Shinichi stopped as his preferred study table in the library came into view. Usually, no one else was there at the same time he was because of the unusual hours he kept. Now, his table was covered with books, like a localized twister leaving behind only one clear spot where a man sat at the table hunched over in his work.
He could find some other place. Eleven at night wasn't too unusual to still see people in the library. And Shinichi wasn't doing anything for his coursework, at any rate, so it wasn't a big deal.
With that thought in mind, he found another table for the night.
-X-
It wasn't a one time thing. Three nights later, the same man was at Shinichi's table, a virtual mountain of books nearly hiding him from view.
Displeased but willing to concede that he didn't necessarily own the table, he left to find another place.
-X-
His patience ran out on the fifth such occurrence.
Instead of walking away this time, Shinichi approached the table and its mountain of books, taking in the sheer number of them that definitely weren't casual or light reading for any of the lower lever courses. Which was strange because the man seated at the table had to be Shinichi's age or just one year older, definitely not old enough to traditionally be in the higher courses yet. But Shinichi expected if he was going to meet any hyper intelligent individuals, law school was a good place for it.
"Do you mind sharing the table?" he asked after a few minutes of observing the man and being ignored. The man grunted something, not even lifting his head out of his book, and waved with his note-taking hand at the empty chair across from him.
Shinichi snorted at the rude behavior, but shifted the books aside to make space for himself and settled in. The reason he chose this table, and why he didn't care if he had to share it, was because it was the most secluded and private table in the entire building that also provided a strategic view of the upper floor and the lower floor below them.
He hadn't been able to comfortably study since the man had started taking over his table, and even if the man was going to be passive aggressive about sharing, he'd gladly enter a war of attrition for conquest of his study space.
He didn't have as much work with him, but even when he finished, Shinichi stayed seated and turned his attention to surreptitiously watching his tablemate. They looked close in age and very similar in profile, though the other man had longer hair pulled back in a low tail at the nape of his neck. The rest of their features were just shades apart, nose shape slightly different and cheekbones more angular and eyes a darker shade of blue.
"If you're going to stare, you can leave," the man said, lifting his eyes from his book and then back down dismissively. He stopped writing to shove his notebook over, transfer his pen to his left hand, and fish a book out of the pile with his right.
"Sorry," Shinichi muttered, not too sincere about it but willing to make the polite effort. He grabbed the book on top of the nearest stack and flipped open the table of contents.
Definitely not material any class covered during the first semester.
"Don't get anything out of order."
Shinichi clenched his teeth together. He closed the book and dropped it heavily on the stack. It made the other man flinch, leaving a black streak across the neat lines of text as he accidentally rubbed his palm over the wet ink.
Satisfied, Shinichi grabbed his things and left without a backwards glance.
-X-
He'd been accurate to call it a war of attrition.
So far nothing incredibly valuable had been lost, but he had to explain to Ran why he needed to replace the book her mother had allowed him to borrow. He was pretty sure he'd lost a year or two off his life expectancy given how frightening she'd been.
The losses were accumulating on both sides, Shinichi could say with pride. He'd lose a book and the other man would lose some notes. He'd been evicted after the librarian caught him sneaking coffee in, which was grossly unfair because it was universally acknowledged that any caffeine-related rule violation was never reported by any other student. Shinichi'd been sure to check out and then hold until their initial three week deadline the forth, ninth, and second volumes in the three separate book series he'd seen the man stacking on the table after waving at Shinichi, who'd been sandwiched between two campus security guards with the illegal coffee thermos.
Ran and Hattori had grown so sick of listening to him complain they'd actually threatened to introduce themselves to his adversary and turn the tide. Haibara was still refusing to answer his phone calls or text messages.
But he'd seen the other man typing out on his phone with a sullen expression several times, so he expected that his friends were as annoyed as Shinichi's friends were.
They'd both come to the unspoken agreement that any time actually spent at the table was a temporary truce, so Shinichi could sit and work across from the man who was making his time outside the library miserable.
"I'm Shinichi," he said, pausing in his note taking with the sudden revelation they'd never even introduced one another.
His tablemate stopped, righted himself from his hunched studying, and met Shinichi's eyes with wary amusement. The corners of his mouth tugged up, softening his features and increasing their similarities enough that it made Shinichi's stomach churn.
"I'm Kaito."
-X-
"Missed you yesterday," Kaito said as Shinichi dropped his bag in one chair and then himself in another. He groaned as he relaxed into the stiff chair, dropping his head back and closing his eyes.
"Funny. I had to avoid a hoard of students from my classes asking me where my tutoring was going to take place. Since my flyer didn't specify." Shinichi raised his head to glare at the perpetrator, who looked unconcerned and mildly gleeful. Mirth made his eyes seem lighter, less like deep blue and more like a rich purple. Shinichi dropped his glare to stare at the severely reduced mountain range of books between them.
"The librarian refused to let me take more than seven at a time. Since she found a shelving cart full of my books wedged in one of the janitor's closets on the first floor." Kaito didn't sound upset, more like he was just stating a fact and completely unbothered.
Shinichi didn't hide his smirk. He'd learned that when Kaito sounded unconcerned, he was actually seething inside and holding it in.
-X-
"That doesn't look like homework," Kaito said, using one hand to pull one of Shinichi's files out from under his arm. He flipped it open and started reading, eyebrows climbing higher as he turned pages and photographs.
"It's not homework," Shinichi muttered, stealing the file back. He closed it and rested a hand on it defensively. "And you shouldn't be reading it."
"That also didn't look like something you're working on independently for class. That looked official." Kaito was staring at the file, not raising his eyes even when Shinichi shifted to draw his attention.
"I'm a detective when I'm not in class," he admitted. Kaito finally met his eyes.
What little warmth they had cultivated between them cooled. Kaito's eyes were narrowed and passive, the same sour expression on his face that was there when Shinichi first sat at the table.
"Really?" But there wasn't any interest in the question. It barely sounded like a question at all. "Good to know."
"Kaito-"
"I think I'm done." Kaito closed his notebook, obviously not finished in the least, but he started packing away his books and left the table without another word.
Shinichi watched him leave, at a loss and disappointed.
-X-
"Kaito?" Shinichi had asked around, but it seemed like no one knew a Kaito, or if they did, only knew his name and that he was usually in the library for long hours. Not much help when he hadn't been to the library for weeks, as far as Shinichi could tell. "Why are you looking for him?"
"I wanted to apologize to him. I was rude and said something..." he trailed away and let the other student fill in his assumption.
"Well, if he's not in the library, he's likely staying in his apartment. I'm not sure which building he's in, but if you ask Hakuba Saguru he'll be able to tell you."
"Do you know where Hakuba would be at this time?" Shinichi asked, feeling some relief that he was getting somewhere.
"Try the administration building. He's one of the student receptionists."
"Thank you," Shinichi said, waving a hand and taking off for the administration building at a quick stride. Kaito hadn't been to the library at any time that Shinichi had gone, and he'd varied his arrival times to hopefully be a step ahead. It hadn't worked and by the third week he'd started feeling desperate.
Hakuba was at the reception desk, a neat little name plate in front of him. He was on the phone when Shinichi approached, but caught his eye and nodded while Shinichi waited a few steps away from his desk. He finished the phone call quickly enough, holding up a finger as he opened a date book and filled in appointments.
"How can I help you?" Hakuba asked as he closed the date book and gave Shinichi a bland smile.
"I'm Kudou Shinichi. I was told you could help me find Kaito. I wanted to apologize to him." Shinichi tried to look regretful and trustworthy, since what he said absolutely didn't sound either.
"Kudou Shinichi," Hakuba repeated, frowning in confusion and tapping a finger on the desk. His mouth tightened abruptly and the polite expression fell to something cold and indifferent. "I'm sorry, but I won't be helping you."
"What?" Shinichi asked, shifting in surprise at the suddenly hostile tone. "Why?"
"Kaito specifically asked me not to help you." Hakuba's face cracked into a supremely frightening smile.
"I wanted to apologize," Shinichi asserted, leaning on the desk and hoping to intimidate Hakuba. It didn't work but he hadn't expected it to.
"I don't care. He asked me not to help, so I'm not going to help you." Hakuba stood up, looming over Shinichi. "In fact, I'd advise you to leave him alone. And to leave before I have you escorted out."
Shinichi swallowed back his anger. It wasn't going to convince Hakuba to give him anything, and he wasn't bluffing about having campus security walk him out.
He'd think of something else to find Kaito.
-X-
"Really, your only options at this point boil down to illegal activities," Haibara said, and even over the phone he could tell she was laughing at him. "Stalk him. Track his phone. Get his student record. Bribe someone in the administration office for his information."
"You can stop helping at any time." Shinichi sighed. "I don't get what a big deal it is."
"He reacted when you identified as a detective. Maybe he has a problem with law enforcement."
"Then he's got bigger problems because he's enrolled in law school." Shinichi relaxed on the bench, studying the campus grounds and watching the stream of students meandering around. He spotted Hakuba in the crowd, sitting at one of the tables outside of the cafeteria between two women. All three of them appeared to be arguing.
"Are you listening, Kudou?"
"I think I've got a lead. I'll call you back." He hung up on her before she could snap back at him.
The two women, one with brown hair and the other with red, seemed to be arguing with each other as well. The brown haired woman and Hakuba appeared to be on the same side, their bodies angling to face off against the red haired woman. Her back was to him so he couldn't see her expression, but she pushed up and strode away, hair swinging behind her.
He started after her, estimating her route and avoiding Hakuba and his companion. He stepped out around one of the buildings as she turned the corner, eyes going wide as she took in his face.
"You're Shinichi," she said, no doubt at all.
He nodded.
"Good. Walk with me." She strode past him, stilling as he made no move after her. "Well? Do you want to see Kaito? Let's go."
"I don't know who you are," Shinichi argued, but he fell in step with her.
"Akako." She smiled at him, cool and coy and so breathtakingly beautiful, he actually felt his heart pound hard in his chest before she looked away. "I'm one of Kaito's friends. You've been driving him crazy, you know."
"Sorry," he muttered, having to take long strides to keep up, because she was moving like a force of nature on some very precarious heels.
"I never said it was a bad thing. He could use some stirring up." She waved a hand at her side, laughing almost silently. "Do you know how long its been since he's played pranks? It's good for him."
"And you're going to help me?" Shinichi asked.
Akako stopped in front of a cafe and stared at him. "Let's get coffee. This will be easier sitting down."
She ordered a pot of tea for the table and a large black coffee, taking a seat at one of the tables and folding her hands in her lap as they waited for the drinks to be brought over to them. Once the tea tray and coffee were settled in the center of the table, she straightened.
"Kaito's full name is Kuroba Kaito," she started. And Shinichi recognized that name. He knew the Kuroba name very, very well. "And yes, his father was the infamous Kaitou Kid."
"What?" Because there was absolutely no mention of a family in any of the Kid's obituaries.
"I knew him when he still used his father's name. He and his mother both reclaimed her maiden name, so he goes by Mine Kaito now. He's very much his father's son, though." She fixed a cup of tea, sipping at it as she watched him. "Everyone knows Kaito Kid's story. International thief for fourteen years suddenly responsible for a mass murder and thrown in jail. They know he died in jail, presumably of a stroke."
"It wasn't just mass murder," Shinichi said, thoughts running through his mind too quickly to make sense of them. "It was the largest mass murder committed by a single person in a century. No one could figure out how he did it."
"He didn't. Someone else did." Akako smiled at him, but it was like Hakuba's smile had been, cold and frightening and more like bared teeth than genuine pleasure. "No one believed him, of course, but he denied it until he himself died. Kaito was the only one who didn't believe the news."
"So he went into law," he started, but there were too many ways to end that thought. The dark history explained the intense focus and upper level reading material.
"He went into law to hopefully clear his father's name." Akako set her cup down. She brought a hand up to brush her hair off her shoulder, eyes drifting past him to stare blankly towards the door. "I don't think it can be done. None of us really do, but we'll support him. Hakuba's only staying enrolled here to support Kaito. The other girl we were with was Nakamori Aoko. Her father was the one to originally arrest the Kid."
"Why don't you think he can do it?" Kaito certainly seemed focused enough to do so. At the rate he devoured books, he had to have advanced nearly to the top of their graduating class if not further.
"Because his father said there was a group out there who did the deed. And they killed him. If Kaito tries to pursue them, they'll kill him too." Akako shook herself lightly, eyes snapping back towards him. "He lives across from this cafe. Apartment 44. He should be home right now."
And he was dismissed, coffee untouched and only mildly warm. He thanked her anyway, but she waved a hand, brushing him off and turning her attention to pouring a new cup of tea.
-X-
The student apartments weren't accessible like most other apartment buildings, likely in an effort to maintain some control over the students. There was no way into the building without having a resident open the door or pulling down the fire escape at the side of the building. Shinichi lurked nearby for over an hour but no one entered or exited, and he reasoned that buzzing up to the apartment would likely lend itself to the same result.
He was stuck again and contemplated calling Agasa for any tricks to bypass the electronic locks.
"Locked outside?"
Shinichi turned and smiled sheepishly at the blonde woman with a messenger bag over her shoulder.
"Yeah," he agreed, stepping out of the way so she could approach the door. "Too rushed this morning to make sure I had everything."
"Happens to us all," she said, drawing out her student badge and scanning it. The locks clicked open and she held the door for him. "Next time, just buzz apartment 16. Ryuuzaki-san barely leaves the building during the day so he'll let you in."
"I'll remember that. Thank you."
"Don't worry about it." She smiled at him as she headed for the elevator. He waited a few minutes, daunted somewhat at the idea that he could see Kaito in only a few minutes and not have any idea what he would say when he did. He walked up the stairs, stopping for a few minutes just outside the door for the fourth floor to gather his courage.
The hallway was empty, and it was only a short walk to Kaito's apartment. He still didn't have an idea what to say, but he knocked anyway.
"Finally. I've been waiting almost two hours for you," Kaito said as he opened the door, an incredibly judgmental look on his face. He leaned against the fame of the door, arms and heels crossed.
"What?" Shinichi asked, his greeting dying at Kaito's unexpected welcome. He thought he'd have to bang on the door for at least twenty minutes before Kaito would deign to acknowledge him.
"Akako texted me that she told you where I live nearly two hours ago. What the hell were you doing? Get lost crossing the street or something?"
"You-"
Kaito huffed, something that might have been a laugh if it hadn't sounded so tired. He pushed himself upright and spread the door wider.
"Come in already. I'm not doing this in the hall."
Shinichi kept quiet, following Kaito into his apartment and pausing to take off his shoes in the entryway. Kaito's apartment was clean and tidy, a few photographs on the wall of Kaito and an older woman he assumed to be his mother. But that was as personal as the apartment became. Kaito stopped in his living room, settling on his couch and waving a hand to the empty chair.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" Shinichi asked, idling by the chair instead of making himself comfortable. He felt if he relaxed for a moment, Kaito would turn the situation to his favor and nothing would be resolved.
"I've been avoiding everyone. Don't take it personally," Kaito said, turning to drape himself over the couch and rest with his arms behind his head, propped up against the arm.
"Considering the last conversation we had, forgive me if I doubt that." Shinichi landed heavily in the chair. "You found out I was a detective and cut all ties with me."
"I didn't care that you're a detective. Otherwise I'd never be friends with Hakuba. But you're not just any detective, are you, Kudou Shinichi?" Kaito's eyes were shuttered, narrowly slitted so Shinichi could barely tell he had his eyes open.
"It matters that I'm famous?" That wasn't anything he could help. He'd been in the spotlight frequently when he'd started high school, but after his friends had started being targeted by the media, he'd backed out of the interviews and focused on being a detective. But the media still remembered him.
"It matters because I'm infamous. Akako told you about my father. I have to be careful, and being noticed by anyone isn't good for me," Kaito said, shifting in place to mask his discomfort, but Shinichi could tell how irritated and lost he was.
"Someone's really watching you?" Shinichi asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Maybe. Everyone forgot about Kaito Kid's family, so my mother and I never really had a lot of exposure. But I'd notice things sometimes. Enough to know what I'm doing isn't safe for the people around me." Kaito pushed himself upright, moving so his back was pressed against the armrest. His eyes dropped to the ground, and every line of his body spoke of defeat.
"I don't think I can avoid you," Shinichi confessed. He kept his eyes on Kaito's face, chest tight and face warm as he started to unravel what was boiling inside into words. "I missed you. You're my friend, Kaito. Probably the best friend I've had for a while."
And it was true. Ran, Hattori, and Haibara were the closest friends he had, but they had their own lives and he barely saw them. He'd been mostly alone and then Kaito had been there. And even if they argued and pranked and harassed each other, there was a strong attachment on Shinichi's side, and it felt like it could be something incredible.
"It would be better for you if you did. I'm not... Good for people anymore," Kaito said, hesitating just enough for Shinichi to hear the catch in his throat and notice the effort he was putting into staring at the floor. "I'm not a good friend."
"I think I get to decide that." Shinichi decided to take a chance and stood, moving to sit on the unoccupied section of the couch and reach towards Kaito. His hand hovered over Kaito's knee, but he took a breath and took hold, squeezing once. "I really missed you."
"Yeah," Kaito said, voice hushed soft and slightly raspy, entirely unlike his bluster and attitude earlier. "I missed you, too."
