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Title: Ghost of the Past – How Kaitou KID Saved Kuroba Kaito

Fandom: Detective Conan / Magic Kaito

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Gosho Aoyama for he created the awesomeness that is Kaitou KID. Ah, and Detective Conan, too. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: m/m, death angel, winged Shinichi, hurt/comfort, ghosts

Main Pairing: Kaito/Shinichi

DC/MK Characters: Kudou Shinichi | Kaitou KID, Kuroba Kaito, Kuroba Toichi, Kuroba Chikage

Summary: Kaito is stuck on a police ball during a hostage situation and surprised when Kaitou KID comes to save the day. Shinichi is confronted by Kaito afterward and has to share his greatest secret with the thief.

Ghost of the Past

How Kaitou KID Saved Kuroba Kaito

"What do we do, Kai-chan?" whispered Chikage nervously.

Kaito winced and shook his head. He had no idea. They were at the annual police ball. Nakamori was being honored, since he had 'stopped' KID so often in the past and returned so many priceless gems. Naturally did Kaito and Chikage have to attend and cheer for him.

However, the moment the inspector stepped onto the stage to accept his award, chaos erupted. A dozen masked and armed men stormed the place, forcing everyone onto the ground. Turned out a former victim of Kaito's – a greedy bastard who'd stolen a priceless gem from a family – was still mad about the way Kaito had 'stolen' that gem and made the police investigate. Nakamori had been the one to arrest the man, so he held the inspector personally responsible. Him and Kaitou KID.

Which was where things got complicated, because the man and his hired minions demanded Kaitou KID to turn himself in to this man, or else he'd start killing the hostages. If KID came willingly, only him and Nakamori would have to die. Which wasn't ideal, but if Kaito could, he would be up there as KID and then he had an actual chance at taking these guys out.

The problem was that Kaito was stuck down on the ground, wearing a tux. Not his KID get-up. He hadn't been insane enough to take that with himself to a police ball, after all. Another problem was that Chikage was with him. And Jii was out of town right now. The only one else who could impersonate him was Akako, but she was currently – according to herself, at least – in hell.

Innocent people were going to die because Kaito was here and couldn't be KID...

"Ka... Kaito," his mother's voice was shaky, surprised. "You said Jii isn't in town..."

Frowning, Kaito turned his attention to his mom, following her line of sight. Pink smoke spread out on the stage, soon filling the entire room. Thankfully the majority of the hostages were cops, so they were quick to react, use the element of surprise to their advantage, overwhelming the minions. When the smoke cleared, the man in charge sat tied up at the feet of Kaitou KID.

"It's very rude to throw a party in someone's honor and not invite them, Nakamori-keibu," chided KID – and he even sounded like Kaito. "Next time, send me an invitation too. I always invite you to my little parties too, after all, don't I?"

He looked just like Kaito. Not just looked like KID, not just the costume – posture and body-build matched Kaito too. And the costume... it wasn't some cheap knockoff. The details were all right. If Kaito didn't know better, he'd say that actually was... He froze when the fake KID drew the real card-gun and shot at Nakamori to keep him away so he could make his escape.

"That's my gun," whispered Kaito urgently. "That's the real costume."

"But who would... who could..." Chikage frowned, as baffled as Kaito himself.

"I have no idea but I have to get home and check," Kaito hissed beneath his breath.

/break\

Naturally, getting home wasn't as simple as that. They got interrogated and checked through before they could return home. Once there, Kaito motioned for his mom to be quiet and stay back while he made his way to the KID cave. She rolled her eyes at him, but at least she listened to him.

The picture was the wrong way around. Tensely, Kaito opened the secret passage to make his way into his secret base. He didn't know what to expect. Why would the thief be back? Then again, what motif did someone have to steal the KID gear in the first place...?

"He's going to have questions and I will be the one forced to answer them," the voice sounded familiar – and annoyed. "No. I don't need your input. I've had enough of your input for today. With all due respect, Toichi-san. He's going to think I'm crazy... like everybody else."

Okay, whatever was going on here was getting more bizarre by the minute. Kaito hurried his steps, but tried to stay hidden. There he sat, Kaitou KID, lounging on the couch. He looked annoyed, but he was alone. Then who had he been talking to? Maybe an ear-piece?

"I hate that you made me do this," muttered 'KID' and took off the top-hat.

Kaito froze, eyes widening at the neat, brown hair beneath. Neat, aside from one incredibly unique cowlick in the back. That would explain the fact that the fake had been able to copy Kaito's voice and body-language – they had the same build, after all, and he had gotten to study Kaito's movements as Kaitou KID on countless occasions by now. But why and how...?

"Tantei-kun, I did not think that you would commit crimes," chided Kaito in his most mocking KID-voice while staying hidden. "Breaking and entering, theft, identity theft too. How rude."

Shinichi huffed, sounding not very amused. "Do you truly think it's necessary for you to hide? I got here through your bedroom, KID-san. Or shall I say Kuroba-kun?"

That was a good point. With the most leisure stroll he could manage did Kaito round the corner. Damn. Oh boy. Shinichi wearing the KID suit did things to Kaito. File that under fantasies he hadn't been aware he had. He'd been appreciating Shinichi's physique ever since tantei-kun got to trade the chibi-sized body in for the real deal, but seeing him like this sure was different.

"I guess thanks are in order," offered Kaito after a moment. "For saving me and... others. Now, the question I have is... how. Not why, because I know you wouldn't stand aside and let innocent people die. But how. How did you even know we needed a KID. How do you know I'm KID. How did you find my gear – I do think this place is well enough hidden."

"I had some... insider help," Shinichi looked uncomfortable.

"C'mon, Great Detective," Kaito's voice dropped, getting softer. "You know you can trust me. You trusted me with your greatest secret and I always kept it. This, I think I have a right to know."

The look on Shinichi's face was strange. Kind of snarky but in a bizarre manner, as though there had been a bad joke that Kaito had missed. Shinichi shifted and glared at a spot next to Kaito.

"That wasn't my greatest secret. It was a big secret. And you kept it well. But it wasn't my biggest secret," whispered Shinichi before he turned to look at his own hands. "You won't believe it."

"You're underestimating me there, tantei-kun," chided Kaito lightly. "C'mon. I believed you when I realized you were you. Teenage detective turned little boy. And I believed it. Trust me to believe you. Give me a chance, Great Detective."

Taking a deep breath, Shinichi got up. He started to unclasp the cape, letting it fall onto the ground. When he looked up, he locked eyes with Kaito, his gaze steady but nervous. Whatever this was about, it was incredibly important to Shinichi that Kaito would accept it. Accept him. And Kaito, he... he loved his detective too much to ever reject him. Whatever it was, this was his chance to fully prove himself to Shinichi and show him just how much he meant to Kaito.

"Have you ever wondered why murders seem to be following me?" asked Shinichi, prompting Kaito to offer a confused shrug. "They don't. I follow them. Because... I'm not... human. Not entirely, at least. I'm half death angel. I collect souls. But because I am also half human, I... I chose to become a detective. To bring peace to the souls I collect. They don't remember the moments before their death, so it's up to me to clear their confusion by solving their murders."

That sounded insane. Not more insane than shrunken detectives or a witch who stood in contact with Satan himself. Kaito tried to keep his face neutral and wait patiently for Shinichi to continue. Actually, it made some kind of sense. It truly wasn't natural that death seemed to follow him. But if he was a being that could sense death and he followed it... Shinichi closed his eyes and took another deep breath. The next moment, large, black wings unfolded behind his back, spanning wide. Some feathers came loose and Kaito couldn't help but catch one. It felt soft and cold.

"Are you... freaked out?" asked Shinichi tensely, his eyes pleading for acceptance.

"I'm surprised. In awe," offered Kaito gently. "But not freaked out. My life is pretty wild, you know. Gods, you're beautiful..." Kaito blinked amazed. "But this still doesn't explain..."

Shinichi blushed at the compliment and averted his eyes. "I had... help. From a soul. Come here."

Kaito obeyed without hesitation and once he was within reach, Shinichi gently took his face with both hands. The touch was cold and the cold spread all through Kaito's body. A shudder went down his spine and to his shocking surprise, a figure started to fade into visibility next to Shinichi. Kaito swallowed hard and dry, his eyes watering as his father smiled at him.

"W... But... Why... How..." Kaito's voice broke.

"He's always at your side," said Shinichi gently. "I noticed him during the first heist I attended. I tried to take him with me, but he refused. He keeps saying that he has unfinished business."

"When I saw them take you and your mother hostage, Kaito, I couldn't..." Toichi's eyes were pained. "I couldn't let anything happen to you. I'm sorry I shared your secret with him, but it was the only way I could think of to save your life. We departed souls, we can sense pending death. He was going to kill your mother next, you were going to get in between. I couldn't let you die, son."

Kaito heard all of that, but he felt unable to process it. Instead, he tried to hug his father. Sadly, he wasn't corporeal. A ghost. Right. Tears ran down Kaito's cheeks as he looked at his dad.

"T... Thank you, Shinichi," whispered Kaito, deliberately using the detective's first name. "For saving my life. For... trusting me with your secret. And for letting me see my father again."

Shinichi smiled thinly and stepped aside to give the Kurobas time to catch up.

/break\

"This is ridiculous, Kaito," called Shinichi out, though he was laughing brightly.

"I like flying with you, Shinichi," countered Kaito with a grin, watching his detective soar.

Those wings were the most beautiful thing Kaito had ever seen. And since that day, the two met up regularly to fly together, Kaito with his hang-glider and KID costume, Shinichi dressed all in black to blend into the night-sky. With Kaito around, a white spot in the sky, no one was looking at him. Shinichi flew, free and carefree. And he was beautiful. The detective circled him, flying beneath Kaito while facing him with a smile. Kaito was the first one he had shared this secret with and he had accepted Shinichi, embraced him. Now shared this with him.

"We've been doing this for weeks now," whispered Shinichi. "But we never... named it."

"Named what?" Kaito feigned confusion while getting lost in Shinichi's eyes.

The death angel flew up, closer to him, and cupped Kaito's face before kissing him gently. Oh. That was a good name. Kaito liked that name. They nearly crashed into Tokyo Tower, but neither cared.

~*~ The End ~*~

Author's note: I love the idea of Kaito being held hostage somewhere unable to be KID and Shinichi stepping up. I just like the idea of Shin in the KID get-up (and hey, so does Kaito ;D). Figured that'd merge well with Shinichi being able to see ghosts and hence figuring out WHERE the KID get-up even is~