Hello everyone!
Wow, third fanfiction, and the first one with multiple chapters! I'm so glad to finally be able to publish it. This idea has been bothering me for a loooooong time, but I never had the guts to write it down up until now. I mean, it's a big responsibility and I feel as if I were giving a little bit of my soul every time I write something. So please, be patient with me.
This is an Alternative Universe set in the same world as Detective Conan, you know, that fantastic anime (and never-ending!). I love both the couples and the cases, and this writing is my way of honoring them (and of bringing the couples together since the anime is being a pain in the neck about it). It's almost the same scenario, but I made a few tweaks here and there which I think will be very interesting. And if everything goes well, I might keep on writing it!
Of course, I don't own the characters nor the anime. I'm just a petty thief who's 'borrowed' them for my personal schemes ;)
Enjoy!
You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering. That's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks.
You see two people, and you think, 'They belong together'. But nothing happens. The thought of losing so much control over personal happiness is unbearable.
That's the burden. Like wings, they have weight. We feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly.
-Bones (TV series)
The headlines in the newspapers from almost all of Japan practically shone with exuberant triumph and a, probably unnecessary, sly cockiness. The same thing could be said from both the radio and the TV.
At first, no one believed the news though. Who would anyway? He was the Arsène Lupin of the 21th century. The ones who were hit the hardest were his fans, who sent tons of letters to the press demanding the truth and went to the point of marching through the streets with banners included. It was kind of ridiculous, really.
But to them, he represented the freedom and elegance of the human soul, the playful and untamed spirit that everyone cherished that broke through the barriers of rules and logic. So you can imagine their reactions when they heard the news or stood in front of the building, waiting for a white hand glider sailing through the sky and found instead a handcuffed magician on the entrance. So yes, banners and letters it is.
Because even if they knew in their hearts that he was captured, even if they refused to believe the truth, they still hoped that he'd escape the claws of the so-called justice and make his appearance again. All of them fought viciously against common sense to honor the brave man who dared to do the same.
He had a faithful audience indeed.
The dreaded headlines said the following: "KAITOU KID, THE PHANTOM THIEF, HAS BEEN ARRESTED!"
'This,' Kaito thought to himself, 'is the most boring experience I have ever been through in my entire life.'
He once read an article about it. It was something called along the lines of 'Science Proves You Can Die Of Boredom'. As crazy as it sounded, it said that people who lacked curiosity or spent most of their lifetime bored were 2.5 times more likely to develop heart or brain disease due to inactivity of neuron connections. Weird? Definitely. At first, he had dismissed such a thing as pure nonsense. However, at that particular moment, he started to reconsider the credibility of that article.
Kaito squirmed hopelessly. The very hard chair he was sitting on had been digging holes on his skin for almost… what, an hour? It didn't seem so; in fact, it felt like days since he was put into that stupid vehicle and departed to prison. The position of his handcuffed hands on his back, his immobilized legs and blindfolded eyes didn't help his nerves either, which were already brimming with itchy hot restlessness, as if his insides were slowly solidifying.
'Is that what they're gonna do to torture me?' he thought, reminded by earlier. 'Bore me to death?' He found that even more ridiculous than the article itself, and ironically, the idea amused him for a couple of minutes.
Besides, his hands meant a lot to him. Not only did they pull out almost all of his magic tricks, they were one of his most prized possessions, his utmost psychological comfort in times of need. He felt immensely lost without them.
He couldn't do anything about it though. When he was captured, the method of transportation to the facility was the least of his concerns, even though he would've suffered the consequences one way or another. So it was natural of him to search for a cure to his pained consciousness and choose the guards he knew were there even though he couldn't see as a solution.
"So," he started, his voice cheerful and loud despite his situation. A collective gasp of surprised voices that were used to the silence filled the room. "I'm being sent to one of the most secure prisons in the world, huh? I'm flattered. I didn't know you had such a high opinion of me."
Silence.
"But I'm curious, are there any other prisoners there or is it just gonna be me? Cause if that's the case, a companion would be nice."
Kaito heard some movement from his left side and a male voice said, "You'll have company all right."
He grinned, although it didn't feel the same without his costume on. "Thanks for the answer, gentleman. No one's bothered to tell me anything up until now. You've been the kindest so fat." He could already imagine the uneasy looks everyone was giving him, which made his grin grow.
"You know," he continued, "if you want to ask me anything about myself, I'll answer at the best of my ability. Don't be shy," he drawled the last part in a way that would make a Buddhist twitch for the rest of his life. "This may be the only chance you'll get."
More movement, this time from everywhere, and then a female voice asked, "Will you say anything else besides what you've already said?"
Kaito's grin stayed firmly in its place. "I'm deeply sorry for disappointing you my lady, but that'll depend on the question." Then, as an afterthought, "However, I might succumb with the right level of persuasion. After all, I'm a gentleman, and gentlemen have weak hearts."
"You're a thief Kid," the same voice stated. "Not a gentleman."
"A thief and a gentleman," he answered amused.
Another male voice interrupted their conversation. "We don't care what you are, Kid. A gentleman, a teenager, a potter, it doesn't matter. You're going to jail, and that's final."
Kaito sighed dramatically. "Jail. Such harsh letters for the world to digest. But there's also a different ring to it, don't you think? A kind of shortness that begins with abrupt intensity and ends as quickly as it started, like love at first sight."
A tense pause followed. Then the first male voice spoke. "You're not going to escape this time. The Tomb isn't like any other prison, there's a reason why we're sending you there."
He knew that reason. After he was arrested, he had been deprived of any items that could be used to escape and they had also tried to pinpoint his identity to no avail. He was just like a phantom, appearing from nowhere. And on top of that, the fact that he was a teenager complicated matters even more. The memory of their faces when they discovered it still made Kaito chuckle in amusement.
Given those circumstances, no one had known exactly what to do with him. His crimes were too high for a light sentence, but he was far too young to undergo any serious punishment, let alone a forceful interrogation. In the end, it was decided he was to be sent to the most high-security prison in the country for a year. That way, they could make sure he'd amend for his crimes and at the same time prevent anything too terrible from happening to him.
"The Tomb." Kaito repeated with a slight hint of disbelief. "Appropriate, but you need to come up with longer names."
"I'm being serious Kid."
"So am I."
The voice grunted in irritation. "Forget it."
Kaito would have none of it though. "On the contrary, I'm very intrigued by this prison. In fact, I feel like I'm about to venture to one of the darkest places on Earth! It's a little exciting, like when you're standing at the top of a large building and are tempted to jump off." Only mentioning it made him miss that sensation.
"But you can choose whether to do it or not", the guard replied.
"Look, let me ask you something." A new male voice inquired. "Why are you so relaxed? Even though you won't be alone that place isn't pleasurable at all. And that company you're fantasizing about is composed of the most dangerous criminals in the entire planet. If we don't make your life miserable, they will."
"Ehhhh…", Kaito pronounced distractedly. For all anyone knew, he could've been part of a movie scene. "I think I can manage. I have a way with people." (Besides, I've dealt with their kind a lot more than I'd like to admit).
"You seem awfully content of your demise", the same voice insisted. "Do you have something else in mind?"
The thief smiled a bit more truthfully than before. "Sometimes, dear officers, you have to laugh at life to properly respect it."
There was a thoughtful silence. Then, the same guard asked, "What makes you say that?"
Kaito chuckled from the bottom of his heart. "Aren't you a curious soul?" He exclaimed joyously. "If I told you every secret life has to offer, it wouldn't be any fun."
"You didn't answer his question." The female said suddenly.
The teenager made a sound of surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
"You know what I'm talking about. His question. If you had something else in mind."
'Smart', he thought. Kaito kept his famous poker face with perfection though. "Of course. Me offering you a flower."
She groaned. "You're impossible."
"That's not true, milady. I'm as possible as the number of dresses that could fit you."
"I didn't mean it like that, dork."
"I know." He was enjoying himself a little bit too much with that conversation. However, as much as he wanted to continue, he remembered he wanted to find something out, and with slight indifference, he said, "But let's include the rest so that they don't feel left out. About the criminals there, is it true that Kudo Shinichi was sent to this same prison?"
A moment of hesitation followed before the first male voice answered, "Yes, it's true. How did you know?"
Kaito shrugged as best as he could in his position. "Just a feeling. But really, why would you do that?" He asked with genuine curiosity. A month ago, that detective was caught in the middle of a crime scene after seemingly committing the murder of Miyano Akemi, one of the most prestigious scientists in Japan. All evidence pointed at him, but the thief still couldn't believe that he was the murderer. From his encounters with him, Kaito had thought that Kudo Shinichi, despite their differences and the pleasure it brought the magician to know that the detective wouldn't interfere in his heists anymore, was a good person with a strong sense of justice, and definitely not someone capable of killing.
"For starters," a male voice stated, "we aren't the ones who decide where people go. We just follow orders. And secondly, you can ask him yourself when you arrive."
"I'll take that into account." Kaito replied nonchalantly. "Thanks for the answer, Mr…"
"Enough chit-chat people." A firm voice suddenly commanded. "This is a serious transport operation, not a goddamn interview. And everyone, behave yourselves."
"What have we done now?" The woman questioned indignant.
Kaito saw his opportunity and swelled his chest. "That's right," he imitated the commanding voice perfectly, "according to article number 110.362, such behavior is strictly prohibited during labor hours. You should be ashamed of yourselves."
He got the effect he was hoping for. Lots of sounds of awe were heard around him, dissolving the rigid atmosphere like butter. Kaito let a soft grin make its way to his face.
"Kid! Next time you interrupt you'll spend the rest of the journey with your mouth covered and no food. Be quiet if you appreciate your well-being, understood?"
His grin turned into a very naughty smirk. "Understood, sir!"
"Good." The person, who was very probably the commander, stopped talking and went back to his business.
Three seconds passed with no major events.
"KYAAAAAAA!"
The sounds of weapons being readied and people standing up filled the room. After that, the thundering voice of the commander was heard. "What the HELL is this!?"
Kaito remained placid while a weird, popping noise resounded throughout the cabin like exploding bubbles. "By the way officer, you should take care of your own well-being too."
'At least I'm not entirely out of tricks yet'. He imagined the commander looking at him murderously while holding on one hand a package of cigarettes and the other a single one half-destroyed and covered with bubbly foam. 'Too bad I can't see right now'.
"That's it! Someone check out all of his restraints, cover his mouth tightly with a cloth and for god's sake, DON'T let him do anything funny!" He bellowed enraged before getting closer to Kaito and whispering, "Cause I'll wipe out that silly smile of yours myself."
Kaito did a toothy grin. "So I take it you won't stop smoking?"
The grumply man growled and stomped back the way he came. 'There goes my source of entertainment'. The other guards checked his restraints and proceeded to put a cloth over his mouth, in which he managed to say one more thing. "See, ladies and gentlemen? Life sometimes deserves to be laughed at."
Several weird popping sounds and curses were heard afterwards.
After that episode, the officers guarding him stayed as silent as corpses and the ride continued as tedious as it was meant to be. He tried everything he could think of to amuse himself, which included counting to a thousand, rehearsing his whole life up to that moment and fiddling absentmindedly with his restraints.
Eventually, he slept to escape death by boredom. When he woke up, all his muscles were aching the guards were hustling around him. Kaito immediately started listening for any useful information like the time, but just like before, they were dead silent.
He muffled a yawn while the officers finally untied his legs and hauled him to his feet. His legs felt as stiff as bones as they led him out of the vehicle to somewhere he never thought he'd go: to prison.
I'm super nervous about this fanfic, I've never done anything like this before. If you like it, pleeeeease review and I'll keep updating, although not very frequently. I'll also appreciate any advices you can give to improve my overall writing. As I said, this is completely new to me.
PS: What do you think? Did Shinichi really commit murder? (I don't know why I bother writing this, the answer is obvious) And no, Kaito does not know Aoko in this universe. Yet.
Thanks for reading!