#.maybe he could be like a secret phantom thief or detective

[dnangelic]

@puppetmuseum asked: (hiwatari time) "Careful." Satoshi said out of the blue, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. He had been in the school library working through a heavy book when Daisuke decided to join him. But he was reading something far more....whimsical and clearly emotional as he could hear Daisuke sniff and rub at his eyes. "You wouldn't want to change now, would you?" No one was in the library besides them, so it was fine to speak on more secretive matters, but he still left it somewhat vague, just in case.

and he doesn't mean to cry , but his tender heart could never resist even the slightest tug at every one of its delicate strings . weepy and struck , cherub tears spilling from the corners of covetous crimsons ---「 le cœur humain ... ne peut contenir qu'une certaine quantité de désespoir. quand l'éponge est imbibée, la mer peut passer dessus sans y faire entrer une larme de plus .」

it was a moving , but tragic love story he was reading .

' i ... s-sorry , hiwatari-kun . ' the book whose pages he's nearly stained and gotten wet with tears is shut and pushed away by a careful , considerate hand . daisuke hurries to clear his mien , a little more than surprised himself that he could end up so enraptured by a novel even beside the other like this . should it have been a testament to the artistry of it , or to his and hiwatari's own growing-comfortable relationship ?

if he were to try at being honest , sitting beside the other made him feel a little dumb . inept and over-sensitive , just like it might have from the start --- no , that was wrong . even from the beginning , before his fourteenth birthday and his very first transformation , the other had still been kind to him without any sort of conceit . from offering a handkerchief to even warning him now , it was clear that satoshi loathed the sight of anybody's tears --- even a would-be enemy's .

so daisuke brightens . smiles and nods his head , laughing and sputtering awkwardly a little at first . ' th-thank you . i didn't even realize anything . it's ... a really good story . ' one that even might have been worth changing for . were he at home , free to be whoever both his thrumming heart and cursed genes forced him to be , then there was no doubt that even the coldest , wintry impression of the 'great phantom thief dark' would have been dissolved by these reverent , innocent tears ; the fallen angel weeping over beautiful works of art .

instead the niwa takes in a deep , steady breath . with his gaze removed from his own pastime , he can't help but peek over at the other's own apparent literary endeavor . ' um , if you don't mind me asking ... what are you reading ? ' he can't help but already make a few guesses : maybe it was something dry like a calculus book ( is that the sort of level hiwatari was at , or was he even beyond it ... ? ) maybe it was even something like a thick detective novel ... ah , but he doesn't want to assume .

instead , just as innocently , and without much thought to it beyond the warmth loitering in the dull thuds of his heart , he asks --- ' is it fun ? '

do you like it ?

[thotpuppy]

sorry i just gotta be back on my bull shit for a minute just- Stiles as a phantom thief. Stiles as the good boy son of Interpol's top detective, making waves and looking to be just as good a detective as his father, maybe even better, attending one of the most prestigious Uni's for criminal justice in the world. (google it idk) And the only criminal his father has never managed to catch is (idk cool phantom thief names, the red fox or smth) but after she disappeared years ago, the case truly ran cold, and was considered closed. until a copycat Red Fox appears. He's stealthy, cunning, nobody knows where he came from or who he is, and just like the Red Fox before him, he always returns whatever it is he stole, a short time later, with a note. of course this becomes a serial sensation overnight! the new fox has only struck once and people are climbing out of every gutter imaginable to try and say there's no way this newbie could be as good, its impossible, and even Detective Stilinski thinks its only a matter of time before the elusive fox is captured. Little does he know, the new red fox is his son.

and not only that, but the former Red Fox was his late wife, who somehow managed to secret away her gadgets and documents detailing her exploits, so when he turned 18, Stiles could inherit them. They don't steal for money, or glory, though of course they both relish it. But the truth of it is that, between smaller jobs, they're working to take down the largest criminal organization in the world. a secret society of rare artifact hunters that operate globally, and often with or beside law enforcement. That's why the Red Fox has to be a thief, and why whoever takes down the Argent Hunters has to operate "alone". of course, Stiles takes that to be mostly subjective. He works with a close-knit team of allies all over the world, each with a certain set of skill that comes in handy, as long as he can figure out how to utilize them properly. His mother spent her entire life dedicated to putting an end to the Argents' crimes. Stiles will make sure the job is finished.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

[narrators-journal]

could you do kinktober with akeshu with top akiren and bottom goro? breeding overstimulation and cream pie please

I struggled hardcore to come up with a good setup for this one, so I hope it doesn't suffer too much for it.

CW: overstimulation, breeding kink, creampie

          "Come on, Akechi. All you gotta do is ask nicely and I'll give you a break." Akira hummed as he slowly stroked the brunette's aching member. "I'll at least clean you up a bit, maybe turn down the vibrator." 

His offer was met with yet another stubborn growl from the brunette. The celebrity pulling at the handcuffs that kept his hands away from the dark-haired teen. Akira sighed at that, 

 "How can you still be so stubborn after so long? You're acting like I'm trying to pry government secrets out of you. All I want to do is make you feel good."

 "Then do it." The detective spat. "N-nothing is stopping you." Akira shook his head, reaching down to make sure the remote-controlled vibrator he had nestled into Akechi was still nestled where he'd put it. Whirring away against Akechi's g-spot.

  "Akira!" Goro exclaimed. Gritting his teeth through the pain the boy sent through him when he used the toy to thrust into him. 

 "Say it, pretty boy. Ask me nicely and I will stop tormenting you." The phantom thief hummed, smiling down at the sight of his fuck-buddy laid out vulnerable for him. It made a very memorable sight. The way his light brown hair lay splayed out around his pink-tinted cheeks, the way his lips parted in needy pants, and his warm brown eyes were blown wide with arousal. However, the stubborn man refused to cave yet. 

The dried layers of the night's earlier loads and the way he sometimes let out pained whimpers from how sensitive he'd grown didn't seem to convince him. So, Akira once again reached down to use the toy to slowly thrust into him. 

"Akira." The detective snapped, "Quit fucking with me already!" Akira shook his head again at that, 

"Ask. Nicely."

 "God, fucking...please." He finally hissed, making Akira grin.

 "Good boy~"

Now that Akechi had cracked at long last, Akira pulled the toy out of him and shut it off. Yet, before he took its place between the detective's trembling legs, the dark-haired thief got up and began cleaning his partner up. Relishing the dark way his partner watched him wipe away the mess made on Akechi's belly.

Only when the brunette was cleaned up and allowed a bit of time so his body could solidify from its jello-like state did Akira push his partner's legs apart and settle between his thighs. Letting his hands coast down his thighs to settle at his hips. Holding them down when Akechi began to squirm impatiently. Though his squirming did nothing to speed up the dark-haired boy's application of lube or the speed at which he pushed into Akechi.

While the feeling of pushing into the twitching hole made both of them moan, it didn't take long for Akechi to begin trying to move his hips again in a silent order. So, Akira indulged him. Pulling out to thrust back in roughly, grinning at the way Akechi whined under the rough, yet slow pace.

But, he didn't complain. Even though his face contorted in the pain of overstimulation, Akechi still moved his hips in time with Akira's deep thrusts. So, Akira felt no guilt in relishing the pained whimpers and slapping of skin. Not to mention the breathtaking amount of friction that came from the warmth that squeezed him so well. 

  "God, Akechi...you feel great," Akira muttered, the pleasurable buzz in his blood filling his thoughts. "Fuck...I'd breed you in a heartbeat if I could.." 

It was nothing but a thoughtless utterance. Born from the bone-deep pleasure of having the pretty detective's legs draped over his arms and his cock buried in his ass. So, when Akechi ordered 

 "Than breed me! Fill me up with cum!" it took the dark-haired teen by surprise. 

  "Huh? Goro, I-I can't, you don't have a uterus," He chuckled, slowing to a stop so he could lean forward with a mischievous grin. "But who am I to refuse you when you're so cute?~" He hummed. Enjoying the way the detective winced when his hips were picked up and his legs got pushed to his torso. His expression then turning back to a look of pained pleasure when Akira slammed back into him.

The sight made him smile, the brunette encouraging his rough pace with his moans and whines. The noises also fanning the flames in Akira's belly into a rampant blaze. One that burned away any other thought bit by bit until the heat grew to be too much.

  "Akechi!" He gasped a moment before pouring his seed deep into the brunette. Making the detective yank at his restraints again. 

"Don't stop!" The brunette barked when the dark-haired boy began to slow, "I'm not done! Don't you dare stop now!" That order, like the first, seemed to take Akira by surprise. But, in his euphoria-riddled haze, Akira nodded and did his best to keep moving. 

Even when the pleasurable buzz turned to a sting, Akira kept thrusting into the detective. Though, even if he wanted to Akechi wouldn't let him. The brunette's legs locking around his hips made that fact clear, so Akira just clawed into the sheets. Trying to ignore the growing pain of overstimulation creeping in. Going until Akechi gave his final whine and orgasmed one last time.

"Good job," Akechi breathed. Running his fingers through Akira's messy hair after the boy uncuffed him. Letting the quiet, panting boy melt onto his chest to catch his breath. "Wanna go again?~"

[lastdiinosaur]

the mysterious thief, corundum.K!

[p5headcanonhellhole]

OK so, Hello, this might be an weird request but I can't get it out of my head, so if you don't want to do it you genuinely don't have to, but

Could you maybe do some (I guess Au-ish) headcanons with Ryujis male S/O being a vampire?

Thank you in advance if you do end up doing this.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN DEAD FOR LIKE- CENTURIES BUT

HOLY FUCKING SHIT ANON YOU HAVE GALAXY BRAIN I'M LOVING THIS SHIT FEED ME MORE OF IT PLEASE! Reader is male/has male pronouns for identifying audiences!

Ryuji didn't really expect too much from seeing a glimpse of your sharp canines while in your relationship. He's heard a thing or two about people having such a thing so he's not gonna go do some fucking detective work over something so small.

That's Akechi's job

And your abundance in eating meat was definitely not something he was knocking down. We all know Ryuji is quite the meat lover.

Though it was when he saw just how sharp them mfs were and your need to... bite. Just in general.

And your obsession with blood. That was also a little weird.

And your... hate of sunlight.

Alright now something is pretty fishy. At the very least he thinks he should look into it just a bit.

And that's what he does, popping by as a surprise and finding you sucking on a blood bag.

Who knows where tf you got something like that your parents get them from work

"Hi-"

"WHAT THE-"

It takes you a hot minute to explain as much as you could to Ryuji before it finally clicks for him.

Still very confusing though

"So you're a- vampire? Or at least need to survive off of blood n such."

"Yeah"

"And Sunlight doesn't kill you-"

"Yeah it's kinda just like- glorified poison ivy. Doesn't kill but can hurt."

"That's... somethin I'd more so expect from something in the metaverse, not the real world."

...

"You sure you're not like-" "YES-"

After your short conversation though, he's real accepting of it despite of it being real otherworldly. Though to be fair, he's one of the phantom thieves and has gotten this far as a member so it's a given I guess. And there's also Morgana

As bad as he is about keeping secrets of being a phantom thief, you gotta admit he's better at keeping secret about you being a whole vampire and everything since it doesn't come up as much as it would of him being a phantom thief

"I'm not gonna out somethin you're not comfortable with. I may slip up every now and again but I still want you to rely on me for more stuff like that, ya know?"

CASUAL SWEET REMINDER OF WHY YOU LOVE THIS IDIOT-

Though, sometimes you can't hold yourself off for long without blood and have had your moments when you were slowly losing it and in need of some sort of blood and didn't bring any with you thinking you'd be fine

Everyone would think you were lightheaded or something and issue you some water or healing

But Ryuji knew- and knowing what he did, he just had you both separate from everyone real quick in either a safe room or just somewhere else at the time.

"R-Ryuji- You don't need to-"

"Hey- I'm your boyfriend. It's my job to take care of ya y'know?"

THIS SWEET ASS-

He lets you get a quick bite on like his arm or something before getting you back to group, gently wiping away any blood still on your face

Dates aren't too different. You can't really go outside sure but it doesn't take away from the sweetness of the time spent

Game nights are always fun! No matter how competitive you are you always have fun with a game or two with your rowdy boyfriend

Or cheesy dinner dates- not something done often thankfully

Eventually though, it comes a time you consider telling everyone else about it and talk to Ryuji about it.

"I suggest talking to the leader about it. He's the least judgmental about these things. That's the mentally I had before telling him about us at least-"

So that's what you did with the help of Ryuji, telling Akiren about your little secret

"Ya know? That actually makes sense all things considered. Like the teeth and such."

Akiren is pretty supportive about it like he was with your relationship, also helping as you told the others once you were comfortable

It decently went better than you expected. The others did get fairly curious and asked you your fair share of question until Ryuji helped drag you away

"S/O, you good?"

"So. Many. Questions-"

Deeper in the relationship, you ask if you can bite near the neck if he trusts you enough.

"I mean- I've gotten way worse in the metaverse so a quick bite wouldn't be that bad right? As long as you're comfortable. I don't wanna make you feel obligated ya know"

<33 This man

You treat it as a close, intimate thing that you two do once in a while considering how it makes you feel- you get nervous the first few times until your fears subside

"Feels weird but hey, if it helps it helps."

It makes things unique but hey, you're not really complaining

"How do you age-" "Oh my god-"

[asavt]

Cookie Squad Headcanons part 3

Featuring a bit of Angel, more bar gays, Chestnut appreciation, City of Wizards and Future! Headcanons.

-Before departing ways, Angel gave Madeleine one of their feathers, something like a gift to keep light with him if he ever needs it. The feather still glows gently, and Madeleine keeps it as a lucky charm, in one of these necklaces— I’ll better just show:

-Roguefort knows French, might not speak it all the time, but they do know. Almond understands some of it, does not speak it. Latte started picking it up from what Roguefort would say sometimes.

-There has been times where Sparkling wouldn’t be at the bar, either needing a rest, having an event somewhere else, or something else. In times like those he usually leaves the bar in charge of Mint or Herb, Vampire is always in there too. There have been a few instances where this lead to Roguefort meeting one or both of them. Herb is happy. Mint is wary. Vampire is holding his laugh.

-Walnut is good friends with Chestnut and Pudding too. Almond often looks after Chestnut whenever he goes around. Chestnut is usually seen around delivering newspapers on his bike with Pudding sitting behind in the dockable trolley. The rest of the group know them both too.

-*They also know Creampuff, Chestnut will ask her about the city of wizards and any other interesting things she has read in any books. Creampuff will happily tell him.

-*Latte knows those kids too, and the rest of the pudding sibs too. She is naturally good with children it seems.

-*Chestnut and Pudding are both a bit intimidated by Espresso as first like many other people. Essy isn’t sure what to do with their excitement when he tells them that yes, he’s been in other places, towns, cities. Luckily, Madeleine is there to help a little with that (Chestnut would ask so many questions about their travels I think).

-*There was one chance where Roguefort (As Phantom Bleu) was escaping from whoever was chasing after them that night, hid behind some wall and was meet with two pairs of big fucking eyes looking at them surprised and excited. Rogue had to hush Chestnut and Pudding (wondering what were those two doing out so late at night), wait a little to get out of their hiding spot and take the kids with them somewhere close to a police officer (or Almond if he happens to be around) so they can be taken home. Outside the thief job? Rogue has seen the kids pass by his workshop many times, sometimes they will have some candy out for them for when Chestnut goes by to deliver newspaper.

-Roguefort baby-talks Lord Crumbles, and will spoil the other cats if given the chance.

-Roguefort and Madeleine: *Become besties*

Espresso: Oh god there’s two of them—

-Espresso has used Latte’s spoon a few times. He doesn’t really needs it to perform magic, but he is rather good with it (and just as terrifying as her).

-Because Essy has sometimes lifted Madeleine off the ground and carried him floating, Almond showed curiosity of how many people he could carry with magic aid.

He managed to have both Madeleine and Latte in his arms, Walnut on his shoulders, Almond and Roguefort hanging off his feet and Creampuff begin carried by Almond.

He was a bit tired after that, but it was a fun experiment with the rest of the squad.

-Creampuff has talked about the City of Wizards many times, as she has been there before coming to Parfaedia and entering the academy. She will often talk about this old man that reads other cookie’s fortune (and that Almond has meet before “Creampuff don’t belive everything that guy says he is a swindler”), a woman that is forever bound to a library, that might seem a bit cold on the outside but that is actually very gentle towards the rest of the magic wielders that go visit her, another young mage, one that Espresso and Madeleine have meet (Creampuff is surprised to know that he has left the City of Wizards, and wonders if he will ever go by Parfaedia), a magician that, although he might not seem like a real mage at first glance, he is deftly blessed by the moon, and the moonlight itself, a meeting that was short and (in Creampuff’s mind) very lucky.

-*Creampuff never got to explore all the city. She was told by the moonlight that there was a place where she could learn magic. It was a bit sad, but the she told her she was always welcome back in the City.

-*The adults tend to forget that she has traveled a lot before coming to Parfaedia, often begin surprised when Creampuff talks about the City out of what she has read in books.

-*Creampuff made the promise to Walnut to take her to the City one day. She misses the place a little, and those she meet there, too.

Future - Walnut and Creampuff (it’s what I have)

-During this time, Walnut already knows Roguefort’s secret (the full thief thing). Something I’ll maybe talk about in another post

-Creampuff starts learning black magic from the belief that it can be used for good if used correctly. Someone has to research on it, right

-After Creampuff disappears, all the group is, silently, looking for her, in their own ways. Even Sparkling and Vampire get a bit worried about it and do their own part.

-*Maybe Latte is the most worried of all. She cares for her a lot after all.

Maybe she is the only one who has an idea of why she got apart, both her and Creampuff had talked about before after all.

-Walnut is often helped by a mysterious figure in some investigations. Sometimes information on suspects, given inside papers and letters that often are adorned with a feather, or protected by this person, they are never standing where the light can hit them (whatever it is artificial or the moon’s). Once Walnut manages to catch a glimpse of white hair and an owl’s hoot is that she starts to connect the dots (and she mentally slaps herself for not noticing sooner). They did have a promise to become partners once they grew up after all.

-Creampuff eventually comes out from the shadows. In a rather hard situation where all the group got in trouble, no one else but them get to see her. They are all surprised to see how much she changed since the last time they saw her.

-*They never get to get to her though, she escapes before they can say anything (and the only words from her were a soft “I’m sorry”)

-There are mixed opinions. None of them can be really angry at her, especially after hearing what Latte knew of Creampuff’s interest in black magic (The latte mage is wary of it, but trusts her student).

-There are a few encounters between the group and Creampuff, never all at the same time like the first time they get to see her.

-*With Almond and Latte there’s a part of conflict, both teachers are a bit hurt of seeing her like that. But they still see the same gentle student (now a true mage) they know. (Almond still isn’t sure what to think, Latte can only hope for the best).

-*With Espresso and Madeleine there’s a talk, both asking her a few things, Creampuff answering. In the end, Puff tells them that she doesn’t understand why others confused (and still do) coffee magic with black magic.

-*With Roguefort is at the bar, late at night and with also the presence of Sparkling and Vampire as well. The lights dimmed a bit when she got in, as to keep other eyes out. Their talk was short, and by far the most peaceful of all.

-*She sees Walnut the most. The detective always telling her it was ok to go back with them, and the mage wondering if she really meant those words (She is scared, still unsure of what others think).

-Walnut eventually gets to her. A big case showing up, multiple magic creatures appearing, a big rift in the sky (yet again), the M.E.H. getting involved, the rest of the group helping out.

No one knows why the rift opened this time. There are people pointing guilty at the mysterious figure (Creampuff). Some of the group takes it as a possibility, but in the end they all decide to stand by Puff’s side. Even if it was an accident, she wouldn’t want to hurt others, they know her and by the little interactions they had they can tell. She is still gentle and kind.

Creampuff is the one who closes the rift in the end, with Walnut by her side, telling her that she wouldn’t allow anyone to get her apart from the group.

-She does go back with the group in the end :)

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[purplellamanator]

So, I'm sorry I don't really know what to call this and did not give it a name- but, this is a product heavily inspired by these head-canon's created and posted by @detectivegeekshin! Please check them out if you haven't already! (if you're following me though you probably already did :D) This is insanely long though and I hope ya'll like it! Sorry @detectivegeekshin that it took me so long! I've been working on this for more than two months I think- so again, sorry!!! Thank you for allowing me to use your ideas to make, what was supposed to be a drabble, story and I hope I did your head-canon's justice! Please excuse my grammar mistakes! I tried my best to clean it up! Thank you again!

Read below the cut for the story :)

Stealing wasn't exactly the word he wanted to use. He didn't consider himself to be a thief. Was it really even stealing if he was taking it from someone it didn't actually belong to? Shinichi didn't think so.

And it wasn't about giving the wealth back to the poor. He wouldn't necessarily call himself Robin Hood either. It was about returning something to its rightful place; to the rightful owner.

It was wrong. All of it. It went against the very morals he himself created to follow when he first decided he'd be the greatest detective of the era. Stealing was wrong no matter if it was stealing something that was already stolen. It was the law and if the law was followed, then it would work out correctly in the end either way.

But that way of thinking wasn't always true. He realized that the longer he worked in this business and the more experience he gathered. It would be a nice world to live in when the law could fix everything. And unfortunately he wasn't naïve enough to actually believe that world existed anymore.

The first time he did it, it had gone against every fiber of his being. The mental crisis he thrusted his entire being into had sidelined him for weeks. So ashamed, Shinichi couldn't bring himself to work on another case. What right did he have? To expose criminals for killing? For kidnapping? For stealing?

He had no right. He was no better than those criminals. Because that was what he was now- a criminal.

The stress and just anxiety that this put him under- Shinichi considered dropping his dream of being a detective. His morals and guilt had been tearing him apart inside.

Until he turned on the news and remembered why he did what he did.

A woman was crying. They were tears of joy and happiness. And she was thankful. Thankful that the heirloom that had gone missing for decades had miraculously found its place back on her dresser. That she had no idea who or how it happened but she was grateful to whomever had given her this.

And that was when Shinichi was reminded of what finally pushed him to this. What made him crack.

He was a detective and he had done his job. He found the precious necklace that had eluded every private eye hired before him. He located it and all they had to do was retrieve it and return it back where it belonged.

But the police couldn't. They needed warrants and that took time. Time they did not have enough of. It would be sold once more on the black market and disappear likely for another decade before they were even served.

The adrenaline that had coursed through him when he finally decided what he would do. He had never felt more satisfied. There had been no disguises; no gimmicks. Just himself. His own face and his own brain. And they still hadn't caught him. It had been easy. So much easier than waiting on the courts.

After that day he saw the news, Shinichi had walked with his head held higher than any other day. He didn't know why exactly. It wasn't like anybody else besides him knew what he had done. No one but him was aware that the woman got that necklace back because of his own actions. Yet hearing people congratulate and whisper about how amazing the mystery was made him smug.

Shinichi told himself it would be a one time thing. Seeing that woman from before distraught and sobbing that her family's prized possession would likely never be returned in her lifetime- it had done something to him. It made him act. Even though he usually did so well detaching himself emotionally from his cases, that one alone had gotten to him. But he'd do better next time. Even if the outcome would be bittersweet and leave him feeling like he failed, he could not do it again. No matter who the victim was or if they cried.

But he didn't stick to that clearly because he did it again a month later, and then soon after that, and again after that.

His excuse each time- he had done so well not getting caught before. What could it hurt to do it again? It was easier. It was faster. With his genius he was sure he would get away with it no matter how many times he tried this. He couldn't be caught. He couldn't be beat. He was just too . . good at it.

Until he wasn't.

He had gotten too cocky; too arrogant. He should've stopped while he was ahead. He had gotten away with it so many times and yet he kept pushing it. And he pushed the boundaries each time. He got more and more careless than the last. And now he was stuck explaining to the last person he ever wanted to find out, why he was parading around as some law abiding detective when he was really a thief.

In the midst of his newly found hobby, Ran- one of his best friends, had realized he was not acting the same as usual. Shinichi didn't allow her to join him to certain cases anymore. He would be secretive about where he was going afterwards as well as if she had somehow already been there, he had even told her to straight up leave.

He should've known that Ran would notice something sooner. It wasn't like him to ever hide things from her and it definitely was not normal for him to tell her to leave a crime scene- unless it was a rather dangerous one. Cases that had to do with robbery didn't normally fall under that. Those were the cases he'd usually rather her witness. She didn't like anything with too much gore and like any normal person, she got scared if she even saw a corpse.

But each time he told her to leave or that she shouldn't follow him. Most of the time he did lie and say it was because he worried it would turn violent. Other times he didn't give a reason. And he definitely should've noticed her suspicion because he normally loved having her witness his cases and deductions. He liked impressing her.

Unfortunately, he didn't notice in time that he was actually worrying her. His sudden change was concerning to her and she ended up following him when he said the Inspector had called and asked for him to come by the station.

Shinichi never went to the station. There had never been a call. Instead, donning his change of clothes, he took a train almost a full hour out till he reached his actual destination.

When he said he had started pushing the boundaries, he had meant it. No longer did his thefts remain with cases within the Japanese Police. He started digging for unresolved cases in the black markets.

The entire time Ran had been tailing him. She had followed him the entire way and he hadn't noticed a single thing, which he didn't know if he should be annoyed by or impressed.

When he had almost been shot however and Ran's foot suddenly came down on the guards head, he settled on being impressed. Because though he was furious she had followed him into such a dangerous underground location, she had saved his ass. And it didn't help that Ran was aware of that fact.

She hadn't pressured him for an explanation. Shinichi thought she would yell at him and demand to know what he was doing and why. Ran hadn't done any of that. Instead, she took it upon herself to be his lookout as he finished what he originally set out to do.

Ran kept her thoughts to herself at first. It had made him nervous considering he was expecting her anger. When he hadn't gotten it, he didn't know what to expect now. Her moral compass was just as strong as his had been. When she realized what he was doing- and she definitely already had, he could only assume it'd upset her. Why wouldn't it? At this point he was no better than-

"Are you Kaito Kid?"

Kaito Kid. Obviously he knew who she was talking about. And it was actually insulting and ticked him off.

What he did took more skill. He wasn't some magic freak with a couple fog machines and pet doves. He had no disguise. If Shinichi wanted something, he walked in there and took it. With his own face.

With a stony expression, he denied the accusation. As far as he was concerned, he always thought of the Phantom Thief as, exactly that, a thief. Truthfully, he hadn't run into the magician too much after his new found discovery. And at the thought he realized that it must mean Kid wasn't after just any treasure. He must've been looking for something in particular which reminded him that he didn't know the guy's actual motive behind his crimes. Maybe like him, he realized, Kid might have a valid reason for turning to crime.

When he started sympathizing with a criminal however he noticed how far in his own crimes he actually was.

Ran took his denial in stride. She didn't seem all that surprised by his response. She clearly didn't actually think he was the Phantom Thief. But oddly enough, she didn't really ask for an explanation. If he wasn't doing this as Kid, then why was he doing it? She didn't claim to want to know.

Oddly enough, that annoyed him as well. It should be a good thing she wasn't drilling him for answers. She was just accepting what he was doing and not going to stop him.

"You're that vigilante thief they're talking about all over the news. . . aren't you? The Night Baron?"

Night Baron? Out of all the things, that's what they decided to go with? And though it was exactly what he was, the word vigilante left a bad taste in his mouth.

This accusation was different however. Unlike the Phantom Thief one, she uttered this one with confidence. If he denied this, Ran would not believe him. There was no point in trying anyway when she had literally caught him in the act.

It took him aback a little that she had caught on so easily. The Night Baron wasn't as common in the news. He hadn't been doing this nearly as long as the other well known thief. It made him question if she'd been contemplating this for awhile. How long had she suspected him? And how could she not say this without any ounce of anger?

"Well. . . I have faith in you, Shinichi," she finally said when he asked. "I know you and I know you wouldn't be doing this unless you had a good reason or you thought it was right."

"And what you're doing is right. The Night Baron helps people."

The amount of trust she put in his character made him feel warm inside. It was embarrassing but that sentiment made the corners of his eyes almost prickle. Shinichi hadn't realized how desperately he had wanted to hear those words. He thought he had come to terms with his guilt. But clearly he had not if hearing Ran say that almost made him get choked up.

Ran didn't think less of him for losing his morals. She didn't look at him in disgust. She approved of it. She encouraged him for doing it. No explanation given yet and she had already determined that what he did, he did for good. He had no desire or intention for personal gain. And he had never felt like someone had ever seen him so clearly before.

Again, she didn't push for his actual reasonings. Based off her earlier assumptions, she likely already knew them. But though it was clear she didn't think it, he didn't want to risk her assuming he was some mindless criminal. Without her prompting, he gave his explanation.

The law wasn't enough sometimes. And though it was sad and went against what he engrained in his own head, this was the best and more efficient option. After all, if you want something done correctly, do it yourself then, right?

Ran hadn't so much as flinched. And it was staggering.

"You're not upset?" He couldn't help the disbelieving tone he used. It was almost a little concerning she wasn't more opposed to this.

Ran shrugged. "I am a little. Clearly you've been doing this by yourself and lying to me when you could've just told me."

Tell her? Why would he want to tell her?

"Shinichi, you were almost shot. Clearly you need help doing this."

Absolutely not.

That had been his initial reaction. If he ever for some reason got caught, it would likely drag her down with him. And that was the last thing he wanted.

But after sleeping on it for a quite a few days, and also that he couldn't sneak off anymore once Ran realized what he was going, Shinichi began to see the possible perks to working with a partner. And not just any partner but Ran specifically.

She was smart. He was definitely the mastermind behind all of their plans but that was not to say Ran couldn't come up with a plan of her own. Her insight gave another perspective that sometimes, he never would've thought of. If she didn't like an idea, she said it. If she thought they should do something else, she told him. Shinichi wasn't perfect. He missed things sometimes. It was good to have her pair of eyes as well.

It was just as helpful to have her brute strength as well. He assumed most would find it somewhat emasculating to be physically weaker than their female counterpart. Shinichi didn't mind at all. He was strong as well but admittedly, there were things Ran could do that he could not. Like denting a wall with her bare fist.

With Ran added into the picture, it came with even more possibilities. And perks.

The one person he didn't want to have to lie to, he didn't have to anymore. And they worked close.

He liked that too.

Ran was a good asset and made his job a whole lot easier. He really took note of that fact when instead of climbing through an air duct to sneak into some party, Ran had somehow managed to get them clearance through the front door.

And that wasn't nearly all she was able to do.

Ran is gorgeous. It was the bitter sweet conclusion he came to when Ran easily had the host eating out of the palm of her hand. The guy probably would've just given her the painting they were after if she simply asked properly.

The thought annoyed him.

He always knew he had a thing for Ran. He was pretty sure everybody knew that fact besides the girl herself. He had known her for a long time now. They had been friends since the first year of college. Their friend group was also the same and their parents both had ties to the Japanese Police Force. And she was stunning to look at. He'd argue it would be impossible for him not to take a liking to his friend.

He never told her though. He didn't know if she felt the same and after this partnership they just started, he wasn't sure it was worth the risk. If he tried a move and it scared her off, he'd have to revert to working alone. And he didn't want to do that for more reasons than one.

Like he acknowledged before, Ran was beautiful. He was not alone in that belief. It made it all the more difficult to witness guys flaunt their wealth and good looks in her face. He didn't want to see that. They didn't actually know her. Ran was his friend for three years. They didn't deserve her especially when clearly all they wanted was to undress her. And they were arguably worse criminals than half the people he got locked up.

So it was all instinct when he finally cracked. Some guy whom they didn't know was trying to dance with Ran. And he wasn't just 'trying'. He was touching and caressing her arm. Gritting his teeth, Shinichi couldn't help himself when he wrapped an arm around Ran's waist and tugged her back into his chest.

"I thought the first dance was mine, wife."

It was stupid. He had no idea why he allowed that to slip out. If he didn't have better control of his emotions he probably would've turned flustered all the way to his toes.

Ran's eyes bulged. "W-wife?!"

Honestly, her surprise couldn't be helped. He had totally blindsided her. It was his fault. And he definitely didn't have a valid enough reason to interfere like he did.

Sensing something was off between the couple, the other guy raised a brow as he eyed the arm wrapped firmly around her waist. "You don't recognize your own husband?"

Shinichi wanted to bash his own head against the wall. This was why they weren't supposed to go against the plan. Posing as her husband had definitely not been part of what they discussed earlier. It caused too many questions that they did not prepare beforehand to answer-

A hand suddenly slid up and brushed against his cheek softly. "We're not married just yet, Shin-chan. Only engaged so it's a bit too soon to be saying that," she chastised with a giggle; her acting on point.

Beyond his control, he could feel a slight heat rise to his cheeks. The intimate way she touched his face wasn't helping either. He swallowed hard as he looked down at her eyes, meeting her softened gaze.

"Oh, forgive me. I didn't see the ring."

The ring?

Ring?

A ring!

They didn't even have rings to back up their story-!

It was at that point Shinichi didn't know if the guy was actually apologetic for hitting on a married woman or suspicious that they weren't actually a couple that was engaged.

"No, it's our fault really," Ran said sheepishly. "This dummy here didn't get me the right ring size so it's sadly getting resized."

Shinichi was a little insulted. He would've most definitely did his research to get her the correct ring size before proposing.

After the guy walked away, they both found their way to the dance floor with all the other couples and joined in the slow sway. If asked why, he'd argue it was to back up their story even more. Deep down though, Shinichi knew better.

Ran was oddly silent however.

"Shin-chan?" He grumbled with forced annoyance. At the time it had completely caught him off guard. The nickname that his mother used for him. At the time he figured it was payback for the confusion he started. It didn't mean he hated the name any less.

But just as easily, she quipped back, "Wife?" She raised a brow as if to drive her point and he immediately shut his mouth.

It was definitely payback.

Ran never did question why he stepped in that night. They were on a job after all and he deduced that likely she had already forgotten what he'd done. Besides the little hiccup, every thing else went according to plan. Everything else stayed the same.

Until their next job. And the job after that. And the one after that.

Because that one night when they had taken the painting; it had started a trend of sorts. A trend where one or the either would claim to be in a relationship with the other. Before it had started with a dance which at the time, neither had been prepared for and both were too awkward to acknowledge properly. But the next time they are holding hands and eventually it becomes normal for Ran to hug his arm to her chest or for him to hold her waist.

Each time is a mystery to them. Neither have any idea what they'll be. It was a constant cycle of being married, to dating, to two already taken spouses in a very wanton and promiscuous love affair. And the stories they came up with on the spot were more extravagant and extra than the last. And they were never prepared before hand. Suddenly it was a game for them. How deep could they take this? What tale could they come up with this time? It was getting out hand. The stories were getting more detailed each time, he almost believed the lies himself.

Shinichi didn't usually snap back out of it until he saw her again in class the next day. They weren't childhood friends that had been together since preschool days. He hadn't dramatically confessed his love in London while the Big Ben chimed behind them. They hadn't shared a first kiss at Kiyomizu-dera on a school trip to Kyoto.

And it didn't stop there. If they weren't already talking to each other, they would always be touching in some form. Whether that was by a hand resting against his thigh or his fingers dragging dangerously low on her lower back.

It was a very small line they were tiptoeing against and the blatant flirting they joined in with was starting to toy with his emotions. It was one thing to elaborate or give false truths to further their disguises. It was another entirely to grope each other secretly. There was no witness to convince. Who were they showing off for other than each other?

It was getting increasingly more difficult to act like nothing was going on- or at least nothing was going on with his end. He was stressed and constantly filled with anxiety that at some point these lies would eventually bleed into their actual daily lives. Because when he once again had to suppress the urge to grab her hand as they walked from class, he was realizing once again who they actually were.

They were Shinichi and Ran. A Shinichi and Ran that had met three years ago in a shared psychology class. A Shinichi and Ran that were best friends and nothing more. A Shinichi that had been mooning after the same girl since he first met her. A Ran that as far as he could tell, didn't share that same sentiment.

This whole thing was a dangerous idea where his emotions were involved. And due to his argument that they didn't need to stop this 'charade' or whatever was the proper term to call it, it wasn't a matter of if this would affect their personal lives. It was a matter of when.

Surprisingly, it wasn't him that cracked.

It had been an honest mistake- one Shinichi didn't exactly mind. They had been in a study session with Sonoko and Nakamichi. It was a hot day and they had all taken refuge in the campus library. And to also help combat the heat, Shinichi had a water bottle that he was casually sipping on. One that Ran had easily grabbed from his hands to take a swig out of.

Shinichi didn't mind. He really didn't and truthfully, he probably wouldn't of even noticed if it weren't for the fact all their friends froze to gap at her incredulously. She had done this to him numerous times on a job. Asking for a sip of his champagne or simply stealing a bite of food off his plate. It had been a shock the first time but it in the moment he knew that was likely her intention to get a rise out of him. Now however, he was positive that she had fell into that act by mistake. She didn't mean anything by it, he was sure- not like she used to.

Nakamichi whom had been in the process of reading out his answer for one of the questions on the study guide had trailed off slowly, almost completely floored by what he had witnessed. Sonoko looked like she would fall out of her seat.

It was almost laughable that Ran didn't realize the stares that were being drilled into her. Attempting to keep his face neutral, he nudged his knee into hers gently and it was only at that she finally began to realize her mistake.

Features turning a scorching red, she quickly forced the water back into his hands. "I-I'm so sorry!" she burst. "I have no idea why I did that! I don't know what I was thinking," she sputtered. "I-it was just so hot and I-I-"

She was drowning; sinking further into her panic and he tried to save her.

"Ran, it's okay," he said calmly even though on the inside, he was freaking out just as much as she was. "It's hot outside and I've known you forever. We can share a water bottle." Shinichi was trying to play it cool. For the sake of their image with their friends.

Of course it wouldn't be enough to deter the teases they were sure to receive from their friends but what else could he do? He couldn't very well say she grabbed his by mistake. It had literally been in his hand. He had just drank out of it and been going to sip out of it again when she grabbed it. And he definitely couldn't say that she did this to him all the time when pretending to be his wife.

There was absolutely nothing they could say to excuse this. The whole scene had been way too casual even for the two of them. Sonoko, whom had made numerous jokes that they were actually a married couple, looked like this was too much for even her to comprehend. Because whether she knew he had a thing for Ran or not, anything she said before this had been harmless taunts.

"How long has then been going?!" Sonoko having determined that the study session was now over, pointed between them furiously. And that wasn't just an exaggeration. Sonoko looked irritated. Not because they were seemingly dating but because she had both missed and not been informed when it happened.

But there was nothing to tell. Nothing was going on- or rather nothing in the way she was thinking. No matter how many times they both told her that, the Suzuki heiress did not look convinced. Not even Nakamichi seemed to trust it but unlike the other girl, he thankfully kept his accusations shut till they were in private.

"Look- I'm not saying I'm mad or anything. It just sucks a little that you didn't tell me," his friend finally admitted when they left the two girls at the library.

Neither had been worried or surprised when Sonoko said they would catch up with them later. Shinichi felt bad for abandoning Ran but he knew that Sonoko would want to grill her for answers. It would've been more humiliating for both of them to be present for that.

Nakamichi wasn't nearly as difficult as Suzuki to deal with but Shinichi still found himself rolling his eyes. "I already told you," he said tiredly. "Ran and I are not dating." Shinichi wasn't sure how many more times he would have to say just that. He didn't even know if there was any other way to word what he was trying to get through his friend's apparently thick skull.

Suddenly his friend stopping walking, forcing him to do the same. For some reason his eyes were wide and a slight red was forming on his cheeks. "Oh."

Oh? Shinichi raised a confused brow. "What?"

"Well- I just never thought Ran-chan would ever. . . " Nakamichi trailed off, scratching behind his ear awkwardly. "She just doesn't seem the type, you know?"

Huh?

"Her . . type?"

And then suddenly his friend looked concerned, waving his hands in front of him defensively. "Hey- I'm not judging! Whatever you wanna call it- I support it!"

Suddenly Shinichi was freezing himself. "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked aggravatedly.

"You and Ran-chan aren't dating but you're. . . you know," Nakamichi said pointedly. "You still could've told me though. I'm not going to tell anybody. Have some faith man. We've know each other since grade school."

Shinichi's eyes bulged and all the blood rushed to his face as understanding finally hit him.

"Ran and I aren't dating and we're not doing t-that either!" he exploded.

oOo

Without Ran even needing to tell him, Shinichi knew Sonoko must've given her a hard time afterwards. Nakamichi probably wasn't nearly as difficult to deal with but it still had been an uncomfortable conversation nonetheless.

His friend actually thought that he and Ran were having . . . sex on the side.

He wouldn't be so lucky.

Shinichi was flushing at the thought alone. It had been so humiliating.

But what made it worse however was when Ran actually apologized to him again in private. She reiterated once more that she couldn't understand what she had been thinking in the moment. She also suggested that maybe it would be best to stop pretending. It was mixing them up in real life and confusing for both of them.

A small part of him was crushed by her suggestion no matter how logical it was. It hurt.

Shinichi rejected the idea. He agreed that maybe they could tone it down some. They didn't need to be a couple every time they did a job. But he also argued that sometimes the act actually did make their job easier. And deep down there was another reason he didn't want to share.

Because if they gave up their little charade, then he knew what that would mean. There was no logical circumstance that would allow him to touch her and flirt with her like when they were on a job. And he desperately didn't want to lose that. Even if their act escalated each time.

But he knew Ran had a point.

Their next job was once again at another extravagant and fancy party. And this time, they both arrived alone. The two had snuck in separately and at different times as well. And throughout the entire night, neither acknowledged the other. They acted like perfect strangers.

This time the showcase was a pearl. A pearl that would surprisingly 'go missing' by the end of the night. And like every other job they did, he had a plan that they had gone over in detail numerous times. One that didn't work out at all considering the whole night had been derailed by the sudden appearance of the Phantom Thief.

The moment that magician's calling card appeared, Shinichi knew they'd have to make adjustments to their plan and they needed to do it now. If KID followed and stuck by the time on his announcement, then the pearl they were both after would be long gone by the time they got anywhere near it.

They had to improvise which was difficult without them even talking to each other. Besides that factor added in, throwing Kid into the mix only derailed everything further. If they wanted any hope of beating Kid, then they had to act right then.

To be honest, it wasn't very surprising they were almost caught. It hadn't been particularly smart of him to continue with his intentions of stealing the pearl. Just Kaito Kid being there caused too much of a scene. Any calling card that arrived meant it would soon be followed by police and a camera crew. The Phantom Thief brought media attention wherever he went. It was dumb of him to not just give the pearl to the thief. Especially cause-

Kaito Kid had mentioned the Night Baron in his calling card. He had made it clear he was aware that he wasn't the only thief present with their sights set on the pearl. And he had mentioned the other thief by name.

That gave a lot of insight Shinichi wasn't even sure Kid meant to give. That calling card told the detective that either Kid knew what types of jobs the Night Baron targeted or worse- that he knew the true identity of the Night Baron. And if the latter was correct, then it meant that someone had been watching him for a long time. Someone was probably watching him right now. And if that were the case, Kid knew his entire plan.

The right thing to do would be to pull back. To grab Ran and bail. The plans he had made were done without taking Kaito Kid into account. But if the other thief really had been watching him, then those plans could be tossed out a window. Nothing was worth getting both him and Ran caught and possibly arrested. The logical conclusion was to escape while they could.

Shinichi was too prideful for that. And stubborn. This wasn't his first run-in with the Moonlight Thief. Shinichi had dealt with him quite a few times when helping Inspector Nakamouri or Inspector Meguire. This would however be the first time he ran into the guy when he was on one of his own little side jobs.

And he was not prepared. Fighting against him as a detective had numerous resources. He had the Japanese Police Force at his disposal. As well as when he was working his real job- he did not need to hide his own face. Not only could he be recognized by the police, he had also made a name as a criminal. If somehow his face was linked to the scene of all those crimes- he was done for.

But like the idiot he was, he couldn't help but take this as a challenge. The fact Kaito Kid mentioned him by name in his calling card told him that the thief knew he was there and also he didn't really care nor was he stressed by that.

It wasn't like him to panic. But in the end, that was what he'd done. His actions had been panicked and rushed and honestly- thoughtless. Ran hadn't scolded him at all through the night; probably thinking now wasn't the time when they were running from police officers. Shinichi could just feel her disapproval however. He knew the moment they were out of here and alone at his house, he'd receive the yelling of a lifetime.

Getting an earful would be the least of his worries if they couldn't find a way out of this building. All of the usual exit points had been closed or cut off due to Kid's warning for his appearance. The guy was a showoff and frustrating. Shinichi knew it was all part of the guy's show to leave people wondering just how he made his escape.

Shinichi wanted to throttle him.

Because of that hack of a magician, he'd get caught. Because of him, Ran would get in trouble with him. The two of them had been running nonstop and even if they had the layout of the mansion memorized, it wouldn't help with guards standing at every single entrance and exit- which is what they had been doing the moment Shinichi triggered their alarm.

The panic and just straight anxiety that he felt in that moment, could not be paralleled to anything else in his life. He knew they were running out of options. Usually he was the one with all the plans but he couldn't even gather his thoughts to try to formulate one. All he could think was how much of a sad excuse for a thief, a detective, and a friend he was-

No. If there was one thing he would do, it was to save Ran. He got Ran involved in this and he would not allow her to go down with him. Already he had given up on finding escape. Now all he was trying to do was deduce just how he was going to explain Ran's side of things. He'd force her to pose as his hostage if he had to. He would not allow her to be ruined from this-

Abruptly his thoughts caught off when Ran very suddenly gripped his fingers tightly. When he glanced over in her direction, he found she was already looking at him. They were both running as fast as they could trying to put more and more distance between them and the heavy footfalls coming from behind them. Unlike him however, she did not appear scared or stressed. In fact, while he was internally having a meltdown, Ran shot him a quick but soft smile.

And suddenly she was pushing ahead of him; her fingers still clenching his tightly as she tugged him behind her.

She was taking them further in though, he noticed incredulously. In fact she was taking them towards the rooms. Shinichi had to stare into the back of her head, as if wondering if she'd lost her mind. There was no exit to the outside this far in. Nothing but windows which they already realized was not going to be an option. There would be officers outside each window waiting for them. They would not be able to get far.

Just when he had been about to reprimand her himself, he found himself being tugged to the side again. Ran's goal hadn't been the window. She had pulled him into one of the numerous bedrooms that lined the hall. Which he guessed would be nice for shock value but again, he found himself wanting to question her. Sure hiding in a room would be unexpected at first but he highly doubted they would fail to check these rooms. All it would do is buy them some time before they were eventually captured. And a simple search would prove that he was in possession of the pearl that was currently missing.

They had put quite a bit of distance between them and the task force that was chasing them. They would have a few minutes at most. And he knew exactly what he was going to do with those few minutes.

"Ran, what the hell?" he spun on her only for his eyes to grow bigger even more. He had turned to find her turning on the table lamp and he really thought she had lost it. They were trying to hide. They should be turning lights out, he wanted to yell as he watched her come back over to him. Anything he was meaning to say was gone when she was suddenly pulling him again and he only watched in confusion as she seemed to position him just in front of the table she had walked to.

His eyes bulged when she grabbed one of his hands and placed it around her ribs. And when she placed the other very firmly onto her rear, he turned into a sputtering mess.

"R-Ran . . . " The way he said her name this time was unlike before. It was smaller he knew but it was definitely nervous as well. By this point he was less concerned about the police chasing them than he was about his partner's behavior. He had given up on talking when suddenly she was pressing her palm flat against his chest. He followed the movement with his eyes until her other hand caressed his cheek forcing him to look directly at her.

She wasn't saying anything. And even if he wanted to, she didn't give him enough time to try. Palm on his chest scrunching into a fist, all he could do was gasp when suddenly he was tugged down into a kiss.

He froze. His eyes had bulged even more he was sure and he felt his features flood red- redder than they had been. It was hard for him to comprehend what exactly was happening right now. Ran hadn't given him a chance to process anything and the moment her lips touched his, his mind went blank. He was pretty sure he wasn't even breathing at this point.

She must've felt how frozen he was because suddenly she was pushing forward more, her mouth pressing insistently against his own. As if yelling at him to do something. And that was all he needed.

Taking notice that her eyes were shut, he did the same before he leaned into her willingly. His hand that she had pressed against her rear- that he had left there mostly out of shock, grabbed her and pressed her against him more firmly. The movement made her gasp and going off her response, his other hand rose to bury itself in her hair where he angled her face to fit more comfortably against his.

The kiss was slow but it didn't mean it was any less sensuous. Tongues were brushing against each other, their breath intermingling as it panted against the other's lips. Shinichi wasn't sure exactly why Ran felt the need to kiss him now, but as far as first kisses could go- he wasn't complaining. Was a reason really necessary?

No. He didn't think so.

Was he going to ask her why she was suddenly tugging his shirt from where it was neatly tucked into his pants?

Maybe later- definitely not now though. He didn't question it. He didn't question hearing what sounded like a door opening before being slammed shut. He didn't want to. If Ran wasn't, then why should he? All he knew in that moment was that something that he had been waiting for- something he had been wanting, was finally happening and he wasn't going to waste his time trying to get an explanation of why.

But even without wasting his time, it still wasn't enough. All too soon he felt Ran begin to pull away. Her hands released their tight grip on his shirt and hair and came to rest smoothly against his chest. Shinichi felt the retreat. She was moving away from him. And the realization made him panic.

No. He felt his mind shout. That wasn't enough. It's not enough.

Surging forward, just after their lips had completely separated, he found them slamming against hers once more. This time because of him. And when she gasped into his mouth he just couldn't help himself. Arms gripping her firmly, he turned to the side forcing her into the wall just beside the shelf she had him pressed against. His fingers had never left her hair and instead his fingers buried deeper into the long strands. If the grip was painful, Ran didn't say. If anything, it sounded like she liked it with the way she released a moan into his mouth.

Shinichi had her pressed into the wall, the hand that wasn't angling her face closer to his, gripping the bare skin of her thigh. In the moment, he didn't care to process or wonder just how his hand got through the slit of her dress. All he wanted to do was just get closer and closer and as close as he could get, he concluded as he forced her leg to stay raised against his hip. When it got to the point they needed a second to just breathe, he had his lips slanting across the smooth skin of her neck. From this position he could feel her panting heavily against his ear. He could feel her desperately trying to draw in air to her lungs. He also felt when she stiffened.

When he had practically picked her up, forcing her into the wall, Ran's hands had both slid to the front of his shirt. When she gripped the lapels of his suit coat she had used force to tug his mouth closer to her neck. Suddenly however, he felt that grip slacken.

"I t-think. . . I think they're gone now. . "

That was like a wake up call.

His own common sense kicking in, he remembered where they were. What they were doing. Who was chasing them. Gently, he released his hold of her thigh and set her to rest on her own feet. Taking a glance at her he noticed she was redder than he was.

"I-I'm sorry. I knew they would find us either way so I-I . . improvised. . . "

Improvised?

Improvised.

Still sort of stuck in some dazed haze, it took him longer than it should to understand what exactly she meant.

Improvised, he repeated again in his thoughts.

That was what she kissed him for? Shinichi could remember discreetly at some point the door opening and then slamming shut shortly after. At the time he hadn't really cared that much to question it. He had been way too focused and interested in something else.

Something else that she 'improvised'.

The bitter thought left the same taste is his mouth.

Frowning, and face turning a darker shade, he took a step back.

"Right . . . " he agreed swallowing hard.

Of course they couldn't stay there any longer than they already had. There was always the possibility that the police would realize their mistake and return. If they were smart, they shouldn't be here for if or when that happens. There was no time to just stand there awkwardly. Though that was what he proceeded to do.

The reminder she gave for why they had hid in this room in the first place, did nothing for him. He should've been like her; scrambling to fix their appearance to look somewhat normal. But he couldn't be bothered. Shinichi watched as she hurriedly straightened her dress and finally, began the process of cleaning himself up. His motions were slow and sluggish however compared to her quick and hastened ones. It was only after a few moments of him pulling his tie forward that he realized his shirt was untucked.

"Does my hair look okay?"

All at once he was distracted. Again. Pausing with his shirt, and glancing back at her. Did her hair look okay?

"Yes."

Belatedly he realized what she actually meant. Was her hair fixed? Did she look normal? And still looking at the hair that he knew she had styled meticulously beforehand, it was tangled and frizzed. The long strands were very obviously out of place.

He startled a little when suddenly Ran was just before him, brushing her fingers through his hair. He was taller than her so she was on her toes, stretching to reach his height. He acknowledged that but seemed to struggle to realize maybe he should lean down to make it easier for her. The thought didn't occur to him. Not at first anyway. Once the thought hit that maybe she was trying to kiss him again, he found himself bending down. Her face was close to his again and he caught the scent of whatever it was she was wearing.

The sudden movement clearly caught her off guard and his eyes that had apparently been focused on her mouth watched as she didn't pull away, but instead rested flat on her feet again. Her hands were still in his hear however and he had to take a moment to wonder if she was going to use that to grab him again.

"Shinichi! What are you doing?" she practically hissed the question; her movements still hurried. "You look like a mess. Hurry up!"

And with a blushing face he realized that no, she wasn't trying to kiss him again. She was trying to fix his hair because it looked ridiculous. And he was just standing there, taking his time. Like an idiot.

Hearing noises in the distance however, they had run out of time. Immediately whatever stupor he had been in, broke and not willing to use anymore time, they bolted.

Shinichi was sure they looked like quite the pair. There was no way people would look at them and think they hadn't done something. He guessed that meant the plan worked but it didn't make it any less humiliating having to push through snickering guests that 'just knew what they'd been up to'.

They hadn't been up to anything however. Just 'improvising'.

And all he had said in response was, 'right'.

Shinichi hated how that one word was all he said. It gave the impression that they were on the same page. And if that was all that kiss was to her, then clearly they weren't. In the moment he hadn't the brain to make the connection between her actions and the situation they had been stuck in.

He wasn't surprised he didn't get her intentions to begin with. Unlike her, it never crossed his mind to use that as a . . disguise? And the fact that they didn't think exactly alike is what saved them.

But he was still mad.

It was laughable and dramatic and infuriating. Because he couldn't do or say anything in response and he knew it. How could he be angry? How could he complain if her plan actually worked? Yeah, sure his pride was hurt and he was a little embarrassed when he realized they were not on the same page. But he could admit, hurt feelings were easier to deal with than jail time.

It didn't mean he couldn't feel the sting still.

Shinichi knew why it hurt so much. He knew the real reason. Because for once he actually believed that Ran saw him as he saw her. Not just best friends or partners in crime but maybe something . . . more.

They had met years prior in a shared class on psychology. And he didn't want to say it was love at first sight but- it was definitely a lasting first impression.

He knew from early on that he held interest there. An interest that was built upon by the constant joint study sessions and realization that they also held numerous moral similarities. They were just pursuing them in different ways. She wanted to be a lawyer and he wanted to be a detective. Quite often he'd make the joke that they'd be an unstoppable pair in law enforcement; jokes that deep down held a hint of seriousness that, at the time, he hoped she didn't notice.

The truth was much harder to swallow. It had come like a bucket of ice, cold water dumped over his head. It felt like a slap to his face. A stone, hard slap of reality. His subtly backfired or rather- his lack of action did. Because again, how could he be mad when he never made his desires known?

He was a real coward. He never could bring himself to confess no matter how often the thought occurred to him. The excuse being- Ran had never gave any indication that she felt the same. Shinichi didn't want to ruin the strong bond they already had; their friendship that they had built on for years. It just wasn't worth the risk when he couldn't be confident in her answer nor her reaction.

But then she kissed him. His whole mind had shut down. And when they separated, possibilities flooded him. He could confess or was a confession really necessary at this point? Ran liked him. Ran wanted him.

That's what he first thought. So he responded. He had kissed her back. And if that already wasn't an obvious display of his feelings, he had acted like a totally catatonic fool directly afterwards.

Once they knew they were in the clear, Ran had become oddly silent. And distanced. She wouldn't meet his gaze and her cheeks were still a suspicious amount of pink. She seemed extremely fidgety to be beside him and the moment they said their goodbyes for the night, she had bolted.

Shinichi didn't know what he had been expecting exactly. An apology? Maybe even a confrontation over his obvious infatuation with her? But she had said nothing. And she had fled like the police were still chasing them.

Maybe what made it worse was that he couldn't be sure if it was because she had kissed him or, that she realized how he saw her and she panicked. Neither meant well for him. Both gave the impression that kissing him made her uncomfortable.

Shinichi wanted to punch something.

And his shirt still needed to be tucked in.

He got more than halfway of doing that before he remembered he was already home and began asking himself why exactly he was fixing it now. He had no need to do it now and grumbling irritatedly to himself, he instead began taking it off.

They didn't take on another job for almost an entire month after that. Waiting in between gigs wasn't unusual but not planning the next however, was. Normally by this point, he'd already be casing their next event. By this time he would've already consulted Ran.

He had done neither.

Instead, he went to school as normal and also continued helping Inspector Meguire when prompted. Nothing appeared different except the absence of their little side cases.

And that Ran was avoiding him.

It wouldn't of been as bad if it wasn't for their friends noticing that something was off. It also didn't help that even the media was pointing out the unusually long hiatus for the Night Baron.

"So about this . . . thing . . that's not really a thing with Mouri-san. . . Do you wanna talk about it?"

And there was his other issue. Shinichi had long given up trying to explain to Nakamichi that absolutely nothing romantic was going on between him and Ran. Now, after their earlier predicament, it became even more difficult to deny. His friend was convinced that the two were simply trying to keep it under wraps. That for some reason they didn't want anybody to know they were seeing each other. Nakamichi had already switched to asking why exactly Mouri-san wanted to hide things because he was confident the two were already together and that there was no way Shinichi would be the one wanting to hide it.

Grudgingly, Shinichi wasn't sure if he should be insulted by that last comment. Deeming that Nakamichi was correct and there was absolutely no way he'd want to hide the fact they were dating, Shinichi decided to keep his mouth shut. If they were dating, he wouldn't want to hide it. If they were dating, he'd walk home with her instead of his dork of a friend. If they were dating, he wouldn't have to explain why she suddenly decided to drink from his drink at a group study session. If they were dating, it would've been his idea to kiss the life out of her while running from the police. If they were dating-

Hand flying to his head, he could feel the strands of his hair getting scrunched between his fingers. And just as quickly as the tangent had started in his head, it stopped. As if the only thing keeping it all together was his hand against his head.

What was he thinking? He mentally hissed at himself as his teeth clenched. Entertaining Nakamichi's story. He was spiraling in his own thoughts and elaborating an idea that had not, and by the looks of it, would not be happening. Ran and him hadn't even spoken properly to each other since the last job. If they did, it was curt, in passing, or in the presence of someone else. Meaning it was a guarantee they could not discuss anything that had happened- her actions nor his seemingly obvious to him confession. Which all he could do was assume that was her intention.

He wanted to pull his hair from his scalp, it was so frustrating. Was he supposed to take this as a rejection? Was he not worth the time to say she wasn't interested directly to his face? Or did she think he would not accept her refusal? Did she think that low of him? He wouldn't lie- he liked her a lot. The rejection would hurt but they could at least be friends still. She didn't need to run from him as if he had the plague. Shinichi swore he could see the panic in her face anytime she happened to stumble upon him unexpectedly.

The space that stretched between them seemed to be widening. And worried the gap would become much too big to mend, Shinichi did the only thing he could do.

He found them another job.

At first, his intentions had been different. He had wanted to use this as a way to get her to talk to him; to address what exactly happened between them almost a month ago. If it was on a job, that was a guarantee they would have a moment alone. But at the realization of how that would probably make Ran feel- he paused. He would be cornering her. And that realization made him wince internally.

Shinichi didn't want Ran to feel trapped. He didn't want her to feel like she couldn't talk to him anymore just because she didn't want him the same way. They could be friends still. He wanted that more than anything. The rest, he could learn to deal with. He was well aware more than anybody about how kind Ran was. Her silence was most likely her way of sparing his feelings and easing her guilt about not returning his affections. She didn't need to feel guilt though. She wasn't obligated to feel any certain type of way. Ran didn't owe him anything regardless of how much he wanted it.

If he had considered it, he knew Ran must've come to the same conclusion- that he was trying to force her to talk. It would likely explain why she took her time responding to his invitation of working again. Her response had come in the middle of the night when he must've been dead asleep. Shinichi had only noticed the text message after turning his alarm off that morning.

Shinichi hated to think it, but Ran's presence- in a roundabout way- likely did more harm than good for his well being. He had already gotten a little risker the more jobs he took on. He acted rash and with no regard for his own safety after a certain point. Once Ran's presence in the form of an accomplice was assured, the possibilities became endless. And so did the risk. If Ran hadn't been there backing him, he surely would've been done for numerous times. He knew that. But that was also why he even attempted those risks.

Having their first real interaction since their last job being another mission, was a mistake. Not addressing what had happened between them before starting this, was a mistake. He acknowledged that when Ran still wouldn't even look at him directly. She definitely made sure to keep her distance as well.

Shinichi had already decided before meeting up that he would not be mentioning 'that job'. It wouldn't be right and it wouldn't be fair of him to try that. Clearly however, Ran hadn't grasped that yet. Any moment he would be about to start talking, she would tense. As if preparing herself for the inevitable.

That meant she knew this could've been a perfect moment for him to question her. She knew that, yet she came anyway. Not even the possible awkward conversation of unrequited feelings would she leave him to fend for himself. She had started joining him on these jobs to defend him in the first place. Whether she didn't want him the same or not, it was still nice to know that at least that wouldn't change.

He just wished that she would relax. There was no way for him to tell her he wouldn't talk about it without actually bringing it up. By the time she might've understood that, they had already put their 'plan' into motion. If it could even be called that. How could they plan when neither could even look the other in the face let alone have a conversation?

This whole night was a bad idea. Shinichi had the feeling throughout the night and as things progressed, it only got worse. Why would he even think this was a good idea? Any person with half a brain would've just dodged the bullet and asked to have the conversation. He had already come to terms in his head that clearly she didn't want him that way. He knew that. Her avoidance spoke louder than anything she could ever tell him. Yet he also knew, hearing it aloud and in the open provided a confirmation her silence didn't give.

Shinichi needed to hear it; aloud. Regardless if deep down he already knew. He needed it. If anything for his piece of mind and for closure. He had pined for her for a long time. Moving on would not be easy. It would take time. But the process wouldn't begin until she gave her refusal outright.

Having all of this sit on him, literally weighing down on his mind, just before a job was dumb. Her presence was only making it more difficult as was her refusal to even properly acknowledge him. He wasn't doing much better, he'd admit. But he had tried to bridge that gap and Ran wasn't reaching from her end.

How Ran felt was everything to him. Shinichi didn't want his presence to be uncomfortable for her. He was doing everything- even down to the plan- to show it was okay. She didn't have to feel the same way. It was fine. He would be fine.

Where as normally they would walk in as a couple when it came to balls and galas, he decided they could work this one a little more separately. Shinichi was doing everything he could possibly think of, to show her that he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. And after the revelation a month ago, pretending to be his wife would surely do that.

Ran only got more tense. And that only made him more nervous. Neither a good sign when communication and teamwork was the most important aspect to be able to successfully carry out these jobs. That should've been the biggest indicator that once again, this was a bad idea.

He messed up. He knew that. Even in the moment when he forcibly shoved that guy away from her, he knew he was the one at fault. There was no reason for his actions. No logical one anyway. The only thing that powered him in the moment was jealousy. It fueled and burned through him stronger than anything he could remember. Nothing had ever cut off his thought process so quickly. Not even the time Ran kissed him.

But this was not what he'd been expecting when Ran said she would 'make an opening for him'. The sensation that sunk deep into the pit of his stomach was similar to being sick. That was the feeling he got when watching Ran disappear into a hallway with the 'owner' of this gem.

He didn't trust it. Not the look in the guy's eye nor the impatient tug he seemed to give Ran. Shinichi didn't trust any of it. And no, it had nothing to do with his jealousy. It was for Ran's safety that he followed them; that instead of going the clear way his partner indicated, that he trailed behind the two out of sight.

Nothing to do with his personal emotions at all.

Peeking around the corner to find his partner pushed against a door about to be kissed however was, again, nothing he had been expecting. Yet the reaction was instantaneous.

This anger he felt was different. This was a different kind of rage that reared its head forward. A nasty emotion he had never experienced so strongly. With a mixture of fury, possessiveness, and just about anything in-between, before his brain could even catch up and actually think- he was already across the hall and shoving the man roughly.

Ran seemed as surprised as the guy. Her eyes had bulged when suddenly the arms that had been bracing her weight disappeared. She stumbled in her satin dress but Shinichi was too furious to help her straighten. His attention was too focused on the creep that was still on the floor, mostly in shock. Shinichi had pushed him hard. Probably too hard if it was able to knock the guy off his feet but in the moment, he could care less. There was nothing that could be said to him then that would make him believe this guy didn't deserve it. He had been touching Ran. That was enough for him.

After finally realizing what just happened, the guy's eyes shot up to look at him angrily. Shinichi wasn't sure exactly what made the guy do it. He honestly thought he just initiated a fist brawl. But likely taking one look at the simple fury on his face, the guy stood up while wiping the blood off his bottom lip; the anger gone from his eyes and instead a smirk that was anything but happy. With a promise to get security for the both of them, the guy exited the hall from where they had come.

They couldn't let him go; not if they wanted their plan to succeed. Both of them had to know that. But neither of them did a thing till he was long out of sight.

It was Ran that reacted first. It was his turn to be shoved as she pushed her hands against his chest angrily.

"What are you doing?" She questioned him furiously. And from that alone he realized the shove was more out of panicked frustration than any real anger.

Shinichi was fine with that. He was sure he had enough anger for the both of them.

"No- what are you doing?" His voice was incredulous just like his face.

"I thought my job. You said to get close to him. You told me to make sure he was distracted."

"I didn't mean like that."

Ran sighed as if she were exhausted. "Well what did you mean, Shinichi?"

"I-I don't know- just anything except making out with him," he snapped and in his frustration he couldn't help but stutter.

"Why are you getting so upset?"

It was clear to him then before she even spoke that Ran understood he was mad. He knew that when her eyes softened towards him. But from her question, she clearly couldn't understand why he was mad. And if possible that was making him angrier. Because from his last sentence alone, it should be obvious why he was upset. If they took away everything that had happened between them a month ago, with his words alone that he spoke tonight, her answer was still right in front of her. He wasn't understanding why she just wasn't getting it.

"Y-you can't do something like that!"

"And why can't I? I swear you don't make any sense to me, Shinichi. I was only doing what I thought you wanted."

She was only trying to make his job easier for him. And if he weren't so heated he'd recognize that what she had been trying to do really would've made the job easier. That disgusting lowlife would've been so distracted. But to achieve that in that way was unacceptable to him.

"Why would I want you to kiss him?"

"Why would you not?" she countered.

His eyes blazed. "Are you actually serious?" he asked incredulously.

"You're mad." The way she stated it- it wasn't a question. It was a fact. And he was mad. He was so furious it was almost insane how personally he had taken this. Because this wasn't acting for him. It had never been. He never had to pretend to feel more for her. This was something he wanted. Not just on jobs but all the time. Him and Ran together. Him and Ran being a couple.

And he knew he had no right to be so upset. She never gave any indication that this would happen outside of their side jobs. He was the one that was turning it into something it wasn't meant to be- a reality. But she could at least do him the courtesy of not acting clueless. He had clearly kissed her that night without any other intention except that he simply wanted to. She knew that. She wouldn't of avoided him in their regular daily lives if that weren't the case.

He needed to step back. It was too soon to come back to this when clearly he wasn't over it. There wouldn't be another job until he could get over his feelings for her. And if that never happened, so be it. He was done with this conversation.

Shaking his head, Shinichi went to walk away. "Forget it."

Ran being quicker than him however, shot forward and gripped his arm. "How am I supposed to 'forget it'? You're obviously angry. Just tell me why." And for the first time in this conversation, he saw that she was actually beginning to get mad.

He had already decided what he would do though and instead he just shook his head again. "If you don't get it on your own, then it doesn't matter," he responded calmly.

Ran obviously rejected that idea.

"It matters to me! I played my part in your plan. I was going to do something I didn't even want to do-"

He wanted to argue that he never forced her to join him as the Night Baron. But it didn't matter now because this would be the last time.

"-so you could grab a stupid rock-"

That rock could sell for over 500,000 yen, he wanted to say but instead he remained stoic.

"-and you just storm in here like a jealous boyfriend-"

He was jealous. But he wasn't going to engage in this any further.

"-which we're not together-"

They're not. He knew that. He would work on it.

"-which you made that perfectly clear in your plan-"

He knew they weren't together. That's why he switched up their usual plan-

...

"What?!"

Shinichi was actually stunned into silence. There wasn't a lot that could do that for him either. But to bring up the plan that he made specifically to make her comfortable and complain about it, had him even more aggravated. She seemed like she wanted to continue but he wasn't about to allow that to slide.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he finally cut her off, not even paying attention to what she was currently saying. His earlier idea to just let this whole thing go, vanished as quickly as it had come.

Probably thinking she said too much, her tone got quiet and her face went pink.

Regardless of her obvious embarrassment however, she didn't try to take back what she said. "There's other ways to say you're not interested besides pushing me to the side for some side act. You could've told me how you felt. I wouldn't of left you to do this alone," she said with that hint of frustration still there.

But Shinichi was still stuck. Because now nothing was making sense to him. After all this time and he thought he finally figured out why Ran was avoiding him before, what she was saying now completely contradicted all of that.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he flat out asked.

A frown marred her features. "You know what we usually do as these kinds of parties. You know what . . acts work better here. And you changed that on purpose," she accused.

"You avoided me!" was the only thing he could bring himself to say.

"Only because I didn't know what to do!" she raised her voice with a completely flustered face now.

"How about talking to me-"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Immediately their shouting was cut off; both of them jerking in shock before going on the defensive. They were still on a job after all. But once they saw just who it was that had the audacity to interrupt their argument, they both froze with widened eyes and slackened jaws.

Kaito Kid didn't seem to care if he was intruding or not. For some reason, he looked frustrated as he stormed out behind a pillar.

"Are you two actually kidding me?" And the other pair watched as he came closer without a care.

"Some of us are actually trying to work. I've literally been sitting alone in that room waiting and neither of you came to do anything. I could've bailed an hour ago while you guys were griping during a heist. Not to mention the guy I had to knock unconscious on my way over here," he jabbed a thumb behind him and lo and behold the guy he had shoved to the ground was currently leaning unconscious against the far wall. But the Phantom Thief didn't seem to be through.

"Which- how has this not been resolved yet?"

Shinichi and Ran both flushed scarlet and taking that as his answer, Kid threw his hands up in frustration.

"I swear there has been absolutely no progression between the two of you since the first time I saw you. Do you have any idea how obnoxious  that is for a bystander?"

"She avoided you because she kissed you and actually liked it," he pointed a finger at Ran who flushed brighter at his words before turning it to Shinichi next who went pale, "and he changed the plan because he thought you avoiding him meant you didn't like it!"

"Do you see how easy that was? Is there anything that you two do not understand?"

At their mutual silence, Kaitou Kid shook his head aggravatedly before spinning around, his cape billowing out behind him. "And you guys are my rivals?" he grumbled bitterly under his breath. "You guys better have this sorted out before next time."

Even long after Kid left, the two remained standing there completely frozen. They both were staring at where the thief had made his exit but neither seemed to want to break the silence first. Neither wanted to be the first to confirm or deny the accusations thrown at them.

Instead, realizing that they were still very much in the open with an unconscious body and that this job was definitely ruined, Shinichi turned a glance towards Ran. Unsurprisingly she was avoiding looking at him again and her face was still insanely red. But his was too and if it were for the same reason. . . then they had a lot to discuss.

"Do-" he started before cutting himself off. He wasn't sure if now was the right time when they were standing in the hall of one of their heists after having a shouting match. But when her eyes flit up to his quickly at the sound of his voice and saw they looked hopeful, he didn't care.

"Do you want to get something to eat. . . with me?" And then he cleared his throat realizing how informal that sounded and that he better be clear because obviously she didn't go off hints.

"Would like you to go out to dinner with me?"

Her face still impossibly red, she bit her lip before nodding slowly. "I'd like that."

oOo

Months later, Shinichi found himself at another gala. It was the usual type of party he hated attending but he'd have to admit as his eyes followed one figure across the room, this one wasn't too bad.

Until it got closer and certain features became clearer and he realized this was actually the worst one yet.

"Ah, Shin-chan, did you see they have a chocolate fountain?" she beamed excitedly before reaching for him.

Immediately he side stepped the arm that went to link with his own making 'Ran' pout at him. Shinichi didn't care until he noticed the confused stare from across him. He had stated this was his fiancé after all and froze when he caught their puzzled looks.

This time, when she went to link her arm with his, grudgingly, he allowed it. No matter if he was cringing so badly inside, his teeth gnashing together irately. "Yes. I saw," he bit out. And barely getting the whole statement out, his champagne flute he held was snatched from his other hand that wasn't currently wrapped around 'Ran'.

Shinichi had to grit his teeth as he watched her swallow practically the whole thing in one gulp. With a cheeky grin he was sure was meant to seem mockingly innocent considering the actual Ran had done this numerous times before, she held the glass out to him with the one measly sip that was left in it as an offering.

"Keep it," he bit out still trying to keep his cool. There were people still watching them after all. And shrugging she downed the rest of it.

Probably noticing the peculiar tension between the two, it was quite easy to dismiss themselves. And as soon as they were somewhere deemed a little private, Shinichi turned angrily.

"Where is she?"

And mocking him further, violet eyes widened comically as brows scrunched in faux confusion. "Where is who?"

The voice was exact. Purely feminine and a complete copy.

But it wasn't real. It was fake and he could tell.

Or rather he noticed the obvious struggle for Kid to keep his knees bent. It was quite embarrassing and even more infuriating to notice that his girlfriend whom he had been trying to ogle had in fact not actually been his girlfriend. But in actuality a hack of a magician doing his best to maintain the height and appearance of a young woman.

More mortified that he believed for a moment this was his girlfriend enough to ogle her, Shinichi had no patience. Fully irritated now, he gripped Kid's arm furiously while snapping in a harsh whisper, "Where is Ran?" The grip only loosened when he realized they were still technically in the open and he forced a small grin at anybody that looked their way.

"Calm down," the still female voice tried to wave him off. "We had a small issue so we had to do a little switch."

Doing his best to ignore that this wasn't actually Ran though it was her voice, Shinichi prodded further. "What do you mean a 'small issue'? What happened?"

"Well something didn't exactly go according to plan and since we both agree your girlfriend has monster strength, I decided as a last resort we can rely on that," the imposter smiled happily.

He was so proud of himself.

Not really sure if he wants to know what that means, Shinichi began heading towards the hall where he knew Ran would be then. "And you just left her there alone."

"What?" Kid pouted. "You don't have confidence in me, Shinichi?" They were in the hall now and Kid was trailing behind him still in that irritating disguise. He had given up on trying to maintain a shortened height and was walking normally, but out of all the things Shinichi could pick apart about the disguise, it was something else that disturbed him more.

"Do not do that," he spun around angrily. It was one thing to call him 'Shin-chan'. Ran would never call him that except for that single time before. But to speak to him how she actually does- it was starting to freak him out.

Kid frowned for real this time. "Don't do what?"

"Stop sounding like her!" He snapped uncomfortably.

Seeming to finally understand, Kid shrugged before saying in his own voice, "Fine."

But that was just as bad. Hearing that voice with Ran's face.

"Never mind- that's worse," Shinichi sighed heavily and fingers went to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Just stop talking."

This was the first and only time they'd ever team up again. Shinichi couldn't believe they managed to talk him into it in the first place. They had been right. There was no point in the two thieves fighting over who stole the ring first when it was clear the goal was the same. Not like last time when the two men both stumbled into a treasure's room two weeks ago wanting to steal the same thing. And after they managed to almost both get caught last time due to them arguing, Ran had been the one to present this idea.

But Shinichi couldn't get over what the dunce had accused him of. 'Stealing his thunder'- as if they were competing to be the most wanted criminal in the fraud department. He wasn't trying to steal anything. As far as he was concerned, Kid could carry all media attention he wanted. Shinichi would never try to take that. But he couldn't help it if fans of theirs constantly argued over who the best thief actually was.

And yes, amazingly that was a thing.

Shinichi resented that though. He was no thief. And after watching him a little more closely, Shinichi realized that just maybe . . . Kid wasn't either.

Neither one wanted the treasure for themselves. Besides Kid's weird rule that he needed to 'look' at the gem before they decided anything. It was clear the Phantom Thief was looking for a treasure and once he found it, he wouldn't be giving it back. Shinichi wondered if that was likely the reasoning for what Kaito Kid was doing in the first place. He had never thought much of the guy. He had always just assumed that he was some mindless criminal that flaunted and attempted to disguise what he was- a criminal- behind obnoxious magic acts. Because that's all they were. Even if sometimes it took a bit to realize how the thief had done it, he always figured it out. There was always an explanation. And that's why Shinichi didn't understand nor did he care to learn just why Kid paraded around like a magician.

But now working with him, it annoyed him, but his curious mind made it easy for him to at least attempt to analyze his behavior.

Kid was doing this for a reason. A reason other than crime at least. He was positive Kid would never try to actually kill or harm a cop or bystander. He always took the treasure and bailed. And every single time, he would read the next day that the treasure had magically been 'returned' to the rightful owner.

Kaito Kid never held onto a single gem he stole. Not a single time.

It was difficult for him to admit, but Ran was right. The two were very similar. Even if they carried it out differently or if their way of doings things were the opposite of the others, their outcome was always the same. Shinichi wasn't foolish enough to believe they had the same goal; that they did this for the same reason. It was clear that Kid was looking for something and once he found it, he would not be returning it. But though he would never say it aloud, the Magician was not a bad person. He always wanted to believe there was no good enough reason to break the law. There was nothing that warranted another person committing a crime. But if that were actually true- then what were he and Ran doing? He wanted to believe they were doing the right thing. And so grudgingly, he accepted that about the Phantom Thief.

Things were very rarely black and white.

oOo

"Who was your nice date?"

The soft voice called over to him gently from up ahead on the path. Recognition immediately pulled his attention away from his feet he had been watching dejectedly; his hands stuffed inside his suit pockets. The words that filtered in however had him perking up.

Supressing a grin he shrugged. "Just some girl I met in college psychology."

Ran blushed slightly but smiled all the same. It wasn't till he reached her that she began walking beside him. "She seemed to be dressed a bit risqué though, don't you think?"

Shinichi peeked over at her as she stayed beside him. She wasn't looking back but he could only assume she was wondering how he liked her dress.

Which he refused to judge after having only seen Kaito Kid wearing it.

Referring back to her question, he snorted. "Probably because the wrong person was in it."

He would've much rather seen the real Ran wearing it.

Finally breaking composure- stopping whatever roundabout way she was trying to ask, she stopped walking. "But it was a perfect copy!" she protested pouting and Shinichi had to wonder what exactly she was after here. He had a feeling he'd be in trouble no matter the answer he gave her.

But perfect? Perfect clone, his ass.

"There are just some things that can't be copied," he supplied simply even though in his mind, he knew exactly what parts of Ran couldn't be imitated.

Ran was not content with his response. If anything, she almost became suspicious as he leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Like what?"

Realizing he might've steered this conversation somewhere he definitely didn't want, Shinichi swallowed hard when she raised a brow.

"What did he not copy?" she asked outright.

If she wants an honest explanation . . .

Sighing, he looked away, turning his nose up. "Your chest does not sit that high. Not only does he not have any, but your breasts are large. He most likely had to make them rest higher to disguise that. And though your thighs do have quite a bit of muscle, they are much softer than what he presented- not to mention he was actually walking around with his knees bent slightly to accommodate the height difference."

Ran didn't respond right away. Her silence dragged on and eventually he became nervous. He definitely confessed too much. Even if she was his girlfriend, surely it would make her uncomfortable to realize he watched her that intently. And on every little detail as well. But Shinichi couldn't help but to be insulted that she said Kid was an exact copy. That would never be possible. Ran could not be replicated. Especially when Shinichi could pick out so many things that the magician had gotten wrong in his disguise. Of course the detective knew there was only so much one could do in a disguise. But still, Shinichi was too much of a perfectionist and Ran was perfect in his eyes.

Suddenly his arm was being gripped gently and Shinichi blinked oddly when Ran slowly wrapped her arms around his. At first he thought she would be mad. He had openly admitted to ogling her. And if she asked him to be more honest, he would have to say he'd been watching her long before they started dating.

"Thank you," she said softly, startling him by breaking the silence and catching him off guard with her response. The confusion must've clearly been on his face because she turned red again. Her smile didn't drop though.

"It's nice to know that you could tell it wasn't me. . . that all you see if me."

They had begun walking again and Shinichi couldn't help but think he definitely dodged a bullet. But he would've been lying if he said anything else. And though it made him anxious to know that all his thoughts and feelings were out and on the table, he was sick of hiding them. Ran deserved to know exactly how he thought about her. She deserved to know just how much he noticed her and for how long he wanted to be with her.

And if he was rewarded for honestly. . .

"I guess that means you'll have to wear that dress again so I can actually give you an opinion on it," he said nonchalantly even though his gaze continued to rest ahead of him. He hoped it came out like a suggestion because he really hadn't gotten to see her in it. Currently she was wearing jeans and coat after having to give up the dress for Kid's impromptu disguise.

"Can't. I'm pretty sure Kid went home in it," Ran innocently said completely missing why he wanted her to wear it again and bursting his bubble in the process.

Deflating, he changed his mind. "He really is a thief," he grumbled.

Ran raised a brow. "And then what are you, Night Baron?"

"Alright," he said sternly while narrowing his eyes and she began giggling.

Clenching her arms much more firmly around his arm, he felt her chest press against it even more making him gulp. "Don't worry. I have something else I can wear just for you," she whispered.

[dcmkkaishinevents]

Anonymous Submission: Shattering, Like Glass

Main Pairings: Kudo Shinichi/Kuroba Kaito

Characters: Kudo Shinichi (Edogawa Conan), Kuroba Kaito (Kaitou Kid), Miyano Shiho (Haibara Ai), Sera Masumi, Mouri Ran, Nakamori Ginzo

Prompt: “I won’t be good company.” “Doesn’t matter.”

  It started at the Kid heist.

Like always, the taskforce treated Edogawa Conan as a child. A rather intelligent child that they occasionally turned to for advice on catching the elusive phantom thief, but a seven year old child nonetheless. It hurt, it always did. Conan’s most important secret was that he was actually ten years older than that; his real name was Kudo Shinichi, and he was a high school detective. If he had been able to be in his real body, they would have known, wouldn’t have treated him like this… and it wouldn’t have hurt so much.

But he smiled and pitched his voice to seem more child-like, and gave hints and figured out Kid’s plan, how he was disguised as Masumi (a truly risky idea), and they played their game, their battle of wits, all while the walls inside Conan’s mind felt like they were collapsing, squeezing, choking him, because it all hurt just too much for him to handle sometimes.

Of course, on the rooftop, Kaitou Kid noticed.

“Tantei-kun, a truly brilliant deduction,” Kid started. “But are you alright?”

“Of course I am,” Conan replied, a bit startled that Kid had noticed. But of course, Kid was intelligent, and perhaps Conan wasn’t as good at hiding secrets as he thought he was, with his rather vulnerable emotional state at the moment.

Kid opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it, studying Conan. Stop, stop, please stop, chanted a small voice in the faux child’s head, and Conan himself was unsure what exactly he wanted to stop: Kid’s analyzing, his impending mental breakdown, or perhaps just… everything. If he could go back to being Kudo Shinichi, then… He tried to stop these emotions from flashing across his face, but he wasn’t sure he succeeded.

“Take deep breaths, tantei-kun,” Kid said softly. There was clear concern in his expression. He crouched down to reach Conan’s height. “It’s okay to let it out.”

“No, it’s not,” he hissed. “You don’t understand what it’s like for me.”

Kid paused, then said, “You’re right, I don’t know what it’s like to be trapped in a body smaller than it should be. But I do understand what it’s like to keep secrets. That’s part of this, right? You don’t like lying to your friend Mouri-san, and everyone else you’ve known as a teenager. You don’t like lying to the people who didn’t know you even before this happened. I feel the same way. I have a close friend, but I can never tell her I’m Kid.” The thief pulled a smile. “I guess you can say I understand you a bit, huh?” He leaned over and hugged Conan.

The little detective stiffened, then allowed himself to relax in the magician’s hold. “Yeah… the lying is part of it. And of course, the fact that I shrunk… I’m never seen as what I actually am. It just hurts so much, and I want to tell them, but I can’t, because if they find out…” He shivered. “I don’t understand how Haibara can deal with this but I can’t. Doesn’t she hate it too? Being called a brat when she’s actually around ten years older?”

“She might,” Kid replied. “She just deals with it differently than you do, perhaps. Or she’s better at hiding it. Have you ever let her see you like this?”

No, Conan thought.

“If you haven’t, then maybe she’s even the same as you. You can’t jump to conclusions.” Kid continued. “You might not be alone. You can talk to her about this.”

“I kinda do,” Conan muttered. “I ask her to give me temporary antidotes.”

Kid sighed. “That’s not really talking to her about it. But if you’d rather talk to someone else, I’m here for you.”

Conan fought down the warm feeling blooming inside his chest at those words. “How can you be here for me? I only see you at heists, and it’s not even for long.”

A distant shout of “KAITOU KID!” in Nakamori’s voice supported this.

“Then you’ll just have to visit me, huh?” Kid grinned. “Are you okay now, tantei-kun?”

“...yeah, I think I am.” It wasn’t a lie this time. His brief conversation with Kid did help, and the idea that he wasn’t alone… it made him smile slightly. Not much, he didn’t want the thief to get smug.

“Well then,” Kid said, standing up. “I’m afraid I have to take my leave.” He tossed the stolen jewel at Conan, who caught it. “This is not the jewel I am looking for, so please return it to the kind inspector. And,” He handed Conan a card. “I’ll be there whenever you need me.” With that, he opened his hang glider and soared into the night sky just as Nakamori and a few more officers busted their way onto the roof.

After handing the jewel to Nakamori, hearing Masumi rage about the thief once again using her face, and returning home with Ran, Conan read the note Kid had left him. It was an address, a phone number, and a name.

Kuroba Kaito.

Conan smiled. “Thank you,” he whispered, before getting ready to go to sleep.

[reinabeestudio]

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I wrote a humble one-shot featuring Phantom Thief Karamatsu and Detective Shinshia, inspired by the Phantom Thief set from Hesokuri Wars lol.

It is very simple, and I did it just to cater myself LMAO. But maybe some of you find it cute✨. As a small fact, I titled the story “Alone Together”.

Story under the cut!

Finally, February was here! Heart-shaped decorations in every store, roses of different colors were seen over different parts of the city, cute sweets… last but not least, there was the romance. For a long time, this was a sour month for the sextuplets. They were phantom thieves of renown, yet they never got a single chocolate in their whole lives by their fans! It was truly demoralizing, almost as bad as Christmas.

Tradition said that women were the ones that gifted chocolate for the men they had chosen. This year, however, the blue phantom thief had a mission. An important gift to give.

Karamatsu tried so many times in the past to convey his feelings to the new detective: Shinshia Doremi. She acted rough and distant at first. “We are enemies,” she declared coldly. But in the rare moments they could spent together, her behaviour softened and the real Shinshia Doremi was exposed: a warm, yet shy girl. Sadly, everytime he tried to tell her about what he felt, someone or something would interrupt their moment together. Often their separate duties, as detective and phantom thief. 

Oh, Cupid, how cruel was he! Keeping the hearts of this couple in the scale of Lady Justice, its pans so close but never together! Such a tragic fate!

Well, perhaps the vision he had of their love inside his head had evolved into something more dramatic than what it actually was in real life. But it added some excitement to whatever their situation was.

Karamatsu was no fool, either. He knew there were others interested in the girl… Mostly, his boisterous, shitty eldest. He noticed the way that idiot looked at her, and it wasn’t love. At least, not the the type of love he felt inside. The blue thief decided it was time to strike while he still had the chance, and ask her out. Subtly.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♡ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Once more the young detective ended up being one of the few remaining people in the department. Rookies got so much paperwork, it was just ridiculous. She had to keep a dictionary close to her, too. Some of these characters looked like an amalgamation made of nightmares.

To keep boredom away, Shinshia started singing, the words echoing throughout the empty office. A soft duet, the name of which she could not call to mind at the moment. However, she did remember that it was a popular love song. It was one of the first songs she heard when she first arrived to Japan.

The sun goes to sleep once more

In this lonely time, I wonder

Is your heart dreaming of me?

The detective finished with the paper she had in front of her, and grabbed the next one in the pile. “How tedious,” she thought. She kept singing to herself.

Stars twinkle above our heads

And the moon gives us her best glowing smile

But tonight, I’ll be yours...

“... And yours alone.” 

Another voice joined in with her song, singing along. Shinshia went silent and turned around, but she saw nothing besides empty desks. She went back to her paperwork, along with her song.

However, before she could sing another word, Shinshia stopped entirely when suddenly a pair of hands covered her eyes. “Who is it?” a familiar male voice asked in a sing-song tone.

“The sweet release of death, I hope.”

She resumed her work when she regained her sight as the infamous phantom thief, Karamatsu, casually leant against her desk with a subtle smile. “Long day, I presume.”

“You have no idea,” she sighed and tucked her hair behind her ears . “You should leave before someone sees you. Unless you want me to handcuff you.”

Karamatsu laughed quietly. “Heh, being helpless at your mercy sounds like a very tempting offer, darling. ” Shinshia’s face immediately flushed and he laughed again, genuinely. “But I am here to steal you away.”

“Steal me away?” Shinshia asked, not even looking away from the papers. She put some loose locks of hair behind her ear again. She was often pulling hair away from her face lately. “Sorry Karamatsu, but I have a ton of paperwork left to do. I can’t be stolen right now.”

“C’mon, Shia-chan! It won’t be for long. I’m just asking you to take a break.”

“I told you, I’m busy right n-”

The phantom thief put a hand over the paper she was writing on, and the scowling detective finally looked up at him. It was in that moment when she noticed that he was wearing casual clothes, and not his usual garish outfit filled with blue glitter. The only part that did stand out was, perhaps, the black eyepatch on his left eye. He felt triumphant over this, how she looked at him.

“Tonight, be mine alone ♪.”

After a minute of silence and a staring competition that was perhaps getting a bit too intense for the situation, Shinshia got up from her desk grumbling. “Fine. A short break.”

With a triumphant spring in his step, he suddenly scooped her up in his arms effortlessly and left the office. His plan was working so far.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♡ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Now this was strange.

Karamatsu dragged Shinshia out of the office. That was not the strange part, but instead of avoiding crowded places like he always did, they just… kept walking. Out in the open. Walking didn’t bother her, it was just unusual. He was a famous criminal, after all. It was a miracle they left the building so easily. Or maybe the author was just too lazy to think of something smart.

Wait, author? What author? That makes no sense. Just ignore it.

It was snowing outside. Snow wasn’t common where she was from, so she still marvelled at the sight of it everytime. Despite how much she enjoyed watching the snow fall, it was still cold in the streets. So smart was she, that she forgot to grab her jacket before they left, and now she was constantly rubbing her hands together.

Karamatsu laughed. “You’ll end up setting them on fire, Shia-chan.”

Shinshia snorted. The comment was lame, yet she snorted, like the fool she was. Karamatsu took her hand on his own and blew on it, before he decided to put both of their hands inside his coat pocket. She glanced at him, noticing that he was actually doing the same at her. However, as soon as he noticed her eyes on him, Karamatsu quickly looked away and instead focused on the cars that passed by.

After spending their evening with an impromptu stroll, they finally headed back to the building. Karamatsu spent most of the time silent, which was even more unusual that this whole situation. Usually, he loved doing long monologues filled with inscrutable flowery words that probably sounded cool only in his mind. But during that evening, Karamatsu seemed focused in whatever was going through his head at the moment. Then again, Shinshia didn’t talk much herself.

The poor detective couldn’t help it! He was a man that had to be put behind bars for his crimes, she knew this. However, everytime they were together, her mind just stopped working properly. This had been happening since she actually caught him once: Karamatsu, one of the six-colored phantom thieves that stole valuable pieces of art all around the city. He was pretty popular among the youngest members of her department, some of them even called themselves his fans. That was done in secret, of course.

Shinshia knew little about the man next to her. Truth be told, she wanted to unveil that air of mystery around him by herself. Not as a detective, but as… something else. Maybe as a friend. Or maybe as something deeper. Only the author knew.

Hold on, what-- you know what, nevermind that.

First she thought, maybe she was just starstruck. After all, as soon as she arrived to that building, she was assigned to the case of the phantom thieves. Shinshia was in a country that was so different  to her native Spain, and she knew no one, besides this guy. A criminal. But he kept coming back when she was alone, giving her advice and listening to her troubles… And then a bond bloomed between them. So sudden, yet so natural, as if it was destined to happen.

“Shinshia,” Karamatsu called to her softly, pulling her from her thoughts, “I have a little present for you.”

“A present? Why?”

“Just a little something I got for you! It’s fine, I promise.”

Shinshia sighed. “Well, fine.”

His eye glittered as he clasped his hands happily. Gosh, what a big baby. “Good! Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I say you can, understand?” He said that last part in English, for some reason.

Strange request, but Shinshia did what he told her anyway, and closed her eyes. She could hear Karamatsu fumbling with something- not sure with what, but it was small, she supposed. He did say it was a little something, after all. Suddenly, she felt his hands on the sides of her head, playing with the locks of her hair. He put them back, and then she felt those same hair locks being slightly pulled back by something. She feels his warm hand linger on her chin, delicately caressing along her jawline before pulling away.

“Open your eyes.”

Shinshia opened her eyes, feeling really curious about what Karamatsu did. He took out a round pocket mirror and then he showed her: a blue hair bow was holding back her hair.

Karamatsu smiled at her softly. “Your hair is growing long, Shia-chan. It keeps getting in front of your eyes, doesn’t it?” She nodded, impressed. When did he notice her annoyance at her hair? It was such an insignificant detail. “Now I can see your cute face again.”

Shinshia looked down, feeling her face warm up. “T-Thanks.”

After he put the small mirror back in its place, he took an envelope out of the same pocket. He gave it to her. It would have looked like a normal letter, if it wasn’t for the small heart on the back… And the blue glitter. So painful.

“What is this?” Shinshia took the envelope and opened it. Inside there was a single piece of black paper with text in gold letters. “An invitation?”

“Observant as always! It’d make me very happy to see you there.”

“I’m not sure, Karamatsu… this is very sudden.”

“But, Shia-chan! It will be so much fun!” Karamatsu looked at her with puppy eyes. Uh, eye. “Do it for me. Please?” 

How was that working so well, what the hell. Shinshia sighed in defeat. “I will think about it.”

Feeling victorious yet again, Karamatsu took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Good night, Shia-chan. I hope to see you there.” Those were his last words before he turned around and walked away, quickly melting into the crowd. Now Shinshia Doremi was left alone at the doors of her workplace with her heart beating incredibly fast.

The detective looked down at the sparkly envelope. This thing was so shiny that it hurted to look at it for too long. It was so painful! It was so tacky!

“You're so troublesome.” she said to no one. She released a deep sigh.

She was in love with the blue phantom thief called Karamatsu.

Shinshia decided to attend to the party, after all.

She didn’t go to parties often… mostly because she wasn’t invited to any of them. But, if she was being honest with herself, the promise of meeting him again was too tempting to resist. Also, free food and drinks.

Woah. She really had to have a deep crush on the man of strange monologues, if she was going to ignore her insecurity just for him. What a guy, he was making miracles happen even when he wasn’t present.

So she got ready, donning the prettiest dress she could find inside her closet. She wore the blue bow he gifted her, and after checking herself in the mirror, she grabbed her clutch purse and left to the party.

“Even if Karamatsu isn’t there, it’s better than to be alone during Valentine’s day,” she thought as she locked the door of her house behind her.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♡ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

It was a Valentine’s dance party. It should have been obvious, considering the day it took place. But she wasn’t aware that Valentine’s Day parties existed at all. Of course they do, why wouldn’t they? Maybe the host was single as hell, and this was their attempt in trying to find a partner. Or maybe it was a Jay Gatsby trying to find their Daisy Buchanan. Yikes, hopefully not. 

Also, every celebration needs a party, obviously.

Somewhere, someone in the world will throw a party for Cat Day. Maybe they will put a silly little hat on top of their cat’s head, followed by the confused pet trying to swat it away with its little paws and failing as the owner was in the floor laughing to tears.

That turned to be a very amusing thought, after all. It’d be so funny if someone celebrated Cat Day like that. She didn’t even know if Cat Day existed at all, but now she really hoped that it did.

Back to reality, Shinshia grabbed a glass from the nearest table as she looked around, moving between the many guests that were having fun together. Where in the world was Karamatsu? How could a single man wearing a black eyepatch be so difficult to find among so many colorful outfits? Pretty sure his full name was Karamatsu Sandiego. A famous thief whose signature look features a blue, glittery matching top hat and long cape. Of course, it all checked out, she just solved the case.

The detective was so into her own dumb line of thought that she didn’t notice the carpet, and her shoe caught. There was barely time to react; carpet veered up, her drink tipped forward, and suddenly the floor was very close. Extremely close. However, she hadn’t bit it, and that didn’t quite make sense. Gravity existed, and through gravity, she should have hit the floor.

There was something holding her up. A hand, which connected to an arm, which led all the way to a well-tailored suit. A delicious, familiar fragrance reached her nose.

“Well now,” a voice purred so slowly, and hands turned her to face upwards. Karamatsu’s face slowly turned into a tender smile. “I see you decided to come after all, darling.”

“Ah, well…” Shinshia really couldn’t say much with her waist held so enticingly by those hands, as warm hands brushed up against her skin and tickled. “I... I had to make sure that you didn’t steal anything! There are many people here wearing valuable jewelry, I’m sure you’d manage to steal something.”

“Heh, it seems my plans were ruined by the great Shinshia once more!” Karamatsu continued onwards with that smile just deepening at her sight, and somehow, he seemed to be leaning a bit closer. The room rang with cheery laughter, and the party carried onwards without a single glance towards the thief and the detective.

“You always seem to be,” one hand caressed its fine way up to her shoulder, “Stumbling around me. I’m starting to wonder if you are tripping on purpose now, hmmm?”

He knew well she wasn’t doing it on purpose. But before she could complain about that, he pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her completely. The hand on her waist pulled her just a little closer that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. He laced his fingers with hers. “I enjoy our moments together, darling.”

The orchestra struck up a mesmerizing waltz, and Karamatsu’s eye perked up enough that Shinshia could practically see the lightbulb above his head.

“Let’s dance!” he invited her without a second thought, and Shinshia stumbled as Karamatsu guided her to the dance floor. A violin hummed and a key plucked, and then his hands were on her waist, a smile beaming away. 

Unexpectedly, he was good at the waltz. What the hell, that was not fair. Shinshia found herself tripping quite a lot, and the phantom thief just chuckled everytime she crashed into his body. It didn’t seem to phase him either, he just grinned all the wider and adjusted until she fell back into rhythm. 

Finally, somehow the rhythm came to Shinshia. Maybe it was the guiding steps of Karamatsu. Maybe it was the smile he gave her as she fumbled along. Or, perhaps, it was the hand he still had on her waist, caring as it kindly led her along despite her inexperience. Whatever it was, it had her steps synchronize with Karamatsu’s, and suddenly she started noticing other things: how his rings glistened in the light as Karamatsu led both of them through the swarm of couples, or how his brown eye never looked away from her face. Small details, yet they were such lovely little things that made her heart beat wildly inside the detective’s chest.

“Say, Shinshia.”

“Yes?”

“You said you came here to make sure I didn’t steal anything, right?”

Shinshia raised an eyebrow in confusion, but she nodded. Where was he going on with this? Was he actually going to do that? She told it as a joke, she didn’t want to work tonight.

“Heh, well, my beloved Shinshia... ” Karamatsu leaned down slightly and whispered. “I believe I already stole something.”

Shinshia didn’t really notice the song grew faster until a violin screeched in delight and suddenly Karamatsu was really close. When the song was over, he had dipped her just as the last violin ended with an exaggerated flourish. 

Karamatsu leaned forward, his lips brushing hers, and perhaps it hadn’t been such a bad thing, tripping over her own shoe. Not when she could feel him gaze at her in rapt adoration. Not when Karamatsu had her so lovingly wrapped in his hands, and clutching as if she was the most fragile, most precious thing in the world that had happened to him.

No, perhaps it was for the best.

[alwaysinstoryland]

May I Steal Your Heart?

It’s tiiime to share our final pieces for the @luckycharmzine!! Here’s mine, I hope you enjoy ♡

AO3

-

It was a bright sunny day, and Chat Noir had just stolen another Agreste family treasure, and Marinette was over it. She had been hired to catch the mysterious phantom thief who seemed to only target them, but she really wasn’t having much luck. 

The problem with it being the Agrestes being the ones stolen from was the amount of possible suspects. So many people could have motives for stealing the family’s treasures that Chat Noir could be almost anyone. She had, of course, already investigated anyone who could have a grudge against the Agrestes, but had come out empty handed.

The only thing she had in the way of clues was the calling cards he left at each scene, but even those didn’t give her much to work with. At least, not enough for any solid leads. His latest calling card had said that when night fell on the fourteenth day from that day, the treasure that would be taken would be something more precious than anything he’d stolen before, which really didn’t narrow anything down.

The only good point about the case was working with Adrien, who was nicer and more genuine than she expected the son of Gabriel Agreste to be. She’d thought he’d be a pretentious brat, but that wasn’t the case at all. He’d been most helpful in aiding her investigations and was always willing to answer her questions, and over the short time that she had been working on the case, the two of them had become friends. 

She was currently on her way to meet up with him to discuss the case at a nearby cafe. He was already there when she arrived and greeted her with a bright smile that made her heart jump in her chest. 

“Hey, Marinette! How’s everything going?”

“For the case? Not good,” she sighed, dropping down into the chair across from him. “Though you probably already knew that seeing as Chat Noir struck again last night. And I’m no closer to solving it. Is your father too busy to talk again?”

“Yeah,” his smile drooped momentarily before he perked up again. “But if you have any questions, you can ask me.”

“Thanks. This is the latest card that was left,” she said, sliding it across the table to him. “It’s a bit odd that he told us when he would show up next, but hopefully it’ll work in our favour. I don’t know what he’s planning this time.” 

“Something more precious than anything else he’s stolen?” he tilted his head. “I wonder what that will be.”

“I was hoping you might be able to tell me.” 

Adrien looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well, none of our treasures are that important to me, but there are a few things my father might consider really precious? I can make a list of them if that would help,” he suggested. 

“It’s a good start.” she said, giving him a relieved smile. “So far there hasn't been any connections between the items being taken, but perhaps there’ll be something on the list I can work with.”

He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled a few things down. Marinette raised an eyebrow as he signed his name at the end of the list. He wrote his A’s oddly, all slanted to the left and unnecessarily flourished. Though why he'd sign a list, she didn't know.

 “Well, I have to get going, but thank you for this.” Marinette tucked the list into her pocket. 

Adrien beamed at her. “I’m always glad to help.” 

“Sorry I don’t have any leads for the case yet,” she said, blowing out a discouraged sigh as they both stood to leave. 

“Hey,” he nudged her shoulder gently with his own and smiled at her. ”I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You’re the best detective around.”

She gave a little laugh at that. “The best detective huh? Right now, I’m not so sure of that, but thank you for your confidence in me.”

—

Marinette sat at her desk, shuffling Chat Noir’s cards absently as she went over her notes on the case. There really wasn’t much. She sighed and dropped the cards, resting her forehead in her hands. The two weeks had gone past and she still wasn’t any closer to solving the case. She didn’t know who Chat Noir was, didn’t know why the Agrestes were the only ones being targeted by him, or how he kept managing to do so without getting caught or leaving a single trace except for one card. One measly card, that added up to six cards, which added up to… nothing. They were no help at all. If anything, they just served as reminders of how much she didn’t know.

Chat Noir was good at what he did, she’d give him that. She just wished he was a little less good, or perhaps that Gabriel Agreste would take the case a little more seriously. In the one brief conversation she’d managed to have with him, he’d insisted that he had ample security to protect their treasures and that having her there as well was completely unnecessary. Chat Noir was gonna strike that night. She’d told him that. This was the first time they knew when he was going to steal from them, if she could at least be nearby, she might be able to gather more clues or maybe even catch him before he managed to steal anything else. 

He had simply brushed her off, saying that perhaps she should’ve already solved the case and stopped Chat Noir by then. But how was she supposed to stop Chat Noir if Gabriel Agreste wouldn't cooperate with her? He didn't even seem to care that his things were getting stolen. If anything, he was only getting more money back for each stolen valuable.

Marinette swiped at the cards on her desk angrily. One of them fluttered to the floor and she bent to pick it up, then froze. Wait a minute.

There was an A on the card. 

A distinctive A she’d only seen written like that once before. 

It was barely visible among all the chaotic lines that covered most of the card, but it was definitely there, slanted to the left and overly flourished. Without even realising it, Marinette was turning the other cards around and finding letters on those ones too.

She put them in order and almost fell off her chair. Because there, worked into the designs between the cards, was Adrien’s signature. Why would Adrien’s signature be on the cards that Chat Noir left behind when he stole from the Agrestes…

Of course. 

She probably should’ve connected the dots earlier. The reason that Chat Noir was so good at stealing from the Agrestes was because he was an Agreste. He never got caught because they didn't want him to get caught.  

Forget whatever Gabriel Agreste said, that night she was going to be there when Chat Noir showed up.

—

As soon as the last streaks of light had faded from the sky, Marinette headed out for the Agreste mansion, dodging puddles from the rainfall earlier in the afternoon. She wasn’t sure how she’d get in if Gabriel didn’t want her there. But if she was right about Chat Noir, there’d be a way for her to slip in unnoticed. 

Sure enough, when she reached the wall surrounding the property and circled it, something caught on a tree caught her eye. Upon closer observation, she could see it was a pamphlet from the cafe she had met Adrien in the last time they talked, tucked so it would look like the wind had blown it in there and gotten it stuck. Clever. When she turned around and shifted the ivy out of the way she found a secret entrance. She almost rolled her eyes at that. Of course the Agrestes would have a secret entrance. 

It led to a corridor and she followed it along, ignoring all the closed doors, until she came to one that stood slightly ajar. She pushed it open and stepped inside. 

A familiar figure stood at the balcony, facing away, but he stood up a little straighter when she closed the door behind her.

 “So I was right,” she couldn’t help but say as she approached and he turned around. “You’re Chat Noir.”

There was something in saying it out loud and seeing the confirmation of it in the little quirk of his lips. She knew before, but now there was no denying it. Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir. 

“I knew you would figure it out. You are the best detective after all.”

Marinette moved forwards so she was standing in the moonlight as well. “You wanted me to find out, didn’t you?”

“You tell me.”

“This whole thing was your father’s idea, wasn't it? You've just had to go along with it.”

“Well it hasn’t all been bad,” he grinned. “There's a certain thrill in breaking into your own house, I guess. Besides, I got to meet you, didn't I?” 

She stopped at that. “You’re the most amazing person I've ever met, Marinette,” he said so sincerely that it took her breath away. “You’re so smart, and determined and, well, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to steal one last thing. Something more precious than anything I've stolen before.”

She frowned. “I thought you said that none of your family treasures were important to you?”

“They're not. The treasure I'm talking about…” His voice lowered to a whisper as he leaned a little closer. “… is your heart,” he finished. 

A tiny giggle escaped her and she raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell me you wrote the last card like that just so you could use that line.”

“Maybe I did. Does it matter?” The two of them had unconsciously shifted even closer and their faces were only inches apart by then, but neither moved away.  

“Yes. It was so corny,” she laughed but she kissed him anyway. 

[alvacchi]

Phantom Thief Hanako-kun AU Story: Chapter 4 - The Heist

Hey guys! Thanks for your patience! Life gets busy.

Enjoy!

---

-Previously in the last chapter...

-Yashiro and Tsuchigomori discovered Detective Three′s corpse at the crime scene

-Believing Hanako to be innocent, Yashiro took on the case to clear his name

-And a heist note had been delivered. Hanako planned to steal the moon.

-So what happens now?

-Next morning, Yashiro went to Tsuchigomori’s detective agency as usual

-To find Teru and Kou there discussing with Tsuchigomori

-Teru: “We appreciate if you could cooperate, Detective Tsuchigomori. The police force would like all the help we could get.”

Tsuchigomori: “Ugh.”

Yashiro: “What’s going on here?”

Kou: “Ah Senpai! Good morning!”

Yashiro: “Kou-kun! Good morning!”

Kou: “We’re discussing about the heist that’s happening tonight! We’re gathering information to capture Hanako!”

Yashiro: “Ah. Kou-kun, could you come here for a second?”

Kou: “Hm?”

-Yashiro dragged Kou out of earshot from the other two and whispered to him

-Yashiro: “Listen, do you think you could distract your brother during the heist? I don’t want him capturing Hanako. At least not yet.”

-Kou: “What? Why not, Senpai?”

-Yashiro: “Detective Three’s been murdered. Hanako is being suspected but I know it’s not him. If the police gets him, I wouldn’t be able to interrogate him.”

-Kou looked surprised but he understood the situation.

-He didn’t even question why Yashiro was sure. He just believed.

-Kou: “Okay I got it.”

-Yashiro: “Thanks, Kou-kun! It’s a secret between the two of us!”

-”The two of us”

-Those words echoed in Kou’s mind as he got slightly flustered

-Yashiro looked really dazzling to him

-Kou still wanted to ask her though

-Kou: “Is it okay if I let Mitsuba know?”

-Yashiro: “That’s fine! But don’t let him write about it in the papers just yet. It’s supposed to be still under wraps.”

-Kou: “Got it!”

-The two went back to where Tsuchigomori and Teru were.

-They were apparently discussing about the meaning of the heist notice.

-Tsuchigomori: “It’s the moon. Simple. That’s what it says on the letter.”

-Teru: “You don’t think there’s more to this? How does someone steal the moon? I can’t wrap my head around it.”

-Tsuchigomori just shrugged. He looked slightly irritated.

-Yashiro also thought the heist notice was weird.

-Perhaps by the time of the heist, they would understand.

-Teru: “Anyways, we’ll be sure to provide security to Aoi-san’s property again. He notified us about the location. The thief seems to often frequent his places huh.”

-Throughout many heists in the past, Hanako would steal from the gem collector Akane.

-Poor Akane. It was hard for him to trust the police force since they couldn’t protect his jewels each time.

-He wanted to impress Aoi and get a successful love confession

-His outfit even looked like a phantom thief kind since Aoi took a liking to Hanako, which Akane could not understand. He would capture Hanako and show Aoi that he was better! So he wanted to do.

-He hadn’t had much luck there sadly.

-So everyone waited for the time of the heist

-Night time arrived

-Crowds swarmed around the tall building where the heist was going to be as they chanted for Hanako

-Yashiro was among them, trying to get into the building

-Oh gosh she was late

-She should have arrived to the scene earlier

-It was taking her some time to squeeze through the crowds

-Never had she seen and expected so many people before

-Perhaps everyone was wondering how Hanako would steal the moon tonight

-It was all over the news.

-How was she going to get to Hanako before the police did?

-She decided she would but the amount of security was incredible

-Somewhere in the crowd, she spotted Mitsuba who was being interrogated by the news reporters Natsuhiko and Sakura

-Natsuhiko: “Hey boy! What are your thoughts on Hanako stealing the moon?”

-Mitsuba: “M-me? My thoughts...I’m not so sure. I find it absolutely crazy.”

-Natsuhiko: “Right! Hahaha!”

-Well they sure were having fun. Sakura was telling Natsuhiko they should interrogate the others

-Yashiro finally arrived inside the building on the first floor

-She was allowed in since she was part of the capturing team

-Everyone else she knew must be at the rooftop

-That place was heavily guarded since you could see the moon from there

-It was the highest place to the sky

-The heist could start any minute and she wasn’t with the others. Geez.

-She rushed to find the stairs

-But then the lights in the building suddenly blacked out.

-Hanako must have messed with the electricity

-Let the heist begin

-The policemen were in their positions in the building

-They were organized on each floor in case Hanako tried to escape to them

-But the blackout started confusing them

-Thinking they need to at least move around, they set off booby traps they didn’t know were there

-Definitely Hanako’s doing

-Yashiro got lost

-She hadn’t set off any traps thankfully

-She had prepared a flashlight on her just in case to navigate herself

-The building was huge though

-Where were the stairs?

-The elevator wouldn’t be working since the electricity went out and it wasn’t a good idea anyways

-To steal the moon, the one location Hanako should be at would be the rooftop, right?

-Oh why did she have to arrive late?!

-As she was frantically looking around in the dark, a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind

-Yashiro freaked the hell out

-Yashiro: “KYAAAAHHH”

-She heard laughing and immediately recognized it. Hanako.

-She turned around to see him

-Hanako: “Detective, why are you so jumpy? Haha”

-Yashiro: “Hanako! You...! What?!”

-Wait, why was Hanako here?! Where were the others?

-Nevermind that! Wasn’t this what she wanted in the first place?

-Yashiro: “I need to ask you something--”

Hanako: “Hey Detective, do you believe in real magic?”

-What? That just came out of nowhere

-She started pondering

-Real magic? Like a mystical force that defies logic and reason?

-What does this have to do with anything? Why would she go believing that?!

-Yashiro: “If real magic existed, there would be no need for detectives. There’s a reason behind everything, so no.”

-Hanako: “Heh. So that’s your answer. You don’t dream, do you?”

-Yashiro: “Wh- I can totally dream! Wait stop distracting me!”

-There was no time to waste! They’re in the middle of the heist!

-Yashiro was so angry right now though. She wanted to release all her built up stress she’s had

-Yashiro: “You are so reckless! Maybe the most reckless person I’ve ever met! Not only do you steal jewels, you crash into my apartment, take a bullet out of you with a knife, make a risky deal with me, crossdress to meet my friends when you didn’t even need to, and now you’re trying to steal the moon at the most terrible time?! Do you have no sense of danger?! Or is this what thrills you?! HUH?! Don’t steal the moon! It shouldn’t even be possible!”

-Hanako: “Calm down, detective! It’s not good for you to get so angry. Besides, I already accomplished my mission.”

-Yashiro: “YOU ARE THE REASON I--wait what did you say?”

-Hanako showed Yashiro the very thing that he stole. A lunar rock.

-Hanako: “Pretty, isn’t it? I guess people don’t usually consider this as a gem but I do. That gem collector had this as part of his collection here in this building”

-Yashiro’s mind was completely blown

-Yashiro: “WHAT?! I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ENTIRE MOON”

-Hanako: “Oh, so you can dream, detective!”

-Yashiro’s eye twitched

-Oh she’s had it. And she was so worried about him too!

-She went to pin him down in a rage

-A moment soon, Akane and Aoi arrived to where they were.

-Akane: “AHA I KNEW IT! I didn’t give all the information to the police because screw them! I’m going to be the one to capture you--what are you guys doing?”

-Aoi: “Nene-chan...?”

-Yashiro looked up to see them

-Yashiro: “Huh? Akane-kun? Aoi?”

-Yashiro realized the position they were in. She was on top pinning down the thief.

-Hanako: “Oh I didn’t know you had it in you, detective~”

-Hanako just had to tease

-Yashiro’s face blushed completely red and she immediately got off

-Yashiro: “YOU GUYS MISUNDERSTAND!”

-Hanako got up and started running away

-Ah.

-They began the chase

-Akane: “Wait, you thief!”

-Yashiro: “WAIT HANAKO!”

-She hasn’t even asked him her most important question yet!

-Yashiro: “Did you murder Detective Three?!”

-Hanako flinched and stopped running

-The others did too, looking at Yashiro in question

-Yashiro: “Detective Three was murdered a couple days ago! And the police suspect you but I believe it was an imposter! You’ve been framed!”

-Hanako turned his head towards the party

-He looked quite troubled and pale

-Hanako: “And what if it really was me? What if I said I was guilty? Would you charge me right now?”

-Yashiro froze

-Okay, what the hell was he going on about??

-Is he okay??

-Yashiro knows it can’t be him already so why wasn’t he denying it?!

-Suddenly, a whip came forth and Hanako jumped out of the way

-Teru appeared. Looks like Kou couldn’t hold him off any longer

-Teru: “So this is where you are, thief. I should have known. Our battle isn’t over yet.”

-Hanako: “Tch”

-Oh no! What should Yashiro do?!

-Was there no way out of this??

-Aoi:“This way!”

-A smoke bomb exploded and Yashiro and Hanako were pulled along

-Akane followed with Aoi

 -Teru blew the smoke out of the way with his weapon to find them gone

-Teru: "Huh..."

-Back with the group, they appeared to have found a secret passage

-Akane: “Ao-chan...why did you have a smoke bomb? Also, how did you know there was a secret passage here?”

-Aoi: “Hehe I know a lot of stuff, Akane-kun! I’ve done my research on this building and I’ve studied Hanako’s smoke bombs before. I wanted to make one!”

-Akane: “Darn it thief! Stop influencing Ao-chan! But Ao-chan sure is really smart!~”

-As usual, Akane was fawning over Aoi

-Yashiro questioned Aoi’s actions

-Yashiro: “Wait Aoi, you’re helping Hanako?”

-Aoi: “Nene-chan, I know you. You’re trying to clear his name, right?” 

-Yashiro: “Aoi....I’m glad you understand!”

-Akane: “Ao-chan, he’s a phantom thief though...”

-Aoi: “Please Akane-kun. For me.”

-Akane: “Aaaa how could I say no?!”

-They seemed to have forgotten about the stolen lunar rock

-Now focusing on getting out of the building

-Hanako was quiet the whole time

-Which felt really strange

-Once they gotten out safely, Akane and Aoi left Yashiro and Hanako alone

-They were in an alleyway where nobody else was around

-Yashiro confronted Hanako

-Yashiro: “Hanako, I know it can’t be you. Who is the murderer?”

-No response from him

-His expression was unreadable at this point

-Yashiro sighed. She wasn’t getting anywhere 

-Yashiro: “Sorry” 

-She apologized.

-Hanako looked at her confused. Finally some expression she could read

-Yashiro: “I’ve been demanding information from you the whole time. It’s unfair of me to not share any from my side. I haven’t properly introduced myself to you, even though we agreed to get know each other.”

-Yashiro took a stance, pointing at herself smiling

-Yashiro: “I’m Yashiro Nene! A detective’s apprentice from Tsuchigomori’s detective agency. It’s nice to meet you!”

-A second later and Yashiro waved her hands at him

-Yashiro: “Ah you don’t have to tell me anything! Just let me tell you a few things. Back before I began this job, my best friend Aoi was framed for something she didn’t do. Akane-kun tried to bribe the police but it didn’t work. I didn’t know what to do and I was scared. I was crying a lot. And then, Tsuchigomori-sensei stepped into my life. He proved Aoi was innocent and I felt really thankful. That’s when I decided I wanted to become his apprentice and learn from him.”

-Hanako: “It wasn’t because you had a crush on the devil?”

-Yashiro: “Minamoto-senpai isn’t a devil! He means well! That may be partly why but it’s not the main reason.”

-Hanako: “Heh~”

-Yashiro: “I’ve decided. I’m going to call you Hanako-kun from now on! We’re friends now and you’re not allowed to object!” 

-Hanako looked surprised.

-A detective wanting to be friends with a phantom thief? 

-Hanako: “Pff what a weird detective.”

-He smiled a little

-Yashiro: [pouts] “What do you mean by that?” 

-She was relieved that he seemed to be feeling better

-Hanako: “...Actually I do have something I want to say to you.”

-Yashiro: ?

-He embraced her in the alleyway, the moonlight shining so beautifully on them

-Hanako: “I never got to properly thank you for saving me that night. Thank you. Thank you for caring about me.”

---

-Meanwhile on the rooftop

-Kou was talking with Mitsuba, mentioning about his conversation with Yashiro in the morning

-The police had declared the heist was over so Mitsuba was allowed to come over there

-Teru then just came back

-Kou: “Oh Nii-chan! You’re back! Looks like Hanako couldn’t steal the moon after all!”

-Teru: “No, he succeeded. It wasn’t the moon he was after. It was a moon rock.”

-Kou: “Oh why didn’t I think of that! Darn, we’ll get him next time! What do you want for dinner, Nii-chan--”

-Teru: “Kou”

-Kou: “Yes?”

-Teru: “Don’t think I didn’t know you were trying to prevent me from going anywhere. I saw Yashiro-san and her friends behaving oddly.”

-Kou: “Teru-nii...”

-Kou put on his glum face and Teru sighed.

-Teru: “Well...I’ll let it go this time. You guys may have a reason for doing so.”

-Kou: [smiles] “Nii-chan!”

-Mitsuba: “Minamoto-kun...”

-Kou: “Hm?”

-Mitsuba: “There’s something I should tell you...I..Well I think I’m going to go home early”

-Kou: “Oh okay! Get home safely!”

-Mitsuba arrived home, staring at the photos he took and had recently developed in the last couple days

-Mitsuba: “I didn’t tell him in the end...”

---

-Radio (Natsuhiko’s voice): --And so that’s what happened! Wow, what do you know! Phantom Thief Hanako did another successful heist! Thanks for listening folks! Now--

-A hand appeared to turn off the radio

[parchmentedscrolls]

Perhaps the Biggest Illusion (is reality itself)

Fandom: Persona 5 (Royal) Characters: Akira Kurusu, Goro Akechi, Takuto Maruki Pairings: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu Words: 3,480

Read on AO3

“A detective and a phantom thief. Despite being enemies, your relationship isn’t based on hatred or ill will . . .” Maruki muses, leaning towards Ren.

We’re rivals, not enemies—the words were already forming on Akira’s lips when Maruki cut him off.

“That’s why I found it so tragic when I learned what happened in Shido’s Palace,” he said, eyes full of pity, and Akira’s mouth froze. How . . . how can he even know about that?

There had been no one—not even Sae knew what had happened in Shido’s Palace, and there was absolutely no way Maruki had been in the Palace at the time. The only ones present had been The Phantom Thieves and Akechi himself. What had transpired that day had been a carefully guarded secret from the public, which could only mean—

He must have found out from . . . the collective unconscious? Akira frowned—that wouldn’t have made sense, because all of the Phantom Thieves had Personas, and couldn’t mingle with the Shadows or whispers of Mementos. None of them would tell Maruki about it so openly either. They wouldn’t even have had the chance to do so. So how did Maruki—

It clicked. He didn’t find out from one of the others. Akira’s throat tightened uncomfortably. He must have found out . . . from me.

It made all too much sense—Akira was the wildcard of the group, he took in and let out Personas and Shadows with ease, gained them access to his mind in exchange for their trust and their power. Hell, he’d done it in Maruki’s Palace.

And . . . what had happened in the boiler room of Shido’s ship wasn’t something small—to Akira, at least. The memories were too vivid, each moment ingrained almost permanently into Akira’s eyes.

The cocking of a gun, venomous words spit from the cognitive Akechi’s lips; the worst words Akechi could possibly have heard in that situation—“you bastard”—as if to sum up what Akechi believed of his existence within a single word.

“So, my final enemy is a puppet version of myself . . .” was all he’d heard the real Akechi say through gritted teeth, as though condemning himself to his fate. Then, denying that choice, “I . . . !”

The sounds of gunshots echoed loudly, followed by a sickening silence.

Akira barely managed to keep himself from flinching. He could still remember the scene as it played out from behind a metal door where he was left helpless to leave Akechi to his fate, to the unfair, cruel world that he was never really given an opportunity to truly fight back against.

It was no wonder Maruki had picked up on it, in retrospect. Is he . . . going to use this against me? By making a reality in which Shido never went that far, in which Akechi was never made to target Wakaba and Okumura in the first place . . .

Akira’s suspicions were all but confirmed with Maruki’s next words: “Say, Kurusu-kun . . . didn’t you regret how things ended with him?”

Akira’s breath hitched in his throat.

Either Maruki didn’t notice, or he didn’t care. “You two came to a deep understanding of one another . . . yet you had no choice but to leave Akechi-kun to his fate.”

At this point, Maruki didn’t even bother feigning sympathy. The fact that there was only eagerness in his expression made Akira’s stomach twist with regret.

He really, really wished he had never opened up to Maruki.

Or maybe he wished he had never given Maruki the option to fidget with the metacognitive world at all. Maybe he could’ve helped Maruki with his assumptions about Rumi, or could have changed his heart earlier.

He could have helped him instead of . . . this happening.

Because really—it was Akira’s fault and Akira’s fault alone for letting Maruki get this far, for giving him the idea to mess with the collective unconscious in the first place.

A chill ran down Akira’s spine. He did his best to suppress it.

“That’s why I created a reality where you two could have a fresh start together,” Maruki finished, looking for all the world like a puppy expecting to be praised and not a tentacle-wielding manipulator of reality.

Not like he could make all of Akira’s real history with Akechi disappear with the snap of a finger.

Not like that was exactly what he had done.

Akira felt queasy.

“I’ll hold onto your glove.”

A gasp, then a chuckle. “After all this, that’s what you have to say? Seriously, you really are . . .”

That was the last thing he’d heard Akechi say to him in Shido’s Palace.

Morgana gasped. “That would mean the Akechi in the real world is . . .”

Is what? . . . Dead? No, that can’t be . . . Maruki doesn’t know that, he doesn’t know that Akechi turned himself in for me on Christmas Eve, he can’t possibly know about that—

“Get what I’m saying?” Maruki asked, all but confirming Morgana’s assumption. His expression still didn’t change when he continued, “I genuinely didn’t want to tell you like this. I didn’t want to make it seem like I’m holding him hostage.

“But no matter what you may think of me, I just want you to accept this reality and move on with your happy lives.”

Can you even . . . really call it reality?

For a moment, he wants to be selfish—if Maruki had in fact brought Akechi back to life, that would mean that the wish he granted it from was undoubtedly Akira’s.

Even if the other Phantom Thieves hadn’t clearly had different wishes that were granted in their own ways, none of them would have wished for Akechi back. None of them had ever really seen him the way Akira did.

No one ever saw Akechi the way Akira did. No one else cared for him enough to want him back.

Not even Akechi himself.

Akira’s thoughts were proven when Akechi takes this moment to speak: “And that matters how, exactly?” Akira looks at him, breath bated as he continues, “Don’t tell me you think dangling my life before us is going to have any impact on our decision.”

From the way he spoke . . . “So . . . you knew?” You knew all the time that you were, what—dead?—and you never said anything, even to me? Akira wished he could be angry, be upset, even hurt.

But he understood exactly why Akechi hadn’t said it—he’d known that Akira would probably jump at the opportunity to save him. He’d known that, and had kept it from Akira . . . because he didn’t want to be saved if he wasn’t the one choosing it.

“Well,” Akechi said, raising his left hand to his chin (a pose Akira had noted that he still made even after dropping the Detective Prince act), “I lacked conclusive evidence.” He turned directly to face Akira and Morgana, before continuing, “But after I fought against you all, I had a gap in my memory that ended with meeting up with Akira again.”

He must be referring to last month, when he came to Leblanc, but . . . then, what about Christmas?

Unfettered, Akechi doesn’t bring that up at all. “There were also the cases of Wakaba Isshiki and President Okumura . . . of course I’d find all of that suspicious.” His tone conveyed that it would have been stupid for Maruki to think that Akechi of all people could have been duped by the false reality.

“I see,” Maruki nodded diplomatically, then, “I had a feeling the truth of the matter still wouldn’t dissuade you, Akechi-kun . . .” A pause. “But how about you, Kurusu-kun?”

“Is that . . . why you came to Leblanc when you would have assumed I was alone?” Akira asked quietly. “To ask me to make a decision . . . all on my own after revealing this to me?”

He knew exactly what Maruki was trying to get him to do by doing it—coming alone, for what he’d expected would be a one-on-one conversation in which he could use Akechi as bait for Akira.

Maruki ignored the question. “‘You think dangling my life before us going to have any impact on our decision?’ That’s what Akechi-kun said a moment ago. If that’s how you see it at this point, I’m fine with it . . .” Maruki sighed. “But I’m still going to ask you, one last time: Will you accept the reality I create for you?”

Maruki wasn’t stupid. He was a psychologist, for crying out loud. He knew what he was doing, he knew that holding Akechi against him—the one person he couldn’t save—would do numbers on Akira.

And the scariest part, perhaps, was that Maruki knew just how hard it was for Akira to refuse.

“You were the guiding light to my research. You showed me the way so I could make my dream into reality. I have nothing but gratitude for you—not a single ounce of ill will. That’s why I wanted you of all people to understand . . .”

Akira hunched into himself a little, unable to meet Maruki’s eyes. If I had never done anything about Maruki’s research in the first place . . . I wouldn’t have to choose whether Akechi lives or dies . . .

Maruki, finally sensing his discomfort, stood up. “Perhaps I shouldn’t ask you for an answer on the spot like that. I’ll be going now.”

Akira’s mind was still churning, bitter and hurt by the consequences of his own actions unto Maruki and Akechi. Still, he reached into his pocket. “You forgot something,” he said dully, sliding the calling card Yusuke and Akechi had prepared together across the table.

Maruki smiled, picking it up. “Ah, that’s right. I’ve heard your calling.” Akira could sense a slight shift in the atmosphere the moment Maruki turned his back to him. “And, about my question—let’s do this: I’ll be waiting in the Palace tomorrow, just as I promised. If you still haven’t changed your mind by then, we’ll meet there. But if you don’t show, I’ll take that to mean you’ve accepted my reality.” This time, Maruki looked at Akechi before leaving. “See you.”

The closing chime of Leblanc’s bell echoed a little too loudly.

Morgana shuffled in his seat. “What are you gonna do?” he looked at Akira, concern palpable in his gaze.

Akira bit his lip, patting Morgana on the head lightly. Of course Morgana would ask; Morgana was the only one who could come close to understanding just how much Akechi meant to Akira.

Before he could answer, Akechi interrupted. “I’d like to speak with Akira,” he said, pointedly requesting Morgana to leave.

“Akechi . . .” Morgana mumbled, “Gotcha.” The cat nodded, and Akira could have sworn there was a flicker of relief across Akechi’s face—but it was gone as soon as it had come. “I’ll leave the decision up to you, Akira—let me know when you’ve reached an answer.” He didn’t wait another moment before slipping out of Leblanc, probably to the Sakura house.

And then it was just Akira alone with Goro.

Akira stood up next to the counter—next to Goro.

Goro doesn’t look at him. “I will carve my own path for myself.” His words were calm, weighted carefully. “I refuse to accept a reality concocted by someone else, stuck under their control for the rest of my days.”

Akira understood. After the hell of the life he was sure that Goro had had, he couldn’t deny the importance of freedom to him, just when he’d finally gotten it.

He also didn’t miss the hint of wistfulness in Goro’s voice. But if what Maruki had said was really true . . . “Are you sure?” Akira asks, the words out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Goro scoffed. “Why wouldn’t I be?” A pause. “Don’t ask such stupid questions after all this time.”

After all this time, Akira parroted in his head. The same thing he said when—

The sound of a metal wall slamming down echoed too loudly in his head.

Goro relented a little, nodding. “All you have to do is stick to your guns and challenge Maruki.” His eyes narrowed a little, and Akira braced himself for what he knew would be a challenge to follow up on it. “Or are you really so spineless that you’d fold over some bullshit, trivial threat on my life?”

Something—anger, probably, with some indignation—bubbled deeply within Akira, forcing itself out of his mouth. “This isn’t trivial!” he shouted, his hands moving to grab Goro’s collar.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he realised he couldn’t the last time he got this worked up over something.

Goro narrowed his eyes in a piercing glare. “It is,” he hissed, and that was the pushing point for Akira.

“No, it’s not!” he shouted—when was the last time he’d shouted?—and pulled Goro closer, leaving barely a few centimetres space between them. Somewhere, it registered in Akira’s mind Goro still has about an inch of height on him, highlighted by the way he glanced downwards to meet Akira’s eyes.

Suddenly, it felt like too much, all at once. Even though Akira was the one to initiate this contact, this closeness, he hadn’t been fully prepared for it. Goro’s silence; the tension between them; the newfound lack of pretenses and metaphors and mind games and double entendre—

It was all too direct. Akira wasn’t a straightforward person. He preferred to make concise but unassuming statements to let the person he was talking to draw their own conclusions. He stayed in the background, blending in with the shadows.

Akechi wasn’t a straightforward person either. He was more the type to say exactly what he meant under a layer of barely decipherable comparisons, making subtle but clearly pointed gestures towards his goals. This was something so wholly new to both of them, Akira was sure.

He also didn’t know how to handle Goro’s sharp gaze searing into his eyes, even through the thick lenses of his glasses. The urge to retreat, to hide away behind another mask was almost overwhelming.

Akira wasn’t used to being seen like this, like himself at his rawest at all.

Something only Goro could see, apparently.

Instead of hiding, Akira buried his face into Goro’s scarf, tears welling up in his eyes that he didn’t want to show.

“Akira—”

“Why can’t you understand,” Akira said quietly into the scarf, “just how important you are to me?” The last words were barely a hoarse whisper, but he knew Goro had heard them nonetheless.

And for once, Goro Akechi had no comeback.

Akira raised his head again, seeing clear conflict in Goro’s eyes. Not hesitation, not rejection, but . . . something akin to surprise.

“I never told Maruki my wish,” Akira admitted. “I think he found it on its own, through Mementos. I didn’t know this was my wish until now.”

“Me not being dead?” Goro was clearly trying to be sharp, but there was no bite in his voice.

Akira shook his head. “No,” he said quietly, one hand reaching up to touch Goro’s hair lightly as the other boy’s breath caught. “A chance for us to meet again with nothing keeping you away. It . . . was selfish.”

“All wishes are.” Goro’s eyes were distant, but Akira couldn’t help but feel like this was perhaps the closest Goro had ever really been.

“Akechi,” Akira said, voice barely even audible to his own ears, “what do you think . . . you would have wished for?”

Goro bit his lip. “Nothing Maruki could have granted.” He didn’t elaborate. If only we had met a few years earlier, Akira recalled, wondering if that would have been it.

More importantly . . . his hand was still on Goro’s face.

In a split-second decision, Akira lifted his other hand to tuck a lock of hair behind Goro’s ear, then used it to cup his cheek and look him in the eyes. “I . . . I’m glad you’re here now, you know?”

Goro shuddered slightly in Akira’s hands, leaning into the touch. Akira briefly wondered when the last time Goro had felt this kind of affection was.

“If I’m really here at all,” Goro whispered.

Akira shook his head slightly, moving close enough to Goro that he could feel his breath on his nose.

“I’m a bit offended you think so little of yourself that you expected me to believe you’re dead,” Akira murmured, parroting Goro’s own words from a month prior.

Goro almost shook with disbelief. “You . . . you really are . . .”

Akira, admittedly, wasn’t paying too much attention to Goro’s shock. Instead, he found himself tracing a line over Goro’s cheekbone with his thumb, reveling in the way that each touch made Goro shudder.

“Akira, this isn’t . . .”

“Please, Goro,” Akira whispered in a way that he hadn’t ever before, his voice low and desperate, wanting nothing more than to just stay in this moment forever. “Just let me have this, for now.”

“I need your own answer first,” Goro hummed softly, clearly appreciating the touch but still refusing to give into it. “I need to hear you say it.” Because saying it would make it real in a world where nothing else was.

It was one of the things Akira truly loved about Goro: how no matter what, he would not waver, under any pressure, under any temptation.

And it was because of that that he found himself saying without hesitation, “We’re stopping Maruki,” and Akira could feel tension leave Goro’s body, could see his eyes soften.

This close, Akira could see Goro’s eyes so clearly—the layers upon layers of deep russet, almost honey-coloured in Leblanc’s warm lamplight Eyes that still burned with a furious flame of determination that only cemented in Akira’s head that Goro was alive; that this, at least, could be real; that Maruki was lying.

There were barely a couple of centimetres between them now, and Akira didn’t know who moved first, but in the next moment, Akira’s lips were on Goro’s in the softest, sweetest of kisses.

Akira didn’t quite know how to describe the kiss—it was gentle, to a degree, tender and careful (dare he say, loving?), but that tenderness stoked the flames of impatience, of heavy desire., and tension melted away after so long of being apart.

It was like two halves being reunited into a single, proper whole.

It felt right, and Akira knew for sure now that Goro was alive, because no dead man could express the same amount of passion as Goro Akechi, his sworn rival, his other half, the only person who could really see him when no one else could.

Not even Maruki could fake something like that.

“Akira,” Goro whispered, finally pulling away, “this isn’t . . .”

Akira shook his head. “It’s real here, you’re real, I’m real, and I’m not giving up on you.”

Goro didn’t say anything.

“Goro,” Akira continued, “you know, Morgana said something when we defeated that false god. He told us that the whole world is a product of cognition. There’s no such thing as a ‘real world’, but what each person sees and feels is what shapes reality. That’s . . . what Maruki made use of.”

Akira took a deep breath, lifting Goro’s left gloved hand and placing it on his chest, right over his heart, which felt like it was beating at a million miles an hour. “This is real. Something that can’t be changed. Mona . . . he was alive because we believed him to be. That’s how he came back, even after the Metaverse disappeared.”

“I wondered,” Goro admitted quietly.

“So that’s why I’m so sure that after all this . . . things will go back to the way they should be.” Akira looked down, not quite able to meet Goro’s eyes, before continuing, “And besides . . . the thought of losing you again— scares me.”

Goro slowly removed his hand from Akira’s chest, drawing it upwards, lifting Akira’s face to look him in the eye. “That’s why,” he said, and Akira could feel the determination in Goro’s voice, “I will never accept this form of reality. I’m done being manipulated. If I live or die, I want it to be on my own terms.”

Akira could feel his eyes stinging as he nodded.

Goro’s gaze softened slightly. “Let’s go back . . . to our true reality.”

[n00dl3gal]

To Fall Into Each Other- Rhythm Thief Secret Santa 2020

Hi @regu-1! I’m your gifter for the Rhythm Thief Secret Santa! I hope you enjoy this little fic I’ve whipped up, and I did my best to include the robots like you asked. :) Happy holidays!! (I may also post this to AO3 if that’s OK with you)

“Nothing quite like a life-or-death situation to put things in perspective, eh, Fondue?”

“Woeuf!”

Charlie pinched the bridge of their nose before launching another soccer ball into the robot’s face. “Would it kill you to be serious for once, R?” 

Raphael- or Phantom R, at the moment- put on his most nonchalant face possible. A challenge, he admitted, given he was currently dodging another one of Napoleon’s robots. “Oh, most certainly. But if it’ll make you happy, I suppose I can manage for a while.” 

Marie watched the three deal with the intruders. She wanted to help, but both of her partners had insisted she stay hidden. Even Fondue seemed concerned about her joining the fight. It was true she didn’t have any combat experience, but- 

There was a loud clatter as the final robot fell. Marie stood, rushing over to Charlie and Raphael to see if they were hurt. Beyond a few minor scrapes and a torn pant leg, there was no substantial damage. Raphael grinned. “Well now, maybe life-or-death was pushing it. We dealt with that quite nicely, wouldn’t you say?” 

Marie nodded, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You were amazing as always, Raphael.” Fondue pawed at her skirt and she laughed, bending down to pet him. “You as well, Fondue.” 

Charlie adjusted their hat and picked up their ball. “And no praise for me, I see.” The tone was somewhat sarcastic, but the faint smile betrayed them. On cue, both Raphael and Marie kissed them on opposite cheeks. The effect was immediate. “Ah-h, well, thank you…” 

Raphael took Charlie’s hand while Marie picked up Fondue. “I would’ve been a goner without you there,” he said sweetly. Charlie groaned and pushed him away. Marie giggled.

It’s hard to say when they all fell into each other. Even though they had only known one another for a short time, after all they’d done together, it felt inevitable. 

Marie and Raphael were the first. Even as Phantom R vanished, he wrote to her constantly. Each one was signed with “to my angel.” 

Charlie was unaware until they stumbled across more of whatever conspiracy the Napoleons were part of. They reluctantly went to Marie, who was their best lead on getting into contact with R. 

One thing lead to another, days were saved, dates were made, and all three found that only they understood. Call it fate or circumstance or what have you, but they were happy. 

. . .

They were sitting outside Charlie’s favorite cafe, enjoying the mild weather. Charlie took another sip of their coffee. “If my father knew I was dating you two, he’d have a conniption.”

“I could understand me, assuming he knows who I am-“ Raphael started. 

“I’m fairly certain he does. Even if he doesn’t, he would recognize Marie and put the pieces together. He’s a detective.” 

Marie hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps, but it seems like he’s less hostile lately, from what Raphael has said.”

The boy nodded. “I guess saving Paris from utter destruction is enough to get a pass.” Charlie snorted. “It should, at any rate.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as they finished eating. “Oh, I just remembered! I’ll be performing at the opera house next month,” Marie said casually.

Both Charlie and Raphael froze. “Marie, that’s… a very, very big deal. And you just-” Raphael started, jerking forward in his chair. Fondue whimpered. 

“Forgot to tell us?” Charlie finished, eyes searching her face. 

Marie flushed. “I wasn’t sure when it would be a good time to tell you… I’m able to invite two guests, though. Mother insisted she pay for her own tickets, she said something about getting the ‘best box seats in all of Paris,’ but I find the whole ordeal to be unnecessary. After all, you go to a concert for music, not the visuals, and- oh dear, I’m rambling again, aren’t I?”

Raphael smiled fondly, reaching over to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear. “It’s alright. You’re cute when you ramble.” Charlie nodded. “Heh, attending the opera legitimately, huh? That would-” 

Charlie kicked him underneath the table. “If you make a Phantom of the Opera joke, I’m breaking up with both of you.” There was a mild, mock protest from the other two, but it quickly fell into giggles. Eventually, Charlie sighed. “I would love to go, but I’d probably have to dress up for such an occasion, and I’d rather avoid wearing my… nicer clothes right now.” 

The other two nodded sympathetically. They knew their partner was referring to their assortment of dresses, all of which no longer suited them. Raphael tapped his chin in thought. “I also only have the one suit, and I have a feeling I’ll be pretty recognizable in it.” 

“Oh… I understand,” Marie said quietly, shoulders falling. 

“Whoa, don’t get upset- I got it!” he said, snapping his fingers. “Why don’t we just swap clothes?”

Charlie practically growled. “Be serious for once, Raphael.” 

“I am! We’re about the same size, and you’d be a lot more comfortable in my suit than a dress. Besides, I’ve always been curious about trying one,” he added in a softer tone. “It’ll help keep both of us disguised, too. Win-win-win!” 

Fondue barked once, as if offering his consent. Both Marie and Charlie regarded him and each other. “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she said quietly. 

Charlie looked around before smiling softly. “So do I.” 

. . .

And later, when the three snuck to the top of the opera house and watched the city from the roof, they knew they made the right choice. Marie’s performance was phenomenal, and not a single person was wary of Raphael. Security did briefly scan Charlie over, but quickly decide the resemblance to any phantom thief was tangential at best. Now they had Paris to themselves, it felt like. 

Raphael kicked his legs over the edge of the building, smiling at his mismatched shoes. “Maybe I should’ve tried the heels, after all.” The pink dress fluttered in the wind by his ankles. 

“Raphael, dear, you’re extremely graceful, but I have a firm suspicion that would kill you,” Marie quickly replied. She rest her head against his shoulder, pulling her jacket closer around her. 

Charlie responded by wrapping an arm around her. “I agree. Even Marie stumbled in hers.” With their free hand, they tugged Phantom R’s coat close.

“Hey!” 

All three laughed and lapsed into silence as they admired the twinkling lights below. They all knew there was more to Napoleon’s mystery to unravel, that they couldn’t truly relax and feel safe until everything was taken care of. It could be years from now- there was no telling just how far the conspiracy went, just how involved Raphael’s father was. 

But at that moment, looking over the city they saved, with the people they loved, they were content to breathe. 

[myfriendsarerealidiots]

Um...I’m a bit late but I wanted to post at least once for the dcmkemogust so here we are.

12.8 Fault

Genre: fluff

Relationship: Kaito and Shinichi

“Kaito...where did all the coffee go?” Shinichi asked, glaring at the magician. His hands were resting on his hips and the magician opposite him shrank in fear.

The magician fidgetted in his seat on the couch as he kept his gaze towards the floor. “I’m not sure,” he peeped, his voice threatening to quiver beneath Shinichi’s gaze. “Maybe you drank it all,”

“There was more coffee than I could drink for a month in there,” Shinichi narrowed his eyes, analyzing every inch of Kaito’s being. “It couldn’t have just disappeared overnight.”

“Maybe your scientist next door took some?” Kaito shrugged, looking away from the detective. Suddenly, the small dust bunny in the corner of the room seemed a lot more interesting.

Out of the corner if his eye he saw Shinichi’s shoulders drop as he let out an exhausted sigh. The detective lowered his hands to his sides and elegantly sat down on the couch next to Kaito. They were sitting too close for Kaito’s liking. He could feel his heart race with every breath the detective took. It warmed his entire being, making his shivers of fear go away in almost an instant.

“If I end up dropping onto the floor later from exhaustion, it’s your fault, Kait...o” Shinichi trailed off, letting out a yawn and his head lulling onto Kaito’s shoulder. Soft snores rumbled throughout the detective’s body, like the little purrs of a kitten. A smile twitched at the corners of Kaito’s lips, begging for him to smile at the adorable detective who has finally fallen asleep on his shoulder.

“Sorry for taking away your coffee, Shin-chan,” Kaito whispered, gently petting the detective’s hair. Normally, he wouldn’t dare touch Shinichi’s hair, in fear of a kick or a soccer ball to the face. His hair was as soft as a feather and was almost impossible to get messy. No matter how much Kaito pet him, the sleeping detective’s hair stayed the same. “But it’s the only way to get you to take a proper nap,” he said, his voice filled with fondness. “You’ve been having so many cases recently, you deserve a good night’s sleep,”

Kaito slowly got off the couch after moving Shinichi’s head to his lap and wrestling a pillow in his place. He wavered at the doorway, hand hovering above the light-switch. Casting one last glance at the detective’s sleeping body, Kaito turned off the lights and headed for his room inside the Kudo’s Mansion.

Several hours later, after the moon had risen from the horizon and while Kaito was in his room testing his newest magic trick, Shinichi started to wake up. “Ugh, that magician,” he grumbled as he attempted to sit up, only to fall back onto the couch in failure. “KAITO!!!” He shouted, startling said magician into tripping over his own feet as he headed down the stairs in a rush.

“Yes...Shin-chan?” Kaito purred sweetly, sticking his head into the doorway cautiously. He wore a smile as he hid behind his poker face in fear of the worst to come. “Did you have a good nap?” A pillow flew in his direction and almost hit Kaito if he didn’t catch it first. “It’s nice to see you’re as energetic as usual,” he chuckled, taking a step into the room.

“If I could get from the couch right now, I’d call the police and tell them to arrest you,” the detective muttered beneath his breath.

“On what counts?” He asked curiously, his face now inches away from Shinichi’s. “You can’t tell them my secret without proof, and I doubt you have any.”

“For giving your boyfriend sleeping pills without his consent,” Shinichi deadpanned, his half open eyes glaring at Kaito.

The magician took a dramatic step back and started to wander around the room. Every step he took echoed through the floor as spoke. “When did I give you sleeping pills, Shin-chan?” He asked innocently, stopping in front of the detective. “It’s your fault for staying up so late doing who knows what, and the second you don’t have an ounce of caffeine in your system,” he paused, making a puff of smoke appear from his hands and one of his doves along with it. “Boom, you’re off to dream land,” he smiled cheekily, taking advantage of the exhaustion in his detective’s system to joke around without any damage.

“That doesn’t explain why you took away all my coffee,” Shinichi pouted, facing away from Kaito. “Who knows where all of it is now,”

“Oh about that,” Kaito said in an almost whisper, “I made a small mystery for you to solve in order to find your coffee, so rest up so that you can look for it sooner.”

“Is that one of the perks of dating a phantom thief?”

“Kekeke, maybe,”

Might do another one for tomorrow’s one if school won’t be too much of a prick.

@dcmkemogust20xx

[solletichi]

Tickly Phantom Thief AU- Part 1

Shuichi was in quite the precarious position.

Dangling from the ceiling with his arms tied above his head, Shuichi could do little but wait there with his limbs pulled taut, trying not to panic.

He attempted to soothe his nerves by calmly recollecting the events that led him to his current position.

After a long while of researching and investigating, Shuichi had finally deduced the whereabouts of the infamous phantom thief’s lair. Noticing a strange pattern of graffiti on an abandoned building that was linked to D.I.C.E, Shuichi’s suspicions were immediately rasied. Unbeknownst to the rest of his detective agency, Shuichi made his way to the hideout to investigate.

While there, he found various papers strewn about the room, appearing to be some sort of blueprints and plans. Investigating the room further led Shuichi to discover a discolored patch of the wall, which was actually a hidden door.

Carefully pressing his palms against the wall, Shuichi fell forward and into darkness. Everything after that was a blur.

Shuichi sighed, trying to maneuver himself out of his bonds. A few hard tugs proved that any struggle was useless, and kicking his legs did nothing. The only other option was to wait patiently for his captor to arrive.

And wait he did.

That was, until he heard a door open behind him, along with the sound of footsteps coming towards him.

“Well, well, well...” An unfamiliar voice began, “What do we have here?”

Shuichi tensed at the sudden appearance of another occupant in the room. He tried to speak, but his voice remained trapped in his throat.

Shuichi remained silent as his captor walked in front of him, finally revealing himself.

There were a few observations Shuichi made right off the bat: His captor was a petite young man, about the same age as he was, and he had plum colored hair that stood out in all different directions at the tips. His overwhelmingly malicious presence more than made up for his small stature, pure evil radiating off of his body. Shuichi shuddered at the sight.

“C’mon, not even a ‘Who are you?’ or ‘Where am I?’, huh? How boring...” The small man picked at his nails, seemingly finding them more interesting than interrogating his captive.

Shuichi swallowed and steeled himself, preparing to speak:

“...You’re part of D.I.C.E., aren’t you?”

The man froze in place and looked up at Shuichi, appearing to be taken off guard. This expression was only momentary, however, as his features then morphed into those of pure joy.

“Ooh, looks like Mister Detective here did his research! Aaand...” he brought a finger up to his lips, smirking deviously. “Why the hell should I tell you?” He gave Shuichi a once-over before returning his gaze to his eyes. “You’re not exactly in a position to be making demands.”

Shuichi grit his teeth, repressing the many emotions he was feeling. Anger, confusion and embarrassment were included in the mix, but the most prominent one was fear. He had no idea what his captor had in store for him, and he didn’t want to find out.

“Let’s get started, shall we? I’m sure you’re dying to know what I’ve got planned for you!” the mysterious man said gleefully.

“...What do you want from me?” Shuichi asked cautiously.

“What do I want?” The man placed a hand on his chest, tilting his head innocently. “I want to have some fun with you, that’s all!”

Shuichi stared blankly, not satisfied with the information he had been given.

The man continued, “And I have the perfect game for us to play!”

He walked up to Shuichi, placing a hand on either side of his waist.

“Don’t laugh.”

Small fingers dexterously pinched at the detective’s waist, moving like frightened spiders. Shuichi had to bite his lip to keep from bursting out laughing.

“Gh! Nnn! Stop it!!”

“Now, now, you heard the rules! Don’t laugh, Shuichi.” He picked up the pace, quickly drumming his fingers along the detecitve’s sides, all while wearing a shit-eating grin.

Shuichi thrashed back and forth, though his struggles were rendered futile due to his strict bondage. He kicked his legs, but that offered him no reprieve from the tingly sensations.

The supposed phantom thief pulled back momentarily, allowing Shuichi to breathe.

“...How... do you know my name?” Shuichi spoke through labored breaths.

“Oh, I forgot to finish explaining the rules of the game!” The thief clapped his hands together, completely ignoring the detective’s question. His sinister grin had returned, causing Shuichi to reflexively tug at his restraints.

“You can guess what happens if you laugh, riiiight?” He leaned forward, hands behind his back.

When Shuichi hesitated to reply, the thief took this as his cue to keep going:

“I’ll tickle the hell out of you!”

Shuichi’s eyes widened, the gravity of the situation finally dawning on him. He was stuck here indefinitely, completely at the mercy of a wicked phantom thief with incredibly unconventional torture methods.

His thoughts were interrupted by the phantom thief inviting himself closer, rolling up the detective’s shirt.

“So tell me, my dear detective...” the thief smirked, looking up at him, “Who do you work for?” He revved up once more, pinching and squeezing at the detective’s hips with no mercy.

“Hnn! I-I work for the Kirigiri detecti- GAH!” Shuichi yelped as the thief’s hands moved lower, tracing the area where his hips met his thighs. The smaller boy’s eyes lit up mischievously.

“Ooh, what was that?” he smirked, teasing the newly found sensitive area, “Did I find a weak spot?”

“D-Don’t!!”

“Don’t what? Don’t tickle you?” The thief’s grin grew wider as Shuichi writhed in place and grit his teeth, struggling to keep his composure. “Poor little you... My darling detective is oh so sensitive~”

“Mmf! S-Shihihit!” Shuichi giggled.

“Uh oh, was that a laugh I heard? Not good, Shuichi! You know what that means! Iiiiit’s punishment time!”

“Wha-?! B-But I- EEYAHAHA NOHOHOHO!” Shuichi’s struggles returned with renewed vigor as the thief started circling his navel with the lightest of touches with one finger, and clawed at his side with the other hand.

“Tsk, tsk... And here I was, thinking you were all cool and tough! Guess I was wrong!” he chuckled, “Not that I mind though! Cuz this is definitely not boring, that’s for sure!”

“M-MAKE IT STAHAHAHAP! PLEHEHEAZE!” the detective thrashed and quivered violently, but it did nothing to diminish the awful tickling feeling coursing throughout his body.

“Next question!” the thief chirped, now lightly scratching at Shuichi’s ribs. “How did you find my super secret hideout?

“I-I JUHUST- FAHAHACKING HEHEHELL!” the detective’s smile spread from ear to ear, and his face was flooded with color as the thief poked and prodded at his torso with an unnerving determination. “THE GRAFIHIHITIHI!”

“Oh, so you picked up on that after all?” the thief responded, “Y’know, maybe I left those clues because I wanted you to find me! Just so that I could lure you here and have soooo much fun with you!”

The thief let up for a second, watching Shuichi pant with tears of mirth in his eyes.

“Last question! I saved the best for last, too!” he giggled childishly, placing his hands on Shuichi’s stomach. The detective shivered at the touch.

“What is my name?”

“What?! There’s no waHAHAHAY AHAHAHA NOHOHOHO!” Shuichi cried, trembling violently in his restraints. Tears were forming in the corners of his eyes at this point, threatening to stream down his face.

The thief’s hands roamed all over the detective’s torso, free to do as they pleased what with the detective all tied up like this. His hands froze when he heard Shuichi squeal as he dipped a finger into his navel.

“Ohoho~ Someone’s got a verrry ticklish belly button~ It would be a shame if someone...” the thief moved his face over Shuichi’s navel, “exploited that.”

Shuichi screeched as he felt gentle lips blowing over his stomach, struggling even more as he felt the thief add his hands back into the mix, scratching and squeezing at his hips.

“GAHAHAHAHAHA NAHAHAHAHA ENOUHOHOUGH PLEHEHEAZE!” The detective had tears streaming down his face, and his struggles ultimately became weaker as a result of the prolonged tickling.

The thief pulled back, his lips hovering inches above Shuichi’s stomach.

“Psh! Phantom thieves don’t respond to cries for mercy! Now out with it, detective! What’s my name?” He continued teasing the detective’s stomach with the lightest of touches, never failing to make him squirm.

“IHI DOHOHON’T KNOHOHOW! P-PLEHEHEAZE!” Shuichi pleaded, voice growing raspy.

“Fine...” the thief sighed, stepping back from his captive. He watched with amusement as the detective struggled to catch his breath, still giggling a bit even though the tickling had already stopped.

“...So... What is your name?” Shuichi lifted his head to look at the thief, completely spent from all of the tickling.

For once, the thief had no expression. No childlike glee, no malicious smirk- nothing.

“Kokichi...” the thief stated. “Kokichi Ouma.”

Shuichi didn’t respond, still recovering from the torture he had endured.

The thief sighed and turned away.

“Wellll, I guess that’s enough fun for one day. Wouldn’t wanna torture my beloved Shuichi too much!” The thief began to walk away, only to be stopped by the detective’s sudden cry.

“Wait!” Shuichi yelled, “...You never answered my question. How do you know my name?”

The thief’s malicious grin had returned as he quickly spun on his heel to reply. He put a finger up to his lips and responded:

“I’ll tell you, my beloved detective... When we meet again.”

And with that, the thief- Kokichi- exited the room, leaving Shuichi a flushed mess all by himself.

When we meet again...

Shuichi’s mind felt hazy as he tried reviewing the information he had just obtained. No matter how hard he tried, his eyelids seemed to be closing on their own, and before he knew it...

Everything went black.

[the-delta-42]

Rule of Precinct One Vol. 2

Rules of Precinct One Vol. 2

1. Detective Wilde has been authorized for use with all firearm ballistics, don’t ask how, we’re trying to figure that out ourselves.

2. Detective Wilde has been banned from use of all non-firearm weapons; we are running out of tail splints.

3. Detective Wilde is now required to wear a tail guard on duty, we really don’t need to go to hospital to get the damned thing reattached.

4. Do not underestimate Detective Wilde's ability to harm his own tail, seriously, don’t.

5. Detective Wilde is to stop stealing balls from the sports cupboard, we can’t get his wife to retrieve the balls every time.

6. Detective Wilde and Detective Hopps-Wilde are no longer allowed to take the nightshift together, I’m sure you can figure out why.

7. Whoever took the donuts from Clawhauser, well done, he’s supposed to be on a diet.

8. Do not make Box or Funny jokes with Detective Hopps-Wilde, we don’t need to find out that a Rabbit can actually go savage.

9. No stating Detective Wilde’s full name, there is a reason he dropped the John.

10. No asking why Detective Wilde’s father calls him Junior, at all.

11. Never, EVER suggest, imply, or otherwise insinuate that Officer Wilde is capable, or indeed, talented, at cheating at cards, in front of Officer Hoops. This will not end well.

12. Do not attempt to play cards with Officer Wilde. This includes Black Jack, Three Card Monty, and All forms of Poker

13. Amendment to the above: Cheat, Go Fish, and Snap are not excluded from this, on account of not traditionally being betting games. You may think that will prevent you from losing money. This will not prevent you from losing money.

14. A reminder to all Officers, Officers Schneider and Wilde are not to be in the same room together especially if they're both armed.

15. Whenever Detective Wilde is entering the station don't yell out "The British are coming!" Officer Fangmeyer is still recovering from broken ribs.

16. Reminder to all officers, trying to scare Detective’s Wilde and Hopps is generally a bad idea.

17. Reminder to all Officers, posting photos of new equipment on Furbook is now banned.

18. Don't EVER put a muzzle on Detective Wilde's office desk. Whoever did it, I hope you’re happy that he has to now spend a week in therapy. Seriously, we don’t need one of our best Detectives going into shock.

19. Do not, under any circumstance, show Detective Hopps anything Creepypasta related. The last time she saw Jeff the Kitty, she refused to let go of Detective Wilde until he passed out.

20. No one is allowed to use the Ion Cannon in storage. We don’t know what it does or why it’s there.

21. To all officers, stop trying to setup Chief Bogo with another mammal. Last time we had to rescue him from a cross dressing tiger and his friends.

22. Clawhauser is to stop playing matchmaker. It did well with Hopps and Wilde but not so good with others. See previous rule for proof.

23. Detective Wilde is not allowed to pick the movies on Movie Friday anymore. Many are still in trauma counselling.

24. Detective Wilde is not allowed to sing Happy, it caused every Officers in the station to break out dancing.

25. No one is allowed to play the Police Story Movie Series in the station, except on Movie Friday.

26. No one is to play the British Grenadiers within Detective Wilde's hearing distance, he may be an excellent singer, but it does get annoying.

27. All Officer patrolling the slums must wear a stab proof vest. We don’t need another incident where Detective Hopps-Wilde nearly became a Widow.

28. FOR THE LOVE OF ASLAN DON'T PLAY WITH Detective WILDE'S POISON CONTAINER FROM THE SAS.

29. Who played with Detective Wilde's EMP Grenades again? All the Police Cruiser's electronics are fried.

30. All Narcotics Operations are to be jointly operated with the ZDEA, not go out and do an Anti-Drug War with the Cartel, Detective Wilde was spotted wearing Combat Gear with an M4 during one of the Raids.

31. No matter what, Detective Wilde is not to be disturb during his investigation unless it's important.

32. Stop telling the Rookies that Detective Wilde is James Bond.

33. Who gave Wilde military grade super glue?! He somehow glued his tail to the ceiling of the station and it took a long time to get him down!

34. We all know you like Guns N Rodents, Detective Hopps, but whenever you're entering the Rainforest District don't play "Welcome to the Jungle" through the sirens. Same goes for any officers.

35. If you have a backstage pass to a Gazelle concert, make sure to hide it from Chief Bogo and Clawhauser. Officers Delgato and Wolford were nearly trampled to death last time.

36. Only Detective Wilde is allowed to use the Ion Cannon, it seems that he knows what it does and how to handle it. He also has yet to shoot his tail off with it.

37. Reminder to all Officers, Detective Wilde is only allowed to use a Baton in non-lethal situations.

38. Even though Wilde is British doesn't mean he's a stereotype, even if he does like drinking tea.

39. No one is to bet a Schneider vs Wilde fight, Schneider involved the GSG9 and Wilde involved the SAS.

40. No trying arrest a badger because he "stepped on your tail" this means you, Wilde.

41. Whoever keeps putting up bunny/fox adoption papers, please stop. Detective Wilde and Detective Hopps-Wilde become unavailable for the rest of the day when this happens.

42. Reminder to all Officers to not allow any more male bunnies to be in sight of Detective Wilde or Detective Hopps. We don't need another flirting incident.

43. It is now banned to arrest the driver of the ice-cream truck and "confiscate" all of the truck's merchandise because he wouldn't stop. (We're looking at you Officers Fangmeyer, Wilde, and Schneider.)

44. Whoever put up pictures of Detective Hopps getting changed around the station, be aware that none of us will subdue him when Detective Wilde finds you; he WILL find you.

45. Do not even joke that there is someone named Shere Kahn here to see Wilde about his time in the secret service. Last time this happened Detective Wilde disappeared for two weeks and Detective Hopps-Wilde was crying her eyes out.

46. Detective Wilde is to take home all of his personal gear immediately. We can't keep replacing every computer and electronic device in the precinct every time someone uses an EMP grenade.

47. Detective Wilde is no longer allowed to bring personal equipment to work without permission. A Stinger missile launcher isn't police gear.

48. Detective Wilde is allowed to use the ion cannon. He somehow knows how to use it.

49. Do not ask Detective Wilde about his time in the secret service. Last time this happened Detective Wilde freaked out and disappeared for a week, you know I’m starting to see a pattern here.

50. To all Officers, stop baiting Clawhauser to doing your paperwork through the use of donuts and cereals. Be responsible for your own work and Clawhauser is on a diet!

51. No one is to ever label fox repellent as Genuine Zooisiana hot sauce EVER again, Hopps is still crying in my office and Wilde is still being treated for the blindness that was caused by it.

52. Remember kids, fire hot. Someone should probably make a note on that.

53. Attention officers, attention, remember to work the shaft. Wilde we know this was you.

54. If it wasn’t clear before it is now, By no means are Wilde and Hopps allowed in the copy room together and apparently I need a new secretary.

55. Do not use the mini-gun. Half of our officers are still in the hospital.

56. Do not prank Officer Hopps with anything ghost related. Wilde took an hour to literally drag her out of her home because she believed there was a ghost at the station.

57. Reminder to all officers, do not pull pranks that involve any hot sauce or Ghost Peppers. Some of our officers still have ice packs on their tongue.

58. Don't ask why Wilde has the British Flag and a London Metropolitan Police Bobby Helmet on his desk.

59. New Patrol Cars maybe bulletproof, but that doesn't mean it's a target for target practice.

60. All Officers must use the code 10-8 if you’re on duty.

61. All detectives must have their badges on the at all times, I really don’t want another incident where the Mayor mistook Detective Wilde for some shady business man.

62. I don't care how, but Detective Wilde is forever banned from using TASERS so stop giving him TASERS. We really don’t want another ‘king’ incident again do we?

63. Yes, Detective Wilde, we get that you are a Doctor Who fan, especially Sir John Hurt.

64. We don’t need the constant thing of The United Kingdom leaving the EU, Detective Wilde is still trying to deal with the other British Citizens here who have started to break out in riots. This is quite possibly the first time Detective Wilde has used any standard Police equipment properly.

65. Please do not mention Gazelle in front of either Detective Hopps-Wilde or Clawhauser, it took us three hours to get them both to shut up.

66. Officer Cody, there are no contingency orders that tell you to kill/subdue any of the Detectives on the force.

67. Alright, which one of you lot petitioned for Detective Wilde to be removed from the Force?

68. Please, who ever brought the little Vixen into the precinct, bring her again, she’s adorable.

69. Alright, who gave Wilde (Both of them) Coffee? They’ve locked themselves in their Office and frankly I believe that you can all here them from where you are.

70. Detective Wilde, please call your mother, this is the seventeenth time she’s called in at the front desk. PS. We now know your actual first name.

71. Please refrain from commenting that Detective Wilde acts like Conan from the Anime Detective Conan when he finally solves a case.

72. Who created a real Phantom Thief, who is based off Magic Kaito 1412?

73. Could someone please explain to Detective Hopps-Wilde what the previous rule is?

74. Reminder to all Officers, Detective Wilde is an Authorized Firearms Officer, and his Unmarked Squad Car is a moving armoury.

75. Kevlar Vests are now Standard issue and must worn at all times.

76. This a warning to all racists Officers, you are outnumbered 100 to 1 and Wilde has a Pranking/Torture arsenal.

77. Detective Wilde: you may be a detective now, but that does not give you an excuse to dress up like Furlock Holmes on the job. That bubble-blowing Meerkatz pipe is simply ridiculous.

78. To all feline officers of Precinct One: having roaring contests at the station is expressly forbidden.

79. Officer McHorn: from now on when your office door is jammed please wait for a locksmith instead of charging at it with your horn. According to the contractor that was a supporting wall you nearly destroyed.

80. To whoever pumped helium into the chief's office before he passed out the morning assignments, your commanding officer is not amused.

81. To whoever told Detective Hopps-Wilde about Detective Wilde's Playbunny magazines, he has sworn vengeance.

82. Just because the chief is a Buffalo that does not mean that he is angered by the colour red like a bull gets. The fact that Bogo automatically gets aggravated at the sight of Detective Wilde (Wilde's fur being red and all) is purely a coincidence.

83. The hoses on armoured police vehicles are not to be used as showers. I don't care how clean you may get or how funny it is to see bald patches on Detective Wilde's fur we cannot afford the clean-up from flooding the garage... for the fifth time this month

84. When Detective Wilde warns you about someone conning you, listen to him. The ZPD budget is still recovering after the whole fake Gazelle autograph incident.

85. To the practical joker who subscribed Chief Bogo to the Gazelle Gossip magazine, the joke is on you: he's already a subscriber

86. No one is to mention the word "neuter" in the building. It took the whole day to find the male felines, lupines, and the vulpine.

87. NO VIXENS IN SIGHT OF DETECTIVE HOPPS-WILDE OR DETECTIVE WILDE!

88. Do NOT ask Judy's parents if they had vasectomy yet.

89. NEVER underestimate Detective Hopps-Wilde. We have now learned she can beat anybody to a pulp in a sparring match, including Chief Bogo.

90. Reminder to all officers: just because Wilde is a designated firearms officer, doesn’t mean he's a sniper. Also, don't request for any weapons for the armoury, we can't have a Barrett m107 .50 or an M240, we also can't have AT4's.

91. Detective Wilde is only allowed to sing at Karaoke Saturdays.

92. Please don't disturb Detective Wilde, both of them, when they are explaining their deductions.

93. Reminder to all Racists Officers Detective Wilde is armed for a reason.

94. The new Helicopters are for police work not Romantic Flights.

95. Detective Wilde is not Sherlock Holmes.

96. All officer in Precinct 1 must sign a pact to eat Clawhauser's donut everyday at least once. He was supposed to be 'weight reduced' to normal level of fitness.

97. To any officer out there who using police superbike as patrol vehicle, DO NOT give Detective Wilde and Detective Hopps YOUR SUPERBIKE KEY.

98. To any officer who think bringing Clawhauser's family to 'Bring Your Family To Work' day, DON'T. We can't have Clawhauser being scolded for being 'fat'. It reduces Clawhauser's work productivity. And there's a reason why he doesn't live with his family again.

99. - All officer must not pushes Chief Bogo to give you case. When there is no case, there is no case. I'm watching you, Hopps.

100. For the last time, who brings laser to Precinct 1? The productivity of Precinct 1 dropped to zero just because all officer chased after it.

101. ALRIGHT, WHO BROUGHT THE LASER HERE?

102. To all officers, Officer Moon Moon is to be supervised by at least one officer at all times. He's a new recruit and a walking hazard when left unsupervised. Just ask Grizzoli in the infirmary.

103. No more bringing of pets in the precinct, especially spiders. The giant huntsman spider Officer Fangton brought is still on the loose and a third of the force won't come in until it has been caught.

104. Detective Wilde, do not take advantage of Officer Moon Moon's gullibility. The poor guy lost his first pay check when you tricked him into playing cards with you.

105. If anyone, only Detective Wilde is allowed to refer to Detective Hopps-Wilde as "cute". Anyone else risks her fury.

106. WHY ARE THERE ZOMBIES IN THE PRECINCT?!

107. Whoever dressed up as those zombies, your commanding officer is not pleased.

108. NEVER say that you hate pop-star Gazelle in front of Clawhauser. Even though he is not physically fit, he is still a cheetah.

109. To whoever put the nude photo of gazelle in chief’s paperwork you have parking duty for a month. And I'm looking at you Wilde.

110. No one is to mention Detective Wilde’s ex-wife. It was hard enough to explain to Detective Hopps-Wilde.

111. Detective Garfield we don't care how much of a jerk you think your partner Lieut. Nirmal is, so stop spamming HR with requests to get him transferred to Abu Dhabi.

112. While we are on the subject of Detective Garfield, no one's to tell him when the cafeteria is serving Italian, last time he found out he barricade himself in there and by the time we broke down the door half the food was gone.

113. No Detective Wilde, you did not learn everything you need to know in kindergarten.

114. Notice to the motor pool, for now on all porcupine officers are on permanent motorcycle duty as we can afford to keep fixing car seats every time they come back from patrol.

115. Will you all stop harassing officer Bellwether, he had nothing to do with his insane cousin’s anti-predator plot.

116. Okay apparently you idiots disregarded the last note and now officer Bellwether got himself transferred to Los Santos, claiming he'd rather be shot than harass, so I hope you all enjoy the mandatory week long species tolerance seminar.

117. Don't let Detective Hopps-Wilde drink any form of energy drink (besides coffee). She already has plenty of energy, and doesn't need more.

118. Officer Mchorn is injured at the moment and Officer Moon Moon needs a new partner. Again, don't leave Moon Moon unsupervised.

119. To the one dressed as a Ninja, Detective Wilde and the rest of the Authorized Firearms Unit are hunting you.

120. Will someone catch that Phantom Thief!

121. Reminder to all Officers, if a Military tank got stolen like San Francisco, please do not ask Wilde for Anti-Tank Weapons.

122. Please do not use the Riot Armor to be RoboCop.

123. No, we will not add attack helicopters to our arsenal.

124. Whoever keeps playing those Hyena Gomez CDs please stop, her shrieking gives half the station a headache.

125. To whoever rigged up the riot tank speakers to play 'let the bodies hit the floor' whenever the water cannon is fired, the Chief is willing to overlook this offense if you help setup his home theatre system.

126. If some whacked job manages to steal a tank like that time in San Dingo, don't go asking detective wilde for a rocket launcher, besides that's what the secondary tank full of industrial adhesive attached to the riot tanks water cannon is for.

127. Lieut. Nokiayama the precincts head corner would like to remind everyone that just because he's a raccoon dog, he doesn't have mystical powers like in Japanese mythology, so please stop trying to grab his crotch thinking it will bring you good luck, he has his ancestor’s katana and he knows how to use it.

128. Do not ask Detective Wilde about his family. He does not want talk about. He had a break down last week. If this rule is broken you will be punished by the chief.

129. To all officers, firearms are supposed to be used in emergency situations only, not in trying to kill the giant huntsman spider Officer Fangton lost. It was last seen in the armoury.

130. Do not tempt Officer Schneider with beer, Detective Wilde with tea, and Hopps with carrots. They will find out where you live.