With the exception of the plot and the original characters that are depicted in the story, the author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended on the franchise of Detective Conan that rightfully belong to its owner Aoyama Gosho.
Once again, thanks to OnyxKatana for helping me with this chapter in midst the chaos and pandemonium of real-life. I'd also like to give a special shout-out to J0kersGirl, and hope that she feels better soon! She and OnyxKatana have really helped this story come together. And so without further ado, let the nineteenth act of Paper Faces begin! :)
Shinichi blinked in disbelief at the Moonlight Magician, dark blue orbs widening as his request sunk into the depths of her muddled mind. Unmask the Kaitou KID. He said those words so easily, as if it were an absolutely effortless task that required no second thought to accomplish. How could this person be so flippant on such a serious matter? They were discussing about revealing his true identity to a detective for crying out loud, the same person who had been chasing him for the last two years as the KID Killer!
Inhaling a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves, she looked at KID straight in the eye with a grim frown stretched across her face. "Do you truly understand what you're asking me to do, Kaitou KID? If I were to unmask you, then you'd no longer be able to hide from myself, Inspector Nakamori, or those men in black who are chasing you. Are you willing to take such a risk with someone like me?"
Shinichi felt a tiny twinge of irritation as she watched KID tip his elaborate top hat with a shark-like smirk aimed at her. "I know perfectly well what I said, Kudo-chan. This time, I'm done hiding from you. I have no more reason to. Furthermore I know you, and I trust you, to not go and immediately sell me out to Inspector Nakamori once you've heard everything I have to say to you. Won't you even give me that chance? Even the great Sherlock Holmes was prone to listening to both sides of a story before coming to a conclusion, hmm? Or am I wrong, my dear Tantei-chan?"
A heavy silence fell upon the two dark-haired occupants of the room before Shinichi made the first move. She slowly rose from the futon, and while she still felt fatigued both mentally and physically, the young woman was able to steady herself on the carpeted floor. Maintaining eye contact with the Phantom Thief, Shinichi walked towards him. Left. Right. Left. And right. Within seconds, the sleuth was within arms' reach of the criminal.
"This is your last chance to walk away, Kaitou KID. You can escape right now and I wouldn't be any wiser as to who you truly are behind the monocle. Everything would remain the same; you would steal a gem, and I'll continue to chase after you on the rooftops." Even though there was some logic behind her statement, deep down Shinichi knew that it was impossible for things to go back to the way things were between herself and the Moonlight Magician. She knew and had seen too much. Sooner or later, the Organization will connect the dots on Pandora's whereabouts and come after them. Whether she would be their first target or KID remains a mystery.
But to her surprise, KID took a step forward. Now there were barely a few inches apart. While that infernal hat and monocle were not enough variables to reveal his true identity right away since he was known to be a master of disguise as well, the close proximity was causing Shinichi's little gray cells to go haywire because she couldn't make heads or tails as to what he would do next. Then, his lips tilted up into a ghost of yet another annoying smirk.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, Shin-chan. There is no going back to the way things were, we've already moved beyond that point when I decided to bring you here. If I truly didn't want my identity to be revealed, then I would've used at least one of the 36 different escape routes I've planned. But I'm still here. And you of all people should know that it's too late to go from this. The point of no return."
Raising a gloved hand up in the air, KID took one of Shinichi's hands and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles. A soft smile appeared on his face as he watched the sleuth's cheeks become a light shade of pink. The rays of the moonlight from the only window in the room almost made such an adorable expression...exquisite in his eyes. As he brought their joint appendages up to his face, the dark-haired thief used his other hand to coil around Shinichi's spare wrist, so that he gently held her arm and her fingers were able to brush against the edge of his monocle.
"Please. Unmask the Kaitou KID, Kudo Shinichi."
Ignoring the way her pulse sped up at his words and recent actions, Shinichi steeled herself. Giving him a curt nod, she leveled her gaze onto the monocle and before carefully slid it from his nose. Who would have thought that such a simple accessory...could feel so heavy in her palm right now? This was a layer of the Kaitou KID she had just pulled away. Now, all that was left is his hat.
Raising her spare hand upwards while the one that held KID's monocle fell to the side, Shinichi used the same, gentle method to remove the last barrier between herself and the Phantom Thief. But as she lifted the hat from his head, the Detective of the East suddenly closed her eyes. After chasing him for so long, she has finally unmasked Japan's most notorious jewel thief. However...was she truly ready to see who was behind the velvety (infuriating) voice and the teasing remarks? Or... was it too soon after all?
KID sensed her hesitation. Taking the hat and monocle from Shinichi's quivering appendages, he deposited them on a nearby table before he cradled the detective's hands in his larger palms. He brought one of them back to his face while the other rubbed soothing circles on the back of her hand. "Come on, open your eyes, Shin-chan. I'm not that bad-looking, I promise." The Magician under the Moonlight pleaded with a soft smile, even though he felt a tug of disappointment when the detective's eyes remained closed.
"Just because you say that, it doesn't mean you could still disappear here and now. KID is a criminal who can fool others and vanish from sight in the blink of an eye, and before anyone realizes what has happened, it's already too late. He's gone. I...I could never do that. I could never vanish like that without taking responsibility for my actions. But KID doesn't have to worry about the consequences, doesn't he? Because the Kaitou KID is just another mask that makes it easy for him to hide from others."
To Shinichi's surprise and mild fury, she heard him laugh. A genuine, heartfelt laugh that was neither an arrogant scoff or snort. She could feel KID shaking with amusement through the sporadic spasms emitting from their interwined hands.
"W-What's so funny, KID?" Shinchi demanded. "Do you honestly think that unveiling of your true identity is now some sort of joke? We're talking about something that could either keep you safe from people who want to hurt you, or be used to paint a target on your back and the people you care about!" The Detective of the East almost shouted, her ire bouncing off the walls in the room. At this rate, he might be better off in a loony bin than serving time in prison for his thefts!
Suddenly, she felt KID reign in his laughter and composed himself. The shaking had subsided significantly from large bouts to smaller, subtle movements. A few moments passed before the Phantom Thief spoke in a voice that still radiated his amusement.
"Forgive me, Shin-chan. It just amuses me to think that the thief is the one asking the detective to unmask him, and that the detective is the one with the second thoughts. Honestly, of all the scenarios I have been imagining, this particular one has never crossed my mind. Although, on a more serious note," Shinichi felt her hand, the one that was on his face, being covered by his gloved one. His nimble fingers splayed out against her own, their joined palms cupping his cheek. For a split second she felt him lean into her hand, sighing softly at the contact. The sleuth stiffened ever so slightly as she felt another gloved hand - KID's spare one - leave her other hand and coil itself around her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. A few moments passed before KID spoke again, this time his voice was serious.
"I know what you mean by my disappearing acts. First, need I remind you that I am an excellent escape artist? I could have disappeared a lot of times right now, without you being able to do anything about it, and I'm still here. Second, what are you even worrying about? KID isn't here anymore. You took care of that a long time ago. Right here is my true identity, and I want you to know it. Know me, Shinichi." The coffee-haired teen almost flinched. Both at how the hand on her shoulder began to make small circles with a padded thumb, and when he spoke again in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
"In the name and honor of Kaitou KID, I swear that I'm not going anywhere, Shin-chan. I promise."
Shinichi remained silent, contemplating the thief's logic and reluctantly realized that he had made a valid point. KID trusted her, enough to reveal his civilian identity at the risk of possibly being arrested for his criminal record. And that meant she had to, at the very least, show that she trusted him. Inhaling a deep breath, the sleuth slowly opened her eyes. She blinked once, then twice to adjust to her dimly-lit surroundings, before she released a low gasp.
"K-Kuroba-kun?"
There was no mistaking it. That messy dark hair, going every which way. The tall, lean frame dressed in the pristine white tuxedo of Kaitou KID. That infuriating half-smirk spread across his mouth. But most of all, Shinichi would recognize those sparkling indigo orbs in an instant.
Still, was an internal struggle for Shinichi to reconcile that the flirty persona of the Phantom Thief with Ekoda High's ultimate prankster. It made sense, while simultaneously making none at all.
Regardless, she kept her eyes trained on Kaito's face as she stroked the heated skin under her fingertips, smaller and slower than what he had done with her hands. This face...the slightly rough texture, and the way she could feel a steady pulse...it was real. This wasn't a synthetic mask. Kuroba Kaito and Kaitou KID… were truly one and the same.
"It's really you."
Kaito responded with a gentle nod before he leaned further into her hand. He could clearly see the confusion and disbelief dancing in those azure irises, yet there was no sign of her famous temper. Deciding to take a chance, the unveiled thief risked smiling at his favorite critic as he waited for Shinichi to process everything that has just happened.
A heavy silence fell upon the two teens before the dark-haired sleuth broke it with a small, if not awkward grin of her own. "We...definitely have a lot to talk about. Question is, which of us should start off? You or me?"
The mischievous prankster cracked another smile at Shinichi as he lead her to the futon. He sat first, and then gently coaxed the detective to sit beside him with their hands still curled around another. "Why don't I start? From what I recall, you've already spilt a fair bits of your secrets, Shin-chan. Or should I say, Edogawa Agatha?"
Shinichi felt her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach at his words. Ah. So, he knew about too? Yet after everything that the two of them had been through together over the last two years as both rivals and temporary allies, she was somewhat glad that he knew already. Looking at him straight in the eye, Shinichi unconsciously squeezed the hand that was coiled around hers.
"How did it all start?" Definitely not the best question to ask, but it was a step forward for them.
xPFx
They did not know how they'd been talking for. All Kaito and Shinichi knew was that they were experiencing a large accumulation of information at a single time. Unimaginable secrets had come to light, and both of them found themselves in the midst of something much bigger than they had initially assumed. They did not know if their stories were connected or not, but they were certainly tangled in each other's messes. Though in midst of this frightening epiphany, Shinichi did not relinquish the grip she had on Kaito's hand. If anything, it only tightened, especially at intervals when she witnessed his expression change to a sadness she never wanted to see again. "It seems that the both of us have been through a lot, for better or for worse. I'm sorry that you lost your father. It...must have been hard. Considering what I had gone through, I just got lucky that everyone I care about is still here with me."
Kaito intertwined his fingers with hers, and lightly squeezed her hand. "It's… alright. I do miss my father, but I guess things just happen sometimes, for better or worse. There's nothing one can do about it… However, being KID, it was one of my favourite things. KID is so much more than Kuroba Kaito can be. KID has brought me some things that I could probably never have as Kaito. The thrill of heists, the awe of an audience spellbound by magic, and most of all, the attention of a certain critic who came to every one of those shows."
At the last sentence, he shot Shinichi an expression that was half of a smile and smirk. Unfortunately for the dark-haired teen, his attempt at flirting flew right over his critic's head as she raised an eyebrow at him.
"I had no idea you'd be such a sucker for romance, Kuroba-kun. Maybe that's the reason why you go all out with flirting with the ladies at your heists. Or could it be that French heritage you claim to have inherited from Arsene Lupin?"
Using his free hand, Kaito clutched his chest in an exaggerated fashion that made the fair maiden snort. "You wound me, Shin-chan. I do not go all out with flirting with the ladies. It's only the occasional compliment or sweet talking. You forget that I'm the Gentleman Thief. What sort of a gentleman would I be if I flirted with all the women?"
Shinichi rolled her eyes. "Either you'd be looking for a chance to take whatever jewel you're after, or pondering an addition to a growing jewelry collection? Arsene Lupin was very particular about the valuables he sought after, wasn't he?"
Kaito pretended to mull over these words. "You're correct about that, and I'm no less particular than him. Kaitou KID truly chases none but the finest jewels, even though he may pay other beautiful gems a passing glance." He hoped to Heaven that Shinichi picked up his subtle hints. Even though she could pick up on the tiniest details in a murder investigation, she was also famous for being oblivious to the most blatant of flirting.
"Good luck with that. I'd pity the girl who'll wind up in your jewelry box." Kaito almost fell face-first on the floor, though it took all of his willpower to do so. Dear Lord, did his Shin-chan's brilliant mind have such a thick casing?
"Shin-chaaannnn~! Why do you hurt me so? Is it so difficult to believe that this Magician under the Moonlight might actually have his eyes set on a certain jewel?"
"Is it so difficult to believe that there is someone who attracts death wherever she goes?" Shinichi shot back with a small, sardonic smirk. Kaito blinked.
"Well, after hanging around you for so long, I can believe your unfortunate love affair with death. So, shouldn't you be believing me too when I say that there is a girl who managed to steal the heart of the Kaitou KID?"
"Even when it could also be a tactic to inflate that ego of yours higher than it
should be?" Shinichi almost laughed at the perplexed expression on Kaito's face, even when she felt a small jab in her heart when she heard those words. So...Kaito loved someone already? That was a hard pill to swallow, but there was no point in mulling over it. After all, even though Irene Adler was the only woman that Sherlock Holmes ever loved, she could never be truly his.
Was it the same for Kudo Shinichi? To love someone who was out of their league?
As Shinichi remained lost in these melancholy thoughts, her male companion was trying to think about how to make the great sleuth realize what he was trying to say. Honestly, she gave a whole new meaning to the term 'oblivious' (A tiny voice at the back of his head reminded him that he hadn't realised that Shinichi loved him either. The voice was duly ignored in favor of wrestling with little grey cells on how to solve the current crisis). Eventually, he decided to just bite the bullet; subtle hints were not going to work, so Kaito needed to give even bigger clues to the silly detective. And what better way to get his point across then applying a classic method? Planting a meaningful but simple kiss on her lips with no warning whatsoever.
And he did just that.
The Phantom Thief watched her eyes widen and face blossom to the shade of a ripe strawberry, though he did not relinquish his gentle hold on the detective. He needed Shinichi to know how he truly felt about her, and that she wasn't alone anymore. He was right here, by her side, as he should be. Even if he had been captured by the Organization, crippled beyond belief... he'd still find a way back to the detective.
When Shinichi did not respond to the kiss at all, Kaito began to worry. It had been a full five seconds, and she still sat there on the futon, motionless like a statue.
Did that mean… when she said that she will cherish him to the end of her days… was it just as a friend? Melancholy and self-depreciation began to corrupt his mind, fuelling him with an anxiety he hadn't felt since his father died. But just when he was about to pull away, Kaito felt a small palm coil around the base of his neck, shyly beckoning him to come closer.
And who was he to deny her?
Kaito leaned in closer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. He was running solely on instinct, because all coherent thought had left his mind. Little did he know, Shinichi was in the same boat. The poor detective had been unable to comprehend as to why Kaitou KID, no, Kuroba Kaito, was kissing her out of the blue like this. Did he...feel the same way that she did for him? A person she adored, not just as an intellectual equal, but someone she could rely on even in her darkest hours?
If that was true, then...perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to stay like this a little longer. It was only a matter of time before the Organization discovered Pandora's true whereabouts and sent their men in black to reclaim it. And there was no doubt in Shinichi's mind that they would even threaten the people that she and Kaito both cared about to claim immortality for themselves.
When they finally pulled away to inhale some much needed oxygen, they could only stare at each other, with identically flushed faces and heaving lungs.
"So...what happens from here, Kuroba-kun? We know each other's secrets, there's still a criminal syndicate who will stop at nothing to restore Pandora's Box, and on top of it all, I have it in my possession and it's supposed to be appraised by an antique dealer in less than two weeks. What are the chances that this Ishikawa guy works for the men in black?"
Kaito's brow furrowed in thought, as he ran through all the information. "Shinichi, I'm not going to pretend that I already have everything planned, because I don't. However, that is a valid point you're raising, about Ishikawa. I guess I could run a background check on him, see if I can find any links."
Shinichi nodded. "That'd be helpful. Natsuo-san was...I had hoped that he'd tell me that Snake had been involved in Seimei-san's murder. The picture I showed him during the interrogation was taken from an angle, so I could only see part of his face but it's not enough for a facial recognition software, or even convince the court that it's solid evidence. The defense would've probably mentioned that the accomplice could have been anyone. If we had a solid testimony from about an accomplice that matched Snake's physical description, then at least the public and law enforcement would be aware that he's on the streets."
Kaito hummed in agreement, indigo orbs narrowing in contemplation. "So, right now, we're still at square one. No one's any the wiser about Snake or the Organisation, and they now have you as a possible target. The only way to finish this is to find and destroy Pandora before they get to it. I wish I could say that I knew where Pandora is, but I'm still working that out."
"...Kuroba-kun, I don't think you heard me when I said that I have it. Pandora is in my possession. At my apartment." Shinichi said.
Eh?
Eh?
"EHH?!"
Kaito blinked at her owlishly. And then he proceeded to blink some more before almost shouting at the top of his lungs, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU HAVE PANDORA?!"
It took all the self-control within the Detective of the East to not slap the dark-haired male upside the head, or something equally effective that would shut him up. "Exactly as I said it. Remember when I went to the writers' convention over summer vacation?" When she saw him nod dumbly, Shinichi continued.
"Well, when I went back to my house, there was a secret passage in the library, and there was a large box with a letter attached to it. The initials on it were 'KT'. And from what you've told me, your father was the original Kaitou KID, correct? If that's the case, then he must've found Pandora at some point and decided to give it to my dad for safekeeping." Shinichi then laced both of her hands together, wearing a pondering expression as she recalled all of the details on this mystical gem. "From there, and with Haibara's help, I pieced everything together. But...the only thing I didn't take into account was that you were the Kaitou KID. Or that your father was the predecessor of such an infamous legacy."
Kaito continued to stare at her, gobsmacked, for a few moments, before leaning over and giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"Shin-chan, have I ever mentioned how much I love you and that brain of yours?" He missed the way her cheeks flushed a deep red as he rambled on. "You just solved half of my problems in one fell swoop!"
"If it were only that simple. There aren't indentations or keyholes on the box so I can't open it. That's part of the reason why I agreed to meet Ishikawa. If I'm right, then the Organization might already have the key to open the container and...perhaps even the machine itself." The sleuth felt a small shudder crawl down her spine at the horrendous thought. "And if that's true, then we have a bigger problem to tackle within a very small time frame."
Kaito put an arm around the girl's shoulders, comfortingly rubbing her arm. "This is us. The Kaitou KID and the KID Killer, working together. We can handle anything they throw at us. I'll take a look at the box and go over all of my father's things to see if he left any kind of a clue about it. And if there's nothing, then we can still work it out. After all, I trust that mind of yours."
Shinichi smiled weakly at his words and nodded. "Yeah. Come over to my place tomorrow and I'll show it to you. If Aoko-chan or Hakuba ask, just say we're studying for exams. Do you think Jii-san can run a background check on Ishikawa in the meantime and see if anything comes up? Just to be safe, we might need to expand the search on any auction houses or antique shops that are leased under his name, maybe who he's worked with. The Organization might be using Snake and his men to steal Big Gems during the night, but that doesn't mean that they're also searching for Pandora through legal businesses in broad daylight."
"...Should I say again how much I adore your beautiful mind, Shin-chan? We're practically made for each other~!"
"Shut up."
Kaito grinned widely at her. "I would say 'make me', but then this conversation wouldn't be going anywhere."
Shinichi scowled at the messy-haired magician. "You can blame the writers for letting it expand as much as it has another time. Right now, we need have a mystery to solve and not a lot of time."
"Aw, does that mean that the chapter is going to end here?" Kaito pouted.
"The readers cannot take any more of your horrible attempts at flirting."
"B-But Shin-chan~!"
"Hush."
Well, the cat's out of the bag with a break in the fourth wall for this highly-anticipated chapter of Paper Faces! Will Kaito and Shinichi be able to figure out the secrets of Pandora as well keep the Organization off of their trail until the fateful meeting of Ishikawa? Or is there more going on here than meets the eye? Decisions, decisions :)
Please feel free to review or PM me with any questions, comments, or constructive criticism. Thanks to everyone who has favorited, reviewed, and added Paper Faces to their alert lists.
See you next illusion. - (KID caricature)