Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.

Pairing: KaitoxShinichi

Chapter Rating: T

Collection Summary: No matter where or what they are, their lives are always entwined. KaiShin stories in fantasy settings.

Chapter Summary: As an archeologist, Shinichi dedicated his life to uncovering the mysteries of the lost empire. His search, however, leads him to a stranger he feels he should know and the remnants of a terrible magic.


Remnants of a Lost Age

[Archeology Verse]

Part 2

"This is Beika City," Shinichi explained as he led Kaito down a bustling street. "It's the largest cit yin this area. Most people headed to and from the old ruins pass through here to pick up their supplies or to get the stuff they find appraised and sold. That's why there are so many inns and antique shops around here. There are also several really well-stocked bookstores and a travelers' help center that offer resources to anyone looking to explore the region."

Kaito whistled. "I had noticed there were more explorers coming through, but I never would have guessed people had built a whole city based on exploring my ruins."

"Well, people are curious," Shinichi replied. "The magic empire is still one of the greatest mysteries of the world. It's not just the fall either. Look."

Kaito followed Shinichi's pointing hand to a massive building that had a constant stream of people flowing in and out of its doors. The large sign above the door had no words on it. Instead, it had a circle of eight silver stars painted on it. The other thing Kaito noticed was the diversity of the clientele. The people going in and out of the place ranged in age from children to doddering old men. There were men and women dressed in clothes that ranged up and down the scale in terms of quality and style.

"I can sense magic in there," he mused. "What kind of shop is that?"

"You just said it," Shinichi said. "It's a magic shop. It sells power crystals and magical tools. I got my sunlight orb there."

"I see. But what does that have to do with the explorers?"

"They go into the ruins to find power crystals and magic tools."

"Seems like it'd be more trouble than it's worth."

Shinichi frowned for a moment before realization dawned. "Oh, right. I forgot you wouldn't know."

" Know what?"

"No one in this age knows how to make power crystals. And people now can't do any kind of magic without them."

Kaito halted in mid step to stare at him with the first truly shocked expression Shinichi had seen on his face. "None at all?"

Shinichi nodded. "None."

"That's crazy," Kaito muttered, shaking his head. "I mean, I knew a lot would have been lost, but I didn't think it would be quite that much."

Not sure how to respond to that, Shinichi only nodded and gestured for Kaito to follow him down the next street.

-0-

"And this is where I'm staying for now," Shinichi concluded as they stepped into the Old Beika Inn. "I have to go back to Teitan City next week. They've asked me to participate in a panel about the things students should consider if they plan on a career that involves exploring the ruins. I'm also supposed to give a short series of lectures on expedition safety, planning, and documentation."

"So you are a teacher," Kaito concluded. For some reason, the thought made him smile one of his few soft smiles that made Shinichi feel strangely warm and fuzzy inside. "It suits you."

Shinichi could feel himself beginning to blush. "I'm not really. I mean, I mainly do research. I like working in the field. But I do enjoy sharing what I learn."

"So what are you planning on doing until we have to leave?"

"Well, I'd like to get started on trying to translate the writings from the catacombs."

Kaito's smile fell. "There are some things about the empire's history that would be best left buried. The temptation of power destroys people. We should know."

Shinichi found himself unable to look away from Kaito's burning indigo gaze. He gulped. "I…" He started then stopped. Taking a deep breath, he started again. "I understand what you mean. History is important though. And it's my job to find out the truth about the past. But if I run across anything that would be dangerous, I promise I won't tell anyone."

"I'll hold you to that." Then, abruptly, Kaito smiled, and the heaviness in the air melted away. "So how about introducing me to some of your modern cuisine?"

Shinichi blinked. "I thought you didn't eat."

"I don't have to, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy eating. And you can tell me more about this time while we're at it."

-0-

Shinichi's apartment in Teitan City was exactly how Kaito had imagined it. There was a comfortably and simply furnished sitting room, a plain but serviceable bedroom and bathroom, and a study packed wall to wall with books. It was so full of books that Kaito would even consider calling it a library. There was even one shelf stocked with his Shin-chan's own works.

Kaito had taken to perusing the books while Shinichi rested at night. There was so much he had to catch up on.

He still couldn't quite believe that they were here. Oh how he had waited… He hadn't even known if it would happen. It had been mere hope and desperation that had kept him sane. Kept him searching. Kept him training and preparing because, if the chance came again, he would not make the mistakes that he had made all those years ago again.

And now that second chance had finally come.

He was grateful. Yet there were still times when he couldn't help but wish they could go back to those days before the fall when they were but foolish children who believed that peace could last. They had lost so many chances and dreams and friends.

But there was no point in dwelling on such things Even the most powerful of magic's couldn't turn back time.

-0-

It was a party for academics, which Shinichi used to think meant that it would be a calm and enjoyable kind of party. One where you could meet people to discuss interesting new ideas and discoveries with while you shared travel stories and good food. There might be some music, though nothing of that newfangled stuff that didn't seem to care so much about making sense as it did about screaming as loud as was humanly possible.

He had been quickly disillusioned by the first of such parties he had attended. The men and women of academia could be every bit as rowdy as the wildest of teenagers when in the mood. And apparently people of all ages and walks of life expected party music to be loud—the better to dance to, he'd been told.

Unfortunately, he still had to attend these parties because he knew people would be offended if he didn't. And he did occasionally run into interesting scholars or other professionals that made the events not a total waste of time.

The party today, however, was unlike any he had ever attended before, and it was all because of the presence of one Kuroba Kaito.

The magician had started the evening by insisting that Shinichi try one of everything being offered at the buffet table.

"You don't eat enough," he'd reasoned and completely ignored Shinichi's protests that all he wanted was a cup of coffee. On the bright side, he didn't mind finishing anything Shinichi either didn't like or couldn't stuff down as long as Shinichi tried at least one bite. Though the archeologist wouldn't admit it, he had found some of the delicacies he wouldn't have tried if left to his own devices to be surprisingly delicious. And afterward, Kaito got him the coffee he'd been craving before Shinichi had even finished thinking about going to find it.

The magician had also worked some kind of spell to dull the deafening noise that was the party in full swing so that the two of them could talk without shouting—and so that Shinichi didn't feel like he was going prematurely deaf. This made the music actually somewhat enjoyable, something that had never happened to Shinichi before at a party.

Then one of the other archeologists present had approached Shinichi with news of a newly discovered stretch of ruins that had been formerly thought to be completely inaccessible and the two had gotten into a rather technical discussion. Kaito had excused himself after listening just long enough to be sure that the ruins in question weren't anything important (though he kept this knowledge to himself) and joined the poker games being played in one corner of the massive hall. When the other archeologist finally departed and Shinichi looked around for his odd new friend, Kaito appeared like magic, looking smug, and dropped a small sack onto the table next to Shinichi's coffee cup. It clinked loudly.

"What's that?" Shinichi asked, eyeing the sack warily.

Kaito smirked, taking a seat beside him. "My winnings. I haven't gotten to play these games with real people for ages. It's definitely better when you're not playing yourself. You can never win when you're doing that."

"I would have thought it would be equally true that you could never lose."

"Yeah, but it still gets annoying because that just makes it easy to see how pointless it all was to begin with."

"Oh." That, Shinichi could understand perfectly. He considered pointing out that gambling wasn't actually a good pastime, but in the end he decided against it. Kaito had, after all, been stuck by himself for a very, very long time. And he felt certain that Kaito knew what kinds of risks were and weren't worth taking. Getting a lecture about it from someone who was hundreds of years younger than he was at the first party he'd been able to attend in centuries would more than likely sour an evening that had been proceeding remarkably well.

Kaito contemplated his sack of coins for a moment before snapping his fingers. The entire thing vanished without a sound or even a flash of light. It was simply there one moment and gone the next. Then he turned a winning smile on Shinichi. "So, how about a dance?"

Shinichi blinked at him. "What?"

"Dance." Kaito waved a hand at the open dance floor where a crowd of men and women were doing just that. "You have to dance at least once at a party. Come on."

Before Shinichi could argue that there was no such requirement, he had been dragged from his seat and whirled into the crazy mass of dancers gyrating to the music. It was a fast, rambunctious song, and Shinichi found himself caught up in a whirlwind of activity. People cavorted about, twirling and prancing and all around acting like lunatics in his opinion, although he didn't have much thought left over to observe anyone at the moment since Kaito had dragged them both into the thick of it. By the time the song ended, Shinichi was dizzy and panting for breath.

"That is not dancing," he gasped.

Kaito was grinning like a madman and laughing. "Of course it is. But I suppose this is more to your idea of dance?" Stepping forward as the next song started, he grasped Shinichi's hand again with one hand and placed the other on Shinichi's hip.

Shinichi, who had been about to say that he'd had enough of dancing of whatever kind for three parties, suddenly found his thoughts derailed as a blush rose in his face at Kaito's sudden proximity. By the time he could think coherently again, it was too late to escape. Although he found he didn't entirely want to. This realization reawakened the confusion he'd been feeling a lot since he'd met Kaito—that odd sensation of familiarity and longing, like he had forgotten something important. His heart was beating far faster than the slow pace of the song warranted. He told himself it was from the earlier exertion, but he knew it wasn't.

Why? Why did he feel this way whenever Kaito got close to him?

Kaito could feel his grin softening into a smile. Lost in thought as he was, Shinichi had shifted closer to him unconsciously as his body relaxed, letting Kaito guide him through the dance as the music flowed about them. It was a perfect moment, and Kaito basked in the warmth and delight of having his beloved so close again.

Then he saw them.

The couples around them had parted for a moment in the dance, and he caught a glimpse of another pair at the far edge of the dance floor. The man, he did not recognize, though his clothes suggested he was someone important. The woman, on the other hand, he knew. Even though he saw her for only a fleeting instant, her image had been burned into his memory for centuries—ever since that awful night when he had lost everything.

Shinichi was startled from his thoughts when he felt Kaito stiffen. He looked up, only then realizing that he was practically leaning against the mage's chest, but the look on Kaito's face chased away any embarrassment the realization might have stirred in him.

"What—" he started to ask. Before he could finish, Kaito had turned and was pulling him through the crowd of dancers. He was moving so quickly that Shinichi nearly had to run to keep up with Kaito's longer strides. In moments, Kaito had maneuvered them off the dance floor and through the doors out onto the balcony attached to the hall where the party was being held. It wasn't until the doors had shut behind them that Kaito slowed. Even then, he looked back as though he thought someone might come chasing out after them.

"What is it?" Shinichi demanded. Kaito's wariness was beginning to make him feel uneasy too.

The mage's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. "She's in there."

Shinichi frowned. "Who?"

"Her." Kaito's voice was low and hard as cold steel. "The one that destroyed the empire. The woman who cursed us all."

Shinichi opened his mouth then closed it again. "But… I mean, are you sure?"

"I'd never forget that face," Kaito spat with such venom that Shinichi flinched.

"But how is that possible?"

"The same way it's possible for me to be here."

"Can you point her out?" Shinichi made to go back inside, but Kaito pulled him back. The archeologist stumbled and might have fallen if Kaito hadn't caught him. Shinichi stilled. Kaito's arms were wrapped tight around him, holding his back flush against the mage's chest.

"Don't."

Shinichi swallowed with a throat that had gone abruptly dry. He could feel Kaito's warm breaths brushing past his cheek. His pulse quickened again, and he tried not to think about how nice it felt to be held by Kaito. Now really wasn't the time. "C—can you tell me who she was then? Or maybe who she was with?" He wasn't sure if the slight stutter in his own voice was because of the strange sensations Kaito was inspiring in his body or the thought that there might be a person right inside the party hall who had caused the fall of an entire civilization.

"She's blond—a very pale shade. And beautiful, until you get to know her. She was dancing with a tall man in a fancy black suit with a gold pin on his lapel. I believe it was some kind of bird."

"That's the head of the Magical Research Association," Shinichi gasped. "He's famous for that crow pin. He never takes it off. But then the woman you saw must have been Chris. They got married just last year."

"I don't care what she's calling herself now. That was definitely her. Figures she'd want to hook her talons into someone important. That snake."

The pure hatred in Kaito's voice made Shinichi shudder. He didn't like hearing that tone from the usually cheerful mage. It was just wrong. Turning around in Kaito's embrace, he tilted his head back so that he could look straight into indigo eyes. "Will you be all right?"

Kaito blinked, the anger vanishing from his face to be replaced by puzzlement which melted slowly into a small but humorous smile. "It's not me I'm worried about. But it's sweet of you to worry."

Shinichi scowled. "I'm being serious."

"As am I~. Seriously though," he added, tone growing somber. "That woman is dangerous. We can't let her do as she wishes."

"Well, what do you think she's planning?"

Kaito grimaced. "I have a few guesses, but I'd rather not count my chickens before they hatch. I'll need to gather some information before we make any plans. You say she's been around since at least last year. Do you know what she's been doing?"

Shinichi sighed. "I haven't been paying much attention, to be honest. But her husband's in the press a lot. You can start your research there if you insist something's up."

Kaito nodded. "Good idea. He must be her anchor."

"Does that mean you'd like to go home now?" Shinichi asked.

Picking up on the hopeful note in the archeologist's question, Kaito chuckled, leaning down to press his forehead against Shinichi's. "And here I thought I'd managed to get you to enjoy the festivities a little."

"O—oh, um, you did, actually," Shinichi admitted. He could feel the blush returning again.

Kaito smiled. "I'm glad," he murmured.

They fell silent, neither making any move to pull away. A tiny voice in the back of Shinichi's mind wondered why he wasn't uncomfortable. He'd never been much of a touchy feely person. Personal space was important to him. Having Kaito's arms around him made him feel secure. It felt…right.

This wasn't the first time his thoughts had wandered down this path, confusing as it was, but tonight, he found he didn't feel like arguing about the illogicalness of it all. For the first time, he wondered if maybe there were some things logic wasn't meant to explain. And so, when Kaito leaned in, he felt nothing but a sense of anticipation.

The kiss was soft and sweet. Unlike their first two kisses, during which Shinichi had been too shocked to think about anything, this time, Shinichi was completely aware of what was happening—what they were doing. He let his eyes slide shut and tentatively returned the kiss.

When they finally parted, they continued to stand wrapped in each other's arms for a long moment, each gazing searchingly into the other's eyes. It was Shinichi who eventually broke the silence.

"I think you owe me an explanation."

Kaito blinked then laughed softly, shaking his head. "You always have to know everything, don't you?"

"That! That's exactly what I mean. You keep talking like you know me. And I…I just met you, but it feels like I've known you for years."

Kaito smiled, clearly pleased. "Well, we have been traveling together for a few weeks now."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

The mage looked away, though he didn't release his hold on Shinichi. If anything, he tightened his grip. "I know. I'll tell you everything one day, I promise. But…it isn't time."

"That's not fair."

Kaito hesitated a moment. Then he stepped back from Shinichi and held out one hand, palm up. A small light appeared in the air hovering just above his palm. It spread out, taking on the shape of a flower. He offered the blossom to Shinichi, face serious.

"When you can tell me what kind of flower this is and where it grows, I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

Startled, Shinichi accepted the bloom. Having half expected it to melt away like a dissipating mirage upon contact, he was amazed to find that it was solid. The material was smooth but light like blown glass, but it was warm to the touch. It wasn't what he'd wanted, but the challenge stirred the part of Shinichi that had always loved puzzles, the more challenging the better.

"You promise you'll answer all my questions?"

"On my honor as a Kuroba."

"All right then. I accept your terms."


-To be Continued-