Meetings and card tricks ensue

"You met KID the phantom thief at your house?!" Ran had nearly spit out her coffee at the statement, not to mention the expression of complete bafflement that was bestowed upon her face.

It had been a long morning, safe to say. He'd made plans to meet Ran at Poirot, much too early for the night he'd experienced, but it was nice to see her. Since he hadn't actually been able to talk to her one on one since his arrival, it was a splendid change. He could truly focus his attention in her every smile, just like he used to.

However, he was duly faced with a certain promise he'd made after his Conan confession to her. The fact that he'd never lie to her again–thus resulting in his certain situation. Ushering her all his secrets about his moonlit meeting with the infamous thief.

"Shh!" Shinichi hushed, waving his arms in an effort to calm her down. "Not so loud, the media's still all over me thanks to a certain someone..."

She took a deep breath regaining her composure, while choosing to look him dead in the eye.

"And?"

She could clearly see Shinichi struggling to grasp at what she meant. She swore, sometimes the detective really surprised her in the sense that he could know everything about the human psyche, yet not know the simplest things at times.

Ran just rolled her eyes. "Shinichi, what did he say?" Expressing each word clearly like one would with a child.

He flinched a little at the question. "Well, he gave me his next heist notice–"

"Personally?" Interest sparked in the girls eyes, looking at him thoughtfully, as if trying to uncover a hidden truth from the meeting that he wasn't relaying to her.

"Yes, personally, and it explained the details of what he's stealing, where it's going to be–"

"Which are?" she cut him off again, this time eagerly awaiting his reply.

"..."

"Shinichi, where's the heist taking place?" She asked again, a little slower and adding gestures this time to really correspond with the child method (seemingly the only method that was working).

Sitting in the booth together–she was in the booth while he was in a chair across from her–she watched as he bit at his lower lip in contemplation of his next words. His whole presence was quite off in general, however it could've been due to an early morning to meet her for coffee.

"He's stealing a gem known as the 'Purple Deity', which is, well." Another hesitation in his words, most likely information he himself still couldn't quite comprehend. "It's going to be at the masquerade ball tomorrow night."

She leaned back in her seat and began to unravel the clues. Crossing her arms she began, "He's planning on stealing a gem at the same ball your father is attending as a special guest? Wait, no, the ball we're all attending as family friends?"

He nodded his head.

"And that's not all–" Shinichi leaned forward to show her the white card of paper now in his hand. She took it and began to read, skimming over most sections until reaching the last message.

"'P.S. I look forward to another grand moondance with you, meitantei'... Well?" She looked down at the card and then up again, her eyes meeting his in equal bewilderment.

"That's the thing, I think he's just referring to how our rivalry normally consists of running around at night with me trying to catch him and him escaping, thus the moondance, but the fact that he's specially challenged me in his own heist notice is what makes me–"

"Excited?" Ran said, interrupting, like she was saying the words for him. "And judging by this he likes you too!"

He frowned, a tinge or red meeting his ears.

"Why would I get excited over the fact that I'll most likely be walking home covered in glitter completely exhausted from chasing after a crazy thief all night?" Blurting out, he averted his eyes from her interested gaze. She only smiled.

He didn't get that excited for heists... Did he?

"Ok, mister 'I'm too cool to admit I like chasing after thieves'," she started, laughing when the man in front of her let out a low growl. "I just wonder what he's planning, I mean this is his first time back to Japan in a while... It'll probably be pretty big then."

He leaned back in thought, placing a hand to his chin. "Well, it is a masquerade ball, quite likely his ideal scene, regardless of us already attending."

"You mean you attending," she grinned at him. "He seems to be looking forward to your attendance."

"That doesn't matter." He eyed her, clearly addressing his annoyance, she was really having fun with this wasn't she? "Anyways it'll be pretty easy for him to blend in to the crowd no matter how flamboyant he wants to dress..."

"Speaking of, what are you wearing tomorrow Shinichi?" She eyed his current outfit up and down, a casual hoodie and jeans day.

"A suit?"

Ran scoffed.

"Not sure," he contemplated, letting his gaze fall upon the customers and atmosphere of Poirot in the morning, warm sun shining through the windows. "My parents are coming in sometime tomorrow afternoon, so I'm sure my mom will drag me out to go shopping," he sighed. "At least that's what she's mentioned everytime she's called me this past week–"

He stopped.

His eyes suddenly glued to the front windows of Poirot.

It was that guy again. He wasn't sure, but his composure and everything resembled the man from before. Impossible, he thought, bringing his eyes back towards Ran.

"Sh–Shinichi? You good?" he looked back at her and smiled.

"Yah, sorry, just thought I saw someone I knew." she looked towards where his gaze had been, over her shoulder out the window, before turning back and brushing off the subject.

"Well anyways, it's about time I go and meet Eisuke this afternoon, so I'll see you tomorrow ok?" she gave him a warm heartfelt smile that reminded him of the ones she'd give Conan.

"Of course," he smiled back, getting up from his seat and into a familiar hug. "See you tomorrow Ran." He could feel her grip tighten around him slightly as he said the words.

She kept her hands on his shoulders upon release. "I'm so glad you're back Shinichi," her eyes met his. "We all are."

Giving him one more smile, she walked out the door waving as they parted ways down the side walk.

Shinichi hadn't gotten his hands on a car yet since his being back in Japan. It was definitely strange changing from American driving to European then back to Japanese, although he did catch on quick. He'd had every chance, but honestly, he just wanted to enjoy walking back around his hometown. Around Beika.

He'd been walking home from poirot, which honestly wasn't much of a distance, especially with an adult sized body. It was almost funny, how he had an equal amount of memories as 'Conan' as he did 'Shinichi'. Walking with Ran down the sidewalk, both small and big, solving murders both small and big... Etc. There was just so much still here. He smiled at the thoughts.

Shinichi continued to walk down one of the lesser busy streets, with few pedestrians passing him by. Some he definitely knew recognized him, girls especially blushing. God, was he glad nobody had approached him with roses yet. That godamn Hattori...

But then he felt it.

A hand swiftly plucking at his back pocket where his wallet was currently tucked. A pickpocket. Figures they'd choose him of all people, he thought. No matter where he went, there was some sort of trouble surrounding him. The fact that a murder hadn't occurred yet was a miracle in its own. A pickpocket he could surely handle.

The man had successfully grabbed his wallet, however failed to move his arm fast enough to escape Shinichi's grasp.

Quick to assume victory, Shinchi grinned. "Got you!" But before he could reach for his cuffs, he stopped. His eyes looking at where his wrist was grasping, where a shining silver light had caught his eye. Shit.

He quickly pulled away, but in the effort to release his hand felt the slicing pain of the hidden knife just grazing his forearm. He was miliseconds too late.

He caught his arm with his other hand, looking up towards the hat and glasses man in front of him. Hoodie; grey, black hat and sunglasses, hair colour: brown, definitely male by his hands, also gloveless, giving potential prints. The man smiled as he backed away from Shinichi, still pressurizing his cut arm, blood dripping thoroughly from the somewhat shallow cut. A small wound, didn't need much attention, but the pickpocket didn't know that.

He turned around started to pick up his pace, ready to go into a sprint. Shinichi immmediatly followed after him, not far behind. However, a small crowd had appeared in front of him, and both chaser and pickpocket had to efficiently make their way through the crowd–the pickpocket clearly at the advantage.

At this rate, Shinichi would most likely be trailing blood a few blocks down. Great way to really make his arrival home official, he thought bitterly.

Once the crowd cleared, Shinichi could see the man had quite the distance on him, and had even increased his speed. Nothing to Shinichi's speed, however, and he would surely catch him on the next turn, definitely making note of potential weapons this time.

However, as he continued to run after the man, a second figure had stepped out in front of the alleyway beside them. The thief may not have noticed, but Shinichi clearly saw the figure getting a little too close to the commotion. It wasn't until his foot propped out that Shinichi nearly let out a grin.

He watched as the pickpocket was tripped and fell down quite roughly, scrapping across the concrete sidewalk. Shinichi continued to run after the fallen man and new arrival, to continue the arrest.

The second figure stood next to the man, and now he definitely owed his thanks. "Nice–" he started, but it quickly shifted into his jaw falling slack as he openly gaped at the new sight. "Work."

The man had been zip-tied up before Shinichi had even realized, and in a matter of mere seconds at that. He proceeded to tightly close his jaw just as the man turned around, and Shinichi forced himself to regain his cool, although he couldn't help slightly drop it again.

It was him, the guy from before. The window, the alley–

"Sorry you were saying?" Indigo eyes regarded Shinichi with a fresh, cheerful feel.

"I... Uh," Shinichi couldn't keep the expression off his face.

Something about the other man continued to baffle Shinichi. It wasn't just the almost instant effort it'd taken him to tie up the pickpocket, but the aura he brought along with him. It felt fun, charismatic... Intelligent. However, it was true he looked nearly identical to Shinichi himself, but he seemed familiar somehow. And not in that way, in such that they'd met before.

Although, the true mystery that Shinichi faced after each meeting had been his expressions. Clear as day, yet unreadable. He had no clue what was going through the others head, which would automatically turn his attention to his eyes. Sharp indigo eyes that danced under his gaze.

"Have we met before?" Shinichi asked, staring into those same eyes.

He just smiled. It was almost bewildering how his expression could turn into such a warm smile yet not hold any idea as to what he was going to say. "I do believe I've seen you somewhere as well. It seems we've been facing the same problem then." he laughed and presented himself in a bow. "Kuroba Kaito, magician extraordinaire. Pleasure to make your acquaintance Mr–"

"Kudo– Kudo Shinichi, detective. And it seems you have also aided me with a case." He looked down upon the pickpocket, reaching in to grab the hat and glassss off his face. There revealed a familiar face, one who'd certainly been handy to catch and get off the streets.

"Pickpocketing, burglary, trespassing, assault. Mori Takayama, a wanted criminal who's been on the run for almost three months." The man growled, and frowned at the detective currently placing handcuffs around his wrists. "I'm sure the police will be glad to see him off the streets."

Soon enough, a patrol car had parked itself on the street to apprehend the man. Shinichi and Kaito still present at the scene, just moving slightly to a more private area.

"You're not apart of the force yourself then?" The man–Kuroba–asked.

"No, I'm only a sort of a, er... Special consultant, if you would." he smiled at the magician, who was looking at him with much thought and wonder. "I'm surprised actually, that you've never heard of me... It's almost rare these days."

He grinned. "Well rarities do tend to occur at the oddest of times, tantei-san." he took out a deck of cards and began shuffling through them. "You must be fairly popular then, Kudo-san. Maybe a well known detective at that–" his shuffling techniques suddenly became quite intricate, Shinichi lowering his eyes onto the cards to further reveal what motions he'd been pulling, thoroughly surprised when he struggled to keep up.

This magician was very, very good.

"Then perhaps you'd like me to show you a magic trick, meitantei?" The words flew off his tongue in an instant, replaying slowly in Shinichi's mind. He'd been called 'meitantei' (great detective) many times before–he didn't really enjoy the term per se–but it seemed so natural to the magician. He liked how he said it.

Laughing a little awkwardly, Shinichi gave in to the man's request. "I'll have you know I'm not an easy target to fool, but by all means, you've caught my attention so far–" his words were cut off by cards flying all over the place, intricate detailing, shuffling, a perfect arch in the air without single fault. All but a few seconds before returning into the magicians right hand, all cards neatly piled on top, without adjustment. Safe to say Shinichi was very impressed, hopefully it hadn't shown on his face too much.

The magician grinned. "Nobody's ever an easy target, Kudo-san, but that doesn't mean they're unfoolable." As if his grin could grow any wider, he continued, "However, what I'm showing you now is nothing close to a trick one would use to simply fool. No, what I'm showing you is the extraordinary, meitantei."

Shinichi could only stare at the magicians hands, trying to anticipate his next move as well as retain his cool. "Extraordinary in what sense, magician?"

The magician chuckled, Shinichi's eyes clung to his hands. "Magic."

He was a detective. He didn't enjoy the thought of being fooled or played (by magicians none the less) and he wasn't one to let go of his pride when it came to something like tricks. But somehow this magician was different. He was intelligent, he had the skills to perform such amazing feats, and Shinichi was clearly seeing the outcome of this encounter.

The magician began to explain the trick, simply asking for Shinichi to choose a card, seemingly straight forward at first. But as the trick progressed, Shinichi wasn't able to guess the reason or explanation for any certain number of movements the man made. This 'Kuroba Kaito' was astoundingly nimble, and it almost made Shinichi laugh at his own fault. He refused to believe in Magic, yet being fooled by a magician... this experience would certainly be his first.

Although, he was okay with this fact. The man was obviously intelligent, had the charisma necessary to distract, the eyes–

Hold up. Since when was I staring at his eyes?

The fluttering of long lashes, and the thoughtful, fun eyes looking at his cards then back up at Shinichi. He felt a cool, yet warm feeling wash over him. He'd encountered this somewhere before, he thought, and he could feel the same excitement wash over him. Was he really becoming this easy to fool by any magician on the street?

Only one...

"It seems I've made you truly speechless," he looked up, indigo eyes meeting azure. "Have I not, meitantei?"

At the current state Shinichi was in, he had no clue what his expressions had been saying–he was absolutely lost in thought over the whole situation. The magicians grin just widened.

The trick had been assuredly simple, yet he couldn't figure it out. Couldn't figure out how he'd gotten the card to that place, how he'd read his mind, how anything had truly happened. It almost seemed unreal—Impossible, even.

Regaining his composure, Shinichi felt his hands move together. Clapping slowly at first then slightly faster, he smiled, still speechless, at the magician.

Bowing and registering the applause, the magician met his smile. "Why thank you, Kudo-san. I'll have you know it has been my pleasure in performing for you." he twiddled his thumbs–Shinichi also observed the fact that Kuroba had never really been still throughout their meetings, always moving somehow. "I've preformed for few other detectives, but none have ever been as accepting as yourself, so I thank you for being such a grand audience, Kudo–"

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it," he cut him off, seriousness peering into wonderous looking eyes. "I am not easy to fool. Yet, you– you were somehow always two steps ahead of my eyes. Consider me impressed, Kuroba-san." Indigo eyes stirred underneath his gaze, somehow becoming deeper and deeper with each second that passed.

"Well then, I'll be sure to see you around," he flashed one last grin at the detective before throwing his hand up in sort of salute, "Meitantei."

"You as well, magician." Shinichi finished, matching his grin.

The sensation was so odd, leaving him in wonder. He couldn't put two and two together, something so familiar yet it couldn't quite cross his mind–was he losing his mind? He didn't know. But it just felt so right. Like this is what he'd traveled the world to finally see, to finally meet. Someone who could truly challenge him and make him think.

He continued to walk down the street towards his house, not thinking of the trick, but the magician. Some mysteries should remain unsolved. This applied to the trick maybe, but to Kuroba Kaito...

Waking up, Shinichi found himself in a state of complete tranquility, like he'd never slept quite as well in years. He was home. Not staying in some luxury hotel, or dusty motel doing recon work, but his own home that he'd stayed in since childhood (until Conan that is). He got up, glancing out the window that showed an early spring sun, still rising. 8am, decent time.

He was never really used to sleeping in anymore. Not since his training with the FBI, or anything after Conan really. Always too paranoid or too much on his mind to really sleep. But here everything felt okay, like he could relax at his own leisure without the worry of others getting hurt, or himself.

He slipped himself off the bed, realizing his need for caffeine. He slumped down the stairs, still rubbing his eyes, with plaid pajama bottoms drooping over his ankles. A little big, he thought to himself, and it wasn't until he reached the kitchen that he really knew what he was doing.

New coffee was now sitting right centre on the granite counter beside the machine. He smiled at the thought of the brew, and went to grab a cup. Cups. The thought hadn't occurred to him until his eyes roamed over the empty shelf. After he'd left for America, he'd asked Agasa to pack up most of his stuff for him, just so he didn't have to worry about theft later on. When he meant stuff, cups hadn't really come to mind, but he supposed the professor was just being extra cautious.

He looked towards the sink, two cups–most likely the professors that he and Heiji had used–sat dirty within. He then eyed the cupboard again, not wanting to come to terms that he'd need to wash them, but this time looking above as well. There was one, on the very top shelf, a white mug, sitting fairly out of reach and cursed his mother (she had to have endless storage after all). Accepting the challenge, Shinichi grinned. Just what he needed.

He grabbed a stepping stool that laid beside the fridge, and placed it dead centre underneath the cupboard. He frowned as he saw its height compared to the top shelf. Knowing his own height, height of the stool, then shelf, he would unfortunately be slightly short.

He quicked a glance around, finding a thick book to rest an extra couple of inches. Perfect. Stepping on, he reached his fingers back into the cupboard. Damn this cup was persistent. He could feel himself flex under the reach, his stomach catching the edge of the granite cupboard, almost flinching at the cold. He felt his pajama pants falling down, but he was so close.

Another grand reach and he'd grabbed the cup, smiling in victory at the apprehension. It wasn't until he turned his face to the side that he met a pair of eyes that had him frozen in shock. Auburn hair passing down her shoulders, eyebrow raised, and red lips painted into a mischievous smirk.

He himself was currently on his tip toes, standing on a book with one leg, shirtless, arm stretched out clenching a cup, with his pajama pants almost past the dip in his back. Not to mention his probably ultra red appearance. God, it just had to be his mother. Wait a second, mother?

"Shin-chan might I say you have grown...!" Grin turning from mischievous to excited in a matter of seconds. "You're almost too handsome to be cute anymore!" She rushed over to tackle him into a hug.

"Kaasan!" he said, still red from the previous encounter, and how she was holding his half naked body.

She pulled away after his multiple escape attempts, hands now resting on his shoulders. "But Shin-chan, who knew you'd been excersising this much! Your abs are almost as sexy as your fathers~" she began to run a hand over his stomach muscles before he quickly flinched away.

"Kaasannn!" he said even louder, automatically running to the other side of the kitchen island, away from his never changing mother.

His eyes met his fathers as he approached laughing, two suit cases in hand. "Yukiko dear, surely Shinichi is red enough already, don't you think?" Shinichi frowned towards his father, who only smiled a smile saying 'can't say it's not the truth'.

He turned his attention to his pouting wife. "Mouuu Yuusaku...! But he's just so cute when he's flustered." her smile turned so utterly cheerful. "Plus we haven't seen him in so long! I was just admiring our lovely Shin-chan~!"

"Wait a second kaasan, why are you here so early?" Shinichi asked, suddenly in an attempt to brush off the topic as well as ease his curiosity.

She smiled, dropping most of the cheerful expression for excitement. "Well, Shin-chan, we figured since you just got back and the ball is tonight, you'd need something to wear," She smiled, and eyed him up and down, chuckling at the fact that he wasn't wearing much at all.

He shivered under her gaze, blushing once again. "I–I've already told you I have plenty of suits upstairs–"

"Shin-chan those are your work suits, I'm talking about something as pretty as my ball gown!" She fluttered her eyes, most likely thinking of her own dress. "A suit specially tailored to represent just how important and handsome you are Shinichi!" She pushed her hands to her cheeks, squealing a little bit.

Shinichi just rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to counter, but his father beat him to it. Sometimes he gawked in awe at the amount of times his father was always steps ahead of himself, his deduction skills unrivaled at both experience and intelligence.

Clearing his throat his father began, "It may seem like a pain Shinichi, but in the case of a masquerade ball, one must always dress to impress," he looked directly into his eyes and smirked. "Especially when facing off against the great Kaitou Kid." Grinning with a sense of truth behind it. Was there something he knew that Shinichi didn't?

"You knew he was coming?" Shinichi asked, suddenly realizing his father probably still kept track of Kaitou Kid. I mean, he did name him after all.

"Of course! Your father and I adore Kid. He is one of my shining knights after all!"

"I'm not even gonna ask." Shinichi mumbled.

"Nevertheless, one should always look sharp in attending a masquerade ball." his father sent him a warm smile. "Even if shopping isn't always your favourite thing, your mom's missed you Shinichi. We both have, and she thinks it's a good way for you to bond while we're here. Do come along, son."

"I'm pretty sure I don't have a choice but–"

"Nope! You don't~" his mother butted in. "Let's go shopping Shin-chan! It'll be just like when you were little. You were so cute back then, but now you're so handsome! We'll find you the perfect suit for sure, I'm thinking navy to match the vest? What do you think Yuusaku?"

The two men smirked at the rambling woman in front of them. She could be overly cheerful and embarrassing, but most of all, she was a breath of fresh air to their lives. Shinichi couldn't have imagined a better mom. He smiled warmly at the thought, soon being ushered out the door–with actual clothes on–to begin a long morning of shopping, preparing himself for a long night of whatever it was the thief had planned. He smirked in anticipation.