Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.

Pairing: KaitoxShinichi

Chapter Rating: M

Collection Summary: No matter where or what they are, their lives are always entwined. KaiShin stories in fantasy settings.

Chapter Summary: A promising lead in the investigation of Toichi's murder takes Kaito and Shinichi to the home of the secretive Ebon Mages.

Chasing Shadows

[Castle Verse]

Part 3

Some things were just way easier said than done. One of those things was relaxing, especially when you knew you were being watched and had a limited time to gather information on those watchers without alerting them to your suspicions.

"If we have to wait, we have to wait," Kaito pointed out when Shinichi brought up his concerns the following morning as they were preparing to join Ethan for breakfast. "So just relax and enjoy the festivities."

"I understand taking a few days to convince them that we're harmless," Shinichi said. "But what about after that? How can we investigate anything while they're monitoring us this way? They'll know if we approach anyone or any place that's sensitive. Not to mention they'll notice if we discover something disturbing because they're monitoring our feelings. And, according to you, we can't interfere with the surveillance magic because they'll notice that too. Our hands are tied."

"For now," Kaito agreed. "But just because there's no way around their surveillance now doesn't mean we can't make one. I'm sure I can figure something out once I'm more familiar with their magic. Of course," he added, rising from lacing up his boots and leaning over to drop a kiss on Shinichi's nose. "It all depends on convincing them that we're harmless. So come on. Let's go see what this festival is all about."

-0-

It turned out the festival wasn't really about all that much—or at least it wasn't in Kaito's never humble opinion. To Kaito, festivals were supposed to be energetic things bursting at the seams with music and laughter, good food and games, shows and art and merchandise! As the master and protector of a considerable swath of territory, he had both organized and hosted his fair share of festivals, so he should know. Festivals were a time when everyone could just get out and cut loose, leaving behind the worries of their everyday lives for a time to make new connections, build new friendships, and remind themselves of the beauty of the world and all its many diverse lives, stories, and dreams.

The Ebon Cherry Festival, however, was proving so far to be a disappointment on nearly all fronts. Though there were many people out in the streets, the mood was, well, tame, he supposed was the best way to put it. There was laughter, but only in brief, polite peals. The people seemed happy, but their smiles were, again, more polite than enthused. The many wreathes of flowers that had been woven along the awnings of the buildings and shaped into large, artistic works were beautiful, but they didn't inspire much thought. In terms of music, the festival scored slightly higher because the scattering of minstrels in the streets played their instruments well, though not a one of them actually sang. Shinichi wanted to stop and listen at every new musician's makeshift stage, eager to learn more of the musical traditions of this unusual kingdom, but Kaito had to wonder why none of the songs they heard bore words.

"Maybe they don't actually sing in this kingdom," Shinichi mused as they drifted away from a beautiful if haunting lute piece. "I've never heard any of these songs before though. Do you think there's anywhere I could buy the musical scores?"

"If you're interested in learning the songs, this book here contains all seven of our great ballads and forty two of our common songs," a man standing behind a neighboring vendor's booth said, offering Shinichi a leather-bound book along with a charming smile. "It's the most complete collection of Ebon music around."

Shinichi accepted the volume and paged through it with interest. "These really are all new to me. How much would this book cost?"

"Well, normally it would be three silvers," the man said. "But for such a pretty young lady, I think I could part with it for one."

"Really?" Shinichi brightened. Ethan had given them some of the local currency to spend. One silver was definitely in his budget range. "In that case, I'll buy it."

The merchant grinned and wrapped the book up in floral print paper for "her". Then he handed it over, his hands lingering far too long on Shinichi's hands in Kaito's opinion before he drew away.

"I know all the regular merchants at this festival," he told her, leaning in a little closer as he offered her another smile. "If there's anything you think of that you'd like to find or see while you're here, don't hesitate to come ask me. I'll make sure I help you find it."

"I'll remember that. Thank you." Rather pleased with his new purchase, Shinichi tucked the book under his arm and turned to find Kaito glowering at him.

"What?" he asked, confused.

The magician sighed. "Nothing. It just never ceases to amaze me how oblivious you can be."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"My point exactly. Anyway, let's see if this festival offers visitors anything interesting to eat."

The food sector turned out to be the one aspect of the Cherry Festival that lived up to Kaito's high expectations. Dozens of dozens of stalls had been set up, each offering small portions of a vast variety of dishes, almost all of which involved Ebon cherries in some way. There were Ebon Cherries dipped in chocolate and Ebon cherry ice cream. There were cherry pies and cherry jam doughnuts and cherry glazed buns. There were sweet, fried cherries and cherry cakes, jams, tarts, and just about every other dish you could think of as well as twenty dozen dishes you couldn't think of all involving Ebon cherries. And more amazing than the vast variety of dishes was that all the dishes tasted good.

By the time they had passed six stalls, Shinichi was already stuffed, but Kaito was still piling more and more things onto their plates. They had cherry rolls and candied cherries and cherry cookies too. By the time Kaito and Shinichi had passed through the food market, they had acquired ten large assortment boxes of various Ebon cherry pastries and snacks as well as three bottles of Ebon cherry wine.

"This is crazy!" Shinichi exclaimed when Kaito reappeared from the throngs with yet another beautifully wrapped box of cherries dipped in chocolate. "Are we really going to hall all of these home?"

"Well, I'm sure we'll eat some of it before then," Kaito said with a laugh. "But I'll try to make sure at least some of it makes it home."

Well, Shinichi mused, if Kaito's goal was to play the tourist, he was doing a damned good job.

Laden with their purchases, they excused themselves from Ethan to return to their suite and put everything away.

"Well, I think I'm beginning to have an idea," Kaito announced. "But we'll have to see."

"See what?" Shinichi asked only to be waved away with a sly grin and a wink.

The daylight was beginning to fade as they made it back out onto the streets. Soon, they found themselves swept into a large plaza where the first large stage they had seen that day was just being set up. Onto it trouped half a dozen men and women carrying instruments. Men and women alike began trickling into the plaza in ones and twos before linking up with friends or family. Then the musicians counted off the beat and began to play.

"So I guess they do dance here," Kaito remarked. Smiling, he turned and offered Shinichi a bow and a hand. "Will my lady honor me with a dance?"

Shinichi rolled his eyes at the dramatics but took the proffered hand and let Kaito lead him into the spark and flow of the music.

Shinichi was just beginning to lose himself in the rhythm of the dance when he felt the unmistakable prickling on the back of his neck that told him he was being watched. He stiffened and would have jerked around to look for the source of the stare, but Kaito caught him around his waist and lifted him right off his feet, spinning him around. Shinichi let out a yelp and caught at Kaito's shoulders as he was lowered back to the ground and into a dip. He found himself looking wide-eyed up into Kaito's face.

"Remember," the magician murmured, warm breaths ghosting over Shinichi's lips. "We're being watched. The more we look like we're really here to sightsee and have fun, the easier it'll be for us to find our answers." Then he leaned down that crucial centimeter more to catch Shinichi's lips in a brief but passionate kiss before lifting him back upright and stepping back into the dance.

-0-

Indigo eyes opened as the first light of dawn was creeping into the sky. This early in the morning, the air seemed perfectly still. Lying there, Kaito took a moment to just enjoy the peace, absently running his fingers through Shinichi's soft, dark hair. The smaller boy was tucked snugly against his side with his head pillowed on Kaito's chest just above his heart. He'd been doing that a lot since their trip to Lady Akako's city, the magician thought with an unfamiliar pang of guilt. He knew he'd scared Shinichi that time, but it hadn't been until much later that he had realized just how worried Shinichi had been.

He smoothed down Shinichi's cowlick and watched in amusement as it sprang right back up again. Perhaps he could create some kind of magical amulet that would keep the both of them informed of the other's wellbeing. He really didn't want to worry Shinichi like that again if he didn't have to. And he'd be able to go about his own business with an easier heart too if he could more easily ensure that his beloved was safe.

The thought of monitoring magic had his gaze drifting to the pair of tokens sitting on the nightstand by the bed. He had carefully set up some spells of his own to monitor exactly what the tokens, in turn, monitored with their magic.

Leaving one arm looped comfortably around Shinichi's slim, bare waist, Kaito reached out languidly with his other hand to scoop both tokens off the nightstand. Closing his fist around them, he whispered a quick spell, causing pale ribbons of light to materialize in the air above the bed. The colors, shapes and patterns of the ribbons, he knew, reflected the different emotions the tokens had picked up on. His own spells had recorded the tokens' observations over the course of the previous day and night.

He returned the tokens to the nightstand and studied the pair of diagrams. He gestured at them, causing them to rotate slowly so that he could examine them from all sides. Then he snapped his fingers, causing the two to overlap themselves.

"Now isn't that interesting," he murmured under his breath, absently tracing circles on Shinichi's hip with his thumb. He was momentarily distracted by just how soft the warm skin under his hand was, but he forced himself to focus back on the magical diagrams floating above them and the discovery that might be the key to getting around their spying magic.

Now…how to test his hypothesis?

Shinichi mumbled something incoherent in his sleep and shifted, nuzzling into the magician's chest.

Kaito glanced down at him then up at the glimmering, magical diagrams then down at Shinichi again and grinned.

-0-

Shinichi woke to the feeling of calloused hands rubbing slow circles on his aching lower back. It was a soothing sensation, and he shifted to curl closer to the warm, strong body holding him. He wiggled around a bit until he could tuck his head under Kaito's chin and sighed, feeling warm and pliant and content.

Those hands continued to stroke him, traveling up and down his back and sides, where the ticklish sensation made him giggle and squirm. Those hands traveled slow and sure across his skin all the way up to massage the back of his neck before migrating gradually back down his body to his hips and lower back before they eased even lower to gently massage his backside. A long finger traced down between his cheeks to rub teasingly against his over-stimulated entrance. He squirmed a little more at the touch, mumbling something that could have been either encouragement or a protest. Even Shinichi wasn't sure which he meant.

His entire body still felt oversensitive from their activities the night before. And while Kaito's touch was welcome, Shinichi was still half asleep and would like very much to be all the way asleep.

But damn his magician had talented hands. He let out another sigh that was almost a moan.

Kaito chose that moment to press two fingers into Shinichi's hole, finding it still stretched from all their lovemaking the night before. He pulled out almost right away before pressing in again just a little deeper. The massage oil with which he'd coated his fingers warmed Shinichi's sensitive skin, making it tingle.

Shinichi whimpered and squirmed, half in protest and half in pleasure as those fingers sank deeper and became three, sliding in and out in a slow, teasing rhythm that soon had Shinichi panting and clinging to the hard body under him as he shifted to straddle Kaito's hips. All thoughts of sleep had been chased from his mind by the skilled hands touching him.

Grinning, Kaito surged up and rolled them over, pinning Shinichi to the bed under him. Shinichi let out a gasp that was almost a squeak of surprise, knees automatically rising on either side of Kaito's hips. His gasp turned into a whimper then a moan as Kaito's hard cock replaced his fingers. In one long, slow thrust, Kaito sheathed himself fully in his beloved's tight heat, relishing the way Shinichi clenched around him. It didn't seem to matter how many times they made love in one night. Shinichi was always so wonderfully, deliciously tight.

"Kai~," Shinichi gasped, squirming against his captor's hold as his inner muscles spasmed around the hot, thick length inside him. Pleasure danced up and down his nerves. His head lolled back against the pillows as a breathless moan escaped his lips.

"And a good morning to you too," Kaito purred low into Shinichi's ear before flicking out the tip of his tongue to trace the shell of said ear. The gesture elicited another delightful little squeak from his captive that only served to make his already hard cock even harder. He gripped Shinichi's hips, shifting them just so as he pressed in just so to allow himself to sink even deeper into Shinichi's delectably tight heat.

Shinichi gasped, hands scrabbling for something to grab onto and finding nothing but Kaito's bare shoulders. Kaito was touching all the right places inside him to make him want to mewl and beg for more.

Kaito gave his hips a shallow thrust and smirked when Shinichi gasped and tightened around him. Another thrust, and Shinichi let out a soft cry that went straight to Kaito's cock.

He dove in to capture Shinichi's lips in a searing kiss, tongue plunging past Shinichi's lips to plunder the cavern beyond as he pulled out of his lover almost all the way then thrust back in again. Shinichi moaned into the kiss, blunt fingernails digging into Kaito's shoulder blades as he wrapped his legs around the magician's waist as though to keep him inside.

Kaito chuckled. "You like that, don't you?" he asked teasingly, moving down to nibble on Shinichi's exposed neck. "Well?" he prompted, giving his hips a roll that had Shinichi mewling.

"Y—yes," Shinichi gasped. He was rewarded with another hard, deep thrust that had him arching off the bed.

In answer, Kaito made a noise that was somewhere between a purr and a growl that sent delighted chills racing down every nerve in Shinichi's body.

Calloused hands raked down the length of Shinichi's body, finding and teasing every spot that made the smaller boy writhe in pleasure. Each sensitive spot found had his inner muscles clenching tight around Kaito's cock where it remained sheathed deep inside him. Shinichi tossed his head against the pillows in helpless pleasure as his magicians talented hands worshiped every inch of his body. He closed his eyes, losing himself in the sensation.

The rest of the world faded away. For just this moment, all that mattered was Kaito. He pulled the magician down into another kiss as he rocked his hips to meet Kaito's next thrust. The jolt of pleasure had them both moaning into the kiss.

They moved together, riding a rhythm only they could hear. It pulsed through them, singing in their blood, and all that existed was the dance and the taste of fire and the beating of two hearts in tandem.

Shinichi moaned into another passionate kiss. Heat rolled through his body. Everything felt over sensitive. Every grazing touch sent sparks dancing down his nerves. And every thrust of Kaito's cock inside him had him struggling to stifle increasingly loud cries of pleasure, not wanting to crack the early morning stillness that still lay thick over the world. But the combination of sensations soon grew overwhelming, and he came with a cry he couldn't hold back. Kaito managed two more hard thrusts before coming deep inside his panting lover. The sensation of being filled by his magician's hot essence had Shinichi squirming in embarrassed pleasure even as he wrapped his legs more firmly around Kaito's waist to keep him inside for just a little longer.

Smiling softly, Kaito brushed his lips across Shinichi's in a chaste kiss as they rode out the last waves of pleasure from their joint release together.

Shinichi let out an involuntary whimper as he felt Kaito finally shift and pull out of him, the movement sending shudders through his over-stimulated body. Then Kaito was gathering him into his arms and pressing a kiss to his forehead. He sighed and tucked his head under Kaito's chin.

"Is this really alright?" he asked eventually, eyes still closed as he simply enjoyed the feeling of being held by his magician.

Kaito made a questioning noise in the back of his throat. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I know we're supposed to be pretending to be on vacation," Shinichi grumbled. "But it still seems like we shouldn't be… I don't know, it still seems like we shouldn't be…" He waved one arm vaguely to indicate their current position before tucking said arm back between himself and Kaito where it was warm.

"I didn't hear you complaining last night," the magician pointed out. "Or this morning for that matter. In fact," he added, letting his voice drop into a low purr as he smirked. "I distinctly remember you begging for more."

Shinichi blushed and turned to hide his face against Kaito's neck. "Tha—that's not the point. You're the one who keeps going on about how this place is dangerous. And it's not like we have a limitless amount of time. Isn't there something else we should be doing?"

"Such as?" Kaito prompted, sounding honestly curious.

Shinichi hesitated. "Well… We're going to need a way to search the parts of the city that are off limits to visitors."

"Ah, but my dear, that is what I have been doing."

Black eyebrows drew together as Shinichi's small nose wrinkled in a manner that Kaito found irresistibly adorable. "I think I'd like an explanation, but I get the feeling that I'm not going to like what I hear."

-To be Continued-