Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.
Pairing: KaitoxShinichi
Lure
Chapter 16 - Almost but Not Quite
A little peace and quiet was a welcome change, Shinichi thought as he sipped from his to-go cup of coffee. He was seated at a small table by himself in one of the resort's airy lounges. The high ceiling and massive windows gave the place a comfortable and bright atmosphere, and the sound of bubbling water coming from the many fountains decorating the place added a soothing, natural touch to it. Taking another sip from his coffee, he turned the page in the book he was reading.
After Kaito had left to meet up with the Nakamoris, Shinichi had decided to take a walk around the resort. Eventually, he had found his way here and settled in for some quality reading with his favorite drink for company. It was perfect, and he intended to take full advantage of this tranquility while it lasted. After all, he had to meet up with the Mouris for lunch. And that, he didn't have to be a detective to know, was going to be the exact opposite of peaceful.
He heaved a sigh at the thought. He was looking forward to the day when he could spend vacations like these with Kaito without having to worry about his boyfriend getting arrested.
He turned another page in his book, determined not to think too hard about the impending disaster until he had to. The novel was a new one he'd been itching to get his hands on for a while. It was just getting to the thick of the mystery when there was a startled exclamation from beside his table.
"Kudo-san?"
He knew that voice. Schooling his face into a look of surprise, he lifted his gaze from his book to find Hakuba Saguru standing by his table. The blond also had a to-go cup in one hand and a book in the other. He was staring at Shinichi with open shock.
"Hakuba-san?" Shinichi half greeted, half questioned. "What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," the blond detective replied.
"I'm here with Ran and her family," Shinichi explained. "Are you here for a case?"
"Ah, no, I too was invited here." And now the other detective's expression grew thoughtful. "Tell me, have you been approached by anyone unusual since you arrived?"
Shinichi blinked owlishly at him. "Uh, no? I've barely talked to anyone yet other than the Mouris. Though I did sign autographs for the resort owner…"
One blond eyebrow rose. "The owner?"
"It was for his kids," Shinichi clarified with a shrug. "He recognized me when we were checking in."
"I see. What about last night? Did you have any visitors?"
"Well that's a weird question. Who'd be visiting me at a resort of all places?"
Hakuba seemed to be considering something. Shinichi could see the moment he made his decision.
"Well, I am sure you remember that I have had a prime suspect for KID's civilian identity for quite some time."
"I remember," Shinichi agreed, swallowing the somewhat more sarcastic comments he wanted to make. The blond had not only told him about it, he had done so many, many times. He'd never quite understood Shinichi's complete lack of interest in uncovering the thief's identity outside of heists. Not that Shinichi blamed him for his lack of understanding. After all, law enforcement was meant to be a twenty four hour commitment. It was Shinichi's own problem that he hadn't been able to think of Kaitou KID as a real threat even before they'd started dating, not Hakuba's. The blond was just doing what he thought was right.
It didn't make him any less overbearing.
Unaware of Shinichi's thoughts, Hakuba continued, looking straight into Shinichi's blue eyes. "He's here."
Shinichi blinked. "Really? I guess it really is a small world."
"Indeed," the blond said dryly. "Shall I introduce you?"
Shinichi made a face. "I'm on vacation. If you're right and he's KID, an introduction is the last thing I need."
"I suppose you're right," the blond conceded. "However, considering KID's intentions towards you, he may seek you out whether you wish it or not."
Shinichi heaved an exasperated sigh. "Let me guess. You want me to notify you if anyone tries to get close to me."
"It is for your own protection, you realize," Hakuba replied. Then he paused, and the look he gave Shinichi became searching and just this side of suspicious. "Unless, of course, you would not mind if he were to seek you out."
Shinichi narrowed his eyes. "If you're going to accuse me of something, do have the decency to just say so."
"You misunderstand me."
Yeah, right, Shinichi thought.
"I do not wish to level any accusations as of the moment."
Oh, so he was considering it for the future then.
"I merely wonder why it is that you seem so at ease with this entire situation."
"I assume you're not just talking about being here at the resort?"
"Indeed. I would have thought that being the subject of such attentions from a criminal would warrant a little unease at the least from a well respected detective such as yourself. And yet you hardly seem bothered at all."
"Are you kidding? I've been ducking reporters left and right because of this whole debacle. Not to mention Nakamori-keibu's stunts—which you aren't exactly innocent of yourself, I might add."
Hakuba coughed lightly. "I do apologize for our…oversights on those occasions, but that is not the point. I find it odd that your ire is only directed at the inconveniences inspired by KID's—attentions and not the source."
"People can't choose how they feel," Shinichi pointed out after a moment's pause. "I mean, sure he might play pranks, but it's not like he's hurt me or anything. As I see it, as long as he's not causing any harm, there's no reason to get bent out of shape. I have enough stress in my life already without adding unnecessarily to it."
"And the reporters?"
Shinichi grimaced. "You have to ask? They wreak havoc on my schedule and ask ridiculously personal questions hoping to spread it around the media like it's everybody's business. You'd think they'd have more important things to report on—things that actually affect people, but no. They're a pain in the neck!"
Hakuba blinked then cracked a very small smile. "I suppose when you put it that way, there is a certain level of sense to it. Still, I would recommend you be cautious. Obsessions can easily grow to become dangerous things."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"See that you do."
Shinichi suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Of course the blond would have to get the last word. Still, he probably meant well.
"Did you want to sit?" he asked, nodding to the seat across from him before flipping to the next page of his book, indicating his intention to continue reading.
"Thank you, but I can't. I am meeting Aoko in the blue courtyard. I will see you later then. Have a good day."
"Good day to you too."
-0-
Lunchtime found Shinichi seated at a table with the three Mouris. He was relieved to find that the atmosphere had thawed somewhat from the previous night. Kogoro and Eri still weren't speaking directly to each other. Instead, they both focused their attention on their daughter, catching up on her recent experiences with university and discussing her plans for the future. As these topics were near and dear to both parents, conversation actually progressed. Though they couldn't seem to resist sending the occasional snide comment each other's way, especially when Ran revealed that she was considering following in her mother's footsteps and going into law. Eri's delight at the news was just as obvious as Kogoro's chagrin.
Shinichi was just happy to blend into the background and pretend he wasn't there. He was a little surprised to hear of Ran's plans, but then again, he supposed he'd never known what her interests were in regards to her future career. The realization made him feel a bit guilty. It seemed like pretty basic information for any friend to have, and here he'd never once thought about it until now. Maybe he really had lived most of his life too focused on mystery novels and solving crimes…
Anyhow, lunch, fortunately, went off without any obvious hitches. The problems started when Ran suggested going to the pool. Shinichi felt she really should have known better. You didn't have to be a detective to predict what happened next. But he supposed Ran had always been overly optimistic about her parents.
Kogoro was exclaiming over the pretty young women in their swimming suits like he tended to do at such times, completely oblivious to the icy aura radiating from his wife and daughter.
Shinichi buried his head deeper in his book and tried to pretend that he didn't know the man. While the older detective did have some good qualities hidden in there (very well hidden at that), the man could be really embarrassing. Shinichi was secretly searching for a way to slip away without being caught in the crossfire when the inevitable explosion happened. Due to his distraction, he didn't notice the party that had arrived on the other side of the sizeable pool—or, more specifically, at the open air café that was situated on the other side of the pool. A certain blond noticed him though.
As Aoko instructed her father to choose a healthier dish from the menu, Hakuba turned to Kaito. "Did you know that Kudo Shinichi is here at this resort as well?"
Kaito thought for a moment. "Oh, you mean that detective you accused me of kidnapping." He kept his expression apathetic. "He's here too? What, is there a case?"
"Would you like to ask him yourself? He's right over there."
Kaito looked in the indicated direction (because that was just what people did when other people made such comments). Indigo eyes widened. "Oh hey, that girl looks just like you, Aoko!"
Hakuba frowned. Not the reaction he'd been expecting. Of course he didn't think KID would give himself away so easily, but he'd expected at least a flicker of—of something when he'd seen the Detective of the East. Sure, Kudo was headed away from them and therefore had his back to them, but that cowlick was pretty distinctive.
"What?" Aoko turned as well. She stared. "Oh wow, it's like I have a twin!"
Nakamori elder grunted. "Oh great. That Mouri's here too?"
"You mean that's the Mouri Kogoro?" Aoko exclaimed, delighted. She'd heard her father mention the man on multiple occasions (well, grumble about the man anyway), but she'd never had the chance to actually meet him. So then was that girl his daughter? To think that the famous detective's daughter would look so much like her! How neat was that? "Hey, let's go say hello."
"But the food's going to get cold," Kaito complained, forking a mouthful of shrimp pasta (the only dish on this café's lunch menu with no fish in it) into his mouth. "You can say hi when we're done eating."
"But they might have left by then. You can stay here and eat if you want. I'll be right back." Aoko hopped off her seat then turned to look at her dad and her boyfriend. "Do you guys want to come?"
Hakuba stood as well. "It would be rude not to say hello."
"I'll pass," Nakamori Ginzo said, cutting a corner off his salmon steak.
Kaito was not at all surprised when, some half hour later, Aoko returned with a beaming smile on her face. He'd always had the feeling that she and the Mouri girl might get along. Everything was going exactly as he'd planned.
"We're all going to have dinner together," the inspector's daughter announced, excitement bright on her face. "There's a beautiful restaurant near the lake. It's called the Café Aquatica."
Kaito made a face. "Isn't that the café with the aquariums for walls?"
"Oh, well…yeah… But I checked, and they do offer non-fish dishes."
"If you think I'm going to go to an aquarium café just to meet some detectives, you're crazy," Kaito scoffed.
"But you might never get the chance to meet them again," the girl argued. "Come on, it'll be fun. Kudo-san's going to be there too. I'm sure they'll have lots of interesting stories to tell. You probably won't even notice the fish."
"…You got to be kidding. I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life."
"Well fine then! Don't go," Aoko huffed, losing her patience.
"I won't." Kaito agreed.
"Ugh, you're impossible!"
"Why thank you."
"Argh, that's not a compliment Bakaito!"
-0-
He couldn't join the group for dinner no matter how nice it would have been to dine with his Shin-chan. They couldn't rush things. Even a hint of over enthusiasm would instantly raise a certain blond detective's suspicions.
Even so, he hadn't been able to resist taking a peek. That peek was enough to make him very glad that he had not tagged along. When the brochure had said that the café had aquariums for walls, it had not been exaggerating. Just about every wall was filled with water and darting, glittering scaly shapes. There were extra walls just to make sure that every table had a good view of the décor. How anyone could actually enjoy their food surrounded by those disgusting creatures, he had no idea. It looked to him like a recipe for indigestion. But, well, better them than him.
Instead, he had a lovely dinner at one of the lounges. Well, the dinner part was pretty ordinary—a sandwich. But the cake he had ordered for dessert had been absolutely divine. He'd treated himself to a second helping and ordered another two servings to-go. He could share them with his lovely detective later.
After he'd left, the waitress who'd served him giggled as she told her friend how she had never seen anyone get so much pleasure out of eating a cake. And such a charming young man he had been too. She really hoped she would see him again. Next time, she would remember to ask him for his name.
-0-
"Shin-chan, rise and shine~!"
"G'way," Shinichi groaned and tried to burrow into his pillow, but Kaito wasn't having any of that. He dug the detective out from under the fluffy fortress of pillows and blankets he was sleepily trying to build.
"What's wrong with you?" Shinichi grumbled through a yawn. Blinking open bleary blue eyes, he glared reproachfully at the magician, noticing that Kaito was fully dressed. He even had a jacket on. And now that he was slightly more awake, Shinichi found that he himself was now similarly attired.
"Come on." Grabbing his hand, Kaito pulled him up off the bed and towards the window, completely ignoring Shinichi's protests. In moments, he had the window open and was ushering Shinichi out of it. Soon, they were both outside.
"Kai, it's still dark," the detective half whined, half scolded as the magician pulled himself up onto the roof over their heads then reached down to pull Shinichi up too.
"You'll thank me later."
Shinichi didn't even bother to try holding back his snort of disbelief. The only thing he could imagine being thankful for right now would be being allowed to go back to sleep. Instead he was being forced to climb up onto the roof and sit there in the cold.
The dinner with the Mouris, Nakamoris, and Hakuba had run rather late. It had been surprisingly pleasant with the two families—mainly the two daughters—cheerfully getting to know each other. The presence of the Nakamoris had kept the elder Mouris from getting into another spat. Shinichi himself had actually had quite a nice conversation with Hakuba about some of the more recently published mystery novels as the blond had decided to give the whole KID topic a rest for the day. All in all, it had been a much better experience than Shinichi had dared hope for. That didn't stop him from being dead tired when he finally got to go back to his rooms.
And it was particularly unfair of Kaito to be dragging him out so early when the magician himself had already been sleeping when Shinichi got back, he thought grumpily.
"Stop sulking and look up," Kaito chided, scooting closer to Shinichi and wrapping an arm around the smaller boy's waist. "Come on. You're here already. Don't waste the opportunity."
Shinichi heaved a longsuffering sigh but looked up.
His breath caught in his throat.
They could see the moon hanging bright in the starry night sky. Not only that, but from their vantage point, they could also see its reflection shining in the still waters of the lake. It was a rather enchanting sight. It was the only word he could think of to describe it.
And then the sun was rising.
It spread golden wings across the horizon and made the lake glow like it was on fire. The whole thing didn't last long, but it was a moment Shinichi knew he would remember for the rest of his life.
"See? Wasn't that view worth a little lost sleep?"
Shinichi glanced up at the magician's expectant grin then ducked his head, blushing faintly. "Okay, fine. It was amazing. Happy now?"
Kaito just laughed and pulled him closer. The view over the lake was just as beautiful in this soft, early morning tranquility as it had been in the moonlit stillness of the night. He was in no hurry to get back inside and leave this moment behind. And Shinichi wasn't making any move to leave either. Instead they remained sitting there together, looking out over the glistening waters and listening to the world beginning to wake.
Kaito wondered what it would be like to make love to Shinichi up here, surrounded by that breathtaking view with that magical ambience. He was sure it would be an experience of a lifetime. But he was equally sure that if he tried anything, he'd find himself kicked off the roof. Maybe another time when he was able to prepare everything to ensure Shinichi's—cooperation.
He smirked.
"So shall we get back inside?" he asked, burying his nose in Shinichi's soft, black hair.
"Let's wait a few more minutes," the detective murmured back.
-TBC-