Rated: T
Ships: Kaishin (Kuroba Kaito/Kudou Shinichi)
Word Count: ~13k
A/N: Written for the @kaishinbigbang! I'll reblog the art when my artist posts it, but this was a lot of fun to do. It's identity porn >:3
KID lifts the jewel, and feels his breath catch.
It’s a small gem, not one he would usually even pick up. But the history behind it is… Unusual. The stories are scattered; for every two owners who supposedly lose half their memories, there are eight more who are perfectly fine. The peculiarity of it was enough for Kaito to look into it and it’s only sheer luck which had it in Japan, pendant attached to a matching black gold chain. It’s beautiful in its own way, the setting making the dark purple gem look nearly black, only popping when worn with the right clothing.
In the light of the moon, a second, smaller gem shines red in the midst of what is revealed to be a deep indigo, rather than a dark purple.
KID feels a jolt in his chest, like his heart stopping and resetting. A clench in his stomach. It’s the feeling of flying and falling all at once, of being flayed apart and remade.
Pandora.
A large part of him thought he’d never see it.
“Is it the right one?”
“It is,” KID says with a smile, staring another moment before he dances it between his fingers. Turning to his favourite detective, he tucks gem and all in a hidden pocket. He’ll reset the pendant with a new gem, he thinks, to replace what he’s stolen. It won’t be the exact same, but they’ll be the only people to have a piece of jewelry made by Kaitou KID. He thinks it might be an acceptable trade.
“So I assume you won’t be handing this one over,” Shinichi says, eyes lingering on the place it’s now tucked before raising to meet KID’s.
“Unfortunately not, dear detective. This one is fated to go home with me.”
Shinichi nods, leaning back against the building with his arms crossed. In opposition to him, KID stands with his hands tucked loosely in his pockets, posture open. A thief and a detective, a magician and a critic. Most criminals would probably know better than to be so open.
“And what will you do now?” Shinichi asks.
KID hums. What will he do, now his quest is over? He feels like he has an answer. It lies on the tip of his tongue, things to do now he can set aside the hat and monocle. What comes out is: “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Shinichi repeats with a small frown.
“I don’t,” KID repeats, chirp even, bouncing on his toes. It feels odd and exhilarating at the same time. No rules, no missions, no expectations. “Isn’t that beautiful? This magpie is finally free.”
“I… suppose so,” Shinichi agrees, hesitant. KID has always been so goal-oriented, it’s odd to see him untethered in this way. But Shinichi understands. He was the same way when he took the antidote, and it stuck. At first, it was like he was always anxious, waiting to become Conan again. And then days passed, and he stayed Shinichi, and he just… didn’t know what to do anymore. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
KID smiles, and it’s the soft, private one Shinichi knows is only for him. He bows, one hand over his heart. “Always, Meitantei.”
“How was the heist last night?” Kaito asks, ducking in through Aoko’s bedroom window as she dresses for the day. He expects the normal yelling, the ranting about KID, but he sees her pause right in the middle of the large breath she takes. Instead, she looks at him, mouth open and shirt against her bra.
“Shouldn’t Kaito already know…?” She asks slowly.
Kaito blinks. He guesses he should, since he is KID-sama’s number one fan, but he… doesn’t remember. Doesn’t remember anything after finishing homework, only knows he feels excited when he thinks about last night. Like something really really good happened. But he just can’t remember. “Of course, KID-sama ran circles around his taskforce,” Kaito says with more pep than he feels, doing his own circle in Aoko’s room. When she doesn’t give a response, he twists to boop her in the nose, then tugs at her bra to displace the breast forms. It makes her squawk, and he laughs as he hurries out of her room, Aoko shoving on her shirt and shifting them back to follow him down the stairs. Except he skips the stairs all together, leaping over the banister.
“Kaito!” Aoko yells behind him, no doubt jumping down the stairs two at a time from the sound of her feet hitting them. He slides into the kitchen with a cackle, ducking behind the island. Nakamori barely glancing up.
“Getting an early start on annoying your sister?” He asks, and Kaito glances over the counter to see Nakamori taking a drink from a mug Aoko and he got him years back. It’s disgustingly colourful, like it was taken into a paintball fight. Or– as it was– given to two nine year olds with too much energy and paint.
“Always,” Kaito chirps with a grin, ducking easily when a towel is thrown at him. Aoko doesn’t ask him about the heist again, talking to their dad about it instead. Kaito eats as he listens, feeling proud of one of his favourite magicians, even if KID-sama has nothing on his dad. It’s not until he’s washing dishes that he wonders when he got into Kaitou KID. He doesn’t remember being so impressed before. He frowns, but then Aoko is throwing a lunchbag at him– his distraction, and only his distraction, lets her hit him nearly square in the face with it– and he forgets.
“I’m surprised you’re not reading the paper today. Is it because Nakamori-keibu nearly had you last night?” Hakuba says before class, walking over to his desk. Kaito looks up, face flat at the smugness in Hakuba’s voice. Geeze, Aoko’s friends are annoying. She’s lucky he loves her.
“What are you talking about? I wasn’t anywhere near the heist last night. Otousan doesn’t let civilians help in investigations,” Kaito says with a scoff. The only thing that’d make Nakamori accept help from someone who isn’t one of his taskforce members is if someone forced him to. Besides, Hakuba makes it sound like he was the one being chased, which is just silly. He gets in a lot of trouble, but Kaito wouldn’t do something as stupid as becoming a jewel thief.
“Of course you weren’t,” Hakuba says, crossing his arms, indulging. Kaito squints at him, feeling oddly confused.
“Yeah, I wasn’t,” Kaito says slowly. “I was doing homework. Ask Aoko, I was probably doing it with her.”
For some reason, Hakuba blinks at that, before his brows furrow. He pulls back, looking at Aoko. Then he looks further back, to where Akako is walking up, and whatever is on Hakuba’s face, Kaito thinks it’s mirrored on hers. Kaito feels weirdly… worried. The way they look at each other, it’s like they have a secret, and expect him to be in on it. But he doesn’t know any of their weird secrets or what it would have to do with him. After all, they’re Aoko’s friends. He just puts up with them because he’s close to his sister, so her friends are at least adjacently his.
“Kuroba-kun,” Akako says, dropping her voice low as she leans over his desk. He backs away a little on instinct. There’s no way he’s having her cast some stupid spell on him. Again. “The gem last night. Was it the one you seek?”
“I’m not all that into jewelry, Akako. Some girls like to let their outfits speak for themselves,” Kaito says, frowning. “Is there a reason you two seem to think I’m a renowned jewel thief?”
“Of course not, Kuroba-kun,” Akako says with an easy smile, taking Hakuba’s arm at the elbow. It only makes Kaito feel more suspicious as she pulls him away, telling Hakuba she needs to speak with him about a report Kaito knows they don’t have.
“Something’s wrong with him,” Hakuba says once they’re far enough both are sure Kaito won’t overhear.
“It seems so,” Akako agrees, tapping her bottom lip, glancing back at Kaito and Aoko. He isn’t acting different and it’s rather early to say, but they’ve both heard him deny being KID often enough to know this isn’t the usual denials. He truly sounds like he isn’t aware he’s KID or, perhaps, that he never became KID at all. Akako narrows her eyes as she thinks. “I’ll have to do my own tests.”
“Tests?” Hakuba asks, looking at her uncertainly. While he is tangentially aware of her witch nature, as is the case with Aoko, he’s never truly been exposed to it. Not like Kaito has. But Kaito was, at one point, the object of her misunderstood affections and he knew more than others how very real the supernatural is.
“Yes,” Akako says, airy.
“I get the feeling it’s better I don’t know all the details,” Hakuba says, looking a little like he sucked on a lemon.
“You’ve always been very smart, Saguru-kun,” Akako says. It only makes the crinkle in his eyebrows tighten and Akako reaches forward, smoothing it out. She doesn’t like worrying her threads too much. They’re important to her and she was always raised to take good care of her things. “It won’t be anything bad, I assure you.”
“Alright,” Hakuba says and Akako smiles as she takes him by the arm again, leading him back. Of course, the tests she does through the day don’t show anything more than what they already knew. Something is very wrong with Kaito. And Akako can’t help but fear it was her fault. There’s only one person who could possibly help, no matter how much Akako wishes to fix it all herself. But she’s mature enough to ask for help, unlike some people.
“Kudou-kun!” Shinichi jumps, looking up as hands slam down on the table in front of him. He’d been enjoying a fairly problem-free day so far. School was quiet, he’s managed to walk around without stumbling upon a single murder, and he’s even visited with the Detective Boys. To top it off, he wanted to relax at a cafe with Ran, who looks a little worried where she sits next to him, holding her drink so it doesn’t spill.
“Hakuba-kun?” Normally when Hakuba is around, a certain thief is sure to follow, and Shinichi glances around before focusing on Hakuba properly. Shinichi’s eyebrows stitch together as he looks at the other high school detective. To Shinichi, Hakuba has always been well put together– as long as Hattori isn’t around. Right now, Hakuba’s hair is a mess, his school uniform disheveled. He is more frazzled than Shinichi has ever seen him. Behind him stands a tall girl with long, red hair and dark brown eyes. The way her lips curve make her look more like a predator than Shinichi is comfortable with, after everything he’s gone through.
“We need your help,” Hakuba says. “Please.”
“With what?” Shinichi asks, unsure. As a detective, Hakuba deals with mostly thefts. The only time they ever cross paths is when KID is somehow involved, and Shinichi knows how staunch Hakuba is at figuring out KID’s identity. The thief has complained to him about it a number of times, though Shinichi has also seen how fond KID is of the other detective. Really, KID is fond of his entire taskforce, Shinichi knows.
“A mutual friend of ours has found himself in trouble,” the girl says, stepping closer. Her eyes move from him to Ran, then back again. “One you’ve helped before, and who has helped you in turn with a… bird problem.”
Shinichi sits up straighter, feeling his chest grow tight. Just as he thought, where Hakuba is KID follows. “How bad is it?”
Hakuba shifts away, eyes downcast. It’s not a hopeful look. But what worries Shinichi more is the answer. “We’re not entirely sure.”
“You’re… not sure?” Shinichi repeats, slow.
“We need you to help figure that out,” Hakuba admits.
“And to fix it,” the woman says, making Shinichi’s eyebrow go up. He’s used to being called on for KID, but only ever as the KID Killer. As Conan. The only person who would look for Shinchi is KID himself. Even with the last heist Shinichi only showed because KID sent a notice to his house.
“Shinichi?” Ran asks and Shinichi looks between her and them, shoulder moving up in a half shrug. Ran sighs and stands from the table, picking up her bag. It makes Shinichi feel a little bad, that Ran is so used to these things happening he doesn’t even need to agree for her to know he’s going to help. But if Ran didn’t like him helping people, she would’ve stopped being friends with him long before now. “I’ll see you later, Shinichi. Don’t miss school for once.”
“I promise you he won’t,” Hakuba says, hand placed over his heart, and Ran smiles.
“Thank you, Hakuba-kun,” Ran says, making Shinichi frown.
“Hey, I can make sure I won’t miss school by myself,” Shinichi says. And deflates nearly immediately when Ran turns to him with a flat look, raising her eyebrows. You miss one year of school because of getting poisoned and turned into a child… He grumbles to himself, trying very hard not to pout purely on habit. The way Conan seeped so deeply into him it hits Shinichi now… Shinichi doesn’t entirely hate it, actually, but sometimes he wishes he left some of the habits behind. At least Ran thinks it’s funny, especially since he finally caved and told her everything.
“I’ll see you tonight, Shin-chan,” Ran says with a laugh, ruffling his hair, Shinichi whacking at her hands in response. He turns back to the other two as Ran says the rest of her goodbyes, leaving the cafe, and frowns at the amused, knowing look the girl has.
“And you are…?” Shinichi asks
“Koizumi Akako,” she introduces herself, sliding into the seat Ran just vacated. “I’m one of KID-san’s classmates.”
So he is a high school student. Shinichi figured he was, but it’s nice to have the confirmation. “Are you sure you should be telling me that?” Shinichi asks, crossing his arms over the table. Whether the two of them truly are KID’s classmates or not, Shinichi isn’t sure, but he does know Hakuba well enough to believe the other detective. He feels a few things shift in his mind, recontextualizing.
“I figure it’s best you know exactly who we are, given you’ll need KID’s previous identity to help us,” Koizumi explains, waving down a server easily to order a small chocolate parfait and some tea. Whatever happened to KID which has Hakuba frantic, she doesn’t seem to echo it.
“Previous?” Shinichi asks.
“Precisely,” she says.
Hakuba sighs, sitting in the free chair. “I know this’ll sound strange, but we need you to trust us on this. Something has happened to KID that’s separated him from his civilian identity.”
Shinichi stares at Hakuba. Out of the four high school detectives, Shinichi has always viewed Hakuba as the most levelheaded. Outside himself, of course. For him to come up with an idea like this… Shinichi narrows his eyes, considering. If it was anyone else and if it was suggested to him a year ago, Shinichi would dismiss it as a bad joke, possibly planned by KID himself in some way. But he’s personally had ten years stripped from– and, eventually, regiven to– his body so he doesn’t discount the strangeness of science entirely. “Separated?” Shinichi asks. “You mean he’s developed DID?”
“In a way, I guess you could view it as a form of DID, but no. Unfortunately we mean it literally,” Hakuba says. The tea and parfait arrives and Koizumi adds milk and sugar before handing it off to Hakuba.
“The last gem he stole, do you know anything about it?” Koizumi asks, before Shinichi can argue that it’s impossible for them to mean it literally. Unless they mean he’s developed some form of amnesia, but amnesia doesn’t typically carve out specific memories like they’re suggesting.
“Only what I needed for KID’s riddle,” Shinichi says. It’s not often he really digs deep into a gem’s story, unless KID tells it to him. Or it’s needed for some reason. Occasionally, KID likes to weave the story into his riddles and heists. But this one was a lot simpler, compared to KID’s other heists.
“Pandora,” Koizumi says, lacing her fingers together as she leans forward. The light makes her eyes shift from brown to red, like the gem KID held to the moon the last time Shinichi saw him. It makes his skin prickle, like when he knew one of the members of the Black Organization was close. But if this person is truly one of KID’s classmates, he doesn’t think she’d be a member. Unless she’s like Haibara.
“The gem KID was looking for?” Shinichi asks, and Koizumi nods.
“Precisely. I regret to say I was the one who’d suggested this particular gem, though I feel certain it was the right one?” Koizumi asks, and Shinichi nods. She smiles and he notices the look in her eyes relax, just slightly. “At least there’s that. But this particular gem, though it is said to give eternal life, comes with another story. Those who look through it in the light of the moon are said to have their true selves revealed.”
“And this… split KID?” Shinichi asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Would you not say being split between two identities, one not remembering the other, is in a way revealing your truest self?” Koizumi asks, finally lifting her spoon to take a bite of the parfait. Shinichi frowns, thinking about it. Entertaining the possibility for just a moment. Often, while he was still Conan, he felt split between two selves– the one who went to elementary school, lived with the Mouri’s, and was called Conan and the one who went to high school, could only speak to his closest friends through a voice modulator, and was called Shinichi. And he had to admit, it wasn’t until Conan happened that he truly felt wholly like himself. Especially now, as Shinichi.
“Let’s say I agree with that. But I can’t believe a gem, what? Magically split KID into two beings?” Shinichi says and Koizumi grins, shark sharp.
“I can see why KID likes you,” she says, eating small bites of the parfait. Shinichi watches her as she does and finds himself thinking she’d get along with Haibara. The thought sends a shiver through him that feels a lot like fear. “Yes, magically.”
“Whether you believe us or not, it doesn’t change the simple truth that KID is not who he should be, and we need you to find him for us so we can help put him right,” Hakuba says and Shinichi nods. No matter how it happened, if KID truly is missing his civilian self, out there unmoored somehow, Hakuba is right. There’s no universe where Shinichi would let KID live like that without at least trying to help.
“How do I help?” Shinichi asks and Hakuba looks immediately relieved.
“We need you to get in contact with KID. One of us would do it, but whatever happened to him is preventing Akako-san from finding him and I think he’d be more likely to respond to a missive from you than from me,” Hakuba says and Shinichi has to agree. Though he knows KID likes Hakuba more than he says, it’s not entirely narcissism to say he’s the favourite detective. After all, Conan and Shinichi were the only ones to ever get personal invites. And also, for Conan at least, the only one to ever get kidnapped, but that’s beside the point at the moment.
“Alright,” Shinichi says and the three of them start to plan. It’s not very difficult to think of how to get KID to him, really.
The next day a specific wanted ad appears in the papers, with Hakuba assuring Shinichi Kaito– who Hakuba explains is, or was, KID– reads the newspaper every morning. Though Koizumi points out they’re not sure if the quality will go to both of them or only Kaito himself. Splits like this aren’t weighed equally. Each half has phantom feelings and partly remembered memories, like the other half was only a dream they’ve woken up from. The more intertwined the identities were, the more the halves remember about each other, the easier it is to put them back together. So Koizumi assures. It all seems a little strange to Shinichi, but he’s willing to suspend his disbelief for the time being. Perhaps when KID joins him on the weekend, he’ll finally get a real explanation for all of this.
A day away from it all, Shinichi does admit to himself he could see Hakuba pulling some form of prank. Especially if he truly does know KID’s civilian identity. If they’re friends like Shinichi thinks they are, he thinks KID could convince Hakuba into it.
The plan is simply this: Shinichi places a coded wanted ad in the paper, inviting KID to his house to talk in exchange for one of his mother’s necklaces. Hakuba’s expression twitches when Shinichi signs it off with your favourite detective, but he doesn’t say anything about it. They arrange the meeting for the weekend and all three meet at Shinichi’s house an hour before KID is supposed to arrive. The three of them agree the library is the best place for the encounter, since it has the most places for Koizumi and Hakuba to stay out of sight. Since the ploy Shinichi has decided to go along with is KID being separated from his civilian identity, the three of them don’t really know how KID would respond to seeing the two of them alongside Shinichi. It’s best to have him in the house fully, rather than at the window where he can simply leave or avoid entering all together.
And then they wait.
The window doesn't even rattle as it slides open. Shinichi glances over, the necklace hanging from the window disappearing in a moment. There’s not even a flash of white, a telling to what happened. Which, in itself, is.
“You know you didn’t have to go through all the trouble for me. You could’ve just said you wanted to talk, no gems involved, and I would’ve showed,” KID says. Shinichi places a bookmark at the page he was reading, turning fully to the window. KID is inside it, the screen taken out long ago, half hanging inside the frame. He’s wearing a smile, necklace dangling from his fingers, gold shining against the white gloves and Shinichi rolls his eyes.
“I wanted to make sure you would actually show,” Shinichi says, standing.
“Of course I’d show for you,” KID says, hand moving to his heart. It’s a gesture seeped in dramatics, but Shinichi knows it’s genuine. Even grumbling, somehow, KID has always shown for him. Even when it would’ve been in his best interests not to.
“I know,” Shinichi says with a smile more fond than he means. Whether this is all a prank designed by KID for Hakuba and Koizumi to play out or not, it is nice to see KID again. It’s always annoyingly rather pleasing and Shinichi likes being able to spend time with the thief outside their games. “I have something… odd, to speak to you about with your civilian identity.”
“It does?” KID asks, tilting his head. The necklace is gone, Shinichi isn’t sure where to. Or even if he’ll see it again, since it wouldn’t quite be a theft.
“Yes. I’m not sure if you’ll understand, though. I’m not entirely sure I understand myself,” Shinichi says with a nod, standing up to pace. As he does, KID’s eyes light up. Though KID would hate to be equated so, Shinichi has always thought KID is more like a detective than he pretends. He can see the calculating glint before KID latches onto something.
“Don’t worry, I understand perfectly,” KID assures, stepping off the windowsill to the floor, and Shinichi relaxes.
“Good,” Shinichi starts.
“You missed me,” KID says with a smile, monocle gleaming, and strides closer until he is in Shinichi’s space and then, even closer. Shinichi’s eyes widen as lips press to his, feather soft and brief, before he’s swept into a hug. The hug doesn’t last very long either, too short for Shinichi to shake out of whatever just happened, before KID is pulling back with an even wider smile. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, of course. I’d miss myself if I were you!”
“I- You-” Shinichi stammers, mind catching up. His cheeks flame. “KID!”
“Oh, are you practicing your own Nakamori-keibu impression?” KID asks innocently and Shinichi scowls. It’s not exactly something he minds, being kissed by KID, after all they’ve danced around each other for what feels like years after everything that happened. But he also knows KID always held himself back. For more than Conan– they were detective and thief, critic and magician. KID held his identity like something precious and didn’t like the idea of deepening their relationship so long as it was between them, even if Shinichi himself didn’t mind. KID is KID no matter who his civilian identity is.
At one point, months ago, when Haibara was nearly finished with the cure Conan asked KID if he’d ever date Shinichi. And KID had promised, if he figured out KID’s identity and asked his civilian self, he would say yes.
“You really don’t remember, do you?” Shinichi asks quietly, looking KID over, and KID tilts his head.
“Remember what, Meitantei?” KID asks, curious.
“What’s your civilian identity?” Shinichi asks instead of answering, watching carefully. KID pauses for what feels like a long time, gears spinning. It reminds Shinichi of an overheating computer, slow and on the edge of shutting off completely. Then KID laughs and the look disappears, though Shinichi knows KID well enough to see the disturbed light in his eyes.
“Now Meitantei, you know I can’t tell you that,” KID says, walking further away, waving his hand. The gem is already in it. “A magician can’t reveal his tricks and my identity is, perhaps, my greatest trick yet.”
“It’s Kuroba Kaito, high school student, son of Kuroba Toichi who was KID before you,” Shinichi says, leaning back against the counter. KID looks over at him, eyes wide for just a moment.
“Well that’s an interesting theory, Tantei-kun. I’m not sure I’d expect that kind of wordplay from you,” KID says, gem now dancing over his fingers, glittering against the white gloves. He’s gone unfocused, Shinichi knows. Understandable, given he’s just told KID who he is when KID likely doesn’t even remember being anyone but KID. And a hundred other people, of course. But never Kaito.
“Hakuba has always liked that particular theory, so you’ve told me,” Shinichi says and KID nods absently.
“He thought he knew my identity,” KID says, then looks up at him. “Did he tell you who I am?”
Shinichi nods.
“We’re not dating, are we?”
Shinichi shakes his head.
KID sighs. “Of course not,” he says, flicking the gem back toward Shinichi who catches it with only a moment of fumbling. “So why did you call me here, then?”
“That would be our doing,” Koizumi says, raising her hand, and KID leaps into the air like a cat.
“Fuck!” He swears, turning a dark glare to the girl. “I’m putting a bell on you, Akako. What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” she says easily and KID scoffs.
“I’ve been to your stupid, creepy house,” he says and Akako raises her eyebrows, the corner of her mouth curled up.
“So you do remember that. Interesting,” Akako says. “Your other self doesn’t remember ever going to my house.”
“Lucky him,” KID mutters, crossing his arms. “So what’s the real reason you’re here?”
“Kaito is,” Hakuba says, also stepping forward, and KID’s eyebrow twitches. For a moment, Shinichi thinks he might leave. He certainly seems seconds from it. But KID simply turns a frown on Hakuba, sitting down directly on the library’s table.
“First, assume I have no clue who this Kaito is, whether you think he’s me or not. Second, why should I care? What is so important about this person that you’d call in a jewel thief?” KID asks, leaning back on one of his hands, legs crossed at the knee. At least it means KID isn’t planning on heading off.
“Simple. He’s our friend and you’re the only one who can help him,” Akako says, and KID sighs. Shinichi walks over, sitting on a chair at Akako’s side while Hakuba sits on her other, forming a loose arc around KID. Even before KID says anything, Shinichi knows he’ll accept. After all, it’s not the first time KID has helped someone for similar reasons.
“How do you expect me to?” KID asks and Akako smiles.
“We just need you to remember, and for you to guide Kaito to remember as well,” Akako says. “It’s the only way to fix the split.”
KID shakes his head with a small laugh. As he ducks his head, his monocle glints in the light. Then he’s removing it and Shinichi feels a jolt of surprise go through him as he does. “The weirdest thing is, I believe you,” KID says, looking at the monocle in his hand. When he looks up, Shinichi sees eyes he finds he knows. “Enough magical crap has happened because of you and I admit, I did feel weird for a moment when I looked through Pandora. So what spell have you caused this time, Akako?”
“One which shows your true self. I must apologize, KID. I hadn’t thought that particular story would lead to this, if I’d known I would’ve warned you better,” Akako says and KID smiles.
“Would you have?” KID asks. Akako shrugs.
“Perhaps. Tragically, we’ll never really know,” she says.
“Well, first thing is to make sure I truly am this Kuroba Kaito, isn’t it?” KID says, standing up. He moves slightly differently than how he did before, more weightless like gravity has less of an effect on him. The thief bounces lightly on the balls of his feet as he walks, making his way around the library. As he moves, KID removes his hat, ruffling his hair. It spikes in a million different directions, like bad bedhead. “Do either of you have a photo of him?”
“I do,” Akako says, digging into her purse and KID nods, before turning to Shinichi.
“Alright. You’re the one who didn’t previously know, so you’re my eyes, Meitantei,” KID says with a smile. Shinichi nods and KID turns to him fully, giving Shinichi his first true look at Kaitou KID. His hair is dark and made of layered curls, his eyes a blue darker than Shinichi’s own. He’s handsome, though Shinichi isn’t sure if he’s handsome because he’s aesthetically pleasing or simply because he’s KID. Akako shows him the picture next and Shinichi sees the same dark hair and eyes, looking a little younger in his school uniform. He looks back at KID. “You’re him,” he confirms.
KID chuckles, shaking his head. It’s wry and Shinichi knows KID said he’s dealt with multiple magical things since he became a thief, but now he’s wondering just how many it is. Perhaps this is part of why KID believed him without question, when he told the thief he wasn’t actually six. He flips the tophat back on, but tucks his monocle into one of the many pockets in his jacket, moving out of the library and into the house proper like he knows the entire layout of his house. It wouldn’t surprise Shinichi if the thief did. He rolls his eyes and follows. “I think you owe me a hot chocolate, detective.”
“Which detective?” Shinichi asks with a thin smile and KID chuckles again, softer.
“So how do you feel about all this?” Shinichi asks, climbing carefully onto his roof. KID shrugs, looking out at the sky, his arms wrapped around one leg and his other dangling over the eaves. He looks over when Shinichi sits next to him.
“How do you feel about it?” He asks. “A logical brain like yours, I’m sure you’re struggling with the idea of magic being real.”
“I admit I’m still not entirely convinced on that,” Shinichi sighs, leaning back on his hands. KID makes an amused sound and he smiles. “But I was there when you picked up Pandora, I saw the pink. And you certainly aren’t the same Kaitou KID.”
“I’m not?” KID asks, looking back at him.
“Not quite,” Shinichi says and KID frowns. It clears when Shinichi adds, “I mean, you are still the obnoxious jackass you’ve always been, but you seem… more relaxed now. I imagine it’s because you don’t have Kaito keeping you from doing anything truly stupid.”
KID barks a laugh. “Well I have been thinking about letting the taskforce capture me, just to see if I could escape proper police custody. Though I know I shouldn’t want to; I feel worried just thinking about it. Only I don’t know why.”
“Are you ready to find out?” Shinichi asks.
“You mean to get Kaito back?” KID shrugs again, looking back out into the night. It feels weird to see KID like this, sans hat and monocle. The moonlight shines in his hair like a halo, making his suit glow as it always does. This is the first time both of them have ever interacted, just them, out in the night without either of them wearing a mask. KID sighs, standing up. “I guess I’ll find out.”
“Together,” Shinichi says, standing with him. KID smiles at him, grateful.
“Together, Meitantei,” KID agrees, bowing before jumping off the roof, monocle and hat back in place. Shinichi watches him go, flying towards the moon, only crawling back into the house when it seems KID has flown right into it.
“I still say we should’ve done a heist first.”
Hakuba sighs, looking over at KID. None of them really knew what might trigger Kaito’s memories. It’s magic, not a science, as Koizumi is keen to remind Shinichi. Though Shinichi still argues that if it can be repeated and uses a recipe, it counts as science. Silently, after Koizumi’s rant about how science has to follow the world’s natural laws and magic is made to circumvent those laws. When he asked her if a gem could really grant immortality, as Pandora was supposed to do, she simply went silent for a moment and said fate doesn’t like mortals play with that which they can’t accurately see. “We told you, it’s better to go smaller first.”
“Of course, because critics can never have any fun.” KID rolls his eyes, propping a single hand on his hip. Right now, his fingernails are painted a light pink to go with the soft makeup he’s wearing. He’s in a sundress and dark wig Shinichi saw KID wear once as a disguise to get close to a jewel. While he didn’t know it at the time, KID gave this disguise an entire identity. Backstory, a first love, the exact circumstances she’d been in when she got a scar on her knee Shinichi knows KID doesn’t actually have. It’s not surprising KID came up with all of this just for one brief role, but it does make Shinichi just a little more attracted to the thief.
“We just can’t have you taking any unnecessary risks,” Hakuba says, pointed, and KID scoffs. He readjusts the purse hanging from his shoulder, taking a look around the park. This is a park Shinichi’s never been to, simply because it’s in Ekoda rather than Beika. The park is a wide open space like where he used to– and still does, occasionally– play soccer with the Detective Boys and Haibara. It’s bordered by white sidewalk and bright spring flowers, trees scattered around to give it a more natural look. Currently, children and adults alike surround one singular person. Kuroba Kaito.
As expected from Kaitou KID’s civilian identity, Kaito is a magician. A good one. Even from this distance Shinichi can see the way Kaito smiles and hear how the kids laugh as he pulls trick after trick. He seems vibrant in a way very similar to how he looks on heists, only with the sun backing him instead of the moon and wearing his school uniform rather than the KID suit. It’s not the first time he’s seen KID during the day or out of his suit, even knowingly. But seeing Kuroba now, it feels like the first time. Kaito claps his hands together and when he spreads them, coloured sparks linger behind in the air, and Shinichi laughs because he knows that trick. It only happened once, but KID did the same thing on a bigger scale three months ago. The others look at him, questioning.
“Kaito clearly remembers a few things,” Shinichi says, nodding towards the cheering audience, Kaito bowing to them all, passing out roses to everyone before he starts to pack up.
“It’s a trick I’ve done,” KID says and Shinichi nods.
“This is a good sign,” Koizumi says. “You’re weaved tightly enough it should be fairly easy to put you back together.”
“Just like sewing,” KID says to himself, then puts on a charming smile, starting to walk over to where Kaito is. Shinichi can just barely make out KID introducing herself, saying about how she’s seen him around, and then nothing. The three of them watch, Shinichi paying attention to Kaito, and though he sees Kaito shake his head he sees hope. The way Kaito pauses and his face shutters, the smile suddenly a lot more forced, Shinichi knows he recognizes something in KID. Whatever it is doesn’t really matter, only that Kaito sees it.
The conversation KID has with him is short and Koizumi and Hakuba duck behind a newspaper together as she hurries back, waving to Kaito as she does. Even when she’s closer, barely within hearing distance, KID plays her part. An artist, no matter who she is, be it KID or Kaito or a hundred thousand different identities. She shakes her head at Shinichi, shoulders slumping, and loops her arm through his.
“Not who you thought he was?” Shinichi asks, and KID shakes her head. Shinichi is directed to the sidewalk, then the street, KID and him taking a different path than Akako and Hakuba will. It might be playing a little too safe, but none of them want to risk Kaito becoming suspicious. All of them agree Kaito’s more likely to think it’s a joke than to remember if he sees Akako and Hakuba. Which will make him even less likely to believe them if they have to attempt more brute force.
“He definitely recognized me,” KID says quietly as they walk.
“I thought so,” Shinichi says. “His face went blank like yours does when you’re avoiding an answer.”
“So we just need to nudge him a little harder.” KID smiles, a worrying thing. It’s a fox smile, sharp and cunning.
“Already making plans?” Shinichi asks.
“I’ve been making plans since Tantei-san said ‘no’,” KID says, clearly proud of himself. Shinichi feels a little worried for Kaito, but at least he knows KID would never hurt someone. Or, at least, would never kill someone. But he wouldn’t hurt himself.
Okay, he might be willing to hurt himself.
Shinichi decides to stop going down this train of thought entirely.
“I’m excited to see what they are,” Shinichi says instead. “And I’m sure Hakuba-san will be as well.”
KID’s smile turns more dangerous and while Shinichi has never been the type to pray, he feels like he should just for Kaito. It’s becoming clear to him that Kaito viewed a lot of the heist to be KID’s area, rather than his own. He only hopes it works. According to Akako, there is a chance of it failing all together if they wait too long. The memories of the other life fading away entirely, like the whispers of a dream. The thought worries Hakuba and Koizumi, Shinichi knows, but he doesn’t really know how KID feels about it. But he knows KID must feel a certain way. He doesn’t ask.
The night of his heist, Shinichi finds KID in his house, changing. He’d expect KID to already be on site doing checks or something, but instead he’s inside Shinichi’s bedroom, looking through his closet. He frowns, thinking of all the other times KID has pretended to be him. It makes sense that he might’ve stolen his clothes at some point for it, but seeing it is certainly different than simply assuming.
“So should I refrain from making my presence tonight?” Shinichi says wryly, moving to sit on his bed. He observes KID as the thief parses through his closet, pulling out different shirts before putting them back in. Each one seems to be greeted with different discontent noises and Shinichi is starting to feel a little offended on his own behalf with the thief so clearly judging his wardrobe. It’s not like he’s constantly going to parties as a detective busy with his final year of school. Besides, he doesn’t really care for the spotlight after having to stay away from it as Conan and he finds people much less able to take pictures if you can simply blend into the crowd. Finally, he pulls out two dark blue turtlenecks as well as two brown trenchcoats, though Shinichi only remembers wearing one of them. “To accentuate your eyes. I expect you to be there, of course. Be the clone to my clone.”
“Don’t say it like that,” Shinichi protests, twisting his nose at the reminder of their situation.
“By the way, I saw how you were looking at Kuroba,” KID says later as he unzips his jacket, pulling on one of the turtlenecks instead. The movement is slow instead of his usual quick change and Shinichi knows it’s purposeful, KID playing with him. KID winks. “Are you sure you want us to combine? Imagine having two of me~”
“Please,” Shinichi says dryly, “my nightmares are bad enough.”
KID gasps, pressing a hand to his chest. “Oh! Shinichi, that wounds me. I take back every good thing I’ve said about you.”
“Finish getting ready for the heist, KID,” Shinichi laughs, shaking his head, and KID smiles widely.
“Well if you’re eager for it,” KID purrs and Shinichi rolls his eyes, throwing the trenchcoat at KID.
Now KID does have memories of his previous heists. Of course he does, those were his heists. But the memories, like a lot of them, are weird. He gets feelings of anxiety when Nakamori-keibu gets too close, though he knows for a fact he trusts the man implicitly. He has no idea why he does, when Nakamori-keibu is the person in charge of the very taskforce attempting to stop him. The feelings of the rest of the unit make much more sense. They’re the feelings KID assumes bands or famous magicians feel about their roadies and groupies. Fond affection, like they’re pets KID loves and must enrich with his colourful displays of artistry and magic. Without him, they would be without a job– though he assumes the second division would find a place for them– and he without the most important part of his audience. Stage hands, props, truly his taskforce does it all.
He can only assume these feelings come from Kaito. The problem is, he knows where but not why, and KID is very bad at not knowing things which affect his heists. He’s almost as bad as his critics that way, though he’d say he’s much better at being okay with not getting an answer. Plus, he gets them much easier. It’s nothing to nab Kaito from the audience, using his appearance as Shinichi. And it’s not even going out of his way, since he was planning to borrow Kaito anyway.
KID brushes against Kaito as he makes his way through the crowd, knocking the boy slightly into the girl he’s standing next to. He thinks he recognizes the girl, but she’s as unplaceable as anyone else you would pass on the street a thousand times. Which, at least to KID, makes her special. Because you can pass someone on the street a thousand times and still have at least a vague recollection, especially when you’re an internationally wanted jewel thief. But to have no idea, and for the person to be standing beside his civilian half? He tucks her appearance in a safe corner of his mind and looks forward, continuing walking into the heist venue. Behind him, he hears Kaito make a noise of surprise and begin to follow. Curious, he glances behind himself and sees nothing. He smiles and continues, unimpeded by his taskforce, dressed as he is.
“Kudou-san,” one of the officers greets him. Takeuchi, if KID is correct. The man just got a new kitten last month which hasn’t quite settled with his older cat yet and the two have been keeping him up. Though the darkness under his eyes seems lighter than before. KID greets him with a nod.
“How are the cats?” He asks, Takeuchi looking surprised at the question.
“They’re doing much better, Kudou-san. Thank you!” Takeuchi says with a smile KID returns, though it’s more restrained.
“That’s good to hear. Oh, and there is someone who will walk in after me. Don’t worry about him, he’s with me,” KID assures. Takeuchi looks behind him, but clearly doesn’t see anyone. As KID would expect, given just who Kaito is.
“Alright,” Takeuchi says, seeming a little confused.
It’s not very hard to direct Kaito where he needs to, which is a little disappointing, but KID can forgive him. Afterall, he doesn’t have KID inside him anymore to help him be more self aware. He ducks into a room off to the side, one of those doors people don’t really notice but is still locked just in case, since it is a museum. Though KID has never been stopped by a locked door. The second Kaito pops into the doorway, following ‘Shinichi’, KID pulls him into the room.
Kaito squirms in his grip, slipping out like an– ugh, no, wait, bad analogy– like something really slimy and unfishlike. A greasy noodle. Worse, but KID can work with it. Anyway, Kaito squirms in his grip, slipping away, glaring at him. There’s nothing KID is really worried about Kaito doing to him, since he’s fairly certain he has all the training. After all, how often would a civilian of all people have to be running from harm?
“You’re that guy who was with the girl who approached me. Who are you?” Kaito demands, but KID feels his questions are a bit more important, so he returns with a, “What are your feelings toward Nakamori-keibu?”
Kaito freezes, eyebrows knitting together, eyes narrowed at him. “Are you… trying to use me for leverage? Look, I know he likes you, but I’m one of his kids so I take precedence.”
KID feels several things slot into place for himself. Aoko and their dad… right. He needed to make sure they never found out, both to keep them from danger and so they wouldn’t have to choose between him and the morals he already mostly abandoned. “No, I just wanted to talk,” KID says, sitting down on a table. The place he dragged Kaito into appears to be a breakroom for the employees, a few chairs surrounding the table and a small fridge in the corner. He pulls out a bag of nuts he’d nabbed from the refrigerator– it’s mostly full, so he doesn’t think whoever put it in there will miss a few– and holds it out to Kaito. Wary, Kaito takes a handful. “First of all, I’m not the guy, I was actually the girl.”
“What-” Kaito coughs, not quite getting the handful to his mouth, staring at KID with wide eyes. Probably trying to figure out how she and he could be one in the same, when one person can not be two and be in the same room. Except, KID laughs to himself, this is exactly what is happening now. Before Kaito can figure it out, KID leans forward.
“I’m disguised as the guy she was with,” KID says, winking, finger over his lips. Kaito stares at him a moment longer, before moving back into action. Delightfully, KID has to move rather fast to get to the door before Kaito does.
“Now don’t do that,” he pouts and Kaito glares at him with a glare he thinks the detectives would be proud of.
“And why shouldn’t I? You’re Kaitou KID!” Kaito says, accusing, and KID smiles wide.
“Guilty as charged. But you see, my young friend, we are Kaitou KID,” KID says.
“What.” Kaito stares at him, not even truly glaring anymore.
“Come along, Kuroba-san,” KID says, looping his arm in Kaito’s, leading him out of the room and toward where KID can hear Nakamori-keibu shouting orders. Bless the keibu for having the loudest voice known to man and kami. It makes him so delightfully easy to find. Once they are close enough, KID releases Kaito’s arm, taking his wrist instead in a strong grip. For a moment, he wonders about how Pandora split them. Their memories are different, yes, but what about their bodies? KID holds on and Kaito seems to not be able to slip from his tight grip, but is it a true difference in their muscle mass– KID being the one who performed all the feats of gymnastics and strength throughout the heists– or is it simply the lack of memories? It’s one of those things KID thinks he is fated to never truly learn the answer to.
“Keibu-san,” KID calls, gaining Nakamori-keibu’s attention. Thankfully, Shinichi is off somewhere else, though KID isn’t entirely sure quite where he’d be right now. Usually, he’s attempting to find KID before the heist starts. But he’s working with KID, at least sort of, this go around. He’ll have to find his favourite detective later. “Kuroba-san was telling me he wanted to help you.”
Nakamori-keibu looks over at him, pausing from telling a few officers to check down one of the corridors. He seems surprised, which makes sense since KID can’t see himself offering to help the one attempting to arrest him. Well, he can’t see Kaito doing it. KID, on the other hand, thinks it might be fun to attempt. Keeping the keibu off his trail from right by his side. The next heist he holds, maybe. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s pretended to be a member of the taskforce, after all.
“Really, Kaito?” Nakamori-keibu asks, looking at Kaito before looking around, presumably for his daughter. Where one goes, the other must often follow.
“I was thinking he could come with me. Since he’s your son, and a magician, I think he could be helpful in me finally capturing KID,” KID says, not giving Kaito a single second to reply to Nakamori-keibu. To tell him just what is going on. The keibu seems unsure, but nods.
“Don’t let him get into too much trouble,” Nakamori-keibu says, and Kaito squawks.
“Of course not,” KID agrees immediately, pulling Kaito away with a swish of Shinichi’s trench coat. It really is a rather fun piece of clothing to wear. KID thinks he might invest in one of his own. Or simply keep this one, since he doubts his detective would mind a thief stealing from him. It is, after all, in his nature.
“I’m not going to help you,” Kaito protests, pulling away. He frowns at KID and it feels very odd to see someone he knows is supposed to be him but isn’t him. The picture, at least, was right. Kaito certainly looks like KID, even if he clearly has none of his poker face.
“Of course not. I just need you around long enough to unlock a few memories,” KID says, pushing at Kaito’s shoulders, guiding him deeper into the museum. The vents would probably be a good start. He’s spent plenty of time in vents, listening in on all the conversations his taskforce and the detectives which occasionally help them have. “Really, I’m helping you.”
“Because I am you,” Kaito says, disbelieving.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” KID pouts at him, looking around for a moment. None of the officers are in the next hallway, thankfully. Slipping a screwdriver from his sleeve, KID opens up the vent beside them, ushering Kaito inside. “Aren’t you friends with a witch?”
Kaito looks sick at the idea, nose crinkled up. “She’s Aoko’s friend.”
“She is?” KID asks, raising an eyebrow, and it feels right but it also feels wrong. Apparently the part of him missing all the KID memories is less okay with the witch. And he can only guess how he might feel about Hakuba. “I guess so.”
Despite going into the vents before KID does, Kaito gives him an unsure look, “Are you sure you’re supposed to be me?”
“Just because you don’t like Akako doesn’t mean I have to. She’s helped me plenty of times. And don’t look back, you’ll freak yourself out,” KID says, directing Kaito through the slight maze. There’s a place where several vents meet, that KID made sure would let them hear and see a portion of the fun he has planned for the evening, all while making sure Kaito is out of harm’s way. “Besides, she’s much more bearable since she’s learned she doesn’t like me and doesn’t even have to.”
“She doesn’t love me anymore?” Kaito asks, pausing to look back at KID again, making KID nearly run into him. He scowls at Kaito.
“Would you like her to? And of course she still loves you, you’re her friend,” KID says, waving for Kaito to keep moving. As they go, he explains quietly so none of the taskforce hears him. “Apparently being a red witch is all about relationships and the fates which bind people together. The more love a red witch has, the more powerful they are. She grew up thinking it was romantic love. Needless to say, Akako doesn’t have those inclinations.”
“So our classmates?” Kaito asks.
“Have nothing on her connection to Aoko, Hakuba, and us,” KID says, perhaps a bit more smug than he should be. He rests his hand on KID’s foot to get him to pause, a moment. “We’re stopping up here. You’re going to want to be quiet, unless you want them to think you’re still me.”
“Isn’t that the point?” Kaito says, wry, and KID laughs.
“Maybe you really are me,” he says.
“You weren’t sure-!” Kaito protests, but is cut short by KID continuing to crawl forward, forcing Kaito to move as well. KID may or may not snicker to himself at the way Kaito quickly moves forward, still grumbling in a way that rings familiar the same way Kaito’s memories do. Unseen with just the faint impression of something there. The vent takes them into what is essentially a metal box. Six walls, four entrances. Kaito shivers a bit in his t-shirt and KID passes over a jacket, because it’s always a little cold in the vents.
“Of course I was sure,” KID says dismissively as he passes it over.
“Good to know you’re not just kidnapping random students,” Kaito quips and KID grins, fox-like.
“I didn’t kidnap you. You followed me,” KID says, a little singsong. It’s technically not kidnapping if he simply encouraged Kaito to follow him. With both passive and active actions. Kaito narrows his eyes at him.
“You dragged me into a vent. I’m pretty sure it still counts,” Kaito says and KID shrugs.
“To-may-to to-mah-to.” KID waves his hand before bringing his finger to his lips, though he refrains from shushing Kaito. The sound of it, especially in the vents, is much louder than a little whispered conversation. “Now shush, the detectives are searching.”
Kaito pales like it’s an instinct and KID notes the way he shifts more into the middle, away from the openings. Though KID is sure it’s for a reason different from why he does the same. Breathing quietly, KID listens to the different people searching for him. Shinichi and Hakuba sound like they’re leading different teams, as usual. His detectives are always so competitive, much to their own detriment. If only they worked together more often, they might have a chance to catch him. They wouldn’t, of course, even if they truly wanted to, but the odds would be better. Meanwhile, Nakamori-keibu seems to have stayed right where KID promised to be in fifteen minutes, directing the different officers to where they need to be to surround the jewel and cover the exits. It’s a little harder here, in the rare gemstones section of the museum, but Nakamori-keibu always makes it work. It’s part of why KID loves working with him so much. Unlike anyone else KID has unfortunately had to deal with– and has always swiftly removed from the equation, because truly he’s a professional artist and he’s not working with a critic other than the one who’s been with him since before he picked up the mantle– Nakamori-keibu always manages to be smart about things. He also has a certain moral compass KID personally appreciates. KID knows if he was ever hurt on a heist, the keibu would prioritize making sure he’s okay over actually capturing him. The others Chaki tried to replace Nakamori-keibu with from time to time would be more likely to shoot the gun that hurts him than make sure he doesn’t bleed.
As the two of them listen, KID notices Kaito starts to look paler. He shifts as much as he can in the space of the vent and all KID can think of is his second heist. The first heist, he was taking over for Jii-san, so he didn’t really have any space to be nervous. If he messed up, it wouldn’t just be himself getting in trouble, and he wanted to be sure Jii-san would agree to let him take over the mantle. Of course there were plenty of other things happening during that heist, but Jii-san was the main reason. The second heist he was alone, Jii-san listening through comms in a van far enough away he wouldn’t be questioned. But he remembers being excited, too.
He doesn’t remember a lot, actually, as he tries to think of that heist. Both heists are a bit of a blur, a mix of his own memories and whatever Kaito has, but he remembers the feelings clearly. Excitement, nerves, exhilaration. The same thrill every heist has him chasing.
Two voices join, KID perking up as Shinichi apparently runs into Nakamori-keibu. He hadn’t exactly made Shinichi aware it’d be a bad idea to run into the keibu and he listens, holding his breath as the two interact. Glancing at Kaito, he can see his reflection doing the same.
“Kudou-kun? Where’s Kaito?” Nakamori-keibu’s voice comes in clearly through the vents, just as it always does. KID doesn’t think he’s seen the man ever carry a microphone. Sometimes he wonders if he doesn’t own one, or if the superintendent has simply banned him from ever using one due to too many burst eardrums.
“Kaito?” He hears Shinichi echo, much quieter than the keibu. It seems his favourite detective has decided against playing along with him. A shame. He loves it when Shinichi joins him; the boy would make a good partner if he wasn’t such a good critic already. Partner in crime, of course.
There’s a pregnant pause between the two of them, Nakamori-keibu quiet. And then, what feels like so much louder than KID usually hears it, the keibu is shouting his name. The turn around is fascinating. There was barely even a moment of hesitation and there wasn’t any follow-up questions to figure out why Shinichi didn’t know who he was talking about. Just straight to the blame on his poor, guiltless head. He looks at Kaito again and sees something he thinks must be recognition. There is, after all, few things KID knows as intimately as Nakamori-keibu shouting his name. But then Kaito pales even more, shaking his head, and KID knows well enough to be worried.
“I don’t like this anymore,” Kaito says, a desperate edge to his voice. When KID reaches out to him, he simply scrambles back faster. He gives a yelp, the vents opening to a chute, and KID swears. The metal bangs as Kaito falls, limbs hitting the walls as he goes, no doubt flailing in instinct.
“What was that?” Nakamori-keibu shouts in response and KID falls back rather than moving forward to check on Kaito. So long as the keibu is moving toward him, he knows Kaito will be okay. It’s better he’s nowhere near his reflection when the keibu finds Kaito. Besides, he needs to be in position soon. He’ll find Kaito again later, before he leaves.
“You what??” Hakuba doesn’t yell, but it’s a near thing. No one quite gets Hakuba to lose his calm like KID does, except for Heiji. It doesn’t phase KID, who gets yelled at nearly daily by people of all stripes, of course. Though Shinichi understands Hakuba’s elephant. The change from agreeing to help them to saying he won’t feels rather sudden. Only Koizumi doesn’t look very surprised by it. All she does is ask KID if he’s certain, prompting an apologetic smile and a shrug that causes his cape to waver. It feels like the waver of the room, everyone slowly realizing they’ll have to do this without KID and unsure if they can. From what Shinichi saw of Kaito after the heist, whatever KID did certainly accomplished something. Kaito barely looked at him when he passed.
Shinichi takes KID aside after Hakuba is done yelling at him. He doesn’t ask why KID stayed to be yelled at. He figures KID knew Hakuba needed it, even if it didn’t change anything in the long run. “What changed your mind?”
“Kaito,” KID says, shoulders slumped. While he hid it in front of the others, KID doesn’t bother to hide the regret in the line of his shoulders or the set of his mouth now. He shakes his head, wetting his bottom lip, seeming oddly small and awkward. Stupidly, Shinichi thinks he is the only one who should seem small like that, between the two of them. KID’s always been larger than life and though he has let himself be vulnerable– terribly, terribly vulnerable– around Shinichi before, it’s never quite been like this. He knows KID doesn’t like disappointing people. It’s part of why he works so hard on his heists. “He doesn’t want to remember and I… I can’t make him. Not in good conscience.”
Shinichi gives KID a moment, gives him space to say more. When he doesn’t, he attempts a laugh. “I’d say you rarely care about doing anything in good conscience, KID,” he says. “What’s changed now?”
“You have a sister, don’t you? Ran-chan?” KID says, and it’s posed like a question but Shinichi knows it isn’t really one. He nods anyway. “Then you should understand. Shinichi, if you were magically separated from Conan and could live beside her normally, without any fear or the weight of the secrets having been Conan brings, wouldn’t you want to?”
KID sighs, shrugging. His head is tilted down, so he’s looking up at Shinichi rather than down, eyelashes dark and the colour of his irises half hidden by shadow. “I can’t take that away from him. I refuse to.”
Shinichi opens his mouth, but he can’t really think of what to say. If anyone were to understand what Kaito– and by extension, KID– is going through, it’s certainly him. Back before Haibara perfected the cure, they talked a lot about it. Even after she did, they talked. The two of them talked about a lot, really. So he understands. But these days, he also thinks he has a bit of an idea of what Nakamori might be feeling, thanks to Ran. He steps closer, but KID shakes his head, stepping back towards the window.
“It’s a second chance. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want one, too.”
“I don’t need one. Ran already knows,” Shinichi says, quietly, KID already gone.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do without KID,” Hakuba says, already on his third cup of tea. He keeps looking at the window, like he expects KID to show back up, but all three of them know he won’t. Though KID seems fickle by nature– and he can be– they all know how serious he is about the people he cares for. There will be no changing his mind.
“I have an idea,” Shinichi says, sitting down. Chances are, KID will hate him for it. But he has to. If he doesn’t, the switch will become permanent, and he’s already seen how reckless and unmoored KID is without Kaito. He can only manage how Kaito is without KID. According to Hakuba and Koizumi, he’s not much better.
“Do it,” Koizumi says, looking at him calmly over her tea. There’s a familiar intensity in her eyes. It reminds him of Haibara.
Shinichi waits outside Kaito’s school. It’s a risk, but it’s one Shinichi knows he has to make. He catches Koizumi and Hakuba’s eyes from across the school yard and the two of them take Kaito by the arms, dragging him away from Aoko, Kaito protesting the entire way. He straightens, moving away from where he was leaning against the brick wall and tucking his hands into his pockets as he does.
“Nakamori-chan, can I talk to you?” Shinichi calls and Nakamori tilts her head, looking at him. It takes a moment for recognition to spark in her eyes, but not very long.
“You’re Kudou-kun? The KID killer’s cousin?” Nakamori asks and Shinichi smiles, nodding. “What do you need?”
“I need to talk to you about Ka- uh, Kuroba-kun,” Shinichi says. Nakamori’s eyes seem to flash as he stumbles over Kaito’s name, attention catching on the stumble like a shark. Or, perhaps, like a certain phantom thief. Then she scowls, crossing her arms.
“What has that Bakaito done now?” Nakamori asks, looking off in the direction Hakuba and Koizumi dragged him.
“Sorry,” Shinichi says, holding up his hands to stay her. He knows well enough from talking to Kaito how similar she is to Ran, and doesn’t want to send her off after him. At least, not yet, since it is sort of his plan. If anyone can get Kaito to think about it– not agree, because Shinichi has thought about it and knows it’s best Kaito makes his own choice, no matter what it is. Shinichi will help KID either way– it’s his sister. “He didn’t exactly do anything. At least, not on purpose.”
“Not on purpose?” Nakamori raises an eyebrow doubtfully. Shinichi nods, and has the first moment where he really questions what to say. Because he has to get Nakamori to understand without directly telling her just who Kaito is. He can’t give that secret away, it’s not his. He wavers and Nakamori sighs, dropping her arms. “Would you just tell Aoko what is going on? It’s not like she hasn’t noticed him acting weird.”
“He got split into his two different… personalities,” Shinichi says, a little vague, but unsure how else to word it. If Kaito only told Nakamori, this would all be much simpler.
“I see,” Nakamori says, looking down slightly. Somehow, Shinichi thinks she really does. Once more, he remembers talking with KID, talking about how similar she is to Ran and thinks she really does. Certainly more than anyone else thinks.
“Will you help him? He needs to remember, if he wants to fix it,” Shinichi says quietly and Aoko gives a scoffing laugh.
“Of course Aoko will help him. She’s not gonna leave the idiot.” She rolls his eyes and thanks him with a smile, before she walks to wherever Hakuba and Koizumi dragged Kaito. As she does, she pauses, gesturing toward him. “You need to help, too.” And with a teasing smirk, she adds, “Meitantei.”
It leaves Shinichi staring at Nakamori for longer than he probably should, eyes passing over her, definitely looking at her legs longer than he should. But no, it’s not KID. She’s simply Nakamori-chan. Though, perhaps, saying simply is underselling her a little. He follows.
Kaito's eyes light up when he spots Nakamori, and he immediately breaks away from Hakuba and Akako to hide behind her, glaring at the two. He glances at Shinichi when he notices him there as well, a suspicious look crossing his features. It's gone quickly, shuttered behind Kaito's pout. "You abandoned me," Kaito whines at Nakamori, arms wrapped firmly around her waist. "How could you? Have you replaced me with a stranger, too?"
"Kudou-kun is hardly a stranger. He works with dad sometimes, like Conan-kun did," Nakamori says, rolling her eyes. Shinichi can see the way Kaito's eyebrow twitches, with recognition. Even if he doesn't really remember KID, he remembers Conan. Remembers Shinichi. It seems important, though he doesn't know how except that Koizumi told him he's an important part of it. Something about the bridge between memories, and the demon of light, though even Shinichi could barely understand anything she said.
"I don't remember either of them," Kaito says, sticking his tongue out at Shinichi for good measure. "Besides, you know I don't go to the heists as often as you do."
"Dad said you were with Kudou-kun last heist," Nakamori points out and Kaito huffs.
"I wasn't with him. KID kidnapped me," Kaito says, glaring at nothing, complaining under his breath about it. About how stupid KID is, and how he doesn't understand why anyone likes him because he's not even that good of a magician, anyway. For some reason, this is what gets Nakamori to break. Grumbling under her own breath, she grabs Kaito and hauls him into the gym and further even to the girl's locker room. He yells the whole way, complaining more about how much he's been dragged around these days and how 'I'm not a toy, you know!' but she doesn't stop. Looking at Hakuba and Koizumi who seem just as confused, Shinichi follows once more.
"I know you're KID," Nakamori says, letting Kaito go, and Kaito's eyes go wide. None of them seem to know what to say, the locker room quite except for the sounds of five people breathing. The lockers loom around them, metal spies watching their every move.
"What?" Kaito asks quietly, echoed by Hakuba and Koizumi. Nakamori shakes her head with a bitter laugh that has Shinichi looking away, remembering when Ran told him she'd always known he was Conan.
"Aoko's not an idiot. She knows you better than anyone." Kaito nods, because it's true. The only person who knew him anywhere near as well as Aoko was Conan, because he was similar. Kaito doesn't know why he was similar, or even who he was or what he looked like, but he knows he was similar.
"But you weren't supposed to know," Kaito says quietly, more things he knows without knowing why. All he knows is there was something– this big hole in his memories he can feel pushing and prodding at him– that he didn't want between them anymore. But it was never between them, was it? It was only ever him.
"Aoko knows. It's why she never said anything," Aoko says. "Kaito wanted to protect her. She understood."
"That's why I can't-" Kaito hesitates, mouth open but silent. She stares at him, eyes the colour of lapis, and he swallows, looking away. "I can't."
“Kaito,” Aoko sighs, cupping his cheeks. “Aoko loves every part of you. Every part. So Aoko needs you to remember, for her.”
“And you, Meitantei?” Kaito looks over at Shinichi, though Shinichi knows what he says here won’t factor into it. Not like Aoko does. He smiles.
“You’ve already taken the mystery of who Kaitou KID is away from me. The least you can do is keep your promise,” he says. Kaito looks at him, eyes going over his form.
"I... did, didn't I?" Kaito says quietly, eyebrows knitting together. He can just barely remember it- remembers words. Shinichi is a detective and like any detective, he's annoyingly noisy, always in the way, and loves mysteries. And there was never a greater mystery Kaito had for him than his own identity. But who was it who promised him? Maybe it didn't matter.
"Fine," Kaito huffs, holding up his hands, taking a step away from Aoko. He waves his hands a little, just for emphasis. "Fine, fine, fine. I'll remember this stupid thief. But if it doesn't work, no one is allowed to get upset at me."
"It'll work," Akako says, voice sure in the way only she really has and Kaito takes a breath. It feels like when he first had the gem in his hand, looking through it and seeing the red light shining in the midst of a dark sea. He closes his eyes, breath catching painfully. He didn't realize before that his breath didn't catch because of the beauty, because he'd found it. This time around, it is painful, a tugging at his heart and his mind like a rubber band stretched to its limits. The band breaks, snapping back together suddenly, and Kaito stumbles. Aoko and Shinichi catch him.
"Kaito?" Shinichi says quietly.
Kaito opens his eyes and sees the white of his cape, though he's still in his school uniform. When his two sides snapped back together, it must've been less clean than the initial split. He moves his hand to his head, dislodging his hat, missing the monocle. If he's actually lost the monocle, he's going to be quite upset.
"I'm okay," Kaito replies, looking back up. He meets Shinichi's eyes first, then looks back at Aoko. It's a little hard to look at her, knowing she knows and always has. He wonders how many people in his life knew. Was it just Aoko, Hakuba, and Akako, or did their dad know, too? If he did, he must really believe in him because Kaito knows well he's never gone easy on KID.
"Do you remember?" Aoko says, somehow looking more anxious than everyone else.
"I do," Kaito says quietly. "I'm sorry."
Aoko hits him and he squawks in surprise, jolting. The cape sways around him, brushing his heels and her ankles. On instinct, he scrambles away from her, hiding behind Shinichi.
"I don't know why you were doing it, and you can make up for it by telling me, but whatever you did it for, it wasn't a reason you have to apologize for, Bakaito," Aoko says, putting her hands on her hips and glaring. Kaito huffs, glaring back, but he's smiling inside. The way Aoko's eyes are, he knows she understands. She always does.
"Fine, see if I apologize to you ever again, Ahoko," Kaito snipes in return, arch. She looks pleased and he knows he's likely going to tell her everything tonight. It'll be a good way to get all his memories straight after all this mess with being split in half. Wrapping his arms around Shinichi's waist, he hooks his chin over Shinichi's shoulder to level a glare at Akako. "I don't know if I should be upset you got me into this or not."
"If anything, you should thank me. You don't have to hide secrets from your sister anymore, your detective knows who you are, and you found Pandora," Akako says. Kaito sighs, shaking his head. It hurts to admit this, but he can swallow his pride just once in his life to do so.
"You're right. Thank you," he says, Akako looking surprised for a moment before looking pleased. She doesn't say you're welcome, but both of them know he prefers it that way.
"You can thank me by giving me a fucking break," Hakuba says, glaring at him, looking far more frazzled than the rest of them.
"A tall order, Tantei-san, but I could try," Kaito says before turning to Shinichi. "And you, Tantei-kun?"
"Can the great Kaitou KID not guess what his detective wants?" Shinichi asks, raising an eyebrow, arms crossed over his chest. Kaito laughs and nods.
"A promise kept, then," he says with a smile.
He finds the monocle later, in his pocket, and wears it on his first date with Shinichi just to annoy him. At the end of it, Kaito gives Shinichi a bracelet with the charm from the monocle attached.
