Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.

Pairing: KaitoxShinichi

Heroes and Villains: Blue Moon Island

[Superpower Verse]

Part 12

Now that the ball was in Marna's court, the agents were left once again to their own devices. Which, since they were supposed to be on vacation, was probably for the best.

Still, Shinichi wished they had thought to ask the journalist whether she could get them a list of everyone who had been given a piece of the sunken ship treasure and where they might be found now.

"We can ask," Kaito mused. "But I'm not so sure we'll get answers. Not unless or until we have evidence that we need it to stop someone from kicking the bucket or something. Otherwise, it's the kind of information prospective thieves would love to get their hands on."

"So says the expert," Shinichi said dryly.

Kaito smirked. "Indeed. And wise people listen to experts."

With that in mind, they decided to resume their exploration of the island.

With the start of the island's Festival of Arts, all sorts of vendors had set up tables and stalls up and down numerous streets, each selling a variety of handmade trinkets and toys. Others were selling festival-themed foods that were all nearly as pretty to look at as they were tasty to eat.

Once again, the Blue Moon coral for which the island had first been known was starring at many of the stalls. One stall in particular was selling finely made bracelets woven out of polished coral beads of varying shades woven together to form intricate but delicate patterns that were mesmerizing both to the eye and to the touch.

"I make them as good luck charms," the young woman running the stall told the boys. "My best friend told me that there is a story about how Blue Moon coral got its strange color by absorbing the moonlight that filters down into the sea on quiet, full moon nights. And so, just like how the moonlit night is a time for dreams, the coral too has the power to bless your dreams."

"So it's supposed to keep away nightmares?" Shinichi asked.

The girl blinked. "Oh, well, I've actually always thought about it as a blessing of good luck for realizing your dreams—you know, the kinds of dreams you pursue. Not the kind that you get when you go to sleep at night. But I guess you could think about it as a charm for sleeping well too if you'd prefer."

Kaito chuckled. "I'm not sure that's how legends are supposed to be told."

It was the jeweler girl's turn to laugh. "Put it this way then. When I make these, I've always pictured that I'm weaving a blessing for whoever will end up wearing it. And I think of blessings as good health and good fortune, and that covers both types of dreams."

"Indeed it does," the magician said thoughtfully.

"We'll buy these," Shinichi said, selecting a dozen different beautifully braided bead bracelets.

Kaito raised an eyebrow in surprise. His detective wasn't typically very enthusiastic about good luck charms.

Shinichi paid for his purchase then noticed the look Kaito was giving him. He blushed and walked past the magician to resume their exploration of the impromptu market.

Kaito caught up to him a moment later. "Aren't you going to explain?"

"Explain what?" Shinichi asked airily. "They'll make good gifts."

"I saw you slip one on," Kaito pointed out. "Come on, spill. I'm dying of curiosity here."

Shinichi rolled his eyes but relented. "It's just nice," he said quietly. "When she said she tries to weave her well wishes for people into her work, she means it. I can feel it. She honestly wishes for everyone to be able to find their happiness. It's…encouraging."

"I see." Understanding glowed warm in indigo eyes, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of Kaito's lips. "That is indeed something to be celebrated. So," he continued, slipping easily back into his usual, cheerful demeanor. "Where to next?"

They swept through a range of gaming stalls, winning an eclectic collection of stuffed toys, ornaments and accessories.

Half of them featured ghost ships.

"This is getting a bit ridiculous," Kaito observed, holding up a ghost ship ornament woven out of wire. "I wonder what this would have been before the treasure was dredged up."

"That's actually a really good question," Shinichi mused. "Maybe a bit of coral reef?"

Kaito gave this some thought. "In that case, it's no surprise they latched onto the ship."

Shinichi laughed and agreed.

They ended their day with a chocolate sculpting workshop (at the end of which Kaito had only half the amount of chocolate sculpture that Shinichi did even though they had started with the same quantity of chocolate) then dinner back at toe Blue Moon Rose.

All in all, it had been a very pleasant day.

They watched the sunset from their balcony while enjoying tall, chilled glasses of freshly squeezed fruit juices. It was a glorious blaze of gold and orange across the sky and sea alike, and they basked in its breathtaking beauty as the cool, ocean breeze played across the glittering waters.

Feeling that he was still too awake to try to sleep, Shinichi decided to wind down with a book. He chose one of the mystery novels that he had procured from the local bookstore and was soon lost in the story. Kaito spent a few minutes longer out on the balcony, watching the waves lapping gently at the shore, before he too retreated inside. He picked up the book of island legends on a whim and settled into the bed next to his detective.

Shinichi shifted instinctively so that he was leaning comfortably against the taller man's shoulder.

The next half hour or so passed in a comfortable silence as they read their respective books. Shinichi was well and truly immersed in the depths of his mystery novel when Kaito made a startled noise in the back of his throat.

"Well this is certainly interesting," he said when Shinichi didn't immediately react. When there was still no response, he nudged Shinichi. "Shin-chan, you have to see this."

Shinichi finally tore his gaze from his novel to aim a pout at his partner before he caught himself, coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment, and straightened. "What is it?"

"It's a story called The House of True Feelings. It describes a fancy club full of wondrous music and food and magic that only couples can find—a couple in this case referring to any two people who acknowledge that they're an item. But inside the club, how a person truly feels about his or her significant other will be forced to the surface. If a couple is truly in love, they'll have a great time, passions kindled and hearts beating as one—or so the story says. Couples who are no longer in love or those who are hiding deep secrets from one another, however, will be made to confront those issues. Those who resolve their issues may continue on to enjoy the night. Those who can at least reach a mutual understanding will be allowed to part and leave, all memories of the other wiped clean or muted to a distant recollection. But anyone who is so overwhelmed as to raise a hand to the other will never be seen again, his or her soul doomed to be trapped forever within the house."

"That's…" Shinichi started then trailed off. He wanted to ask Kaito if he was joking, but one look into his partner's eyes told him that no, this was not a joke.

He slipped a souvenir bookmark he'd bought (carved of a dark, polished wood and inlaid with curls of coral in a pattern of frothing waves) into his novel and set it aside on the nightstand. Kaito silently passed the book of legends over. It was already open to the beginning of "The House of True Feelings". He waited patiently as Shinichi read through the story once then again just to be sure he'd really seen what he had seen. When he'd finished, he lifted his gaze to meet Kaito's.

"If this is the place we were at," he said slowly, "then it would explain Saori-san and why she didn't remember anything."

"As well as why she insisted that she was single," Kaito agreed.

They fell silent as they both mulled this over. Then Shinichi shook his head.

"I don't know what to think," he admitted. "This is just… I would say impossible, but obviously it's not because it all happened."

"Well, legends generally don't spring up for no reason," Kaito mused. "But if this is an old legend then it would predate the advent of superpowers. And it doesn't fit the usual scope of powers anyway."

"Is it the only one?" asked Shinichi.

Kaito frowned. "Only what?"

"The only story like that," the detective clarified. "Are there others?"

Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Let's look."

The two agents put their heads together and proceeded to comb through the rest of the book of legends.

"The Lady of Forgotten Wonders," Shinichi read, "is a mysterious, wandering witch who is drawn to those who seek the unknown, the intangible, and the priceless. She appears without warning and unsought like a mirage or a ghost. Her form is most often that of an elderly woman, but at other times she might appear as a bewitching young maiden. Whatever her guise, however, she will come shrouded in shadows and bearing treasures of great power, both beautiful and unsightly."

The chapter went on to describe how those treasures, whatever their appearance, were, each and every one, a key to incredible opportunities and promises. However, it also warned that any who wished to take hold of those promises would do well to heed the witch's warnings for all such treasures came with a price.

"That's her all right," Kaito observed. "The old lady with the disappearing vendor's stall."

Shinichi couldn't disagree.

A few chapters later, they found another familiar tale. This one was titled "The House of Little Fortunes" and described an unremarkable little restaurant that had been built on top of a crossroad of futures where possibilities abounded and were more easily grasped. Those who dined at the establishment could, the story claimed, have the chance to snag an unusual opportunity or a sudden change of fortunes. The chapter included half a dozen anecdotes. One told of a woman who was told by a waitress at the restaurant to go sing her favorite song at the end of the peer and ended up catching the attention of a visiting musical producer who had been taking a late night stroll. Another described an artist down on his luck who had seen an incredible vision after tasting a particularly sublime dish and gone on to produce spectacular piece after spectacular piece.

"This one's a little less obvious," Shinichi mused. "It doesn't actually mention fortune cookies, but other than that, it could definitely be talking about Koko's."

Kaito hummed in agreement. "Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

"About a lot of things," Shinichi agreed. "Like how many more of these might be out there."

Their gazes met over the open pages of Blue Moon Island Legends.

"Let's pick a few," Kaito declared. "Then we'll see if we can track them down tomorrow."

"What do we do if we can?" the detective wondered out loud.

The older agent shrugged. "That's a very good question. One, I am afraid, that we will have to answer when we get to it."

"It kind of sounds like you've already decided we're going to find out that they're all real," Shinichi noted.

The corner of Kaito's lips quirked into a wry grin. "Well, once or twice might be coincidence. But if we include the ghost ship story, that's four legends in this book that we've encountered for ourselves since setting foot on this island. By this point, coincidence just doesn't cut it."

-To Be Continued-