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

Lyrical Spices

Caramel

[Song Inspiration: Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum ]

Shinichi's feet pounded against the stairs as he ran. The building was an old one—a mansion rumored to be haunted that was scheduled to be knocked down soon so that the owner of the land could have a new house built. The structure itself was still strong, so there was no danger of falling through the floor or something. It was dark though, and the place was full of winding corridors.

The only light guiding his way was the flashlight on his watch. It cast a narrow beam ahead of him. The area beyond its radiance was a murky blackness.

The darkness rang with a mocking laugh.

"You're almost out of time~!" it sang out mockingly.

Blue eyes narrowed, and Shinichi ran faster, wishing that his legs were longer. "Don't bet on it," he called back between pants for breath.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he sprinted up the hall. Three sharp corners later, he was running up the much narrower attic stairs. Flinging open the door at the top, he was met with a face full of cold, night wind.

He sneezed. The attic was dusty despite the draft. His glasses were already beginning to get all speckled. Ignoring the dust motes dancing before his eyes, he hurried to the small window he could see at the far end of the attic. It was a circle of night sky in the otherwise featureless darkness. He could just barely make out the twinkle of stars and the lower half of the moon.

When he reached it, he pushed it open and crawled out onto the roof. The wind whipped his bangs across his face. He squinted, looking around the sloping landscape that was the roof.

There!

That box covered in blipping lights was most definitely not supposed to be there. Wary of slipping and falling off the roof, Shinichi crawled on his hands and knees across the tiles to the strange, high-tech looking box that had been attached to the roof. He examined it carefully. There were little holes all around its outsides. The top of the box had holes too, but mixed in with the holes were a series of small lights, all of different colors and all blinking at different speeds. When he probed them lightly with his fingertips, he found that they were buttons. So this was the night's puzzle.

The small window on the corner of the box displayed a glowing two. If his interpretation of the riddle had been correct then that meant he only had two minutes left to solve this last puzzle. That wasn't nearly as much time as he would have liked.

Better get to work.

There were only five seconds left on the clock when Shinichi realized that he wasn't going to make it. He'd figured out the answer to the puzzle, but he would need at least ten seconds to press all the appropriate buttons in the right order. Reluctant but not having much choice, he abandoned his task and scrambled back towards the attic window. There was no way he was going to still be on the roof when that thing went off. He had no idea what it was going to do, but, knowing its inventor, he doubted it would be anything good.

He'd only just pulled the window shut when the box let out a high, whistling sound and every hole in its surface suddenly let loose a jet of yellow smoke. In seconds, the entire view through the window was blotted out by the stuff.

"What in the world…?" Shinichi muttered, confused.

"I win," a voice said right into his ear.

The elementary school detective nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun around to see a white grin gleaming at him from beneath a monocle. He let out a breath of relief when he recognized the one and only Kaitou KID.

"It's not my fault I ran out of time," he grumbled, crossing his arms. "Ran-neechan wouldn't let me leave the house. I had to sneak out after pretending to be asleep."

KID's grin only widened. "My, my, how very naughty of you. Either way, I still win."

"I know, I know," Shinichi relented, squashing the urge to pout. Just because he looked like a child didn't mean he had to act like one when no one was around. Er, well, no one other than KID anyway. The thief didn't count since he was one of the ones who already knew about Shinichi's shrinking situation. "What was all that smoke about anyway?"

"Just look for yourself." The thief gestured to the attic window where the stars were once again visible.

Cautious of any further tricks, Shinichi moved to peer outside. The sight that met his gaze made his jaw drop. Every last roof tile was aglow in the dark. It was the light of yellow glow-in-the-dark paint. He was sure that the glimmer must be visible from quite some distance away.

"That's," he started then stopped. He shook his head. "The owner's going to be really angry when he sees this."

"Shocked, certainly, but seeing as he's having the place knocked down in a few days, he really has no reason to be angry," the thief replied with a careless wave. "But I would recommend that we relocate ourselves to somewhere more suitable for conversation in case someone comes to investigate the glow in search of ghosts."

Shinichi didn't complain when, once they were both outside, KID picked him up. Then the thief's glider was open, and they were soaring away from the luminous manor over a see of bristling, black trees.

It had begun with that coincidental meeting at the café.

It was the day after that meeting that Shinichi had gotten the first note.

The note had been written on a postcard with no postmark. There had been no sender, but it had been addressed to Conan. The image on the card had been that of a chess board upon which a game was just beginning. Written on the postcard's other side had been a riddle.

There was no doodle and no signature, but he'd known who it was from immediately. He recognized the style of the riddle and some of the references in the words. Only KID could have written it, and, therefore, the postcard must have been sent by the master thief.

Since the riddle had been written like a heist notice, Shinichi had thought at first that that was what it was. So he had set about solving it. When he was done, he had a time and a place. What puzzled him was that the place had turned out to be a library. There were certainly no gems or works of art there. Was the thief planning to steal a book? That was another point that the riddle had been rather unclear about. Although perhaps it was more accurate to say that Shinichi hadn't quite figured that part out yet.

The notice never showed up at the police station or on the news. Despite that, Shinichi had decided to go to the "heist" anyway just to satisfy his own curiosity.

He'd found three chess boards waiting for him in a secluded back corner of the library. Each had a game already in progress set up upon it, and each had a challenge note attached to it, asking that he find a way to bring each game to checkmate for the black pieces within a certain number of turns.

Privately, Shinichi would admit to being delighted by the puzzle even if he had still been feeling a complete blank on its purpose.

He'd noticed as he worked that the chess boards and pieces were magnetic. Therefore, he wasn't entirely surprised when, upon the completion of the last puzzle, the chess board split open to reveal a flat compartment underneath. What did surprise him was a book lying inside. It was a brand new copy of a mystery novel that had only just been released that morning.

He hesitated over the volume. Was this another puzzle?

"It's not booby-trapped, if that's what you're wondering."

Head jerking up, Shinichi found himself staring at one of the resident librarians, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a heavyset frame. The man adjusted his glasses and grinned an extremely familiar grin. That voice too was nothing like the dry, dour one the librarian had had when he'd greeted Shinichi upon his arrival at the library.

"KID," he stated more than asked. There was no mistaking that smirk or that voice. He glanced down at the book again then back up at the thief. "What's all this about?"

"Take it. It's a reward for solving all my puzzles," the thief replied, dropping one hand onto the top of Shinichi's head to ruffle his hair. "Next time, the challenges won't be so easy."

Shinichi was too surprised to bat the thief's hand away. "Next time?"

"Of course. This was only the beginning."

"But…why?"

The thief had only shrugged. "Oh, no reason really. I was bored."

"You can't honestly expect me to believe that."

"Did you have fun? Be honest."

Shinichi opened his mouth to say something sarcastic then stopped. He looked again at the book in his hands. "I did," he admitted instead, blushing faintly.

KID's manic grin softened into a smile that Shinichi, still looking down at the book, didn't catch. "Well I did too. We all need a little diversion now and then, don't you think? It keeps us from getting too lost in our own heads."

Shinichi thought he understood what the thief meant. He found himself smiling just a little despite himself. "Are you sure it's okay for me to keep this?"

"Of course. That was the point. Though, if you don't want it, I'm sure I could find a use for it elsewhere."

"No, I do want it," Shinichi blurted out then ducked his head to hide his embarrassment. "Thank you…"

That had been the first of many not-heist notices that Shinichi received. Each note brought with it a new and unique challenge. As KID had promised, they were much more difficult than that first challenge. Most had time limits for their successful completion. Each set of puzzles that Shinichi failed to complete in time was a win for the thief, and each puzzle that he did solve resulted in some small prize: a book, a slice of pie or other snack, a rose, a cup of coffee, etc. Their score was about half-half with the thief having a slight lead (Shinichi blamed his tendency to trip over cases left and right for making him lose time more often than he'd like).

Shinichi wasn't sure when they had started lingering after their little contests to just talk. What he did know was that, inexplicable as it was, it was those conversations that he looked forward to above everything else.

White cloth fell in heavy folds about them as KID landed on a nondescript rooftop back in the more populated part of the city. He swapped into a less eye-catching outfit in a puff of smoke then sat down on the edge of the roof. Depositing Shinichi on his lap, he wrapped his arms loosely about the small detective's body. Shinichi leaned unconsciously into the warm embrace. It was cold this high up. He wasn't really surprised that KID had brought them here though. The thief loved high places.

Looking out across the glittering city at night, Shinichi had to admit that he was starting to like high places too. It was more than just the view. There was something peaceful about being up this high so far away from everything else. All the noise that was the city was distant. And, this close to the sky, you could really feel how massive the world was.

"Hey KID?"

"Yes?"

"What was in the box?"

"Not telling~. You can have it if you win next time. Although maybe I'll just keep it for myself. It was pretty cool."

"Now you're just making fun of me."

"Well, you do make it rather easy."

"…You know, saying things like that to someone is kind of rude. Aren't you supposed to be a gentleman or something?"

The thief laughed, the sound vibrating against Shinichi's back. "Just being honest. Weren't you detectives all about truth?"

"You always have an answer to everything, don't you?"

"Naturally."

Shinichi rolled his eyes, but he found himself smiling. Was it wrong that he felt so comfortable with a thief? He hadn't told anyone about these little excursions. And that was definitely stupid. If he disappeared, no one would have any idea where to even begin looking. But…even if things went wrong, even if something bad were to happen to him because of these little meetings, he wouldn't regret it.

Lately, it was only during these moments that he felt like he could relax and just be himself. Not Conan or Shinichi but whoever it was he'd become these last few years.

With KID, he didn't feel so confused anymore. He felt…safe, like he could just let go of all his troubled thoughts and live in the moment for a while.

What are you thinking about?"

Shinichi blinked, coming out of his thoughts. "What? Oh, uh… You know, you're always giving me things. But I… I mean, is there anything I can get for you?"

"It really isn't a big deal. Buying a friend a coffee or slice of cake isn't something anyone should be making a big deal out of."

Shinichi's heart skipped a beat. Had the thief just called them friends? Damn it, he wasn't really a child, why did that make him feel so happy? It was ridiculous. Why did he care so much about what the thief thought?

The thief seem to take his gesture as a sign that he was still thinking about the issue of gifts. "If it'll make you feel better, how about you can just owe me a favor? To be collected at a time of my choosing."

"Uh, no. I'd rather not take that kind of risk, thanks."

"Aww, don't you trust me?"

"I trust you to always be scheming something."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You would."

Silence fell as they looked up at the moon together. It was almost full.

"That reminds me," KID murmured. Unwinding one arm from where it had been resting around Shinichi's waist, he flicked his wrist. A white card appeared in gloved fingers. "Here."

Shinichi took the card, curious. It was a notice. This one, however, had the traditional signature and caricature on it. "Is this a real one?"

"They're all real."

"You know what I mean."

"I suppose I do. The police will get their copy tomorrow. I'd recommend keeping that one to yourself until then."

Shinichi tucked the card carefully into his pocket.

"What's with the frown?"

The detective started. KID was behind him. How the hell had the thief known he was frowning?

"I was just wondering what your reasons were, I guess," he said after a moment's hesitation. "If there's something you need to find, there are better ways to do so than stealing. And if it's the show, well, you have more than enough skill to be a professional magician if you aren't one already. Why waste your talent on being a thief?"

He didn't really expect an answer. He'd only been giving voice to his thoughts. He almost expected the thief to laugh. But he didn't.

Instead, KID's arms tightened around him, and the thief spoke in the most serious tone that Shinichi had ever heard from him. "It's something I need to do so that I can protect something important to me. And so that I can find justice for someone I loved."

Behind the monocle and top hat, one Kuroba Kaito wondered if he should really have just said that. Indirect as it was, it was still personal information. The problem was that he couldn't seem to stop himself. But he'd wanted to tell Shinichi.

It was a new feeling for him. He'd always been secretive by nature. It came with being a magician, he supposed. A magician who went around blabbing about his secrets wasn't going to make it very far. You needed mystery if you were going to amaze people. And he did love that awestruck expression of a captivated audience. And then he'd taken up the mantle of Kaitou KID, and secrecy had become even more important.

And yet these last few months, he'd found himself letting more and more things slip. And it wasn't by accident. He wouldn't be the master of his arts that he was if he let things slip so easily. No, he'd been telling Shinichi things about himself because he wanted to.

And, in some ways, that was worse than slipping up by accident.

It meant he was getting attached. No, it was more than that. He looked down at the small detective sitting so unconcernedly on his lap and watching the stars with him. Yes, it was so much more.

"You know," he said in a teasing tone that made Shinichi tense with wariness. "There is one thing you could give me that I would like very much."

"…Yeah? What?"

The thief leaned down so that his mouth was right beside Shinichi's ear. "You."

Shinichi choked, turning bright red. "KID!"

The thief threw his head back and laughed. "I'm just kidding. Honestly Tantei-kun, you're way too easy to tease."

"Oh." Still blushing, Shinichi looked down at their feet where they hung dangling over the edge of the building. A moment later, he felt the thief's chin come to rest on top of his head. "I see."

"Seriously though," the magician said, tone much softer now. "What would you do if I said I wasn't kidding?"

Shinichi stilled. "I…" He paused, drawing in a deep breath. "I'm afraid I'd have to remind you that I'm still stuck in elementary school. But… If I wasn't, I…I m—might've said yes."

Indigo eyes widened slightly. Shinichi's words had gotten pretty quiet there at the end, but Kaito was certain he'd heard them correctly. A slow grin spread across the magician's face. "Is that so?" he murmured, warm breath ruffling Shinichi's hair. "In that case, I'll consider it a promise."

"…Huh?"

"That you'll be mine when you're your rightful age again. Or at least old enough so that your Ran-neechan won't feel the need to murder me for laying hands on her charge."

This time it was Shinichi whose eyes widened as the implications of the thief's words sank in. "But…Wha..?" were the most eloquent words he could muster.

"Don't worry, I can be very patient when I want to be," the thief continued in rather chipper tones. "There really is no need to rush. Which is good because I should probably be taking you home, shouldn't I?"

Shinichi didn't say anything the entire way back to the Mouri Detective Agency. It was only as they stopped at the corner where they would be parting ways that he spoke again, tugging on KID's hand.

"Were…were you serious?"

The thief crouched so that they were face to face. Two pairs of eyes glimmered in the dark. Then the thief leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Shinichi's lips.

"Does that answer your question?" he asked when he pulled back. He grinned at the detective's wide, startled eyes and the blush that was visible even in the dim light offered by the moon. "Good night then, Shinichi."

-End of Chapter-