Written November 9 2021
Posted on Wattpad December 4 2021
Posted here May 2 2022

NEXT UPDATE is on May 16 2022


Lapin obediently followed Kaito once the sound of sirens began to approach. They needed to clear out before anyone spotted them "Did burning that house hurt too?" The sleuth inquired softly once they were in a side alley a few blocks away from his house. Most of his recent memories regarding it were lonely, but there'd been some good times too. Lapin suddenly frowned when he noticed that Kaito was injecting something into his injured arm again "Are you okay?" Why would Kaito's pain meds wear out so quickly?

Kaito blinked, carefully capping and pocketing the used needle "I'm fine, they're not supposed to last long because numbing limbs isn't really a good thing in the long run" Pills would last longer, which was why he used an injection. It also allowed only his arm to really be numbed due to it being a quick acting intramuscular injection. It worked quickly, but was mostly used up by the time the effects started to spread from his arm. Kaito cautiously flexed his freshly numbed arm "And yeah, it was my home. Of course it hurt"

"Okay" Lapin glanced at Kaito's arm, then at the cafe across the street "Let's eat there until the numbness wears off a bit" Walking on a numb leg was bed, so putting all his weight onto a numb arm couldn't be much better. He also didn't want to leave Beika just yet.

Humming, Kaito nodded "I would have been fine but sure" It was already late enough for their absence to have been noticed by now. He didn't mind biding some time before the inevitable scolding. Both Aoko and Ginzo hated his numbing agents, because they allowed him to ignore injuries. They'd know he used them the moment they realized that he hadn't taken his wheelchair.

The two made their way into the small cafe, it's name was simple 'The Corner Cafe' because it was situated on the very corner of the block. Lapin had been inside a few times before as Shinichi, and once as Conan. The coffee was good, and the workers were actually willing to sell young children coffee if they asked for it. Kaito sat himself down in one of the far back corner booths while Lapin went to order them their food.

"Oh Conan-kun?"

Lapin blinked, was he really that memorable?... Well there had been a murder involved... The tiny sleuth gave a clueless expression "Are you talking to me miss? Nobody's here except for my brother"

"Oh I'm sorry" The cashier- Hina Mayu as her name tag stated looked apologetic as she glanced over and spotted Kaito "You just look a lot like another little boy I met not too long ago"

"Oh" Lapin offered a grin "I have a very common face, I look like my brother, and I've seen a few other lookalikes on the news"

Mayu returned the grin with a smile of her own "Okay, what would you like to order?"

"A black coffee, hot chocolate, lemon pie..." Lapin paused for a second "And some chocolate cake please" Kaito was a chocolate fan and had gone straight for a seat instead of telling him what he wanted. Maybe the injections made him tired?

"Okay, I'll have your order ready soon"

"Thanks!" Lapin left for the table, the food would be brought over to them when it was ready.

"Maybe we should have gone to a different cafe" Kaito mused, voice soft as Lapin joined him.

Lapin shook his head "It's fine, I've been to a lot of places. It would be hard to find a nearby cafe that I've never been to before" Ran had liked to take him out to them a lot. She'd said it was better than leaving him at home with her dad.

"Hmm" Kaito perked up when Mayu brought over their order "Thanks!" He gave his hot chocolate a few stirs to cool it down "We're going to be scolded when we get back" Kaito sighed before taking his first sip.

"Ah... You're probably right" He wasn't in the mood to get scolded. He just wanted to sleep.

Kaito's shoulders slumped a bit "Maybe it'll be better if we rent a hotel room instead. My head hurts, Aoko's yelling will make it worse" And Ginzo's disappointed look would make him feel worse as well.

"Are you getting sick?" Lapin inquired, remembering that Kaito had gotten completely soaked earlier in the day.

Trying a few bites of his cake, Kaito offered a half shrug "It's possible" He was also very stressed, but that was fine. He could deal with stress. It would be dealt with later, not now "I feel feverish and it's not from my meds"

"Oh..."

"Nothing I can do about it" Kaito continued to eat his cake "If I send a drone to collect my normal meds, do you want to just stay at a hotel or something to avoid the yelling?"

"Or you could just tell them you have a headache" A bad one if he was actually considering staying in a hotel to avoid yelling.

Kaito pouted, elbow resting on the table as he rested his cheek in his hand "But then they'll worry, anger is better than worry"

Lapin hummed "I've already messaged the inspector" Kaito had given him one of his spare phones after destroying both his Shinichi and Conan phone. It wasn't the fastest, but it worked for messaging.

"...Can you ask Keibu to pick us up?" He was tired, and there was no point in avoiding them now. He didn't want to deal with public transit.

"Okay" Lapin sent the message, receiving a confirmation in response. It was still too soon to transport the stuff they'd taken from his house, so it should all be safe in Kaito's secret stash for now. The other apparently had a lot of secret stashes hidden all throughout Tokyo, and even some in Osaka and Kyoto. It was strange, until one remembered that Kaito had once moonlighted as Kaitou Kid "He'll pick us up as soon as he can"

"I'm going to nap" Kaito had finished his food, so he pushed his plate to the side to rest his head on the table.

"I'll keep watch" Lapin sighed. He doubted that Kaito would be up to taking him to the station tomorrow, or today. It was past midnight.