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Outlaw Hearts

5: The Dream

"Hey Heiji, have you seen Shinichi?"

The dark-skinned detective glanced up from the game of solitaire he'd been playing in one of the Suzuki resort's many plush lounges. "I haven't seen him since yesterday actually. He was out already when I went to pick him up for breakfast this morning."

"He was up before breakfast?" Ran asked in surprise. "That's…really unusual."

"Tell me about it. I mean, I thought he'd be sulking and complaining about getting back home and to work by now, but he hasn't said a word about it. Instead he actually seems to be liking this place."

"Yeah, I noticed that too."

"And you know what else is kinda weird?" he mused. "I was in his room last night talking, and you know what was sitting on the nightstand? It was this vase, one of the really simple ones from town, and it had like nineteen roses in it."

"That's rather exact."

"I counted 'cause I thought it was strange," he admitted. "I never thought he'd be the kind of person who bought that sort of thing—usually it's all about books, but he must have since no one else's room has roses as part of the décor."

"Well actually, I was thinking that someone might be giving them to him," Ran said slowly. "I mean, you said there were nineteen? That would be one for every day we've been here, plus the one he got the morning we were picked up from the inn."

Heiji let out a snort of laughter. "Who'd give Shinichi roses?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I thought maybe an admirer, but roses seem like a bit of a strange choice."

"They could always be sending 'em to the wrong room," Heiji suggested, snickering.

"I don't think so. I mean, he got a vase for them. If they weren't for him I'm sure he would have corrected the situation by now."

"Yeah, you're right," he consented, then frowned. "But then what're you suggesting?"

"I'm not sure. It's just that… Well, he's been gone a lot lately, and when I do see him he seems…how should I put this? He seems really happy. I don't think I've ever seen him like this before."

They both fell silent then, lost in their own contemplations.

"Well," Heiji said finally. "I guess that means there's nothing to worry about. So I was going to go fishing later with Kazuha and her father. Do you want to come with?"

"No, I already agreed to go into town with Sonoko. We'll probably be there all day."

X

Shinichi knew now that he was definitely in trouble. He couldn't fight it anymore.

It had finally sunk in when he'd found himself lying in bed every night and staring at the roses in their vase and remembering a pair of indigo eyes and that bright, confident grin, looking forward to seeing them again.

All the guests of the resort's grand opening had been given their own rooms and an invitation to stay as long as they wanted (the Suzukis didn't do things by halves). With no clients to tend to at the moment and under the insistence of Suzuki Sonoko, Shinichi and his companions had taken up their offer of hospitality for the time being as had many of the other guests. Guests who included the musician Kuro Taoki, known to a select few as Kaito Kuroba. Ever since they had met again at the party on opening day the thief had made a point of finding him every day, taking them to different events and showing him around Pearl Town, which he claimed to have known since it had still been only a little village. He was just as quick-witted and charismatic as Shinichi remembered.

Sometimes Shinichi wondered what he was doing. Why did he continue to go along with the thief's whims? There were a hundred reasons why this was stupid. But every time Kaito's hand closed over his he found he couldn't remember any of them. And every time they parted ways and Kaito bid him good night and gave him a rose, he would wish the thief would stay longer. Lately he'd even caught himself wondering if Kaito would kiss him again…and maybe hoping that he would.

He hadn't wanted to admit it, but he couldn't deny it anymore.

He was falling in love.

It was a terrifying realization.

"What's on your mind?" the subject of his contemplations inquired, breaking him out of his thoughts.

Fighting the urge to blush, Shinichi shook his head quickly. "No, no, it's nothing."

Kaito waited a moment then shrugged. "Well, if you say so. We're here by the way."

He looked up at the building Kaito had led them to and wrinkled his nose. "It's a tavern."

"That it is," Kaito agreed. "But it's also a great restaurant. It's clean and hygienic too so you don't have to look so worried."

"A tavern with good food? That's a first," the detective muttered, but he let his companion steer him inside anyway.

The thief chuckled. "Believe me, I was pretty surprised too, but it just goes to show that old saying about not judging a book by its covers is true."

The two of them found a small table near the door. The common room was packed and the aroma drifting through the air really was mouthwatering. Everyone really did appear to be here for lunch, Shinichi noted. It seemed Kaito wasn't the only one who thought their food was good.

"So what do you recommend then?" he asked, squinting at the menu on the wall.

"The pot pie is good, as is just about everything with the word 'grill' in the title. If you're not very hungry, the vegetable soup is decent and comes with fresh bread from the bakery next door. There's also the potato pasta—I know it sounds weird but I really think everyone who comes here should try that at least once."

"All right, I'll try that then. Then I'll know if I should ever eat anything else you recommend."

"You wound me! I'll have you know I've judged a few cooking contests in my day."

"Really? What, have you been a chef too?"

"Er, well, no, I must admit that I am somewhat lacking in the culinary department, but I do have good taste."

"What tastes good to one person doesn't always taste good to someone else."

"Fair enough," the thief conceded, lips quirking in amusement. "Would you like some wine to go with your pasta?"

"I don't like alcoholic drinks," he said flatly. "I prefer to keep a clear head." And the things brought up bad memories of his first major case. The gang he, Ran, and Heiji had dealt with then had enjoyed naming themselves after said drinks.

Indigo eyes studied the detective's face for a moment, picking up on the shadows that had crept across his features. "In that case, what about the Citrus Special? It's a fruit juice blend that's been really popular since it was introduced five years ago."

Shinichi relaxed. "Sounds interesting."

It was strange, he thought as he watched the thief leave in search of the tavern keeper so that he could place their orders, how the man could seem so normal sometimes yet so mysterious the next. There was the face of the thief, who was all sharp edges and cunning arrogance, and the face of this 'musician', cheerful and open. Then there was the face that Shinichi had seen briefly on the train then for moments at a time while they had been in the Oasis. He couldn't quite describe that one. It lay somewhere between the others yet somehow managed to be more than the rest combined. He glimpsed it mostly when they were alone. It was the face he was beginning to think of as simply Kaito. It was confident and charming and cunning like the others, but it was also a little distant, like he was watching the rest of the world from the other side of a window—all knowing, sometimes laughing, sometimes using, sometimes judging, but always a step away.

It made Shinichi wonder if maybe he was just a little lonely for all his devil-may-care attitude. And he would inevitably find himself wishing that he could make that look go away.

Yep, there was no doubt about it, he had already lost the battle.

X

They had just finished their meal and were settling in to a conversation about the new train being constructed to replace the Raven Express when a high pitched scream made everyone in the tavern freeze. A split second later a large man barreled out of one of the back rooms and crashed through the crowded common room. A richly dressed lady stumbled out of the door he had just exited a moment later, one pale hand raised so that everyone could see the streaks of dark red on her skin. "He stabbed Miguel and took my purse!" she cried out.

Her exclamation sent the room into an uproar. Half the tavern's patrons stared in horror at the blood on her clothes, though judging from her vigorous cries it probably belonged to her injured companion and not her. Several others ran into the back room past her to see what could be done for the stab victim. Still others made to chase after the robber. Having been seated near the door, Shinichi reached automatically to bolt said doors before the robber could get out, but the man saw what he was up to and threw himself forward, all but falling through the doors before they could be blocked.

Shinichi ran after him but the robber had a head start and considerably longer legs. As they rounded the corner however, he saw a familiar figure perusing a handmade jewelry stand by the side of the street.

"Ran!" he called out.

The girl in question spun at the sound of her name. Her eyes instantly focused on the robber running towards her. Taking a quick step to her left, she planted herself squarely in his path. The man did a double take but, seeing that it was a girl a whole head and a half shorter than him, kept running. He was quickly informed of this bad decision however as her fist met his face with a sickening crunch that announced to everyone in the vicinity that the man's nose had broken. The robber staggered back from the sheer force of the blow and collapsed, out cold.

Kaito let out a low whistle from where he stood just behind Shinichi. "Man, do all your friends punch that hard?"

"No," Shinichi replied absently. "Just Ran."

"That's good to know."

He cast the thief a sidelong look. "Why? Are you planning on giving them reason to want to punch you?"

"Of course not, but it's good to be forewarned just in case. I know it's hard to believe, but some people don't like me very much."

"You say that like it really should be surprising," Shinichi remarked, amused.

"Isn't it?" Kaito asked back with an air of honest confusion that would have been convincing if Shinichi hadn't caught the spark of laughter in his eyes.

"Shinichi!"

They both turned at the cry to see Ran striding up to them. Behind her a couple law enforcement officers had been called to take the unconscious robber away.

"Ran," the detective returned as she came to a stop before them. "I didn't know you'd be coming into town today."

"That's because you didn't ask," she replied with a hint of exasperation before her gaze turned to Kaito. "So who's your friend?"

"Kuro Taoki," Kaito replied before Shinichi could introduce him, sweeping her a bow with a charming smile. "I have been showing Shinichi here around the town. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mouri."

"Oh, so you're the musician," she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up abruptly. "Sonoko's mentioned you. She says you've written almost all of her favorite songs."

"I'm flattered. It is always uplifting to hear that my works have been well received."

"Everyone I know loves your music. I mean, I'm actually from Beika, and even there I hear your work a lot. Why didn't you tell me you'd met, Shinichi?" she demanded, rounding on her friend again.

The detective in question shifted nervously where he stood. The truth was, it hadn't even crossed his mind to say anything about it, all considered he knew the musician was really the Phantom. He hadn't thought they'd want to meet each other (and maybe he'd been a little worried about what might happen if they did). "I…didn't know you'd want to know."

"Of course I would!" Ran heaved a sigh of exasperation then smiled. "Well, at least now I know who you've been spending all your time with. I was getting a bit worried there you know."

He looked away, trying not to fidget. "I'm sorry." Would she say the same if she knew the truth? …Probably not.

But…well, maybe one day she would.

"We should all have dinner together," Ran continued. "If you have time, of course," she added, gaze turning back to Kaito.

Kaito beamed. "It would be my pleasure."

"Perfect. I'll see you two at that lakeside grill place at six then."

After Ran had bid them farewell and left to find Sonoko again, Shinichi turned to his companion with a faint frown. "Are you sure you want to eat dinner with the others?"

"I don't see why not. I can't meet your family obviously, I might as well meet your friends. Unless you don't want me to?" Indigo eyes met his with a question in them that didn't feel like the one he was voicing.

"It's not that," he said, eyes darting around to check if anyone might be listening to them. "It's just…are you sure it would be a good idea? We're all detectives you know."

"Aww, are you worried about me?" Not waiting for an answer, he wrapped an arm around Shinichi's shoulders and began to direct them down the street in the opposite direction from the one Ran had taken. "Don't worry. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle something as simple as dinner with detectives."

"On your head be it then," Shinichi grumbled.

In the end however it seemed Kaito had been right. Not, Shinichi thought a bit ruefully, that that should be all that surprising anymore. It took the thief what appeared to be no effort at all to have both Ran and Heiji talking and laughing with him like they were all old friends. Seeing them all get along so well was surreal in every sense of the word. But in a good way. It made Shinichi feel like maybe this wasn't such a terrible idea to be feeling this way. If they could all sit around this table now and laugh like this, then maybe it could work out after all.

That night, when Kaito presented him with another red rose, Shinichi caught his arm before he could leave.

Kaito quirked a curious eyebrow at him. "Yes?"

"Um… Do you want to come in?" he asked hesitantly. "I have tea."

Indigo eyes studied his face for a moment before smiling. "Tea sounds good."

So they had tea at the small table in Shinichi's room. And when Kaito finally took his leave, he did so only after placing a soft kiss on Shinichi's lips. And this time the detective kissed back.

X

"Don't you think it's strange that Shinichi's spending so much time with Mister Taoki?"

Hattori took a moment to eat some of the pork chops he'd ordered for lunch before answering. "You mean other than the fact that it's strange that he's actually made a friend without help and is willingly being social for once instead of holing up at the local bookstore? Not really."

She shot him an exasperated look. "Honestly, you can't say you haven't noticed."

He gave her a blank look. "Noticed what?"

She rolled her eyes. "Everything!"

"Great explanation there, Ran. Makes perfect sense. Leaves me with no questions whatsoever."

"Oh come on, I'm talking about how he's being so quiet—"

"He's always like that."

"This is different. He's been smiling a lot more, and he's always distracted when he's with us, even when we go out on jobs. He just seems really…I don't know, happy?"

"…That's a good thing."

"I didn't say it was a bad thing," Ran pointed out. "It's just odd. It's almost like…"

"Yeah?" Heiji prompted when she trailed off.

"It's jus he's kind of acting like someone who's in love."

Heiji couldn't suppress the snort of laughter that suggestion elicited from him. The closest thing to being in love that he could remember Shinichi ever being was with that book he used to carry with him everywhere. He'd read that one so many times that one year after he'd gotten it the book had literally fallen apart. Heiji could still remember how devastated he'd been over that. It would have been hilarious if Shinichi hadn't been so honestly upset. As it was he and Ran had run down to the store that very evening and bought him a replacement. They'd come back to find Shinichi carefully putting his book back together (or trying to at any rate). In the end they'd convinced him to accept their replacement as a gift, but he knew Shinichi still had the decrepit copy tucked away in a box under his bed.

"And what's so unbelievable about that?" Ran demanded, correctly interpreting his laughter.

"Come on, this is Shinichi we're talking about. He's got to be the least romantic person I know."

"That doesn't mean he can't fall in love."

"He's never liked anyone before."

"Everyone has to start somewhere."

"You're really into this idea aren't you?"

"I'm just telling you what I've been seeing. It's not my fault if you've been too wrapped up in spending time with Miss Kazuha to notice for yourself."

Heiji coughed, suddenly very interested in his food. "Er, well, I still think you're over thinking things."

Ran made a noncommittal noise but finally let the subject drop.

X

Life at the lake had calmed as most of the party guests had drifted home by now. New guests were always trickling in however as the place officially opened to customers. Shinichi and company had also started taking odd jobs around the town during the day. The time he didn't spend working with Ran and Heiji, he spent with Kaito, who had been 'inspired by the beautiful local scenery to write a few new pieces' which Lady Sonoko was already squealing over. Shinichi had discovered a liking for just sitting on one of the armchairs in the room where the resort's grand piano stood and listening to Kaito fiddling with his tunes while he read a book from the complex's small library. And when Kaito decided to call it a day, they would have dinner together. Sometimes they would take tea in one or the other of their rooms afterward. And when they parted Kaito would give him another rose to add to the vase in his room, only now it also came with a kiss.

Today Kaito had excused himself right after dinner, saying he wished to fetch something. Shinichi had returned to his own room for the time being. Now he lay on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He couldn't remember ever feeling this happy. It was weird, because he didn't think he'd been unhappy before. He'd been content with life the way it had been. But now it struck him that maybe that wasn't the same as being happy. This warm, buzzing, bubbly feeling… It made him feel giddy and want to smile. He knew Ran was giving him strange looks, but he couldn't explain it. He had heard many people say that love wasn't logical, but he'd never understood it until now.

The door swung open suddenly and Shinichi shot bolt upright on the bed in alarm. Then he saw who it was and groaned, flopping back onto the covers.

"Can't you at least knock before letting yourself in to other people's rooms?"

Kaito raised one elegant eyebrow. "What kind of self respecting thief knocks first?"

"One who doesn't want to give the person he's visiting a heart attack?" Shinichi suggested.

"My apologies if I startled you. But I did not come empty handed." With a flourish he produced a tall, dark, glass bottle.

"It's cider," he explained. "Enhanced with a special blend of spices courtesy of the Moonside Orchards where it was brewed. They don't sell these to just anyone you know."

"And of course you happen to be one of them," Shinichi surmised, sitting up and watching as Kaito pulled the table closer to the bed so they could both sit on it before making two glasses appear with a snap of his fingers. "Let me guess, the owner's been a big fan of your work ever since you visited there a few years ago and sends you a bottle every year."

Kaito blinked. "Wow, how did you know?"

Blue eyes stared back at him blankly. "You mean I was right?"

"Pretty much, though they send me three bottles every year, not one. I sent the other two back to my dear assistants."

"That was thoughtful of you."

Kaito shrugged. "It's only fair. Good help doesn't grow on trees."

"You really care about them, don't you?" Shinichi asked, observing the way the other's smile had softened.

Kaito's eyes were serious when they met his. "They are the closest thing I can have to family."

Shinichi nodded slowly, looking away. "Shouldn't you be getting back to them then? It's been over a month."

"Aw, are you trying to get rid of me? And here I thought things were going well between us."

Shinichi rolled his eyes. "I was just asking. I mean, I wouldn't be too happy if my boss kept disappearing for months on end."

The thief chuckled. "No need to worry there, my dear detective. They know what they're supposed to do when I'm not around."

"I see." Shinichi paused, then shook his head, a faint smile of amusement on his face. "It's interesting. Most of the outlaws I've met usually look on their own allies with more wariness than the law."

"Probably because they know their allies are most likely just like them. Just out for themselves and all that."

"I guess so… I suppose you're also saying then that you aren't like them."

"I would like to think I am only like myself," the thief replied, adopting a lofty air before turning to wink at the detective. "I've never been much for blending in."

Shinichi blinked, then laughed. "That's certainly true."

"You should do that more often."

Shinichi tilted his head to one side as his brows knit in confusion. "What?"

"Laugh," Kaito explained, absently reaching over to tuck some of Shinichi's hair behind his ear. "You don't laugh much. Laughter is good for the soul you know. It is the remedy to many an ailment."

"That may be true, but I doubt that includes laughing for no reason."

"I'm not saying you should laugh for no reason—crazy people do that. I'm just saying maybe you should find more reasons to laugh."

"And what if I just don't feel like laughing?" Shinichi countered.

The thief set his now empty glass on the table before taking Shinichi's glass and setting it down as well. Puzzled, the detective waited and watched as Kaito turned back to face him. His expression was so serious that Shinichi found himself wondering if he'd said something wrong. Then suddenly Kaito's face broke out into a wide, mischievous grin.

"I can help with that," he declared as he pounced. Shinichi let out a yelp of surprise which turned into a garbled laugh.

"H—hey!"

"Oh good, you are ticklish," the thief laughed, redoubling his efforts. "Goochie goo~."

"Tha—that's cheating!" Shinichi managed to protest between fits of irrepressible giggles. The thief only laughed. He tried to wiggle out of Kaito's grasp but the other only tightened his hold and shifted his weight to better trap his fleeing victim. The room rang with mixed laughter and protests and it was a really good thing that the table where they had placed the cider bottle and glasses was sturdy because the few accidental kicks it had received would surely have sent them to the floor otherwise. As it was they just wobbled and clinked as though to join in the laughter. By now Shinichi's eyes were actually beginning to water.

Suddenly the tickling assault stopped and Kaito backed off.

Gasping to catch his breath as the tickle-induced laughing fit died down, Shinichi found himself looking up into deep, indigo eyes from where he'd wound up sprawled on the rapidly rumpling covers. He felt warm and giddy and he couldn't seem to stop smiling. He'd never felt like this before.

"I—better go," Kaito said, his voice sounding slightly hoarse.

"Wait," The word slipped out of Shinichi's mouth before he could think about it and he flushed as Kaito's gaze met his. They were sitting now, face to face. "You don't have to go. I… I want you to stay." And he didn't mean just now or here, though he wasn't quite ready to admit that out loud yet.

"Are you sure about that?" the thief inquired, his tone teasing but his expression serious. "There won't be any turning back."

"I know." Blushing but determined, Shinichi slid his arms around the other's neck and pulled him down into a tentative kiss. The magician smiled, gently taking control of the kiss and deepening it. The cynical part of Shinichi's mind wondered what would happen in the future once Kaito had gotten what he wanted (while another, louder part argued that Kaito wasn't like that), but he didn't want to think about that right now. The thought sent a pang through him he didn't want to ponder too deeply until he had to.

For now all that mattered were the hands trailing fire across his skin and the burn of indigo eyes that made him shiver and want to melt all at once.

He felt a twinge of nervousness as a firm hand slid down to his hip, but it melted away in the face of desire and Kaito's steady, mesmerizing gaze.

X

Shinichi woke to the red glow of sunlight shining through his eyelids. Wrinkling his nose, he turned his face into his pillow to get away from it. His brows furrowed slightly at the unfamiliar signals he was getting from his surroundings.

He appeared to be curled up against a warm, solid something—that was breathing. He suffered a moment of shocked panic as his eyes flew open. Then he remembered where he was and what had happened (at which point he blushed and closed his eyes again). A quiet laugh that he felt more than heard made him look up again into a pair of amused, indigo eyes.

"For a moment there I thought maybe you were going to scream," the thief observed.

"Why would I do that?" Shinichi grumbled, a bit miffed by the suggestion. "I was the one who said you could stay." Although admittedly he hadn't been sure how literally or figuratively his request had been taken.

Indigo eyes grew concerned and a touch perplexed. "Why are you looking at me like that? You're not hurt, are you?"

Shinichi almost smiled at the thief's worried tone as he shook his head. "No. I just…wasn't sure if you'd stay."

Indigo eyes softened as a warm hand cupped the side of his face. "I'm not going anywhere. You can't get rid of me that easily."

Now he did smile. "I'm glad."

X

The following days were like a beautiful dream. But like all dreams, it had to come to an end.

They were having tea on the balcony attached to Kaito's room when a bird spiraled down from the empty sky and landed on the table beside the thief's cup. It cooed as it tilted its head up to look at him and stuck out its leg. That was when Shinichi noticed that there was a tiny roll of paper attached to said leg.

Kaito hummed as he gently detached the paper and offered the bird a grape from the bowl on the table. The bird accepted eagerly before taking off again. Shinichi watched it go before turning curious eyes to his companion.

"Don't you need it to send a reply?"

The thief flashed a grin at him as he unrolled the paper. "He'll come back if I call."

"Is it from a friend of yours?"

"Yep. It looks like this one's from Ginzo…" He trailed off as his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is something wrong?"

It took a few moments for Kaito to respond. When he did, it was with a faint sigh as he let the message snap back into a roll. "No, it's just a report. It seems my scouts have located three more likely stones for me."

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

Indigo eyes turned to the detective. Shinichi was looking away from him towards the gardens sprawled out beneath the balcony. Letting out a silent breath, Kaito flicked the rolled message up into the air where it burst into flames and was carried away by the wind in ashes. Then he reached across the table and wrapped his hands around Shinichi's where they were toying with his teacup. "I'll be back. I promise."

Shinichi held the thief's gaze for a long moment before he looked away. "You don't have to make promises."

"I don't make promises I don't intend to keep, Shinichi."

Most people didn't, Shinichi mused. The future, however, was a frighteningly unpredictable creature. But whatever happened, he had already decided not to regret the choices he'd made here.

He looked up and met Kaito's waiting gaze. "Just be careful. And good luck."

TBC

A.N: On another random note, the next chapter for Travelers is actually getting close to being done! Anyhow, see you next time!