FORGET ME NOT part 2
Warning: slight angst, unusual story format, grammar errors here and there, female Shinichi, KaiAo sibling relationship.
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Chapter 4
"Have we met before?"
He knew that question will pop out sooner or later. He knew; and yet, it still felt like a dagger had ran through his chest. He couldn't keep his poker face in front of her. So he did what he should've done in the first place; run. Run like mad. Run like every common thief when being chased by the police.
Hakuba cursed before running after him out of the room to the hallway and yelled loudly, "Stop, KID!"
At Hakuba's voice, Kaito ran faster. He was sure Hakuba saw him lose his cool before running away and he would question it—like every nosy detective in the world. So after he took a turn, he pressed a button to activate some traps, in case the chemicals didn't get him.
Hakuba thought that the chemicals would only work in the room; that's why he was waiting to be out of the room before yelling, but he was wrong. The chemical KID released was on the air and the people in the previous room breathed it, including himself. As he had said, the chemical would only work for an hour and it would go away eventually and it was harmless. But when someone who breathed them in yelled loudly above 100 decibels, the chemicals would react and freeze the entire body for an hour until it was gone for their system.
So when his legs suddenly felt like jelly, Hakuba was horrified and suddenly knew the truth. "Shit," He cursed as he fell right on the trap. The trap squirted out pink custard-like liquid that smelled like bubble gum on him that crusted after a few seconds. Hakuba sighed. Why does this always happen to him?
He heard small feminine footsteps and concluded it was Shin'ichi, the female detective. "Kudou-san, he's went right through the emergency exit. He probably went to the roof. Get him before the gets away!"
Shin'ichi who initially gaped at the state Hakuba was in (paralyzed on the floor and covered with crusted pink bubble gum scented custard), just nodded and ran to the emergency exit. She was right behind him when Hakuba started falling. She guessed it was because of the chemicals KID mentioned because she didn't see anything that tripped him and he didn't seem to be able to move either after he fell—like the rest of the police back in the previous room. So that means, the chemicals was on the air and everyone who was in the room was affected, including Kaitou KID himself—which is why he was careful not to let out too much sound. That also mean she was also affected. But she also needed to call him out if she wanted to talk to him properly. She had to be careful to not let out her voice too loud.
In the emergency stairs, she heard a pair of strong footsteps. No doubt, it was KID! He sounded like three floors away. She had to hurry.
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Her body was protesting. She hadn't been running in like a month, so when she told her body to run faster, her legs became sluggish and she tripped. Fortunately, she was able to grab the stair railings. She heard the footsteps above her faltered and stopped completely as she wobbly stood on her two legs. Shin'ichi once again going up the stairs, but with slower pace than before. As she continued to climb up the stairs, she realized she didn't hear the footsteps again until she caught a glimpse of KID's silhouette.
Shin'ichi was left gasping for breath and was about to call him when she remembered the chemicals inside her, so she closed her lips. KID was staring at her and not moving.
"You shouldn't push yourself too hard." He said before running away, but she noticed that he was running away with much slower pace than before. If Shin'ichi had doubts about the thief and she hadn't met before, she now certainly was.
Fortunately, it was only a few more floors before they reached the rooftop. Shin'ichi, hadn't been exercising, was panting as she leaned her weight on her knees. As she caught her breath, she saw the white-clad thief with his back to her atop the railings, checking the diamond in the moonlight. The sight was so familiar that it brought some weight on her chest and she cursed herself for not remember.
"Please, may I talk to you?" Shin'ichi called softly, her tone pleading.
The thief moved slowly as he balanced himself easily on the railing and turned towards her. Like this, the thief in white with the moon on his back, he really looked ethereal; as if he was not of this world. She was afraid he would sprout wings and fly away before she could grasp any answers from him. More than that, the thought of losing the man in white scared her. Shin'ichi didn't understand—and she hated not knowing things.
"I know we've met before," Shin'ichi started as the man turned fully towards her. His expression shadowed by the moonlight. "If we hadn't, you wouldn't care so much about me, and I…" She trailed off as she grasped the fabric on her chest, as if it would stop the tightness inside her. "I… wouldn't feel like this. As if, I wanted to… reach out to you… But I don't know why! It frustrated me! Please, tell me, KID-san!"
The man in white stared at her without any expression that she could decipher, but she could see the tenseness of his shoulder. After a long second, he spoke softly, his voice carried by the wind, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway."
Shin'ichi lifted up her chin in defiance. "Try me!"
Then she saw the man smiled—not the sharp and haughty smirk she had seen earlier in the bottom floor, but a soft, genuine smile, that Shin'ichi hadn't dared say anything. The man chuckled softly and shook his head. "I should have known. With or without memories, you will always be the same Shin'ichi, aren't you?"
The corner of Shin'ichi's lips lifted up; so he did know her before! The thief walked on towards her in slow lazy steps of a large cat that had cornered its prey. Shin'ichi unconsciously stepped backwards until her back touched a wall. There was warmth on her face and chest, and her tummy fluttered funnily as if she had just swallowed a bird. She looked up to the thief in white who stared at her as he smiled almost fondly. He raised his hand to her face but he hesitated.
Suddenly there was a white rose in front of her eyes. Shin'ichi had just comprehended what she had just seen before the thief stuck the rose on her left ear. Her face felt warm again as she touched the white petals on her hair gently. The thief in white took her left hand and put his lips on her knuckles delicately; Shin'ichi felt her heart bursting and her blood rushed to her face.
The man in white smiled at her, "It's good to see you again, Shin-chan." Upon hearing that name, Shin'ichi felt the crack in her heart bursts. She didn't what it was, but she had cried before she knew it, because the thief stroked away the tears from her cheeks before giving it a light peck. "I've missed you too." He said before there were strong arms around her slender body and the scent of chocolate, fruits, and chemicals engulfed her.
Suddenly, everything felt right for Shin'ichi. It was as if she found a match for a jigsaw puzzle she had tried to find for so long. It was just clicked. It felt natural as she wound her arms around the thief's neck and she breathed, "Kaito…" She didn't know who that was, but she knew it was the man's name whose arms were around her, engulfing her in the safety of his loving arms.
Then everything rushed back like film rolls; randomly switching between screens and scenes.
She remembered meeting the unusual thief in white who randomly did magic tricks and announcing what, when, and where he was going to steal, but still got away anyway. She remembered his strong, loving arms around her and his mischievous smiles. She remembered the exact indigo shade of his eyes and remembered his scent of chocolates and chemical fruits whenever he held her. She remembered his harmless pranks, his obnoxious laugh, and his chocolate tasted kisses.
She saw Ran, her dad, and Sonoko from the perspective of a child again and remembered the kids she had befriended at the new elementary school. She remembered professor Agasa who spent his innovation on her and her mischievous parents' antics. There was the little scientist girl she had known as Haibara who always teases her and understands her—with whom she had shared the feeling of kindred spirits.
She remembered Hattori and what they've done together—being treated like an older sister by him, his ridiculous obnoxiousness, and his cluelessness about his obvious feelings towards his childhood friend.
And then there was another familiar woman that she doesn't remember the name. She was bleeding on the cement floor, her bloody hand clutching on to her too tiny hand. She had begged her not to let the crows get away. She remembered the feelings of helplessness as her hand fell away and she breathed her last breath.
And then she remembered the men in black with cold eyes of murderers. And she knew instantly that they were the crows. She felt the hot, searing pain of her bones melting, her heart bursting, literally. There were men and women clothed in black and eyes of murderers surrounding her. They were looking at her with cold mocking eyes and she remembered the feeling of cold fear. But then, there was also a blond woman with cunning blue eyes who always called her as, "Silver Bullet."
She then remembered what she had done together with the thief in white against the men in black. She remembered blotches of blood on her hands—unknown from whom it was from. Did the blood belong to the thief in white? Or the men in black? Or was it her own?
She remembered white—everything was white and she hated it. The ceiling was white, and the floor was white, and the walls were white, there was a strong scent of disinfectant everywhere, and there was a steady beep of a machine that she prayed not to stop. It was a hospital, she realized.
She remembered a red and white pill on her palm, and then she was in pain, pain, pain, PAIN!
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Chapter 5
Kaito felt her collapsed in his arms and he panicked, "Shin'ichi? Shin'ichi!"
As he cradled her in his arms, instinctively his fingers dove on the skin of her neck. He sighed in relief when he felt pulses, even though it was too fast for his liking. He checked the time and realized the police and Hakuba wouldn't be able to go anywhere for at least ten more minutes. But that also means putting his fragile detective open to harassment if he left her here. He had to take her home. At least at her home, there were her parents and the small scientist to look after her.
After putting the heist prize around her neck, he balanced himself on the railing beam with Shin'ichi cradled to his chest. He noticed that she weighed too light and it worried him. But at least there wouldn't be a problem if he flew all the way to Beika. Usually he wouldn't risk two people with his glider, but he was sure it would be fine with his Meitantei-chan's weight.
With that last thought, he spread his wings.
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She recognized the room as hers and the first person who she saw was Haibara. Shin'ichi groaned as she felt her head pounding. The smaller girl was busy on the table next to her bed and she didn't even glance over when she heard Shin'ichi groaned. "Kaitou KID brought you home." That was the first sentence of greeting Shin'ichi heard from her.
Shin'ichi croaked an affirmative sound before there was a glass of water in front of her nose. She accepted it mutely, but gratefully, and gulped it down carefully. Some droplets of water escaped her lips and she sighed gratefully as she put the glass on the table next to her.
"Open your mouth," Haibara ordered as she pulled out a flashlight. Shin'ichi obediently opened her mouth and the little girl shined the light inside her mouth for a few seconds until she was satisfied. Then she wordlessly grabbed her cheek and shined the light on her eyes for a few seconds. After that, she wordlessly grabbed her left arm and began counting her pulse as she stared at her wristwatch. When she was satisfied, the little girl grabbed a thermometer and stuck it in to Shin'ichi's mouth without warning. Shin'ichi pouted but obliged whatever the scientist wanted her to do.
After a while, the thermometer beeped and the little scientist pulled it out of her mouth and examined it without saying anything. It seemed she was satisfied with the numbers on it, whatever that was, because her face didn't change at all and she immediately put it away after sterilizing it.
"You don't have a fever, so that's good. Your pulse was a bit faster than normal but there was nothing else abnormal about your body. How are you feeling?" She asked as she wrote something on her clipboard.
Shin'ichi croaked then cleared her throats before speaking hoarsely, "My head kind of pounding right now." She answered.
Haibara hummed as she wrote again, "I haven't done blood test on you yet. Perhaps that's your blood pressure." After writing for a few more seconds, she asked again, "What else?"
Shin'ichi frowned as she recalled the last things she remembered. "I think…" She trailed off for a few moments before it clicked. "I think I remember."
She heard a clatter and realized that Haibara dropped her clipboard. "You—you do?" When Shin'ichi nodded hesitantly, she snatched her clipboard from the floor and began scratching furiously. "What did you do before remembering?" She asked—no, demanded.
"I, I attended KID's heist." Shin'ichi answered rather hesitantly.
Haibara paused in her writing then deadpanned at her, "I know that. I meant, what did he do to you?"
Shin'ichi felt her face warmed, "W-what does that supposed to mean? We-we didn't do anything!"
Haibara rolled her eyes, "Like I would believe that. Just tell me what he had done. If you remembered, then you would know that I was the first one you tell about your relationship with the thief."
The warmth was still on her face, so she looked away. Yes, she remembered that she was the one who told Haibara about their relationship—in fact, Haibara and the professor were the first ones who knew about her and Kaito. "Yes, I remember you teasing me like an idiot." She pouted.
Haibara smirked good-naturedly, "Then you can tell me everything. That doesn't mean I wouldn't tease you after this, though."
Shin'ichi glared playfully at her, "You devil." She muttered before narrating what had happened on the roof with Kaitou KID.
After it was done, Haibara frowned as she tapped her lips with her pen, as if she was facing a difficult question in the middle of a test. She had been silent throughout Shin'ichi's story and taking notes here and there, like a diligent student in the middle of a lecture. After a few more seconds contemplating, Haibara looked up from her papers and started, "When he held you," she asked slowly, as if she didn't know how to phrase her question correctly. "What did you do before you suddenly remember his name? I mean, to be exact, what did you feel?"
Shin'ichi frowned curiously before she contemplated her answer. She stared at the ceiling with confused stare, "I—I don't really know actually. If, if you asked me what I felt, it was just… clicked, you know."
"I get it. I mean what you were feeling before the feeling of 'click' you get, you understand what I mean?" Haibara poised her hands up to do the quote-unquote pose.
Shin'ichi thrown the smaller girl a more confused stare before her face pinked. "We-well, he was holding me, so… I guess, I felt his hands, his warmth, his scent…" She trailed off with pink face.
A clap brought Shin'ichi's attention to the petite girl by her side. Haibara looked like she had solved a puzzle. "So that's what it was!" She exclaimed as she started to write on the papers again furiously. "His scent must be a trigger to your memories, since censors in the nose are closest to the brain. Why do I forget this most important piece of knowledge?" She mumbled to herself with a disgusted tone.
"Um," Shin'ichi started. "Does this mean I can go and see him again?"
Haibara paused in thought as she stared at the piece of paper on the table, but Shin'ichi knew she wasn't thinking about what's on it. The small girl looked up to her with a guilty expression on her face. "I have to apologize to you, Kudo." She started as she put her pen on the table and wringed her fingers together. "I was the one who told Kaito not to come back. When I realized you didn't remember anything, I instantly thought that if you were to meet your boyfriend, you both would be extremely hurt. It was hard enough for you, who were hurt and having your immunity system down because of the poison. I don't want to add Kaito's heartbreak to your burden—it would be too much for you to take. That's why I told him not to come—I told him not to talk to you again for your sake."
Shin'ichi processed what Haibara just told her in silence.
"I'm sorry, Kudo. I know he holds you very dearly in his heart—which is why he somehow knows of your current condition even though I never said anything. He knows if you were to meet again, it would be too much for your psyche and your healing health. That's why he never contacted you. It was because of me, so don't blame him."
"I didn't blame you," Shin'ichi started. Haibara looked at her. "And I never blamed him either." She continued. "You both were strictly only thinking of what you think was best for me and I cannot blame you for thinking that. It was nobody's fault. Besides, I'm not really hurt—and I remembered everything now. It will be okay, Haibara."
"But I was the one who developed the poison and its antidote! If I weren't—"
"But you also told me about the risks and I am well aware of that," Shin'ichi cut her off. "I choose to take that antidote by my own free will, knowing the risks I was taking. If there was anyone to be blamed, it would be me." Shin'ichi continued when the small girl went silentl. Haibara bowed her head, her bangs covering her expression. "So stop blaming yourself, okay?" Shin'ichi rose slowly to her feet in front of the small girl on the office chair.
The detective put her hands on Haibara's small shoulders. "Nothing of these is your fault, so…" She could feel the small shoulders trembling beneath her palms as she pulled the small girl into her arms. "Stop blaming yourself, okay?"
That might be the second time she'd seen Haibara sobbed openly into her chest.
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Chapter 6
"You've been acting weird nowadays, Kaito." Aoko called him as he turned from the window.
"What? Me? Whatever you mean, Ahouko?" Kaito put on his poker face as he grinned his usual Chesire grin and flipped Aoko's skirt in a flash. "Oh, it's white today? How boring, Aoko." Aoko who hadn't predicted Kaito's fast move just froze. "Next time, wear the frilly blue ones—I like them." He requested with a mischievous grin.
"BAKAITO!" Aoko forgot her concern and quickly wield her mop as they both do their usual dance around the classroom; Aoko with her mop-fu and Kaito dodging her attacks in the speed of light. Nobody was fazed by this anymore and even the teachers learned to leave them alone. The only ones who were watching them suspiciously are Hakuba and the red-haired girl, Akako.
As the school bell signing the end of school hours rang, Kaito quickly seized his things and went out of the room normally before he was stopped by annoyed looking Aoko.
"I know it! You're acting weird, Bakaito!" She put her hands on her waist, trying to look menacing but instead looked rather cute.
But, even knowing the latter fact, Kaito only rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ahouko. Now come on, I want to go home already."
"You haven't been using the window as your door lately. And you didn't rush out when the school's over like usual. You even have been trying to avoid me at lunch lately! You've been eating lunch on the roof alone, haven't you?" Kaito just stared at his childhood friend coldly as she ranted heavily.
When she was finished, Kaito just sighed. "I'm sorry, Aoko, but it's something that I should face on my own." Aoko's expression almost failed his poker face. "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be okay." Kaito managed a small smile and he patted her head as he made his way around her and continued walking.
But Aoko stayed frozen like that even after she couldn't hear Kaito's footsteps anymore. She turned as she felt a warm hand on her shoulder to find a detective, "Hakuba-kun."
"It didn't work well, did it?" It was really a question as much as it was a statement.
Aoko shook her head sadly. "I wonder what's bothering him so much that he doesn't want to tell Aoko about it." She mused.
"Don't worry, Nakamori-san. If there's anything I know about Kuroba is that he's always keep his words." Hakuba consoled. Aoko looked up at him. "If he said he's going to be okay, he's going to be. After all, isn't there a saying that goes, 'idiots don't catch cold'?" He smirked lightly as he saw Aoko perked up again at his words. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but we can only trust him, Nakamori-san."
Aoko smiled up at Hakuba, "I know you always said that you don't like Kaito—but for you to know him so well, you two must be much closer than you said you do."
Hakuba blushed heavily as he sputtered, "No! Absolutely not!" Despite his denial, Aoko only giggled knowingly.
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"I have good news for you, Kuroba-kun."
Kaito felt an annoyed scowl dressed his face despite his efforts, "What do you want, Koizumi?"
"How rude. And after all the trouble I've gone through to tell you. Do you really not want to know?" The succubus-like-woman lilted.
Kaito sighed. He really doesn't want to get involved with the minx, but he knew if he denied, there would be no breaks from her. Besides, didn't she say that she had good news? Her words were usually correct, anyway. "I'm listening."
He could practically hear the smirk on her voice when she lilted, "Lucifer said that you will get your precious gem in your next heist."
"I've told you I'm not Kaitou KID," he denied out of habit.
"I don't particularly care what you said, but that's what Lucifer told me. You must've wanted to hold this jewel for some time, don't you?" She asked with seductive edge to her voice. "The poor jewel also has been waiting for you—even though unconsciously. How lucky of her—to not remember anything, she wouldn't mind if I stole you away from her, don't you think?" The tips of her fingers danced on his chest seductively, gripping his shoulder as she tiptoed to his height.
Any normal men would've jumped at this opportunity to be so close to her—they would've sputtered and worship the land she stepped on—but Kaito has never been normal. He gripped the hand dancing on his chest and bend down to her level. To any bystanders, it would seem like they're kissing when in reality, he only whispered some words to her ears, "I would mind."
Akako's brown eyes widened as he pulled away and stared down at her coldly. "Thank you for the information, Koizumi-san." He stepped back and bowed formally to her before he continued walking apathetically.
The plum-haired girl just sighed when she didn't hear his footsteps anymore. "It is intriguing on how humans always wanted what they couldn't get." She smiled bitterly. "And I am merely a human."
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Hakuba returned to the class after the heist still smelled like bubble-gum. Few classmates glanced at him in wondering expressions, but they simply assumed the worst in KID heist and say nothing. The first thing he wanted to do that morning in class is to confront Kuroba, but after seeing his forlorn expression as he stared out of the window, Hakuba was rendered speechless.
"He must've catch the jewel," A voice behind him almost made him jump.
"Koizumi-san," He greeted.
"Hakuba-kun," Akako nodded politely as she looked at him up and down. "I see KID was in merciful mood last night." Hakuba wanted to scoff, but that was un-gentlemanly in front of ladies. "In any other nights, you would've been covered by dye right now."
Now that was something he couldn't deny. But he was wondering about what she said before, "What do you mean about him caught the jewel? Well, it's true that we hadn't succeed in retrieving the Sapphire Minx, but—"
"The Sapphire Minx will be brought back, I'm sure." Akako cut him. "But that's not the jewel I'm talking about." She smiled gently—an expression that Hakuba think had never seen before. "Look how happy he has become."
Right after she said that, a puff of smoke suddenly engulfed the whole class and Hakuba heard Akako giggled. When the smoke faded, the whole class has been redecorated by pinks. The white walls became various shades of pinks and magentas, there were cupids on the ceiling, and heart balloons all over the place. Each table was decorated with red roses. While the students were still murmuring and admiring the new class decoration that was certainly done by a particular magician, the balloons suddenly popped and Hershey's kisses and rose petals spread everywhere around like confetti. Students cheered as they gathered the chocolates and roses.
He heard Aoko squealed in delight as she hugged Kaito as well as hit him on the head for being 'moron' and made her worried. "Bakaito! Don't scare me like that again, you hear me?!"
Kaito laughed—the voice sounded more genuine than what he heard lately—and handed her a Hershey's kiss. "Sorry about that, Aoko. But I'm okay, now."
Aoko scoffed as she snatched the small chocolate from his fingers. "Hmph, I forgive this once, Baka!"
Hakuba just sighed and shrugged as he once again heard Kaito laughed—that was the second laugh he had heard today. Well, at least if he's happy again, who is he to judge him?
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The next night, a phantom thief visited her—and Shin'ichi instantly felt calmness spreading in her entire being as she looked up from the Sign of Four that had worn out for being read too often. She smiled gently at the silhouette on her window, illuminated by the crescent moon. "I was wondering until when I should wait for you." She said softly.
The figure didn't answer, instead he stepped a foot on the padded floor of her room. His steps as soundless and graceful as a cat as he neared the foot of her bed. Had it been someone else, Shin'ichi would've been alerted at once and/or shot them with her tranquilizer watch. But it was this presence that she had been longing, waiting even.
The man in white knelt by her bed, took off his top hat, and took her left hand before kissing her knuckles gently. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, My Detective." He responded with a gentle, genuinely happy smile of his own.
Shin'ichi threw herself into his arms and out of the bed as the gentleman in white—whom now had a name—caught her and propped her body weight on to his. "I missed you so much, Kaito." She sobbed as she took in his scent. They both sprawled on the floor, with Kaito propped his back on the wall.
Kaito breathed in Shin'ichi's scent as he buried his nose into her hair. "And I you, Shin'ichi."
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Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait. This is the end of Forget Me Not. Shana-Fujioka has warned me about the similarities of this story with MinamiJSakuya's Don't Forget Me. I assure you, that I have no idea about that story and I just noticed the similarities when I read the first two chapters. I assure you that I have no intention on plagiarizing whatsoever and the similarities are just coincidence. I have finished reading MinamiJSakuya's story and I assure you that I have a different story plot, though I know you already noticed it if you make it here.
Special thank you for reviewers who gave feedbacks to me: Guest, Chibi-nikki, LLL, Detective Cat, DarkNemi, Assasin8, Eve Of The Stars, Anemonenfisch, allietheepic7, SilverSapphire34523, and Shana-Fujioka. Thank you for reviewing and I hope you guys get Hershey's kisses. I'm sorry if I seem to be cold or ignoring the reviews or the favorites and followers notifications, but trust me, I really appreciate everything you have done, even if you're just reading silently. Thank you, everyone :D
The idea about chemicals that could paralyze bodies by voice is entirely mine and I know that there is no substance on earth that could possibly do that, but let's pretend there is, okay? I am no scientist; I majored in accountancy. The idea about valentine decorations is also mine, since I am not creative enough to think of anything else, but the Hershey's kisses are not mine. I've read somewhere about it, where Kaito did heist in Valentine's and he showered Hershey's kisses to his fans; I forgot the title, but yeah, that's where I got the inspiration. Let's consider this chapter as my belated Valentine's gift to you, readers.
Wow, 40 favorites and 28 followers already? My notification is going to explode at this rate. Thank you for your support, guys. I know it still a small number than the others that I have seen, but I'm grateful for you guys for reading my stories. I still have no idea about Magic Mirror. Let's hope inspiration came to me. Thank you for reading and you're welcome to write your thoughts by clicking the review button below. Happy Valentine's day, people, and see you next chapter.