35: Recovery Period

(Based on LostInTheDreams story, Irreplaceable. It's pretty great, if you haven't read it. This takes place the next day.)

Golden streams of sunlight made the grass glow a luminous green and the water in the channel glimmer. The air was warm, but moist after a morning rainfall, however, the soft dirt was dry and warm where Kaito basked. His dark uniform soaked up the heat greedily, making the battered magician pleasantly warm. Lying on his back with his eyes closed was very relaxing, so Kaito was floating in and out of a doze. A soft breeze set the grass shivering to tickle Kaito's neck. A strand of his wild brown hair blew over Kaito's eyelids and his lips quirked in amusement.

"You know" a voice interrupted the peace as a shadow fell across the magician's face, Kaito's brow furrowed in annoyance, "this isn't what I had in mind when I told you that I wouldn't let it go if I saw you today. You should be in bed, resting."

Kaito cracked open one eye to glare at the blond detective. "Ignoring whatever you're probably insinuating… I didn't ditch school for any reason you might think, it's merely too lovely a day to spend it sitting inside." Kaito closed his eyes, repositioned himself slightly, and hummed. "It's really comfortable here too", he murmured drowsily.

"You're going to get sunburned" Saguru spoke again. Sighing, Kaito pulled a baseball cap from, seemingly, nowhere and dropped it over his face. "Happy? Now go away", the magician grumbled.

For a moment it was silent, then the grass crunched softly as Hakuba sat down. Kaito didn't react other than a slight hitch in his light and even breathing and a flinch in his fingers.

"You cover up your pain and injuries well", the detective mused, "even your black eye and the paleness of blood loss." He paused, then continued when the magician didn't argue. "You can't hide the subconjunctival hemorrhage in your other eye though, and despite hiding the pain you can't hide the wounds themselves-"

"Do you have a point, or are you just talking to hear your own voice?" Kaito snapped abruptly.

Hakuba exhaled loudly. "I'm merely pointing out that if I wanted to turn you in, I have plenty of evidence that you can't refute, KID." Kaito lifted his hat to look at the detective resignedly, one eye clear blue and the other tinged red, "why don't you then."

Hakuba sighed, "last night Mouri-san asked me what kind of thief you are. You steal, but put yourself at risk when lives are endangered, so I replied that you were more like a vigilante." The half-Brit detective chuckled. "I was right. I also said last night that I wouldn't turn you in… and I won't."

Kaito's expression was vacant as he contemplated his classmate's words. "I appreciate it", he finally said, quite sincerely, then he grinned impishly, "but… I'm not KID."

Unfortunately for Kaito, he was far from being well enough to accomplish his typical sort of energetic escape. Instead he grunted at the attempt to sit up and ended up laying back on the grass with one hand pressed to his injured side. Kaito's breathing was slightly more labored and his lips turned down in an irritated frown.

Hakuba rolled his eyes at his classmate's dissatisfaction and pulled himself to his feet. Looming over the magician, Saguru leaned down and offered his hand.

For an instant suspicion flared in Kaito's eyes, before it faded and he went to grip the detective's hand tightly.

Actually pulling the other up proved more difficult than Saguru had expected. If he pulled too hard or in the wrong way then Kaito's face would stiffen in pain; yet somehow they managed. Now standing, Kaito was leaning heavily on the half-Brit as he panted and Saguru was trying his best to not cause the magician any more unnecessary pain.

"Even when using me as a human crutch you will not admit to your less than legal extracurricular occupation." The detective groused under his breath.

Kaito chuckled, "as long as you don't call me out on all the supposed 'evidence' you have... then, yeah. Besides, anything you may have could still be considered circumstantial... not that it matters." His eyes were bright with mischief, "because I'm not KID."

Saguru sighed, "shall I escort you home then? Don't try and convince me not to. With you swaying like a leaf there's no way I'm leaving you alone."

Kaito hummed, but didn't argue. "You can stay, but I'm not going home yet."

The detective frowned, "you're really not in a condition to be-" "I'm hungry, let's get ice cream!" The magician interrupted as though the other hadn't been speaking.

Their eyes met until Hakuba admitted defeat and turned away. "Fine." he growled, but then I'm taking you home where you will rest or, kami help me, I'll tie you to your bed." The detective smirked, "after-all... last night a certain thief instructed me in how to make escape quite difficult." Kaito paled as Hakuba continued, "injured as you are, I doubt you'd be able to escape – making you the perfect victim for me to try the new torture method I've devised."

Kaito glowered, "I could call the cops on you for premeditated kidnapping."

Hakuba's smirk grew, "only if you want to give yourself up too, KID."

For a moment Kaito went still. A huff of a laugh escape his lips before being cut off by a sharp, pained breath. Still dead set on directing Hakuba to an ice cream shop, the magician muttered, "I react far better to positive-reinforcement." His voice took on a sing-song quality, "so... you get to pay for the ice cream." With a friendly smile Kaito's tone lost it's playful quality and he said sincerely, "then I'll gladly let you mother-hen me if it puts you at ease."

Having expected a more witty or teasing response, Hakuba had no ready response. He merely nodded and continued to allow himself to be pulled down the street.

(A subconjunctival hemorrhage happens when a blood vessel in one's eye breaks under the clear surface (conjunctiva) of one's eye. It usually is harmless and goes away after a week or two. Sort of like a bruise on the eye. If anyone was worried, I pictured Hakuba's 'torture' as being him sitting in a big leather armchair and reading Sherlock Holmes out loud for hours on end while Kaito struggles desperately to escape. Don't get me wrong, Sherlock Holmes is great, but it's like dark chocolate... best in small intervals.)