DCMK || KaiShin || DCMK || Role Reversal Rivalry || DCMK || KaiShin || DCMK

Title: Role Reversal Rivalry – A Different Detective and Phantom Thief

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, role swap, hurt/comfort

Main Pairing: Kaito/Shinichi

DC/MK Characters: Kudou Shinichi, Kuroba Kaito, Mouri Ran, Suzuki Sonoko, Nakamori Aoko, Nakamori Ginzo, Hakuba Saguru, Agasa Hiroshi, Kudou Yukiko, Jii Konosuke, Kuroba Toichi

Summary: What if Kaito blamed magic for his father's death and turned his back on it, instead he becomes a detective, under Nakamori's mentorship, unable to accept that his father could have made a mistake, obsessed with the idea that someone else caused Toichi's death? And what if Shinichi became obsessed with KID as a child, after the scavenger hunt, and he learned magic from Toichi, just to then pick up the mantle as a teenager to avenge his dead mentor?

Role Reversal Rivalry

A Different Detective and Phantom Thief

Part 1: Kuroba Kaito, Detective

"Kaito," Toichi smiled softly as he lifted his son up onto his lap.

Kaito was still so small, filled with wonder and hope. He admired his father, his father's magic. As soon as he was old enough to hold a play-card, he wanted to learn sleights of hand. He wanted to soak up everything that his father had to offer, wanted to be just like his dad.

"I can't wait to see your new show!" exclaimed Kaito eagerly.

"Maybe you will meet my other little apprentice tonight," teased Toichi.

He would do that often. Apparently, one of his clients – the adults he taught magic – had a child just Kaito's age, who was as obsessed with learning from Toichi as Kaito was. So far, Kaito hadn't met this other kid yet. Though he was determined to meet this kid tonight.

Little did Kaito know that this night would change both their lives forever.

/break\

"Kaito. You shouldn't be here," Nakamori Ginzo sighed.

He was so tired. Exhausted. He'd been up for two days straight now. Couldn't investigate this case himself, it wasn't his division anyway, he was just a rookie officer. But his best friend had just died and how could he not try to get involved. While he couldn't do much about the case, he tried to help the Kurobas. Chikage was completely devastated and Kaito...

"But it's impossible!" exclaimed Kaito frustrated.

He thrashed even as Ginzo picked him up. They were at the sight. The sight where Kuroba Toichi had died only two days ago. Everything was still broken, burned. The whole thing had be horrific. Ginzo heaved a sigh and gently rubbed Kaito's back, trying to sooth him.

"Let's get you home, kiddo," whispered Ginzo. "Your mom must be very worried."

/break\

The Nakamoris tried to shield him from it, but Kaito knew that his mom barely got out of bed. She was so devastated from Toichi's death. Ginzo was there, trying to help her. So Kaito spent a lot of time at the Nakamoris'. Aoko was his very best friend and she did her best trying to cheer him up, though it wasn't working. All Kaito could think about was the explosion. His dad's death.

"It wasn't an accident, I'm telling you!" Kaito exclaimed frustrated. "I was there when dad went through the rehearsal. He knew what he was doing! He knew, Aoko!"

Aoko's eyes shone with tears and compassion. She wished she could help her best friend. But what was she supposed to do? She was only a kid too, after all. So she hugged him and patted his back while he cried into her shoulder, because it was all she could do.

/break\

The police closed the investigations pretty quickly. Everything pointed at an accident. Everything aside from the fact that Kaito knew that his father hadn't made any mistakes. In all his career, Kuroba Toichi had never made a mistake, there had never been an accident due to any screw up.

"Don't you want to show me a card-trick, Kaito?" asked Aoko.

She was really trying to get the old Kaito back. The thing was, Kaito was pretty sure that the old Kaito had died together with Toichi. How could he ever be that Kaito again when that Kaito hinged so much on Toichi. Now Toichi was gone and magic had taken him.

"I'm not interested in magic anymore, Aoko," declared Kaito.

He raised his head high and lifted up the book he was currently reading. The Night Baron. Aoko furrowed her brows in confusion, unsure what this had to do with anything.

"I'm reading mysteries," stated Kaito. "I went to a book store and asked the lady what I should read to solve a mystery and she recommended me this book. I'm gonna learn how to solve mysteries and then I'll solve what happened to my dad. I will find out what really happened."

Aoko opened her mouth, but closed it without saying something. She knew there was no arguing with Kaito. Still, she wasn't entirely sure what good this would do him.

/break\

"Ginzo-occhan, I wanna learn how to be a detective."

Ginzo startled, nearly dropping his lunch-box. Kaito popped up right in front of him with all the determination of the world in his eyes. That boy sure was something else. Ginzo put his lunch down and pushed it aside so he could give Kaito all of his attention.

"You want to become a detective?" asked Ginzo, a little amused.

"Yes. I'm going to solve my father's murder," declared Kaito. "I've read a lot of mystery novels! To learn what to do. But they're just books. You're a real detective. I want you to teach me."

Ah. Chikage had expressed worry about Kaito hiding away in his room with books. At least he was going out again. And perhaps this way, Ginzo had a chance to actually guide Kaito. Keep an eye on him, make sure Kaito would be alright. He offered the kid a smile.

"Okay, junior detective Kuroba, I will take you on as an apprentice."

/break\

Kaito became a detective. As a child, he ran after Ginzo onto crime-scenes. He quickly became everyone's favorite, like a mascot to the squad, really. Since they were the division in charge of theft and robberies, nobody had qualms sharing things with Kaito. There was no blood or gore, nothing inappropriate for a child. They all felt like they were simply encouraging an upcoming cop.

"What do you mean Kaitou KID returned?"

Kaito's head snapped up in curiosity. Kaitou KID? That was that thief Ginzo used to chase. A lot of the cases that Ginzo had used to teach Kaito before he allowed the boy to tag along, had been cases from KID heists. But the thief disappeared without a trace, years ago.

"Can I come along?" asked Kaito eagerly.

Ginzo turned to look at him as though he only now realized Kaito was even in the room. "What? Oh. Yes. Sure, just... You know not to get in the way, right?"

"Of course," Kaito offered his broadest smile at that. "Would never."

/break\

That first heist had been weird. A bit lackluster, not like the amazing shows the squad used to talk about all the time. It had even been a little messy. Still, something about KID irritated Kaito a lot. The way this thief – this criminal – used magic. Illusions. The thing that his dad used to love. How dare a criminal use magic like that, to hide his criminal activities.

"Kaito, what are you doing?" asked Aoko annoyed. "Dinner is ready!"

Startled did Kaito look up. "I'm working on the riddle!"

"Riddle?" Aoko frowned and walked over to him. "What riddle? Bakaito, dinner is ready!"

"The riddle! Kaitou KID sent a riddle out with the information for his next heist."

That made Aoko groan and roll her eyes. "No, not you too! Isn't it enough dad is obsessed?"

Kaito stuck his tongue out at his best friend and put the riddle down to instead follow her. The first heist had been clumsy at best, the second one had been a mild improvement, but it still felt like KID was still trying to get back into the groove. By the third, he seemed more playful again, more at ease. And now, he sent out a more playful note too. The riddle had Kaito's mind buzzing.

/break\

"Kuroba-kun. It's a pleasure to meet you, I've heard many good things from my father."

Kaito grinned and offered his hand to his new classmate. "I've heard about you too, Hakuba-kun."

Hakuba Saguru, a teen detective who had been working mostly in England but made a name for himself. Kaito, as a teen detective himself, was curious about those. He'd heard about some Hattori kid over in Osaka too, but he'd never been in Osaka so he'd never met him.

"Will you be attending the next heist from Kaitou KID?" asked Hakuba curiously.

"Naturally," Kaito smiled pleasantly. "I never miss a heist."

Which was the truth. He'd only tagged along in the beginning because KID heists were what Ginzo had used to teach him detective work. Then, because the KID Task Force got revitalized and that meant Kaito, as their mascot (even now, so many years later), got to tag along too. His main goal, his main case, still remained the murder of his father, but the KID heists were a nice distraction. Until they became a bit of an obsession. He became determined to capture KID. Kaito couldn't explain it, but he was sure that Kaitou KID had something to do with his father's murder. The way KID had disappeared after Toichi died was suspicious. Had the thief killed Toichi and laid low...?

"We could go together," offered Kaito after a moment, smiling. "I'll show you around."

There weren't all that many teen detectives, after all. It'd be nice to know someone with the same interests as him. Hakuba seemed pleased enough by that, nodding his confirmation.

"Oh no, not another one of those," Aoko heaved a sigh.

/break\

Kaito had been at plenty of heists over the past months, but he had never actually gotten to face off against KID. The thief was elusive and tricky and his illusions fooled the police near all the time. He was charming, that much Kaito knew from the princess who owned the Beaucoup de Soleil à Paris. And not just her; people cheered for the charming thief, rooting for him. It irritated Kaito.

"Hah," Kaito was panting hard as he reached the rooftop. "I got you this time."

The white-clad figure landed next to him, a cheeky grin on his young face. Young, that was the part that got Kaito, really. This man should be the age of Ginzo, for sure. Was this a mask? Most likely, considering the man was an expert of impersonation and disguises.

"You're that teen detective who's been making my life harder, mh?"

"You're a criminal. I think your life should be harder," countered Kaito stubbornly. "I'm Kuroba Kaito. Detective. And I'm going to be the one who will arrest you."

There was something funny on the thief's face when he heard Kaito's name, but it was quickly covered up. The thief approached him with a cheeky look on his face. Kaito didn't know what to expect, but the thief lifted his hand and showed a purple rose.

"For you, detective," offered KID with a wink. "It matches your eyes."

They stood close enough that Kaito could see the thief's eyes. Were those contacts, or did he really have eyes as blue as sapphires, sparkling in the moonlight? They were so pretty. No, wrong thought.

"What," Kaito cleared his throat. "What do you have to do with my father's death?"

Police sirens close by caused KID to turn. "I'll tell you. Another time. It's a funny story, really."

Author's note: This was a lot of fun to write, but I realized it goes beyond my self-set limit for the Magic Monday fics, since the point of those is that they're short but weekly. So I decided to split it into three parts, meaning this story will last us two more Mondays ;) Next week, meet Kudou Shinichi, magician!