-FIRSTS-
Disclaimer: The works of Detective Conan and Magic Kaito belongs to Gosho Aoyama-sensei.
Warning: KaiShin relationship.
A/N: It's because my mind's been stuck on 'Study in Romance' that I wasn't inspired enough to write this one, which is why it took so long to update. I'll try to stick to my weekly ones from now on...TRY being the keyword so don't take it as gospel.
First Catastrophe
The silence had once again lulled them into another sense of false peace, where information was hard to come by, crimes were slow and rare, and heists targets were few. Both their parents had decided to stay, much to Kaito's delight though to Shinichi's annoyance, and the semi-retired actress made it her life's goal to pounce on Shinichi wherever (and whenever) possible. This meant ambushing them inside the university campus. It brought much joy to Kaito, seeing his detective become fluster at the sudden intrusion. It also gave their sense of paranoia some purpose other than jumping at shadows.
"Love, it's only your mother." Kaito said during lunch in the cafeteria, with the actress firmly attached to his detective's side. As much as Kaito did not like sharing Shinichi with people, he can tolerate it for family.
"Yes, but you haven't been subjected to her whims for two decades." Shinichi sighed, poking at his meal.
"Shin-chan, you make it sound as though I'm a bad thing." She amped up her pout, making everyone within proximity feel guilty for bringing up such an expression on her face. The only people not prone to it were her own son, because he somehow became immune to it due to over-exposure during childhood, and Kaito because his own version were more potent in guilt-inducing and he had seen some form of it on Shinichi's face over the course of their dating (that is whenever his detective was trying to have him try something new).
"You know how parents often say don't go near certain people because they are a bad influence?" Shinichi looked at his mother with insufferable eyes, "Neither you nor 'tou-san say that to me simply because I've already been subjected to bad influence, by both of you."
"Come on, you're just exaggerating." Kaito chose not to believe the fun loving parents as anything other than good influence on Shinichi. They were the ones to brought his detective up to be such a loyal and honest person.
"You have seen how they kidnapped me right? You were there remember? The time when you nearly had a heart attack?"
"Well, they do have a unique way of doing things…" Kaito could not help but sweat drop. Although that was a panic-inducing first introduction, but it was actually quite memorable.
"Unique couldn't begin to cover their antics…" Shinichi sighed, resigning to have his mother attached on his biceps. She seemed quite content to be there, albeit there were quite a few students staring at them. Some possibly recognising who she was.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when they least expected. Just as their other friend decided to join them at the cafeteria table, the building shook. Lights flickered then died, tables and chairs tumbled to the floor, and finally as the icing on the cake, they heard shattering windows. Immediately, the group dropped to the floor and took cover with one of tables. As the cacophony of noise died down, smoke slowly seeped through from the kitchen areas and into the dining area. Unfortunately, the cafeteria was located on the third floor, with fixed windows. The emergency exit was located close to the kitchens, making it hazardous to venture in the direction, but glancing towards the actual entrance found the doors to be dented inwards.
"Everyone ok?" Shinichi's voice rang out even with the background of sputtering water. At least the sprinklers seems to be working.
Several groans indicated their friends were alive if a bit shaken.
"Random violence?" Hakuba crept closer to where Kaito, Shinichi and his mother were crouched. "Seems quite out of the ordinary."
"I highly doubt it's as random as you're insinuating." Kaito muttered, eyeing the entrance. "It looks to be premeditated, as though…" And Kaito hated to assume the worst, but there was the possibility that their previous disguises were compromised and someone, somehow, found they were the ones instigating an investigation.
"Can you see if there's another exit apart from the emergency? I don't really want to risk people burning up…" Shinichi looked at several of the students who were huddling near the windows. His gaze then went to the few tables near the kitchens, where a few of the patrons have visible wounds. "Ran, you know first aid, do you have the basics on you now?"
"Shinichi?" Ran seems to be coming out of shock herself but she made quick work to check her bag. Throughout the years, with looking out for Conan and being merely childhood friends with Shinichi, she had taken to learning basic first aid and constantly carrying a basic kit with her. "Um...I think I have pretty much everything. But if there's too many...I don't think I have enough."
"Right, Hakuba and I will try and assess those that had been sitting close to the source. Sera, can you and Akako-san check on those girls sitting over there?" he gestured towards a corner where three girls huddled in a group. "They're further away from the blast but I still want to make sure they're alright. 'Kaa-san, you and Ran can apply first aid to those we bring back. It seems this area is safest for now. Kaito, if you, and Aoko-san can check other exits?"
The small group were quick to disperse. Kaito was halfway checking the possibility of actually using the original exits when there was a sudden creak and crackle. He managed to jump out of the way as bits of concrete fell through the doorway, revealing the other side to be completed blocked and destroyed. Sighing, he walked over to Aoko where she was in the process of examining the so-called back entrance to the cafeteria.
"It's no use. This side's completely blocked as well." Aoko looked dejectedly at the deformed metallic doors. "I think there's something on other side that's preventing the doors from opening."
"Well, that's just great. We can either brave through the fire or…" In Kaito's mind, another plan was forming. "We're on the third floor right?"
"About ten meter above the ground." Aoko walked over to the nearest pane of glass. "But Kaito, all the windows are sealed shut, not even a lock is visible for you to break."
"Glass is breakable. Though we might need to be inventive about the way we do so." As much as Kaito feels several well placed explosive could shatter the glass, he did not want to compromise the internal structure further. The creaking of concrete suggested there was still a fire nearby. Whatever caused the explosion, it was still fueling the fire and Kaito suspected most of the kitchen hands had unfortunately lost their lives. "Come on, let's head back first and see how many people has not been injured. If there are too many, we might really have to risk the emergency exit."
They were at least lucky that only the three professors who had been lining up near the kitchens had been injured, the rest of the cafeteria patrons were only in a state of shock and the worst only had a scraped their knees and hands. Shinichi's clear voice issued instructions and many of the students began clearing the area near one of the windows already.
"You seemed to have read my mind Love." Kaito hugged his detective from behind, wanting the contact. Shinichi had not refused, instead placed his own hands on top of Kaito's in reassurance.
"I thought it might be the case." He eyed the caved in entrances. "There's only minor burns on the injured, and a sprained ankle when trying to escape. Otherwise we're all quite healthy." Shinichi sounded surprised but at the same time guilty.
"It's not your fault Love." Kaito rubbed at Shinichi's biceps to offer some form of comfort. "Probably an accident from the kitchens."
"That would only explain the fire." He pointed at the window showing the flames inside the kitchens. Several flames began licking towards the counter, pass the service window. "But it doesn't explain the explosion from outside the entrances causing blockage. Neither does that explain the weakening structure of the building. I feel it might have been a warning…"
Kaito felt faint tremors and held tighter onto his detective. He wished he had the ability to take all these negativities away, to stop the horrors and threats assaulting them on a regular basis. But reality is never that kind. Kaito is forced to live with only providing the little reassurances and comforts.
"We'll make it through this. Like we always have." He whispered close to Shinichi's ears, laying down a quick kiss on the jaw before breaking contact. No one seemed to mind the pair had a moment to themselves. "I'll see what I have to work with. You gather up everyone, probably see if there's any rope of some kind or heavy objects? I feel the glass may be hard to break."
"They're not reinforced glass, though it is a thick pane." However, Shinichi had set about to find said object. "Wait, here. I have the Professor's suspenders. We might need it to lower people down."
Kaito accepted the elastic suspenders and began to examine the panes of glass. They were indeed quite thick. It would take a considerable amount of force to break them. Though on the upside, it was laminated glass so shattering would not create harmful shards.
"Need any help Kuroba-kun?" Koizumi's voice startled him. She was leaning a bit too close for Kaito's liking.
"You have anything, or any idea, how to break the glass?" Kaito decided he could risk any cryptic advice the girl may give.
"I can do better. I can help you with breaking the glass." She wrapped an arm around his neck. Kaito chanced a glance in Shinichi's direction, hoping his detective was distracted enough to not pay attention in his direction. He was fortunate that Shinichi was busy arranging the furniture around the kitchens to create some sort of barrier, hopefully buying them the extra time.
"But you'll be wanting my soul and my first born." He gently push her back, it would not do to annoy her at this very moment seeing as she was keen to help. Even knowing that she would want some repayment for her effort.
"Is that what you see me as? A common witch? I'm better than those lazy robe wearing, cauldron stirring toads." She huffed, seemingly insulted. "What I only need from you is some sort of a distraction for when I cast the spell. I am trapped here with all of you so it's my safety that's in the balance. Not only yours."
"Fine, fine." Conceding, and taking her word for face value, Kaito stepped back away from the window and the sorceress before throwing a smoke bomb at her feet, instantly covering her in a cloud of white. Several people's eyes were suddenly drawn to the area, few scampered backwards. There was a slight flash of red and another explosion occurred from inside the kitchens. The tremor caused several to huddle close together, even Kaito had to brace himself.
In an instant, something flew by Kaito at high speed, hurling itself towards the window and shattering it into millions of tiny pieces. He had to cover his head with his arms to avoid the smaller pieces from becoming hazardous. Once the raining of glass stopped and the fire from the second explosion calmed down slightly, Kaito approached Koizumi.
"What on earth were you thinking! You just induced another explosion with your hocus-pocus and exacerbated our demise!" Kaito hissed out in frustration.
"But I helped you out." She pointed at the now broken window. "That should be enough. Now, make your magic and get us out of here Kuroba-kun."
"And you couldn't have just cast something to get out yourself?" He produced several lengths of high tensile rope while surveying the area for pillars or permanent structures to anchor the line.
"I can fly out, sure. But it'll draw too much attention." She gestured towards the other people still inside the cafeteria. "Besides, I want to see your worth. Whether you really are as great as you made yourself to be."
She returned to where Aoko and Hakuba were standing, the former fussing about to check for injuries whilst the latter glared in Kaito's direction. Sighing, Kaito ignored the gaze and went about securing the suspenders and his own line of escape. Those injured will have to be lowered using the suspenders whereas those well enough, and that includes all their friends, will have to use the rope setup. He just hoped a crash course in abseiling would be enough to get them all to safety.
-TBC-
