AN: Okay...so the ending might be cheesy. Very, very cheesy. And with fluff. Lots of fluff. Don't know what came over me.
Possible withdrawal from all that angst :P Or the euphoric feeling of end of exams... :D If you want to blame anyone, blame Shakespeare. Or King Lear's kids. Either way, that old guy is to blame for the cheesy ending.
Also, Happy White Day!
Let me know how you liked it!
Enjoy~
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"Dialgoues"
'Thoughts'
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Note: Please read till the end. I've left a few acknowledgments in my author's note after the chapter and news regarding the bonus heist chapter.
Also, sorry to those who got the phantom update for chapter 6. The last chapter underwent some semi-major editting, so I reposted it and must have been the couse of the alert :)
Chapter 7: Secret Identities
"I'm Kuroba Kaito, a magician."
"Kudo Shinichi, a detective."
No masks, no falsehoods, no lies, no omitted truths.
No more secret identities.
This was them – Kaito and Shinichi. No more and no less.
Shinichi silently stepped aside, wordlessly inviting Kaito inside. Kaito grinned at that before complying. They had a lot to talk about. A lot to say to each other. And what better time to do it than the present?
It had been four months now, four months since Kaito and Ran's not-break-up.
While Ran had held no ill will towards Shinichi at all; he had not lied to her truly and when she'd asked, he had told her everything; she did harbour some resentment towards Kaito for a while. It was simply a left over bitter feeling from having liked him and then being rejected because Kaito was in love with her best friend. Eisuke had helped her overcome most of it, being a faithful friend and a compassionate listener. But when the Suzuki heiress started giving Kaito the evil eye, Ran completely let go of her anger, rushing in to defend her friend from Sonoko like the true angel she was.
Kaito and Ran had grown close as friends now, keeping their distance for a while but still interacting during college hours. Besides, they both had other people to spend time with – Kaito with Shinichi, whenever they could talk on the phone or spending time together during weekends when Shinichi returned to Tokyo, and Ran with Eisuke. They would spend time catching up with one another or generally hang out whenever they could. Eisuke and Ran were keeping it at friendship for now, but Ran had told Shinichi that she might give him a try – Eisuke seemed to genuinely care for her since high school after all. Also, she might be developing a bit of attraction towards him; he was quite charming in a different sort of way. Nothing immediate, of course, but she was willing to give it a try some time soon.
Kaito and Shinichi had started talking more freely, meeting with each other whenever they could and they spoke of things from their personal lives that had been untouched before. Those three words had never been uttered since that fateful day when Kaito had said them to Shinichi, but that was perhaps for the better... They were re-discovering parts of the other that they had once fallen in love with and some things just couldn't be rushed.
They did not go on 'dates'. The word felt foreign to them. And as evidenced by Shinichi's luck, going on a successful date seemed to be an impossible challenge. Even if stumbling across corpses did not happen so frequently with Kaito around, it was better not to tempt fate.
So they met. They met and they talked; they shared secrets over cups of tea, discussed books at lunch time, ranted about the unending exams during dinner, curled up on couches to watch magic shows or Animal TV, held friendly football matches (one-on-one's that Shinichi always seemed to win), played poker and chess, squabbled over their favourite fictional hero heatedly yet passionately…
"…I always wanted to be a detective, you know? Ever since I was a kid and I'd discovered Sherlock Holmes."
"Did you? I knew I wanted to be a magician the first time I saw Oyaji perform on stage."
"Yeah? When was that?"
"I must have been five or so…I'd often arrange all my soft toys and pretend they were my audience as I pulled off a few amateur magic tricks!"
"I used to do the same! Act like both the detective and the culprit, revealing the trick behind the crime…"
Childhood memories, their families, ambitions, little things that had been glossed over before were revisited and talked about in depth. It had felt slightly awkward at first, but before they knew it, they were slipping into familiar banter.
"…Aoko and I first met at the clock tower, you know, the one in Ekoda? I'd held a heist there once –"
"Wait a sec! Heist? At the clock tower? Do you mean the one where you engraved a message on the clock's face?"
"Yes…but, how did you –? Wait…you were the one!"
"Um…"
"You shot at me! With a gun! And real bullets!"
"Hey! I didn't shoot at you! I shot at the strings holding the cloth – and my aim was perfect! And I've never missed my mark, okay?"
"Whatever, Meitantei…you nearly gave me a heart attack when you started firing, you know? But, that was exhilarating! No one's ever gotten so close to catching me since that one time!"
"Only you would find such a situation exhilarating…"
And that soon became one of their most favourite memories – to think they'd encountered each other as Kaitou Kid and Detective Kudo Shinichi even before the whole 'Conan' ordeal – Kaito firmly declared it was fate! Shinichi just called it coincidence, but he shook his head fondly at Kaito's romanticism.
"…It was foolishness. And arrogance coupled with a lack of awareness. I was too focused on Vodka to notice Gin come up behind me."
"But what did they do? To make you… shrink?"
"Poison. One that was supposed to be undetectable in the body. Cause of death – unknown. The post mortem report would declare it to be a natural death…"
"But you didn't die –"
"No. No, I didn't die. What happened to me was a side-effect. 99.99% recipients of the poison died, exactly like the poison should kill. I was one of the 0.01% that shrunk instead of dying."
"It was…all…chance?"
"Yes. All chance. The… transformation, for lack of better words, was painful – like my blood was boiling, my bones were melting and my skin felt to be on fire…I almost thought I died…and then I woke up to some concerned officers calling me little boy…I was sure I was going mad…"
"I'm glad, I'm just glad you didn't die… This, all this – taking down the Black Organisation – would have been impossible without you, Meitantei,"
"There were others – the FBI, CIA, Secret Police –"
"And I'd have never worked with any of them. I'm telling you, it'd have been impossible without you…Shinichi…"
"Thanks…Kaito…"
That had been one nerve-wrecking talk they'd had, but it was definitely needed. Talking about why he'd been Conan had been difficult when it was Ran – his childhood friend and the one person he'd known for nearly all his life – but talking about it with Kaito was a whole different experience. Because Kaito… Kaito knew; he knew what it was like to have a double identity, a secret that he couldn't share, a part of him that he'd always have to hide from prying eyes; he knew and understood.
"Aoko had just told me that KID was a better magician than me, and well, that seemed like an insult, you know?"
"Because no one's better than you?"
"Yeah – hey, don't laugh! That's true! I learnt from the best there was and no one could be better than Oyaji! So, yeah…I decided to confront KID and prove her wrong."
"And then? How did you just go and 'confront' KID?"
"Did I mention that I have a portrait of Oyaji in my room?"
"No…what does that have to – oh! Don't tell me, it gives away to some kind of hidden room?"
"Spot on, Meitantei…So, turns out Oyaji had rigged it to give away after a certain time and when I accidently pressed it, voila – I found myself in an underground room, kind of a basement, filled with KID paraphernalia! So, I donned on the suit and cape and decided to meet the impostor – surely an impostor, because I could clearly see Oyaji used to be KID…"
"Wait, who was the impostor then? The…assistant?"
"Konosuke Jii, my father's assistant, yes. And now he's mine too. Apparently, he knew that KID had been killed by the Black Organisation and was trying to lure them out by playing bait…"
Shinichi had known about the organisation's search for the mythical Pandora and KID's decision to act like bait, but it was a whole different thing hearing bits and pieces from Kaitou Kid and learning the whole truth behind it from Kuroba Kaito. The former had been due to necessity and the latter was a sign of trust. A whole different kind of trust from the one Kaitou Kid and Edogawa Conan shared, but equally as precious, equally as important.
"…Ran and I, I'm sure we could have been something. I know I loved her, loved her oh so very much. But then, Conan happened and that affection morphed into sibling love."
"I know, Aoko and I ... I took her out on one date, you know?"
"You did?"
"Yeah, turned out to be on the day of a heist; I think it was on purpose; definitely on purpose, so that Aoko could prove to her father that I'm not KID…"
"Oh, Kaito…"
"I know, I know – that was when I was sure that my lies would only drive us apart. She believed me when I said I was not KID, how was I to ever tell her after everything was over that they were all right? Her father's fleeting suspicions, Hakuba's near conviction…she'd have been devastated to know she was the only one unable to see the truth behind my lies…"
"I – Kaito – Ran suspected me too, you know. Convinced, almost. And yet she never said anything because she wanted me to tell her on my own time. And I knew that, yet – yet I concocted a plan to show Conan and Shinichi as separate identities. I lied to her, misdirected her, wilfully and knowingly, time and time again…"
"How – how did Ran-san take it?"
"She was angry, oh so angry – and rightfully so – but she understood too. Once she heard the whole story, the true danger behind it all…and by the end, even Kogoro-san and the local police had gotten involved. So, she knew the danger involved in the whole thing and suddenly she was so thankful that I was alive... She forgave me instantly. She just let go of everything… and I – I'm blessed, really, to have her as my best friend…"
"Yes, she truly is wonderful that way. Do you think that…Aoko might understand too? She hated KID – hated him for taking away her father's time, hated him for taking away my time with her, when she learns that I used to be KID –"
"She cares for you too much. She does love you, and I'm sure she'll understand. Even if she disliked KID – and I'm sure hate is too strong a word – she still loves you. Whenever you wish to tell her, she'll understand…"
Ran and Aoko – the two women in their lives who had once meant the world to them, had once been everything. Alone, with no real parents for company and support, they had been the rock to lean upon, the one they'd found comfort in, the one they had considered home. Not that they still didn't mean so much, but both were pretty sure that Ran and Aoko were no longer 'The Woman'. For Shinichi, for a long time, KID and now slowly, Kaito was 'The Person'. Just like Shinichi was for Kaito.
But, even so, Ran and Aoko had played such a huge part in their lives that talking about them was inevitable. They were a part of their past and present, and if Kaito and Shinichi were to make a future with each other, then discussing their first lady loves was but natural.
Kaito did not tell Aoko the truth about KID just then. And probably wouldn't till quite some time. Perhaps when he had enough courage to do so, perhaps after Shinichi and Kaito got together properly, perhaps…he didn't know, but he knew he would. One day, he certainly would.
"…I was so surprised to see a kid at the rooftop; really, I hadn't expected anyone but Nakamori's men. Mouri had thoroughly misled the others that half my work was done! You though, you were a surprise. I never expected your presence there."
"Well, to be honest, I never much cared for thieves either. So, I didn't really think I'd go to that heist."
"So, I was an exception? My, I must have really impressed you, Meitantei!~"
"A curiosity. A retrograde thief who announced his arrival before committing the theft, who wrote his note in codes? Well, I was intrigued,"
"Ha! Whatever, Meitantei! I know you couldn't resist me!"
"Shut up! Don't flatter yourself too much! How did you feel being outsmarted by a kid? Eh?"
"Well, you weren't actually a kid, were you? I don't think it counts…"
"I terrified you, didn't I? Especially that first time!"
"You literally told me you'd turn me into a legend by sending me to a 'graveyard' called prison and then proceeded to smash a cruise ship engine room phone to bits! With a soccer ball! And you looked like a six year old brat! What was I supposed to think?"
"Ha! I actually did terrify you!"
"Not for long, don't sound so smug! Once I decided to look past the childish visage and into your genius mind…"
Yes, once Kaito had stopped seeing Conan as a child but just like another detective, it had stopped being so mind-boggling. Not to say that Conan didn't surprise KID at times, but Kaito had returned those 'surprises' with equal vigour – kick starting a friendly rivalry between the two. And it had been that very decision of Kaito's – to look past Conan's physical age – that had allowed him to fall in love with Tantei-kun. So, perhaps, the entry of 'crazy-kid-with-superpower-soccer-balls' into Kaitou Kid's life was quite a blessing, in the end.
"…Are you icthyophobic?"
"Eh? Where did this come from?"
"You seem to dislike the very mention of those particular aquatic creatures. And that one time when we went on a recon mission with Jodie-sensei to a sushi shop…"
"Yeah, well…"
"Hmm, I did think so – hey, Kaito? You know it's perfectly alright, don't you?"
"It's not a very common fear…and well, people usually have a disbelieving reaction to it…"
"That doesn't matter; all kinds of phobia are legitimate…Kaito, you do understand – hey, Kai – I – you know, I once actually met someone who was triskaidekaphobic –"
"Triskai – what?"
"Triskaidekaphobia. Literally the fear of number thirteen."
"Oh, at a case then, I presume?"
"Yeah, he immediately ruled out as the culprit, considering…"
Phobias were much different from giving up your secret identities. Phobias were vulnerability – a deep mental fear that claimed you and refused to let go. And relinquishing the truth about that to someone was a whole different kind of secret.
Letting Aoko knew was alright; she was his childhood friend and even though she laughed and poked fun, Kaito knew it was her way of making light of things, her way telling him it didn't matter and that he was still the same old Kaito and she wasn't suddenly going to treat him as fragile china or feel it to be ridiculous. Also, she would never ever let anyone else know of it, no matter how much she teased him about it in jest, she'd never let anyone else do so.
But Shinichi…Shinichi was a different matter. So, for him to accept it and tell him it was perfectly legitimate…it had been a weight off his shoulders. And the Meitantei had his own way of distracting Kaito from it – bombarding him with random facts, some related to various phobias, some queer cases he'd come across, casual deductions spouted almost by instinct – well, it was just so Shinichi, that Kaito had smiled affectionately.
"…And you're such a coffee addict! Did you know what you'd told me once?"
"What?"
"Well, it was almost unintentionally…"
"What?"
"Uh…I handed you coffee and you were all like… 'This is great KID, I love you.'"
"What?"
"Yeah, who says that in such a manner? And I'm pretty sure it's the coffee that inspired it,"
"…Well, you do make good coffee…"
"Gah! What do you even like about that bitter drink? You don't even add enough milk or sugar to it!"
"I do add milk and a little sugar, well sometimes, but I do! – You should know, after all those times you've made it for me."
"I do, which is why I'm so surprised how you can drink that concoction – that amount of sugar is practically tasteless!"
"You just add an inordinate amount of sugar to everything!"
"Hey! I like sweet things!"
"Uh, how did we end up discussing about sugar again?"
"Discussing your poor taste in sugar, more like…"
And some conversations were baseless, pointless, and just plain old bickering, yet it was just like them. Just like old times as they squabbled over little, meaningless things, gently ribbing each other teasingly. It felt nice, it felt comfortable, it felt right. What more was needed?
"…Heiji and I met on a case when I was Conan. And you won't believe this – Heiji had gotten some kind of Chinese white liquor, Paikaru – and I don't know why, but it turned me back!"
"Turned…you back? To Kudo Shinichi? Are you serious? Wine! Wine turned you back?"
"I don't really know why either. Haibara said something about some properties of the wine; probably the bacteria used to ferment it or even the duration for fermentation might have had something to do with it…"
"Huh. So why didn't you use it again? To turn back?"
"I thought of the same thing at first. But it didn't work; I'd supposedly built up immunity for it."
"Well, Tantei-han's visit was certainly eventful."
"You don't know half of it. The second time we met…"
Both of them would have to agree, some friends and acquaintances of theirs were just too quirky to be considered normal. From shrunken scientists to phantom thieves, from obsessed detectives to crazy fans, from wealthy heiresses to eccentric witches…
"…And then she –"
"Whoa, hold on! Are you serious?"
"Of course I am! What's so hard to believe?"
"A witch, Kaito? A witch?!"
"Hey, if shrinking down to one third of your height is possible –"
"That was due to a poison! Actual science –
"I find it very less science-y to be honest, more like magical mumbo-jumbo –"
"– And you're telling me you had a witch in your high school class! That's a little hard to believe…"
"Well, even if she didn't have magic – and I'm not kidding, she did! Not hallucinating either, okay? – She'd still be a witch anyway. Too creepy to be anything else…Did you know she actually foretold your appearance at the clock tower?"
"Wha –?! She did?"
"Yeah, something about a 'rival from the east', with the 'cunning of the devil' and stuff."
"Yeah, that sounds creepy…"
In the end, they'd agreed to disagree on that. Pandora was a myth and something yet unproven. Magic on the other hand – there were simply so many ways to misdirect and fool one's senses, that it had thousands of explanations to it. Shinichi would never really believe the existence of it and Kaito couldn't really blame him either – he had not believed Akako's crackpot stories and voodoo magic till he'd seen it first-hand. And even then, hallucinogens could always play a huge role – Gah! He's started thinking like a detective now…
"…A car? A whole car in your underground room?"
"Uh huh, I should have known, if there was anything remotely fascinating about the whole 'KID' thing, it would be the fact that Oyaji stored some kind of vintage car down there…"
"Of course –"
"You're actually admitting it!"
"– isn't the mere fact that he managed to fit a whole car down there so fascinating – wait, it is whole, right?"
"Er, yeah,"
"No scratches or broken parts? Engine running smoothly?"
"Oh come on, Meitantei!"
"Kaito."
"Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine. Had a thick layer of dust when I first found it, but it's all spick and span now. I tried a test run, the engine started well enough after Jii-chan looked it over."
"Good. You've got to take me down there one day…"
And what conversation could be complete without bringing cars into it? In fact, KID's hang-glider garnered far less fascination than the car did, even though Kaito relished in explaining the mechanism behind it and Shinichi would have to admit that he was impressed.
"…It can act as a locator for the Detective Badges, a transceiver, the lens can zoom in…well, I'm pretty sure it underwent some more modifications over time."
"Wow, that's a lot! And here I thought you actually needed those glasses to see, or I'd have stolen those off you every time before my heist!"
"Kleptomaniac…That's not a compliment!"
"And? What about that monstrous soccer ball belt of yours?"
"Ah, that was admittedly one of Hakase's better inventions. Though considering that most of his innovations go up in smoke – literally – perhaps that's not saying much. It could hold only one ball at first –"
"Only one?! Damn…"
"–though it was modified to hold two, later. Besides, you don't get to bitch about my gadgets. Remember that card-gun of yours? And your flash bombs and smoke bombs? All those flashing lights gave me headaches! And your cans of sleeping gas; oh how much I detest them…"
"This coming from the one who had a tranquilizer dart in his watch, yeah, I totally believe you, Shinichi. Besides, that card gun is a master piece – did you ever know how it shoots out cards?"
"Well, no, must have been quite the mechanism…"
"It is! The magazine slot is normal, only filled with a new and slightly modified pack of cards…"
In a contrasting manner, their current talks, compared to those had as Conan and KID, were quite light hearted. It was no longer a discussion filled with undercurrents of desperation and hope, brimming with a need for freedom. It had a pleasant sort of lilt, content in the knowledge that they had a long time ahead of them without the threat of death looming overhead.
And before they realised it, Kaito and Shinichi were just as close as KID and Conan used to be. The epiphany struck the detective first; always good at figuring out his own emotions, though he still fumbled over others' (especially if it was his object of affection).
Shinichi still remembered how it had happened, when it had happened – the memory was not so easily forgettable, but then, when it came to Kaito, almost all the memories were stark clear in his mind.
Kaito had been juggling with eggs on a whim, with a slight arrogance to show that he could do it, while Shinichi watched him from his seat at the dining table at the Kudo house in Beika. Then the magician had the spectacular idea to mix in the soy sauce bottle, the salt shaker and a random can of mackerel that had been lying about. And the first few rounds went well enough that Kaito looked over at Shinichi and gave him a smug grin.
Shinichi refrained from pointing out what the tin can contained, but Kaito had already noticed Shinichi's diverted attention and taken a peek. The result was a very squeaky (I don't squeak, Shin-chan!) yelp and the eggs, soy sauce and salt shaker dropped heavily on to his head. While the soy and salt were safely contained, the eggs smashed on to his head and drenched him with yolk. Add the bumps on his head, courtesy of the soy bottle and salt holder, it made for a very disgruntled magician. Shinichi stifled the urge to snort.
'Kami-sama,' Shinichi thought as he brought his cup up to his lips to cover his amused expression at Kaito's pouting visage. The magician dared not to look anywhere near the fallen can of fish as he walked upstairs for a shower, leaving Shinichi to clean up the mess, 'I'm in love with an idiot.'
And the realisation was so sudden and utterly normal, that Shinichi knew it had happened again – he'd fallen in love with him all over again, but this time with the whole of Kuroba Kaito, and not merely a part of him.
Shinichi had taken a huge breath then and calmed down. Being in love with Kaito a second time was just as euphoric as it had been the first – only this time, he wasn't in love with a phantom that was liable to disappear, but a man who was most assuredly here and real.
The detective had smiled then and waited till Kaito was sure of his own emotions. They had time after all.
Winter. The time of first snow.
The cold had set in and Shinichi and Kaito tumbled into the Kudo manor desperately searching for warmth. Kaito had taken to spending most of his days at Shinichi's house every time their college let up for break and Shinichi returned to Tokyo. He'd even converted a guest room and stuffed it with his clothes and other magic tricks he mostly practiced. One bookshelf was already filled with most of his books from home and many more that Kaito had bought that year. Shinichi might as well invite him to move in with him, really.
Switching on the centralised heater, they adjourned to the library, easily the warmest room due to its thick carpets and personal heater that was left on for most of the day. And well, Shinichi did spend most of his time in there.
Kaito went off to prepare hot chocolate and coffee – Shinichi would admit to being addicted to Kaito's way of brewing it – while the detective sank into an armchair, gazing up at the vast collection of books around him. It was a most delightful sight, rows and rows of books that had been collected over two generations.
Kudo Yusaku had bought most of them, but Shinichi himself had added quite a few – mostly Shinmei Kaori's new Detective Samonji series. Having personally being involved in that case when he was Conan had made him quite attached to the books. Also, he did enjoy reading about Detective Samonji's young assistant – a six year old child with huge glasses and great insight – that had been inspired by Conan. So many things, left over from his Conan days, still lingered. Even though Edogawa Conan had disappeared, he'd affected too many people; he'd been affected by too many people to be forgotten. Especially –
"Here, Meitantei," Kaito said and Shinichi reflexively grasped at the cup.
– Yes, especially KID. Kuroba Kaito.
Kaito set down his own cup on the table as he stretched, popping a few bones as he did so. Shinichi was reminded, all of a sudden, of a similar incident a couple of years ago, when he was still Conan.
Conan and Kaitou Kid's collaboration…their frequent meetings…the library…KID's coffee…his accidental declaration of love…
While Shinichi did not remember it, Kaito had told him about it, the first time Conan had told him those three words and Kaito's subsequent realisation of his own feelings. Remembering that, Shinichi got up, placing his cup of coffee away. He always was one for dramatics after all – and the blame lied solely with his mother.
Crossing over to stand behind Kaito, he wrapped his arms around the other male, embracing him and lightly pulling him backwards. Kaito's hand, which had been moving to pick up his cup, retreated. The magician leaned back into the detective and hummed, slightly surprised by the hug. Shinichi just buried his nose into Kaito's hair.
Kaito smiled at Shinichi's sudden and spontaneous affectionate gesture – the detective did like doing things on a whim, even though it would seemingly have more meaning and thought behind it than Kaito cared to know. It was spontaneity and surprise, two of many things that Kaito loved about Shinichi and that was enough for him.
When the hug did not end after a few moments, Kaito let out an amused and questioning huff, "Shin-chan?"
"I love you."
The declaration was sudden and swift. And like all of Shinichi's statements, it was the absolute truth. Kaito would have gasped if he hadn't already known, known how much Shinichi loved him.
It was quite obvious in his gestures and Kaito had never felt more glad about his cultured talent to read body language – and while Shinichi might have been a difficult study, every action of his showed the affection he felt for Kaito. Though, it certainly was one thing to know it and another to hear it – Shinichi had never really uttered the words after that one time as Conan, after all.
As such, he stayed in awed and blissful silence before recovering.
"I love you more." Kaito quipped back playfully.
Shinichi said nothing, tightening his arms around Kaito and burying his nose into the magician's soft, dark brown locks.
"Come on, Meitantei," Kaito let out a laugh, "you're not doing this right. You're supposed to say 'I love you most' now. Haven't you ever watched Disney?"
"No," Shinichi smiled, "Too much fluff and cheer and pink…and no good mystery in it."
"Really!" Kaito huffed, slightly exasperated, but that was such a typical answer and what had he even expected?
"But Shakespeare on the other hand…" Shinichi trailed off, pressing a soft kiss below the shell of Kaito's ear, "Great man."
"Literature, Shinichi?" Kaito sighed teasingly, "You chose Shakespeare over Disney? Blasphemy –"
"Hmm," Shinichi grinned, totally expecting that response. He turned silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words before saying, "My love for you is as vast as the boundless sky, more precious than all the jewels in this world, deeper than the deepest ocean, as ceaseless as life on earth, as infinite as time itself…"
Kaito gave a small huff of amusement at that, eyes crinkling as his face softened into a smile at Shinichi's words. The words may have been too poetic and cheesy, but the sentiment was true, "I think I could grow to like Shakespeare,"
"I'm sure you will," Shinichi replied as he pulled away only for Kaito to turn and lean into him, their lips meeting for the first time.
Their first kiss, as Kaito would later describe it, was as thrilling as their first encounter – as both, KID and Shinichi at the Clock Tower Heist with the gun and cloth over the face of the clock, or KID and Conan on the rooftop of a hotel with the fireworks and flash-bombs.
Breathless and stunning.
xxx
The End . . . (?)
xxx
AN: Whew! That's one long romance+angst fic! I never thought I'd write something like this...
So, first a few acknowledgments before I go on to reply to reviews...
To Shana Fujioka - Thanks for creating that wonderfully intriguing prompt! It enticed me enough that even with the angst, I still chose to write this story, and I enjoyed each and every moment of it! So, thanks!
To my best friend - Thanks for having all those sappy conversations and philosophical talks with me! And despite that you'll probably never read this, slash not being your point of interest, thanks for all the help you gave! You're the BEST!
To all my reviewers - Thanks for your encouraging comments! They really helped, making me feel that I was actually doing a good job at romance (And I know I'm repeating, but this is my first actual romance fic, so I'm glad for your support!)
Also, to all those who favourited/followed - A big THANKS!
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To Guest1 - Thanks for reviewing! Made you cry? Aww, I'm doing a good job on the angst then! :P
To Rockster - Exams just got over, so here's the chapter 7! I'm very happy to know you liked the latest chapter! And Eisuke's character is pretty difficult to gauge, considering what little screen time he had; most of it spent on looking for his sister, but I did like how they portrayed his clumsiness :P Ran, she's a complicated character no matter how simple her personality is...to display her strength and weakness, independence and vulnerability, courage and cowardice...it was slightly tough finding a balance :/ But, I love her character, so yeah :) Also, I simply adore Haibara's personality! English is not your first language I take it? Neither is it mine, to be honest *smiles sheepishly*. It's my third language, but we had to learn it at school and I'm good at learning languages, so... :) I agree, DC's timeline is all over the place! Seriously, it's been twenty years and we've had two valentines, about six christmas days, two white days, goodness knows how many New Years...and not even ONE year has passsed. Geez... Anyway, Thanks a lot for your review! Always glad to know that you enjoyed my writing!
To purple mangostee - Thanks for reviewing! I have already sent you a PM with a detailed reply :)
To minami27 - Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the chapter!
To ddmmyy - Thanks! Glad you're liking it!
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REVIEW!
A last, parting review guys? To let me know how you liked the ending? Please? Pretty please?
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Yes, there will be a bonus chapter - a KID Heist, coming right up! (In about a week or so... :D)
Preview: His second year of college was admittedly better than his first. There was no more hopeless pining over a pint sized detective, no more staring wistfully at Aoko and Hakuba's picture perfect relationship, no more pointless wishes for Conan-kun's return, no more moonlighting as KID - oh, if only he knew! Being in a relationship with Shinichi was easy, as long as you remembered that said boyfriend was a detective and was quite liable to run into cases or get called for them at all times of the day - sometimes even at 4:00 in the morning!
Add in surprise announcements from Suzuki Jirokichi and Shnichi's somewhat promise to make an appearance, well KID never backed down from a challenge, after all...
"...Don't expect me to go easy on you."
"Of course not, Meitantei..."
And perhaps Kaito had gotten too used to Conan - the Kid Killer - and his limitted reach and influence, that he was pleasantly surprised at what Kudo Shinichi - the Heisei Holmes - could accomplish. Perhaps this would become a rendition of the Clock Tower Heist, huh?
"...Maybe I should have asked you to go easy on me, after all, Shin-chan..."
Eh, no. This was better, definitely. The thrill behind this kind of chase was uncomparable. It was different from Conan's taunting smirks, his smug grins and glinting eyes that claimed to have figured him out. This was Shinichi's covert operation, orders issued from the shadows and stealthily commanded whispers - it was a new-old territory, it was exhilarating!
And perhaps Nakamori-keibu was right, in the end - KID was certainly crazy. Who the hell laughed in delight when you were literally cornered by the police? Well, no matter, KID would still escape, as he always did.
After all, you can never capture a phantom...
