Chapter 2
In the morning, Heiji woke first, taking a quick shower and starting on breakfast. He knew from his many visits to Shinichi, that she liked coffee first thing in the morning, and as black as black could be. Heiji personally thought it was yucky, but he wanted her to be wide awake this morning.
He hadn't simply come to Japan to visit with Shinichi, although he loved doing that too. He had a purpose behind this visit. Ever since they'd first met at a case, he'd known. He'd known with his whole heart that he loved Kudo Shinichi. So he became her friend, someone who she'd hang out with, someone who she liked. But he just couldn't stop at that, he needed them to be more! He needed her to love him the way he loved her!
So he'd planned this visit out, knowing that she needed to know his feelings or they'd never get anywhere! Which was what he was going to do today. He was going to confess to her and hope with all of his heart that she liked him back.
"Hattori?" a tired voice called out softly, the girl that he'd just been thinking of entering the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Heiji blushed and immediately poured a cup of the black coffee for her. She took it gratefully, and thanked him with a slight smile, making his heart pound in his chest. He winced, sure she could hear it, but she gave no sign, so he relaxed and grabbed the food he'd made for them and set it on the table where she sat.
"Hiya! I made ya some breakfast!" he told her, his voice too loud. He winced again, but tried to act casual. She nodded gratefully and started eating. Heiji watched her for a moment, feeling his emotions storm inside him, bursting for the need to confess his love already. And, the Detective of the West forever following his instincts, let them take over his mouth.
"I'm in love with ya!" he blurted, and barely stopped himself from covering his mouth. Shinichi looked at him in shock, her tired eyes clearing at his words.
"You…love me?" she asked slowly, as if not believing her ears. Heiji nodded, showing her all of his hope that she'd accept his feelings and feel the same way.
Shinichi saw the hope, alright. She also knew that she didn't love him. She loved him as a friend, but not like he loved her. Looking into his eyes, she saw the deep love he held for her, and felt a pang of sadness. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want to mislead him. Then again, maybe if she was around him with thoughts of love, then maybe it would turn into love.
"I…I'm not sure if I love you," she told him honestly, and saw the look of disappointment on his face. She hurried to add, "Though I know that I like you. Let me think it over for a few days, okay?" she begged, and he nodded, a little bit of his hope returning. She didn't want to see him so dejected again.
"How about we go out on a date today?" she suggested, not actually wanting to, but she knew that it would cheer him up if they did. He brightened, and nodded, gulping his food down as fast as he could, and asking her where she wanted to go. She told him to choose, and he grinned mischievously. Shinichi wondered if it was worth it, going through this plan, when she saw that smirk. She honestly didn't think it was.
Later that night, Heiji and Shinichi were heading home from their date. It had been fun. They'd gone to the amusement park nearby, Tropical Land, and had had a blast, but Shinichi couldn't help but feel awkward around Heiji. As soon as she'd get comfortable around him, she'd remembered his words from that morning, and felt ashamed for lying. She knew that she would never love him, but she wanted to keep trying. Heiji didn't deserve the kind of pain he was certain to feel once she'd outright reject him.
Heiji went to his room, telling her goodbye, while adding a soft, 'I love you', making the guilt she felt hurt worse. She'd run to her room, feeling so unhappy that she'd hurt her friend, but not knowing how she could continue on this way for much longer. One day had been hard enough.
As she changed into her night clothes—a simple white, almost see-through night gown that barely went past her butt, and had thin spaghetti straps holding it to her nice form loosely—and lied down on her large bed without bothering to put the comforter on top of her. It was cold, but she liked it that way. It distracted her from most of her unpleasant thoughts.
A slight movement at her window made her eyes travel slowly over, and then she gasped as she saw what had caught her eye. A man, dressed in a white suit, including a white top-hat and a monocle over his right eye, was entering her room through the window. She sat up and was about to say something, when the stranger noticed her and ran to cover her mouth with his white gloved hands.
"Please don't yell out," he pleaded, revealing a young voice, and she heard the slight fear in it. "I don't mean you any harm, and I promise to leave as soon as I can. So please, stay quiet." She looked into his face, but it was covered in shadows. She finally nodded, knowing that if he made one wrong move that she'd kill him. Well, maybe just break a few bones.
He slowly, cautiously, took his hand away from her mouth and stepped away from her. She kept her mouth shut as he quickly glanced out the window, and she thought she saw flashing lights pass by quickly. The man—teenager?—sighed in relief and turned back to Shinichi.
"Thank you for not screaming. I really, really appreciate it." He bowed deeply, before pushing open the window and starting to heave himself out gracefully. Shinichi decided that it was time she moved, and move quickly she did. Lunging forward, she latched onto his arm, yanking him back into the room.
"Who are you and why were you running from the police?" she demanded, her hold on the thief tight, but somehow, he slipped out of it as he straightened. He bowed again, apologetic this time, and gave her a charming smile.
"Gomen. I am the Phantom Thief, Kaitou Kid!" he said grandly, albeit quietly. She looked at him questioningly. Who was that? And why was he so proud to admit it? Why would a thief wear all white? And was that monocle supposed to protect his identity or something?
"Who?" she asked and his jaw dropped, shocked that she didn't know who he was. She just looked expectantly at him and he recovered.
"Kaitou Kid. The famous thief. Have you really not heard of me?" he demanded, exasperated. Shinichi snickered slightly as she shook her head.
"Sorry, no, but if you're really a thief, then why do you where white? Isn't that like a beaker when you steal stuff? And would a real criminal proudly state his name like that? It sounds to me like you're a fake." She watched as he seemed to tense up with anger, and was worried for a second about her own safety, but was surprised when he burst out laughing. He toned it down after a second, but it didn't make her any less alarmed.
"Sorry, but I've never been so bluntly accused of being a fake by someone who didn't actually know who Kaitou Kid was. It's almost refreshing," he informed her with a genuine smile, one that made her realize that the other smiles hadn't been. Or, at least, not as genuine.
"Why? Because it's true?" she challenged, finding her lips curling into a smile of her own. Kid, or whoever he really was, shrugged carelessly.
"Ojou-san, I could argue with you all night, and yet, I don't think I could win. How about next time we meet, it's at one of my heists." He smirked again, handing her a small piece of paper, which she took curiously. "That way, I can prove to you that I'm the real deal." She tried to hold back the smile that came at the thought, but it was useless. This thief saw it all.
"Alright, Kaitou-kun, I'll accept your challenge. But be warned, I'm not an easy foe." He looked at her with a dubious smile, and she shrugged mysteriously, saying only, "The name's Kudo Shinichi. Look me up." She tried to tuck the piece of paper down her bra, but found that she didn't have one on. She always took it off at night.
She sighed resignedly as she put it on her dresser, and then noticed that the thief hadn't left yet. She looked closer and saw that he was blushing deeply, and wondered why. And then she realized. She was in her skimpy night dress without a bra on. How had she not remembered this before?
Kid cleared his throat and was about to say something, but had to clear his throat again. Shinichi quickly folded her arms over her breasts, hoping to cover them well enough, and glared. "Now is when you get out. I've received your challenge, and you'll see me at your next heist. Now go."
Kid nodded, but was still staring at her with what she guessed were big eyes. They were still shrouded in darkness. She sent him a glare that made him snap out of it and he sent an apologetic smile her way.
"I apologize for my unruly behavior, Ojou-san," he said, bowing. Shinichi rolled her eyes and told him to go away already. He just grinned and waved a haughty goodbye as he jumped out the window. She ran to the window, wondering if he'd landed safely. He was nowhere in sight, and Shinichi let out a big gust of air. She needed sleep. If she was supposed to pretend like she loved Hattori tomorrow, she'd need all of her strength.
