DCMK || KaiShin || DCMK || The White Collar Phantom Thief || DCMK || KaiShin || DCMK

Title: The White Collar Phantom Thief – The Secret of Pandora

Fandom: Detective Conan / Magic Kaito

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Gosho Aoyama for he created the awesomeness that is Kaitou KID. Ah, and Detective Conan, too. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: m/m, future fic, post-Conan Shinichi, secret reveals, slow-burn, hurt/comfort, canon-typical violence/death, canon-typical magic, canon-typical crossdressing, fake relationship, fluff, adoption, found family, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, f/f, m/f

Main Pairing: Kaito/Shinichi

Side Pairings: Sera/Ran, Saguru/Aoko, Heiji/Kazuha, Makoto/Sonoko, Takagi/Sato

DC/MK Characters:

Task Force: Kuroba Kaito | Kaitou KID | Tsukino Guinevere, Kudou Shinichi, Hakuba Saguru, Nakamori Aoko, Hattori Heiji, Sera Masumi, Koizumi Akako, Furuya Rei | Amuro Tooru | Bourbon, Akai Shuuichi, Takagi Wataru, Sato Miwato, Jii Konosuke

Others: Mouri Ran, Suzuki Sonoko, Kyogoku Makoto, Tooyama Kazuha, Suzuki Jirokichi, Nakamori Ginzo, Megure Juzo, Mouri Kogoro, Kuroba Chikage, Kudou Yuusaku, Kudou Yukiko

Detective Boys: Agasa Hiroshi, Haibara Ai, Yoshida Ayumi, Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko, Kojima Genta

Black Organization: Gunther von Goldberg II | Spider, Snake, Rose

Summary: Akako gives Kaito a prophecy: If KID is not captured by the demon of light, both of them would die and only if he gets captured will he be able to reach his goal. Kaito would rather go to jail than risk Shinichi's life

With Kaitou KID gone, Snake starts going after the jewels more actively and people get killed. It doesn't take Shinichi long to see a connection to KID – and that this is the last branch left of the BO he had taken down.

Shinichi forms a special task-force to end the BO for good. And for that, he needs Kaitou KID's help.

The White Collar Phantom Thief

The Secret of Pandora

Case 3: The Hydra's Heads

Saguru exchanged a curious look with Sera, who shrugged and put down the box she was carrying. They had finally found the right building for their agency. Even Hakuba and Hattori could agree on it. They put four desks into the main room, giving each their own space. The shelves and desks were already in and all that was missing were the details now – computers, whiteboards, case files the detectives had worked on in the past, for reference, books to fill their shelves. While Saguru and Sera had carried up boxes of case files, Shinichi was supposed to unpack their dishes in the kitchenette. Emphasis on 'supposed to', because instead, he sat on the kitchen-counter, holding a crumpled up newspaper, trying to straighten it out on his lap. One of the papers they had used to wrap the dishes for transportation, Saguru suspected.

"Kudou-kun. You can read the newspaper later," commented Saguru as he approached his friend.

Shinichi seemed to startle out of his thoughts, blinking big, blue eyes at Saguru. There were many things about Kuroba Kaito that he didn't understand, but he had to admit that Kuroba had good taste. Kudou was beautiful, brilliant and kind. One of the things Saguru didn't understand was why Kuroba had chosen to let himself be arrested by his crush though. As far as signs of love went, he found that one rather peculiar and ridiculous. And considering how incredibly angry and upset Shinichi had been since then, it had also not been an effective sign of affection.

"I'm sorry. I just..." Shinichi trailed off, eyebrows furrowed.

"Talk to us, Kudou," prompted Sera as she sat down on the small round table opposite the counter.

With a sigh did Shinichi hold the newspaper up to show it to the both of them. "I'm sure you've both seen the articles about robberies lately. And how they have been... increasing lately..."

Saguru took the paper from Shinichi and straightened it more to read through it. "Admittedly, I have not been keeping up with the news lately. After graduation, with us building this, with Aoko-chan... I've been distracted, one could say. Bring me up to speed?"

Aoko was so heartbroken. The arrest of Kaito, the reveal that her best friend was Kaitou KID, it had shattered her world. Even more so because the person she would usually lean on with something so big would be said best friend. Saguru did his best to support and comfort his girlfriend and he was genuinely so grateful for Sera, Mouri, Suzuki and Tooyama, because they had become close friends to her and were right now a good support system. Still, Saguru didn't think he could ever forgive Kaito for breaking Aoko's heart like this, if he'd ever see the thief again.

"Brutal robberies in the richest districts of Tokyo," replied Shinichi. "A series of home robberies, but... I've come to think they might be linked to a couple museum robberies too. I didn't think much of it at first, but the more it happened..."

"And you're interested because many of the owners have been killed?" guessed Sera.

"...No," admitted Shinichi, looking a bit flustered. "I'm... My instincts tell me that it has something to do with Kaitou KID, but I don't... know if I can trust my instincts..."

That caused Saguru to look up sharply, narrowing his eyes. "You don't trust your instincts?"

"Hattori and Ran have both pointed out that I've been..." Shinichi paused and licked his lips. "A bit obsessive about KID ever since the arrest. So I can't tell if there really is a connection, or if I read about thieves and just... think about Kaitou KID..."

He looked so embarrassed by this and Saguru wondered for a moment if Shinichi was even aware of how openly he displayed his feelings for Kaito. Or if he was even aware of his own feelings at all. Every time the topic of KID came up, Shinichi would act annoyed and deflect that it was all about the way the arrest had gone down. It was hard to tell if Shinichi was lying to his friends to save face, or if he was also lying to himself to save his own heart.

"Tell us what makes you think of KID and we tell you if it's just in your head," offered Sera.

"After the robberies started to become more frequent, I dug into when exactly they started and it was shortly after KID's arrest. Various things are stolen, but among the list of stolen goods is always one bigger piece of jewelry. The kind KID used to go after too," explained Shinichi. "I... It feels like they are picking up where KID left off, but... they do it ruthless and with no regard for human life. And that... confuses me, because that implies it's not KID's accomplice."

"I... don't think that's in your head," admitted Saguru slowly, putting the paper down.

"Based on...?" asked Sera curiously. "I mean, I'm not saying it's impossible, but it seems thin."

"The case... The case that brought me back to Japan," started Saguru and headed out.

After a second, Sera and Shinichi followed him. Saguru went to the box on his desk, looking for the file at hand. Once he found it, he went to the whiteboard, pinning a picture to it with a magnet.

"This man is Gunter von Goldberg the Second," continued Saguru. "Also known as Spider. An international assassin. He was sent to kill KID, that is how I first ran into Kaitou KID. I've been working relentlessly to try and nail him down."

"You say international assassin, I say what does that have to do with robberies?" asked Sera.

"Not him," Saguru shook his head and pinned a second picture, more blurry. "This man is known under the code-name Snake. I haven't figured out how exactly he is linked to Spider, but considering the shared theme in code-names and that I ran into both of them at KID heists, both trying to kill KID, I think they are part of the same organization. Unlike Spider, Snake was trying to get the gem from KID, tried to steal from the thief before trying to kill him. If there are now thefts of the kind of gems that KID used to be after, I think Snake and his organization are behind it."

The way Shinichi tensed up as he stared at Snake's photograph. Saguru watched him sharply.

"Is that all? Is that all you know?" asked Shinichi, voice strangely breathless.

"I'm afraid so," admitted Saguru. "I know more about Spider, but... he is an assassin, not a thief. I never obtained more about Snake and whatever else might be going on. Every time I approached Kuroba-kun about them, he deflected even more than usual. He told me to drop it, with the coldest and most serious expression I have ever seen on his face. Like he was... genuinely scared. For me."

Shinichi seemed to tense even more at that, his eyebrows furrowed. There was something mesmerizing about seeing the Heisei Holmes' brain at work. He got his phone out without another word and dialed a number. He crossed one arm over his chest, tapping against his other arm.

"Shuu, can you do me a favor and run an alias?" asked Shinichi in a soft voice. "Snake."

At the name, Sera perked up, blinking repeatedly. Before she could speak up did Shinichi already pocket his phone again. The look on his face was so serious. There was something he wasn't telling.

"What did you call my brother for?" asked Sera curiously. "Do you think this is... them?"

Correction. There was something Sera and Shinichi weren't telling him. Saguru narrowed his eyes.

Shinichi took a deep breath and sat down on top of his own desk. "The case... The one I took the past two years of my life to solve... The one I don't talk about... It's time I tell you about it."

/break\

"Inmate Kuroba," called the guard out as he unlocked the door. "You're in luck tonight."

"Oh? Why? Will I be released for good behavior?" asked Kaito with a chipper smile.

"No, but your wife's here," the guard grunted. "You got an hour for your conjugal visit."

For only a second did Kaito blink in surprise before he put his poker-face on. He was very sure that he wasn't married. So whoever this was and whatever this was, it could be interesting. With a playful smile on his lips did Kaito get up and follow the guard out and down the hall. They reached one of the rooms reserved for conjugal visits – not a place Kaito expected to find himself at.

"Miss, you will have one hour with your husband," informed the guard as he opened the door.

"Kai-cha—an!" chirped a sweet, female voice.

Kaito only had a moment to take in the sight. Long, long legs, elegant but with strong thighs that were half-hidden by a blue dress that reached mid-thigh. A black, elegant collar around her neck that was adored with little sparkly stones that laid out the shape of a dove. The face though, that was what got him. Those full, pink lips – shiny and a bit pinker thanks to lip-gloss – and then those eyes. Those beautiful, blue sapphires, the most beautiful gems he had ever seen. Kaito tore his own eyes away to keep looking. Long, brown hair, straight and falling toward his wife's hips, all neatly brushed and curling slightly inward at the tips. Well, that was definitely a surprise, or maybe Kaito was still asleep in his cell because this was similar to one of his recurring fantasies.

"Ah, my beautiful wifey!" exclaimed Kaito happily. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Have fun, Kuroba," grunted the guard, patting him on the back. "You're a lucky guy. What she lacks in the front, she definitely makes up for in the back. What a spectacular ass."

It took absolutely all of Kaito's self-control not to prank the man right here and now, or maybe even punch him in the face for being so lewd about his Great Detective. But then the guard left and the door closed. Leaving Kaito alone with his potentially-just-a-fantasy. As soon as the door closed, Shinichi dropped the cutesy girly act though and there was the sharp edge of his detective.

"You know, I'm really sad that I missed our wedding, tantei-kun," Kaito sighed softly. "I'm sure you were a beautiful bride. Where did we spend our honeymoon? Was it Paris?"

"Just shut up, stupid thief," whispered Shinichi annoyed after tapping his collar – ah, so the jewelry was not just for cover, it worked the same as his bow-tie used to. "I needed to talk to you. Without guards, videos or listening devices. This... is the best I could think of."

"I'm not complaining. At all," Kaito hummed, eyes running over Shinichi's body again. "You should wear dresses more often. Also heels. Your legs look spectacular in those heels."

"Pervert," muttered Shinichi beneath his breath. "Focus, sneak thief."

"Right. I'm being a bad husband, not listening to my beautiful wifey. What do you want, dear?"

One more dumb comment from him and Shinichi was going to kick him in the shin, potentially in the balls. Kaito was considering if it'd be worth it. It might be. Shinichi kept glaring at him.

"I need you to tell me everything you know about Snake. And I do mean everything."

"Snakes are pretty scary. Very slithery and scaly. Though not slimy, that's a misconception."

Kaito startled when he found himself pinned against the wall farthest from the door, Shinichi all up in his face, a bit taller than him thank to the heels he was wearing. Wide-eyed did he blink at his detective. Angry Shinichi was hot. This entire meeting was going to haunt Kaito for months.

"Snake. The man with the tasteless mustache, dressed all in black. Likes to shoot phantom thieves."

Of course did Kaito know who Shinichi was talking about, but that couldn't be. That wasn't allowed. All playfulness slipped off his face as he glared back at his detective just as fiercely. That was at least enough to startle Shinichi; the Heisei Holmes had never seen Kaito serious. Not like this.

"That doesn't concern you, so drop it," stated Kaito calmly.

"C'mon, sneak thief, you know me better than that," Shinichi recovered from his earlier shock and smirked. "I'm a detective. I put my nose where it doesn't belong."

"Not this time you don't," Kaito's voice was sharp, cutting. "Not with this, Shinichi."

The detective actually backed off some at that, looking surprised. It was the first time Kaito had ever called him by his real name, and by his first name at that. Shinichi furrowed his brows, but Kaito could see the resolve in those pretty but stubborn eyes.

"They're killing people," whispered Shinichi. "They're continuing where you left off. But they're not elegant about it, or kind. They're... Five people have died since you got arrested, KID."

"And... And that's awful," Kaito averted his eyes. "But not you. You can't get entangled with them. Please, tantei-kun. Haven't you learned anything from getting poisoned?"

"Yes. I've learned that sometimes you have to get involved, even at your own personal risk, because it can save the lives of innocent people," stated Shinichi, head held high. "You know me better than this, KID. I will get involved in this. Hakuba-kun already told me all he knows about it and I will keep digging into this, with your cooperation or without it. Without it, I'll just... fly more blind."

The next moment, it was Kaito who had Shinichi pinned against the wall, hitting the wall hard with his fist, a frustrated look on his face. Yet Shinichi appeared to stay calm, simply watching him.

"I got arrested to keep you safe from them, how dare you come in here, flaunting the fact that you want to willingly throw yourself into danger like that?" Kaito hissed. "I hate this about you."

"You don't understand," Shinichi's voice was a whisper, much more gentle than before. "I... I think that these men in black are related to my men in black. To the organization that I dedicated the past two years of my life to destroying. The people who shrank me. The people I thought... I thought I had taken down fully. I need to know. I need to know if there are still more left. Please, Kaito."

Damn it. Kaito swallowed hard at the way his name sounded on Shinichi's tongue like that.

"You'll do it regardless, won't you?" Kaito heaved a deep sigh. "Sit down. It's a long story and we only have fifty more minutes before the guard will be back."

/break\

"Did he give you any useful information at all?"

Rei pulled his sunglasses down as he looked out the car, watching him. Shinichi glared as he stomped around the car to sit in the passenger seat. Once again did Rei regard him slowly. What was it with everybody checking him out today?! The way his mom had cooed at him as she finished the disguise, how both Akai and Furuya had stared at him in surprise. Haibara had smirked at him like she knew something he didn't and it frustrated him.

"I think that Haibara is right," whispered Shinichi frustrated.

"I've never interacted with either of these men," noted Rei, as he had said already when Shinichi had brought the matter up with him yesterday. "But it's not... unrealistic."

The Black Organization isn't a snake. It's a Hydra. We cut off the main head, but it will only spew more heads afterward, was what Haibara had told him in a cold, detached voice. Shinichi hadn't wanted that. Even after Akai had given him what little intel he could about Snake.

"Wanna talk about it?" asked Rei as he started the car.

Maybe Shinichi should get a driver's license, then he wouldn't have to rely on others driving him around. Though he appreciated that Rei had come with him, in a sense as moral support. The blonde looked at him curiously, trying to get any kind of reaction from Shinichi.

"Can't," Shinichi shook his head. "Most of it was... very personal. The rest... I'd like to share... Well. With a group. It took a large group of different people to take down the main branch of the BO. I think it will take a large group of people to take this branch down too."

"Mh," Rei's eyes were sharp as he looked at Shinichi one more time before returning his focus on the road. "And who did you have in mind for this little group project, Shinichi?"

"You," started Shinichi. "Your cover wasn't blown when we took out the BO, since there were still stragglers even from the main branch and Bourbon could become useful to us again. I think... now is that time." Rei offered him a half-smirk at that and nodded. "Shuu – Akai-san." Rei's smile turned into an annoyed frown. "And definitely my team. Hattori, Hakuba-kun, Sera."

Sera had already been a great help in the final take-down, Hattori had been an asset for so long, though it took him longer to become a bigger part in the actual investigation of the Black Organization. And Hakuba seemed like a given, with his personal involvement with Spider and insight into KID heists. That was the skeleton crew for now, Shinichi had others in mind too.

/break\

"Megure-keibu," Shinichi offered his most polite smile as he approached the inspector.

"Ah, Kudou-kun? Are you here on a case?" Megure smiled as they shook hands.

The man had always had a soft spot for Shinichi. Something Shinichi had used often in the past. Today was going to be one of those. Shinichi's eyes wandered, finding who he was looking for.

"In a manner of speaking," Shinichi sat down opposite Megure. "For the sake of... transparency. I'm working on a big case. And I think I'd like to have police back-up. I'm forming a team and contacts with the precinct would be helpful. Not full-time, but..."

"You're forming a task-force?" Megure looked mildly amused, but he was taking him seriously, that much Shinichi could see in his eyes. "Who did you have in mind, Kudou-kun?"

"Takagi-keiji and Sato-keiji," stated Shinichi.

Takagi was the cop he had been closest to as Conan, the one to never belittle him and always include him. Also one of the few people Shinichi had told the truth to after turning back, because Takagi had, at various occasions, nearly figured him out already. Sometimes, he felt bad that he still hadn't told Ran, but then he knew it'd be only selfish to tell her for the sake of his own absolution.

"I'll talk to them and send them your way if they're interested," offered Megure.

Shinichi smiled, already knowing the answer they were going to give.

/break\

"You have a beautiful home, Shinichi-kun," Aoko looked around curiously.

Shinichi had invited Hakuba and Aoko over for dinner. Part of him was glad that Hattori and Tooyama had found a place about a month ago and had moved out, otherwise he'd have to listen to the Osakan's bitching. Hakuba offered him a bottle of wine and an inquisitive smile.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I've never invited you over before. It just never... came up."

And he actually meant it; he was just still so bad and awkward about friendships and how to approach them. Shinichi had never been too good at establishing friendships.

"I hear that congratulations are in order," offered Shinichi. "You passed the police academy."

"Ah! Yes. Thank you," Aoko flushed proudly, though then she seemed sad.

A year of intense training and her best friend had spent the majority of it behind bars, unable to celebrate her graduation with her. Impulsively did Shinichi reach out to take her hand, squeezing it briefly in reassurance. Then, he led Aoko and Hakuba over toward the table that was already set. He had asked Haibara to make curry and though she had glared at him, she did it, claiming that Ayumi wanted to make curry anyway and that they could make more.

"I'm sorry, but... is this a purely casual meeting, or did you have an agenda? It is kind of sudden."

Shinichi flushed as he turned toward Hakuba. "I... I admit, I did have an ulterior motif. I wanted to ask you both something important..."

The couple exchanged a curious look at that while Shinichi busied himself with serving the food. He didn't entirely know how to say what he wanted to say. It felt insensitive, in a strange way.

"I'm unsure how much Hakuba-kun has shared with you about this..." Shinichi trailed off for a moment. "There is a criminal organization that was... after Kaitou KID and I – we – suspect that they might be involved in the robberies your father is currently working. I know that now that you're an officer, you have asked to work under your father and... I plan on tacking down this criminal organization, which means we might step onto your father's feet. To avoid that, I want a liaison with his task-force. Transparency, sharing important intel. Would you be interested?"

"Oh?" Aoko blinked surprised. "Yes. That sounds like an interesting opportunity."

"I'm unsure how this relates to both of us, aside from Aoko's life decisions affecting me as her boyfriend," Saguru narrowed his eyes at Shinichi.

"I want to break Kaitou KID out of prison, because I think he'll be vital to this operation."


Author's note: I have come to realize that KaiShin needs a ShinAo friendship and actually I really like that! And this marks the last chapter with Kaito behind bars; next chapter Shinichi is going to break him out of prison ;D