-FIRSTS-

Disclaimer: The works of Detective Conan and Magic Kaito belongs to Gosho Aoyama-sensei.

Warning: KaiShin relationship.

A/N: A bit late, this update, but I've been rather busy these weeks. Not enough time to sit and upload (yes, I've written several scenes but haven't edit them yet so that's a plus...)


First Fake

Kaito lasted 48 hours held inside the apartment before going slightly insane. Meals were delivered at 6pm sharp with a ring of the doorbell, his meal of choice was often Japanese home cooking. Though he noted the absence of seafood on his plate for those meals, which was a strange occurrence, strange but good and much appreciated. On the second morning, groceries were delivered and Kaito spent much time rummaging through and sorting out everything. There was a wide selection of chocolates along with sweets of all sorts along with fresh produce, fruit and vegetables mainly but a nice cut of meat as well. Kaito noted the food amount was enough for one person, which in itself was ringing alarm bells in Kaito's mind. If the apartment houses two people, and groceries were delivered regularly, then there should be more of everything. Yet, it was not the case.

Stranger still was Kaito's ear constantly picking up a high pitched humming sound. He checked all of the electronics in the apartment, including the flat screen TV that had been hidden behind the rows of photo frames. However, his search yielded no piece of electronic were left in its On, or Standby state.

"Just what is this place…" He mumbled over a cup of lukewarm chocolate that tasted rather bland as though it was missing something crucial. Even the cup felt different to the touch, though Kaito himself could not be sure what he was comparing that with seeing as his memory was missing.

Not wanting to stay inside the apartment any longer, even though he had been advised against leaving, Kaito pocketed the access card and took the elevator down. The security man peered up the moment the doors were opened and had an alarmed look on his face, as though he did not expect anyone to leave. Kaito nodded cordially to the man and stepped out of the double doors.

The freedom from surrounding walls felt like godsend though some part of Kaito reminded him that if his partner were with him in the apartment, he would not feel so trapped even when remaining indoors.

Two streets down, Kaito felt an uneasy chill down his spine. He casually looked at a window display though his focus was more on the reflection of the glass than the shop's contents. He noted the passing pedestrian traffic, mentally cataloguing each individual. After several long seconds, he saw a peculiar person rather out of place in the environment. Dressed too formally in his suit, he stood leaning on a building as though he was waiting for someone. Yet, there was none of the distracted gaze or the focus on the approaching pedestrians. Rather the focus was close to where Kaito was standing. Deciding to test out his assumption, Kaito took to the streets once more. Several blocks later, Kaito decided to stop and enter a random shop, which happens to sell female clothes. The shopkeeper greeted rather curiously at Kaito but otherwise left him to browse the dresses by himself. Kaito took up position at the corner closest to the window overlooking the streets. Sure enough, the same man stood on the opposite street, this time sitting on the bench inside a bus station.

Frowning, Kaito decided something must be done to lose the tail. He had no intention of letting the man follow him as he explored the area. Taking his time in the shop, he made several selection of dresses before walking toward the cashier, inquiring about a fitting. The shopkeeper looked at him wearily but otherwise went to the storeroom for the required dresses and accompanying accessories as another directed Kaito towards the fitting room. He took his time to try on the dresses, earning compliments from the two sales for his choice of clothing (and how they actually fitted him). Thanking them, he paid for the goods as well as asking to borrow some of their makeup. Amusedly, the sales agreed and led him back to the staff room, where he then made his magic.

Thirty minutes later, he used the back entrance of the shop and walked out of an alleyway, taking careful note of where his tail was. He passed by his tail, giving him a playful and flirtatious wink before sauntering off in a random direction. His legs took him to a commercial district and spying a group of pedestrians gathering outside a rather posh looking building, Kaito decided to yield to his curiosity and went over for a look.

On the floor was a body, carefully covered with a dark jacket to obstruct the view. However, the pooling blood continued to expand and was given a wide berth. To the side, the building's security were frantically trying to keep people back and away from the scene. However, what caught Kaito's attention was a particularly confident individual standing in the midst of all the chaos. The immaculate head of dark hair turned purposefully to survey the surroundings. Kaito was captured in those bright blue eyes, how it focused onto each individual, picking out the characteristics and details. The gaze finally settled onto Kaito, where it lingered. There was something in those blue eyes that resonated with Kaito and for a singular moment, he felt he could not breath. Grasping onto his shirt, Kaito quickly hurried away from the location, choosing to lean onto a wall inside the nearest alleyway and away from those bright sapphires.

Both his head and heart was pounding. It felt as though his head was about to burst and his heart would jump out of his body. His breaths became more ragged as he ripped off the hat in an attempt to fan himself to rid himself of the heat blooming from his chest. He stumbled on the journey back to the apartment but the moment he stepped inside the lobby, Kaito felt the whole world was shifting beneath his feet and he proceeded to black out.

The next time he woke up, he was inside the medical facility again. Only this time his head did not feel like it was stuffed with cotton. It felt as though the fog had been lifted and he could think clearer.

The door slide open to reveal Rum and Vermouth striding confidently into the room and Kaito had a moment of calmness settling into him. He briefly wondered what type of game these two were playing seeing as he was not restrained.

"How are you feeling Kaito-kun?" Rum asked in a rather soft and familial tone. Kaito held back a frown as memories resurfaced, about how Rum treated him like a supposed son. Quickly, he realised he could use the current situation to his advantage.

"What happened?" Instead of replying the question, Kaito chose to ask for information. He tried to act as confused as he could.

"The security inside the apartment building saw you collapsing on the floor and quickly called us." Rum looked concern but Kaito knew this was an act. "It was a good thing as well, seeing as putting you in a hospital would do you more harm than good. I have too many enemies keeping a careful eye out for you and your partner."

"I...collapsed?" There was slight soreness to his head and Kaito hesitantly reached up, feeling the tight wrappings of a bandage.

"Now, tell me what happened." Rum demanded. His hands were inching to a jacket pocket, where Kaito suspect to be hiding some sort of weapon. To the side, Vermouth was also taking the same precaution.

"I...remember feeling nauseated." He lied, "it started some time after I went out, after the shopping...I knew I had to come back so...I walked? I don't remember much only the need to go somewhere safe." Kaito furrowed his brows, clenched his hands into a fist as though struggling to remember when in reality, everything was as clear as day. "There was...I think I felt some pin prick? Maybe a bobby pin from the clothes? Before feeling nausea…and there was this smell...iron?"

Rum frowned and turned to Vermouth, who shook her head and began weaving another tale for Kaito's sake. "It's probably an side-effect from whatever experimentation you were administered during capture. Maybe an overload of senses. It would be best to stay indoors for the time being."

Rum nodded. "You will stay here for a 24 hour observation. Afterwards, she'll bring you back to the apartment where you will be staying until I say you can leave. Do I make myself clear?"

Kaito acted like a small child being scolded, head hanging as he replied "Yes".

"It's for your own safety." Rum laid a hand on Kaito's shoulder. "I don't want you to collapse again and I won't risk your health just because you wanted some fresh air. If I can spare the people, I'll have them come pick you up for a stroll outdoors. Otherwise, you are not to leave the apartment by yourself."

"Yes Uncle." Kaito had difficulty forcing down the grimace at the familial address.

"Good." With a final pat, Rum directed the conversation to lighter topics. It seemed as though he was keeping watch, and a close eye, on Kaito's behaviour for the smallest tell to indicate when he was lying. But Kaito was a professional, he kept up the appearance of a dutiful and obedient nephew even if he dearly wanted to do something nasty.

'Perhaps I can turn this to our advantage.' He thought to himself as he pretended to pay attention to Rum's words. Kaito spared a glance at Vermouth who had a tight frown on her face that had Kaito mentally sweating in buckets. It looked as though she saw through Kaito.

"It's nice for you to stay so long with my Uncle." Kaito could not really stand to be in his presence for too long and it was a subtle reminder at the current time. "Will you be staying for dinner as well? I remember last time, the nurses brought in a slice of chocolate cake for me and it was really nice. Maybe we can request it again."

"Is it time already?" Rum looked startled but it was evident that it was another act. "I better go. There's still a lot of things to follow up."

Standing, he took exited without waiting for Vermouth. The woman stared down at Kaito with intense eyes.

"Is something wrong Auntie?" Kaito had to take care not to call Vermouth by her nickname.

"You…" She took note of Kaito's confused expression, "are you sure you're alright? With this, with everything."

"Well, it's not like I enjoy staying here. But if Uncle insisted, then there's not much I can do." He shrugged, earning him a glare from the woman. "I don't like being babysat, so maybe you can help placate him?" It was the truth that he did not like having someone on him 24/7, and whoever was sent would definitely be spying on Kaito as well. If he were to pass on critical information to Shinichi, having a babysitter with him would just mess things up.

"Humph." She crossed her arms in distaste. Though it was unnerving that Vermouth had figured him out so early on. "I'll see what I can do."

Kaito was thanking Lady Luck for Vermouth's cooperation. Hopefully, she could find the opportunity to pass on the message to Shinichi but Kaito was not that optimistic.

-TBC-


A/N: It's been some time since there was an OMAKE in the series (can't quite remember actually since I've been too into writing other fics) but I've decided to add this as extra rather than as the actual story.


-OMAKE: Helplessness-

Shinichi waited for the longest time on the speed boat that was their secondary exit. Haibara had been securely hidden beneath the tarp and the time for leaving had passed minutes ago. Yet Shinichi still continued to wait even under the falling debris and roaring fire. He knew Kaito was still alive, knew his magician was going to escape this death trap and yet, he could not find him. Biting on his bottom lips, Shinichi tightened his hold on the steering, ready for the moment when Kaito would land on the boat and urge them to leave.

"Kudo-kun," Haibara's voice startled Shinichi. Reflexively, he pulled out a tranquilizer gun and aimed it at the direction of sound. Haibara did not seem put out by the possible assault.

"Haibara, you'll get yourself killed like that."

"I've had worst." She shrugged as she stepped out from her hiding location. Shinichi frowned and was about to tell her to go back to hiding though only received a rather cold glare in return.

"We should probably go..." Shinichi was reluctant to step on the gas pedal, but he had already risked too much time.

"Are you sure Kudo-kun?" She glanced up just as another window shattered and began raining glass onto the ground. "There's still time, we can wait longer. Or..."

"No Haibara, I'll not risk it." Resolve settled in his mind. They have spent too much effort to rescue Haibara and Shinichi was not about to risk Kaito's effort. "We need to leave now. We've already overstayed our welcome."

"Kudo-kun. I can go back in if you want." Without Shinichi noticing, Haibara stood at his side with her small hand enclosing around Shinichi's pale ones. "I can go back inside and search for him."

Shinichi only shook his hand before beginning to pull away from their spot. Once Shinichi had enough clearance, he sped them on their way down the channel and towards a small dock some ways away.

The whole journey was made in tense silence, even then Shinichi dropped Haibara off at Beika and returned to the apartment. He made the usual checks for bugs and trackers before entering the building. Shinichi hoped that by the time he opened the door, Kaito would be there to greet him with a smile and a warm cup of coffee before telling him off for being late.

Unfortunately, Shinichi's hopes were dashed as all he saw was darkness when he opened the front door. Checking the whole apartment, he could not see a single sign of his magician having returned. Stripping himself out of the dirty clothes, he took a cold shower before snuggling into the all-too-cold and all-too-large bed. He tries to take comfort in the scent of Kaito's pillow, which he held close to his heart. Sleep did not come easily even as Shinichi closed his eyes.

In the darkness beneath his eyelids, Shinichi could only see Kaito struggling to escape the burning building. His mind conjured up the face of devastation when Kaito realised Shinichi had left. With a start, Shinichi sat up on the bed, clutching the pillow tighter. He remained seated for the whole night and barely registered the sun rising.

For the next few days, Shinichi operated in automation. He went to his classes, bought groceries (with an absurd amount of sweet foodstuffs and chocolate). Ran was the first to notice his strange behaviour, though it could be contributed to their regular coffee meetings.

"Shinichi, are you sure your ok?" She asked with great concern, taking hold of Shinichi's pale and cold hands.

"I'm fine Ran. Why do you ask?" His reply was more automatic and monotone, though it had not really registered in his mind.

"You're drinking milk tea, not the usual coffee. And you've added lots of milk and sugar. It isn't like you to suddenly switch your taste." She gently extracted Shinichi's hand from his death grip on the cup. "Does it have anything to do with Kuroba-kun's sudden disappearance?"

Shinichi knew Ran had always been observant, only that she often lacked the confidence to announce her deductions. In his mind, she would have made a great detective if she put her mind to it.

"Shinichi, you know I'm here for you right?" Shinichi somehow overlapped this current Ran with the Ran that Conan saw, the same older sister feel he had felt coming from her.

"I know, but it's not really something I...or anyone could do." He shook his head. He had anonymously called the police about something happening in the warehouse and they sent forensics to the place. Shinichi had, after pulling some strings, managed to have his hands on the reports. There was a lot of detail, and it mentioned having found bodies. But seeing as DNA matching was still underway, Shinichi could not confirm anything. However, in his heart, he wished and hoped that none came back positive for Kaito. He knew, instinctively that Kaito was still alive but if any evidence had pointed towards his magician not being here, Shinichi was sure he would break down very spectacularly.

"Shinichi. Kuroba-kun would come back. I'm sure of it." Ran said with much conviction. Shinichi had to wonder where that came from. She had the same belief that he would come back and now, just like when Shinichi disappeared, she was trying to enforce this conviction onto Shinichi.

"I...wish I know when he'd return..."

"You miss him." She treated as though Kaito had just left on a holiday, which was true in a sense because it had been the farce the pair had set up before attempting the rescue. They knew they needed time to recover and Kaito had set it up so that he seemed to have left the country for some performing work. "It's only natural for you to miss him because you care about him."

Shinichi stared into the cup, he wanted to tell Ran what had happened and maybe she could tell him how to keep positive. But then, he did not want to burden his childhood friend with such heavy information. So he kept silent, letting their get-together come to a tense close.

"Maybe a walk around town could clear your mind Shinichi." Ran suggested just as she was about to enter the train station. "You know, next time we should actually meet at Poirot instead of downtown. You remember I told you about the Detective Boys? They would have loved to meet you." She waved cheerfully, with a bright smile on her face, before pushing open the gates and entering the station.

Shinichi wandered the streets, not looking for anything in particular. It was then when he heard a scream before a thud nearby. Next to him was a body and the scream had been from the woman closeby. Quickly, he took hold of the situation, ensuring no one approached the body and that the police was called. Next he quickly caught the nearest building's security's attention and had them help in ensuring order. At least his mind was working properly and had the decency to cover up the body with his own coat. Once he was sure nothing too gruesome could be seen, though his coat would most likely need a thorough cleaning after the forensics have been through with it, he finally took in the surroundings.

It was then when he felt a familiar gaze. Immediately, his own zoomed into a person near the back where a pair of familiar violet stared back at him. Not bothering to be polite, he pushed his way through the crowd towards the disappearing back.

"Kaito!" He yelled as loud as he could over the bustling traffic and the noisy pedestrian, all the while running to catch up to his magician. "KAITO!"

He reached out, wanting to grab hold of the flailing material but was abruptly stopped by a Samaritan who pulled him back from the traffic.

"Let me go!" He struggled but already had lost sight of Kaito. Shinichi pounded the concrete ground in frustration, ignoring the concerned question of the stranger.

The sound of police sirens closing in to the area snapped Shinichi back to reality and he focused on trying to apprehend the criminal to the case.

'I'll find you.' Shinichi vowed silently as he pointed the mastermind behind the murder. 'I'll find you again Kaito. Please wait for me.'

-OMAKE END-