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Relative Truth
by Becky Tailweaver
File 8: Cards on the Table
Kaito yawned widely, tapping his fingers on his knee as he sat at the top of the stairs, waiting for Shinichi to finish whatever he was doing in the bathroom. He had waited uneasily outside the door, rather unnerved by the long silence within, until boredom got the better of him and he went to sit on the stairs, staring off into space as uncounted minutes passed.
And there he sat, growing increasingly impatient from the waiting, listening for any sound from inside the bathroom. He was antsy, fidgeting; he didn't really know what was going on in there, but he had this feeling that it wasn't anything good. Despite a definite urge to go bang on the door and demand what was taking him almost half an hour--and also to see if Kudo was still alive in there--he stayed put, keeping his ears open.
He suddenly perked up--at long last, there was noise. He hopped up from the stair and went to the bathroom door; within, there was water running from a sink faucet, a cabinet being opened and closed. He couldn't quite tell for sure, but it sounded like someone going through their morning bathroom routine.
The sink cut off; he stepped back across the hall as silence fell within once more. The door clicked, unlocking, and swung open.
Kaito gasped, too startled to move, as the figure emerged; blue eyes locked with his, long legs covered the distance between them in two strides--
--and in his surprise he still didn't think to move, even when a fist connected solidly with his jaw and knocked him sprawling to the carpet. Stunned, he gaped up at the tall youth standing over him in complete bewilderment and shock. It wasn't Conan who'd come boiling out--no, it was a teenage boy who had Conan's sharp eyes and focused expression, now glaring grimly down at him with a gaze that could pierce steel.
"That was for Tuesday night," Shinichi Kudo stated coldly, stepping back, letting Kaito stagger to his feet again.
They stood there for a long moment, finally equals; identical sets of dark blue eyes bored into each other with matching intensity, one pair filled with distrust and resentment, the other with astonishment and disbelief. But Kaito was quickly getting over his shock, replacing his bewilderment with anger at being struck.
"What the hell?" he demanded. "I hauled your butt out of that mess Tuesday night!"
"You're also the one who got me into it in the first place," Shinichi retorted, unflinching.
They glared for a little while longer, two indomitable spirits locked in a silent, keen-edged battle of wills. Then, surprisingly, both backed down at the same moment, as if on cue; Kaito turned away with a snort and Shinichi dropped his gaze to pull something out of his pants pocket.
Conan's little stun-gun watch glittered in his palm; too small to fit him the way he was now, he kept it as a safeguard--even if he couldn't wear it, he could still shoot it. He checked the hour on the small timepiece before turning his attention back to Kaito. "Alright, it's three-thirty. You've got twenty-four hours, Kuroba--start talking."
Kaito blinked, scowling and rubbing his jaw. "Fine. Then let's get walking. I know a good place pretty close to here--I'll buy, since you're obviously not in the best of moods--"
"Hey! I'm not a freeloader!" Indignant, Shinichi promptly fetched his own wallet, squirreled away in his room since his "accident" so that no one would find it. That done, the two teens headed out the door and towards the shopping district, where Kaito's "good place" waited.
As before, uncomfortable silence lingered between them--and now, definite tension. Kaito no longer held the upper hand, and Shinichi was no longer willing to give ground. Both were on-guard now, and the slightest hint of a threat could spark them both into an unpleasant clash. They moved like two male tigers pacing the mutual border of their territories, both bristling and guarded; they matched stride for stride, glance for glance, and neither of them spoke at all.
Finally, Kaito couldn't stand the quiet. "Hey, Kudo," he said curtly.
"What?" Shinichi snapped.
"I thought you were stuck as Conan."
"That's none of your business."
"Well, excuse me! I wasn't expecting you to pop out of that bathroom and be my size!" Kaito complained abrasively. "Not to mention you just hit me for no reason."
"I already told you--"
"Yeah, yeah...Tuesday night..." Kaito scowled rather petulantly. "Fine, fair enough; I set that up and it's my fault for luring you in there."
"Damn straight."
"But I wasn't the one who set off the alarms--"
"Shut up!"
This time, Kaito was hiding just a bit of a sniggering grin. Shinichi glared at him as they walked, jaw set and stubborn--a glare that quickly melted Kaito's humor like ice cream on hot asphalt.
"Sheesh!" Kaito burst out. "You'd think we're marching to a funeral! At least stop glaring at me like that--you're making me feel guilty even though I haven't done anything."
That statement did what Kaito had intended--it stopped the glare. For a moment, Shinichi was taken aback. "'Done anything?' You've done plenty! Don't tell me--!"
"I mean today, Kudo. Hell, since we last talked. I'm innocent as a baby, I swear."
"Yeah, right!" Shinichi shot back, disbelieving. "You're probably plotting some clever scheme right this minute! I'll tell you right now I won't let you...let you...you...what are you laughing at?"
Kaito had one hand over his mouth, trying mightily not to let his humor slip out. Finally, the laughter won, and he chuckled for a bit before he could reply. "Finally! That's the first time you've loosened up since we met."
"I...what...?" Blinking, Shinichi stared at him in disbelief--then in realization. "So what? I'm not a shrimp right now. What do I have to worry about?"
"Exactly." Kaito glanced away as they walked, watching the scenery. "Listen, Kudo--I'm not here to trick you or fight you...so let's just call it a truce for today and enjoy ourselves. And see if we can work out an understanding."
Shinichi was still feeling the wariness caused by Kaito's presence--but he was also full of excited euphoria at his return to his true shape, however temporary; although he tried to hide it, his elation would eventually bubble to the surface through his mask of guarded suspicion. His cousin was extending the hand of friendship, but in his adrenaline and bad temper he was scowling and unpleasant. "I guess," he admitted, shrugging faintly. "I'm not little any more, and you're not pulling anything--I think. I suppose we can get along for now."
"That's more like it." Kaito grinned, then offered a hand, stopping right there on the sidewalk. "Truce?"
Shinichi hesitated, eyeing his cousin carefully...then shook the proffered hand, letting his own grin creep out. "Truce."
Satisfied, Kaito grinned even more widely. "All right! C'mon, let's go eat."
They set out down the sidewalk once more, entering a busier area and steering smoothly through the crowds. Virtually equal in height, their strides matched almost perfectly, and they both sauntered along with the same easy step, hands in pockets and shoulders loose. Kaito chattered entertainingly about inane things like school and sports, while Shinichi responded amiably, though a bit reservedly.
It turned out that Kaito liked watching soccer games--not as much as magic shows, but he did like the sport. He didn't participate actively in team games except for what was required in PE class, but Shinichi was--to his own surprise--pleased to find out that Kaito had played soccer before and enjoyed the game.
Shinichi found himself wondering if he and his cousin might kick a ball around sometime...
Kaito was delighted to discover that Shinichi knew a little magic--not much, just a handful of simple playing card and rope tricks, and some basic sleight-of-hand. But it was something; he hadn't expected to share anything in common but a paternal bloodline and a remarkably similar appearance, so he was rather surprised to find out his cousin knew even that much. He was quick to launch into a somewhat excited discussion of the techniques Shinichi had learned, even going so far as offering to show him the next advanced steps of the simpler tricks.
Kaito found himself wondering if he could think up a routine for a dual performance...
They were just beginning to open up when they finally reached the little restaraunt that Kaito had suggested. Kaito led the way inside, obviously familiar with the place, while Shinichi followed, glancing around and--as was his usual habit--noting every detail of the restaraunt. They were welcomed by the proprietors over the din of conversation and cooking.
It was a nice little corner cafe, cheery and commonplace, that served homestyle Japanese meals and seemed like it was family-owned. A huge balding man with broad shoulders and a belly laugh worked over hot sizzling things on the stove and grill, while a plump, cheerful woman stirred soups and watched the oven. A pretty girl a couple years younger than the two teens waited tables and carried trays of things back and forth; she was probably the daughter of the folks behind the counter. There were a lot of people in the restaraunt, most likely because it was Friday afternoon; most of them seemed to be either regular adult customers or students stopping by for a snack on their way home. Shinichi instinctively took note of faces, positions, and the layout of the building, but other than a couple of potentially-suspicious characters there was nothing of note; the place was abuzz with chatter and kitchen noises, and no one paid the newcomers any heed.
Kaito had chosen his meeting place well; the two of them would blend right in with the other patrons, and wouldn't be given a second glance.
While Shinichi looked around, Kaito waved across the diner at the young waitress. "Hey, ojousan!"
The girl finished setting down a tray and called back, smiling. "Hi, Kuroba-kun! Be with you in a second!"
Still smiling, Kaito led the way to one of the tables, in a relatively secluded corner against the wall. "Make yourself comfortable," he sighed, slipping into a chair. "I come here fairly often--the food is absolutely great."
Shinichi nodded. "I figured you must be a regular--that waitress knows you by name. And her mother smiled at you when you came in."
"Heck, nothing gets past you, does it?" Kaito remarked. "How'd you know that lady cook is the waitress' mother?"
"When there's a man and a woman behind the counter in a restaraunt that bears a family name, it's most likely a married couple or siblings that own the place," Shinichi answered with a shrug. "The waitress has some of the features of the proprietess, so I guessed she must be her daughter--or perhaps even her niece. But I figured the two behind the counter have to be married because there's no resemblance between them and yet they move around each other so closely without any reservations. My guess is that this is a family-owned restaraunt and the waitress is the daughter of those two."
Kaito was a bit wide-eyed, blinking in astonishment. "Jeeze, you're spot-on! And you got all that just when you walked in the door? No wonder..."
"I just keep my eyes open." Shinichi glanced at Kaito, raising his brows. "Well, you scanned the room when you came in, too. Weren't you watching?"
"Well, yeah! But..." Kaito frowned, thinking for a minute. "I guess we just look for different things. I was looking for possible dangers, escape routes, or people who were watching me." Kaito looked up mischiveously. "You, Mister Detective, were looking at where everyone is and what they're doing now, so in case someone gets murdered here you'll be able to guess the most likely suspects by their locations, activities, and motivations."
"How did you--?"
"Hey, I'm a people-watcher too." Kaito shrugged. "I've watched you before, so I know. We just watch people for different reasons."
"We're both on the lookout for dangerous people," Shinichi said softly, glancing meaningfully at the front of the restaraunt. "Then I'll bet we both spotted that guy by the counter."
Kaito followed his glance. "Who--him? Yeah." They both covertly observed the black-haired young teen sitting on a stool at the front counter, eating something that they couldn't see and watching the television above the bar. "He's in here fairly often, I guess. He's friends with the waitress--or maybe more than friends, the way they fight sometimes." He snorted humorously, then frowned again. "I know what you mean, though..."
"I noticed it right away when I came in," Shinichi continued, elbows on the table and folded hands hiding his mouth. "There's something different about him--something dangerous."
"Whoa...hey, I wouldn't go that far," Kaito protested. "He's just a kid...I think he's just one of those tough guys--"
"No--didn't you feel it? When we came in, we had to walk right past him. And something made my hair stand on end."
"Yeah..." Kaito admitted reluctantly, as they both watched the boy at the counter a little longer.
And even as they watched, the boy at the counter seemed to stiffen, leaning back and turning around to glance at them, brown eyes narrowing--and they both almost flinched. Those eyes looked nothing like a normal youth's eyes; they were so incredibly full and yet so terribly empty, overflowing with warmth yet frozen with icy coldness, as harsh as Gin's yet as gentle as Ran Mouri's--those were eyes that had seen too much, that knew too much, had suffered pain beyond reckoning and faced Death personally...
"Sorry for the wait, Kuroba-kun!" The sudden arrival of the waitress startled them both as she slid smoothly into place by their table--and consequently cut off their view of the youth by the counter. Shinichi blinked and Kaito jerked out of his daze, immediately switching their attention back to matters at hand as the waitress set out two cups of ice water and prepared to take their order.
"Hey, who's your friend?" the waitress asked of Kaito, glancing between the two. "Gosh, what is he, your twin brother?"
Shinichi hid his disbelief with a cough, while Kaito took it all in stride and grinned at her. "Nope, this is just my pal, Shinichi Kudo," he told her. "You know, the detective that was in all the newspapers a while back?"
The waitress gasped. "Whoa, you mean the genius from Teitan High? Cool--he's famous! Nice to meet you, Kudo-kun!"
"Hi, er, thanks," Shinichi replied awkwardly. Before his run-in with APTX 4869, he would've soaked up her admiration like a sponge--but now, he was so unused to being praised as "Shinichi Kudo, High School Detective" that he just felt shy. Hell, had he really been such a grandstanding glory hound back then...?
"Okay then, you two celebrities, what'll it be?" the waitress asked.
Putting the mysterious boy out of their minds, the two teens readily ordered up their favorite snacks. Kaito recommended the best eats to his cousin, who took his suggestions under advisement while requesting his meal. Both were surprised to note that they preferred some of the same foods.
As the waitress trotted off with their order, Shinichi turned back to Kaito. "So, uh, why are you a celebrity?"
Kaito looked discomfited for a second. "Oh...that...I, er, sorta went overboard on a trick here once, so I'm a bit notorious. And my dad was a prominent magician, so a few of my acquaintances know me that way."
"Prominent magician...?" Shinichi had only to think for a second before the name popped up. "That's right! Toichi Kuroba, the Master of Illusions--!"
Kaito leaned back in his chair, one brow tilted cynically. "What, you thought I was talking about a different Toichi Kuroba the other day?"
"Um...guess it didn't occur to me then."
"Heh, some famous detective..."
Shinichi frowned at that, then reached for his glass of water. His arm swung out wildly as he moved unthinkingly, knocking the salt shaker over and nearly upsetting his water as his hand fumbled past its intended mark. He frantically tried to catch the shaker before it rolled off the table, both arms working now, but only succeeded in whacking it over the edge anyway--and sloshing his water as well.
"Crap...dammit...stupid..." Shinichi muttered a short litany under his breath as he leaned down to pick up the salt shaker. Flushing, he glanced around as he mopped up the small puddle on the table with paper napkins--this time, moving much more carefully.
Kaito watched the interesting little performance with raised eyebrows and a slight remainder of the smile he'd had before it started. "Um...spaz attack?" he ventured casually, once the shaker was righted and the mess cleaned up.
The hint of red in Shinichi's cheeks became a definite tinge. "Something like that," he grumbled. "I wasn't thinking. I'm used to being Conan, but my arms are a lot longer now...I misjudged the distance."
"Really?" Kaito appeared genuinely curious. "I thought...if that happened to me I'd still be me, just...you know...smaller. And everything else would just be bigger."
"It's a little like that," Shinichi replied, hesitant only at first. "But it's also not. Childrens' bodies have different proportions. And your perspective changes, but not your mind's perception of it. When I got shrunk, my brain still thought I was big for the longest time, so I was constantly missing when I reached for things and tripping over stuff I thought I could step over in one stride. I even walked into doors a couple times, forgetting I had to reach up for the doorknob--and believe me, it's a major pain in the ass when you can't even reach the knob half the time. I can't reach countertops, bookshelves, light switches...hell, I can't use the bathroom sink without a stool, and I won't even mention the trouble I had with the goddamn toilet--" He broke off his little gripe, noting Kaito's rather amused expression with a renewed flush. He wondered to himself why he was complaining in the first place--he'd never complained about this to anyone before--and shrugged vaguely. "Uh...yeah, it takes a while to adjust. I had it down after a couple of days, though."
"And now you're dealing with the reverse problem," Kaito commented sympathetically. "Big and little so abruptly--and stuck little most of the time...man, that must be the pits."
"You try it sometime," Shinichi challenged.
"Heh...thanks, but no thanks." Kaito grinned a little.
Shinichi chuckled briefly, then sighed, finally getting a sip of his water. "Kuroba, enough with the chitchat. We need to get to the point."
"Hm? Oh, right..." Kaito cleared his throat, sitting up straight once more. "The whole reason I set all this up was because I had to find a way to show you the truth. I knew I couldn't just come right out and say it, no matter how much I wanted to...because you'd never accept it--not from me. I had to be able to point you to a source you would listen to."
"And you waited until I was unbalanced before you could reveal yourself," Shinichi said reproachfully.
"Well, yeah..." Kaito shrugged guiltily. "I had to rock your boat a little so you'd listen to me. Most of the time you're so all-fired sanctimonious, and so sure of yourself and the law that you'd never stop to think about what I said--you'd just get me arrested on the spot. I figured that if your happy little world was tilted just a bit, you'd slow down long enough for me to explain things..."
"And if I shared your guilt, I couldn't go to the police," Shinichi accused. "That was your backup plan, right? You go down, I go down with you for the attempted robbery at the Kyozou place?"
Kaito actually gaped in disbelief. "What? You...you can't think that's what I...! Jeeze, I never even contemplated that! The Kyozou mansion was for something entirely different--if you had turned me in I never would've said a word, dammit!"
"So what was all that for?" Shinichi demanded. "Why were you--?"
"You'd never belive me, you'd never listen to me--you'd never even want to know me if I didn't do something!" Kaito shot back, interrupting. "I told you--I did it all so I could tell you the truth! Do I look stupid to you? I wasn't about to walk right up to you, Mister Self-Righteous Detective, and ask you what I'm asking you now. You wouldn't have listened!"
"But what does me getting into that house have to do with us being related?" Shinichi demanded in a hissing tone, trying to keep his voice from being heard beyond their table.
"Everything," Kaito replied, equally intense. "I told you, it was a test. I wanted to see if you have it, like I do. The...the gift...you know?"
Furious, Shinichi set his fists firmly on the table. "'The gift?' You think that's a gift? Being able to break into people's houses and steal things?"
"It's more than that..." Kaito ran a hand through his bangs in a gesture remarkably similar to Kudo's, fishing for the right words. "You've got the skills and the instincts...there's really not much difference between you and me, you know--one little shove and we could both trade places easily! The gift is...is...it's something inside, okay? It just happens. I wasn't the Kid until recently, but I pulled off my first heist without a hitch--it's just something I can do. And so can you. I just wanted to find out--"
"You just wanted to find out if I was a potential partner in crime?" Shinichi almost growled.
"Yes! No! Hell, that's not what I meant...!" Kaito nearly rapped his fist against the table. "Dammit...I just...I just wanted...someone... We're family, Kudo; whether you like it or not, you're like me--don't you get it?" he snapped in frustration.
Shinichi was just about to frame a hot retort when the young waitress arrived with a large tray, bearing their food. They both hastily hid the signs of their anger as she smiled and set their dishes in front of them. When she was done, she picked up her tray and cocked an eyebrow at Kaito, almost scoldingly. "Hey, no fighting, you two--bad mood spoils good food. Shame on you, arguing on such a beautiful day! Now cheer up and eat!" With a soft laugh, the waitress continued on, going back to her duties.
Both boys blinked at her retreating back, down at their untouched plates of food, and then, finally, at each other.
There was a brief, somewhat baffled stare between them...before guilty smiles tugged at the corners of both their mouths, necessitating hasty coughs and throat-clearings to cover up what might have been chuckles. It felt weird and unexpected, but suddenly the angry tension in the air was gone.
"She's right, you know," Kaito said, picking up his chopsticks. "We're supposed to be on truce today, anyway. And...you're right too. I didn't handle things really well the other night--heck, for this whole thing. I can't really expect you to understand...Ojisan didn't raise you like Dad raised me. I ignored that, and I shouldn't have. Sometimes I'm pretty insensitive, I guess."
"No, you were right about that; back there on the roof...I wouldn't have believed you. I wouldn't have believed any of it, if not for my dad and that damn paper," Shinichi replied, digging into his own plate. "At least now I know the reason, but...we are alike, and that...that...sort of scares me. More than I really want to admit. Sometimes even I can be pretty thickheaded."
"Ye gods, he admits a fault...dost mine ears deceive me?" Kaito shoveled a mouthful, with a teasing glance.
Shinichi eyed him, not sure whether to be offended or laugh. He settled on ignoring the comment entirely, choosing to switch topics instead. "Kaito, tell me something. Why did you become Kid? That stuff you mentioned about your father being murdered by the Black Organization...?"
Kaito's expression immediately sharpened. "That's right," he replied, his words precise. "I've become my father's ghost so I can take vengeance for him--I'm gonna bring them all down and make 'em pay for it, I swear. They're after a certain jewel, and I'm gonna make sure they never get it--or anything else they're after."
Shinichi's brows went up, a bit daunted by Kaito's vehemence. "So that's why you've been whisking around snatching up jewels? It sounds like you had everything under control...in your own way. Why did you come to me now? You've known we're cousins for a long time, and you were told to keep it a secret...so why did you wait until now to tell me?"
"At first...I thought it was sort of fun--I had this secret, and you had no clue." Kaito shrugged awkwardly. "A game against you is...interesting. The chance to tell you never really came up. And besides, like I said--you'd never believe me, and I'd get arrested... To be honest, I had planned on meeting you even before I knew we're cousins. I just never quite got around to it, and then I asked Jii..."
"But why now of all times? Why didn't you plan this sooner?"
"Jii told me it was a secret," Kaito replied, poking at his food for a moment. "For a while, I kept it, even though I wanted to see if we could help each other out. Then I started wondering what it would be like if we weren't enemies...I know you, but I don't really know you--and you know me, but you didn't know who I am. But now, we could maybe...I thought...you know...we might..." Kaito shrugged suddenly, breaking off and clearing his throat. "It wasn't until recently that I began to discover the connections between the syndicate that ordered my father's murder and the Black Organization that shrunk you." He spoke earnestly now, his tones lowering. "When I started realizing that this thing is big, really big, I started thinking that it might be more than even I can handle--and that's saying something."
"You don't exactly have a low opinion of yourself, do you?" Shinichi observed, sardonic.
Kaito paused mid-thought and gave him a quirk-browed glare. "Look who's talking." Before anything could escalate into unpleasantness, the teen thief continued his narrative. "Anyway, I've seen firsthand how good you are at catching crooks...and I'm pretty sure this is the biggest batch of crooks in the world. You're good, Kudo; you're smart in different ways--in ways I'm not. We give each other headaches all the time...so I thought to myself, 'Why not combine our efforts and give them a headache instead?'"
Shinichi couldn't help the small smile that sprang up at Kaito's choice of words, but he was still hesitant--still wary. He didn't know the other youth yet, after all; cousin or not, he had little idea where Kaito was coming from. The only way he was familiar was through the guise of the phantom thief--Shinichi Kudo's enemy, a notorious criminal. He was only now beginning to understand his cousin as a person.
He eyed Kaito carefully for a couple moments, while the other teen gulped more food and then glanced up at him curiously. At Kaito's inquisitive look, Shinichi hazarded a guess. "Hey...really, you didn't do this only to beat the Black Organization or whoever...right?"
Kaito hesitated, looking caught...but he shrugged, looking back down at his food.
Shinichi leaned forward, still probing. "No...that's not all of it. You're just as stubborn and independent as me--it really burns you to get down and ask for help."
"What are you getting at?" Kaito frowned, hunching his shoulders and stuffing another bite in his mouth. "So what if I just thought we should meet? We're family, so why not?"
Shinichi suddenly had to fight back a laugh--now Kaito was the one who was uncomfortable, feeling cornered. He kept his tone level and his expression straight as he spoke. "Kuroba...you're lonely, aren't you?"
Kaito's head jerked up, his face aghast for a brief moment before indignation fell like a mask. "What? Why on Earth would you think that? I'm just fine, you know, and I don't need--"
"Nobody knows your secret, except that old man Jii, right?" Shinichi said plainly. "You're all alone--no one to talk to, no one to relate with."
Slowly, Kaito's indignation deflated, and he was poking at his food once more. "Damn, you really can see people's minds. I read people...but you understand them..."
"You haven't told anyone about what you're doing?" Shinichi asked. "Not even your family?"
"Well, there's you..." Kaito murmured with a faint smile. "Honestly, no...nobody but Jii knows. And this one crazy chick in my class, but I've never straight-up told her and I don't really know how she figured me out...but she's a witch, so...she's really weird. My mom probably guesses something's up, but she's never said anything to me...and I sure as hell can't tell Aoko--she hates Kid, and her dad's the chief inspector of our district and the guy in charge of all cases relating to me..." His voice was morose at that statement, almost hopeless.
"You mean that big blowhard Nakamori? I talked to him during the Clock Tower incident--wait, so it's his daughter that--?" Shinichi's brows went up. "Wait...Aoko--you mentioned her before; wasn't she the one you were saving that rose--?" He blinked, for a moment struck by pure astonishment and irony. "Kuroba...you..."
Reddening, Kaito promptly choked on a bite of rice as he realized where Shinichi was going--he'd just admitted his cousin's ability to see into others, and grasped that he was just about to be exposed again.
Shinichi began to chuckle, not unkindly, as he came to the truth. "You like Aoko, don't you?"
"Whoa, it's not like that!" Kaito protested abruptly, all but flailing his arms in denial. But Shinichi had already taken the idea and run with it, his chuckles turning into real laughter.
"This is good," he snorted mirthfully, keeping his voice low. "Sad, but good. Kaitou Kid in love with the police inspector's daughter...!"
Beet-red, Kaito tried frantically to shush him. "Hey, shut up, I'm not in love with her! She's just like an annoying sister who's always following me around! I barely even like her, and that's just because we grew up together! She's so bothersome and she always scolds me about everything--my grades, my magic, my behavior, my eating habits...I can't ever do anything right and she's always worrying about me for everything..."
Shinichi was watching his tirade with one elbow on the table, chin in hand, a rather humorous, skeptical look on his face, one brow raised.
Kaito glared at him. "It is not funny, and I am not in love with Aoko. So stop that."
Shinichi shrugged innocently. "I didn't say anything."
"But you were thinking it."
"How would you know?"
"I know that look."
"Oh, you mean this look?"
"Yes, that look! Knock it off!"
"I can't help it--methinks you protest too much."
"Shut up! Want me to go into your love life? Kaito threatened, still red-faced. "I've watched you sighing over Ran Mouri for the longest time..."
Shinichi actually smiled broadly, throwing Kaito off-beat. "That is not going to work on me. I know how I feel about Ran, and I understand her feelings. If you see me 'sighing' over her, it's because I can't tell her while I'm stuck as Conan."
The teenage thief stared at him, frankly struck by Shinichi's honesty. "You're not stuck now..." he said lamely.
Shinichi's expression hardened. "No, I'm not, am I? But instead of spending this rare time with her, I'm here settling things with you."
"Yeah..." Kaito gulped, managing a shaky grin. "Uh, thanks for hearing me out, by the way..."
"Let's get back on track," Shinichi said with a sigh, returning to his food. "If you want to convince me not to turn you in...and if we want to accomplish anything against the Black Organization...we need to find out exactly how we're both involved, from when, and with whom. I don't know how much you've uncovered, so I'll tell you my story--and then you tell me yours, so we can evaluate where we stand now. Start from the very beginning--and include everything you can remember. Even the smallest clue may be important."
"I know how much you love clues," Kaito commented. "Okay, fire away; I'm listening."
"Right." Shinichi's eyes grew distant as he began to spin his tale. "It all started on a Saturday a couple weeks after the Clock Tower case, when I took Ran to Tropical Land and spent the whole day with her..."
Time passed; little by little their food was consumed, and the diner gradually grew quiet as many seats were vacated. Slowly, both stories were told in the same exacting precision and attention to detail, with many questions asked and answers traded. Their mutual honesty allowed them both to see the situation in all its twisted depth, how entangled they both were, and just how very bottomless a pit they were teetering over.
Gradually, their own rivalry seemed less and less important, far overshadowed by the threat to their lives and their loved ones. In the minds of both, a strong alliance for the eventual defeat of their mutual enemy became not only a mere option, but essential; they both had facts and skills that would compliment each other in their quest for justice.
The afternoon wore on as the crucial discussion continued...
...and that day, in a commonplace little diner on an ordinary little street corner in a no-account little part of Tokyo, a partnership--no, a bond was forged between two young men...a bond of blood and will and purpose that could shake the Black Organization to its very core.
And, given the unstoppable determination and utter resolve of the two youths in question, perhaps even destroy it for good.
"Fish?" Shinichi stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk to gape at his cousin. "You're afraid of fish?"
Disgruntled and somewhat red-faced, Kaito grumbled and glared at him. "Yeah, now keep it down. It's not something I'm proud of, so shut your yap."
A very apt command--Shinichi's mouth shut quickly, though his startled expression didn't leave as they continued down the sidewalk. "That's...just...sort of...pitiful."
"Oh, you noticed that," Kaito drawled sarcastically. "It's really great when you're a grown man and you freak at the sight of a minnow--and for the life of me I can't even explain why." He snorted. "So, genius, what are you afraid of?"
"Nothing."
"Come on. Not even heights? Rats? Water? Pink tutus?"
"Nope," Shinichi replied, giving Kaito an odd look.
"Damn..."
"If it helps, I won't blab," Shinichi offered.
Kaito only grinned a little. "Too late--Aoko already knows, and she feels quite free to inflict severe terror on me whenever she's in a mood."
"Damn...!" Shinichi's daunted statement accompanied raised eyebrows.
"No kidding," Kaito responded disgustedly.
There was silence for several moments while Shinichi processed this new data, shaking his head wonderingly. "Heh, just fish..."
"Would you shut up?"
"Y'know," Shinichi said musingly, trying to hide a sly grin. "If I really wanted to keep something away from you, all I'd have to do is drop it into a tank at the Tokyo Aquarium. The eels, or the tuna maybe--or better yet, the shark tank!"
Kaito glared at his cousin again. "Smartass--don't even joke about that. Besides, that wouldn't work--nothing could keep me away from something I really wanted."
"Hm, really?" Shinichi held up his arms, hands framing an imaginary front-page newspaper story. "'Kaitou Kid's Monocle Found In Shark's Belly; Authorities Puzzled. In other news: Local Boy's Whereabouts Unknown.'"
This time, the goggled look on his face was not so easily hidden. Kaito gulped and quickly looked away while Shinichi grinned teasingly.
The two youths had left the diner and darker topics of conversation behind a while ago, having finished their mutual tales in a brooding, reflective silence as they stared at their empty plates, still sitting in their corner of the nearly-empty cafe. The implications of their connection and the syndicate out to destroy them and theirs had finally struck home, fully and completely; now they both could see what they were dealing with and how their enemy operated. After long minutes of stillness they looked up, dark blue eyes meeting and concurring in a single moment of united, unflinching, steadfast resolution.
It was silent, instant agreement. The Black Organization--and whatever branches, subdivisions, or greater syndicates it incorporated--would be taken down.
They were solemnly quiet for quite a while after that, getting up from the table at last and paying their tabs individually. Their grave demeanors earned them another look from that weird, dark-eyed boy at the counter--who had been surreptitiously watching them now and then--and they gave him a wide berth as they passed, getting chills and glancing over their shoulders somewhat nervously as they headed for the door. Their nerves were calmed somewhat when the waitress began to complain at the dark-eyed boy, loudly and vociferously about loitering in her folks' restaraunt and getting free food--and suddenly the boy's whole manner changed from quiet, dangerous suspicion to noisy, irate squabbling as he argued right back at the girl. His attention no longer on the two youths, he morphed quite startlingly into an ordinary young teen, and that strange darkness in him was gone...
But now the waitress, the strange boy, the diner, and the Black Organization were all far from their minds. It was getting a late, the sun almost completely gone as the lights of the city began to take over its illuminary duties. They were strolling down the sidewalk in the shopping district, having agreed to stick to lighter subjects for the purpose of keeping good cheer after their weighty conversation. Kaito hated being a "downer," and in his opinion Shinichi was pessimistic enough for the both of them, so they were back to avid discussions of ordinary current events, sports and games, favorite books, TV shows, or automobiles, and a few other mundane issues that would help keep their spirits up.
Sometimes a bit of "business" would creep into the conversation--investigative adventures or thieving escapades--mainly because someone wanted to share an interesting story. And sometimes a few "tools" would crop up as well--Conan's cool gadgets or Kaito's magic equipment--just because they were sort of fun to play with, too. The discussion was, for the most part, lighthearted and entertaining for both of them.
In short, they were just like any ordinary pair of teenage boys sauntering down a sidewalk in the downtown area and chattering enthusiastically about their favorite subjects.
More imporantly, they were getting to know each other.
"You're kidding--you can't ice skate?" Shinichi was once more astonished at his cousin's shortcomings.
"Not worth a damn," Kaito replied, a bit peevish--then brightened. "But I can ski like nobody's business!"
Shinichi grinned. "Great! Then we can go shred some slopes together sometime. I haven't strapped on a snowboard in a long time--haven't done it as myself since the last time my dad and I went to Colorado. I miss it."
"I'm there," Kaito concurred, thrusting out his chest as they walked. "Just point me at the snow. Look out skiiers, here comes trouble!"
"We'll hit the slopes in Colorado--or heck, we could just make a quick weekend of it in Hokkaido."
"What I really want to try," Kaito continued, hands folded behind his head, "is that kickass rocket-powered skateboard of yours."
"I thought you couldn't skate," Shinichi interjected.
"Heh, maybe I could learn to skateboard."
"Hate to bust your bubble, but Agasa told me the skateboard won't work except for when I'm small. We're too heavy at this size--it's really just a solar-powered air turbine."
"Darn..."
"Hey, I'd love to learn how to hang-glide--that would be fun!"
"I could show you sometime, if I could find Dad's spare set," Kaito said with a shrug. "It's dangerous, but there's just something about flying that I love!"
"Me too," Shinichi admitted with a grin. "I always wanted to get my own plane someday. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get a pilot's license in America."
"No kidding? Can you fly an airplane?"
"Yup, several kinds. And helicopters too."
Kaito let out a low whistle. "You lucky dog. And here I am puttering around in a dinky little hang-glider..." Suddenly, he brightened. "Hey, you think maybe your pal Professor Agasa would make me a set of engines for my glider? Then I could really go!"
Shinichi laughed nervously, trying to imagine how he would keep up with a jet-powered Kaitou Kid. "I dunno about that..."
Kaito was grinning now. "Heh, all the cops in the world couldn't catch me then! Even you couldn't match me!"
"No way! I'll have you know my skateboard can keep pace with a car!"
"But you're ground-bound."
"So what?" Shinichi grumbled. "If it wasn't for your tricky gadgets, I'd've had you a long time ago. Smoke screens and flash-bombs and crap like that..."
"Hey, whaddya call those kick shoes and all that stuff your Professor made for you?"
"Common sense."
"Nice excuse. But I bet even without my dad's equipment you still couldn't catch me."
Shinichi met Kaito's challenging gaze. "Hah! Even small I'd have you in handcuffs on the evening news."
"No way. You couldn't even catch me now."
"Put your money where your mouth is!"
"Sure!" With a short chuckle, Kaito suddenly bunched to spring, grinning at his cousin. "Then catch me if you can!"
For a moment, Shinichi gaped in astonishment as Kaito took off down the long stretch mostly-empty sidewalk--only for a moment, before he too broke into a grin and darted after him, unable to resist.
The evening air was cool and fresh, and the sidewalk was nearly bare of people. It felt so good to cut loose and just run, just move--for both of them, it released long-pent tension and relieved built-up adrenaline. Especially for Shinichi, who simply reveled in the sensation of long, strong muscles and bones and tendons working in glorious youthful harmony to boost him to speeds he could never achieve as Conan. He raced after Kaito in a sort of gleeful abandon, while his cousin laughed and glanced back over his shoulder, whooping and accelerating as he saw how quickly Shinichi was catching up.
Kaito had the advantage during the initial sprint--he'd taken off first and seemed well-suited to quick bursts of speed. But Shinichi had been a high-ranking soccer player; his lighter build and greater endurance let him creep up even with his cousin, and perhaps slowly begin to pass him...
They were laughing together, playing together, for perhaps the very first time...
But then they were clattering to a halt at the next street corner at the end of the long sidewalk, breathless and laughing like a couple of little kids. Eyes alight with vitality and spirit, they chuckled at each other's winded faces and tousled hair as they panted away the effects of their little exercise.
"Alright..." Kaito admitted, beginning to get his breath back. "I admit...you might catch me."
"You bet I would," Shinichi replied with a laugh. "But maybe not when I'm small."
"Whew! Damn, I'm outta shape. I should remember you played sports," Kaito commented, wiping at his cheek. "And you hit like a pro, too. Say, where'd a nice guy like you learn to throw a punch like that, anyway?"
Shinichi shrugged with just a hint of a confident smile. "Oh, I used to take karate with Ran, before I quit to play soccer full-time."
Kaito gaped astonishment. "Holy--! You know karate? Hell, I'm lucky you didn't knock me out...!" He turned away, shaking his head ruefully. "I don't know as much about you as I thought I did--and I was watching you for...for...whoa..."
"What?" Shinichi turned at Kaito's startled exclamation, eyes open for trouble. His cousin was blinking amazedly, taking a couple steps backward toward the curb. "What is it?"
"Jeeze...look." Kaito gripped his shoulder and turned him toward the building behind him, pulling him so that they stood side by side.
Shinichi stared at the storefront in confusion for a second, eyes roving up and down for any sign of whatever it was that had startled Kaito--until his gaze fixed on the large opaqued front windows, and the mirror-born likeness carved by street lamps in the smooth, reflective surface.
He, too, was motionless for a moment, staring at the near-identical features of the mirror images--shoulder to shoulder, almost equal in height, with the same bright, piercing blue eyes and dark unruly hair, bangs tousled over their foreheads in nearly the same manner. Their faces were stamped plainly and distinctly by the same bloodline. Their differences were few; Kaito's features bore his father's more rugged cast, with heavier brows and a strong jawline--Shinichi's high cheekbones and softer, lighter hair showed the influence of his mother's fairer features.
By some weird coincidence, they were almost dressed the same as well. Shinichi wore his good jeans along with his black turtleneck sweater, stylish and mature. Kaito had similar light-colored jeans, slightly ripped at one knee, and a black sweatshirt with a sports motif, his clothing choices more rakish and casual. To the observant eye, they mutually preferred simple types of dress that were both fashionable and would hold up under wear and tear.
"I see what you mean," Shinichi murmured when the mere couple moments of staring had passed. The resemblance that had made passersby blink and stare at them--that caused even the young waitress at the diner comment on it...
Just for a second, Kaito's hand touched his shoulder again. "Definitely family."
Shinichi glanced over to meet his cousin's gaze with a small smile. "Definitely."
Unbeknownst to the boys, Fate was about to broadside them--literally--with another weird coincidence.
They stood there in silence for a lengthy second, time almost standing still. Suddenly Kaito's eyes shifted slightly, widening, looking at something beyond Shinichi. "Uh-oh...!"
Shinichi didn't have time to ask before several things began to happen all at once--and Kaito was caught equally by surprise. Both boys were hauled around by the shoulder, shirtfronts grabbed as they were shoved practically back-to-back. Two female voices spoke loudly and rapidly, one angry, one plaintive.
Kaito was faced with a rather tearful visage framed by long dark brown hair and set with wide, worried eyes. "Uh--Mouri...! Whoa, uh--!"
"Shinichi! What are you doing here? I thought you were gone on the case! Why didn't you call me? I need your help--I can't find Conan anywhere--!"
Shinichi found himself shoved up against Kaito by an irate young woman with dark auburn hair and fiery eyes, a little shorter than Ran but more than making up for it in temper. "Wh--what--who--?"
"Kaito! Where have you been? I've been calling and calling--you took off in the middle of school without so much as a word and I want to know what you've been--!"
Everyone's words came to a halt at roughly the same instant; there was a long moment of close, careful peering by both girls before a whole round of astonished blinks as the case of mistaken identity was abruptly revealed and the two girls spotted each other over the shoulders of the guys. Everyone stepped back with wide eyes as the females tried to assmilate the shock and the males gazed at them in surprise. All four were taken aback, the boys by the girls' sudden arrivals and the girls by the startling similarity between the two boys.
"Aoko?"
"Kaito?"
"Shinichi...?"
"Ran!"
To be continued...
AN: Uh-oh, the girls have arrived! ^_^ And Aoko is here! (Just for everyone who asked.) Next chapter will be interesting indeed--I wonder how Ran and Aoko will handle this new development...? It shouldn't take long, I'm already getting to work on it! Thanks for waiting so patiently, everyone! See you for the next installment!