Here is my return gift for White day! Sorry I'm late!! Hope you like it!
I absolutely adored your gift, so I tried making homage to it!💖
Thanks again to our lovely event host Mac at @dcmkkaishinevents!!
Until next time //Wick ♡
Written for the KaiShin Secret Valentines event hosted by the lovley Mac at @dcmkkaishinevents!
Gift for: @kairei-chan
Rating: Mature
Relationship: KaiShin
Fandom: DCMK. Detective Conan & Magic Kaito
Link to AO3
Summary:
Shinichi has been keeping a mental list.
- Garlic avoidance.
- Suspiciously cold hands.
- Sleeping like a corpse.
- Questionable sun tolerance.
Evidence suggests: vampire.
He just doesn’t realize it yet.
-----
It was super fun writing when I managed to wrangle my muses. They are like hyperactive cats with zoomies sometimes. But with some catnip and good vibes sent my way by the giftee (unknowingly) to wrangle my cat muses. I made it through! 🤗
And I'm sorry if this is a hot mess. I feel really rusty on my writing. I haven't finished anything properly beyond half-assed one shots for like 7 years. So I hope it's readable 🤣💕
Piece for the secret valentines event hosted by @dcmkkaishinevents
Hi nanoyu it is I your secret gifter ^^ I selected your third prompt, I just think it's so funny that Kaito just one day started appearing as a witness on cases and wouldn't stop doing that since then XD
K: Hi mister detective we meet again!
Sh: If only it were under better circumstances, keep appearing and you could become a suspect this time
K: And I will prove my innocence each time, so what do you want to know?
They are flirting your honor
If you see something weird on the floor no you don't get glasses
If you see nothing weird on the floor then there is nothing there don't pay it much attention
Happy (late) Valentine's Day, everyone! Here's something I wrote for the @dcmkkaishinevents Valentine's event. I hope you enjoy!
The Snow Is Cold, But We'll Keep Each Other Warm (6255 words) by LMeg9_90
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 名探偵コナン | Detective Conan | Case Closed
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kudou Shinichi | Edogawa Conan/Kuroba Kaito | Kaitou Kid
Characters: Kudou Shinichi | Edogawa Conan, Kuroba Kaito | Kaitou Kid
Additional Tags: kaishin - Freeform, Getting Together, Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Romantic Fluff, Kaishin Secret Valentine 2026, KSSV26, 5+1 Things, Post-Conan Kudou Shinichi, I'm Bad At Summaries, DCMKSV26
Summary:
It wasn't that Kaito hated the snow, he loved snow! It's just that Tokyo doesn't normally get this cold. And yet somehow he keeps running into Tantei-kun in the snow. Maybe all of this cold weather can bring them closer together.
I tried domestic fluff aka a fantasy/ royal AU where Kaito tends to steal away to the local magic shows while Shinichi is busy with duties. I hope you like it! :)
also another sketch under the cut, that I had to give up bcs it got to complicated with body parts, which was them dancing at home:
Here is my piece for the @dcmkkaishinevents Valentines event. My prompt was "Introducing each other to their respective friends" which was really fun since I got to draw character I don't usually get to!
Ships: Kaishin (Kaito/Shinichi) and Shinichi & Aoko
Word Count: ~3k
A/N: This is for @mysterious_ink_slime ! I had a lot of fun with this and I hope you have fun reading it! It was betad by a friend and it's for a valentine's event by @dcmkkaishinevents
Shinichi is doing a few daily tasks for the most recent Cookie Run Kingdom event as he waits for his coffee to finish brewing. There's a conversation he had with Kaito and a few of their other friends a few months ago, at the Christmas party hosted for the police. The group of them had been tired from their various jobs and the busyness that always seems to come with that holiday and when they'd seen the gingerbread Kaito– because of course it was Kaito– it put them into sleep-deprived hysterics by Sonoko declaring the messiest looking one looked just like Shinichi. It devolved quickly with Kaito and Sonoko attempting to decide which messy gingerbread man looked more like him until Ran declared she was a cinnamon cookie and it rapidly spiraled. He's been thinking about it a lot lately, looking at Manju Cookie. From the smirk Manju wears to his personality, it feels pretty perfect. It would be difficult, but maybe if he got help…
The obvious solution, of course, is Ran. Except Ran is more of a cook than a baker– as she has tried on several occasions to explain to Shinichi– so instead he goes to Aoko, who does both. She looks at the image and immediately laughs. Shinichi guesses she sees the resemblance, too. Thankfully, she also agrees to help him. They wait for a day when Kaito is teaching a small magic class he started for fun so Kaito doesn't question why Shinichi would visit Aoko, not because they think he would ask but because they don't want to risk Kaito becoming suspcious. One of the things Shinichi loves about Kaito is how smart he is, how difficult it is to win against him. This does have the consequence of turning any holiday or anniversary where gifts are exchanged into a sort of quiet challenge for both of them. Aoko helps with this, too. When they finish with the dough and set it aside to refrigerate, she tucks it into a box labeled 'fish' to keep Kaito from finding it and asking questions. Shinichi usually just hides things behind his coffee and that only works half the time. He is taking notes, though only for special occasions.
Maybe one day.
"We'll have to shape it carefully," Aoko warns. "And make multiple, just in case."
Shinichi nods. It makes sense, with Manju's ears and ornaments. Especially the stem of his pipe. It's only one of the reasons why creating the cookie makes him a little nervous, but he wants to try and Aoko makes him feel a little better about trying. Though she wanted to put red bean paste in it and create a stuffed cookie, since Manju Cookie is likely made with it in the game, though the thought of that made him even more nervous so she agreed on the simple butter cookies.
"Alright, so lets roll the dough out," Aoko says, setting a ball of chilled butter cookie dough on the counter. It's already been dusted with flour and Shinichi nods, thinking unwillingly of every single time he's ever burned anything in his entire life. Aoko smiles at him and he takes the rolling pin, placing the dough on the flour and starting to roll it out. It spreads like a pancake, getting thinner every time he presses along it with the pin until Aoko stops him. The dough still looks pretty thick, but Aoko says they want it thick so the cookie doesn't crack and break.
"This is where it gets a little difficult," Aoko warns him and pulls out a small knife he doesn't think is traditionally used for baking, but Shinichi doesn't know enough to actually tell. She sets it to the side, pulling out two pencils and some heavy paper as well. "We'll draw it first then use that as a stencil to cut the shape with the knife. Since we don't have a cutter."
"Are you sure about this?" Shinichi asks, wary at both the idea of drawing it and also cutting the dough. But Aoko nods so he takes the pencil, hoping at least that they'll use hers when his turns out to be bad.
They don't.
"I really think we should use yours," Shinichi insists.
"Aoko disagrees," Aoko says pleasantly, head moving from side to side like she's been animated by Milt Kahl. Shinichi scowls, both because of Aoko's insistance– knowing that they will use his– and because clearly he's been around Kaito too long if he's relating human movement to a cartoon. At least she seems pleased.
"Fine," he sighs, grabbing the scissors, but Aoko stops him before he can start to cut his drawing out.
"This Aoko will do," she says, and he's relieved that at least this much he's free from messing up. Though he does want to protest because his drawing skills might be bad but he's got a great eye for detail. (He doesn't protest.) She cuts it out, making sure not a bit of the drawing is lost in a way Shinichi's not certain he could've. Then she takes the cut out paper and places it on top of the rolled out dough, before handing him the knife. "This you do."
"Do I have to do all of them?" Shinichi asks hopefully and Aoko gives him a tired look he's only ever received from Ran.
"No, Aoko will do some as well," Aoko agrees easily, making Shinichi give a sigh of relief. Of course he'll still do his best, but it's good to have the safety net. Despite himself, he's not very confident in his arts and crafts skills and his time as Conan only compounded that. As he cuts the soft dough as carefully as he can, cringing every time it wrinkles up, Aoko pulls out the things they'll need to frost them once they're done baking. He's not really sure how they're going to get everything the right colour, until Aoko pulls out an airbrush. She smiles at his surprised look.
"You didn't think Aoko'd take some things from work for this?" She teases.
"Not really, no," Shinichi admits. It seems like a lot to do to help someone else with a valentine's gift, but maybe she's going to be using it for her own project. He can see Aoko making chocolate for the friend group, especially Kaito who makes Shinichi almost inclined to believe in bad luck with how rotten Kaito's turns each year.
"Just for that, Aoko won't let you use it," Aoko sniffs, turning her nose up, and Shinichi narrows his eyes at her.
"Would you have let me use it anyway?" Shinichi asks.
"Nope," Aoko says.
"If I was anyone el-"
"Yep," Aoko interrupts without remorse, laughing at his expression.
"They're not very sweet," Shinichi says when he tries one of them. The cookies are finished baking and mostly cool, browned on the bottom but still kind of pale on the top with a soft crunch he knows will get better when they've cooled entirely. The lack of sweetness isn't a problem for him, but he knows Kaito likes sweeter foods. Especially when it comes to baked goods.
"They're not meant to be," Aoko says as she uses the sprayed food dye to colour the outfit. Since only one of these is going to be given to Kaito, she's apparently taken advantage and is having fun colouring them as she pleases. Privately, Shinichi thinks it's to force him into taking the one he's made. Cruel but unfortunately clever. As well as another reminder that Kaito and Aoko did in fact grow up together. "We bake them every year, so don't worry. Kaito will like it."
Shinichi nods and stops thinking about it anyway when Aoko pushes the bowls of frosting they'd made toward him. He frowns at the red, which Aoko made because when Shinichi tried he didn't get any darker than a sad pink despite how dark the dye stained his fingers. At least the bronze was easier, even if he thinks it looks a little strange in its bowl. The black is the easiest, though he has trouble opening the bottle of blue, squeezing the bottle as he does which makes it splatter on Aoko's wrist. She retaliates by squirting green at him, catching his arm and making him thankful he's not wearing anything with long sleeves and took his jacket off earlier. Not that the dye would probably show much on the dark fabric and Shinichi knows how to get most stains out thanks to his work. But still, it saves him time. (Though he'll probably have the food dye on his skin for days.)
"Here, taste this," Aoko says, using the spatula to put some icing onto one of the cookies she made. He takes it when she hands it to him and this time, the cookie is definitely sweet. At least the icing is, though the cookie seems to mellow it out slightly as he chews. He can't deny it's a good cookie. "Better?" she asks and Shinichi doesn't quite understand why at first, until he remembers his concern about the sweetness.
"Definitely," Shinichi says.
Getting icing on cookies is an even messier process than making it. Shinichi ends up with it on his fingers and wrist and even streaked across his elbow, from accidentally leaning too close to one of the bowls as he tried his best to be careful with where the frosting was going. But he's mostly proud when he's finished. Plenty of them are somehow lopsided, with frosting blending into each other badly, but there are several that actually look good. There is one that is definitely the best, the red ribbon tying Manju cookie's staff to his waist not getting lost in the black kimono like several of the others. Aoko spray brushes them all and they tuck his– and only his– into a box, the one perfect cookie at the top.
"Oh, shoot, Aoko has to go to work," Aoko says when they're finished, looking at the clock and Shinichi frowns because he didn't think Aoko worked today. Before Shinichi can say anything, Aoko is pushing him out the door, putting the box of his cookies in his hand. "Kaito will love them, don't forget to put them in the fridge, and Aoko'll see you tomorrow!"
"Alright?" Shinichi says rather belatedly, standing on Aoko's front steps with a small, confused frown. Glancing at Kaito's house, he figures it's probably for the best to leave anyway. That way Kaito doesn't come home and ask why Shinichi is there.
Shinichi is panicking. There is one cookie– one– that was the best and Shinichi, like a hubristic fool, decided to bring this singular cookie instead of bringing a group. He should've brought all of them, Kaito would've loved to have more than one. "I'm going back home," he declares to Aoko who sees his panic and stops him.
"Why?" She asks, concerned, and Shinichi shows her the damage. One of the tassles broke off of the cookie in transportation. Aoko gives him a flat look. "Just give it to him, he won't care."
"But I care!" Shinichi argues. "It has to be correct or it's not right and I can't have it not be just right- and don't you dare give me that 'it's the thought that counts' stuff!"
Of course, Aoko grins at him anyhow as she gleefully says, "It's the thought that counts." Then she adds, "Kaito's will probably be worse, anyhow."
"Kaito's what?" Shinichi asks, eyebrows lowering, but Aoko notices the others in a way he thinks is purposeful and leaves him behind. He stares after her, curious but mostly distracted by his broken gift and also feeling oddly betrayed. She's right, anyway, he knows. Even broken, Kaito will like it, he's sure.
When he does give it to Kaito, Kaito laughs in a way that's eerily similar to how Aoko did when Shinichi asked for her help. And then Kaito pulls out his own gift: a butter cookie made to look like Cheddar Cheese Cookie. Because of course after all this time of knowing each other, they manage to have the same idea.
"Did Aoko help you, too?" Shinichi asks and Kaito nods.
"A little bit. I'm not surprised to find out she helped you, I knew she looked too smug when I was packing them up today, the traitor," Kaito says, shaking his head.
"Smug?" Shinichi raises an eyebrow, though he has a feeling not everything is as it seems. Aoko's words are starting to make sense.
"Don't tell Hattori, but he lost a leg," Kaito says, showing him a second cookie he recognizes as Macaroni Cookie.
"You made both of them?" Shinichi asks, smiling, because even with the leg broken off of Macaroni's they both look great. It doesn't surprise him in the slightest that they do.
"Well I couldn't separate them, could I?" Kaito returns his smile with one of his own. "You need your sidekick."
"Sidekick!" Heiji protests, quiet and bothering Hakuba during all the rest but tuning in at the slight, making his way over to him. "If anyone's the sidekick it's Kudou, not me." He pauses, looking at the cookies they've exchanged. "Are those the characters from that game you two're always playin'?"
"Yep! Here's yours," Kaito presents Heiji his proudly, despite the lack of leg, and Heiji blinks at it before taking it with a wary look. "It's not poisoned."
"I wasn't thinkin' that-!" Heiji protests, muttering a, "Though now I am."
"So do you have cookie run counterparts for anyone else in there?" Shinichi asks, looking at the box Kaito is carrying. Kaito grins and pulls out an Almond Cookie he can only assume represents Hakuba.
"Do you want to help me explain?" Kaito asks and Shinichi shakes his head, amused.
"Sure. We could get you some of Aoko's chocolate, too, before everyone eats it all," Shinichi says.
"Let them have it, she already gave me my own box when I went over for breakfast." Kaito shrugs and Shinichi looks over at him, not doubtful that Aoko gave him a box but doubtful that he won't try to steal more. Kaito meets his eye. "Weeeell, maybe a few more wouldn't hurt."
They would, but mostly because he'll be fighting for them. Shinichi takes the container from him to keep the cookies safe and Kaito bounces off, already causing havoc between himself, Aoko, Akako, Heiji, and Sonoko.
"So how did the cookie go?" Ran asks, sliding over to him while the others are distracted and he gives her the partly broken cookie in its bag. She's careful as she takes it, looking it over. "It's cute."
"Thanks," Shinichi says with a smile.
"And Kaito?" She asks, looking at him.
"Laughed," Shinichi says and Ran frowns, glancing over at where Kaito has bounced himself onto a counter, the box if Aoko's chocolates tucked securely under his arm. Despite Kaito's usual balance, his boyfriend tips and nearly falls except for Hakuba absently catching him. Ran opens her mouth, but Shinichi shows her the box Kaito made before she can mention how surprisingly rude of a response that is. Instead, a laugh comes out.
"I feel like I should've expected this," Ran says, gingerly picking one of them out.
"So did I," Shinichi agrees. They move to sit at the table, Ran carefully looking through the box with Shinichi. Every so often, Shinichi's attention gets stolen for the briefest of moments by Kaito. Be it because Sonoko is yelling or Kaito squeals from Aoko nearly catching him. Meanwhile Ran simply ignores them all. Like a cat owner long used to the chaos. He rests his elbows on the wood, content.
"Hey! Spoilers!" Kaito interrupts them eventually, sitting down onto the table and grabbing the box. He fumbles it, swearing, but Ran grabs it before it can fall.
"Why don't we pass these out before more break?" Shinichi suggests, taking the box when Ran hands it to him, and Kaito nods. He drops back to the floor with a small flourish, likely to make up for the near tragedy with the cookies.
"Miss Mouri first, then, as thanks for saving the cookie kingdom," Kaito says, pulling out Wildberry Cookie and handing him to her as he sits down beside them both. Shinichi wasn't sure who Kaiti would've picked for all of them and though Wildberry seems a little odd, he can't deny it's a good pick. They're both protective, strong, and loyal even when the person they're loyal to might not deserve it.
"Alright, explain who this is to me again?" Ran says, looking at the iced butter cookie. Kaito beams, already launching into an explanation and Shinichi settles in to help.
I went with Prompt 3 for your gift! in a direction that I might have gone a different direction than expected haha - I'll explain below the cut.
And of course, thank you @dcmkkaishinevents for hosting the event!!
So the original prompt had Cinderella and masquerade - which I really latched onto the moment I saw the prompt.
I had initially wanted to draw a scene about - ! But the ideas I had either wouldn't make sense in my head (Shinichi having a magic amulet to disguise himself that ran out of magic and Kaito covering for him) or was just plain angst (Kaito hiding a freshly transformed (or detransformed) Conan as his time has ran out).
So I moved on to the next memorable moment of Cinderella, the staircase scene! And while there was the initially idea of just the boys running down the stairs - I thought it'd be cute too if they were escaping from the ball and just hiding right below the stairs. For this scene, it's actually Shinichi as the prince who was feeling overwhelmed at the ball and Kaito who just notices and helps him escape for a rest!
It has been ten months since they made things official. Shinichi finally said yes to Kaito on the day they first met. It was a tough battle, both having lots of self-doubts and troubling thoughts after having failed their previous relationships. They knew they weren't ready for a serious, committed thing if they haven't learned their lessons.
Now, Valentines Day is around the corner and Kaito is having a meltdown. He can't think of a date they havent done already. Fancy dinners, amusement parks (that was a hard date to get through for poor Shinichi), and murder scenes are overrated for date ideas when it comes to them. Kaito spent days searching for a new way to celebrate their first V-day but nothing came to mind. He laid down on the couch, defeated and in need of company. He scooted a bit more to Shinichi's side.
"Shinichi, is there anything you wanna do tomorrow?"
"Hmm.." Shinichi paused, taking his eyes off his book to look at Kaito, "Not really? There is a convention happening at-"
"No Sherlock-themed stuff on Valentines' Day please."
"Tsk," Shinichi puts his book down. That's one idea out the window, then again, it would be more or less enjoyable to him only. It's not fair to put Kaito through that when he already deals with a more obnoxious Sherlock fan back in Ekoda.
They fall back into silence, Kaito slumps over Shinichi's lap and groans. Shinichi pats his head as a half-hearted attempt at comfort. He doesn't really mind not having any plans on that day. It was just a commercialized "holiday" by capitalists.
"We can just stay at home, you know? Having you with me is enough." Shinichi smiled and waited for Kaito. He hopes that reason is enough to make Kaito see that he doesn't need to plan something elaborate and extraordinary. Anything simple is already special to Shinichi.
"I know but It's our first Valentines' Day as a full-fledged couple! I want to us to do something out of the ordinary! Not.. near-death experiences and explosions though. Something simple but different." Kaito pouts, unrelenting and refusing to give up. Was it this hard coming up with a date before? Maybe they should just drive around and-
"!!" Kaito abruptly sits up, startling Shinichi. "Woah! Kaito?"
"A drive-in movie date!" He turns to look at Shinichi, "We haven't done that yet, right?"
"Nope, I've never been to one and I don't think there's a drive-in theater anywhere near Beika."
"Then let me look for one and we'll go there immediately!" Kaito rushes to open his phone and starts searching for nearby theaters, grinning from ear to ear. Shinichi shrugs and returns to his book. Looks like they'll be out the entire day tomorrow. At least it'll be with Kaito.
⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆
Happy Valentines' Day!
This secret valentine gift is for @lmeg9 ! I picked the first prompt for your gift! I had fun trying to come up with what they should do for their date~ I think I projected a lil bit on Kaito hehe~ I hope you like it!
Here's a playlist of songs I listened to while writing down the prequel and to get in the mood while drawing~!
PLAYLIST
Thank you for @dcmkkaishinevents for hosting as always! It's always a joy to participate in the events!
And thank you @dcmkkaishinevents for hosting the event!
I chose prompt 3 especially with that specific image that lives rent free in your mind >< it sparked something in me as well so I made a comic for it. Although lack of time make it a bit rushed and doesn't really have any specific direction ;; but!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Written for the Kaishin Secret Valentine's Exchange! My secret Valentine was @sleepypulgx, I tried to fill both prompts 1 and 3 (and had a *very* fun time doing so XD). Thanks to @dcmkkaishinevents for running an amazing and really fun new event!!
Endless gratitude to my amazing beta @grayraincurtain <3 <3 <3
Fic posted at the link above or below the cut!
Title: feline sus
Summary: Shinichi and Kaito team up to solve a mystery centered on a cat cafe
Tags: Post-Canon, Post-Conan, Case Fic, more of a cozy mystery than a proper case fic really, Fluff and Crack, Cat Cafe, Blood, it's just a head wound those bleed a lot, Shinichi is fine but Kaito gets pretty scared for a minute there, so just in case any readers are worried this is your reassurance that everything turns out okay I promise, Identity Reveal, Aoko doesn't mean to but she does, which freaks Kaito out, and then that freaks Shinichi out, until Haibara knocks some sense into him
*~*
Shinichi hadn't wanted to go.
Whenever Sonoko demanded his presence, without fail, he regretted going. Unfortunately, Ran had also asked for him to come - so here he was, against his better judgment, sitting in a cafe with Sonoko glaring at him and Ran comforting a vaguely familiar-looking young woman on the verge of tears.
He let them finish murmuring to each other, then smiled into wide, wet eyes. "How can I help?"
"I, um. I'm not exactly sure, Kudo-san, but - well - I can't call the police, you see - "
"I understand. Tell me what happened, from the beginning - no detail is too small."
She took a deep breath. "About six months ago, my cat Gyoza slipped out of a window I'd left cracked, and she never made it home. I'd put up missing posters everywhere I could think of, even offered a reward - but no one had seen her since she was last in my apartment.
"I moved to Ekoda a little while back, and a couple days ago I visited a local cat cafe I'd heard about - with great food and plenty of friendly cats. I'd been missing Gyoza particularly badly that day, and I thought getting to pet some other cats might cheer me up. And then, right there as I walked in, was Gyoza!"
"Gyoza was in the cat cafe?"
"I'm almost positive! She came right up to me and greeted me just like she always did at home, and she looked *exactly* like Gyoza, markings and everything! But when I asked Matsuda-san - the cafe owner - if she'd scanned any of her cats for microchips, because of course I microchipped Gyoza, she threw me out!" the teary woman cried indignantly.
"Do you remember anything specific about what Matsuda-san said?"
She frowned. "Matsuda-san said of course she checked her cats for microchips. And when I asked her if she was sure, because I was wondering if she might have taken in my missing cat by mistake, she was suddenly so angry. She yelled something about me being a cat thief and threatened to call the police if I didn't leave! So of course I did, but...Kudo-san, I *know* my cat, and I'm almost positive Matsuda-san has Gyoza. I just...don't know how to prove it without a microchip scanner," she finished quietly, slumping defeatedly in her chair.
"Oh, don't worry about that part, I know someone who'd relish the challenge," Shinichi reassured her. "But if this Matsuda-san has already threatened you, you shouldn't go back. It'd be very helpful if you could write down everything that would be on Gyoza's microchip, and any information you have on Matsuda-san's cafe. Especially the layout, if you remember it." He handed her his notebook and his pencil with a smile.
When Ran nodded encouragingly, the confused-looking woman took the offered items and began to write.
"Thanks," Sonoko offered grudgingly. "I didn't know who else to call about Midori-chan's problem."
Oh! Fujisawa Midori! Shinichi remembered her now, a girl friendly with Ran and in the drama club with Sonoko. "Happy to help," he replied out loud.
"And you better solve this one, mystery geek," Sonoko grumbled. "Midori-chan deserves the truth."
"I always find the truth, Sonoko," Shinichi reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah. Just saying."
Shinichi (barely) refrained from rolling his eyes, and only by realizing that he'd need a partner for investigating the cat cafe - he wouldn't be able to distract Matsuda-san and scan the cats for microchips at the same time...but if the police were out of the question, who could he ask?
*~*
Carefully, Kaito tilted the gem in the moonlight - but no flash of red.
"Ah well," he sighed to himself as he lowered it again.
"The search continues, huh?"
Kaito yelped and nearly fumbled the gem as fucking Kudo Shinichi stepped out of the shadows of the roof. "What the *fuck*, Meitantei?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you heard me," the detective apologized.
"Well, I was a little distracted," Kaito huffed, wiggling the gem before tossing it over - and of course Meitantei caught it easily. "Now that I've turned over the jewel and you've managed to give me a small heart attack, are we done here?"
"Actually, KID, I'm here to ask a favor."
"Ohh? What could such a great detective need from a phantom thief?"
"A partner I can trust," Kudo replied bluntly.
"Do tell."
"A...friend of a friend thinks her cat's been catnapped and kept in a cat cafe, but we'd need to scan for a microchip to be sure, and the owner is already hostile at the mention of a microchip scan."
"I see, can't distract the owner and scan at the same time," Kaito hummed. "Why me, though?"
"You keep a calm head in a crisis, and you can take care of yourself if the owner gets hostile," Kudo rattled off. "Not to mention the disguise skills to look like whoever you'd like and avoid any possible future retaliation attempts, should the owner prove to be the vengeful type."
"You really have thought this through. But what I'm not hearing is what's in it for me," Kaito smirked.
"Helping a pet and their owner reunite, for one," Kudo replied. "And apparently the food at the cafe is pretty great."
Katio perked up at that. "And lunch will be on you?"
Kudo rolled his eyes. "Sure, KID. If you come and help me out, lunch is my treat."
"Done!" Kaito crowed. "Is there anything specific you need or want me to bring - or dress as, for that matter?"
"Someone I know is already working on the microchip scanner," the detective hummed. "Other than that, lockpicks would probably be a good idea, and any persona who's an animal person would probably be best."
"Haiii~" Kaito saluted him cheerfully.
He knew *exactly* who to dress as.
*~*
Shinichi made sure to head to the cat cafe early; KID had refused to tell him who he'd arrive as, insisting on it being a surprise. The detective hadn't had much of a choice, so he wanted to make sure he arrived early, with Agasa's microchip scanner in hand, and hopefully beat KID to the cafe.
(He should've known better.)
Instead, as Shinichi walked through the merrily chiming door, he was greeted by a woman with long black hair in a perfectly neat high ponytail and a scar on her nose, cheerfully chatting over a slice of chocolate cake with who, according to the picture on the website, seemed to be cafe owner Matsuda-san.
"Oh, there he is! Over here, Shin-chan!" the unfamiliar woman eating the cake waved.
Shinichi squashed his instinctive urge to flinch at his mother's nickname for him coming out of a stranger's mouth and tried to smile as genuinely as possible. "I see you got started without me - and after I stopped to pick up that book you wanted!"
"Ooh, thank you," she chirped, taking the book he carefully handed her.
"You're welcome," he replied graciously before smiling at Matsuda-san. "Would it be possible to get an espresso and - would you happen to have any lemon desserts ready today?"
"I've got lemon bars!"
"One of those and an espresso, please. Thank you."
Matsuda-san nodded happily and bustled off.
"Shin-chan, really?" the detective hissed when she was out of earshot. "My *mother* calls me that, KID."
"Sorry, Meitantei, it slipped out," KID grimaced apologetically.
"I suppose we have more important things to focus on," Shinichi grumbled before pointing at the book. "My contact inserted a microchip reader in the spine - "
KID deftly scooped up a passing cat, expertly scanned and had it back on the floor before it had time to meow in protest. "Got it," the phantom thief cheered before frowning. "Hmm. That's odd."
"What's odd?"
"This cat's microchip has an address not too far from this cafe - and not too far from Fujisawa-chan's place, either, based on the address she gave you."
"Interesting. Two might be a coincidence, but three..."
KID nodded.
"Since you're clearly quicker with the scanner than I am - " Shinchi cut himself off, because - "Shit, Matsuda-san's coming back already - who the hell are you disguised as?"
"Hina-chan, just call me Hina-chan," KID hissed before a cheerful smile took over her face.
"Matsuda-san! Back so quickly with Shin-chan's..." KID wrinkled her nose. "...strong choices," she finished diplomatically.
"Hey! Lemon and coffee are delicious - not that you have any room to judge, you chocoholic."
She gasped dramatically. "You take that back! Do you see what I have to deal with, Matsuda-san??"
"Well, Hinata-chan, if that's the most contentious disagreement you two have? I think you two are doing quite well as a couple," the cafe owner laughed.
Shinichi fought to maintain his easygoing expression as his brain froze, because - couple?? Him and *KID*??
KID, of course, took it in stride (the bastard), giggling delightedly. "Well, maybe you're right Matsuda-san." Shinichi braced himself not to react as she leaned in to kiss his cheek and whisper a quiet, "Keep her occupied" before drawing back, smiling flirtily and slipping Agasa's book in her purse. "I'll be back in a sec!" she chirped as she left the table.
"No she won't," Shinichi laughed to himself, "she's off to pet the cats, she's probably going to be gone for a while." There, now Matsuda-san won't wonder where KID went.
"You're a lucky man." She smiled softly.
"I sure am," he agreed as genuinely as he could muster. "Hina-chan's amazing." That was true, at least; KID *was* amazing.
"Ahh, young love," the cafe owner sighed dreamily. "Where did you two meet?"
"A rooftop, actually."
"Ohh, like a rooftop restaurant?"
"Something like that," Shinichi laughed.
"Is that where you first figured out that you prefer acidic tastes to sweet and she's the opposite?"
"Not yet, that's a more recent revelation."
"I see, I see. And being in a relationship, is that a more recent revelation too?"
Shinichi nearly choked on his coffee. "Excuse me?"
"Oh, you two are rather obvious - you're not really comfortable in each others' space. At least not yet."
"Well - uh - "
"It's nothing to be ashamed of!" she laughed. "I'm honored to be the location of your first date! I assume she's the cat person, since she's off playing with the cats while you're sitting here drinking coffee?"
"Ha, you got me," Shinichi admitted. "Not the biggest animal fan."
"But you called out from work and came anyway, to make your girlfriend happy! Very romantic."
"Well, I didn't have to call out from work, neither of us did," Shinichi corrected. "We're both freelancers."
"Really? You're dressed very nicely for freelancers."
Probably true, but still rude, so Shinichi let himself frown. "Family money," he replied curtly.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend! I'm just - taking care of all these cats is not cheap, and plenty of visitors can't afford donations, but - " She cut herself off, wringing her hands.
Her worry for the cats did seem genuine, and it wasn't like he couldn't afford it. Shinichi pulled out his checkbook.
"Oh my goodness, thank you, thank you," Matsuda-san gushed as she took the check he handed her.
"Of course, happy to help," Shinichi replied on autopilot, looking down at the lemon bar he'd been neglecting as they talked. He was in the middle of taking another bite when something heavy collided with his skull, and everything went black.
*~*
Once Kaito was far enough away to be out of Matsuda-san's sightline, he dropped to his knees and pulled a variety of cat treats out of his purse; he was immediately swarmed.
While the cats were occupied with the treats, Katio scanned them for microchips and wrote down what each microchip said as well as the name on that cat's collar, so they could find them later. (Ayame, for example, ended up being Fujisawa-chan's Gyoza.)
Kaito was just scribbling down the last cat's address and collar name when he heard a heavy sigh from behind him.
He whirled around to see Matsuda-san wielding a blood-spattered vase. "What are you doing, Hinata-chan?" she asked ominously. "If that's even your real name."
Later, Kaito would recognize that this was his chance to play damsel and hopefully cause Matsuda-san to hesitate long enough to catch her off-guard.
But in the moment, all he could think about was the blood dripping off the vase.
"What did you do?" he breathed shakily.
"Dealt with a meddler," she snarled. "A detective, in my cafe! Probably hired by that whiny girl, the one who couldn't take care of her cat - "
"She has a name."
"Who cares! She let her cat escape, and I found her wandering the streets - of course I couldn't let my sweet Ayame go back to a neglectful home! Cats die on the street everyday - and I should know, I *know* what happens when cats get let outside. But here? Here, they're safe - *I* keep them safe, unlike those so-called owners!"
"Noble reason or not, Matsuda-san, you still stole cats from their families."
"I knew your detective would see it that way, that those neglectful children would too...but even you, Hinata-chan? You can't see the good that I'm doing?"
"How can I, Matsuda-san, when you're holding a bloody vase like you mean to hit me with it?" Kaito asked.
She recoiled, then stared at the vase she was holding, dripping with blood.
That's when Kaito sprayed her with sleeping gas, tearing off towards Kudo before Matsuda-san even hit the ground.
He skidded to a halt and immediately checked for - there it was. A pulse. Pretty strong one, even; Kudo would probably be okay. But...there was a lot of blood. So Kaito used the cafe phone to call the person he knew would be the most help as he tore off his shirt to stem the blood flow.
"Kaito-kun, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Nakamori-keibu, but...my friend's not. He's got a head wound, bleeding a lot, but I'm trying to stop it. We're at - " and Kaito rattled off the cafe address.
"Got it. Don't worry, Kaito, and ambulance is on its way as we speak and I'll be right behind it, just sit tight."
"Okay. Thank you," Kaito whispered.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Nakamori-keibu promised before hanging up.
The keibu was coming. The keibu was coming, Kaito had to ditch his Hinata disguise for his everyday Kaito look *now*, or the keibu would have questions Kaito didn't want to answer.
(The quicker he did it, the quicker he could be back to keep a finger on Kudo's reassuringly steady pulse.)
*~*
There was a steady beeping noise, and Shinichi shifted uncomfortably as he recognized the sound.
He was in a hospital. Again.
Carefully, he cracked his eyes open. No pain, so he opened them all the way.
And right there at his bedside was his doppelganger. Or, well, his doppelganger with the worst case of bedhead Shinichi had ever seen.
"No way my bedhead's that bad," he croaked.
His doppelganger startled, then beamed, grabbing his hand. "It's not, Meitantei, don't worry," he said in KID's voice.
Shinichi relaxed. Whatever the reason for KID deciding to disguise so much like him, he looked like he'd gotten out of the cafe unscathed - unlike him, apparently. "What happened?"
"It seems Matsuda-san figured out who you were after you handed her a donation from your personal checkbook - which, by the way, Kudo, what the *hell* were you thinking?"
"...I wasn't?" Shinichi offered weakly.
KID rolled his eyes. "Anyway. She knocked you out with a nearby vase and then came over to find me with the cats. She started monologuing about how all the owners weren't taking proper care of their cats, that only she would - I did a little digging while you were out, turns out she had a whole website that started with an awful post about her family letting her pet cat escape and he died in a car accident."
"Sad. Still catnapping," Shinichi grumbled.
"Agreed. Luckily the police department is coordinating with the local vets to get all the cats checked out, scanned to confirm the addresses I found, and returned back to their owners. Gyoza is already back with Fujisawa-chan."
"Great, now Sonoko won't have to kill me," Shinichi mumbled through a yawn.
KID didn't have a snappy retort to that, and Shinichi was surprised to see him looking - for just a moment before his face smoothed back out - scared.
"I'm kidding, KID, she wouldn't - "
"I know. I know, Kudo, just...you didn't see yourself passed out in a pool of blood," the thief muttered, turning his head away.
Shinichi squeezed the hand he still held. He hadn't realized that KID would care so much, but now was not the time for teasing. "Hey, takes more than a vase to take me out, I'm fine - "
KID turned to face him again, a paper-thin grin plastered on his face. "Of course you were, KID-sama was there to save the day!"
Shinichi frowned as that comment reminded him - "Wait. You were there, but you were still disguised as Hina-chan. You changed, why?"
"Meitantei, you know a magician never reveals his secrets," KID laughed, but Shinichi could see the way KID's eyes flickered around, avoiding his gaze almost nervously. And after KID had very possibly saved his life, prying questions were a poor repayment.
"Of course, KID. I'm sorry. Thank you for - thank you for everything."
"My pleasure, Meitantei. After all, heists would be boring without my favorite critic," KID teased.
"Get out of here before somebody finds you," Shinichi grumbled, feeling his face heat.
KID blew him a kiss and was about to walk out the door when someone crashed through it and right into him.
"Baaaaakaito, there you are! Aoko's been looking for you, didn't you get my texts?"
"I, uh, no - "
"Charge your phone!! Kudo-san, how do you deal with being friends with this idiot, huh?"
"I - friends?"
This Aoko person suddenly looked very concerned. "Kaito told Tou-san that his friend needed help - Kudo-san, you know who Kaito is, right?"
But Shinichi was still stuck on - "We're friends?"
She gasped. "Oh no, Kaito, he got hit in the head and he doesn't remember you, could he have amnesia??"
"He could, Aoko, let's go get the doctor," KID immediately agreed as he pushed her out the door, ignoring Shinichi's protests that he was fine and throwing the detective one last terrified glance as the door closed.
Shinichi couldn't even think of trying to get up and go after him before the doctor and nurses swarmed his bedside to confirm whether or not he had amnesia. By the time they finally believed him that he was amnesia-free, Shinichi had gotten to thinking - should he even try to talk to KID? KID was the one who had left of his own volition - and had been clearly terrified of *Shinichi*, for whatever reason.
No. No, better to wait for KID to come to him - however long that might take.
*~*
By week three of KID avoiding him - even at the one KID heist he'd allowed himself to attend! - Shinichi could admit he was moping a little. (Fujisawa-san coming by to thank him for returning Gyoza home lifted his mood for a little while, but it didn't last long.)
He didn't think it was severe enough to warrant the glare Haibara was giving him, though.
"Here's his address. Go put both of you poor bastards out of your misery."
"Wh - Haibara!"
"I can't keep watching you drip your damn feelings all over the professor's house anymore, it's depressing *and* distracting," she snapped. "Just go and talk to him. You know, person-to-person communication? I hear it works wonders."
"Rude," Shinichi muttered. "Besides, he's the one who left scared - I don't want him to feel cornered."
"Did you ever think that maybe he left scared because he thought you might tell his civilian friend that he's KID?" she asked impatiently. “Or that your continued silence is just making him more scared, because he has no idea what you're thinking or planning, now that you can figure out who he is? Do you really want to lose him over something this stupid?"
Throat tight, Shinichi shook his head.
Haibara slapped the piece of paper into his hand. "Go fix it, then you'll stop moping."
The detective nodded.
"*Now*, Kudo!"
He went.
*~*
Shinichi had some time to think on the train ride to Ekoda. About how much KID's silence had hurt.
But then...why? Hattori went radio silent all the time, and it never bothered him. It had when it was Ran, but - but that was different. He'd thought he had romantic feelings for Ran then.
...Wait. Waitwaitwait. Did that mean - ? Did he - *could* he have feelings for KID?
And if he had, all this time...how the hell did you ask a phantom thief that's been flirting with you for years out for a date *and* get him to take it seriously??
(He still didn't have an answer by the time he knocked on KID's door.)
*~*
The last person Kaito had expected on his doorstep was the detective he'd been avoiding.
"Before you say anything!" the detective blurted. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I didn't intend to blow your cover with your friend, and I didn't mean to confuse you by giving you too much space afterwards. I just...I didn't want to scare you. You looked terrified when you left," he finished quietly.
"I - uh - I appreciate that," Kaito replied automatically through the shock (the detective was *here* and *apologizing* and all of Kaito's worrying had really just been catastrophizing). "Apology accepted."
Kudo took a deep breath. "I thought - maybe we could get lunch without the undercover part this time?"
"Why, detective!" Kaito gasped dramatically. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
The detective flushed, then straightened his shoulders. "Yeah. Yeah I am. No murder at our first lunch was a good sign - up for seeing if we can get lucky twice in a row?"
Kaito had *absolutely* not been expecting that, but... "You know I love a challenge," Kaito smirked. "Let's find out."
When is the next event planned, and what skill level of authorship is required? All the works tagged on AO3 seem so good, and I've barely ever written a fanfic - but I'd love to connect with others and learn as much as I can.
currently the kaishin big bang is happening, ran by kaishinbigbang on tumblr (sister blog). after that the next event is tba. please follow for info on future events!
as for skill level requirements: there are none! anyone can join, but writings should be in english.
kaishin events @dcmkkaishinevents - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
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