32: Nostalgia

Kuroba Kaito stood at the very edge of the tallest building in Tokyo and, for the first time in years, wore no masks or disguises. He stood as unmoving as a gargoyle and watched the sky.

The door opened behind him, "you know kid", said a deep voice, "civilians aren't allowed up here." Kaito smirked, he knew who stood behind him… and it brought back so many memories. "I've never been one for following rules." Kaito called over his shoulder, "besides, this is the best place to watch the sun set." Feeling nostalgic Kaito offered the space next to himself, "care to watch with me?" He asked.

There was a pause, then the other man stepped up, right behind him.

"So what name do you currently go by?" Kaito asked. The other stiffened, "that's an odd question." Kaito shrugged, "depends on whom you ask." "Edogawa Conan" the other man finally replied.

Kaito glanced over at his companion and nodded thoughtfully, "ah… that does explain how good you look for being… it would be forty-four years old now, right?" Conan frowned, "I'm thirty-four." Kaito chuckled, "in body only I'm sure." Kaito ran his eyes over his favorite critic of years past. "And unmarried still. I suppose you never got over your childhood sweetheart and she wouldn't keep waiting."

Conan looked startled, "who are you?" He asked defensively.

Kaito exaggerated a pout, "ah… I've only been away from Japan for… twenty years and you forget all about me!" Conan snorted, "you don't look a day over eighteen!" Kaito's eyes narrowed, "in body only." He said and turned back to watching the sun. It would be another hour or two before it set.

"Well, so long as you're not planning on jumping…" Conan muttered, "I've already dealt with three corpses today and I'd prefer not to see another."

Kaito laughed, "hmm… still the murder magnet then." He smiled morosely, "Death follows you around like a lost puppy and yet he completely avoids me."

"Most would consider that a good thing" Conan growled. Kaito smirked, "I'm not 'most people' and I never have been." Conan rolled his eyes and shook himself, "whatever, you're crazy." "Many would say I've never been sane" Kaito agreed amicably as the detective started to walk away. "It's strange isn't it?" Kaito called after him, "seeing the people you once thought of as peers and yet they're all older than you." Conan froze. "How do you know?" He asked. "Who are you?"

With a shrug, Kaito replied, "I have gone by many names, but I used to be a friend, a rival, a challenge…" he trailed off, "above all, I am someone who understands."

Conan sighed and returned to the edge of the roof. "Stop speaking in riddles." Kaito looked affronted, "you used to love my riddles! Besides I have one more for you: I am not a killer, but I love the chase. I'm like a bird, through skies I would race. I have one true name, but many a face. When justice was named, I was a criminal – who disappeared without a trace. Who am I?"

"You… you're rhyming is awful" Conan complained. "I made that up just now." Kaito retorted, "regardless, can you solve it?"

The detective groaned, but was already dissecting the words. "You're a criminal, but not a murderer and proud of it, it would seem. Hmm… someone was brought to justice, but not you…. Wait, the others were descriptions of you, right? So you could fly, 'many faces'- could disguise, 'love the chase'- is that chasing or being chased? Or both. Disappeared…." Conan continued to mule over the riddle while Kaito looked on.

Conan paused, "but those aren't the only hints you've given me. You somehow know who I really am, don't you?" Kaito smiled ambiguously. "There's only a handful of criminals who know about that and even fewer who weren't murderers. With the riddle, that makes you…" Conan stopped and blinked owlishly, "Kaitou KID."

Kaito didn't move as Conan looked him up and down, "but…" the detective stammered, "you can't be! You're far too young! It's impossible!" Kaito grinned, "no… just very, very improbable. I once sought to destroy a magic gem before others of less prestige could obtain it. I found the gem, but got caught in its curse by mistake. It was five years before I even realized."

"What curse?" Conan asked, though he felt he knew the answer.

Kaito chuckled bitterly, "Immortality. Even without my wings, I could step off this roof and survive the fall. After hundreds of years have passed, my appearance will not have changed at all. Death avoids me, and so does age. I cannot starve, dehydrate, or even freeze. I am trapped by the prison of life itself!"

Conan grimaced, "is it that bad?"

Kaito shook his head, "no, I have an eternity to learn new tricks and skills. Being immortal isn't the part that's unbearable. The unbearable part is being the only one who doesn't change. I am stuck watching as everyone I know and love die and the world begins to crumble to ash. I can't die, so I fear that one day I really will be the only one left."

"So you're wasting time watching the sun set and pitying yourself." Conan said angrily. "The sun and moon are always predictable" Kaito murmured, "they have always been there and always will be when everything else has forsaken me."

Conan punched him.

"Owe!" Kaito complained, one hand flying up to a quickly forming bruise, "you could have knocked me off the roof like that!"

Conan shrugged, "it's only murder if the victim dies."

"Could still be considered attempted murder" Kaito grumbled.

"Or" Conan growled grabbing Kaito by the collar, "it could be considered knocking some sense into you!"

Kaito looked flabbergasted, "what?!" Conan punch him again, "I understand, okay! Too much time had passed and I had to let Ran go because Shinichi was too far-gone. I moved on! That's what you've got to do!" "Move on from immortality?" Kaito asked in annoyance. "No!" Conan shouted, "move on from your stupid depression! If you're going to live forever, it would be better if you'd be happy for it! Don't fear losing people, that's inevitable! What you've got to do is spend as much time with those people and treasure it!" Conan dropped the magician and glared down at him. "All you're doing with the mindset you're in now is making yourself miserable."

Kaito stared at him in shock for a moment. Suddenly, the magician jumped up and grabbed Conan in a hug. "You know, sometimes you are really brilliant." Kaito said.

Conan pushed him away, "what are you doing?" Kaito grinned manically. The detective gulped in sudden dread. "Why are you giving me your KID grin?" He asked with trepidation. Kaito stalked towards him, "you just said I should spend as much time as I can with people I care about before they disappear. Well…" Kaito drawled, "you're the only friend I have who's still knocking about and unmarried."

Conan stared at him uncomprehendingly.

Kaito slung an arm over Conan's shoulder, "I'm sure having an immortal would be useful to you in your dangerous line of work." He said, propelling Conan back towards the staircase. "People trying to kill you all the time and such. So, what do ya say? Need a partner?"

Conan spluttered, "but… you're a thief!" Kaito grinned, "even better! I have indispensable skills! I am great at reconnaissance, great at finding things, great at manipulating people and getting past security, and now I can't die, so you'll never have to worry about me not having your back! It's brilliant! In return, you can keep me company until you shuffle out of your mortal coil and abandon me to my sad fate of solitude and unending life."

Conan tried to block out the magician's further arguments. "Fine" he eventually grumbled. Kaito grinned, "ah! This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship! I can't wait to be introduced to Megure-keibu and all those Section One guys! Hmm… should we tell them I'm KID? That will be so funny! We probably shouldn't tell them about my aversion to death though, they'll think we're mad!" He broke off laughing and Conan started to doubt the wisdom of agreeing.

That's how the consulting detective Edogawa Conan got his partner Kuroba Kaito. Truthfully, they did make an unstoppable crime-fighting team. The thief's skills were incredibly helpful, even though Kaito decided it would be fun to revive Kaitou KID again, just for old time's sake. It nearly gave the Hakubas a heart attack though, especially Aoko.

(Yes, in this Aoko and Saguru got married. Shinichi never found an antidote, so he permanently became Conan, a private investigator and consulting detective to the police. Kaito destroyed Pandora, but accidentally became immortal in the process. Also… about twenty years passed. Kikiki! Oh, and the Black Organization is mostly gone, but there are still a few rouge members who I'm sure would later give the crime fighting duo Kudo and KID a hard time. Uh… I didn't intend for this to sound so… pre-Kaishin or whatever, but since I stopped where I did it doesn't really matter, if you want it to be taken that way… good for you.)