Disclaimer: I don't own DCMK

Sky Colored Eyes

9: Ice Cream and Posters

"Come on Shinichi, it's time to get up!"

Someone was shaking him. Wrinkling his nose, Shinichi swatted at the hands and rolled over in an attempt to burrow into his pillow and escape the noisy intruder. The voice stopped, and he allowed himself a contented sigh. His triumph, however, was short lived as the next moment there was a swishing sound and suddenly there was a bright light shining straight into his face.

He winced and flung an arm up to shield his eyes as he opened them reflexively. He was greeted by the sight of a grinning magician standing beside the newly opened curtains. Their room faced east and so the sun was shining directly through the glass and into Shinichi's face.

"So are you up yet or do I need to go get some ice water?" the maniac asked.

Shinichi considered throwing a pillow at him but decided it would take too much energy. Groaning, he shuffled to the edge of the bed facing away from the light. That was when he saw the clock on the nightstand. He stared at it as his sleep-hazed mind tried to make sense of the glowing red numbers.

"Six thirty?" he said finally, more to himself than to Kaito as he tried to comprehend the unfairness of it all. He was supposed to be on vacation! Why did he have to be awake so early? Perhaps a better question would be why he couldn't have been assigned a roommate who was not a morning person. Surely the number of non-morning people out there had to outnumber the morning people. That was what the teachers should have done. They should have taken a survey on who liked to sleep in and who didn't then paired people off that way. Yeah, he should complain about it. There had to be someone else on the trip who liked waking up at the crack of dawn that he could switch places with. He had already started trying to piece together how he was going to broach the issue with the teachers when a cup was shoved under his nose.

"Here."

Shinichi blinked blankly at the cup before following the arm of the hand holding it up to Kaito's face. "…?"

"I knew you wouldn't be up to much without your coffee, so I got this for you," Kaito explained, clearly amused. "I promise you it's harmless."

Blue eyes dropped back to the cup. It certainly smelled like coffee. He took the cup. Maybe rooming with Kaito wouldn't be as bad as he'd first thought.

Freed of its burden, the magician's hand ruffled his hair before he could dodge. "Now hurry and drink up. We've got a long day ahead of us."

"Don't treat me like a little kid," Shinichi grumbled before he fully registered what Kaito had just said. "Wait, what? What do you mean we have a long day ahead of us?"

"I'm glad you asked." With a flourish, Kaito pulled a folded sheet of paper out of thin air. "I have taken the liberty of organizing our schedule for the next few days so that we won't miss anything." He ignored Shinichi's frozen look of horror as he unfolded the paper. "There are fourteen things we have to do today, so naturally we have to get an early start."

"Fourteen?" Shinichi repeated numbly.

"Yep. We're starting with breakfast at this place that does waffle sandwiches. They're pretty new, but I've heard it's fantastic—simple, affordable, and tasty kind of thing. We have to go soon though if we want to beat the morning rush"

Privately, Shinichi had great doubts about the existence of such a thing as a morning rush, especially not a morning rush for sandwiches, but it seemed his opinion didn't matter as Kaito hadn't asked if Shinichi wanted to eat at this waffle place or not. He had clearly already decided that it would be so. He was already on item number three of his to-do list. The list included scenic trails and several other dining places, a series of what promised to be very strange shops and even an art gallery.

"Wait," Shinichi interjected. "Did you just say something about an eating contest?"

"It's an ice cream eating contest," the magician elaborated. "All you can eat ice cream for one measly entrance fee. It's the perfect place to get our mid-afternoon snack." He said it like he truly believed he was describing an amazing opportunity.

Shinichi tried to find some trace in the magician's face that might indicate this was a trick, but he couldn't find one. The day ahead was looking worse by the second. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Nope. But you don't have to participate if you really don't want to. You can just come and cheer for me." Kaito snapped his fingers and there was a puff of smoke. When it had cleared, Shinichi found himself holding a pair of white and blue pompons.

He blushed and threw them at the laughing magician. "I'd rather cheer for your opponents!"

Indigo eyes widened in mock horror. "Surely you jest! Who could possibly be more worthy of cheering for than me?"

"…I can't believe you can say something like that with a straight face."

"That's because it's true."

Groaning, Shinichi flopped back onto the bed. "Do we really have to do all of that today? Can't you leave, I don't know, the gallery tour to tomorrow or something?"

"No can do. The special exhibit is only open today and tomorrow evening. We can't go tomorrow evening because everyone's meeting on the beach for a class barbeque. That only leaves today. Are you done with your coffee?"

He wished he wasn't, but a hopeful look under the lid revealed nothing but an empty cup. Sighing, Shinichi nodded.

"Then it's time to go!"

Bounding to his feet, Kaito hauled his reluctant roommate up and started for the door.

"Wait!" Shinichi yelped, struggling to escape from the magician's vice-like grip. "I still need to change!"

X

Shinichi had to admit that the waffle sandwiches really were tasty. He did not, however, agree that they were amazing enough to warrant getting up so early on a break day.

"No food is that good," he'd informed Kaito with all the conviction of the unwaveringly faithful.

The magician simply laughed. "We shall have to agree to disagree then."

"So…where were we going now?"

"We're going hiking! Well, I say hiking, but it's supposed to be a pretty level trail with a nice view of the sea. But first I want to stop by the Spirella."

"…Where?"

"It's a shop for all things spiral-shaped," the magician explained. "Sounds cool, right? I'm hoping to find some good materials for my magic."

"Oh." Shinichi fell silent for a moment before voicing the question that had been on his mind since that morning. "Why didn't you ask Aoko-san and Hakuba-san to come with you if you wanted company?"

Kaito let out a loud snort. "Yeah, right. I'd only get through half my list if I brought Aoko, and these days she always insists on bringing the Nuisance. I try to spend as little time with that stick in the mud as I can."

"Hakuba-san's not that bad."

"Believe me, once you get to know him better, you'll change your mind."

Shinichi opened his mouth then closed it again. The magician really sounded like he meant it. Of course, Shinichi had noticed the animosity between Kaito and Hakuba. It was kind of hard to miss with the way they were always trading snide comments. He hadn't, however, figured out exactly what was the cause of their dislike. Well, there were the numerous pranks, obviously, but he had the feeling that there was more to it. Aoko seemed to know because she intentionally changed the subject whenever certain things came up.

For a moment, Shinichi debated asking about it, but by then they had already reached their destination and he was being ushered inside.

X

The ice cream eating contest was in full swing and Shinichi still couldn't quite believe just how many people were participating. It seemed all the ice cream you could shovel down your throat for a hundred yen was an attractive deal in many eyes. The heat of the sun overhead probably helped. Shinichi himself, however, was not at all tempted. Instead he found himself standing near the back of the shop where the contest was in session and looking at the row of posters on the wall.

They were all missing pet posters just like the ones they'd seen at the hotel. There were dogs and cats, birds and hamsters, and even a pair of rabbits. Some of the posters were quite old, but there was one that was dated just that morning. The picture showed a beautiful husky lying on a lush carpet of grass.

"Her name's Kohana."

Startled, Shinichi looked around to find a lanky young man standing beside him with a cone in one hand. "I got her when she was just a little pup."

"What happened?"

"I wish I knew. We were practicing our routine. This local animal rescue group is holding a pet talent contest as a fundraiser tomorrow." He waved towards the ice cream feast behind them. "They'll be giving free tickets to this contest's winner. It should be a great show. The first one was a huge success. I was really looking forward to entering with Kohana again. We didn't win any of the categories last time, but we've worked hard these last six months. But now…" He sighed, gaze fixed on the husky in the photo. "I just don't understand where she could have gone. We were practicing, and she ran off after a ball that got away from us. I waited and waited for her to come back, but she never did. I went after her then—searched every inch of that park, I know I did, but both she and the ball were gone."

He sighed, shoulders slumping as he stared at the poster once more. "I keep hoping someone's going to call and say they've found her, but no luck so far."

"I hope you find her soon," Shinichi said.

"Thanks. I hope so too."

Raucous cheers erupted, announcing that the contest had ended. Making his way through the applauding crowd of spectators, Shinichi arrived just in time to see Kaito being handed an envelope and a miniature trophy with an ice cream cone on it. It turned out the magician had won by two and a half scoops.

"I can't believe you ate that much ice cream," Shinichi informed him. His own stomach felt queasy just thinking about it.

"Lucky for me then that you don't have to believe it for it to be true. Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten us these free tickets to the show tomorrow. Now, on to the bike tour!"

X

Kaito would admit to being mildly if pleasantly surprised that everything had gone according to plan through the day as far as his schedule was concerned. Despite his complaints about the early hour, a few cups of coffee had perked the detective up quite nicely, and they had spent a remarkably enjoyable day seeing the sights. He had discovered that Shinichi had quite a sharp sense of humor tucked away behind that quiet exterior. It was a little difficult to pry the thoughts from him, but Kaito enjoyed the challenge.

Kaito had purposefully selected a wide range of activities and locations in order to observe Shinichi's behavior and reactions to each. You could learn a lot about people from watching them walk down certain streets—the things that caught their attention, the moments that made them more or less comfortable, the instances when they sped up or slowed down—the list was endless. Kaito had made the collecting and study of these little habits and gestures a part of his own work. It provided both good reference materials for his own acting and a deeper understanding of the ways the various minds in his audiences worked. It was all about being ten steps ahead. Today, however, had honestly been fun. He didn't know if Shinichi felt the same—Shinichi wasn't as easy to read as people like Hakuba and Aoko—but he had his fingers crossed in that regard. He had the feeling that they could be good friends eventually.

And here was their last test—er, stop. It was a rather classy restaurant with an ocean view. Their food was reputed to be phenomenal, which was why Kaito had set his sights on trying it at least once, but they were also a bit too pricy for the average student. But that was where his plans came in.

"They're running a special promotion this week," he explained to his companion as they approached the building's front door. It was flanked by two happily burbling water fountains and multiple artfully arranged plants, their colorful blooms welcoming all who came. A set of wind chimes hung to the right of the door, the long, metal tubes swaying gently in the day's light breeze, scattering sonorous notes through the evening air. "Just play along okay?"

"Play along?" Shinichi repeated, puzzled. "With what?"

But Kaito only pushed open the restaurant door and pulled him inside.

The first thing Shinichi noticed upon entering the restaurant was that one of the walls was comprised entirely of windows. Through said windows he could see the ocean and the flat, unblemished line of the horizon. The restaurant itself was of moderate size with small tables mostly set up for two with a handful of tables for four. They were a little early for dinner, so only a handful of the tables were occupied.

At that point his attention snapped back to his immediate vicinity because Kaito had just draped an arm around his waist. He gave the magician a questioning look, but the taller teen was too busy talking to the lady behind the front desk to pay him any heed. He discreetly nudged at the arm, trying to dislodge it, but it didn't budge. Then the lady was coming out from behind the counter to lead them to a table and the arm retracted.

They were seated at a table right beside the wall of windows. Once there, the lady handed them off to a young woman who introduced herself as their waitress.

"By the way," she said after she'd taken the orders for their drinks. "The appetizer and the main course are set for the special, but you do get to pick your dessert. Did you have one in mind? If not, I highly recommend the Coco Dream Shake."

"Sounds good to me," Kaito replied with a grin. "Shinichi?"

The detective shrugged. "I don't mind."

"Right then." She smiled at them as she scribbled it down. "It'll come with two straws. I'll go get everything started for you then. Feel free to say if you need anything. I hope you have a wonderful evening together."

Kaito thanked her, and she left, but Shinichi was perplexed. Two straws? Shouldn't it have been two cups? And that bit at the end there. It was fairly normal for restaurant staff to wish you a good evening, but to specifically wish them a pleasant evening together…?

Shinichi mulled this over for a few more moments before it suddenly clicked and he turned red. "You…you…you…"

Kaito gave him a funny look. "Yes?"

"You told them—they think that we…"

"Oh, that." The magician waved an airy hand. "Like I said, they were having a promotion. Couples get their new three-course dinner for half of the original price. It really is a great deal. I could've sworn I already told you that."

"…You left out the part where it was supposed to be for couples."

"I did?" Kaito's face was the picture of surprise. It looked so genuine that Shinichi almost believed him—almost. He might not have been in Ekoda for long, but he'd still been around long enough to know that Kuroba Kaito was not the kind of person who forgot things. Behind the magician's carefree grin was a meticulously calculating, highly intelligent, and—above all—devious mind.

"I can't believe you tricked me into this," Shinichi sighed.

"Aw, you make it sound like having dinner with me is some terrible chore."

"I didn't say that," Shinichi protested. "I just don't think you should have lied to them about us being—being… You shouldn't lie just to get a discount."

The magician actually laughed. "It's really not a big deal. I'm sure they're well aware that not everyone who comes for the promotion is actually a couple."

"That doesn't actually change the fact that you're taking advantage of them."

"If it'll make you feel any better, we could always call this a date."

Shinichi's eyes grew wide like a deer caught in headlights as he spluttered. The blush from before resurfaced like the rising sun.

Kaito cracked up.

The detective's expression morphed into a flat look before he turned away with a huff. The thief thought he caught the other boy muttering something about crazy people with skewed senses of humor.

Wrestling his laughter under control, Kaito grinned at his companion. "Now, now, that's no way to talk about the person buying you dinner. Besides, isn't a little white lie worth this view?"

Blue eyes grew distant, a hint of sorrow creeping into them. "Even white lies can bite."

Kaito paused, studying the detective's face. He had made his comment in jest. He hadn't anticipated this kind of reaction. What was going through the detective's head anyway? He looked like his thoughts had departed on some arduous journey a million miles away.

Kaito decided that he liked it better when Shinichi was blushing. This new look actually made him feel a bit bad for bringing up the matter—something he almost never was. Casting about for a way to distract the detective, Kaito's gaze found the window.

"Hey Shinichi, look."

Looking up from his thoughts in confusion, Shinichi blinked at Kaito before following the magician's gesturing hand to the window. Outside, the sky had turned gold. Beneath it, the sea glittered as though gilded with sunlight for as far as the eye could see. Shinichi's breath caught in his throat. It was truly the paragon of sunsets—bright and luxuriant yet simple in the purity of its beauty.

On the other side of the table, Kaito gave himself a mental pat on the back.

X

Night had fallen, bringing with it a silver serenity drenched in moonlight. The sky was so clear tonight that the stars looked like crystals and the sea stretched flat and glistening all the way to the horizon. It was a beautiful scene, but one that did not extend within the confines of a certain hotel room where a young detective tossed in a fitful slumber.

An abrupt cry shattered the stillness. Shooting bolt upright in the hotel bed, Shinichi gasped for breath. He was covered in a cold sweat. Wide, blue eyes stared into the darkness as though expecting a monster to be hiding in the shadows. The cry had come from his own throat, but in his muddled mind it echoed with the voices of the past.

Where was he? He didn't know this place. It was dark and small and he couldn't hear anything over the pounding of his own heart.

There was someone behind him.

Jerking around, he lashed out wildly with his right hand. He didn't hit anything, but a different hand wrapped around his wrist, forcing his arm down. Panic lanced up his spine and he pulled back, trying to throw himself away from his attacker.

"Shinichi!"

The voice cracked through the air like a whip and he froze. Even the breath stuck in his throat. Wide eyes stared straight into a face wreathed in shadows.

Here in the darkness, he could barely make anything out, but he could detect the gleam of an indigo eye and the hint of angular features. He could feel the shadow's eyes on him, and there was something overwhelmingly familiar about this presence—

"KID?"

The shadow didn't respond immediately. Then, slowly—as though careful not to cause alarm, it released its iron grip on Shinichi. It didn't, however, actually let go.

"It's me, Kuroba Kaito, your roommate. Remember?"

Shinichi drew in a sharp breath then his whole body sagged as the tension drained out of him. He started breathing again. It was as though some pressure had been released and the memories of where he was and who he was here with came back to him in a flood.

"Are you all right?"

Shinichi took a deep breath then looked up again, forcing a smile onto his face. Yes, it was Kaito. Only Kaito. Not some ghostly enemy or demon in human guise leaping forth from the depths of his nightmares.

Kaito… But if it was Kaito then…why? Why had there been a moment when he had thought with absolute certainty that he was being held by KID?

"Shinichi?" the magician asked again, concern evident in his tone.

"I—I'm okay. Sorry." Shinichi paused to marshal his own thoughts back into order. A hint of an embarrassed flush crept up onto his face. "Sorry, really. I just…had a nightmare, I guess. Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Kaito asked, a hint of exasperation giving his words a frosted edge. "You don't have to apologize for having a nightmare."

"Oh. Um…I, I guess you're right." Shinichi lowered his head. "I just didn't mean to wake you."

"Don't worry about it. I never did need much sleep. Would you like some water? You still look a bit too pale for my liking."

"Water would be nice. Thank you."

Moving off of Shinichi's bed, Kaito flicked on one of the dim bedside lamps before moving to pour Shinichi a cup of bottled water. He returned to sit down on the edge of the bed beside Shinichi. "Here."

"Thank you." The detective took the cup gingerly. His fingers still felt jittery. He had to wait a moment before lifting the cup to his lips, afraid that he might spill it otherwise. Kaito said nothing. Instead he sat silently and watched as the detective sipped at his water. The light of the lamp, though dim, was like a bonfire compared to the darkness of moments before. The detective's gaze kept drifting towards it only to flicker back to the shadows in the corners of the room and behind the furniture.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked finally when he judged Shinichi to be calm enough to speak if he so chose.

Shinichi looked up at him then turned back to his cup, swirling what little water was left in it around and around the bottom. "I don't know." Part of him wanted nothing more than to say everything—anything—to make this stifling feeling go away. The other part of him just wanted to forget about it. In the end though, it was a moot point because he had no idea how to put it into words.

"I don't remember it," he said finally, his breath leaving him in a heavy sigh. It was the truth, for the most part. The dreams themselves were generally hazy. It was the feelings they invoked that clung like cobwebs to his thoughts.

"Even more reason not to dwell on it then," Kaito said, a note of finality in his tone that forbad argument. "Would you like to play chess?"

"I…what?"

"I brought a travel set. Having something to focus on could be just what you need. One game, and then we'll give sleep another try. Sound good?"

Shinichi hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Okay."

TBC

A.N: My next update will probably be to Smile for Me, so I'll see you after that. ^.^ I know this story moves on the slow side. Thanks for being patient.