I'm sorry that it took me so long to update this story. I've been trying to figure out my own life lately, so yea. I've reread the story and do know I hadn't really planned a lot for this a part for the fact that possibly Akako's prediction was just something I made up on a whim. Now when I wrote that I didn't know what to write I just wrote what came to my head, so the first and last line is obvious, but I'm stuck on 'but before long his wings are clipped' since Kaito doesn't have any ACTUAL wings. I get it could be metaphorical, but I'm trying to figure that out. If anyone can help me out with that I'd really appreciate it along with any other ideas you might have. You can probably already tell the first line 'The dove disappears' is meant to mean KID's retirement which is why I can't be stuck on the second line.
Anyways hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4: Sensation
As soon as the recently retired thief entered his house once the door slammed shut behind him; he dropped his bag by the front door, took his shoes off by the entrance, stumbling down the hall and towards the kitchen. Kaito opened the sliding door, wandering over to the sink; hands rubbing at his throat as if to the soothe the pain he felt there.
His breathing was ragged.
It was almost as if he couldn't breath.
Was he thirsty?
Would drinking water even work?
Should he give it a try anyway?
He didn't know.
He opened the cupboard, grabbing out a cup and pouring water in it from the basin. After turning the tap off he took a large gulp of the water in the cup and waited after swallowing.
His throat still ached; only now it felt worse.
It felt like it was as dry as the Sahara Desert.
The water; once he'd swallowed it had felt like a bunch of nails had been washed down there, scraping the inside of his throat which caused him to cough.
Did that really mean he needed blood to satiate himself?
The teen lowered the cup to the counter, lowering his head as he did so; eyes downcast.
Where was he going to get such a thing?
He wasn't going to kill for it that was certain...
He gritted his teeth together; unsure of how to plan this out.
He took in a shuddering breath, shaking his head of these thoughts. "I...I guess I'll figure it out..." He closed his eyes, taking in another, longer breath however it only caused him to cough. The teenager brought his hand up to his mouth, covering it as he wheezed into his palm.
Kaito let out a small groan, leaning against the counter for a moment.
He bit his bottom lip and let out another small sigh before standing up straight and plastering a wide grin across his face.
"I can't let this keep me down," he told himself, clenching his hand into a fist, trying to keep his spirit high.
He couldn't allow this to get him down.
If he was no longer in danger due to him retiring from being KID then he shouldn't worry about this.
The organization was always on his tail, but now that he had given up KID they wouldn't need to be.
The only thing he needed to worry about right now ... was himself.
Right?
25/6/2015 - Morning - Kuroba Residence
Kaito woke up as per usual for a school day, but he woke up feeling unwell. He had a massive headache, his throat was burning and he felt dizzy. He sat up on his bed with a small groan, eyeing his bedroom before he noticed something on his desk that sparkled in the early morning sun coming in from his open window. He got up and approached his desk, shoulders slumped as he looked down at the sparkling object.
"That's right..." Kaito muttered with a bit of slur to his voice. "...I haven't returned Saturday's jewel that I stole." He eyed it a bit before looking away once the sunlight began hurting his eyes from the reflection it made off of the gem, rubbing them to regain his vision. He turned his attention back to it with a frown on his face. "The King's Tear..."
He reached to pick it up, but stopped himself when he heard the sound of tapping coming from downstairs. A light frown crossed his features as he exited his room, walking down the stairs and into the living room before heading down the hall. He came to the front door and looked into the eyehole; his frown deepened when he saw no one was there.
This prompted Kaito to open up his front door just a bit and look outside, wondering who had decided to pay him a visit so early in the morning; especially considering he had a headache, sore throat and the like.
His eyes scanned along his front yard until he looked down and let out an irritated sigh. "How did I not realize it'd be you at my door?"
The person standing in front of Kaito was Conan; who had his arms folded across his blue button-up shirt while he frowned up at the teenage magician. The shrunken teenager tsked, looking away from Kaito in annoyance as a light smirk played across his lips. "I came to check up on you. I wasn't sure whether if you took Dad's warning to heart or not."
Kaito looked scandalized at hearing what the boy had said. "W...What?! Of course I did!"
Conan just raised an eyebrow at this. "Really?"
The teenager nodded his head while wincing inwardly at the pounding sensation he felt after that.
"Alright then..." Conan began as a smirk played across his lips that scared Kaito a bit. "...why did it take you so long to answer the door?"
Kaito blinked, staring down at the boy.
He shouldn't have to answer that.
Kaito instead folded his arms and huffed, turning his head away. "I shouldn't have to answer that if I don't want to." The magician turned back to face Conan with annoyance clear as day on his face. "I want to know how you got my address first!"
The shrunken teenager tilted his head to the side as though playing innocent at the question. "Didn't you hear what my Father said? He said your Father and mine were good friends, so he obviously knew your address..." He stopped the innocent act as a smile spread across his face. "...Kuroba."
This caused the retired thief to flinch and grumble under his breath before turning his head away once more.
"So, tell me. Have you taken my Father's advice or not?" The boy's tone was serious now.
Kaito remained silent.
A long sigh came form Conan's lips as he shook his head at the magician's attitude. "I take it you didn't. I also had a feeling you hadn't from how long it took you to get to the door and you also seem to be shaking a bit," Conan pointed out.
The teenager frowned at hearing this, grabbing the handle of his front door just about getting ready to close it on the mini-detective.
He couldn't deal with this right now.
His headache was pounding; banging against his skull.
It wasn't just that.
The boy smelled nice.
It was his blood that he could smell.
The luscious, irony scent that drifted into his nose from the boy.
He wanted to close the door and hide in his room.
But he wanted...
"KUROBA!"
Kaito snapped out of what he'd been thinking, looking over to Conan and noticed the relief on his face.
The boy let out a low growl as he narrowed his eyes at the teenager. "No matter how unrealistic this sounds. You need blood to satiate your hunger. If you don't then you'll lose it."
The magician stared at Conan, blinking several times as if to come to terms with what he'd just said.
He was still trying to understand what Yuusaku had told him a day ago after all.
It was just that unbelievable.
"I'll lose what?" Kaito mumbled out almost seeming scared of the answer he'll get.
Conan opened his mouth to answer, but closed it almost instantly.
It was as if he was thinking of something to respond with.
Something that wouldn't tear the magician a part inside.
He finally opened his mouth again after taking a deep breath and looking Kaito in the eyes with a serious expression on his face. "Before ... you were looking at me as if I was something you could eat. Your eyes were red without us saying 'Pandora'." Conan swallowed as he watched the cogs turn in Kaito's head. "You looked at me as if I was your prey and you ... the predator, Kuroba."
Kaito's eyes widened as his grip on the door handle, tightened. "I...I did?"
Conan nodded his head at the question he was asked. "Yes. Which is why you need to drink blood to stop your mind from wandering to such things. You could garner the wrong kind of attention by doing that in public."
Kuroba stared, shoulders tensed at hearing that from the detective.
The wrong kind of attention is what he wanted to avoid.
He'd retired KID to avoid that.
He didn't want to start that up again.
"But where can I get my hands on blood?" Kaito asked, his eyes looking away from the boy after hearing what he'd been told.
At hearing this question Conan put his forefinger and thumb to his chin in thought.
That was a good question.
Where could Kaito get his hands on blood without killing or stealing any from a hospital?
It was like a light bulb suddenly went off in the detective's head as he looked back up at Kaito with a very familiar smirk across his face. "I know someone that can help - follow me."
Kaito stared at him for a moment before a frown crossed his features as he stood in the doorway of his home. "Um ... I'm still in my pajamas you realize and I also have school."
A long, exasperated sigh left the shrunken detective's mouth as he shook his head at the magician. "Get changed. You can call in sick for one day, can't you? This is something important to stop you from causing harm to those around you."
Kuroba stared at the detective for a moment before letting out a small sigh of his own, rubbing his eyes and nodding. "Alright ... I'll be out soon..." After saying that, Kaito closed the door on the shrunken detective and leaned against it.
He stared at the floor.
And stared.
And stared.
Until he opened his mouth, closing it and bit back the emotion he was about let out.
He couldn't cry now.
He wouldn't.
He would not let this thing beat him!
He got off the door and headed up towards his room to get changed, call in sick after that and head back out to Conan.
It still bothered him of what the boy had said.
That he had looked like a predator about to deal with his prey...
That didn't sit right with him...