Work Text:
“Why are you leaving again?”
Kudo Shinichi, eight years old, glared at his father, Kudo Yusaku, as he stood at the door to the mansion, bags all packed. Yusaku attempted a smile, but if anything, that just made Shinichi even more upset. “Well, I’m writing a new novel, and I need to do research for it,” he explained.
“You could do research here,” Shinichi pointed out. “We have computers. We have a whole library filled with books! You don’t have to leave in order to do research .”
Yusaku leaned down towards Shinichi’s level. “Ah, but you see, what I’m researching is a gem that is barely mentioned on the internet or in books. A gem called Pandora, said to bring eternal life. It features in my next novel, so I need to know all about it.”
“Make stuff up!” Shinichi snapped.
Yusaku shook his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” He got up again. “I won’t be gone too long, don’t worry. I’ll be back in a month.” He smiled and turned towards the door.
“I won’t forgive you!” Shinichi yelled. “I won’t forgive you for leaving again!”
“Bye, Shinichi,” Yusaku called out, leaving the house.
That was the last time Shinichi ever saw him.
Kuroba Kaito glared at the news. It droned on. He kept glaring.
“Kaito, can’t you do anything else?” Aoko called out. Kaito glanced back at her, shook his head, and returned to glaring at the news. His friend sighed, shutting the TV off. “Why are you so upset?”
“Are you not?” Kaito asked her suspiciously. “Your father is out there chasing after that… that… criminal again!” Hurriedly, he turned on the TV again just to see live footage of the heist.
In the center of the screen stood the elusive phantom thief, Kaitou 4869. He wore black clothes, blending in with the darkness, but was still kind enough to send notices of his heists to the police. A truly despicable villain. Pretends to be your friend, only to be your greatest enemy. Kaito hated him and everything he did, especially because the lead officer after his capture was Aoko’s father, Nakamori Ginzo.
When Nakamori had disappeared to chase after Kaitou 4869, Aoko had been upset. Way too many times, Nakamori didn’t come home for the night, leaving Aoko alone. Kaito had asked his parents if he could stay over at her house on heist nights, and after a while of convincing them that there would be no funny business going on, they allowed him to do so. Yet the absence of her father still pained Aoko. First she lost her mother, now was she losing her father too?
“He’s going to use the vents,” Kaito muttered, staring at the TV and 4869’s current actions. Aoko whipped towards him in surprise, and Kaito explained. “There’s one nearby that leads outside. The taskforce is blocking it right now, but 4869 is good. A bit of smoke, and…” Smoke covered the camera, and Kaito snapped his fingers. “Voila.”
Aoko snorted. “There’s no way-” The camera cleared, and 4869’s absence was almost immediately noticed. She stared at the vent, a bit out of place. “No way .”
Kaito sighed. “Maybe if they noticed these things, they’d be able to catch him already.”
Aoko quickly turned towards Kaito. “Maybe you should join the taskforce!”
Kaito gave her a look. “I’m 17, Aoko.”
“So?” Aoko questioned. “Teenage detectives do exist! You could be one and catch 4869, and then…” Hope shimmered in her eyes.
Oh, Kaito realized. If I catch 4869 quickly, her father will come home. That’s what she’s hoping for.
Kaito nodded and stood up. “Alright then, Aoko. I’ll catch Kaitou 4869!”
Aoko cheered.
For most of his young life, Shinichi had wanted to be a detective. This was no secret from anyone, as he was always making deductions of some sort. When his father died, Shinichi made his death into his biggest case, but soon he figured out the existence of an organization searching for Pandora. Yusaku had gotten into their way with his investigation, and they were out for blood. That was what killed him… and Shinichi couldn’t let law enforcement be aware of it, or else they would be killed too.
That was what made Shinichi make the decision to not be a detective, but rather, a thief. A thief who would steal gems and check them for Pandora, so he could destroy the gem and get revenge for his father. And of course, he named himself after his idol, Sherlock Holmes.
And now, Kaitou 4869 was at a heist.
Usually, his competition was Nakamori and the taskforce. They weren’t too much of a problem, and did make Shinichi worry about the future of their country. Sure, it was more convenient for him if Nakamori couldn’t catch him, but what if there was a truly dangerous criminal that Nakamori needed to put a stop to? Could he do it?
Today though, there was a boy at his heist. Shinichi acknowledged that he looked a bit like him, but his hair was definitely messier and there was a strange look on his face as he looked around. Then he looked up towards the vent Shinichi was hiding in, and a smirk appeared on his face. He whispered something to Nakamori, and the officer looked up and yelled to his officers, “Kaitou 4869 is up in the vents! Get him!”
Shinichi took a few seconds to gape before dropping down and quickly snatching the jewel. He was not leaving without the gem. Quickly he began running towards the roof. That boy definitely had his planned escape route figured out, so this was a good alternative. It didn’t take long for Shinichi to get there, only to notice the elevator doors open and the boy walked out.
“You’re predictable, Kaitou 4869,” the boy spoke, giving him a contemptuous glance. “Hand back the jewel, and if you may, wait here for Nakamori-keibu to arrive.”
Shinichi held the jewel up, confirmed it wasn’t Pandora, and tossed it towards the boy, who caught it easily. “I’m not going to get caught today,” he responded.
“Really?” The boy questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Who even are you?” Shinichi asked.
“Kuroba Kaito,” The boy introduced himself. “Magician extraordinaire, and detective.” A smirk played on his lips.
“Detective, huh?” Shinichi questioned. He felt envious that this Kuroba Kaito kid had managed to do what he couldn’t, but didn’t let that show. “I see. So you’d be my rival then, wouldn’t you?” Quickly Shinichi turned away and jumped from the roof. His parachute popped up and he began falling towards the ground. Activating Agasa’s inventions, the jets in the parachute propelled him away from the building.
“Hey!” He heard Kaito calling towards him, but he didn’t respond.
He really is fascinating, Shinichi acknowledged. It would be nice having a rival who can actually stand up to me, I suppose.
Kaito had been showing up to heists for quite a while by now. 4869 always managed to get away in the end, but Kaito was nothing if not determined to catch him. He was now making the news as a detective, something which irked him a bit because he wanted to be famous for being a magician instead, but he put up with it. The news acknowledged that he may be the only one capable of catching 4869, and Kaito knew he would do it soon.
This heist, 4869 once again evaded the grasp of the taskforce, but Kaito found him in the basement, opening the cover of the vent. “Really? It’s either the roof or the basement with you.”
4869 turned towards him and smiled. “Tantei-kun, nice to see you.”
Kaito glared at him. “I have a name, you know.”
4869 sighed. “Alright then, Kuroba-kun.”
“Just let yourself be caught already,” Kaito snapped. “I’m tired of this, and Aoko’s tired of this, and…”
“Aoko?” 4869 questioned.
Kaito looked away. “Nakamori-keibu’s daughter. She’s my best friend.”
“Ah,” 4869 breathed out.
“I kind of like you, Kaitou 4869,” Kaito admitted. “But you’re in the way. You’re a nuisance. You have to be in jail.”
“I know,” 4869 muttered. That made Kaito pause. “But I have to do this too, for my father. I can’t…” He froze, then shook his head. “I can’t tell you.”
“Are you saying you have reasons other than to be annoying?” Kaito asked.
“You thought those were my motivations?” 4869 asked, seeming annoyed.
“No, of course not,” Kaito admitted. “But I suppose it was better, thinking that way. I didn’t want to sympathize with you.” He winced. “I’m guessing your father is dead.”
4869 didn’t respond.
“Well, I’m going to have to take that jewel…” Kaito held his hand out, and 4869 tossed it towards him.
“Maybe we should meet up sometime,” 4869 suggested. “As… friends.”
Kaito stared at him, then said, “Sure. Yeah. I won’t turn you in. I’m only after you at heists, after all.” It was best to try and convince him to stop committing thievery at their meetup, but if he refused, Kaito would be merciless at the next heist.
4869 smiled, and quickly wrote something down on a piece of paper. “Here’s my information,” he offered, before turning away. “Call me sometime.”
Kaito stared down at the card. “Okay… Kudo Shinichi.”
When he looked up, 4869 was gone.
It was only a few hours later when Kaito realized that them going out could be considered a date. He decided to think of it as a friendly meetup, instead.
Sure, Shinichi was attractive and his personality was attractive too. But…
It was probably too soon to be considered a date.
…oh well.