Here we are. Sorry it's late! This chapter may be a bit sad. Apologies. - Luna

Deal

Chapter Four: Based On Temperature

The second Kaito's finger left the doorbell, the large oak front door of the Kudou mansion yawned open, causing the magician to move back slightly. And when the man of the mansion stepped out, Kaito did a double take.

For oncein his lifetime, the detective wasn'tclad in some kind of a suit/button-up, choosing instead a jacket, t-shirt, and pair of jeans. His hair was slightly mussed, like he had just rolled out of bed, and the jacket was thrown casually over his shoulders, like it had happened only seconds ago.

The effect was positively disconcerting – but, Kaito admitted inwardly, also positively... sexy.

In a non-attractive way, Kaito hurriedly told himself, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He ignored the fact that it wasn't exactly possible for somebody to be sexy without being attractive. "Hey."

Shinichi watched Kaito in part concern, part self-consciousness, and part confusion. Damn it, I knew I should've worn my usual, he thought as the thief's eyes shifted away restlessly.

"Good morning," he croaked.

Kaito shivered. Shinichi's voice was low and a bit raspy, but it only added to his charm. Damn him, why couldn't he have just worn his usual? Kaito cursed mentally. I bet I could stand him if he was in his stupid blue suit and bowtie!

"So, you ready?" Kaito asked, forcing on his Poker Face.

Shinichi nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Can we go to a coffee shop first? I just got up a couple of minutes ago."

"Uh, sure," answered Kaito, blinking as the detective strode past him and out the front gates. He jogged to catch up, and the two held an awkward silence for a long stretch of sidewalk before Shinichi finally spoke.

"What do you want to do today, Ku – Kaito?"

Kaito shrugged. "Don't you want to decide?"

"Not really." Shinichi stopped, forcing Kaito to follow suit, as they reached a small coffee shop. Shinichi pulled the door open and strolled in, leaving Kaito to scramble in after him.

Soon they were seated at a small table by the window, Kaito a jumble of nerves and Shinichi acting annoyingly cool. A timid waitress slipped menus in front of them and hurried away. Shinichi glanced down at the menu disinterestedly and sighed, placing his head on his hands and peering out the window. Kaito picked up the menu and opened it, eyes sweeping over the food options before moving over to the boy sitting across from him.

Kaito watched as Shinichi studied the passing people with a calm smile curving his lips. The sight made him think, Is this guy even human?! How the hell can he act so collected and se – we are not going to use that word again, Kaito. We are not.

Underneath his mask, Shinichi was screaming. Oh my God, this was such a freaking bad idea! I can't believe that I'm in a date with the Kaitou Kid, and I know his civilian identity, and I don't want to turn him in!

He peeked over at Kaito, whose eyes were perusing the menu, displaying not a single sign of discomfort. Is this guy even human?! How the hell can he act so collected when he's on a date with his male rival?!

The waitress returned, still with her head bowed slightly. "I-I'll take your orders now," she said in a voice so small it went almost unnoticed by Shinichi.

Shinichi opened his mouth to order, but Kaito cut in, "Hey there, are you okay? C'mon, raise that beautiful face of yours!" Shinichi's mouth dropped farther open as the waitress blushed a vivid cerise and lifted her head a couple inches. She was actually fairly pretty, though her eyes were hidden behind a pair of thick glasses.

"I like your glasses, waitress-chan," Kaito complimented cheerfully. He presented a rose – pink – and handed it to her, grinning manically.

"Th – Thank you," she stammered, pale fingers gripping the flower stem as her blush darkened a couple more shades.

"I'm Kuroba Kaito," Kaito said. "What's your name?"

"It's Mizutani Hanako," she answered.

"What a pretty name, Hana-chan," Kaito said, his grin growing.

Hanako, whose blush had just started receding, jump-started back into place. "N-No, of course not, Kuroba-san."

"Call me Kaito." Kaito's eyes softened and become more serious, his smile sliding from bright and happy to gentle and caring.

"K-Kaito."

All throughout this exchange, Shinichi had stiffened and looked away. Something was eating away at his stomach – a dark feeling, something like... anger? Hatred? It was hard to pinpoint. The only thing identifiable about it was that he wanted to shove Mizutani Hanako into a very deep and dark hole. And if she happened to break a bone or two, he wouldn't really mind.

The thought jarred him. How could I ever think that? he reprimanded himself. You're a detective. You try to prevent murder and people getting hurt. You stop murders from committing suicide. What are you even thinking?

"Shinichi? Tell Hana-chan what you'd like." The sound of Kaito's voice calling him back to reality, Shinichi blinked and looked at "Hana-chan," who was smiling warmly at him, timidity long forgotten.

A pang of horror struck him – why would Kudou Shinichi ever wish such a nice and sweet girl pain? Brushing it aside, Shinichi coughed and said, "Uh, sorry. I'll have an extra-large black coffee and –"

"We're going to share a piece of triple-chocolate cake. I'll have a cup of hot chocolate," Kaito interrupted, and Shinichi blinked at him.

A strangled expression slid across Hanako's face. "I didn't realize that you two were... Oh, I apologize. I'll be right back out."

Shinichi watched her go, her head drooping, before turning to glare at Kaito. "What the hell was that for?"

"This is a date, is it not?" Kaito winked, face slightly pink, and Shinichi stared at him, a blush spreading across his own face.

Kaito had been fairly confused at the detective's response to his wooing Hanako – Kaito had simply made it his policy to make anyone he met smile, by any means – but he knew that he wasn't liking the dark glint in Shinichi's eye and his tense body language. His (no, the, what are you even considering?! Kaito berated himself) detective wasn't happy, and that was all that had mattered to him at the moment.

After finishing their "breakfast" – and actually sharing the piece of cake – the two debated on what to do for the day, and after a long while filled with whines (Kaito) and "No, you pick! I'm the one taking you on a date!" (Shinichi), they finally decided to go to Tropical Land.

This is a fairly unoriginal idea, Shinichi realized as they stood in line for the Mystery Coaster. Kaito was glancing around the cave, observing the faux décor, when Shinichi nudged him.

"I solved a murder here when I was with Ran," he murmured in a low voice, leaning in beside Kaito's ear.

Kaito did a double take, then retorted bitingly, "Is that exactly something you should be telling me? That you solved a freaking murder?"

Shinichi recoiled. "Sorry," he apologized icily, moving away.

What does he even think he's doing, mentioning his date with Ran while we're on a date?! Kaito was thinking furiously, even as he and Shinichi were admitted onto the coaster. He slid into the seat beside Shinichi, the safety bar lowering over his head.

The thief and detective sat in silence, Shinichi feeling somewhat confused at Kaito's reaction and Kaito still seething. The coaster started moving, and right before the crest of the first drop, Kaito's hand managed to find its way atop Shinichi's.

What –? Shinichi started slightly, turning to stare at the other teen just before the car plummeted down the tracks.

The ride was over after a few minutes, and the two disembarked. From there, they continued going on rides before they decided to take a break, stopping in the amusement park store.

Shinichi rolled his eyes at the cheaply made articles for sale, while Kaito hung around one aisle, not really caring and mostly enjoying the rest from the roller coasters. Glancing to the side, he discovered he was standing beside a display of mood rings.

Wow, it's like a piece of my childhood, he thought fondly, picking one up. Shinichi noticed and strolled over. "What's up?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to check out this mood ring." Kaito swiped a thumb over the outside and watched as it changed colors. Wondering what it meant, he bent over to check the chart provided before proceeding to turn bright red.

Kaito quickly stuffed the ring back into its slot and near-ran out of the store. "Those change color on body temperature."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow and leaned over, pulling out the ring Kaito had just touched. It was a bright red, and when Shinichi touched the parts where it had started to turn back to green, it reverted back to red. Strange. Out of curiosity, he read the description of red.

In love.

Shinichi went red. "Th-That's right, it's only based on temperature," he stammered, hurrying after Kaito and depositing the ring back into its place.

It was around eight o'clock at night when Shinichi and Kaito finally left Tropical Land and went to a semi-formal restaurant. They attracted a few strange stares, two teenage boys who looked almost exactly identical sitting down together to eat dinner, but both ignored them pointedly.

A black-clad waiter ambled forward. "What would you two like for dinner?" he asked, producing a notepad from thin air and eyeing the two with an eyebrow cocked.

Shinichi ordered, as did Kaito, and the waiter left, humming distastefully.

Kaito ignored him and turned to Shinichi. "So... I guess this is it."

Shinichi shrugged. "I guess." There was a hint of sadness in Shinichi's voice that Kaito didn't fail to hear.

There was a silence.

"I have something important to tell you," both suddenly burst simultaneously, looking at each other in shock.

Could it be...? Shinichi thought desperately.

No way... Kaito gasped mentally, eyes widening.

"I – Er – you can go first," said Shinichi.

Kaito turned seven shades of pink. "Uh – okay." He took a deep breath. "Over the course of our date, I've discovered that, I, er..." He broke off for a moment, lost in the gleaming azure of Shinichi's eyes.

"You...?" prompted Shinichi.

Snapping out of it, Kaito cleared his throat. "I... think... No, I know that I'm in lo –"

A shrill tune suddenly began to play from an unknown source, immediately shattering every last bit of the tense atmosphere. Shinichi exhaled. "It's yours."

Kaito nodded mutely, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. The caller ID read Hakuba Saguru. Grinding his back teeth, Kaito smiled tightly at Shinichi. That English bastard has way the worst freaking timing on the planet!

"You can go take that," Shinichi commented, smiling tersely at the cell phone. "You're supposed to take calls by the bathroom."

"R-Right."

Shinichi watched as Kaito left, hand tightly encircled around his cell phone. Damn it, seriously?! I swear he was about to tell me that he's in love with me... And I would've told him the same... He buried his face in his hands. Why is it always me?!

Kaito, now by the bathroom, jabbed the "answer call" button. "Hakuba. What the hell."

"So how's Kudou-san going?" There was a jeer in the British teen's voice. "Managed to tell him your name yet? Get him to accept a rose?"

"Actually, we're on a date right now, and you just interrupted his confession!" snapped Kaito fiercely.

Saguru was at a loss for words for a moment. "O-On a date?"

"Yes." Kaito groaned. "Now why'd you even call?"


Shinichi, back at the table, was now tapping his fingers on the tabletop. What was taking Kaito so long?

Suddenly, he felt a small vibration against his leg and pulled out a buzzing cell phone. He smiled wryly. Looks like I'll be joining Kaito by the bathrooms.

Shinichi answered the call as he stood to go. "Hello?" he asked as he marched across the restaurant.


"Why do you sound so upset that I'd interrupted your confession?" Hakuba said slyly. "Wait – don't tell me, you've fallen for Kudou-san?!"

Kaito stifled a gasp. How'd he... There is no freaking way! "NO, I am not in love with Shinichi!" he half-shrieked into the phone. "How could anyone even fall for him?! I'm only on a date with him because of your stupid deal that if I got him to fall for me you'd stay away from Aoko! There is no other reason! God!" With that, he hung up, storming around a corner...

...and coming face to face with a pale Shinichi.

"Shinichi..." Kaito breathed, wide-eyed. "Wait... you didn't... you didn't hear that, did you?"

The detective slid a cell phone into his pocket before looking down, his bangs hiding his face. "I'll... I'll see you later, Kuroba-san." And with that, he turned and ran out of the restaurant, leaving Kaito standing by himself.


Yeah... I know. DO NOT WORRY, all will be resolved. I SWEAR. Next chapter.

Once I had a dream that I reached 40 reviews... but dreams, after all, are dreams.