[mintchocolateleaves]

Cost of Freedom (32/52)

Summary: The heist. Arc 2 finale.

[Full Chapter List]

Showtime begins thirty seconds later than Kaito had originally planned.

It’s not as unnerving as Kaito had expected it to be. Instead, as he glances down at the room below, it’s confines holding familiar faces with unfamiliar weaponry, Kaito can’t help but feel a wave of calm rush through him. It starts with a warmth that spreads down his back, out into his limbs.

He can do this.

He’s certain of it.

The thirty seconds is all part of a waiting game – showing up later than expected had ruined any chances of watching the KID task force go about their usual patrols, has made in impossible to do anything but go in blind.

Not that Kaito’s too worried about that, all he needs is a smooth entrance and he’ll be in possession of the diamond within seconds. It’s titillating, how his heart is pounding against his rib cage, excitement leaving him breathless.

“Not too long now,” Kaito says, gaze glancing between each of the KID task force. He takes a moment to analyse their body language, to see which leg seems tenser than the other – any clues into which leg has a holster on it.

He draws maps in his mind, biting on his lip as he shades out any areas which have immediate sight from the task force. The entire room is shaded out – which means he’s going to have to create a diversion.

Okay. Fine by him. Kaito’s always loved a good distraction.

It’s why he’d become a magician in the first place.

“Distraction,” Kaito mouths now, bringing himself up on his elbows and wiggling until there’s enough space for him to access his pockets. He’s got some ideas, although he’s pretty certain the task force won’t be so easily distracted as they had been in the past.

That had been back before they’d been chasing a supposed murderer – the stakes are too high to simply mess around.

Kaito’s hand moves past the gas mask he’d worn previously, something he pulls out now, placing it on the grate in front of him so he can push his hand further into his pocket. He needs to push up on one of his elbows, but eventually, he grabs what he needs.

Four cannisters, the one’s he’d seen Hattori eyeing when he’d been preparing for the heist. They’re hollow, gas inside them begging to be escaped, but he doesn’t dare break them open yet. Instead, he takes a few seconds to adjust his view, crawls nearer to the grate of the vent – the fall will be nothing worth worrying about provided he lands correctly – and takes a deep breath.

“It’s show time,” Kaito says, as if this is like every other heist. “Time to get that diamond.”

He places one gloved hand against the grate, blinks when the movement brings dust up at him, before testing the metals resistance. It’s an old grate, and he’s already removed the screws, so there’s only a small groan as the metal pries off.

Not enough sound.

Kaito needs more – he pushes the grate off, fully. And waits.

And as he’s waiting for the grate to clatter against the marble flooring, he pulls out the phone he’d grabbed on his way to the heist, pulling up a prepared playlist.

The grate crashes against the floor just as he presses play – the first track, scheduled for only thirty seconds, is silence.

“What’s that-”

“It’s the grate.”

“Should have known he’d come in through the ventilation,” Inspector Nakamori’s gruff voice almost catches Kaito off guard, but he pushes forward despite it. He’s gained more than he deserves with Aoko’s forgiveness, he doesn’t deserve her fathers too. “KID’s up to his usual tricks.”

There’s almost relief there.

As Kaito grabs hold of the cannisters, he tells himself not to feel guilty at the prospect of removing the relief in the man’s voice. He pockets them in his outer pockets, fingers wrapping around the gas mask for later use.

“Why hello there, Inspector,” Kaito calls, pulling himself from the vent and allowing himself to drop. He rolls to his feet, glancing at all of the guards that stiffen at the very sight of him. “It’s been a while.”

The sight of Nakamori Ginzo is as jarring as hearing his voice. Kaito swallows, adjusts his top hat. He forces himself to wear the widest smile he can afford. It only takes a second before Inspector Nakamori has his gun out of it’s holster, the metal aimed straight at him.

For a moment, Kaito feels panic well in his chest. It entraps him, for a millisecond, before he can disassociate the fact that his once father figure is pointing a gun at him. The panic transforms into something else, an ugly sort of emotion that Kaito just knows will leave some sort of stain on his very being.

“What’re you doing here Kaito?” Nakamori asks. The man is terse, not that Kaito can blame him. Beside him, Aoko lets out the faintest sigh, worried, but doing her best to keep it from showing. Even with the vest, Kaito knows her anxieties are going to be at levels he won’t be able to wave off.

“Isn’t it obvious,” Kaito responds, and there – he can hear it, the second track from the phone playing, a subtle change from the silence, only noticeable if pointed out. “I’m robbing the place.”

“Right,” Nakamori says, his voice dry.

“I did in fact, leave a note,” Kaito says, tone flippant. He moves his hands towards his hands – an open move, one that’ll spring the heist into motion. “I’m certain you found it, else you wouldn’t be here.”

The inspector takes a step forward, levels the gun. “Hands up, this isn’t a conversation, it’s an arrest.”

Kaito cocks his head, “okay. If you want me too.”

He raises his hands up. Nakamori nods towards one of his team members to handcuff him, send him back, and Kaito would rather die than go back.

Boom.

Track three of his playlist. The sound vibrates against the vent, ricocheting like a bullet only with far more damage. For a second, there’s confusion: The sound is too loud, migraine inducing, and Kaito uses it to his advantage. His hands reach down into his pockets, fingers tightening around the cannisters that he throws to each version of the room.

“What’s a show without a little music inspector?” Kaito calls, voice almost swallowed by the music, as he lifts his top hat, retrieving the gas mask from inside.

He manages to pull it on, just in time to shield himself from the smoke that explodes into the room.

“Will you help me?”

Ran surges forward, glances at Shinichi with every inch of emotion she can muster and says, “what do you need me to do?”

For a second, there’s silence. They don’t have much time, Ran knows, but even still she can’t find it in her to force him to hurry. She should, Ran knows she should, but it’s impossible. How can she, when she’s struggling to think of what she could possibly do to aid Shinichi?

After a few seconds, Shinichi nods his head. He bites into his lip and offers her the faintest outline of a smile. He says, “we need to find a way to evacuate the building, without them thinking it’s part of Kaito’s heist.”

Ran bites her lip. Thinks of all the provisions the Inspectors had told her about, the things they’d brought to ensure nothing go wrong. She says, “I’m pretty sure that’s impossible, the task force expected KID might force an evacuation, so they made counter plans against it.”

Shinichi places his hand on his neck, digs his nails into the scabs that reside atop of the skin and frowns. “Any alarms pulled would go ignored then.”

“And the fire services are waiting outside just in case fire was to break out.” Ran adds. She doesn’t mention the ambulance waiting outside either, but surely Shinichi would have anticipated one – what with guns being authorised.

“Damn,” Shinichi mutters, “it sounds as if they’re not going to leave for anything less than a bomb…”

Ran really hopes he doesn’t suggest they build a bomb.

“what if,” Shinichi breathes, scratching deeper into his throat now, “instead of getting everyone out, we get all the people from outside in?”

The idea of bringing more law enforcement officials into the building to hunt them down brings Ran nothing but anxiety. Surely Shinichi can’t be suggesting they make it harder to remain anonymous that it already is.

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s perfect,” Shinichi says next, lips widening into a smile. He drops his hand, glances at Ran with blood staining his neck and joy brightening his eyes and says, “the more busy the place is, the less likely a sniper’s going to shoot.”

Ran pales at the word sniper, feels nausea creeping up her throat.

“Sniper?”

“Yeah,” Shinichi says, “no one’s going to risk taking a shot that’s not clear – even them, because it’ll raise more questions than they can answer. So if we can make the exhibit room busier, Kaito should be safer.”

Ran bites her lip, uncertain. She says, “but wouldn’t that get him caught? And you, Shinichi you can’t afford to get caught. You’ll die.”

His expression darkens, “if Kaito’s killed because of something I dragged him into, I should get caught. Either way, I can break him out of a cell if he’s caught, I can’t bring him back to life.”

Ran muses over it, takes time to think it through and yet it still tastes bitter on her tongue. The idea of anyone being caught or – god forbid, killed – leaves bile in her throat and yet if it had to be either of the two…

“Okay,” she says, “we’ll bring as many people in as we can. But… but you leave here in one piece and without chains, do you understand me?”

Shinichi leans forward, traps her hand in his. As he offers a strained smile, he squeezes, the lightest comfort, the most he can afford to give. “I understand.”

Aoko is certain it’s going to be another smoke bomb, like the ones Kaito’s used in the past. It’s not. The gas is smoky, yes, but not coloured like KIDs usual bombs. It sends alarm signals rushing through Aoko’s brain.

She closes her eyes, lifts a hand up to her mouth to use it as a filter, but it’s hardly efficient.

She still feels water welling in her eyes, her throat growing scratchy with every breath. Her father had said Kaito was the same old KID – but Aoko knows that’s not true. There’s an element that’s changed, more reckless maybe, or simply more determined.

Aoko’s not sure.

The only thing she’s sure is that KID’s brought tear gas to the heist. And that he’s using every opportunity to taunt her father.

Why?

Is there a point in taunting her father, getting him to keep track of his position through it all? Isn’t KID supposed to be inconspicuous, at least some of the time, drawing attention away from him during his illusions and tricks.

There has to be a second motive, Aoko just doesn’t know what it is yet.

“Turn on the fans,” her father shouts, authority dripping from his throat. It’s hoarse, already affected by the gas. After watching him aim his police issued handgun - .45 calibre, her mind supplies, rather unhelpfully – she can’t help but feel as though he deserves it.

Just a little bit.

“They’ll wash this smoke out pretty quickly KID,” her father shouts, and as the music, such horribly loud music, finally dies down, she can hear his footsteps echoing within the exhibit room.

Aoko bites into her lip – if all goes well, surely Kaito will use this time to steal away. Get away before anything else can happen.

“Aoko,” it’s a whisper from beside her, from someone who really needs to leave. “I need a favour.”

“Aoko’s all out of favours,” she whispers back, trying to keep her voice steady. And then: “tear gas was a foul move.”

“So are guns,” Kaito says, and there’s a darkness to his voice that hurts, just a little bit. “But that doesn’t matter, this favour does.”

Turning to him, and squinting through her own smoke-borne tears, Aoko finds herself struggling not to frown. Helping KID had never been part of the deal she’d found in her head – but helping Kaito had. If she helps… she’s inadvertently breaking the line she’s fit between the two.

What a situation he’s put her in.

“Tell me the plan.”

Miyano Akemi likes to think of herself as an opportunist.

Her sister, Shiho, tends to think of her as a little reckless. That’s okay though, because as long as it’s not the younger of the two sisters being reckless, Akemi is perfectly happy to continue with things the way they are.

Or rather – to continue with their dynamic as sisters. There’s a lot she’d like to change lifestyle wise.

“Okay,” Akemi mutters to herself, hands brushing against the bun she’s pinned up, lowering the hat she’s wearing to cover her face, “this is about to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, or the smartest.”

She hopes it’s the smartest.

Taking a step forwards, she pushes past the crowd of civilians piling around the blockades for any sight of KID, heading towards the police. Taking a deep breath, she forces herself out of the crowd, glancing at the police officers lining the patrol.

“The task force called for more outside patrols,” she says, pulling out the fake police badge Shiho had made for her. “Can I get through?”

“…only the assigned personnel are allowed,” says one of the officers. Akemi forces herself to remain serious, to avoid pouting at the refusal. “It was in the briefing.”

“Wasn’t it also in the briefing,” Akemi says, crossing her arms over her chest attempting to look fed up, “that the inspector in charge of this case can assign detectives, as he sees fit.”

She’s hoping that whoever’s in charge had in fact said something along those lines, because else she’s going to be completely screwed.

“Well yes but–”

“Now if you wouldn’t mind doing your check to ensure I’m not KID, then we can move on and let me do my job.”

She gets two pinched cheeks, pulled at with enough strength it leaves her cheeks stinging, but Akemi finds herself walking past the blockades without any other question.  

“That’s the easy part over,” Akemi mumbles, pulling down on the hat again, paranoia overwhelming her system as she forces herself to keep walking forward. “Now I’ve got to find Kaitou KID. Or better yet, Kudo Shinichi.”

Ran bites into her lip, quickens her pace as she races down the corridor with Shinichi. Part of her wants to grab his hand and drag him away, never let go and just leave all of this behind, but she can’t.

Instead, she keeps herself focused on the moment, eyes glancing towards every camera they pass – later, she’ll be convincing, explain it was just another police officer she’d been working with, but for now…

“Shinichi,” Ran says as they reach the stair well, after they’ve passed one of the guards without gaining so much as a second look. It’s currently heist time after all, everyone’s anticipating KID’s movements that they aren’t anticipating theirs. “You need to leave.”

He almost trips at the words, catches onto the bannister before turning to look at her. His expression is nothing short of hurt. Offended that she’d even consider making him stop halfway.

“Ran–”

“Trust me when I say, you shouldn’t be here.” Ran glances towards the corners of the staircase. There aren’t any cameras, so she takes the opportunity to cup his cheek in her hands, staring him in the eyes. “You should be running from here. I’ll get people flooding the halls, but you need to go first.”

Shinichi tries to pull back, but Ran won’t let him. Instead, she drags him towards her, rests her forehead on his.

“Do you have any idea, how much it breaks me to tell you to leave?” Ran asks. Her voice shudders, as if she’s been standing out in the cold for hours. Like it had broken when she’d first been informed of what Shinichi had supposedly done.

Shinichi lifts his hands, pulls on Ran’s wrists until she lowers them. “Kaito needs to live, I need to make sure he gets out of this alive.”

“He won’t die,” Ran promises, “I’ll get so many people inside the building that no one would risk firing their gun. You just need to trust me.”

He opens his mouth to complain, but she won’t allow him the words. Ran’s known Shinichi long enough to know that as soon as he gains a little headway with something, his stubbornness won’t allow him to let things go.

“Do you trust me?”

“Ran,” he glances away, doesn’t meet her eye, “it’s not about trust. It’s about what’s right.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Ran whispers, “it’s always about trust.”

Shinichi lets go of her wrists, lets them drop. He still won’t look at her, and Ran isn’t sure whether it’s a step in the right direction, or a backwards step. Overthinking it right now, isn’t going to help.

“I trusted you over the police, over the evidence.” Ran says, voice louder than intended but filled with a passion, a calmness that can only be expressed through closeness. “I trusted the version of you over the version people told me you’d become, and you try to tell me it’s not about trust?”

“Ran–”

“You asked me to help, didn’t you?” Ran turns now, realises that she won’t be able to look away if Shinichi refuses her, “so trust me to do just that.”

There is quietness for a few seconds and for a second, Ran’s certain that’s it. She’s not going to get any further, Shinichi’s not going to accept her help – why would he, he’d probably thought she’d given up on him before now – and then:

“Okay.”

She glances over at Shinichi, at the frown he offers her, and offers her widest smile.

“Okay?” She says.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll always trust you, Ran.”

Ran smiles. “And I’ll always believe you over everyone else. Now, go.”

Shinichi leaves with heavy footsteps, racing down staircases without so much as a goodbye. Probably because to say goodbye would be permanent – maybe because to say see you soon will bring questions to both of their minds as to when exactly ‘soon’ is.

Once he’s gone she whispers, “I’ll wait for you, Shinichi. I always will.”

There are three points of entry that KID would consider.

Akemi and Shiho had found documents of the museum online – funny, what an internet connection and lack of job do for production levels – and narrowed it down to the three.

The roof is off limits. Previous heists with KID making his way to the jewels with his hang-glider had made it so the KID task force employed police helicopters. The entrance too, is off limits – not that it takes a genius to figure that one off.

She needs to search the three potential entry points, and decide which to wait for KID at. And it needs to be correct. Who knows when KID will hold another heist after this one?

The three points:

One is the second-floor window, just outside the exhibit into a no-entry room. Outside the window is piping that KID could easily shimmy up to get inside. Akemi disregards it as soon as she sees the outside patrols. There’s no way KID would be able to time it correctly to get indoors before any soldiers would catch sight of him.

Two is the first floor, just past the museums café. If KID were to scale the fence and hide within the bin outside, wait for the perfect opportunity, he’d be able to get indoors. From all the videos online though, Akemi’s pretty sure that the man’s ego wouldn’t let his white suit get dirtied.

That leaves the third. There’s a small ventilation shaft at the back of the building, one that leads down into the basement. A furnace that’s been out of commission for years – Akemi’s certain KID will use that one to get in and out of the building. But where would an escape after that lead him.

There’s nothing else she can do but wait. There are bushes nearby – Akemi should hide, wait for KID to make an appearance and ambush him.

She does. And she waits.

“God, if I’m wrong how will I explain this to Shiho?”

In the end, she doesn’t have to worry. After crouching in the bushes for ten minutes, she watches a hand reach out of the ventilation shaft, pulling himself up. There’s a lack of white, a significant lack of white, but Akemi’s 100% sure it’s him.

She creeps forward, squints.

He’s wearing the same uniform she is, a light blue colour that belongs to the KID task force. She supposes it’s probably been bought from a fancy-dress shop, like Akemi’s had been, before being altered to look like the real thing.

It’s got to be him.

Akemi needs to get to him – she practically springs from the bushes in an attempt to catch him off guard, digging her fingers into his shoulder.

“KID,” she says, pulling him back so she can see his face, “I need to talk.”

KID turns, and it’s not the face she’s expecting, instead, it’s the face of Kudo Shinichi.

The vent he came through isn’t possible to use for an exit, so Kaito knows he needs to rely on Aoko for his escape. The smoke is going to be dispersed soon, and while he knows there’s another vent that will get him to the lower floors within seconds, he can’t get it undone by himself.

Aoko isn’t the fastest, but as soon as he explains what he needs to her, she clicks her tongue at him and nods.

“Only issue,” Aoko mutters as he pulls her towards the grate, passing her a screw driver, “I can’t see.”

Kaito takes a moment to think about that, realises there’s not much he can do besides give her his mask and shrugs. But then – Aoko had given him her vest, the least he can do is exchange it for the mask…

He does, and through squinted eyes, he crouches down to the right-hand side of the grate, unscrews the right two, listening to the whirring of fans above him. Aoko glances at him twice during the movements, lets out a deep breath as she drops the first of the two screws on her side to the ground.

It clatters – the sound is deafening.

“I was going to let them capture you,” she whispers, as she starts working on the next. Kaito lifts his fingers forward, pries them beneath the grate and tries to pull it off. “I wasn’t going to let them shoot you, but I was willing to let them lock you back up.”

Kaito doesn’t respond. How could he – he’d practically been expecting it. Aoko’s been open about her stance on KID since the beginning, it’s not something she’s ever lied about.

“But I don’t…” Aoko takes a moment to breath, as she lets the other screw drop. The grate pops off with it gone, leaving the vent open wide, bringing their conversation to a standstill.

Despite his best interests, Kaito finds himself stalling.

“But you don’t…?”

“I don’t like the idea of you locked up,” Aoko glance away, “not anymore. Off you go then.”

Kaito nods, offers his best poker face and smiles. Then he turns to the grate.

A flash of red catches his attention before he can crawl inside. Though the smoke is still there, it’s dispersed, easier to see through. And it’s that which catches him off guard – this flash of red.

A red dot.

A gun – and not the one that Nakamori had been pointing at him previously. There’s a sight and that can only mean one thing… except. One look shows it’s not pointed towards him.

It’s aimed at the gas mask.

“Aoko!”

From through the smoke he can see a flash of light.

“Hey, are you okay?” “Someone call an ambulance.”

“Fuck there’s so much blood, hurry up.”

[mintchocolateleaves]

The Innocence Game (4/??)

Summary: Aoko helps Shinichi in her very first case.

[Beginning]    [Previous Chapter]

Aoko has to blink away fear as she walks into the bathroom.

She doesn't make a sound as she steps inside, gaze drawn to the corpse with morbid curiosity, but her shoulders do stiffen. Her head feels light as she makes her way towards the bathtub – still filled with water, why haven't the police drained it? - where she kneels beside Shinichi, glancing at the body.

A drowning. She's not sure she knows how to deal with that.

She'd need a lab if she was going to check for elements in the water, although Aoko doubts that it would bring any results any way. Why dilute a drug into water, if it'd be more efficient to drug the victim herself. The water then, she thinks, will hold no clues that will help Shinichi.

Maybe she should look at the obvious then, the drowned woman. Takamaki Rin.

Aoko supposes that the woman would have been pretty when she'd been alive. She looks more like a ghost from an old folk tale now, long black hair curling at the base of her spine – longer than Aoko's seen on many adults, almost like a model from a painting. Her hair spans out around her neck, and her face, making it difficult to see her.

They've moved the body though, from where it must have been left floating in the tub, and it's not pleasant, but it's a lot better than it would have been if Aoko had discovered the corpse at it's... worst...?

The body looks... not normal, per se, but as if it doesn't hold any clues either. Seeing as she isn't supposed to touch it, Aoko can only guess at what she can see and-

“Here,” Shinichi says, and he passes her a pair of gloves. They're later, and as soon as they're on, she feels revulsion rise up her throat, something she quickly swallows down with a shudder. “Now we can search properly.”

He lifts the hair from around Takamaki's face, glances at her face.

Aoko can't look.

She focuses on Takamaki's hands instead. They're pale, more so than the rest of her body – although it's not a strange thing to see. Since it's getting warmer now, the sun peeking out more often, people have taken to putting sunscreen on more and more. And well, Takamaki must be part of the group that uses a low factor, but places entirely too much on her hands.

Nothing strange there, although it does give Aoko the impression that she enjoyed being outside a lot.

What else... Nothing on her palm, and she's got no fake nails so it's impossible to see if one has been ripped off. Her nails are long though, and Aoko tries to ignore the squirming of her stomach as she picks up the woman's hand. The limb is heavy, limp, against her grasp, and Aoko tries not to think that it's only that way because it's dead.

Instead, she bites her lip, and moves closer to the nails, glancing at the slight gap between the nail and the skin beneath. There's nothing in most except – except there. Something that's not quite dirt, but isn't skin either. Aoko can't see too closely, but if she could get it out...

“Shinichi-kun,” Aoko says, gaining his attention. He'd been glancing at Takamaki's neck – at the bruising that's there. “We need to get something from her nails... who do we...?”

Shinichi doesn't offer an answer, but he does stand. After telling Aoko to stay where she is – he leaves her alone with the body. Once again, Aoko shudders, dread wrapping around her spine like a serpent, poisoning her with anxiety.

She glances at Takamaki's neck – if she'd drowned, there wouldn't be bruising there, right? It's more than likely a result of strangulation. But with what? The shower head rests in the water, which could be her answer, but something about it doesn't sit right with her.

Mainly, because the bruise isn't just a bruise.

Aoko places Takamaki's hand down, leans forward to place a finger on the victim's neck – she runs her lines against the woman's neck, nodding her head at the feeling. Slight bumps, caused not by the PVC shower cord, but instead, from fabric.

Friction burn – back when Kaito had started using different fabrics for magic tricks, he'd burnt himself a lot that way. Adding that to the time they'd both gotten friction burns when they'd been kids, hiding in pillow cases and going down carpeted staircases as if they were on a ride...

She's certain that must be it.

“Here,” Shinichi says. Aoko turns, and he's holding a small evidence bag, along with a pair of tweezers. There's an officer behind them – female, almost stern- who seems to be keeping watch of the evidence bag. “That's Detective Sato, she needs to watch if either of us want to put something into evidence.”

The words, 'because we're minors', goes unsaid, but Aoko hears it anyway.

She nods, asks Shinichi to keep hold of the evidence bag as she takes the tweezers, picking up the hand again, gripping the substance from beneath Takamaki's finger nails. There's some under three of ten fingernails, and once Aoko's gotten each out, she places the tweezers down, reaching forward to look at the evidence bag.

Shinichi's brow furrows as she moves forward to look at it.

It's fabric, she's sure of it.

“Detective Sato,” Shinichi says then, and he glances over at the woman, “can we hear the accounts from each of the suspects?”

The detective nods, and they're led out of the room, into one adjacent. They're introduced to each of the three suspects, although Aoko doesn't try to remember their names. Instead of listening to their testimonies, like Kudo does, she looks at each of the suspects.

Two men, one woman.

She disregards one of the men immediately – he's got longer hair, something he's tied back with a bandanna. It's a dark green though, something that doesn't match the colour of the fabric in the evidence bag.

The other two suspects both wear scarves. A dark brown, that would be a comforting colour if it hadn't been used to kill someone. Aoko doesn't even know why they're wearing scarves when it's so warm out anyway, although squinting her eyes shows that the fabric isn't a warm one, it's silky instead, more for fashion than anything else.

Aoko moves nearer to the two suspects – not overly near, but close enough that she can see the ends of the scarf without squinting too heavily – and bites her lip. The woman's scarf is older, more frayed than the man's, although it doesn't leave her with any open suspicions. Mainly, because Aoko is certain the fabric is different.

“Excuse me,” Aoko says after a moment, interrupting Shinichi's line of questioning. She supposes she should be sorry for getting in his way, but she isn't. “You're scarf... it looks wonderful, where did you get it?”

The woman glances at Aoko, offers her a strained smile. Aoko isn't good at reading people – not when it comes to seeing who's guilty and who isn't – but something in the stressed way she holds herself. Aoko really thinks she... no, it's probably for the best not to make assumptions beforehand.

“It's from a small boutique in Chiyoda,” the woman responds, “I'll... I don't remember the name of the shop, but it's... I can write down the street name after this.” Then, she pauses, “why are you kids at a crime scene anyway?”

Aoko decides to ignore the question and continues on with her questions about the fabric. “Is it silk?”

A shake of the head, “no... it's tencel. But I always put it in with fabric softener so... I'm sorry, is this important to the case?”

Aoko takes a step back, thinks things over to herself. Then, she turns to Shinichi, who's raised his eyebrow at her, as if surveying her every movement. Quite honestly, Aoko thinks he's solved it – but so far he hasn't offered any great insights she'd thought the Heisei Holmes would.

“No,” Aoko says, “sorry. Shinichi-kun, a word?”

She waits until Shinichi bows out of his own conversation, nervously tapping her foot, until he joins her in the corner. He looks a mixture of amused and irritated, something Aoko thinks isn't so much because of her, but mainly about him being dragged, even momentarily, from his own deductions.

“Aoko-san?” Shinichi asks.

“She's wearing a tencel scarf.” She receives a confused expression. “The fabric under Takamaki-san's fingernails wasn't tencel. It was... I don't know fully what it was, but it wasn't tencel, I know that much.”

Shinichi narrows his eyes. He says, “that would mean that Wakamatsu is the murderer. I thought the same too. But, how do you know the fabric wasn't... tencel?”

Aoko bites her lip. She's not sure who Wakamatsu is, although she supposes that he's probably the man wearing the scarf. Glancing back down at the evidence bag – she really should pass it to someone, but for now it's rooted firmly in her grasp.

“You see here?” She asks, and points at the biggest fibre that had been found beneath Takamaki's nails. “The fibres clump together, they don't fan out. They're not... wispy? Tencel fibre does.”

Shinichi hums, nods under his breath. “I guess that's some definitive evidence then, to back up my claim that Wakamatsu is the murderer.”

He nods again, readies himself for the reveal, before making his way over to Sato. And then, he reveals the entire ploy.

“You did good,” Shinichi says, as they're catching the train back to their... what should Aoko call it... HQ sounds childish, but it's also fun. “Actually, you did a lot better than I thought you would.”

“Thanks,” Aoko responds, and maybe her tone is a little dry, but she'd not quite anticipated being dragged along to a murder case when she'd readied herself for school that morning. Her body feels unexpectedly heavy as she remembers the vicious way Shinichi had laid the facts down, cutting through Wakamatsu's alibi and placing him at the scene of the murder.

“No seriously,” Shinichi continues, “it's not easy doing something like this. It's... draining.”

This, Aoko can agree with. It's definitely not something she thinks she'll ever find herself volunteering to do, but... she'll continue it if it means spending time with Kaito. Maybe she could find a way for the both of them to get out from this, because spending time amongst dead bodies is...

“It is,” Aoko confirms, “but at least we helped catch a murderer.”

Well... Shinichi had caught him. Aoko had helped piece together some evidence that could prove Shinichi's claims when he'd set them forward. Watching Shinichi declare that Takamaki had been strangled in the bedroom, with his scarf, before being placed in the bathtub to make it look like she'd been drowned – well, it had been haunting.

And how he'd managed to get Wakamatsu to confess within minutes, dropping the fact that the fabric beneath Takamaki's fingernails came from his scarf as an aftermath, had been nothing short of cruel. If anything, it had made Aoko think that maybe...

Shinichi knows a lot about the human psyche, she decides. He knows how to build people up, and he knows how to knock them down. And maybe he's only done it with criminals, and maybe he hasn't, but Aoko doesn't know how to feel about it either way.

She doesn't know whether she should be wary or not.

“Exactly,” Shinichi says, turning to glance out of the train's window. “Although, there always seems to be more.”

It's saddening to say, but it's true. And it sends a shiver down Aoko's spine.

Purely because that means this partnership has only begun.

[Next Chapter]

[mintchocolateleaves]

Law Unto Themselves (3/??)

Summary: Kaito searches Pisco’s home for the aforementioned disc. Dark!AU where the good guys are the bad guys, and vice versa.

[Beginning]     [Previous Chapter] 

They say only sociopaths and stupid people want to live forever.

And Kuroba Kaito is not stupid.

He’d not been lying when he’d said he was looking for a gem. It’s not his fault that people don’t know about the legend of Pandora, don’t want to look into myths and fairy tales for some distortion of the truth, about gemstones that cry tears of immortality. Sometimes, when he cannot sleep, because he is too focused on tracking the gemstone down, Kaito wonders whether they’ll taste salty, like real tears.

He pockets his phone, thoughts of Kudo Shinichi lingering in his head. Every day he guesses, wonders what exactly Kaito’s motivations are. And ever day he is forced to repeat himself, to tell him he is looking for a jewel, and bite his tongue from snapping completely and asking why he doesn’t just read the files Snake and his cronies had submitted before their ‘untimely deaths’.

Kaito shakes the thought away, forces himself to remain straight-faced and professional, and reaches into his pocket for his lock picks. He keeps them in his car, hidden under the passenger seat – easily accessible but still an efficient hiding place. Sometimes the best hiding places are the simplest.

“Okay,” he says to himself, barely a whisper as he pulls out two picks. He’s going in through Pisco’s back door, and just from looking at the lock, it’s easy enough to know that there are at least four pins that he needs to unlock. He suppresses a sigh as he identifies the lock as a wafer lock.

Pulling the torsion wrench from his set, he pushes it into the bottom of the lock, ready to keep all of the pins in places when he unlocks them. He almost wishes that he’d gone around to the front door – it’s an older lock, an easier door to open, but there had been a CCTV camera watching over, and there’s a light shining outside the door, a motion sensor.

Sometimes, technology is frustrating, despite all of it’s practical uses. Or rather; it’s irritating when Kaito has to go out of his way to bypass it, simply to break into a house.

If it was a heist location – something a bit more challenging – then it’d be more fun. A little amusing, but not an inconvenience. Pushing pins up within the lock and shaking his head, Kaito realises that’s what this is: an inconvenience. He’d planned on making copies of the blueprints for the Tokyo Sky-tree tonight, but a phone call from Kudo had dragged him to the gun trade, and afterwards, involved sending him on some useless mission.

The door unlocks with a faint click, and Kaito pulls the handle down, shimmying in through the back door and across the threshold into the kitchen. It’s a cluttered space, with pans and plates left on the drying rack. Pisco enjoyed cooking then, odd, seeing as Kaito had imagined him being the type of man who ate meals over the sink, always busy.

A part of Kaito wants to put the dishes away, just because Pisco never will again. Instead, he leaves the kitchen behind, climbing the stairs for some resemblance of a study. He grabs a small torch from his pocket – the beam isn’t bright, but it’s enough to see more details inside the room. Next time, he thinks, he’ll actually bring some night-vision goggles so that he doesn’t need any light… They’ll fit in the glove compartment, he thinks, and as long as he makes sure Aoko doesn’t take the car for work…

“If I were an eighty-year-old dead guy,” Kaito whispers to himself, “where would I keep a hidden file?”

He’s kept it on a disc, which is always harder to find than a paper trail, but he’s pretty sure that given enough time, he’ll find it. Provided that no one comes calling on Pisco tonight, Kaito’s certain that he’ll find the disc in no time.

The study isn’t tidy. It’s organised chaos, with books spread across the floor, files piled up against the wall. There are pictures spreading the wall – many from murder scenes, some from crimes Kaito’s committed himself. He’s not sure whether to be uneasy about the interest into the shows he’s put on, or proud.

He chooses proud, because pride feels much better than nervousness.

Pulling his phone out, he turns his settings onto flash, capturing the wall on his screen. It’d be stupid not to take pictures, even if he’s here for something else. Kudo doesn’t raise his voice much, (not that Kaito really cares when he does, it’s almost laughable watching the usually controlled man become slightly irrational), but he definitely would if he realised Kaito came back with only half of the information.

And then, he decides to search. He searches the man’s laptop first – sometimes people’s sense of security leads them to leave things in the simplest of places, and sits in Pisco’s chair, skimming over files he’s saved just in case there are copies on his laptop. There aren’t.

There’s no disc either.

It’s not surprising. The clutter of the room is a pretty obvious indicator that Pisco had relied more on paper evidence. That’s why he’s got a board of evidence, is why he’s so messy – people who use computers wouldn’t have as many police files lying around.

Wait… Is it even legal to bring police files from a police station? What a bad man. And here Kaito had thought Pisco would have been on his high horse, trying to play morality – but isn’t he technically as bad as Kaito is? He’s broken the rules, and frankly, breaking one always leads to breaking more.

“I wonder…” Kaito mutters, reaching forward to check the desk drawers. “If Pisco ever killed anyone?”

The man had been a cop before retirement, and well… it’s very easy, Kaito finds, to pull the trigger when the urge grows too much to handle. And Pisco would have even been able to blame it on police work, turning murder into self-defence.

Sometimes, Kaito thinks that he’d make a brilliant police officer.

But all the paperwork… How all his detectives can deal with boring office work is bewildering. Or maybe it’s worrying? Someday, he’ll book them in for a psychiatric test, because they clearly need one.

“Not in here.” Kaito sighs after a second, jumps up from the desk and makes his way over to the bookshelf. He’s still using his phone as a torch, and skims over the titles of books trying to find anything that stands out. Most are books on criminal psychology and other things relating to police work. Boring things, truly, except maybe one of the… yes, there’s one that looks more interesting compared to the others.

A cook book.

There had been a few downstairs in the kitchen, but only one in the study – Kaito reaches forward and pulls it out. As he opens the book, flipping through the pages, a single disc drops from between the paper. It makes some sort of noise as it lands on the carpet – not quite a thud, but not a clatter either. It’s a muffled sound, and while it doesn’t ring, it certainly carries through the room.

Kaito scoops the disc up.

Since Kudo wants the files ASAP, he circles around Pisco’s desk, rebooting the computer and placing the disc into the drive. The machine whirs – old technology, seriously, who even uses computers when laptops are so much better? - and Kaito taps his foot against the carpet as he waits.

He checks his watch – 1 a.m.

It’s late. Aoko will be wondering where he is; there’s only so much blame he can put on marking student’s coursework and preparing magic tricks for weekend shows. Even with all of the business he has with Kudo and the organisation, he’s usually home earlier than this.

Unless… Kaito glances at his phone next, when the computer continues to load it’s main functions, the loading bar only halfway loaded. There are two texts, both from his girlfriend and Kaito opens Aoko’s messages with the same euphoria he imagines a drug addict feels during the initial high.

Will be home late, don’t wait up. Xx

Someone was late to the briefing AGAIN. If KID can show to his heists on time, our team should have the same courtesy. Hahaaha xx

Kaito sends a quick text back, saying he’d been distracted with work for tomorrow’s class, but that he hopes she’ll be back home soon. It’s a lie – of course it’s a lie, but it’s not like he needs to work on an excuse if Aoko’s not home either.

The computer lets out a little ring, a signal that it’s fully loaded, and Kaito leans forward, double clicking with the mouse onto my documents. Seconds pass, and Kaito drags the cursor over to 'External device’, and opens the disc.

It takes some time to load, and when it does, the computer flickers.

Insert Password. The disc says.

Kaito pauses, tries to think of any words that’ll lead to the disc unlocking itself. It doesn’t feel like he’s taking too long, but after a minute of thinking, the computer blinks off, the screen going black. Safety measures, Kaito’s almost impressed.

He glances around the room – no sign of a password, no carefully placed post-it notes or words sketched into the desk. And he certainly doesn’t know enough about coding to hack into the disc without a password…

Kaito leans back in Pisco’s chair, lets out a sigh. There’s only one place he can go to get the disc hacked into without the password, only one place he trusts enough to deal with something this… is it important? He isn’t sure.

He checks his watch again, only three minutes have passed. It’s not like can even make an excuse that everything is closed, and that they’ll be asleep. A short sigh forces Kaito to push himself forward, a groan forces its way onto his lips and he makes his way back downstairs to the back door.

His car is two blocks across, and Kaito runs his hand through his hair as he makes his way back. It unlocks with a click of his car keys, and for a moment, Kaito has to suppress a yawn as he throws himself forward. To think – he’s going to have to wake up for work in four hours, and his night isn’t even over yet.

Coffee isn’t something Kaito tends to dabble with, but somehow he knows he’s going to have to fix himself one tomorrow. He’s already trying to figure out the water to milk ratio for a perfect drink, deciding how many sugars he’s going to have to put in to make it edible.

“Fucking Kudo,” Kaito says, slamming the door beside him. He pushes his keys into the ignition, the engine roaring into life. “The things I do…”

He sends a quick message as he’s preparing to pull away, the pictures he’s taken, and confirms that he’s got a disc, and that he’s working on breaking through any security measures to get inside. Then, throwing his phone onto the passenger seat, Kaito signals left onto the road, and makes his way down town, to Shinjuku.

[Next Chapter]