This is a cross-over fic, involving Shoutmon and Taiki Kudou from Digimon Xros Wars. And there's briefly mentioned characters from the anime Gokusen. Enjoy.


"When you said you wanted to visit, somehow I imagined things going differently," Taiki Kudou, the only cousin he had on his father's side of the family and distant enough that there was very little blood between them.

"So did I," Shinichi agreed, looking up at his younger cousin, who'd actually gotten over the shock and surprise at seeing his formerly older cousin in the body of a small child with less confusion than most people did. It likely came from the particular brand of madness that ran in the Kudou blood. "Sorry about this."

"It's okay. Shoutmon doesn't get to spend his time having a lot of fun anymore, so this is actually a very good thing." Taiki winced as the two singers hit a pitch that should have shattered glass. "Or maybe not."

Shoutmon and Kaito carried on, oblivious to the pain they were causing their audience, sketching up a dance routine as they sang along to the lyrics running across the screen.

"We won't get kicked out, will we?" Shinichi asked, sounding hopeful. Taiki shook his head.

"The owners adore Shoutmon. No matter how loud he gets, they're willing to humor him."

"What did you picture happening initially?" Shinichi asked, curious despite himself.

"A murder happening. Or a small crime. Or a kidnapper. Or a bomb on the train," Taiki said immediately, counting off on his fingers.

"Each of those things only happened once," Shinichi protested.

"They're the kinds of things that stick with you." Taiki laughed at Shinichi's sour face. "I don't mean anything bad by it, just those things seem to happen to you a lot."

"I know," Shinichi grumbled.

Shoutmon and Kaito seemed to have worked out a routine and started the song over, dancing around each other and striking poses back to back. The sheer energy and joy he could feel radiating from the pair made him smile.

"Your friend looks familiar," Taiki said, after listening to half of the song before turning to Shinichi.

"That's the Kaitou Kid," Shinichi introduced, blasé and unconcerned about Kaito's secret. He'd butted in on Shinichi's family time. It wasn't like Taiki wasn't smart enough to figure it out eventually, anyway. Kudou men, to counter the supreme crazy in their blood, were blessed with high intellect to get them out of whatever crazy situations they usually wound up in.

"Really?" Taiki's eyes widened.

No one would believe Kaito and Kid were one and the same if they could see him now, Shinichi mused. Kaito was nearly bouncing with energy, having laid eyes on Shoutmon and fallen in wondrous love with the digimon and all things he represented. Shinichi suspected he was trying to figure out how to lure the digimon into being his friend and follow him home.

"Really."

"Do you think he'd sign autographs for me? Akari, Nene, and Tagiru are big fans of the Kaitou Kid." Taiki grinned at Shinichi. "They'd faint if I brought them an authentic autograph."

"He'd sign autographs for you. It's getting him to not deliver them in costume and in person that you'll have a hard time stopping." Shinichi sighed, but it was good-natured. He only had a few months left before Haibara felt she'd tested the latest batch of the cure to her satisfaction and could administer it, and all because sticky fingers Kaitou Kid swiped a few samples and documents from the former Black Org. He felt he could be generous to the thief.

"You seem happier," Taiki said, shifting on the couch and reaching for one of the sodas on the table. He occupied his hands to avoid looking at Shinichi. "Mom said I shouldn't bother you too much about everything that happened, but you seem really happy now and not just..."

"I guess I am happier." Shinichi flexed his hands. "I didn't like being shrunk and trying to take out this huge criminal organization as a child, but I've made a lot of friends and I've learned a lot, too. And now that there's a chance that I can be myself again, I'm just so relieved that everything worked out."

"It always does," Taiki said, nudging Shinichi with his shoulder. He was watching Shoutmon and Kaito, who'd moved on to the next song selection on the karaoke machine and started arguing over who would be the lead.

"Do you think I could get Kaitou Kid to teach me disguises if I promise to take him to the Digital World one day?"

"I think if you offered him that, he'd try to name you his successor." Shinichi groaned at the speculative gleam in Taiki's eye. "No. You cannot be the next Kaitou Kid."

"But he does really great things for people. He's been doing more street shows lately, instead of stealing and harassing the police. He gives all of his tips to charity and performs for free at children's hospitals." Taiki shrugged at the deadpan look Shinichi gave him. "I'm not a fan of him being a thief, but he does some really good things to help people less fortunate."

"He's looking for something in particular. Once he gets it, the thieving stops." Or so Kaito promised. Shinichi figured he could hold him to that, but it didn't really put a lid on Kaito's creativity. It wasn't technically stealing if Kaitou Kid showed up in a museum, taunted the police into a chase, and then ran off.

"But not the magic shows, right?" Taiki laughed when Shinichi grumbled at him. It drew the attention of Kaito and Shoutmon, stopping in the performance to clamor around the table.

"Something funny, tantei-kun?" Kaito asked, plopping next to Shinichi and throwing an arm over the back of the couch. He was panting, sweat on his forehead and a huge smile on his face, but he seemed happy. Shoutmon guzzled the soda Taiki handed over with apparent glee.

"Just having fun," Shinichi said, relaxing into the thief's side with a smile. Taiki helped Shoutmon settle comfortably on the couch next to him and take a breather from the marathon singing. It been a long time since he'd been this happy.

"Good." Kaito ruffled his hair with one hand, lingering with a wistful look for a moment, and then it was gone.

"Hey, Kaito! Catch!" Shoutmon tossed a sweet bun to Kaito, stuffing one in his mouth with his other hand.

"You have the weirdest family," Kaito said, catching the bun and shoveling in in his mouth in its entirety.

"You have no leg to stand on," Shinichi shot back. "Your entire family is nothing but criminals."

Kaito chewed and swallowed thickly, grabbing a soda to wash down the bun. "Aunt Kumiko is a high school teacher. That's not criminal."

"Her husband is the fourth head of the Kuroda family yakuza clan. No leg to stand on," Shinichi repeated.

"Good point," Kaito said, eyes falling on Taiki and his watchful expression. "Thanks for inviting me out with you two, Taiki-kun."

"You make my cousin laugh." Taiki smirked at Shinichi's horrified face and Kaito's surprised expression. "You're welcome to come with Shinichi any time. I'm sure Shoutmon would miss you if you never came back."

"Yeah! You're a lot of fun to hang out with, Kaito!" Shoutmon agreed, waving his microphone with one hand in a vaguely threatening manner. "I'd have to hunt you down if you never came back."

Kaito burst out laughing, great heaving laughs that shook his whole body. Shinichi hadn't ever seen him laugh so openly before. Taiki met his eye and nodded meaningfully at the arm Kaito still had over the back of the couch, fingers brushing through Shinichi's hair.

Shinichi scowled.