(I'll deviate a bit, since I turned the end note into a rant board—turns out I needed to calm down, and review the preview in my head. After type-ranting and stress eating—that's how I quickly calmed down. But the original end note started coming back to me, well, bits of it.

To summarize—I mean it this time, I suck in summarizing, but I'm serious this time:

This is a spin-off of RI4—but less magical properties, more like close to nonexistent, aside from Akako, even then I'm debating whether or not to keep it. I most likely only kept the butler part and the system, sort of.

Kudou Shin'ichi and Edogawa Conan are one person (as is Miyano Shiho and Haibara Ai), only the multiple names just have a different purpose—kind of.

It's a full AU, there'll be hints of some canon details, but even then, they are twisted to fit this story.

Whether if its ReiShin or KidSil (Silver Bullet), is still debatable… (Why am I referring to it as KidSil? You'll find out in the preview.)

I kept the endnote as it is because you guys might notice something off.

Though honestly, this might be better—because I honestly cut the preview in half and deleted some scenes; ones I can't even restore, in writing quality, the last one was a rollercoaster hell road.

But the last one was fun.)

|Servitude 101; Serving Spoiled Brats, How to|

(Random Idea 10)

Rei braces and tries to keep himself as calm as possible, willing himself to keep his posture lax but no less proper than it should as he stood straight, a step behind his seated master. Trying to keep his breathing even as he forced the ever-familiar boiling sensation curling in his veins.

He wills himself to ignore how that damned butler's lips twitched to an infuriating smirk at him—the nerve—who stood right across from him, two distanced tables in-between them.

Noting the slight shift from his Master, he leans down, not a step, nor hair out of place.

(Of course, no butler of the Wisteria Branch would dare to be any less presentable, that'd be a crime—for what it's worth, but the disappointed stares one would get is enough to cow anyone.

Especially his Master—the boy may be young, but it doesn't make him any less ruthless.)

"Did something happen, Bourbon? You're tense." as expected of his Master—noticing even without looking. His Lord's voice was low, barely audible—but seeing as he spoke in their native language than the general rule of English, it was obvious—not that he could say he was a stickler for the rules without sounding like a major hypocrite.

"Ah, rest assured, it's nothing." his Master's eyes flicker to the Heiress—his former betrothed—of the Rose Branch, seated right across him and his lips twitched to a smirk. The Lady must have noticed because she smirked right back.

"Of course, I'm sure. I mean, it's not like Rye isn't across the room…" and gosh, wasn't that embarrassing?—Of course he expected nothing less from his Master, but it was close to impossible to hide things from him. Thankfully, his Lord only finds it amusing and shifts accordingly in an unsaid dismissal.

Staring hotly at the man—to glare without narrowing or widening his eyes—for a brief second, he looks away to stare in space, willing himself not to twitch when his Master chuckled lowly.

Was it just him, or was the Heir of the Clover Branch staring at them—no, his Master?

.-.

The gathering couldn't have ended any sooner, he would have sighed in relief if not for the fact that there were still many nobles and their servants roaming about the halls, so he keeps his amiable pleasant smile, nodding (a butler only bows to their Master) silent acknowledgments at his fellow butlers and their Masters when they greet his own.

Not that those filthy old men could ever hope to stand on equal foot with his Master.

"And here I'd be insulted that you didn't greet me, had I not know any better. Lord Silver Bullet." Rei sighs and Bourbon stops in time to keep the standard two and a half step distance—also tempted to strangle the Lady, her butler has been rubbing off on her—after all, it was against the rules to be in front of your Master unless you're opening doors or getting something for them.

(Well, his Master didn't really adhere to that and he said as much, however, social reputation was a different matter all-together.)

But of course, he needed not to worry, his Master merely tilts his body—his back to him, to greet the Lady in a way that wouldn't even be considered as less than polite; it was less formal for an actual greeting, but it wasn't an overly informal one either. It was, however, expected of a Lady and her Betrothed—though she and his Master have mutually broken it off, they didn't actually find the need to announce it publicly.

It was a useful foil, after all, they could rest assured that there'd be no unwanted suitors unless they themselves decide on it.

"Ah, Lady Sherry…" his Master greets idly, and Bourbon could hear the gossips around them as the nobles gave the two supposed betrothed a berth and space. He could sense some of the Duchess' dirty looks on either butler, and as much as it leaves a bitter taste in his mouth and mind to mentally praise his fellow butler—it was the right call, neither Master had dismissed them, it wasn't the other Master's right to order them around. Then his Master tilts his head back to have the other butler ins his sight. "Rye…" a gesture and he smoothly turns around. "Why don't you join us?"

Lady Sherry doesn't even miss a step, easily taking quick, even strides to walk side by side his Master. But neither loops their arms—of course, they already broke off their betrothal, even if they're keeping the public, not in the know, and they might be proving the factual rumors with it—but neither was willing to pretend that they still were when they weren't.

He'd praise both of the fourteen-year-old Counts of their brilliance, and of course his Master's general amazing existence—if it weren't for the fact that walking side-by-side with Lady Sherry, would leave him walking in line with Rye, of all people.

As they were heading for his Master's assigned quarters, he notes that the Heir of the Clover Branch was looking at them again, while almost all of the eyes were on their Masters, the Clover Heir was looking at his Master again, just like earlier.

It didn't help that anyone in the Clover line were generally secretive and mysterious—not much different from the Wisteria Branch really—however the Clovers were unpredictable folk, there was no telling what they want unless they went and said it.

Making sure not to stare for far too long, he makes a mental note to research the Clover Branch again.

…

Kaito wanted to groan.

It was unfair. Honestly.

The Kid Killer—or better publicly known as the Silver Bullet—of the Wisterias was walking Sherry to his quarters, while they wouldn't be left alone—it really didn't count when the extra company was their respective butlers. His friends, acquaintance, and even his parents—and their shared attendant would tell him he was a lucky young man. Often testing the water and playing with the line of life and death and coming out alive and most of the times unscathed, it wasn't surprised when the media immediately named him the second Kaitou Kid—though the last two letters were in lowercase, unlike his father's all capitalized Kaitou KID, and the Phantom Menace, not that anyone but his immediate family, and his three close friends knew that.

However, it was times like these where he'd be sorely tempted to sock anyone whoever said that in the face.

The Wisteria Branch—according to his father, was their Yin. The shadow to their light, as proof; his father the Kaitou KID is the rival of the Wisteria's current head, the Night Baron. They were rivals—and according to his mother, the famed Phantom Lady were also each other's best friends and best man in their wedding. His mother also shared the same bond with the striking woman, that is Night Baron's wife, the famous Night Princess—coined from the media eventually deciding that they needed to get better than just calling her Night Baroness, and since she was called The Princess in the past, they decided why not.

He had nearly met the Night Baron himself, was even close to learning the man's real name not just his public alias and title—however, the opportunity was lost when he made a mistake of addressing The Princess as "Madame" and "Queen" which were apparently her trigger words. The Queen belonged to her childhood friend, or so it seemed.

He hadn't met their son who is five years younger than him—though he did see the boy when he was seven-years-old and now that he thought of it, the brat for a two-year-old was quiet compared to his other counterparts and age peers.

But alas, to his child mind it wasn't interesting, because the kid was just sitting there with a book of all things, he decided it was boring—until he turned sixteen three years ago.

He could remember that night with startling clarity as one eleven-year-old Silver Bullet—or as his public alias: Edogawa Conan effectively cornered him on his own show. Not revealing his secrets as what critics would usually do—but he actually criticized his work on how he could have done it better. Not to mention, it was actually the pre-pubescent boy that apparently rewrote his codes so that his own maze set against him and their timing were just perfect.

As if that wasn't enough to top the cake, Kaito was just about ready to tie himself up and offer himself to the boy—screw his heritage—when the boy complimented him for being original, because apparently his father challenged the Night Baron, but made a mistake of trying to contact the man through his son, it ended with the Silver Bullet cornering his father—the Kaitou KID when he was still seven!

(Apparently, because it wasn't the Night Baron that showed up—a result of one Silver Bullet not telling him—his father slacked off and underestimated the boy.

And for Kaito who has been frustrated and trying every direction to one-up his old man, and this boy did it was amazing.)

Since their first meeting as Kaitou Kid and the Silver Bullet, Silver Bullet started attending his shows and heists with almost perfect attendance—a pun dropped by Kaito and the moniker Kid Killer was born. Morbid, but the fact that it was tailored to respond to Kaito's title, made him ecstatic with the news as if the universe had said: Yes, Silver Bullet—the Kid Killer? Is Kaitou Kid's.

And Kaito was determined, even if he had to wait until the boy turned 14—the proper age of consent and proposal of betrothal—and at least when the boy turns 16 for proper courting.

But of course, the universe also wanted to see if you still landed on your feet when they pulled the high throne underneath you:

Not even a week from that revelation, Edogawa Conan, the Silver Bullet was announced betrothed to Haibara Ai or Sherry. He has personally met her, and boy, she was not a pleasant girl—well, not pleasant to her enemies, but still not quite pleasant to her friends either. But he could see where the two would and will get along, it didn't help that Sherry was also the same age as Silver Bullet.

Seeing them disappear down the hall after a brief but synced movements that screamed familiarity sorely made him want to weep in his room.

But of course, the universe wasn't finished laughing at him because the Heir of the Gladiolus Branch—his so-called male best and childhood friend, decided to sidle next to him sighing in a way that would seem he was sympathetic but was honestly just mocking him.

"Shame… really." Kaito swallows the string of curses and glared at the half-Brit.

"Put a lid on it, White Horse." Hakuba-the bastard-of course only snorts in reply.

…

"So, the Kaitou Kid was staring awfully too long at your cherubic face, is there something you're not telling me?" it was expected when Lady Ai dropped the English as soon as the door slid shut behind them, and of course she'd talk about that first.

His Master was hardly unobservant—he was the exact opposite, in fact, however, when it comes to noticing stares his Master was more in tuned to notice malicious intent ones compared to neutral—or the disturbingly coveting ones. However, Kaitou Kid's was one of the other types that didn't belong to either category, a stare of admiration, adoration, and longing.

He knew that his Master spent his free time attending that con man's show for the puzzles and riddles—and if he were being honest, he'd actually enjoyed one or two of them. But the Heir was putting an awfully lot of attention on his Master that it didn't sit well with him.

Had they been in the Wisteria mansion, he wouldn't have qualms in responding as either Bourbon, Amuro or Rei to Lady Ai's jab. As it was; they weren't, he keeps his mouth shut knowing that there were bugs all over the room—any butler worth their salt would notice that, in fact, his Master noticed that the second they stepped in the room.

It was uncouth, but a precaution to prevent any attempts of illegal handling.

(And also attempts of gaining blackmail and an underhanded way to gather information, but they needed to do better if they want to catch one of the Wisterias off-guard.)

"He was?" but alas, since his Master was used to more malicious intent directed at him when it came to other affectionate stares—that he thankfully didn't lack in the mansion—it took his Master a forewarning to notice the more affectionate ones. "I noticed he looked, but I thought it was because this is my first time attending this event."

Rei didn't like agreeing with Rye even if it was just the facial expressions, but this one deserved a deadpan.

This was just ridiculous.

|To Be Continued|

(I am not amused.

Even way before I finished Chapter 10—like days before, during the time I started on Chapter 10 last week, this was fucking done.

I had written and completed this preview. I remembered the flow of the story preview, the switches between POVs, however, not word-per-word. And I just noticed as I finished DCMK RI39 and when I was about to continue ASotH's Chapter 10, I readied the files I was going to release with it, well tried.

After RI9, I finished this, 11-14, then followed by 48 and 39—because god, a character in Chapter 10 was boring, and because my mood wasn't having it.

It likely disappeared as I was transferring files to back it up. This idea decided to go poof and disappear from the folder on my laptop, on my flash drive, and on my fucking phone—and I have two whole folders that are a clone of each other there.

It was officially lost, more than 3 fucking thousand concocted words of a Conan-fan!Amuro, a pining!Kaito, and a flustered!Conan lost. And I know I didn't delete it. Something went iffy while I was backing the files up and it disappeared.

It was a fluffy preview, then this happens.

I don't even remember half of what I said in the end note. It would have been fine had I just finish this like yesterday, but that was last week.

Honestly, I considered letting this go. It doesn't help that I and my sisters have been staying in our Uncle's place which is freaking hot and humid and it's not helping my temper.

So, I'm doing my best to recreate it, because other preview ideas will give away too much of the plot.

I considered letting this go, but I won't. Why? [Explanations on idea 13's unedited note.]

[Don't worry too much, I'm purposely typing this first before the story so my temper doesn't affect it…

I'll just kill someone on later chapters of this in retribution.]

Until the next update.

(And to this never happening again.)

—DescriptivePessimism-DAA)