Title: Masks of Identity
Author: RedHerring1412
Rating: T
Warning: AU, stressful life, and maybe a romantic pairing(?)
Pairings: most likely future Kaito/Conan(older)
Disclaimer: All rights and privileges of Meitantei Conan and Magic Kaito belong to the great Goushou Aoyama. (Unless elephants really do have wings.)
Author Comments: Second chapter is up. Thank you to all those (what was it, three?) wonderful people that had reviews for me. Again thank you so much. I value all input.
Dear Ran-neechan,
Living in this new country has made me feel rather lost. Kaa-san says that we would only be staying here for about two months. Yet if I know her that may change in the future. Now unlike some schools in America, around here it goes all year long. Therefore Tou-san thinks it is the perfect excuse to school me while we stay here. Is it just me, or is that a rather lame excuse? At least I will be home schooled this time around. Not knowing the language and having to take classes is not an experience I recommend to anyone. Yet I can't shake the feeling that we may come back here to live for a little while in the future. Especially when Kaa-san keeps on bringing me along to look at the different views of the various villas in the area. Do you think that I should learn the language just in case? Anyway, sorry to hear about your sprained wrist and congratulations on your victory! I don't know if I would be able to continue in the karate matches the way you did if I had a sprained wrist in the first round. I am impressed that you continued on like that. Just how is it that you have such strength? Still, it is just like you, to not give up completely despite a setback. By the way, I heard an odd rumor. Perhaps you in Japan (along with your gossipy friend Sonoko-neechan) have heard it as well. Is it true that . . .
Chapter 2:
The next day at school was rather calm overall. In Kaito's opinion that meant boring. Somehow the presence of the new student has brought out everyone's best behavior. That or Hakuba-kun's absence. One or the other. You would think that the incident outside the girl's locker room would create more of a fuss. Instead those girls are acting like it never happened! Wait . . . did Aoko put them up to this? It makes me think that some evil plot is afoot. Speaking of evil plots, where is Hakuba-kun anyway? He wasn't here yesterday and he's not here today. Even when he's downright sick and exhausted he shows up, so just where is he?
"Kaito!"
"Huh? Aoko? What do you want?"
"Hey! What's with the grumpy mood? You've been rather quiet all day." Leaning in close, Aoko places her forehead against Kaito's. "Could it be that you're getting sick?"
Blushing slightly, he jerks back. "Hey! How many times do I have to tell you to not touch me!"
"Don't yell at me! I just wanted to see if you were okay."
"Hmpf."
"Fine, be that way. I just wanted you to know that I have to visit the teacher's lounge, so I may not be able to walk home with you today."
"Oh? Have you done something naughty?"
Going red in the face, she quickly spits out a response. "No! Now if you'll excuse me, I should get going." Quickly grabbing her books, she goes out the door. Just as fast, Kaito follows.
"If it is not that, then just why are you visiting the teacher?"
"I don't know."
"Eh? How can you not know? You are the one headed to the teacher's lounge."
Stopping short, Aoko faces him with an annoyed look on her face. "Look. All that happened was that Keiko came to me after class and said that the teacher had a favor to ask of me after school. That's it."
"Oh."
Sighing, Aoko continues down the hall at a more reasonable pace. "So," she says to change the subject, "What do you think of the new student?"
"Hmm? Who?"
"You know . . . The new student that joined us yesterday. Um . . . I think his name was Edogawa Conan."
"I don't think that I have known him long enough to really have an opinion of him."
"But what about your first impression, huh? What did you think of him?"
"First impression? Hmm . . . Polite."
"Huh?"
"He was very polite."
What indeed did I think of the new student. I do not know why, but there is something about him that makes me want to keep an eye on him. Yet I still don't know why I should. From what I can tell from yesterday and today, he is a rather polite person. He isn't even polite to just girls as some people are, he is polite to everybody. Despite that however, he doesn't go out of his way to be polite. I have noticed that when he is on his own, he is quiet and it almost seems like he is off in his own little world. What is it that he could be thinking about? Wait . . . why am I thinking so much about him? He shouldn't concern me. So far he hasn't shown any indication that he might be a threat in any way. He is not like Hakuba-kun or Akako-san. At least, I don't think he is. What other reason then would make me want to watch him? Why do I . . . ?
"Ka-i-to-!"
Startled out of his thoughts, Kaito jerks back in surprise. Seeing Aoko's concerned face inches from his own would startle anyone. "Wah! Aoko. What is it? What's that look for?"
Pulling back, Aoko continues to watch Kaito. "Nothing . . . It's just that you've been staring at the teacher's door for the past minute. Is there something the matter?"
"Wha? No. Just was thinking."
Giggling, she pokes him on the forehead. "Wow. I didn't think Kaito had enough brains to think."
Swatting at her hand, Aoko's statement finally registers. "What was that?"
"Nothing. Nothing." Opening up the teacher's door, she escapes inside.
Not letting her nonchalance disturb him, he follows her. "Hey, wait Aoko you . . . " Kaito's words trail off as he spots the occupants of the room. True, there were teachers there, but that hasn't stopped him before. No, he was there, Edogawa Conan.
Why? Why do I feel so nervous around him? Its almost as if I have stage fright. I don't want to act out of line or try any of my magic tricks around him. What if I mess up? Wait . . . what am I thinking? I consider myself to be a professional. Not to mention that I should always remember what Oyaji has taught me.
"Kaito!"
Having his thoughts broken into for the third time that day, Kaito snaps back, "What!" His anger diminishes however when he notices the new student watching him from his place next to Aoko.
"Really Kaito, I don't know what's with you today. Are you quite certain that you're not getting sick?"
"Yes, quite sure."
Still not convinced but knowing that he can be quite stubborn sometimes, Aoko drops the subject. "Anyway, we should get going now. We don't want to catch Hakuba-kun too late."
Following the two off campus, Kaito nods in reply. At least until his brain catches up to him. "Wha? Hakuba-kun! Why are we visiting him?"
"We are visiting him, as in Edogawa-san and me. You can go home for all I care."
"What, and leave you alone with two guys? No way!"
Before he can continue his teasing however, his ears barely catch a soft voice saying, "Instead you want to leave her alone in the company of three guys?"
Turning toward the source of the voice, Kaito barely catches the glimmer of good humor in Conan's eyes before they disappear beneath his smiling facade. Noticing his gaze, Conan turns his head toward him. "Hm?"
Avoiding his eyes, Kaito looks the other way. "Nothing . . . So why are we visiting Hakuba-kun again?"
Giving Kaito a somewhat teasing smile, Conan replies, "I would have thought you overheard us talking about it. However, it seems that you were too lost in thought to pay much attention. Anyway, Nakamori-san is going so that she may drop off the homework that he has accumulated in his absence. I am going because I haven't met him yet and the teacher thought it was a good opportunity to do so. You are going because you wanted to make sure that we two males would not endanger the virtue of your childhood friend."
Feeling the blood rush to his face, Kaito splutters for a few moments while he thinks over what the new student just said. Once his composure is regained, he suspiciously glances over at Conan's innocent looking face. "How did you know that we were childhood friends?"
Without missing a beat he replies, "You just confirmed it. Seriously though, it is from the way that you talk to each other. I have met some people that have the same sort of relationship and they all act the same sort of way."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Oh." Seeing that there was nothing left to say, everyone lapses into silence as they continued on their way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"If you will all kindly wait here, Botchama will meet with you in a few minutes." Having guided the three classmates to the living room, the maid exits the room. After a moment or two the silence was finally broken by Conan.
"So . . . Hakuba-san is not exactly poor, is he?"
Glancing over at him Kaito replies, "I would think that his living conditions would testify to that."
"Ah, yes . . . So, um, what kind of person is Hakuba-san?"
Seeing that Kaito was about to make another snide comment, Aoko quickly cuts into the conversation. "Surely you must have heard of him. He's a rather famous detective after all."
Snorting at this statement, Kaito quickly responds. "Just because he's famous doesn't mean he's any good."
"That just proves that he's good!"
"Yeah? Well if he's so good then why hasn't he caught Kaitou Kid yet?"
"That thief is going to get caught one day, just you wait. With Tou-chan on the job, he will definitely get caught."
"Oh? Do you mean that incompetent police force along with our incompetent classmate detective is going to catch Kaitou Kid? What a joke!"
"They aren't incompetent! They have prevented his crimes several times."
"Then why haven't they caught him yet?"
"Excuse me . . . " Having their argument interrupted, the couple turns to the third person in the room. "I'm sorry, but did you say Kaitou Kid? Didn't he retire or something eight or nine years ago?"
Eyebrows rising, Kaito looks at Conan in disbelief. "You mean you haven't heard? Just where have you been living?"
"Um, well . . . I do recall hearing something about him. It's just that I thought it was some advertising for some publicity stunt."
Before Kaito could come up with a reply to that however, another voice cuts into the conversation. "No . . . Kaitou Kid is still very much around. Of course, if it is the same thief as from before, well, there are those that have their own opinions on that matter." Stepping more fully into the room, Hakuba greets his guests.
"Oh. You must be Hakuba-san. My name is Edogawa Conan. I just joined everyone's class yesterday. It is nice to meet you."
"Hm . . . Yes. Nice to meet you too. So why is it that I get the pleasure of meeting you all today?" Aoko then proceeds to explain everything.
Sheesh, what an arrogant guy. Completely dismissing the new student right away. I bet that if we had a beautiful lady as a new student, he wouldn't be so quick to dismiss her. Then again, it could be that he only pays attention to the people that get in his way. Nah. The only things that he pays any attention to are girls and whatever case he gets to play detective. Which reminds me . . . Why has he been skipping school? He has never struck me as the type to do that sort of thing and he seems to be perfectly healthy. I also know for a fact that there isn't a Kaitou Kid heist planned at the moment. Though I really should get around to doing that. The last one was about a week and a half ago. I wonder what should be targeted next. Wait a minute though . . . I could almost swear that . . . he did! Why is Hakuba-kun giving me such odd looks? Now that it has been brought to my attention, why is he giving Edogawa-san the same sort of look? Whatever could that mean?
"So Hakuba-san . . . "
"What is it Aoko-kun?"
"Just why is it that you haven't come to school lately?"
"Oh that, well . . . " Hakuba thinks for a moment while his mind pushes aside some facts for him to go over later. Finally he looks at Kaito with a slight grin on his face. "You know what? Why don't I show you all the case that has caught my attention? Who knows, it might even catch the interest of some of you." Sharply turning on his heel, he leads the group further into his house.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Author's Endnote:
My, my . . . so what do you people think is going to happen next? Trust me, it should be rather unexpected. (Of course, if you want a hint, just read the story's summary.) Any complaints about this chapter? I do value any and all inputs (though please do not use any rotten language) so please click that review button and type in your comments!
-RHK
Reference Notes:
Oyaji How Kaito refers to his father
Botchama How servants of a household refer to the head of the household's son or young master.
-Look for some references in previous chapters.
-Ask me if you want me to add some more.