Disclaimer: I don't own DCMK

Sky Colored Eyes

22: Little Surprises

Holding his breath on reflex, Shinichi waved a hand in an attempt to dispel the smoke. Why was it black? As far as he could recall, KID had never used black smoke before. It was usually white, pink, or gray. During and around the holidays, it might even be multicolored in accordance with the theme of the day. But black?

The detective's brows furrowed. He still couldn't see a thing, but the faint, woody scent that he assumed had come from the smoke was fading quickly into the realms of memory. Reaching out blindly, he waved a hand around until his fingers brushed over stone. Feeling along the hard, smooth surface, he determined that he had found the balcony railing. Stepping up to it, he peered over the side.

Nothing.

He was about to attempt to find his way back into the gallery by feel when he heard a collective gasp from the many spectators and officers gathered all around the grounds. The combined intakes of all their breaths was like a gentle gust of wind. Shinichi himself wondered for only a split second about what had caused their amazement before his own gaze was caught by a break in the darkness.

High over their heads, hundreds—no, thousands—of tiny lights unrolled across the sky. They didn't fall so much as come to life in rows branching from a single point in the darkness. Like strings of stars, they stretched all the way to the ground below, forming a glittering web with the audience and the exhibit all wrapped inside it. Despite the myriad of tiny, glowing lights, however, the darkness remained until a new, much brighter light lanced down from above to illuminate the display at the very heart of the outdoor exhibit.

And there, standing tall atop the pedestal that had housed the Lady's Blessing, was a familiar man in a pristine, white suit.

There was an instant uproar. The KID fans cheered, the reporters crowded forward, trying to fight their way through the masses and the darkness to get a word from the mouth of the gentleman thief himself, and the police officers charged, led by Nakamori and his time honored battle cry of, "KID!"

It was at the sound of the Task Force leader's earsplitting roar that everyone finally noticed that something else had changed. Nakamori-keibu, formerly dressed in the formal attire of his position as the task force's leading officer, was now clad head to toe in a tawny brown suit of fur. And all around his head, a thick mane of hair bristled outward, wild and luxuriant as any proud lion could ever hope his mane to be.

"KID!" the man bellowed again, unaware of the staring and stifled laughter that was beginning to break into all out guffaws. With a final burst of energy, he threw himself at the thief on his pedestal.

White teeth flashed beneath the thief's top hat in that arrogant smirk that both fans and officers alike knew well. The thief vanished. Unable to stop in mid leap, Nakamori-keibu went sailing through the empty space where the thief had been and right through a hoop of fire that had ignited when the thief disappeared.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the gentleman thief's voice rang out across the grounds from speakers that had been hidden amidst the gallery decorations and amongst the greenery of the grounds. "Welcome! I am thrilled to see just how many of you have come to see my show tonight. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. So just sit back, relax, and feel free to join in the festivities." The declaration was followed by a laugh and the flickering on of several more spotlights.

It was a bit like watching a painting come together. It had started at the center with Nakamori and his fiery hoop. After that, each spotlight to come to life gave the spectators another glimpse of Kaitou KID. In turn, each of his appearances sparked a reaction from the police, the closest of whom would then become part of the picture as they were caught by the next trap.

The officers closest to where the thief had been who had most likely been following their leader's example by attempting to grab the elusive criminal were now teetering this way and that atop large, colorful balls. Their clothes had gone from working uniforms to brightly colored pants that ballooned outward and shirts that looked like they had been on the wrong end of one too many paint ball battles. With the four of them now fighting to stay atop their balls as they rolled and bounced through the exhibit, those officers were getting a lot of cheers and applause despite their own white faces and flailing arms. The rest of the task force wasn't fairing much better. A dozen officers let out yelps and screams as they suddenly found themselves being hoisted into the air. It looked like they had suddenly learned to defy gravity. In moments, they were swinging back and forth on what could only be a trapeze, except, of course, that none of them knew how you were supposed to get around on a trapeze, and therefore they mostly wound up clinging to their respective handlebars and screaming for help as they swung back and forth over the chaos like pendulums in a crazy clock. Shinichi felt queasy just looking at them, but he was inclined to think that they were the lucky ones.

Back down on the ground, Hakuba—startled by yet another KID shadow—had accidentally tripped a trap that spring-boarded him into the middle of a large, round dais that everyone had thought was a display space not yet being used. Now they found that it wasn't an empty dais after all. No, it was a very large custard pie that had been dressed to look like a part of the exhibit. Now the high school detective Hakuba Saguru was standing chest deep in custard and cream, looking very much like the custard pudding monster. To top it all off, the interior structure of the pie dish had been designed so that every time Hakuba got close to the edge and was reaching to pull himself out, he would slip and end up sliding back beneath the creamy ripples. Not far from the pie, four more officers had found themselves standing on one another's shoulders. The human tower teetered and swayed as they fought to maintain their balance.

Each piece of the puzzle came to light in an explosion of color and activity. When the scene was completed, it was the best picture of mass mayhem that anyone present had ever laid eyes on.

"So how do you like my show?"

Jumping at the unexpected voice speaking from right behind him where no one should have been, Shinichi turned around quickly. Now that his eyes had had time to adjust, he could see that he'd been separated from the rest of the balcony's occupants by heavy folds of black cloth that had fallen from above like curtains screening the stage from the rest of the world. Against that thick, black cloth, KID's white suit all but glowed.

"KID…"

"The one and only." Grinning that shark's grin of his, the thief swept into a bow. "It's been a while since you've graced one of my heists with your presence. I would say you're looking well, but I see you've caught a cold this time."

Shinichi snorted. "Do you make a habit of stating the obvious?"

"Nope. So? What do you think?"

The detective blinked. "About what?"

"My show." The thief waved a hand at the chaos below then grinned.

"It looks like an elaborate comedy routine," he replied dryly. "Not what I'd call inspiring."

"So harsh! I'll have you know I put a lot of work into setting everything up."

"I didn't say it doesn't look like it took a lot of time to put together. I just don't see the finesse in custard pie and clown suits."

KID laughed. "I admit my original intentions were for something more elegant, but then I stumbled across a certain lion suit, and it just had Nakamori-keibu written all over it."

Unable to resist, Shinichi cast another glance out across the exhibit. Nakamori-keibu had gotten back to his feet, but he hadn't moved. The reason for this lay in the form of a series of flaming hoops arrayed around him. He could easily have gotten out by jumping through one, but it seemed his pride was getting in the way. So there he stood in the middle of the chaos, roaring at his men to "Find that damned thief!". Shinichi had to admit, the role suited the man to a T.

"Shinichi?"

Startled, he glanced at the wash of black cloth between them and the rest of the balcony. That had been Kaito's voice calling his name. It was coming from the other side of the curtain. Did that mean… He turned back to KID, pushing all other thoughts to the back of his mind.

"What do you want?"

KID arched an eyebrow. "What ever do you mean?"

Shinichi crossed his arms. "You must want something. Otherwise, you should be leaving."

"Perhaps I simply wished to see how you were doing after you collapsed at our last meeting," KID suggested.

Shinichi opened his mouth to point out how illogical that would be, but he never got the chance. The cloth curtain that was all that stood between them and the rest of the audience shifted as someone searched for its edge. KID glanced at it then turned back to Shinichi.

"Until next time then." He swept into a bow and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Leaning back against the balcony rails in an attempt to distance himself from the smoke, Shinichi held his breath and waved at the foggy wisps. The air was still a little hazy when the curtain was finally yanked aside and Kaito popped his head around the angel statue.

"Shinichi? Are you okay in there?"

"I'm fine," he replied, gaze sweeping over the balcony. There was no sign of KID anywhere. But there stood Kaito with the cups he'd gone to fetch still in hand. He offered one to Shinichi with a grin.

"Guess it's a bit late for the festivities, but here."

"Thank you."

"Did you see the show? The view from here should've been great."

"I did. What about you?"

"I got a lot of pictures," the magician bragged, waving a camera about with a gleeful grin stretched across his face. "I'm going to put them together and give it to the Nakamoris when we graduate."

"…I don't think Aoko-san is going to appreciate your thoughtfulness."

Kaito's smirk said it all.

Later, as they sped homeward on Kaito's motorcycle, Shinichi braced himself to ask the question that had been on his mind all night.

"Kaito?"

"Yeah?"

"I…I wanted to ask you something."

"Go on."

"I just… Why did you want me to come to the heist with you?"

"Oh that. Well, I thought you'd enjoy it. You've been pretty down about that whole debacle with Hasagawa's mother and Chishima and everyone. All that on top of being sick too. So I was thinking that it might do you some good to just get out and have some fun."

"But then why a KID heist?"

"Did you enjoy it?"

Shinichi didn't answer immediately. He thought back on the events of the evening. There had been the art and the music, the food and the people. The people… Giving himself a quick shake, he forced his thoughts back to the present. "I guess it was nice," he admitted just a little hesitantly because really, he felt a bit guilty about finding amusement in the plight of his fellow detectives and the police. But it had been a rather relaxing evening, when all was said and done, and since he had come as a spectator, he had been able to just sit back and watch KID's performance from beginning to end. He wondered if anyone else had noticed that the lights that had come back on in the display cases formed a KID doodle when seen from the balcony above.

The lighthearted, playful atmosphere in that space, where it seemed like everything was on the move and nothing was going to be left out of the games, had been refreshing. It had also been interesting to see the way each piece of KID's puzzle came alive and fit into the picture to make the biggest diorama of mayhem that any artist could hope to build.

And it was art of a sort, he mused, even if it wasn't something you could hang on a wall or analyze to death. It was the kind of art that was done for art's sake because the creator had an idea and he just had to run with it.

"Yes, I did," he said again, this time with more conviction.

Kaito's manic grin softened into a gentler, more genuine smile. "Good. That's why I wanted you to come."

"Oh." Face warming, Shinichi buried his face against the magician's back.

Was it really that simple?

He had thought that perhaps Kaito had set up this trip in order to prove that he wasn't KID. But why go out of his way to do so for a detective who had shown no inclination whatsoever towards chasing thieves? It would be pointless and just asking for trouble. Of course maybe Kaito really wasn't KID. Shinichi had heard his voice when he'd been talking to the thief, but, well, voice recorders weren't hard to come by, and there were probably a hundred and one ways to make curtains move. There were ways, but then there were always ways. It didn't necessarily mean Kaito could or couldn't be KID, but…

Groaning, he dragged his thoughts back to the present. Why did his mind always insist on making everything so complicated? Kaito had said he'd wanted Shinichi to go to the heist so that he could have fun and relax.

Maybe it was just that simple after all.

More than that, Shinichi realized that he wanted to accept that that was all it was.

"So what was your favorite part?"

"Hmmm?"

"Of the evening."

"Oh. I liked the music. I've always liked the Four Seasons."

"…"

Well, Kaito thought to himself as he bid Shinichi goodnight and turned towards home. It wasn't exactly the result he had hoped for, but it had still been a good evening.

Shinichi had been unexpectedly relaxed when he'd shown up in uniform. He had made no move at all to try and stop KID either. It was strange, but Kaito decided he'd take it as a good sign. He was almost positive now that it was safe to allow himself to like Shinichi.

It was ironic, he mused. When he had understood that he and Aoko were never going to become a couple like he had once thought they would, he had realized that he would have to find someone who could accept him as both Kuroba Kaito and Kaitou KID before even considering a relationship. He had never expected to find such a person in the form of a detective.

Man, people just didn't appreciate how complicated a phantom thief's life was. Not that he was complaining. It made things interesting.

X

Shinichi woke the following morning feeling better than he had in days. Pleased, he clambered off the bed and stretched. The world didn't spin. His muscles were still rather sore from all the coughing, but most of the stiffness had faded as well. Covering a yawn, he changed into his school uniform and headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

Having been reviewing for the chemistry exam in his head, it wasn't until he had finished brushing and washing his face that he noticed it.

It was the glitter of gold that caught his attention. Pausing halfway out the door, he turned back around to face the mirror. Gold shimmered beneath the bathroom's stark light. And there, hanging around his neck, was a necklace. The pendant hanging from the fine gold chain showed off a vivid, crimson gemstone in which seven threads of light shifted and danced like a star in a scarlet void.

Shinichi gaped. He recognized this necklace. He had seen it just last night, only then it had been sitting on a velvet cushion behind glass.

Gingerly, he brushed his fingertips over the polished face of the jewel. It was definitely not his imagination.

What was it doing here? How had it ended up around his neck? Okay, maybe that wasn't as much of a mystery. Only one person could have given it to him, and that person ought to have little trouble breaking into his apartment to do so. But then when had the thief done it? Shinichi was certain he hadn't had it on last night when he'd gone to bed.

Mildly disturbed and very much confused, Shinichi picked up his cell to call Nakamori-keibu to see if he should drop the necklace off at the station or just return it directly to the gallery. Before he could dial, however, the phone started to ring. He didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"Kudo-kun? I don't know if you remember me. I'm Sai's mother."

"Oh, Chishima-san, did something happen?"

"He woke up last night."

Blue eyes widened. "That's great. Is he going to be okay?"

"He has to stay at the hospital for a while, but the doctors say he should make a full recovery." The relief in the woman's voice was palpable even over the phone. "He wanted me to ask you if you could visit. He says he needs to talk to you."

"Did he say what he wants to talk about?"

"No. He just tells me that it's important." Now the woman's voice lowered, growing hesitant, almost fearful. "He's been…acting a little strange since waking up."

"What do you mean?"

"It's… I'm not sure how to explain over the phone. I don't want to rush you, and it's okay if you're busy, but can you come to the hospital after school today?"

"I'll be there," he promised.

"Thank you."

Half of Shinichi wanted to just go straight to the hospital, but he knew he couldn't. He'd already missed several days of school. The last thing he wanted was to miss another, especially considering that that big chemistry exam was scheduled for today. Glancing over at the clock, he froze. Was that really the time? He was going to be late!

Popping a cough drop into his mouth, he grabbed his backpack and ran out the door. In his haste, he completely forgot that he was still wearing the Lady's Blessing.

TBC