-FIRSTS-
Disclaimer: The works of Detective Conan and Magic Kaito belongs to Gosho Aoyama-sensei.
Warning: KaiShin relationship.
First Complication
KID stood silently on the edge of the building with a pair of binoculars in hand. He paid no mind to the erratic fluttering of his cape but he did check wind directions every now and then. He wanted to enter the scene with drama after all. The imposters wouldn't know what hit them.
"Well, well, well." A feminine voice came from behind. KID did not hear the fire escape opening. He whipped around, card gun in hand, ready for retaliation. Although his group of baddies were removed from the game, there are bound to be many others. "Look what we have here."
"May I ask who I have the pleasure of meeting?" KID said with as much congeniality as one could convey in such situations.
"Oh? But we have met before. Surely the Silver Bullet has mentioned me to you?" She brushed aside her blond hair with flair, the wind seemed to have no effect on her as the hair laid still on her shoulders.
Gun trained on her, KID never took his eyes off as she walked around to approach the building's edge to stand to his side. He did recognise her face from a few days ago, but the one she met was Kuroba Kaito and not KID. He had to keep up the image. Shinichi did not say who she was, only that she was part of his group of criminals and was a pain to deal with. And above all else, avoid where possible.
"At least our work has paid off and you took notice." She lit a cigarette, savouring the smoke before exhaling, "we know of your prowess in finding and acquiring things. Our Boss found you to be amiable to negotiations and are willing to pay for your services."
KID narrowed his eyes. So this is really a ploy to lure him out. She turned slightly to face him, to judge his reaction, before returning her gaze towards the gallery entrance below. The police had the place surrounded and spotlight trained on every nook and cranny. It would be a difficult escape for these one-time thief.
"Our Boss wanted to contact you so naturally, this was the best action. His advisor had told him you could not resist such a bait." There was an all-knowing smile on her face. "I have no reason to tell them what other methods they could reach you through."
"And why would a woman such as yourself be sent here?"
"Because you disappeared of his radar." She turned to KID, giving him her full attention. They stayed silent, with only the police sirens fading in the background. It seems the imposters were being chased by cars.
"Know that because your heists had become harder to predict, and longer resting period between heists, we need to resort to such measures. Though, this is also beneficial to us." She gestured to the now abandoned gallery, fully dark and silent since the activity died down and the actors have left.
"You people were the ones to commission these thieves."
"And this should remind you that you still have a purpose to serve even though you took away our mutual enemy."
KID gritted his teeth. He thought with his group gone, he would have some freedom in his heists. It seems his patron goddess did not get the memo.
"Our advisor had informed us it would be best to approach you for your services. However, should you refuse, he has another candidate lined up. Only you would be the best..." Trailing off, she saw KID tensed up then tried to relax. She grinned when the Poker Face slammed down on the thief.
"If you people have someone else already, why bother coming to me?" Irritated and feeling slightly trapped, KID tries to mask his emotions in his voice by sounding curious instead of annoyance.
"Oh? Do you really want us to go to someone else then? Our other candidate is not a purveyor of goods so to speak, but he does have a knack for finding lost items. I'm sure we can persuade this person to do our work." The way she describe the person, it was as though she expected him to know and care for this particular character. "But if you really insist, and you find our offer unattractive, then we do have no choice."
"Who...is this other person?" KID was afraid to ask. But he was also reluctant to accept knowing that whatever they wish to find should not be found.
"Someone you know really well..." She reached inside her breast pocket, KID instantly tensed and alert. She gave KID a knowing smirk. "I'm sure we can easily have his cooperation." She flipped out a candid photograph taken from a distance. "After all, we go back a long way and he has no reason to object."
KID gritted his teeth as his eyes focused on the picture. Even though the picture was taken at a distance and the subject had his head turned away from the camera, KID quickly recognised the distinctive hairstyle and the schoolyard backdrop.
He growled.
"My, my. What lovely sounds you make." She giggled, sending shivers down his spine. "I did warn you didn't I? If you don't want him to be further entangled within the Organisation, I suggest you at least hear me out."
"You people knew."
"No dear phantom. This was only kept between me, Anokata, and one other. As an added incentive for you, we are unwilling to disclose his current existence to a particular individual out for his blood. Both himself and the people currently under his protection would be safe, at least for now."
"What is it you people want?" He now has no choice but to agree. They might not be holding his beloved hostage, but with the amount of information they currently have, it would only be a matter of time.
"I wonder how much did Silver Bullet tell you." She walked back, ignoring KID's question and hateful gaze, towards the fire escape and gave KID a backwards wave. "Do let me know what you think. I'm sure the Silver Bullet would be able to find me when he puts his mind to it."
"Why?" In KID's mind, a variety of why's ran. Why him, why now, and more specifically why the sudden interest?
"Hmm...why indeed." She stopped midstep, turning to face KID, "because a secret makes a woman, woman." Blowing a kiss, she walked out the door, shutting it with a resounding thud.
KID stayed in place, feeling conflicted and hollow. His original objective was lost, instead he found something he did not want. He changed out of his uniform whites back to nondescript black. He told Shinichi that he would return to Ekoda for the night, though now it seems unlikely. He wondered if Shinichi will be mad at him for showing up at his door.
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"Coming!" It was late at night and Shinichi was not expecting visitors. He was just relaxing with a book in the library before the doorbell rang. The bell rang again and he quickened his pace. This person was sure persistent. "I said coming."
He did not bother looking out of the peephole, instead, he readied himself for a shouting match with his uninvited guest.
He was taken aback when the door revealed tired looking Kaito.
"Kaito? I thought you said you were heading back home. Did you miss the train? Got in trouble? Hurt?" Instantly worried, he tugged his magician indoors, casually checking for traces of injury. "Did you see something you shouldn't? Came across illegal transactions? Missing child? Saw thieves breaking in..."
"Darling, calm down. You're starting to ramble." He placed a calming hand on Shinichi's face. "I'm fine. Not hurt."
"Then why did you come back, not that I'm not happy to see you. But you did only leave a few hours ago." He tacked on quickly. There was a twinkle of amusement in Kaito's eyes.
"Mind if I sat down? Maybe snuggle you a bit?" Even without the detective's consent, Kaito was already snuggling up to Shinichi. Kaito was acting like an attention starved koala. Shinichi knew instantly that something was bothering his magician.
"I'll make some hot chocolate. You're going to want to stay the night right?"
Something sweet always cheers Kaito up but not in this case. His mind was too jumbled that the concept of chocolate couldn't register in his brain.
"It's fine. Just somewhere to sit down first." He wasn't tired but he needed to feel Shinichi was close.
Instead of going to the library or sitting room, Shinichi brought them upstairs to his room. He pulled them to sit onto the bed, patiently waiting for Kaito to talk. He sat leaning on the headboard with Kaito draped over his legs and hugging his waist. Shinichi thread his fingers through the messy locks. He could feel Kaito relaxing into his touches, though it worried him that his magician suddenly turned away from him. Regardless, he continued his actions and was patient to wait for his magician to start talking.
The silence nearly lulled Shinichi asleep, if Kaito had not shifted when his eyes drooped.
"I met someone."
That raised an alarm bell. Usually when someone says that, there was bound to be a breakup happening in the future. Shinichi sincerely hoped that was not the case. Kaito choose the exact moment to look at his detective's face, nearly snickered out loud at the look of lost.
"Have no fear My Love, you're the only one for me." He reached up to pull Shinichi down for a kiss on the lips. "I merely met a person that told me something...disturbing."
That did not alleviate anything from Shinichi's mind. Actually, it sounded worst, as though whoever this person is, has some blackmail information. He must have grimaced for Kaito still has that amused look on his face.
"This person said they were looking for something." Kaito looked up into Shinichi's blue eyes.
"Were they hoping I'd involve myself?" He continued patting the soft hair. The texture was really addictive.
"No, they were hoping for KID's help." He said it as nonchalant as possible, but in still freaked Shinichi out, who froze up at the phrase.
"What?!" He whispered harshly. Shocked was not a word strong enough for what he was feeling. "They know who you are?!"
"Probably. But it's not confirmed." Turning away, trying to avoid the burning blue, Kaito shifted so that he was facing the end of the bed instead.
"Kaito. This is serious." Shinichi stilled his hands on Kaito's pulse point on his neck, hoping that it would pick up signs of distress or extreme emotions.
"Never said it wasn't. But..." Kaito heaved his shoulders. It really wasn't something he wanted to bring up to Shinichi but he couldn't just lie his way through something so serious.
"If you're telling me not to involve myself, you can think again. I'm a detective and I'll find out about it sooner or later." Shinichi reached over to grab onto Kaito's hand, bringing it to his lips then placed a kiss on the knuckles close to the ring finger. "Besides, I remembered you saying that you wanted me to pay for the favours and debt with my life. I'm assuming you want to stay with me forever if that's the case."
"Your body Dear. Though I won't mind ownership for life." Kaito wondered when Shinichi started to develop such cheesy tendencies. He turned back, curious to his detective's embarrassed expression. There was a nice pale pink on the cheeks extending down the neckline on his detective and Kaito reached out to touch the warmed skin.
"So, who are these people?" Playful voice gone and replaced with seriousness rivaling the tone during criminal interrogation.
"The lady from the forest. The one you refused to tell me the name of." Turning around to face the foot of the bed once more, not wanting to make his detective feel guilty for not telling him everything.
"No." Shinichi squeezed his eyes shut, voice coming out as a near whisper. It was one of his worst nightmare.
Kaito thought he felt a slight tremor. Turning back to face his detective, he confirmed the trembling with the fearful look.
"Shinichi?"
"What...what did she say?" He was tempted to ask what she brought for bargain. Shinichi had fervently wished Vermouth would not draw Kaito into the game even though he had involved himself with Shinichi.
"Told me they were looking for something. Something important and that you'd know how to contact her."
"The message." He scrambled out of bed to look for his mobile.
"They're the same person?" The tone of the message does not correspond to the image she gave Kaito when in person.
"She likes to play with her...prey...unfortunately." Biting on his bottom lips, he scrolled down to the contact. He was going to trace the number tomorrow but it seems it was intentional for him to have this number. Shinichi's fingers hesitated over the contact information.
"You're not thinking of using yourself as a bargaining chip are you?" Kaito rose gracefully from the bed to close his hand around the phone. "She told me there is still reason for KID to make routine appearances."
"She...held my safety against you..." Bowing his head down, Shinichi looked like he was guilty for other people's actions. He opened his mouth with a ready apology.
"Stop." Kaito preempted his detective's response. "It's not your fault and it never would be." Pulling Shinichi onto his chest, he felt his detective deflate, letting out all the tension and guilt.
"Was there anything else she said, or did?" He let Kaito pulled them back into bed.
"She called you Silver Bullet, but I assume that's nothing new."
"Her nickname for me. I'm wondering if she had high expectations of me. Did you know she trained with my mother?"
"When you say train..."
"Alongside I should say. She was also Kuroba Toichi's student."
"Ack." Kaito blanched at the statement. This just made her more terrifying than Shinichi's mother. At least with Yukiko, he knew she won't murder him in his sleep. (Actually, thinking further, Yukiko might just suddenly decide her son was too good for him and do Kaito in...he really need to invest in some really good locks.)
"She's planning for something. I just need to figure out what..."
"That woman told me only three people know about your existence and involvement. Herself, Anokata, and one other." Kaito saw the distracted look, his detective was not actually listening to him anymore. Time to spring his request then. "I'm moving in. And transferring school."
"WHAT?!" That snapped Shinichi. "You're on your final year. Don't waste your effort."
"I'm not leaving you to dangerous situations. Transferring means I can keep a better eye on you." Kaito levelled a firm look at his detective.
"No Kaito. That's just stupid. Especially since I have the FBI and PSB tailing me, and the TMPD looking out for me at crime scenes. I think I'm the safest person in Japan, not accounting for the Prime Minister and the Emperor himself." He tries to reason.
"Then you mean I could move in with you?" Well, his detective haven't said no to this part of his request.
Shinichi immediately blushed, knowing it wasn't as pure as just sharing a roof with his magician. He wasn't as opposed to this idea.
"Sweetie, you don't know how happy it makes me." Instantly, with a puff of smoke, he changed both their clothes and pull them onto the bed, covering both with the blanket. Shinichi tries to struggle out of his magician's arms.
"Kaito, Ekoda High starts their day early. It's not worth you losing sleep over."
"Never needed much sleep anyways." Now that his detective had stopped his struggle, Kaito could bury himself into Shinichi's scent. "And I'd rather lose sleep knowing you're safe than losing you."
"Baka." It was said with so much warmth and affection that Kaito nearly melted into the mattress. "Sleep. I'll wake you up in the morning so you'll be able to catch the morning train."
Kaito knew this was his way of agreeing to his demands. Probably as part of his guilt. Nevertheless, Kaito intends to make full use of this.
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Kaito stared at the inconspicuous grey box on his classroom desk with a dopey smile on his face. Yes, he knew he should be paying attention to the teacher's voice and yes he realised he should have placed the box under his desk only to be taken out again at lunch. But the box is so tempting. And it was difficult to concentrate with the enticing box. The teachers have all given up in trying to engage him in their lessons but the rest of his classmates were still standing on eggshells around him. Still waiting for that ultimate prank because of the magician's giddiness.
"Ka-i-to...!" Aoko tried to sound menacing while standing in front of his desk. Kaito had a moment of deja vu. Beside Aoko stood Hakuba, patiently waiting for them to eat lunch together (under Aoko's insistence).
"Yes Aoko?" Replied without taking his eyes off the box.
"Why do you have that funny look on your face? Are you planning something?"
"Nope~" Smile never leaving his face, he continued to look at the grey box with adoration.
"That is...?"
"My lunch." Kaito caress the lid with such softness that it started to scare Aoko. She was wondering if he hid an innocent small animal inside.
"Then...do you want to...eat it...? Like now? Since it's lunch time?" Hesitantly, Aoko took a step away from the slightly creepy childhood friend. Hakuba had the right mindset to wait for them by the doorway the moment the magician said his first word with a sing-song voice.
"It's lunch already?!" Jumping up, he grabbed the box and tugged Aoko out the door. "Then what are we waiting for? Come on!"
Kaito's sudden bout of enthusiasm made students in the corridor jump back to make way. They managed to arrive at the roof in record time. The presence of Kaito on the roof scared away any lingering students.
Kaito cradled the box on his crossed legs before carefully opening the lid. Half of the box contained rice, the other with tamagoyaki, beef and vegetable rolls, and wiener sausages. It was a simple bento box.
"That's why you have a stupid face on you the whole morning?" Aoko sounded incredulous.
"Not just any old bento lunch, a lunch prepared especially for me by my beloved." Kaito took the pair of chopsticks, hovering over the food as though indecisive about how to eat it without ruining it.
"It's food Bakaito, don't waste it." Aoko resisted the urge to slap her friend at the back of his head.
"Who is this unlucky person to have caught your fancy?" Hakuba could not help but ask out of curiosity. "She must be really patient and accepting, probably a saint even."
"I'll pretend to ignore the tone of insult." Kaito picked the wiener sausage up and took a bite. Smile never leaving his face. "And since I do agree with you that my beloved is a saint, I'll let it slide."
"It's a boyfriend." Aoko whispered into Hakuba's ear. "As far as Aoko know, they've been going out for some time now."
"What!" Hakuba tried to keep his voice down, though Kaito did notice and had heard the whispers.
"Is it so surprising?" Kaito looked up at the face of disbelief. "That I have someone I fancy or that my beloved is male?"
"Does this person know of your...hobbies?" In Aoko's presence, he was unwilling to make accusations concerning KID.
"You mean my magical tendencies?"
"Or your perversity. Though, Aoko have to admit, ever since you started going out, you haven't once peeked into the girl's changing rooms or flipped Aoko's skirt..."
"Aww Aoko, did you miss showing off your legs?" He teased, picking up the beef roll and noticing the little imperfections and breaks in the meat.
"Bakaito!" And she did hit Kaito in the end as he tries to protect his food from falling off his laps.
"Then who is this special individual to keep up with you?" Hakuba unfroze from the prankster's declaration. "A name perhaps? I'd really like to meet him."
"Aoko, you better keep your boyfriend in check. I think he wants to steal mine."
"Wha...?!" Gobsmacked, Hakuba was lost for words.
Aoko was unfazed, having absolute confidence in Hakuba.
"You know, you've never told Aoko as well..."
"Hm..." Picking at the rice, Kaito hatched a plan. "How about we all have dinner this Friday then? I could bring him over and you'll all be able to meet him. Though Hakuba, you really should keep yourself in check." The creepy smile on Kaito's face set of multiple alarm bells. Hakuba wasn't sure if this meant to keep KID accusations out of conversation topics or if it was an overall warning. Which ever way he took the prankster's words, it spelled bad trouble should he go against it.
"If Aoko-san will have me, I would be glad to join."
"That's great! Aoko's dad would be home as well. He'll most definitely want to meet Kaito's boyfriend as well! By the way, have you told Chikage-baasan yet?"
"Uh..." Kaito knew he was forgetting something. His mother was still off somewhere in Europe, or was it the States now?
"You better tell her before she hears if it from someone else."
With a thoughtful pose, and finished lunch, Kaito began to plot...no plan...for a meeting between Shinichi and his mother. Now that he thought about it, he may have told Jii but they haven't met as well. At least Kaito could say that meeting his family, and his adoptive family, would be less traumatic than meeting Shinichi's parents.
-TBC-
A/N: I feel as though I've cheated readers with my last OMAKE (it's more like a script rather than a story), and since they're so well received, here's some more for this chapter.
-OMAKE (1): Morning preparations-
For once, Shinichi woke before his alarm clock rang, before the sun began to shine through the curtains even. He felt the soft weight over his stomach, an arm belonging to his magician who never let go of him during the night. The clock on the bedside table read 6:00 in it illuminating red numbers. He pressed down on the alarm to stop it from ringing when time came. Carefully, he extracted himself from his magician's hold, stopping when breathing changed just so slightly, and went to clean up. He figured he had half an hour to do everything he wanted to do before needing to wake up the sleeping magician.
Once freshly cleaned, Shinichi took his phone to the kitchen and called the one person he knew could help him figure out what to do. It was a surprisingly short ring before the voice answered on the other side.
"Shinichi? Is something the matter?" Ran asked with a yawn. Shinichi deduced she just woke up, keeping to the same schedule she had when Conan was living with her.
"Uh, Ran, I need some help." Now that the phone connected, he wasn't so sure whether it was a smart idea to call for help after all.
"..." Silence. Shinichi was nervous now. He needed something to take his mind off the discomfort.
"Ran? Are you still there?"
"Shinichi. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that has you up this early. Is something bothering you? Or should that be someone bothering you?"
"Not really. But I need some advice." Shinichi organised his thoughts, steeling himself to be humiliated by Ran. "How do you make a bento?"
"Really Shinichi?" Incredulous voice filtered through. "Are you trying to make Kuroba-kun a bento?"
Shinichi could feel Ran was close to giggling even through there wasn't a single sound. "Ran..."
"Sorry Shinichi. Just that I know you can cook, but to prepare a lunch? It's not something you've done before, even for yourself."
"That's why I'm asking you." Shinichi sighed. He'd usually just grab some money and buy bread or something for lunch. There really isn't much need to know how to make a lunch box, even though his mother kept a few boxes in the kitchen cabinets.
"First of all, do you even have boxes? Or should I just come over?"
"I do have boxes, I'm cleaning them now." Shinichi looked towards the grey rectangular box on the drying rack. He had just given them a quick rinse as he chatted on the phone using the hands-free headphones.
"At least that's one thing out of the way. I'm sure you know how to make rice. The problem lies with making dishes that would taste nice even after sitting for a few hours. What do you have in the fridge?"
Shinichi rattled off the ingredients in the fridge, including any leftover dishes, and in the end, Ran helped him devise a meal around what they have available.
"Your a lifesaver Ran." Shinichi was whisking the eggs for cooking as he thanked the girl. He could hear Ran was also preparing their own meal through the phone.
"You don't ask often. But Shinichi, you really do like Kuroba-kun don't you? It's not like a rebound or something right?" Ran's concern made Shinichi still his motion. "We might not love each other like that but you are like a little brother to me, disregarding our age and birthday."
"Ran," he placed the eggs to the side so that he could give the her his full attention, "I know we ended somehow abruptly, even before we began. And at the time, I really thought I did like you. Though now, comparing those feelings to what I have for Kaito, it's different. I'd say it's stronger even...I'm not sure if it's really love or like or whatever it is classified as. The only thing I know is that I don't want to see him sad or hurt. I wanted to bring him the happiness that he brought me just by being close to me..."
Ran giggled out loud. Shinichi blushed, grateful that the girl could not see him.
"That's really sweet. Anyways, I should leave you to your cooking. Just be sure not to burn the food."
Shinichi sighed, placing the phone and headpiece onto the kitchen counter. He looked at the clock on the screen, still some time before he had to wake the magician up. Breakfast is cooking (which will be rice, miso soup, fried egg, and salad), and the preparation for lunch is underway. As soon as he woke Kaito, he could fry off the beef and arrange everything into the box. He still had some dignity and refuses to make the whole thing heart-shaped or fill the box with sappy motifs.
-OMAKE (1) END-
-OMAKE (2): Waking up-
Shinichi looked down at the slumbering magician, face fully relaxed and mouth slightly parted. There was something he had always wanted to try ever since seeing some of his mother's movies (it was not a known fact but he always had a soft spot for romance movies. Mysteries are always great as reading material but when translated to the screen, it lacks some of its glamour). With a knowing smile, Shinichi leaned closer towards Kaito's face, mindful of his own breathing so not to prematurely wake the magician before he had a chance to try it out.
Gently, Shinichi's lips met Kaito's, deepening as Kaito responded unconsciously by wrapping an arm around Shinichi's neck and pulling him closer. They stayed like that until Kaito's eyes fluttered open, confused and hazy as he just woke up. Shinichi took this as a chance to put some distance between himself and the waking magician. He still had a vibrant blush on his face as he placed a hand over his own mount. He could not believed he just did that.
"'Morning Love." Kaito said as he realised what just happened. "That's quite an effective morning call I'd say." He gave Shinichi a peck on the cheeks before heading towards the bathroom.
Shinichi sank down into his knees, trying to regather himself before heading down the the kitchens. Although it was embarrassing, it felt really satisfying. 'Kind of like waking up Sleeping Beauty. I wonder if that's what the Prince felt in the story...' Shinichi touched his own lips again, smiling happily as he walked down the steps.
-OMAKE (2) END-
