Title: Connected
Author: Tsugumi Winters
Fandom: Detective Conan / Magic Kaito
Word Count: 1239
Rating: K-plus (PG)
Characters: Kaitou KID, Conan Edogawa & a sentient jewel
Disclaimer: I, Tsugumi Winters, sadly own neither the characters nor the animes/mangas mentioned in this fic. Animes/Mangas and characters are owned by the awesomeness that is Gosho Aoyama. I only own myself, the computer I'm using, the house I'm in and everything inside said house.
Notes: O...kay, so this is a gift, of sorts, to Dragon-sama for all the little writings she did for me (all of which can be found in Chatty Plunnies). It was prompted by www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/5147550/18/ (Chatty Plunnies) which was written by Dragon-sama (Dragon-sama and/or Starling).
This will be a one-shot, though I might add some snippets afterward.

1) Getsuka no Kijutsushi [月下の奇術師] - Moonlight Illusionist; Taken from Detective Conan file 633.

2) 'B' sounds, 'M' sounds, 'P' sounds, etc, are difficult to pronounce without moving the lips. I'm not sure if it's even possible.

Edit: Dragon-sama & I have decided to make this a round robin thing. So next chapter is hers. She's just asking me to post it so as to prevent having to keep switching stories while reading. Alright, before I forget, there is a possibility that this fic will turn in the direction of KaitoxShin'ichi/Conan or Shin'ichi/ConanxKaito. If it does happen, you will see a Warning at the beginning of the chapter. Just keep your eyes open!

In the quiet of the night, rustling could be heard. Under the gentle light of the moon, a figure stood. The figure wore mostly white, but underneath the white jacket were a cobalt blue, collared and long-sleeved shirt, and a scarlet tie. As the figure raised a stone into the light with his glove-clad hand, the monocle covering his right eye gleamed and the white hat on his head tilted slightly. The charm hanging from the monocle swayed gently in the breeze and a white, four-leafed clover design could be seen every time the monocle managed to catch light.

Lips parted, and a decidedly male voice left them.

"So, are you the so-called Pandora that I'm looking for?"

The stone- a jewel- merely shone as it had under fluorescent lights. Indigo eyes closed in disappointment, only to open again as light, but swift, footsteps let themselves be heard. No doubt, it came from the staircase leading to the roof. And, no doubt, the one climbing that staircase was--

The door to the roof opened slightly, then quickly slammed again the wall, revealing an out-of-breath child who couldn't be any older than eight years old. The child- male- had short and neat russet hair, as well as intelligent and mature sky blue eyes which were hidden behind overly-large glasses. The boy was clad in a crimson shirt, which was partially covered by a navy blue sports jacket (with white designs), and a pair of white trousers. As the boy caught his breath, his lips pulled up into a smirk, creating an expression rarely found on a child's face.

-- "Tantei-kun," the white-clad figure greeted though it was his back facing the new arrival.

"Kaitou KID," the boy replied, taking a few confident steps forward as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "There's barely any wind- you won't be able to use your hang-glider. There's only me and you, so you can't disguise as someone else to slip away." The smirk widened into a small grin as the boy asked, "So, what do you plan to do now, Getsuka no Kijutsushi-san(1)?"

The grin slipped into a frown though when the one in white- KID- ignored the question and asked, "So, tantei-kun, what do you think of this gem?" He twisted his body slightly to face 'tantei-kun' as he tossed the stone up into the air and caught it, then did it again. The gem shone every time it was airborne.

The frown stayed, but the boy answered, "I think the legend behind the stone is crap-" the gem gleamed- "and that people could at least think up much more realistic legends or don't make any at all. It's just a rock- after all."

KID stopped toying with the stone and opened his mouth to comment on that, but was beaten to it by a voice. "I resent that remark. A simple 'I don't believe in the legend' would have sufficed." The voice was gravelly and grating, but at the same time smooth and soothing, and it resounded in their ears and minds. It seemed like it was spoken, but at the same time, it seemed like it was merely their imaginations.

"Very funny, KID," 'tantei-kun' said in a deadpan, though he was also looking around warily, like he subconsciously knew that something was wrong. "I know that impersonation is your kind of thing- but impersonating a rock," he scoffed and shook his head. His hands had slipped out of his pockets and his body was tense and ready to move at the slightest feeling of danger. Despite his words, 'tantei-kun' was aware that KID was not the one who spoke and he could feel a presence other than KID's and his own. That presence was coming from the stone KID held and it emanated power and sentiency.

"I haven't done anything, tantei-kun," KID informed gravely as he eyed the stone he held warily, seeming like he was considering just letting go of it.

"You mortals still haven't learned to respect the legends even after 4000 years," the voice sneered.

"No matter. I will correct that."

And blinding light exploded from the gem, encompassing both the boy and the KID and swallowing their startled cries.

The boy groaned as he clutched his head. It felt like someone attempted to bash his head in with a... a... something. From a little ways away, he heard a similar groan. The boy opened his eyes and he looked up to see white.

White, white, white... Oh right, KID. Ow... Eyes fluttered close from pain.

"Ugh, tantei-kun, stop talking," KID groaned from where he was, "it's making my headache worse."

Talking...? But I'm just thinking, right?

'Is he mumbling to himself or something?' Eyes shot open. That voice was KID's, but it lacked the mocking undertone that was always present when speaking. 'Okay, so checklist time.' Sky blue eyes widened. KID's lips weren't moving!? 'Hands, check. Feet, check...'

Ventriloquism? The boy wondered.

'What the heck is tantei-kun doing? He's mumbling again! And what about ventriloquism?'

"KID? Tell me, are you speaking or thinking to yourself?" Because there's no way that that was just ventriloquism! The words were too clear, and the words difficult to use ventriloquism on weren't slurred or sound-substituted.

"What?" There! The lips moved this time! And that mocking undertone was back! "Tantei-kun, are you sure you didn't hit your head a little too hard?"

"What's 'checklist time'?" 'Tantei-kun' demanded and indigo eyes opened and met sky blue eyes.

"Okay, I know for a fact I didn't say that one aloud," KID grumbled. "What are you getting at, tantei-kun?"

So... a, i, u, e, o... ka, ki, ku, ke, ko... sa, shi, su-

"Okay, so you learned ventriloquism. Good for you."

"Just shut up and listen!" se, so... ma, mi, mu, me, mo... ba, bi, bu, be, bo... pa, pi, pu, pe, po.

"That... can't possibly have been ventriloquism- even I can't pronounce those syllables that clearly! (2)" The one clad in white peered disbelievingly at the boy.

"I think- I think we're hearing each other's thoughts," 'tantei-kun' said hesitantly.

"Correct." As soon as they heard the voice, the past few minutes before their blackout was remembered. The stone was on the ground where KID had dropped it. "I had planned to just turn you insane, but apparently you still have important things to do, so this telepathy will have to suffice."

"Insane? Wait, what do you mean!? Put us back to normal!" 'Tantei-kun' shouted, but there was no reply.

"Telepathy..." KID muttered, "Well, this is gonna make planning my heists difficult."