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Summary: In which Hakuba visits the prison.

The days seem to blend into one another until Kaito is woken up early on a saturday morning by other prisoners yelling that they're getting visitors today.

It's louder than it usually is, more rowdy, and when Kaito sits up, yawning, he wonders why there are more people excited today.

"Apparently," Shinichi says, having heard him shift from below, "they're opening the second visiting room today, and double the prisoners are getting guests."

Which explains the sheer noise of it all. It's like words a bouncing off of the walls, getting louder and louder as they echo into the various hallways of C-block. Kaito almost wants to shout at them to be quiet, and to let him think, but he doesn't exactly want to think at the moment.

He wonders how the day will go - Hakuba had said over the phone that he would be there on the next visiting day, would get his father to sort out the details, since it's a police issue and he's going to be the leading consultant on it. Kaito doesn't care how the detective figures it out, as long as he shows up.

"It's just like the other visits," Kaito sighs, "they should just calm down, it's not anything to scream about."

Shinichi clicks his tongue against his teeth, tutting, "let them be excited. It's not like they've got much to look forward to."

It's true, Kaito guesses. It's not like most of the people in this place are going to see the outside ever again - the only good part of their lives are their visits, and even then, they've got to constantly worry whether they're visiting orders will be greeted with actual people.

"I take it that girlfriend of yours is visiting today," Kaito says, and his voice is light, teasing. He doesn't take much notice in the slight hesitation he receives, is too used to the pauses in their conversation as Shinichi rewires his brain into giving information and not hiding it.

"Yeah," Shinichi says, and he's standing up making his way over to the faucet to wash off of his face. "It's the last time I'm going to send her a visiting order… I can't… Not anymore."

Kaito glances at him, tries to think of something to say that will make him feel better, but nothing seems like it'll be able to fix the hole this prison has caused.

After all, how is he supposed to help wake him up from the nightmare he's living, when Shinichi's not even asleep.

He doesn't know.

"I'm sorry," he says, lacking the words to the detective back together.

"So am I," Shinichi says, "but I need to stop thinking that this is something I can come back from, you know?"

Kaito hums - he understands the feeling whole-heartedly, although he thinks it might be easier for him, because he's used to adopting and throwing away various personalities and personas unlike Shinichi who's always just been… himself. It's probably more painful for him, knowing he needs to discard the parts of himself that make him… him.

"I get it," Kaito says.

The minute he sets foot in the visiting room, standing beside Shinichi, Kaito feels his determination spurring him forwards. He watches his cell mate as he makes his way over to a table, sitting down opposite a brunette who looks similar to Aoko in a startling way that leaves his heart aching.

He stops himself before he starts wallowing, moping over a situation he can't change. Instead, he makes his way over to his own table, steeling himself as he sits opposite Hakuba, giving him a small nod. They don't normally let visitors bring things into the visiting room, but the detective is armed with a pen and a notepad, having no doubt prepared questions for him to answer.

Kaito wonders how he'll respond to the case he puts forward - Shinichi's case - but decides that thinking about it will get him nowhere. No, he needs to give Hakuba enough information that he'll have no choice to take the case, simply to get the rest of the story. If it's the only way that Shinichi can be deemed innocent…

"Hakuba." Kaito says as he sits down, leaning back in his chair, fake confidence rolling off of him. He needs to remember that he's the one in charge here, no matter how intense Hakuba gets with his questioning, he's the one who's going to walk away a victor. He needs to be - It's too important for Kaito to walk away with any less than everything.

"Kuroba," Hakuba says, opening the notebook and looking down at the pages. Kaito is right, there are questions written in the detective's hand, the writing looking almost like calligraphy. "Do you want to get started?"

"Why yes, Mr detective, I am doing well in here." Kaito drawls, watching the irritation build in the other teen, "in fact, I think I'm more relaxed than ever, this place does wonders. You should try it."

Hakuba's frown shows that he thinks this is not the best plan. "I'll pass. The questions?"

Crossing his arms and leaning them against the table, Kaito forces a grin onto his face. It's almost KID worthy, he thinks, which is always good because it shows he's able to throw himself back into the game. He thinks that he should start practising his vocal range again, should start preparing a back story for some new identities that he needs to use when he finally frees himself.

"No questions," Kaito says, shaking his head. "Just sit back and let me tell you what I'm willing to talk about, okay?"

Opposite him, the englishman raises an eyebrow. After a few seconds, he nods, clicking his pen. Kaito takes a breath, tries to reassure himself that he can explain, it's not that difficult to explain, even though he's been keeping this secret for years.

"The original KID was murdered." Kaito says, keeping his expression blank, poker face tight over his skin. His voice is uncaring, as if the story doesn't hurt, doesn't tear him into pieces every time he remembers his reasoning for becoming KID in the first place. "An organisation wanted him to steal a gemstone for them, but he refused. So they killed him."

Hakuba scrawls this down onto paper, although Kaito doubts that he'll forget a single word that is said. The detective's frown deepens, and when he looks up, he says, "KID disappeared within the same time frame as your father's death."

It is not shocking that Hakuba knows this information. Kaito would be offended if the detective hadn't seen the connection, especially after all of the research and effort Hakuba had put into catching him.

"Yes." Kaito says. "The organisation is still looking for the gemstone. I want to find it first."

Present tense, just to emphasise that he's not given up yet. That he will never stop in his attempt to destroy Pandora, not even if he has been locked up.

"I see." Hakuba glances up, trying to read Kaito's expression. After a moment he sighs, pulls at the tie he's wearing - Why is he always so formal? Why can't he simply wear informal clothes like everyone else? "Why didn't you go to the police when you found this out?"

Kaito's lips purse. "They killed my dad. You really think I was just going to let them get away with it?"

"They wouldn't have gotten away with it. The police would have arrested them, and they'd have been in here instead of you."

That's wrong, Kaito thinks. Why should he have relied on the police force if after eight years they hadn't solved the case? And now… knowing that they've sentenced the wrong person, well - he doesn't have much confidence in the justice system if he's being perfectly honest. It seems skewed in the favour of the guilty, a distorted version of truth ruining the lives of the innocent.

"I did what's right." Kaito said, and he stares Hakuba down, daring him to argue back. "I don't quite care about the repercussions."

He needs to calm down before he tears holes in his own mask. This is a negotiation, he tells himself, information for a favour, and Kaito needs to remain calm if he wants to make any progress.

"What gemstone where they trying to find?" Hakuba asks, and he places his pen down, far more interested in reading his expressions than scribbling down words he has no use for. It's a question that Kaito isn't willing to answer. He'll let the detective take down Snake's and his organisation, but Kaito isn't willing to give any leeway on Pandora.

"No." Kaito shakes his head. "I've told you something, now you've got to hear me out on my case."

Another quirked eyebrow.

"I want you to look into the Kudo serial killings." He says, and for a moment he feels strangely vulnerable, "I want you to find out who's really responsible for them, because it's not Kudo Shinichi."

Is this how Shinichi was feeling when he first told Kaito about his innocence? Because it feels terrible, like something is gnawing at his gut attempting to claw it's way out. Anxiety clings to his lungs, squeezing air out until he needs to remind himself how to breathe.

But… He needs Hakuba to look into this. They might have never been friends, and honestly, Kaito doesn't think there is any situation that will ever make them see eye to eye, but he'd be a fool not to admit that Hakuba is a good detective - He will see what the police detectives on the original case had overlooked.

If anyone can prove Shinichi's innocence, it's Hakuba, no matter how irritating it is to admit.

"No."

Kaito's poker face cracks, and he leans forward, eyes narrowed into a glare. "What do you mean no?"

"I mean no, I will not reopen the Kudo case because of a hunch you have." Hakuba replies, closing his notebook. The emotion in his eyes has shuttered, blocking off any attempts for Kaito to try and read his thoughts. All he can read is that this is a topic the englishman does not want to breach, something he is unwilling to talk about.

Well, Hakuba can go to hell. Kaito isn't going to step back, this is something that he's going to keep pushing until the other man relents. He's not willing to ignore this, not right now.

"I'm not asking you to reopen it," Kaito says, trying for a reasonable approach. "All I'm asking is for you to look over the case notes, because I'm sure if you do, you'll find something that everyone else overlooked."

Hakuba's glare is like fire, and it makes Kaito feel like he is burning. He doesn't know why the detective has suddenly had such a change of mood - doesn't understand why the detective is suddenly so defensive. It goes against everything he knows about the englishman. It's just… not like him.

"Kudo-kun did it." Hakuba stills. "He committed those murders, no matter what you'd like to think."

Kaito picks up on the honorific immediately, leaning further forward until he's certain he's invading the other's personal space, eyebrows raised. "You know Shinichi?"

Hakuba glances away, his teeth biting into his lip. It's not a habit Kaito has seen often, although he has noticed in the past that sometimes Hakuba's bottom lip is raw with cuts where he's bitten through skin, stress making it a battleground made of blood and tension.

"I don't think anyone actually knew Kudo Shinichi… not really. But, we occasionally consulted with one another on particularly difficult cases…"

There is something unsaid there. Something that Kaito reads into before he can force himself not to - the revelation burns him more than fire ever could, scalding him. He says, "you two were friends, weren't you?"

When Hakuba turns back to him, regret blooms in his eyes, his teeth clenched.

"Kudo-kun did it. I've looked over the evidence time and time again, but it always leads to him. Kuroba, if there was even a shred of proof that he isn't the killer, I'd have found it. Don't you understand, Kudo-kun is responsible, all he's done is manipulate you."

Kaito stills, "I know he didn't do it. I know."

"No," Hakuba breathes, deflating against his seat. He shakes his head, his hands clenched into fists by his sides, "you don't."

He thinks of Shinichi, of the way he views justice and punishment, of the bruises that scar his neck, faded but not quite healed. The small smiles and his hesitance to open up, to even talk about the murder scene. It doesn't fit the image Kaito has of a serial killer - Shinichi doesn't fit the profile of a serial killer, has a completely different personality.

He has morals.

"Just look over it again will you?" Kaito leans back, glares at the detective. This is why they could never get along - Hakuba always believes in his own theories, is far too stubborn to give them up, but he doesn't believe in the ideas of others. Not always.

It makes it worse that they'd been friends.

"It's a waste of time," Hakuba says, "Kudo-kun is guilty, and he's just manipulating you. Just like he's manipulated Ran-san and Hattori-kun. Just like he tried to manipulate me. There is no evidence disputing it, Kudo-"

It is always the simple things, Kaito believes, that sets people off the edge. It is not until he is falling, emotions overwhelming him, that he realises he's leapt off of the edge without his glider, staring down at a void that's pulling him in, further and further.

"Did you know they're putting him on death row." Kaito says, and his voice is a whisper. They both have to strain to hear it. "They're going to kill him, where's the justice in that."

"Kuroba-"

Kaito slams his hands against the table, glancing up. His sight is blurry, and he has to blink back tears, because he is so done with this place, with life constantly punishing people who don't deserve it. His father should be alive. He should be at school with Aoko. Shinichi shouldn't have to die for someone else's actions.

"He's innocent and they're going to kill him."

Hakuba flinches, almost as if he hadn't know. Except, Hakuba always seems to know everything, so he's obviously been trying to forget it. From the corner of his eye, Kaito can see that the guards have turned to him, pointing him out as a potential loose thread, someone who's at risk of starting trouble.

"If you don't look into this case, then you're sending an innocent man to his death," Kaito cries, voice raised, growing louder and louder with every word until he's practically shouting. Behind him he can hear the guards moving towards their table, each of their steps like thunder. Well, if they are thunder, then Kaito is lightening.

"It's not like that-"

Kaito pulls himself to his feet when it becomes too unbearable to sit across from Hakuba and pretend that things are okay. "And for what? Because you're too proud to look back over things and see whether you've overlooked something? Because you don't want your original deduction to be wrong? That you've been wrong this entire time?"

"He is guilty!"

"No he's not," Kaito says, and no mask can hide the emotions flowing through him not. Tears burn his cheeks, and his ears ring with every word from Hakuba's mouth. "He is you're friend, and he's innocent."

Hands pull him back from the table, pulling him back from under his arms, restraining him. Kaito takes no notice.

"He's your friend. And he's innocent." Kaito cries. "They're going to hang him and you won't double check, you're just going to let them bury him even though he's done nothing wrong."

Hakuba's usually rigid posture deflates, even as the guards pull him backwards, even as they warn him to calm down or else he'll find himself in solitary.

Kaito feels himself break - the pressure is too much, and this prison is draining all of the life from him. He cannot handle it, cannot deal process what is happening.

"He was your friend, and he's going to die, because you won't help him."

If you are screaming, the author is much inclined to listen.