Disclaimer: Detective Conan and Magic Kaito are owned by Aoyama Gosho. I don't make money from writing this fanfiction. The story contains spoiler for Detective Conan and Magic Kaito. Also there are quotes from manga, anime, wiki and other sources.
Clair de Lune
Chapter III: Winterreise Part II
"Are you lost?" Kid asked in confusion. "Where are you parents, kid?"
Oh, the thief was good. Conan had to admit it. "Please do not insult my intelligence," he replied, rolling his eyes.
Kid stared at him before he grinned. "That would be a grave mistake, seeing that you have the sharpest mind I've ever encountered," The teen replied, dropping all pretence.
Conan could see it. Kid's personality was seeping through into Kuroba Kaito. Or was it the real Kuroba Kaito? That's the problem with secret identity. In one point, the line began to blur. Conan himself was Kudo Shinichi. He was also Edogawa Conan. And at some point he had picked up enough habits from Conan that hadn't gone away when he changed back temporarily.
"Well," Kid demanded softly. "Why are you here then?" Why are you looking for me?
Conan shrugged. "I'm curious." He had wondered about that too. What was he doing anyway, seeking Kid out like this?
"Curiosity killed the cat."
"I am not a cat, aren't I?" Conan replied. He supposed that he wanted to see the real Kid. He also wanted to see if he could shake the thief. And he also wanted to even the playing field. If Kid knew about the real him, it was only fair that he knew about the real Kaito Kid too.
"No, you aren't." Kid said.
They stared at each other in silence.
Kid's sharp eyes were piercing as they studied Conan intently.
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When Nakamori Aoko returned from the buffet table, she found that her childhood friend, Kuroba Kaito, was chatting merrily with an unknown eleven years old boy.
"Hi, Aoko-neesan," the boy greeted her. He looked rather familiar. But where had she seen him?
"I'm Edogawa Conan," the boy introduced himself. "I saw your skiing contest last night. That was amazing!" the boy said, smiling brightly.
"Oh, thank you." She replied.
"Conan-kun!" An unknown girl who looked like her approached their table. "We're looking for you."
"I'm sorry, Ran-neesan." The kid said bashfully.
"I'm sorry," the girl said to her. "I'm Mouri Ran. I apologize if he bothers you."
"Oh, no." Aoko hurriedly said. "Conan-kun doesn't bother us all." She also looked familiar.
Mouri Ran looked surprised to see Kaito though.
"What is it?" Aoko asked.
Mouri shook her head. "No. It's just...he reminds me of someone."
"This idiot is my childhood friend, Kuroba Kaito." Aoko said.
"Hey! I'm not an idiot!" Kaito protested.
"Only an idiot who become Kaito Kid's fan!" Aoko retorted.
"Who is Kid-sama's fan?" another girl joined them.
"I am," Kaito replied proudly.
"I'm Suzuki Sonoko," the girl introduced herself. "Kid-sama is my idol!"
Urgh! Not another person who idolized that idiot thief. From corner of his eyes, Aoko saw Conan message his temple.
"So, you're KID-sama's fan too, eh?" the girl, Suzuki, demanded.
"Of course I am! I'm a magician, so KID is my idol, but of course, I'm much better than that thief," Kaito said arrogantly.
Urgh! Kaito was so annoying!
"What?"
"Who is a magician?" Four children and one old man joined them. Their appearance saved Kaito from the trashing that Kaito truly reserved.
"Kaito is a magician," she informed the children.
"These are my friends," Conan said. "Genta, Mitsuhiko, Ayumi and Haibara."
"I'm Nakamori Aoko." She said. "Nice to meet you all." Then she remembered something. "You're Kogoro Mouri's daughter, right?"
"Yes," Mouri said, looking at her in confusion.
"Inspector Nakamori is my father." Aoko told her.
"Oh, really?"
"We met your father a few times," Suzuki said. She must be the heiress of Suzuki Corporation. She also had an insane uncle who liked to bait Kaito Kid. Rich people were weird. Couldn't they find another hobby to do?
She turned to Conan. "And you must be Kid Killer." She smiled. "I remembered reading about you on the newspaper headline."
Conan blushed bright red.
Aw. The child was so cute.
Kaito on the other hand looked very annoyed. "He isn't a Kid Killer!" he protested loudly. Of course Kaito would defend that damn thief.
Ayumi looked at Kaito and then brightened. "Hey, you're the one who dressed as Kid yesterday!"
"Yes, you're!" Genta said.
"Kaito Kid and his bride," Haibara added mischievously.
Suzuki regarded Kaito. "Are you truly a magician?" she asked.
"Of course!"
"Really?" Mitsuhiko asked.
"Give us a show!" Genta demanded.
"Please!" Ayumi said.
Kaito got up from his chair. "Well, since you all asked so nicely." He winked and pulled out two red roses from nowhere. "Red rose for the lovely ladies." Kaito said, giving the roses to Mouri and Suzuki.
"Oh, thank you," Suzuki said, blushing. All previous argument was forgotten.
"Thanks," Mouri said.
"And chocolate for the children," Kaito finished his magic show.
"Yes!"
"Wow!"
"That was really cool!"
It turned out that Suzuki, Mouri, Professor Agasa and the children were on winter holiday. Suzuki and Mouri were students of Teitan High School and the children were students of Teitan Elementary School.
"Where is Mouri-san?" Aoko questioned.
Suzuki snickered. "Over there."
Mouri Ran sighed.
Mouri Senior was apparently busy flirting with his fans.
Aoko looked at the children. They munched on their chocolate happily. Well, except for Haibara, who merely put the chocolate into her pocket. Aoko recognized the chocolate candies from the buffet table. When did Kaito take those candies anyway?
Then he realized that Kaito missed someone. Conan hadn't gotten his chocolate yet.
She opened her mouth. "Kaito..."
But Suzuki beat her. "We're going to ski. Do you want to join us?" the girl asked.
Aoko flushed. "Oh, I'm not good at skiing." She replied shyly.
"That's alright," Suzuki waved her hand dismissively.
"We can teach you." Mouri Ran added.
"Really?" Aoko brightened.
"Yeah."
"Thank you," she said happily. Kaito only grumbled at her when she crashed on him the day before. This student trip turned out great since Aoko managed to find new friends.
"But we haven't had breakfast yet," Kaito whined. "I'm hungry."
"Stupid Kaito," she muttered.
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After breakfast, they went to the ski slope. Aoko introduced her newfound friends to Keiko and soon the girls were busy talking and gossiping. Mouri turned into Ran-san and Suzuki turned into Sonoko-san.
Professor Agasa and the children were ready with their ski equipment too.
Conan however had a snowboard on him.
"I like snowboarding," Conan said when he noticed her stare.
"Come," Kaito said and he dragged the kid away with him to take the lift to the top of the mountain.
"Kaito!" she yelled after Kaito. "Please be careful!" What was wrong with Kaito anyway?
"Don't worry!" Kaito yelled back.
"Are they going to be alright?" she asked worriedly.
"It's alright," Genta said. "Conan is the best."
"Yeah," Ayumi nodded.
"Conan is the best skier out of all of us," Mitsuhiko said.
"Really?" she asked.
The children nodded.
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They were on the lift now. Only two of them.
"A blue rose," Kid said suddenly. "For my favourite critic." The thief had a nerve to wink at him.
Conan scowled. "And you're giving me this now?" But he took the rose and stuffed it inside his clothes. Seriously, Kid was so annoying. "I never thought that I would meet you here," he said.
"What a coincidence, eh."
"The daughter of Inspector Nakamori," Conan said in amusement. "I wonder how many information Inspector Nakamori has unknowingly given to you all this time."
"Too many," was Kid's reply.
They arrived at the top of the ski slope. There were no other people yet since it was quite early in the morning.
"Race you down?" Kid offered, shooting him challenging look.
Conan narrowed his eyes. Then he yanked Kid's jacket lapel and pulled him down so they were face to face. He pressed his lips to Kid's briefly before pushing the thief away.
"See you," he said with a grin and then took off.
Despite his time advantage, Kid arrived only a few seconds after him. Fortunately, there were Ran, Sonoko, Aoko and the others so Kid didn't do anything.
"Cheater," Kid whispered on his ear as soon as he got the opportunity to do so.
Conan smirked. "You're a great skier," he commented. "Kaito Kid and his bride."
"Are you jealous?"
"What am I supposed to be jealous of?"
"A very good answer."
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"Mou, where is Conan?" Ayumi asked. She rarely saw her friend during the holiday. Conan only showed up during breakfast, lunch and dinner. He disappeared to nowhere in between.
"I saw him with Kuroba-niisan," Mitsuhiko supplied.
"They're close, huh?" Sonoko commented.
"Well, Conan is a bit mature for a boy his age," Ran said. "He always hang with Hattori too whenever Hattori visit us in Tokyo."
"You're right," Sonoko said in agreement. She had seen Conan with the Osaka detective. They seemed to be best friends.
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It was their last night at Yuzawa resort. There was going to be fireworks show and Conan was watching it with Kid. He and Kid had spent the last few days together. They got along very well. Conan didn't ask him about his motive for stealing and Kid didn't ask about how he ended up as eleven years old boy. Some things were better left alone for now.
He thought about people who knew about his real identity. He had his parents, Professor Agasa, Haibara and Hattori. His parents were very supportive. Professor Agasa was very helpful and Haibara had become his friend. He also counted Hattori as his best friend who at least treated him like an adult.
But Kid... he was a whole different matter.
"Why me?" he asked suddenly.
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius."
Conan raised his eyebrow. "Since when you're quoting Sherlock Holmes?" But there was truth in Kaito's words. It wasn't everyday he met a mind that could keep up with his own. Kid probably felt the same.
"The things we tolerate for the person we like," Kid replied. The thief took off his glasses, "Hmmm..." and started inspecting it. "Very impressive," he drawled. "One might find this in James Bond movies."
He returned the glasses.
Conan took it and put it on the desk next to him.
Kid looked at him thoughtfully. "You don't look much different without glasses," he stated.
"People see but they do not observe." Conan replied.
"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." Kid retorted. He should have known it. The hat and monocle didn't truly hide his identity either. Anyone who came closer to him would recognize his face.
"The secret to keeping a secret life secret," he finished bitterly.
Kid snorted.
"I'm surprised that you're actually okay with this," he said suddenly.
"I never want this." Kid said. "On retrospect, I should never send you those messages. But I could never resist a challenge."
"You really are the lover that I never want to meet." Kid's words at that night echoed.
"But it's too late now."
"Yes, it is." They were a kindred spirit after all. And they were too deep in this now. And to think that he once thought what they had was just a game.
"Kid..."
Kid offered a slow, teasing smile. "It's Kaito," he said, advancing towards him.
"Kaito then." They were very close now.
Kaito grinned in feral way and closed the distance between them.
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"Where is Conan?"
"The fireworks show is going to start soon!"
"He will miss it!"
Haibara Ai sighed inwardly. "Conan-kun said that he's going to watch from the hotel." She said.
"But-"
"It's alright." Ai said. "Now come on, we don't want to miss this."
It was the least she could do for Kudo.
When they returned to their room after the show ended, Kudo was nowhere to be seen. The shrunken detective returned an hour later.
"What?" Kudo asked defensively when he saw her.
"Oh, nothing." She replied. It must have been one hell of New Year celebration for Kudo to end up with hickeys on his neck. Well, she would remind him tomorrow to wear his turtleneck shirt. And before that, she would tease him mercilessly.
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It was finally time to leave Yuzawa ski resort. They all had packed their belongings.
Ran and Sonoko made a plan to contact each other with Aoko.
"Are we ready?"
"Yes!" the children chorused.
"Get into the car then." Professor Agasa ordered.
"The entertainment has been so delightful around here as of late," Haibara muttered in satisfaction.
"There truly is no privacy around here." Conan grumbled. Fortunately, he wasn't going to be in the same car with Haibara during the return trip.
His phone chimed. Ignoring Haibara, he looked at the new message.
AL: I'm going to miss you, dear.
SH: Likewise.
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Mouri Kogoro turned on the radio during the journey home. Some boring news and then something caught Conan's attention.
"Miyama Kirika, the owner of Stradivarius violin was found dead in her residence this morning. Her death was caused by an old age. Being known nationwide because of her involvement in Kaito Kid's heist a few weeks ago, Miyama left JPY 1.2 billion yen Stradivarius violin. According to her will, the violin is bequeathed to the person who had helped her during her need. We can only speculate as to the identity of the mysterious helper."
Author's Note:
Happy New Year 2015 everyone! Wishing you all a Happy New Year with hope that you will have many blessings in the year to come.
Thanks for reading everyone and please review.
