Oh. My. God. I have so many feels right now. You guys are just - aaaaah! I've been gone for almost a year, because I suck. I left because I was feeling miserable and I had writers block and I thought my writing was stupid. And then today I look at my fanfic email that I don't use anymore and people are still favoriting and following and commenting even though I've been gone so long and I just - I just - I'm so sorry for not updating! D': I feel horrible. But you guys are sooooooooooo amazing and okay, I'll stop ranting now. Just, I love you guys! T.T

. . . In a platonic way.

But anyway! Have your thing before I freak out again.

I know gay marriage isn't legal in Japan, but love, guys! They'll move to Canada or California or Sweden or something. And I'm still freaking out if you can't tell. Oh my God. *dies*

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Rating: K

Warnings: BoyxBoy, fluff (all the fluff)

Disclaimer: I still don't own Detective Conan or Case Closed or whatever it is I'm writing about.

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Part One – Beating Around the Bush

Again Kaito's friends have to wonder if he's some kind of siren that he possessed them to show up. Regardless, they're now stuck in his basement. Heiji is sprawled on the couch, with just enough room for Kazuha to squeeze in (after kicking him). Beside her, Aoko perches on an arm. Akako leans against the wall, despite Kazuha's offer to kick the crap out of Heiji if he doesn't move. Both Ran and Saguru have their own armchairs

Kaito spins around – with his usual dramatic flare – in his office chair. The way he thrusts his arms makes Heiji think he has a habit of wearing something like a cape. He wonders at this, before deciding there's no reason to put it past Kaito. It is Kaito; does he really want to know?

"Friends," Kaito says in a deep voice, then squints, "And – uh – Hakuba." He pauses. "And other with whom I have an ill-defined relationship."

Everyone watches Kaito not talk. Kazuha shoves Heiji's foot out of her face.

Saguru rolls his eyes, "Kuroba-kun, why are we in your basement?"

"And where's Kudo?" Heiji adds, "Aren't you attached to him like a parasite?"

"Pretending you said 'joined at the hip,'" Kaito says with an absent wave, "I would have invited Shinichi, but it would make it really hard to talk about him behind his back. I mean, we could use code words, but we'd need another meeting for that."

Ran coughs. "You brought us here to complain about Shinichi?"

"If it's about Kudo-kun," Akako says, narrowing her eyes, "I don't know him that well." She starts tapping her foot and everyone is looking at Kaito with a frown.

"No," Kaito slumps his shoulders, "We're not complaining about Shinichi."

Aoko has her arms crossed, Akako continues to tap, and both detectives are staring at the celling – Heiji half-wishing a corpse would come crashing through it. Only Ran and Kazuha look genuinely interested.

"I just. . ." Kaito did a twirl in his chair, "I can't even say it."

"Out with it," Aoko and Heiji manage to say in unison.

"You don't understand!" Kaito jumps out of his chair, causing it to hit the wall, "I-I-!"

"Jerkaito!"

"Bimboko, this is serious." Kaito takes a deep breath, "I cannot. Think. Of anything. Dramatic. Enough."

Aoko tilts her head. Akako pauses. Heiji sits up. Ran blinks. Saguru squints. Silence.

Kazuha breaks it, "This ends in the extinction of mankind, doesn't it?"

"Why would we help you cause trouble?" Aoko asks.

"This is the most important trouble I'll ever cause."

No one appeared convinced.

"What's this about, Kaito-kun?" Ran asks.

"Aw, come on, I'm in a room full of detectives and their girlfriends."

Kazuha shakes her head, "Before our desire to have you dead outweighs the Detective Code."

"Which not all of us are bound to," Akako says, flicking her hand as if to cast a spell.

Kaito holds his arms akimbo, "Why is it, whenever I need help, my friends and whatever-you-guys-are have to threaten me?"

"Because you're infuriating," Heiji says immediately.

"No, I'm fun," Kaito says, "F, U, N. Fun."

Saguru rubs his temples. "I'm leaving," he says, but doesn't make a move to get up.

"Alright fine," Kaito says, "If my woe means that little to you."
"It does," Aoko says with a sweet little smile.

Kaito's expression is masked with a poker face, "I don't know how to ask Shinichi to marry me."

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Part Two – A Winter Night

The cold is starting to sting his cheeks and snow is melting in his hair. Kaito stares across the buildings; the starry lights are a backdrop without a subject. There is nothing on which to focus. He hates it. His foot refuses to stop tapping.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. . .

It makes his insides curl.

"It'll be fine," Kaito mutters, "He'd say yes no matter what." . . . Right?

Everyone seemed to have suggestions on how Kaito should propose. Keeping in mind how Kaito approaches mundane tasks, the ideas escalated until they started to involve the FBI. At that point, Heiji interrupted, saying, "Just propose to him like a normal person. It's not like he's sensitive." He had the gall to suggest Kaito propose to Shinichi on his birthday when he was in bed. Kaito made a note to pull an extra prank on Heiji for his lameness.

Kaito pushes up his white sleeve to see his watch. What's taking so long? It's dark, but standing around as Kid for so long is starting to make Kaito more anxious. Maybe this was a bad idea.

When they had discussed it, it seemed like a good idea. It had mostly came from Ran, one of the few sensible people Kaito knows (he doesn't consider himself among these; he trusts Shinichi's judgment). Actually standing there with a ring in his pocket, Kaito wasn't sure. I should lea-

"What are you doing?"

Kaito screams effeminately.

Shinichi raises an eyebrow, "Inspector Nakamori would be jealous if he knew I caught you off guard."

When Kaito doesn't retort, Shinichi says, "You should know better than to stick around after a heist."

Kaito allows a smile to form, "No common sense, remember? What took you so long?"

"The museum is chaos," Shinichi says, rubbing his temples, "The police are still trying to escape the glue-substance you spilled. Besides that, Hattori can't decide whether he sprained his wrist or his ankle and Hakuba practically throw himself in the glue."

Chuckling, Kaito shakes his head. Should have known.

"That aside, was the gem Pandora?"

"Oh, that?" Kaito asks, then takes breath, gradually releasing it, "Stolen it before. Already slipped it in the inspector's pocket."

"Right," Shincihi says, drawing out the word.

Kaito glances back to the sky. Nothing to look at. He turns back. "It was snowing like when we met."

"It wasn-"

"When we met for real," he interrupts, "As people. Remember that snowball fight?"

"Yeah, we were in high school," Shinichi says, scratching his check, "I'm not sure how you dragged me into that."

"Heh. You started it."

"Not intentionally," Shinichi scoffs, "I was trying to capture you."

"I know." Kaito visibly shifts.

Shinichi watches him. "You should go."

He doesn't reply.

"This isn't the place to chat," Shinichi says, "I don't know what you're up to, but. . ."

Kaito closes his eyes and bites his lip.

Shinichi scans him, trying to deduce. . . something.

"Shinichi," Kaito says, opening his eyes and leveling his gaze on the detective.

Not Shin-chan?

"Lately, I've noticed that-" Kaito's eyes find his feet, "That my pokerface slips away when I'm with you."

Shinichi has a tiny smile, "I do know you as Kaito."

Kaito is still wearing his white dress shoes – fascinating. He clears his throat, "With my friends – with Aoko, even – I'm always fine; I'm always cool as a cucumber. With you, I do stupid things like. . . saying 'as cool as a cucumber.'"

He hears Shinichi's uneven laugh. Kaito swallows, "It's weird. I don't mind that my pokerface disappears. I feel. . . comfortable?" He steals a glance at Shinichi. The other boy is blushing, but his gaze is steady; waiting. His expression, Kaito interprets as uncertain.

"What I mean to say is. . ." he forces himself to make eye contact and blurts,"Will you take residence in my jewelry box?"

Shinichi steps back as though splashed by water, "God, tell me you didn't build a giant-"

"What? No! It's how my dad proposed to my mom."

"Geez, was she his posses-?" he stops himself. "Are you. . ?"

Taking a deep breath, Kaito drops to his knees. "Shinichi Kudo, you know me better than anyone and that's not an easy task. You're a detective geek, a Sherlock fanboy, you're selfless, you can deal with all my. . . spontaneity, you're sarcastic and clever, and so funny when you're being the "sensible" one, and-" he pulls a velvet box from jacket, his voice shaking, "And, I want you to marry me."

Shinichi runs his hand threw his hair; he's looking to the side. "I-" he starting giggling.

Kaito blinks.

"You're so corny," Shinichi says, grinning, "Of course, I'll marry you."

"Yes!" Kaito shoots up, "Really?"

"No," Shinichi says, "I've suddenly decided I like Hattori."

Kaito throws his arms around, "Oh my God, we're getting married! I freaking love you!"

Shinichi laughs, "I thought that might be the case." He pushes Kaito far enough off himself to give the other boy a kiss.

"Mhmm," Kaito breaks lip contact so that his forehead rests against Shinichi's, "Brilliant deduction."

A crash from inside causes them to jump apart.

Kaito smiles wryly, "Better get going." He takes off, and Shinichi watches him glide across the sky.

. . .

Did he take the ring with him?

He smiles to himself. Kaito is a thief, after all.