Hi again guys, thanks for all the view, fav, follow and reviews so far. Hmm, nothing to say here, so, let's just go to the new chapter, shall we? :D
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Words count: 2,600
Rate: T
Warning: typo(s), grammar error(s), possibly OOC, alternate timeline, chara(s) death, possible BL/shonen-ai
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Disclaimer :
Detective Conan and Magic Kaito fully belong to Aoyama Gosho
This story belong to reiei
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Now, let the story begins…
o.O.O.o.o.O.O.o
Chapter 8
- 8th Day –
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Kaito stares at the gun muzzle that's pointed right in front of his face as his brain tries to found several ways to escape from Nachi's clutching grips while avoiding surely upcoming tin bullet.
From the corner of his eyes he can sees Shinichi's running to his side. He doesn't even know just where the energy that's required to do that comes from, seeing as the detective's tired and all beaten up.
" –KAITO!"
Shinichi shouts his name, hand unravels to try and push him out of the harm way, but unfortunately, he's still some steps apart from the ex-famous phantom thief.
Dor.
And sure enough, not even a second later and the gun fired loudly.
Red smeared. Screams ruptured. Nachi shook hard in fear as he pee himself out of shock disgracefully. But Kaito is still standing straight, even with smudge of blood that can be seen in his sleeve. The bullet only grazed his arm, it seems.
Meanwhile, the one who screams and groans painfully is Shibata. A bullet lodged in one of his legs, and the gun which he was pointing at Kaito before is laying uselessly near him. How? There's only one answer, sniper. Looks like the police have the place surrounded, apparently, as the next second the task force come bursting in. Shibata who's already powerless can be arrested easily, while Nachi had faint unconscious first.
"Finally," Shinichi grumbled lowly, but with a relief pictured clearly in his face. As he know that his fugitive has been arrested, his adrenalin receding, and his adrenalin-high body starts to felt tired and his injuries sore. His body sways backward, unable to keep standing straight. He can feel his conscious fading away, until it falls into the darkness.
Fortunately, Kaito who's aware of his host condition – or waiting for it to happen, apparently – catch him in time before his body can touch the ground.
"Shinichi! Oi, where's the ambulance?! Shinichi must be taken to the hospital immediately!"
Hearing his shouts, the paramedics hurriedly come and take Shinichi into one of the awaiting ambulances, while Nachi is being taken to the other ambulance. Kaito insists to join the detective in his ambulance, ignoring his bullet graze injury which is still bleeding out. Well, but of course the paramedics inside are not as ignorant as him. They clean and bandage Kaito's wound up after they're done checking Shinichi and give him first aid.
As the ambulance drove away in a fortunately quite deserted road, Kaito keeps praying that the detective that lays unconscious in front of him doesn't suffer any grave injuries.
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As Shinichi opens his eyes again, the porcelain white walls and IV tube that connected to one of his arm gave away easily that he is in hospital. He groans slightly, feeling sore all over his body. That's when he caught a sight of wild haired someone come in. Their eyes meet, and for a moment, the young man just stands frozen on the hallway, before he broke into a wide grin.
"Shinichi! You're awake?!"
"As you can see," Shinichi shrugs nonchalantly, which he regrets almost instantly as he groans when the pain attacks him.
Kaito winces as he sees that, "It'd be better for you not to move around for a while, Shin. You have two broken bones, a fracture, not to mention other bruises and stitches. Just what he has done to you to make you this beat up, huh?"
Apparently Shinichi ignores Kaito's yell as his mind is busy thinking of something entirely different, such as that warm and puffy cup of coffee in his bedside table. Its delicious aroma is enchanting his sense of smell since Kaito come in minutes before. And from then on his gaze is still on the paper cup he knows well must be where that heavenly smell comes from.
Kaito, felt ignored by Shinichi, follows the detective gaze and then lets out a sigh, "Really, is coffee more interesting than your body condition, Shin?"
Only after hearing that then Shinichi shift his gaze to the ex-thief, "How many days was I unconscious?"
"Two days. You made me worry, you know."
"That's means it's been 4 days since my last cup of coffee," he grumbles.
Kaito can't help but rolls his eyes at his host antics, "So that's what you were thinking about, eh…," he reluctantly pick the cup up and offer it to Shinichi, "No sugar, your favorite."
Shinichi raise an eyebrow as he eyed the cup of coffee in front of him suspiciously, "Since when do you drink coffee black? I thought you hated it."
"Since you're hospitalized," he grumbles, "So, do you want it or not? It's nearly check up time and I'm sure they won't allow you to drink it later."
Many questions swirls inside the detective's mind about that, but apparently, the coffee seems more important at the moment. He sips at the black substance slowly, careful not to burn his tongue, well…, black coffee really is the best.
"If something happen because of it, I won't take any responsibilities, you hear me?"
That sentences makes Kaito be rewarded with a death glare from the detective, but said ex-thief just laugh it off, so the detective decided to ignore him and continue sipping his coffee blissfully.
"By the way, don't you have work today, Kuroba?"
"Yesterday you called me Kaito and now you're back to Kuroba? Oh, c'mon Shin…," Kaito make a mock hurt face, "am I still a stranger to you?"
Now it's Shinichi's turn to snort in annoyance. "So, why are you here, Kaito? Have a day-off?" Shinichi asks again, with an intentional emphasis on the other young man's first name.
Kaito gives a wide and victorious grin, "I quit," he answer casually. But looks like Shinichi can't accept the news all casual.
"You what?"
"I quit, Shin," he repeats, "Kawahara-san already has 2 new employees, so I don't think my help is needed anymore. But he said I can do magic shows in his bar, if I wanted to. Kawahara-san really is a nice person."
"That doesn't answer my question," Shinichi stares hard at Kaito, as if wanted to unravel him. Well, what can he says? For Shinichi to take his reason just like that? No way. He's a detective after all, more over one of the best that he ever meets.
"Working in a bar just doesn't suit me, I think. I want to try looking for other job."
"Looking for? Did you quit before getting new job?" the detective stares at him in disbelieve.
"I–"
"Don't tell me you quit because of me?"
Kaito can only stares at him agape as the detective interrupted his sentences – before he put back his poker face, of course.
"Are you stupid, Kaito? That have nothing to do–"
"Of course it has everything to do with this! If only I realize that you didn't come home that night, you won't be this injured!" this time Shinichi can't get to finish his speech. Kaito stare at him full of guilt, as if all of this was his fault, and Shinichi doesn't like that face one bit.
"Bakaito–" Shinichi saw how Kaito winces hearing that nickname but decided to ignore it, "That wasn't your fault. It's all because of my own carelessness, and this is the risk of doing this job anyway. So, there's nothing to blame yourself over, stupid."
"…Then let's say that I do this for my own selfishness too. I do this to make me stop agonizing over my guilt over letting my cherished people get killed because of my stupidity and naivety. And I don't want that to happen ever again. I don't want to feel that loss and helpless again. I just don't want to make that same mistake twice, Shin…"
"Kaito…"
He lowered his head. Shinichi can see how his knuckles turn white as his grip tightened, how he trembled. And honestly, he knows that feelings. He'd felt like that before. And that's why he doesn't want anybody to ever feel like that anymore.
Shinichi is about to say something to break that awkward silence when somebody knock at his ward, indicating that a nurse and doctor is about to check up on him.
Kaito stand from where he was seated, gives them room to do their check up. His poker face back in place, no indication whatsoever about their little talks a few minutes ago. But Shinichi can still feel the gloomy aura surrounding them.
Shinichi, who is caught red handed with a cup of coffee in his hand, of course get yelled at by the doctor. Kaito smirks and mock him about it, before he gets yelled at too by the doctor for giving him the coffee in the first place. Then they do their usual share of arguing childishly, as if their talk before never happened, or so it seems like by other people.
After the doctor and nurse in charge of Shinichi, who had told them that it'll be at least 2 weeks before he's allowed home, left, Shinichi's supervisor and fellow officer come in. Kaito uses that chance to left, excuse himself, reasoned that they'll discuss about the case and it's inappropriate for a civilian like him to stay and listen. And of course Shinichi has no reason to make him stay there. Maybe that's the most effective way to dissolve their awkward atmosphere that is hanging around them.
"Shibata Hirofumi has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and attempt of murder. Meanwhile Nachi Takahiro is being hospitalized. Truthfully, what I'm more curious about is why your wound was more severe than him, Kudo-kun."
Shinichi just chuckles.
"His condition is not that serious, he's been discharged several days ago," Shiratori-san added, "Maybe what he should be worrying about is his career, seeing as his scandal is exposed. And Nachi-san's wife decided to adopt the boy, Makoto, as their child. Nachi-san is lucky that his wife didn't divorce him."
"She's a good wife," Shinichi mumbles in agreement.
They're talking about something else until their visiting hours is up and then Shinichi is left alone yet again in his ward. He'd finished his dinner – with not little effort, mind you, as his hands are still sore and he had to hold back the pain that come every time he moves his arms. He should be writing his report about the case, but Shiratori-san kindly lifted him of his task, and now, he just don't know what he can do to alleviate his boredom.
Seeing his cell phone in his bedside table, he unintentionally remembers when Kaito found him in the warehouse, how he told him that he forgot that he left his phone in silent mode. He frowns and tries to reach his phone.
"I'd better change it," Shinichi mumbles again, more to himself.
Shinichi is in the middle tweaking his phone when that thing suddenly rings. He has almost, almost, dropped said phone in shock but then he sees his phone screen and found 'Kaito' blinking in there.
"Moshi-moshi."
"Shin? I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Kaito said from the other line of the phone.
"No, it's fine. What's it, Kaito?"
"I plan to bring you some changes of clothes tomorrow, do you have any specific clothes you want me to bring for you? Or is there something else you need?"
Shinichi knit his eyebrows, thinking which shirt he prefers, until finally he only said 'whatever'. Kaito grumbles, he said that if that's answer he'd give then there's no need to mock thinking that long. Shinichi smirks, even though he knows that there's no way Kaito can see that.
"Ah, and tonight will be my debut as a magician," Kaito said happily. "I'll be in Fantasma tonight, but if you need something just give me a call, ok? I always bring my phone after all."
Shinichi just hums something in agreement. "And, what stage-name will you use? KID the Magician? Phantom Magician KID?" teases Shinichi. Kaito just gives him a laugh instead.
"Kuroba Kaito. I'll use my real name," he said with confidence and clearly proud tone.
"Hee," Shinichi smiles. "Maa, good luck then."
"Aa, sankyu~ See ya tomorrow then, Shin."
"Yea, you too, take care."
The next day, when Kaito visits Shinichi with a backpack full of Shinichi's clothes and a basket of apples, he boasts that the apples is what he'd bought with his first payment as a magician. And Shinichi nags at him because he's wasting his first paycheck to buy apples for him instead of saving it.
They spend the evening chatting, which was rare with their previous clashing work hour. Shinichi gets to know more – and proves correct some of his deduction – about Kaito.
And sometime the magician succeed trapping Shinichi in his tricks, making said detective growls and rewards him with his deadly glare, and making the nurse in watching shift shakes her head after reprimanding them not to make too much noises for the nth time.
And then that day, a week after Shinichi's been hospitalized, Kaito is proudly proclaiming that he has found a new job.
"Do you know that new coffee shop near Teito Bank? I'm accepted working there," he said with full blast smirk.
Shinichi gives him skeptical looks. "Do you even know how to brew coffee?"
"Of course not."
Shinichi sweatdrop.
"Hey, don't make that face on me! I'm working in supply section, Shin. But the manager told me I can learn how to brew from the barista," he added.
"Hee, is that so."
"Aa. Maybe I'll even make more delicious coffee than that favorite black coffee of yours."
"Hah, no way."
And the two of them continue bickering like a child. They don't bring up their earlier conversation about their past, as if they want to lock them up deep down in the darkest corner of their hearts.
In the the 8th day, there's another week to go before Shinichi can be discharged, leaving that overly familiar all white room with their distinct smell of disinfectant. It's been cloudy over these past few days, but today it's cloudier that before, as if it'll be only few minutes until the rain pours down.
But, as always, Kaito is visiting the hospital to check on his housemate condition before going to his workplace. He got the night-shift after all, which of course not as late as his previous.
An umbrella stashed neatly inside his bag, ready for upcoming downpour. But, well, he can never get ready to see Shinichi's ward is empty.
Not again, he thought.
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To Be Continued
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I know, I know, another cliffhanger, right? Haha. Bear it with me until Saturday please ^^
And if you find something incorrect or misplaced words, please do tell me, so I can correct it. Sometime it feels like I've read about that particular word before, but when I want to use it in my translation I just go blank somehow, that usually ended up with me forcefully use another word to describe it which most probably goes wrong in the end e.e