Maboroshi
Ritual of Death
"-ito? Kaito!"
Kaito lifted his head from his hands and looked at Shinichi who stared at him with his hands on his hips. The detective's eyebrows furrowed and he knelt in front of the magician. "You've been acting strange since we came back. What happened?"
"I was daydreaming," Kaito said quietly and Shinichi's frown grew deeper.
"Normally, you're a really good liar but do you realize how unbelievable that sounded coming from your mouth?" Shinichi asked and Kaito just stared at the detective. Shinichi narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "why are you looking at me like that?"
Kaito pulled the detective in for a kiss and he decided that he wasn't going to wait anymore. He couldn't coerce Shinichi to bite him, the detective had to have the courage to do it himself and Kaito had no idea when that was going to happen. He wouldn't guilt-trip him, he wouldn't force him, he wouldn't say anything; but if he was going to die, he would taste the sweet nectar of Shinichi's body again.
He swiftly undid all the buttons on Shinichi's suit jacket and vest and pulled them off of Shinichi's shoulders without ever breaking their kiss. Shinichi pulled back for a moment but Kaito pulled him back in without so much as a breath. Kaito popped off all the buttons on Shinichi's white shirt and flipped their positions to push Shinichi onto the bed. He stared down at the detective who stared back at him with a face so indecent and arousing, it took all of the magician's self-control to keep himself composed. The detective's shirt exposed him and one of his nipples played peekaboo with him as the detective breathed.
Shinichi reached up and cupped Kaito's face with his hands, "why do you look so sad? Tell me what happened in that room."
Kaito leaned down and kissed his lover again. How could he tell him? Shinichi would only feel guilty and pressured and it would only push him further away. It wouldn't do him any good to tell. He loosened his tie and vest and unbuttoned Shinichi's pants right after. He kissed Shinichi's cheek and then kissed a line down to his neck and Shinichi tilted his head back and exposed his throat more. Kaito removed his own vest and tossed his tie beside them on the bed. He kissed down to the nipple that had since captured his attention and licked it seductively. He rubbed his thumb across the other one and relished in the tiny gasps his motion elicited from his beautiful mate. His beautiful mate that was not completely his.
Kaito switched nipples and nibbled a bit harder than he intended to. "Kaito," Shinichi gasped as he gripped the magician's shoulders. His thoughts wandered again as he kissed his way down Shinichi's stomach.
Kaito didn't say anything for a while, and then he stared at all of them with burning eyes, "so you'll kill me off, just like that."
"If we have to, My King. The well-being of the humans and vampires in this area is the Council's top priority. We advise that you do everything in your power to convince your mate to complete your mating ritual."
Kaito was gentle as he pulled Shinichi's pants from his legs. He pressed his lips to the tent he was met with and smirked up at Shinichi. Shinichi inhaled sharply as Kaito's tongue darted out and pressed again the fabric covering his dick. Kaito's incandescent eyes were intense and yet, Shinichi felt as though Kaito was staring right through him.
Kaito stood up, his eyes bright with fury, "I cannot believe this right now."
"My King, we did not want our first meeting to go this way either," Tokiwa replied, "but as the Vampire Council, we have a responsibility to you and to your people. Your people are the priority, as they should be for you."
"Because I'm easily replaceable? Is that right?"
Shinichi moaned as Kaito sunk his fangs into the flesh of his thigh and rubbed him through his boxer briefs. Kaito never took his eyes off of Shinichi's face, and Shinichi's eyes lit up at the smell of blood. Kaito sucked long and deep, savoring the taste of his mate's blood, and he felt calmer as it sated his hunger. He moved his hand and slid it up Shinichi's leg and into his boxers and wrapped his hand around his warm dick.
"K-Kaito, please, n-no more," Shinichi begged and Kaito came back to his senses for a moment. He released Shinichi's leg and his mouth came off with an audible pop. He sat back for a moment and assessed his work. Shinichi's whole body flushed delightfully, tears gathered in his illuminated eyes, his face was redder than his entire body, and it only served to make Kaito twitch in anticipation. He shivered as a wave of arousal ripped through his body and he removed his shirt and dress pants as well.
"No. No, My King. We want you to succeed, desperately, we want you to succeed. You are heir to the last royal vampire bloodline in existence. If you do not inherit your powers, if you die, the state of vampire affairs across the entire world will be thrown into chaos. There will be wars. Long, bloody wars for a long time until someone comes out on top. It will be a devastating era for the world. So please, My Lord, please, complete your mating ritual."
Kaito started back at Shinichi's thighs. He pulled Shinichi's briefs off slowly, and his dick popped up like a Jack-in-the-box. Slowly, he pulled them off of the detective's milky thighs and down his calves, and his fingers followed ghosting across the skin of his legs, and flung his underwear once they were of no use. Shinichi trembled under his touch and Kaito smirked at him as he pressed his lips to his right ankle. He bit him and released and allowed the blood to pool without healing the wound, moved up his leg a little, and then bit him again. He bit little holes in Shinichi although way up his leg and Shinichi gasped and moaned the whole way. Shinichi reached for his dick but Kaito pinned his hands and chuckled at Shinichi's pitiful whine that followed. He gave a little lick to Shinichi's painfully hard dick as he passed and Shinichi whimpered, which at the current moment, was music to Kaito's ears.
He bit into Shinichi's side near his hip and continued his biting pattern from his right hip, across his stomach and chest, to the left side of his neck. Shinichi rubbed against him wantonly and begged him openly. Shinichi's eyes were glassy and blown with lust, and shone brightly at the profound scent of blood that surrounded them. Shinichi released a cute sound as Kaito's breath brushed against his throat and the magician pierced the detective's neck and released his hands to prop himself up and stroke Shinichi's dick.
Shinichi's body trembled at every stroke and Kaito didn't stop drinking. He swallowed mouthful after mouthful, he wouldn't hesitate anymore.
"Kaito!" Shinichi cried out above him as he came violently into Kaito's hand. The magician smelled more blood and felt that Shinichi's claws had come out and scratched up his back.
He reached for the bottle of lube he had stashed under the mattress and coated his fingers until they were dripping with the slippery substance. He hooked Shinichi's leg on his shoulder and pressed his finger to his puckered hole. He rubbed gently until his finger slipped in and Shinichi gasped in discomfort.
"Relax, Shin-chan," Kaito whispered and he realized that Shinichi's little uncomfortable sound brought him out of his thoughts. He slipped in another finger and poured more lubricant. He stroked Shinichi again and appreciated the bloody mess he had made. All of Shinichi's wounds had healed but the blood remained smeared across the detective's body. His fingers squelched as he stretched his lover gently and it made him shiver in pleasure but he reminded himself again that his patience would pay off.
The greater the patience, the greater the reward.
"I don't have time for this," Kaito stood up.
"My Lord, please. Heed our warnings!"
"I must return to my mate," Kaito shook his head, "I don't have time to heed your threats of death to me."
"Kaito!" Chikage shouted after being silent the entire time. "We are trying to save your life and the lives of everyone around you!"
Kaito glowered at her and she stared back with bright ferocity. She gave him the same look she did when he was a child and he almost shrunk away but then he remembered who was the higher power. They stared for a while but then he looked away. She was still his mother.
Shinichi gasped and gripped the duvet again and Kaito added a third finger, to be sure. The magician pulled off his boxers and pulled Shinichi closer. He lathered his dick in lube and positioned himself.
"Just relax, Shin-chan," Kaito coaxed quietly as he pushed in slowly. Shinichi winced as the flair of his head pushed through and continued as slowly as he could. A mix between a moan and a whimper escaped Shinichi as he pushed in deeper and it took all of his willpower not to cum in his mate then and there. He took in a few deep breaths as he pushed all the way in and Shinichi bit his hand. The detective jumped at the taste of his own blood and Kaito took another breath as Shinichi tensed around him. "It's okay, Shin-chan. You bit yourself, relax."
The magician leaned over Shinichi who squeezed his eyes shut and Kaito pulled out a little and pushed back in and he blew out a breath at the tight heat that engulfed him. He clenched the duvet hard, as hard as he could, to keep himself from going at a pace that would cause him to come, although the slow and steady pace was not helping much at all. He moved tentatively until Shinichi's eyes popped open and a loud moan escaped him and he covered his face in embarrassment.
Kaito chuckled as he pulled Shinichi's hand from his face and held down his wrists, "don't hide your voice, Shin-chan. Don't hide anything from me." Kaito thrusted confidently and Shinichi shook under him. He tried not to go so deep but he felt so good and Shinichi moaned pitifully under him, he couldn't help it. Shinichi cried out as he came and Kaito worked him through it as he followed.
The room was filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and Kaito grinned at his lover who laid with his eyes closed. A violent shiver ran through him and Shinichi clenched his hands as his body echoed.
"Don't do that!" Shinichi burst out, and it was the reddest Kaito had ever seen his face. "Pull out, idiot! Don't twitch inside me!"
Kaito pulled out slowly and Shinichi's ass and thighs clenched around him. The detective sighed in relief and Kaito dropped on the bed beside him to take a breather.
Kaito stopped at the door for a moment and asked, "what of his child?"
"What?" Tokiwa questioned.
"Kazuhiro, what of his mate and child? You said he killed many people but what of his mate and child? If they died, the Kuroba line isn't pure."
"He was killed by his mate, Kuroba Anita. She was the granddaughter of the patriarch's brother. Your father's grandmother. She finally ended Kazuhiro's bloodbath and it destroyed her. After she gave birth, she ended her life by tearing her heart from her chest."
Kaito stared at the door for a moment more before he nodded and exited the room.
"Okay," Kaito huffed as he propped himself up.
"Hmm?" Shinichi barely moved and blinked a few times.
"Time to go again," Kaito leaned over his detective lover and Shinichi's eyes popped open.
"Wait, what?"
"Surely you didn't think I'd let you off the hook that easily, did you?" Kaito smiled charmingly as he shoved two fingers back into Shinichi's ass.
Chikage sighed as she sat her cup down. Silence ensued and after a few more minutes, she sighed again.
"You cannot stay mad at me forever, Kaito," Chikage said finally as she picked up her teacup again.
Kaito lifted his eyes dramatically to stare at her before he took another sip of his tea. He was reading a book on advanced chemistry and wondered what compound he would use for his next heist trick when they returned to the mainland. He didn't intend on speaking to his mother but she joined him as he had evening tea in the garden terrace.
"Kaito-"
"I can do anything I please, Mother," Kaito said as he turned the page, "I haven't done anything regrettable."
"I didn't-"
"You served me a death sentence!" Kaito slammed the book closed and Chikage jumped, "you sat there and you let them say that they would kill me tomorrow! You're supposed to be my mother! And yet, you went to them and you let them say that they would end my life over something that has only happened one time!"
Kaito resumed his place and opened his book again, "so yes, I can stay mad at you forever. I can because forever passes in the blink of an eye. I can because my forever ends tomorrow."
Chikage went silent again and the only sound was the occasional flip of paper from Kaito's book. The magician's mind was elsewhere as he thought about Shinichi who was unconscious in the bed after he completely ravished him throughout most of the day. Shinichi, who begged him not to bite anymore after the second time, who begged him to stop after the third time, and Shinichi who passed out in the middle of their fourth round, but did he stop? He couldn't. He wanted to release his anger and frustrations on his lover who was there and convenient. And he did. He did and he didn't regret it.
"You don't have faith in Shinichi-kun?" Chikage's voice ripped through his thoughts and he looked at her. "Have you explained the situation to him? You know he's a kind soul and if he knew for a second that his actions and inability to bite you would cause you harm, you know he would do anything in his power to overcome that fear."
"I have faith in my mate, just as you should have," Kaito said as he closed his book again and stood. "You betrayed me Mother, and it may take me a long time to forgive that. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do."
Chikage sighed and watched her son walk away. "Oh Toichi, how I wish you were here with me."
Shinichi woke up slowly as if he was being lifted from his dreams gently. His body felt good, relaxed, but his eyes were still heavy. He assessed himself as he laid bundled up underneath the blankets. He wiggled his fingers and toes and then shifted his whole body. He stretched underneath the blankets and squinted his eyes open. He listened for any movement and came to the conclusion that Kaito wasn't in the room. He sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes, he still felt exhausted. He patted himself down and blushed deeply as his movements caused some misplaced fluids to squish around inside and slide out of him. He darted out of the bed and into the bathroom.
He sat on the toilet for a while and wondered where Kaito had disappeared to. He tapped his foot and then realized that Kaito was gone. Kaito was gone and he wasn't a crying mess on the floor. He couldn't sense the magician's presence and it did nothing to him. He smiled wide and wanted to see Kaito just to tell him that he was fine not seeing him! He got up and turned on the shower, now he could go searching and not calling.
He showered quickly and made sure to thoroughly clean his butt and blushed as he had to stick his fingers inside to make sure.
When he finished, he stepped out of the shower and noticed a note taped to the mirror. He pulled it off and smiled at Kaito's hand-drawn Kid symbol. He flipped the card over and read the message.
Shin-chan, if you're reading this, I'm proud of you! It means you're not curled up in a ball on the bed having a mental breakdown. I'm sure you're wondering why that is and if you can find me, I'll tell you. Around the manor and the grounds, I've left seven clues on how to find me. You must find the clues in order or you will not succeed. Those who hold the clues will reveal a verbal clue as well, so don't go out of order. You are a great detective, I'm sure you will have no issues. This is your first clue and I've made it easy for you. You will find your second clue with someone you've met before. She often wears a collaboration of red and white.
See you tomorrow, Shin-chan.
Kaito
Shinichi frowned at the note and wondered if it had anything to do with why Kaito was acting so strangely. He never did get a chance to ask him.
Shinichi left the bathroom and noticed the clothes laid out for him on the bed. He dressed in silence and wondered what Kaito could possibly be up to. He left the room and followed the corridor down to the main hallway and he saw Mira pacing back and forth by the entrance to the corridor. Her frilly pink dress fluffed around her and Shinichi shook his head with a smile. A collaboration of red and white. Mira finally saw him coming and rushed to him.
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake now. Kuroba-sama asked me to wait here until you woke up to give you this," she handed him another card similar to the one he found in the bathroom, "it's been torture not doing anything. These heathens will destroy my hard work if they're not properly supervised. Please, excuse me."
"Ah wait, but aren't you-" he said as he looked up from the card but she was already gone, "supposed to give me a verbal clue...?"
He sighed and flipped the card over.
Congratulations Shin-chan, you solved the first clue. Mira gets so easily distracted and I'm going to assume she didn't give you your verbal clue. That's okay, I'll write it down only this time.
A moon as blue as your eyes, a moon as red as your blood
You will find your next clue with my favorite.
Shinichi frowned at the cryptic clue and thought back to their recent conversations. It had to be a person but who was it? He tapped his foot impatiently as his brain worked to remember what Kaito had said to him previously.
He snapped his fingers as he remembered and went to find someone to direct him to the kitchen.
"Oh my, you must be Shinichi-kyun!" Shinichi blinked in surprise. He was not expecting to be greeted by such a flamboyant muscle of a man. "You are as adorable as our precious king. He told me you were coming, and here you are! Come, you must try my latest dish!"
Shinichi was surprised as he was gently manhandled to a counter and sat in a chair. He had a spoon shoved in his mouth as the man he now assumed was Dante bounced around the kitchen, talking all the way.
"You know, when My King came to visit me earlier this afternoon I was so surprised he said he had another visitor coming to see me today. He told me all about you and how adorable you are. I just flew to the island this morning for my work here and I'm going to be here for a few days so tell me all the things you like, I can make anything. Come visit me every day, Shinichi-kyun, you are so cute-"
Shinichi couldn't help his smile as Dante pattered on and on about anything and he could see why Kaito liked him. And his food was really good.
"What are you making? It's really good." Shinichi interrupted the man's monologue and Dante puffed up like a proud swan, a very proud, muscular swan.
"Oh you are too much," the man blushed, "I thought I'd be traditional for lunch today and make saucy cold soba. I let you try some of my secret cold sauce, it's tangy isn't it?"
"I like that it is sweet and then savory after, it will be really good on noodles," Shinichi complimented and Dante preened.
"Oh, I want to keep you, you're making me blush."
"Well, I would love to stay, but I do have to be on my way. I promise to stop and eat some lunch later today."
"Oh, you better! And you come visit me again okay?" Dante handed him another card and he tapped his chin, "now I'm supposed to tell you something... oh! 'On the night they become one, the world ends and begins'. My King gave me something so cryptic to say. You have a good day now, Shinichi-kyun."
Shinichi nodded and left the kitchen before the burly man started another monologue. He wrote down the next verbal clue and glanced at his new card.
Time to go hunting! Your next clue is with the pest control guy.
"Shinichi-kyun! I forgot to give you these!" Dante barreled out of the kitchen and almost ran him over. He was given a small bag of dried sardines and Dante sighed, "thank goodness you didn't go far. I have to finish now, bye!"
Shinichi chuckled again and went on a trek to find a wandering cat.
It took him almost two hours but he finally lured the cat around with the smell of dried sardines. There was a notecard attached to the black cat's collar and a tiny microphone that repeated his verbal clue every few seconds.
Without one, the other cannot exist.
"Thank you, Lucifer," Shinichi scratched the cat's chin and the cat purred in delight. He had to distract the loving cat with the sardines because the cat wouldn't stop following him even without them. The notecard had instructed him to find Jii-chan for his next clue and he'd poked his head on the old man earlier in the evening during his search for Lucifer.
He remembered that the old man was working in a study but which one on which floor had escaped him. He sighed and began his next journey to find the old man.
He luckily found the old man in the study room on the first floor and the man was quite pleased to see him.
"Ah, Shinichi-sama, were you able to find the feline?"
"I was, thank you Jii-chan. You were right too, keeping the bag open probably helped me find him faster because he came right to me. I feel stupid for not thinking of it."
"Don't fret, I'm glad you were able to find him, that's all."
Silence took over and Shinichi tapped his shoe to the floor, "um, have you seen Kaito today?"
"Unfortunately, I haven't seen Bocchama since earlier this morning but he left me a note mentioning that if you found all your clues up to the point that you were to come to me for your next one, he strictly wanted you to stop for the night."
"Wait, so I won't see him? He's had me playing a complicated game of hide and seek into the night and now he wants me to stop?"
"Apparently there's some timing to this," Jii peeked at a notecard similar to the ones he'd been collecting since the start of the evening, "Bocchama will not be found by you until this coming sunset. He says any attempt to find clues of his whereabouts will be fruitless until mid-afternoon."
"This crazy magician. What am I supposed to do until then?"
"Eat dinner, take a long bath, and," Jii trailed off with a blush and coughed, "well, it seems this is your next clue card. I'll leave it in your hands."
Shinichi accepted the card from the old man and read it over and his blush went far deeper. Kaito had described in far too much detail what he could do to pass the time. He gave a little awkward cough as well and bowed, "Jii-chan, I'll leave now. Was there anything else?"
Jii hummed, "there was something Bocchama mentioned to me. He said, "the time ticks on, like the petals on a rose."
Shinichi wrote down his verbal clue and bowed again, "thank you, Jii-chan."
Jii watched the detective leave the room and the old man shook his head. He didn't agree with his master playing a silly game when his life was on the line but he was ordered to let Shinichi figure it out on his own. He wasn't to warn the detective of their combined impending doom but he couldn't take the trickster out of his master. It seemed to unfortunately be an inherited trait. He was in thought of Toichi as a young trickster as his son was now when Shinichi re-entered the room.
"Sorry Jii-chan, I don't know how to return to my room. This place is a maze." Shinichi scratched his head in embarrassment.
Jii smiled and stood, "come, I will show you the way."
"I'm a little embarrassed, my memory is usually better than this." Shinichi followed the old man out of the room and together they walked in relative silence.
"Jii-chan, do you have any idea what Kaito is planning?" Shinichi asked finally. "Not that I'm not enjoying this scavenger hunt he has me on, but he was acting very strange after the soirée and I haven't seen him since."
Jii felt bad to lie to the detective but he was given strict orders from Kaito, "I'm sorry, Shinichi-sama, I don't know what Bocchama has planned."
"You hesitated, are you lying to me, Jii-chan?" Shinichi tried to look at the man's face but over the years of being by the side of both Kaito and Toichi, he had also learned a good poker face.
"No, Shinichi-sama, I don't know what Bocchama has planned but if you follow his clues, I'm sure you'll find the answers you're looking for."
Shinichi hummed in interest but remained silent. Jii showed him to his room and bowed. "I don't want you to get lost trying to get to the dining room so I will send someone with your dinner. Have a good night, Shinichi-sama."
Shinichi nodded and watched the man walk off. He was obviously hiding something and he had to be doing it for Kaito. He just wondered what he was missing. His innocent ploy of being "lost" didn't yield him many answers from the old man which was a waste but he would be done exploring for now. He retreated inside the room and sat on the floor. He laid out the cards and opened his notebook.
Kaito was trying to send him a message but he couldn't tell him exactly what it was and that frustrated him.
"He had me see Mira first," Shinichi tapped his pen on the side of his head, "then Dante, then the cat, then Jii. He wanted to make sure I saw Jii to end the game for the night."
He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, "the sun comes up in a few hours, why stop now? Was finding the cat supposed to take longer?"
He groaned and looked in his notebook, "I need more clues than this Kaito!"
He went over all the verbal clues he received and scratched his head, "A moon as blue as your eyes, a moon as red as your blood, on the night they become one, the world ends and begins, without one the other cannot exist, the time ticks on like the petals on a rose... what are you trying to tell me?"
Shinichi sighed as he closed his notebook and laid back on the floor. He wondered what they talked about when Kaito's council pulled him in. A little bit he regretted not listening in or fighting to stay. Kaito wasn't himself since then and Shinichi knew it had something to do with whatever the conversation was. He remembered how Kaito ravished him endlessly the day before and he blushed again and sat up. He needed to figure out what Kaito was trying to tell him.
He perked up as he heard footsteps and then there was a knock at the door. "Kuroba-sama, I have brought dinner for you."
Shinichi opened the door and a young girl probably the same age as him with bright blue hair held a tray piled with different foods. "Kaito isn't here."
Shinichi paid attention to the girl's body language and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there. She moved her mouth silently and avoided looking at him. "I meant you as you are our king's mate. I meant no disrespect."
Shinichi watched her curiously and wondered if she disliked him for some reason. "My name is Shinichi. No need to call me Kuroba-sama. You can save that for Kaito if you wish."
Shinichi watched her roll her eyes and he tilted his head, he had never met this girl, he wondered what her deal was. "Okay, I got it. Here's your dinner."
She didn't bother anymore trying to hide her baseless disdain for him as she handed over the tray and Shinichi accepted it while still watching her.
"If there's nothing else," she bowed half-heartedly and walked away.
"Wait, what's your name?" Shinichi asked just to have the information for later and the girl clicked her tongue.
"I'm Riri." She replied without turning around, "have a nice night."
Shinichi hummed and went back into the room with the tray. He wondered what he did to receive such a response from the girl but he wasn't worried about that now. He sat back on the floor and silently praised Dante's cooking skills as he ate a few bites of every dish on the tray. Some of his favorites were on the tray so he wondered if Kaito told the flamboyant chef some of those things.
He picked up his drink and there was another card stuck to the bottom. He pulled the card off and couldn't help the smile at Kaito's handwriting.
Shin-chan,
I hope you had fun exploring today. I had preparations to do for the ceremony tonight so I'm sorry I couldn't give you a tour myself. There's still much to do so I won't be back today. I'm sure you'll have no problem finding me later today, after all, I stand on top here. I'll see you at sunset.
Kaito
Shinichi put the card down with the others and took a few sips of the juice. Kaito was a vampire king, of course he stood on top. The last one if he remembered correctly. He finished more of the tray and drank the rest of the juice. He laid back again and stared at the intricate designs on the ceiling as his thoughts ran rampant.
He was finally over the unbearable separation anxiety that ravaged him any time he was away from Kaito and he hadn't seen the magician since. Although he was over it, he still had a nagging urge in the back of his mind that really wanted to see Kaito as soon as possible.
He closed his eyes and sighed. He wanted daylight to come as soon as possible.
Shinichi awoke with a start. He sat up quickly and looked around the room, "Kaito?" He was tucked under the blankets in the bed which meant he was moved because he definitely fell asleep on the floor. He touched his cheek because he definitely felt a touch before he awoke.
The curtains were tightly closed and the floor had been cleared of his food tray and his cards and notebook and had been stacked neatly on the bedside table. He could faintly smell Kaito's familiar scent and he got out of the bed to check the bathroom and the hallway for any sign of the wayward magician.
He closed the door and went to the curtains. He winced as he peeked out the window. The sun was bright and high in the sky and he closed the curtain again. He rubbed his eyes and sat back on the bed. He touched his lips, Kaito had been there and he tucked him and probably kissed him too. He closed his eyes and his eyebrows furrowed. He missed the magician dearly. It was a willing feeling he didn't expect to feel toward Kaito and it pained him more than he expected.
He looked at his cards and noticed there was one that wasn't there before.
Shin-chan,
I missed you this morning, I'm sorry you haven't been able to see me. I can't wait to see you tonight. Please have an early breakfast with Jii-chan. I'm sure he will enjoy the company. He is expecting you in the dining hall.
Kaito
Shinichi rolled his eyes and tossed the card. He was annoyed at the magician at this point. What was so secretive that the magician couldn't even bother to see him while he was awake?
He wondered all kinds of scenarios as he got dressed. Did Kaito turn into a hideous monster since he last saw him? Did he grow a huge boil? Did he shrink? Maybe taking blood from him with Apoptoxin still in his bloodstream affected Kaito as well. Shinichi shook his head. He had seen so many supernatural things, he wouldn't be surprised by anything at this point.
He gathered his cards and notebook and left for the dining hall. Surprisingly, he ran into the old man he was looking for close to the hall which was a good thing because some of the halls looked nearly identical.
"Ah, Shinichi-sama, I was just heading to the dining hall to meet you for breakfast. Bocchama said you would be joining me this afternoon."
"Yes, that's right. You saw Kaito this morning?"
"I did. He was rather in a hurry, we barely had time to exchange pleasantries. You know how much of a busybody Bocchama is."
"Yes, he does seem to be rather busy now." Shinichi pursed his lips. "You know Jii-chan, you don't have to call me Shinichi-sama. It's not necessary."
"Nonsense," Jii replied and it didn't give Shinichi much room for argument. They continued to the dining hall in silence and there was a lone table set for three when they arrived.
"Is Kaito supposed to be joining us?" Shinichi asked as Jii ushered him to sit and pushed his chair in for him.
"I was not aware of it but perhaps Bocchama will surprise us," Jii replied as he sat. The old man rang a little bell and a butler came with two trays of food. There were multiple plates on each tray and each plate was laid out so beautifully.
Shinichi could admit that he was in love with Dante's cooking, it was the best food he'd ever had, but a sour taste filled his mouth every time he looked at Kaito's empty spot. Every time he heard footsteps, he looked, thinking, hoping it was his missing mate but it was always just another servant coming to retrieve an empty dish. He didn't want to let his disappointment show to Jii but eventually, his appetite left him and he pushed his food around his plate.
"Have you finished, Shinichi-sama?"
Shinichi jumped as Jii brought him out of his thoughts, "ah, yeah, yes. I think I'm finished."
He pushed his plate away gently and Jii stood and held out a hand to help him stand. He thanked the old man and Jii bowed his head, "thank you for dining with me this afternoon." He presented another card to the detective, "Bocchama wanted me to tell you this specific message, 'love must be made by the other half of two. This game of hide and seek shall end when the seeker does his due. If the deed is not done by the moon rise, the magic will die."
Shinichi nodded and wrote the words down in his notepad. He took the card from Jii and bowed and nodded. "Thank you Jii-chan."
"Shinichi-sama," Jii hesitated yet again and then he sighed and smiled, he would keep his word to Kaito, he wouldn't tell Shinichi the truth, "I hope you can end this game with Bocchama soon. Good luck."
"Of course," Shinichi smiled.
Shinichi left the dining hall and read the card he was given, "you will find your next clue with the one who brought your food."
Shinichi's thoughts immediately jumped back to the girl who brought his tray of food last night. A frown touched his face and he didn't really feel like interacting with her again but he needed that next clue.
"Shinichi-kun," Shinichi turned around and faced Chikage who smiled at him just a few feet away, "join me for tea?"
Shinichi calculated how much time he had before sunset, he assumed that was his deadline as Kaito continued to stress sunset in his clues. He smiled at Chikage and nodded, "okay." It was fine, he had time.
"How are you adjusting to your new life?" Chikage asked as she sipped her espresso. Shinichi opted for coffee over tea, so they sat in the garden with drinks made lovingly by Dante. They sat under an umbrella as the sun was still fairly high in the sky.
"It's been hard," Shinichi answered honestly, "all of this is different and new, but Kaito has been kind and patient."
Chikage smiled, "yes, he is the kindest gentleman, just as his father was. Sometimes, though, I believe his trickery gets in the way of what needs to be done sooner than later."
"What do you mean?" Shinichi inquired.
Chikage sighed and stared off at a butterfly pattering its wings around a bush, "Kaito has you doing a scavenger hunt right now?"
Shinichi nodded and Chikage sighed again, "Shinichi-kun, if Kaito hasn't told you, I feel as though you should know this as soon as possible. Your mate bond with Kaito has not been completed. He has rested his mark upon you, however, you have not done the same. Now, what that means is-"
"Kaito needs me to bite him."
"Yes, exactly," Chikage sat forward and Shinichi facepalmed.
"This game of hide and seek will end when the seeker does his due, that's what he's been telling me this entire time, why didn't I get it sooner?"
"Shinichi-kun, if you don't complete your side of the mating ritual before the blood moon rises tonight, something terrible will happen to him. His powers will consume him, his eyes will glow red, and he will kill everything that has a pulse. The council has agreed to end Kaito before that could happen so please, wherever you think he's hiding, find him quickly. There's not much time left."
Shinichi stood, "why didn't he tell me?"
Chikage smiled sadly, "because he loves you and he will do anything to protect you from the scary parts of this life."
Shinichi nodded and ran off to find Kaito, ignoring the burn of the sun on his skin. Chikage brought her cup back to her lips, she hoped Kaito could forgive her for ruining his little game. But she couldn't let either one of them be hurt.
Shinichi ran. He ran as fast as his legs could take him. He didn't know how to get there or when he would arrive but he would get to Kaito before the sunset, if it was the last thing he would do. The sun was insanely uncomfortable for him but it was lowering as the seconds passed. The road that lead away from the mansion only went so far up the tallest cliffside where he knew he would find Kaito. He huffed as he looked around, he wished he had his powered skateboard right now.
"Shinichi-sama," Shinichi smiled as Jii pulled up beside him in a car and he got in quickly.
"Have you determined where you will find Bocchama?" Jii asked as he pulled away.
"Yes, I think that Kaito is there, up on the tallest cliffside of the island. He left me a clue last night, "I stand on top here." I don't think he meant his position as king. He told me at the soirée that he was wanting to pull something big and where else to do that but on the tallest place on the island where everyone can see?"
Jii nodded and drove as fast as safely possible on the windy roads. Shinichi's foot tapped at a steady pace as he watched the scenery pass without really enjoying it.
"Shinichi-sama, are you quite alright?" Jii asked, and although his voice was calm, Shinichi could see how tight his hands were gripping the steering wheel from the corner of his eye.
"Why didn't he tell me, Jii-chan?" Shinichi asked in response and there was silence for a long while, so long that he opened his mouth to ask again but Jii finally sighed.
"Bocchama did want to tell you about it... but he thought that if he did, it would only succeed in pushing you further away from him. He didn't want to force you into something you didn't want again." Those words hit Shinichi hard and he looked away, "Bocchama thought that if he told you that his vampire council would murder him and end his reign on the night of his coronation because your bond is not complete, it would cause you guilt and strife, and he did not want you to resent him for it. He wants the choice to be yours and yours alone. That was the purpose of the game; he didn't want anyone to give you the answer, he knew you could figure it out on your own, but the Queen Mother was adamant that you find Bocchama before sunset."
"Why does his council want him dead?" Shinichi asked as his foot tapped again.
Jii explained the story of Kuroba Kazuhiro and Shinichi listened intently, still watching the scenery.
"So, they believe the same thing will happen to Kaito when the moon rises tonight?"
"Yes," Jii answered as the car pulled to a stop off the road, "please find Bocchama before his council does, Shinichi-sama."
Shinichi nodded as he got out of the car, "don't worry, Jii-chan, I'll find him."
Jii nodded and he watched Shinichi walk away and climb over some rocks before he disappeared from his sight.
"How was that," He sat alone for only a moment before the car door opened yet again, and he had another visitor in the car, "Bocchama?"
"You did well, Jii-chan," Kaito shuffled around a deck of playing cards, "it's not easy to fool that Great Detective."
Jii sighed and pulled the earpiece from his ear, "I was merely following your words, Bocchama."
Kaito nodded and poofed his cards away, "Shinichi has a kind heart and would do this for me without a second thought, but I know that I am not the only one that holds his heart and I know that tying himself only to me is something that will be considerably difficult for him. So, I will test the bounds of his loyalty to me."
Jii didn't say anything as Kaito got out of the car, "I'm thinking we'll be needing a ride home from the bottom, wait for us there."
"Of course, Bocchama," Jii nodded and watched his master disappear from his sight as well. He wasn't sure if he agreed with the magician's methods but he would go along with whatever his master wanted, he had sworn himself to it.
Shinichi peeked out from some brush as he came upon the cliff's edge. He winced as the sun beat down on him but the view of the expanse of the ocean was beautiful. He walked to the edge and peeked over and whistled at the height of the drop. It led directly into the water below just a few meters away from the beach.
He looked up as he heard rustling from the brush and turned around just as four men talking and laughing with each other appeared from behind the bushes. He tensed his body as they noticed him and smiled.
"Oh, look boys, we've got company."
"Yeah, I'm actually looking for someone, sorry, I'll just be on my way," the plateau wasn't super large and Shinichi had to pass them to get back down from the drop. They shifted the tiniest bit seemingly to let him pass but his arm was grabbed as he tried to pass them.
"Who are you looking for? Maybe we can help ya find them?" Shinichi yanked his arm away and took a few steps back. The way they looked at him, it didn't look like they intended to let him leave.
"Please let me pass, I don't want to hurt you," Shinichi said nervously. He didn't like his disadvantageous position and where the heck was Kaito? He thought for sure he'd find the magician up here.
"Hurt us? How will you hurt us?" The main one speaking approached him but he tried not to take a step back as to keep himself as far away from the edge as possible. He winced as his face was grabbed and the man grinned, "you've got a pretty face, I'm thinking of some other things we could do instead, right boys?"
Shinichi lashed out and his hand caught the man's cheek and immediately he regretted his decision the moment he smelled blood. The man let him go and he took a few steps back and covered his mouth as his throat burned. His eyes burned brightly and he swallowed painfully. The man he scratched wiped his face of the blood and Shinichi shivered as he looked back at him with burning grey eyes. His wound fully healed.
"Huh, so you've got claws, so what?" All four men approached him and Shinichi felt like he would've been better off if they had been human, there's no way he could get out unscathed with four of them. He cursed Kaito for drinking so much from him that night before, he wasn't feeling so bad before but the scent of blood activated a thirst in him he hadn't felt before. It was hard to focus on anything.
The man raised his hand to strike him back and his brought his arms over his head to block but the blow never came. He felt a gentle whoosh and then the scent of blood so strong, so familiar, it almost sent him to his knees. "Kaito..." he whispered out.
Kaito stood in the way and took the blow for him, and the man didn't hold back so the magician sustained three large gashes on his forearm. Kaito let the blood drip down and the moment the scent of his blood reached the men in front of them, they immediately dropped their bodies onto the ground into a bow.
"Attacking your king's mate, are we?" Kaito said slowly, his eyes burning with rage. He brought his arm up and licked away some of the blood. The men on the ground were paralyzed with fear, too terrified to speak. "Well?"
"W-w-we're so sorry, my king," the main man replied, his face pressed into the craggy ground, "we did not know he was your mate, m-my king, pl-please show mercy to us."
"Kaito—" Shinichi called quietly, his cerulean eyes brightly illuminated, "please."
Kaito seemed to notice him then, and he pulled him close with his bloodied arm, smearing blood on his neck and hair. It was overwhelming for his senses. He didn't hear what Kaito said next, his ears were ringing and his throat was on fire. He gasped but it did nothing but cause the burn to worsen. He gasped and pulled away from Kaito and everything from there moved in slow motion.
He took too many steps back and Kaito turned and reached for him but Shinichi miscalculated the distance of his position and the edge of the cliff and all he saw was Kaito's face as he slipped off the edge of the cliff. He tried to catch himself but the rock crumbled beneath his hand and he shouted as he dropped. Kaito scrambled to the edge to grab him, didn't make it, and their fingers brushed but he was too far already and the magician screamed his name as he fell toward the water.
"SHINICHI!"
Shinichi watched as he fell further away from the magician, but he was not expecting to see Kaito dive off the cliff toward him.
But then he hit the water.
And he felt the pain.
The pain of his bones crushing under the pressure of the water, of the air being forced from his lungs, the sting of his skin as it was met with the resistance of the water, and the fire in his throat as his own cry brought water down his throat. But he was alive, he knew, probably because he was a vampire, but the pain kept him from getting to the surface and despite him trying, he continued to sink deeper. He wondered if he would actually die if he didn't get any air.
The surface of the water seemed so far away as more air escaped from his lungs and he closed his eyes again, he wondered if Kaito would miss him if he drowned. His body wouldn't cooperate and he floated in suspension under the water. He let the sweet feel of unconsciousness begin to take him, it was probably better this way.
But then he felt a tug around his waist, and another and his eyes cracked open. Was he being dragged away by a fish? Did Kaito actually make it into the water unscathed? But then he broke the surface of the water and he coughed violently.
"Shin-chan, hey, can you hear me? Hey!" Shinichi's head spun but Kaito was in his face, trying to keep him focused. Shinichi could still smell the blood all around him, despite the powerful scent of seawater. He tried to push away from Kaito, but the magician held him firm.
"You came after me," Shinichi shivered.
"Of course, I will always come for you," Kaito gave him a charming grin but Shinichi couldn't focus and closed his eyes. "Hey, you're okay, we're okay."
Shinichi didn't feel okay and he tried to shake his head, but the motion of the waves was like a cradle that wanted to send him straight to sleep. He brought his head down on Kaito's shoulder, and tried not to inhale every time the water hit his nose or mouth. His body felt heavy, and he thought he would sink again if Kaito let him go. He just wanted to sleep.
Kaito situated Shinichi onto his back and started to swim them back to the beach, hoping, praying, that he would not run into any finny things. Luckily, he made it to the sand without any unfortunate run-ins and he praised himself for being a good swimmer.
Shinichi passed out on his back and he laid the detective on the sand as gently as he could. He ran a hand through his hair, sand and other residue leaving his strands as he did, and he stared down at his detective. Shinichi falling off the edge wasn't something he had planned, but it seems like it still worked out in his favor.
"Bocchama!" Jii met them quickly where they were at the water's edge, "are you two quite alright?"
"We are, I think. Shinichi hit the water pretty hard, his body is healing. I managed to enter the water pretty well, I've already healed."
"Just as well, Bocchama," Jii replied as he produced a towel.
Kaito lifted Shinichi back into his arms and jostled him a bit to shake off the extra sand, and then wrapped him in the towel. "I ordered those men to stay put on that cliff's edge, send someone to get them and remove them from the island."
"Allow them their reward?" Jii asked.
Kaito hummed as he stared down at Shinichi, sleeping peacefully in his arms, "Yes, they did well. Let them know I don't want to see their faces again, ever."
"Done, Bocchama," Jii replied as he opened the car door for his master.
The gentle scent of blood aroused Shinichi from sleep. His eyes popped open as the day's memories flooded back to him. He sat up quickly and his heart sank as the moonlight flooded into the room through the large balcony doors. He scrambled to get off of the bed and his breath came faster, was he too late? Did they already get to Kaito? He tried to calm down but his throat tightened and his nose burned. He didn't know if he could stand losing the magician. The memory of Kaito diving off the cliff for him stood vividly in his mind and he closed his eyes to stop the tears.
"Shin-chan."
Shinichi gasped and his eyes followed the voice to the open doors where Kaito stood in the threshold, his violet irises illuminated in the moonlight like a beacon. Shinichi's legs started before his mind registered, and he jumped into Kaito's arms and wrapped his arms around Kaito's back. He pressed his face into Kaito's neck and breathed in deeply. "You're here."
Kaito smiled and followed suit, holding Shinichi close, "I am."
Shinichi looked at him, his eyes brightly illuminated and filled with worry, "b-but your council, they—"
"Shh," Kaito pressed his finger to Shinichi's lips, shushing him gently, "it seems their theory was wrong thus far, but they aren't giving me much time. I've only got a little bit before they come searching for me. I wanted to see you."
Kaito ran his thumb across Shinichi's lips and the detective closed his eyes, "I can smell your blood, it's surrounding me."
"I didn't clean you up after what happened earlier, I think it's still in your hair and on your clothes." Kaito responded softly but Shinichi wasn't focused on his words. He could hear the pulsing of Kaito's blood through his veins, smell it under his skin. The burn he felt from earlier was back and his tongue poked out to moisten his lips.
"Shin-chan..."
Shinichi still felt a tremendous amount of fear, but Kaito held him close and he felt safe and secure, and then he exhaled and it felt like all of his insecurities left with that one breath. He let his mind relax, and he embraced the burn and the intense thirst he felt. Kaito promised he wouldn't be hurt by his fangs and Shinichi trusted the magician. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the skin of Kaito's neck, and Kaito's breath hitched as his tongue poked out again to lick a trail on his skin.
"Meitantei," Kaito breathed and squeezed him but Shinichi kept his eyes closed. He followed the motions he remembered Kaito doing when he fed from him. Something pulled in the back of his mind, guiding him with a feeling to what his next step was. He trailed his fingers up the back of Kaito's neck which elicited a shiver and ran them through the magician's hair. He opened his mouth and hesitated for a second, only a second, before he sunk his fangs into Kaito's neck.