#magic kaito angst

[kaitokitty19]

The Magician’s last trick

Reference to chap 1122. We all know how easily Hakuba was able to lift Kaito. Now imagine him having to carry Kaito under a different circumstance…

[pinktie]

Kaito:

[bakathief]

Earlier this year wonderful @cleflink gifted me a collection of shorts for our Phantom AU and I was so captivated by them that I spent the past weeks of commuting drawing the first short. I hope to follow up with the other ones soon as well!

You can read now the first short as a 22 page comic on AO3!

Please also check out the original, as it is simply beautiful and deserves all the love!

[meimi-haneoka]

{drabble} I'm here - Akiho/Kaito

Alright, how do you do any of this...😂

I guess what you need to know it's that it is a Akiho x Kaito / YunaAki drabble, it's based on canon (set 3 weeks after the series ended), and it's based on the assumption that, differently from what the ENG translation said in ch. 80, in the JP Sakura affirmed that thanks to his stopped time Kaito wouldn't be hurting more than that...this means that his seizures would continue, just they wouldn't get worse than what we've seen till now.

This is mainly a hurt/comfort drabble, with glimpses of happiness. After all, Akiho is happy with him. And it's mainly a way for me to vent some complex feelings about the finale of Clear Card. I have a Kaito POV on the way (edit: here's the link, go read it after you finished this one!), but it's more difficult to write for him (and, uh, more depressing) so it'll come in the next days.

Easter egg: a line is a direct reference to the lyrics of Anata by Hikaru Utada. 😉

I'm not a native English speaker so forgive me if any line sounds weird!

Finally, I have to thank the "enabler" dandelion-stuff-and-fluff (not tagging in case you don't want to!) for giving immediately support to my whims! 😂

Excerpt:

I could feel the tears emerging, but I kicked all of them back, as I threw my 13-year-old self out of the window and summoned the part of me that helped me survive all these years. The resilient one.

Akiho's POV 

Three weeks had passed by, from that fateful night. 

Most of our stuff was packed, and our days were spent between checking everything for the imminent departure and hanging out with Sakura-san and the rest of the group, making the most out of the remaining time. Everyone was so lovely to us, showing all the support we needed. I really felt like I had acquired a family in Tomoeda, and the thought of it made me incredibly happy.  I was going to miss them so much. Just like I would miss this big mansion full of memories.... and mysterious protective forces, apparently, as I was told by him. 

Kaito-san revealed to me that when we came to Tomoeda almost one year prior, he had chosen this mansion specifically to protect me, as I was carrying a dangerous magical artifact that my own clan had engraved in me.  We talked quite a lot over the span of those three weeks, and swallowing the truth had been hard, at first.  But all of that was gone now and like waking up from a nightmare, the memories of it were getting more and more hazy as time went on. Only a permanent scar remained. 

Both of us were in the kitchen, cooking dinner. The clang of kitchen utensils, the sizzle in the frying pan made me strangely happy. It sounded warm. It sounded normal. I love cooking with him. This was the corner of the house where we declared to each other how much we cherished one another, without even fully realizing it. 

“Akiho-san, could you hand me the salt?”  “Here you go!” I said, smiling brightly at him.  He smiled back at me in that soft way that made my knees weak.  God, please, give me this for the rest of my life. Every day, immutably. 

“Done! We’re ready.”  Removing our aprons, we were getting ready to bring everything to the table. 

And then I saw it.  

He stopped in his tracks, his complexion paling by the second. 

Another one was coming.   My blood ran cold, and I rushed to the other side of the room, while he slowly crouched to the ground, out of breath, groaning in pain.   Each cry stabbed me in the chest like a knife. I could feel the tears emerging, but I kicked all of them back, as I threw my 13-year-old self out of the window and summoned the part of me that helped me survive all these years. The resilient one.   I hastily opened a cabinet and took out a finely decorated small box, toppling other items in the process. I didn't care.   Hiiragizawa-san had sent us, through a magic portal, a series of pills he made weaving a complex magic spell over them, to help Kaito-san cope with the seizures. He said they wouldn't do any miracle, but hopefully they could reduce the duration of the seizures and ease the pain a little bit. Cause the pain he was experiencing wasn’t caused by anything ordinary, and no ordinary medicine would’ve been effective. 

I grabbed a towel, flung it over my shoulder and ran back to Kaito-san with a glass of water, spilling some of it in the process. I watched him as he struggled to swallow both the pill and the water. 

How many times did he experience this excruciating pain, completely alone?   How many times did he force himself to not crumble down in front of me, to protect my peace of mind? Just thinking back to all the times I could feel something was not right, and how he tried to deceive me to keep dealing with it all alone.... it brought back in me an anger I didn't know what to do with.  

Yes, I didn't get over it yet. The wound was still so fresh.  But we agreed that we would’ve dealt with this together, from now on.  ...And just like that, the fit of anger quickly vanished, as a gentle feeling got a hold of me, and I began unbuttoning the collar of his shirt to let him breath better, then dabbing his damp forehead with the towel.   "It's okay.... it's okay... I'm here" I whispered softly, like a lullaby. 

As if surrendering himself to me, he held onto my arms and leaned over, trying to regain control of his breathing. I supported him, thanking in my head a hundred times that his time was halted. Yes, we were trying to look for a way to eventually make it flow again, but it was in moments like these that I remembered how numbing the fear to lose him again was.   I couldn't live with that. With that feeling of hollowness. Not again. 

That's why, I said to myself, this time I would've done anything in my power to not lose him, come what may. I wouldn't have spared any effort. Losing him would’ve been a hundred times more devastating than the pain I was feeling in that moment, seeing him in those conditions. After all, he was feeling like that because of me.  

“Momo...please give me strength”, I thought, missing my beloved bunny more than ever. Who knows how many times she had witnessed all of that, and how she dealt with it. I could’ve used some advice in that moment. 

His ragged breath became more regular, the pill was starting to kick in. He raised his head and looked at me.   Those eyes I loved so much, now covered by a mysterious dark fog - a remnant of the dragon appearance, as they explained to me – seemed to regain finally focus.  His face was so close to mine. In another situation, in another more oblivious period, there’s no doubt my heart would've exploded from embarrassment, red in the face like a tomato. But right now, I was preoccupied with something completely different, as I looked at him holding nothing but worry and sadness in my eyes. 

"I'm sorry...", he whispered. 

I could feel my heart catching fire, and it reminded how much I love him, despite being so hurt by his reckless behavior.  But I didn't answer to his apology. Cause that wasn't what I wanted to hear from him.

Instead, I asked him “can you stand up?” and helped propping him up when he nodded. We proceeded slowly towards the couch in the living room, where I helped him lying down. Despite having tons of lovely memories here, this house was starting to be a bit too big for us and for emergencies of this kind.  Hiiragizawa-san's pills had a sedative that inevitably caused Kaito-san to fall asleep, to recuperate. He looked so exhausted.  I arranged some cushions on the ground and sat down beside the couch, watching him closing his eyes and drifting quickly into sleep. I moved some of his hair to the side and dabbed the towel over his forehead one more time.   Then I went back to stare at his peaceful face, lost in thought. Was I truly prepared for this, when I decided that the life I wanted was this one? Probably not.  Would I have chosen anything else? Absolutely not.  Being with him is my happiness, after all.

[aria0fgold]

A confession of wishes for a future without you.

Ren sat up from the bed, he couldn't sleep. He's been lying down for hours now, eyes closed even, and yet he still couldn't find his own sleep. Morgana laid beside him, sound asleep. He carefully got up, so as to not disturb him. Making sure to walk quietly in his room while looking for something, anything to help him sleep. A book, a distraction, whatever it is that he can find. So he began his search and not even a minute later, stumbled upon a box. One far too familiar that he froze when he saw it. How many months had it been since he had that box now? He doesn't know, didn't want to keep track of that time, didn't even want to think about anything in regards to it at all.

A small black box with intricate designs painted in red, it wasn't locked, in fact, it can easily be opened. But Ren never did open it. He didn't want to, he didn't want to know what's inside it, didn't want to face the reality that Kaito— that he— that his friend is… He wanted to bathe in the pool of lies he made for himself, that Kaito's sudden disappearance isn't too much of a big deal, that someday, maybe just maybe, he'll come back again. He continued to lie to himself like that, ever since Kaito disappeared.

Perhaps, it's time to face reality once more.

Ren took a deep breath, opening and closing his hand in an effort to steady its trembling, in an effort to gather enough courage to open the box he had been avoiding ever since he first saw it, days after he lost all contact with Kaito. It was hidden underneath the bed, Ren moved it somewhere else, farther from him yet in its own safe place. Just like what he wished and hoped for Kaito as well, far from him yet safe. So he kept wishing, over and over again.

Please be safe, please be safe, please be safe.

That's how wishes work, right? To think it three times, say it thrice, and believe with all your heart for it to be real. So he held onto that hope. No matter how small it was, he held onto it like a precious gem nestled within his palm, threatening to shatter at the slightest jolt.

Ren took a few more deep breaths, until finally, he reached for the box and lifted its lid. In it was a letter, white with a blue ribbon, and a monocle beside it. Ren can feel the gears in his brain coming to a halt, slowly… slowly… it'd freeze in time, but not now, not yet. Mechanically, Ren stood up and walked towards the bed, he sat by the edge, near the window to put an arm on, to lean his body on. For support maybe, for a hope perhaps, that once he's finished reading the letter. Kaito would appear in his white suit with his cape flowing in the wind, the magician in the moonlight.

That's what this is, isn't it? A confession of secrets. He had an idea about it, infamous internationally wanted criminal, Kaito KID was Kaito Kuroba's other identity. He had a feeling that was the case but never pursued the thought, it'd be unfair, won't it? For Ren to intrude into Kaito's secret when he has his own secrets to hide. So it'd just be fair, to not know. To pretend to not know anything. To pretend that the thief he saw on the rooftop that day isn't someone he knows even though he's so painfully aware of it. It's only fair that way.

Ren took another deep breath, swallowing hard as he prepared to open the letter, setting aside the box with the monocle still inside by the window sill.

His heart skips a beat at the sight of his name, written by Kaito's hand.

“Dear Renren,” it starts, “How are you? Knowing you, you probably didn't open this letter until months had passed, I bet! ”

Ren quietly chuckled at that, he was right. Kaito was always too good at reading people. “That's alright though, I won't blame you because I'm such a gentleman,” A small face was drawn there, it looked like Kaito smirking at him, how cute. “I'm sure you've already seen the other item in the box, it was right on top of the letter you're reading now after all! ” He drew a monocle then. Ren held his breath as he read through the next passage.

“What I'm about to tell you, is a confession of a secret! You can't tell anyone about this! This is our own little secret.” A winking Kaito was drawn there, adorable. Ren giggled as he whispered to the wind, to himself, and to the Kaito that wrote the letter.

I promise.

“I'm Kaito KID.” Party poppers were drawn on both sides of that phrase, confetti doodled around it, he really was adorable… “Although… I had a feeling you already knew about this.”

He really was good at reading people.

“It's so anti-climactic doing this on paper too. I wish I could tell you in person instead, I'd love to see your reaction.”

Ren's breath hitched then. His mind slowly drawing a blank, please be safe, please be safe, please be safe. He repeated in his head. Like a chant, a good luck charm, filled with the hope burning his chest, threatening to explode.

“Renren… I know this is kinda cliche but by the time you're reading this, I probably didn't make it after all.”

Ren gripped the paper tightly then, and immediately let go. He shouldn't… ruin Kaito's letter. There was… there was still more to read through… A prank, maybe, a mistake perhaps, please let this be a nightmare he can wake up from. Ren took a deep breath, gathering himself to continue reading once more.

“Hey, Renren, I may not be there while you're reading this but I can tell you're sad right now! Come on, turn that frown upside down! You know I don't like seeing you sad, right…?

…I'm sorry.”

Ren inhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose to stop the urge to cry growing deep inside him, like a dam waiting to burst, a pipe waiting to break, a heart waiting to shatter. It took him a moment to continue reading it.

“I know, I know... there's a lot of questions you want to ask right? And I… I don't think I can answer any of it, after all...

Hey, Renren… How about a magic trick? It'd be hard to pull this off in a letter but here! ” In the next part, four cards were drawn face down, or rather, drawings of four small face down cards were partly glued to the paper, a small tape keeping it shut. “Pick one!”

Ren reached for the second card, carefully peeling off the tape, behind it revealed an 'Ace of Hearts'. Ren bit his lip then, to stop it from trembling.

“Hehehe, You chose the second card, didn't you? And no! Before you start thinking, 'it doesn't matter what card I pick, all of them is the same.' Well, then mister! You can open the other cards to double check it! I assure you that they aren't all the same! ”

And so Ren did. He carefully peeled off the tape from the rest of the cards.

The first card revealed an “I”

The third card revealed a “You”

The fourth card revealed a “Forever”

The last card, was stained with a droplet.

The droplet, was accompanied by another then.

Ren couldn't stop himself anymore. He put the letter on the window sill, slowly, carefully, with a trembling hand, he reached for the box, brought it on top the letter as weight. He reached inside it, for the monocle for him to hold, to steady his trembling hands. Ren sobbed, quietly, soundlessly, he cried in silence so as to not disturb anyone.

“…Ren?”

But that was all in vain at the sound of Morgana's voice.

“Are you… crying?! What happened?! What's wrong?!” Morgana shot upright at the realization, immediately running to Ren's side. Ren couldn't really answer him even if he wanted to, so Morgana looked around for answers. He didn't need to look far.

He stared at the box, at the letter, and at the monocle Ren was clutching. It was enough.

“…Oh.” Morgana's ears drooped and twitched, he didn't quite know what to do, Ren's cries makes his heart ache, he wanted to comfort him but how? Grief isn't so easily comforted. After thinking awhile, Morgana settled upon sitting beside Ren. “I'm… I'm here for you, okay?”

Ren couldn't answer still, but he was grateful for it. Grateful for Morgana, grateful that there's someone there for him while his world was breaking. Kaito was so unfair… selfish…

. . .

Seconds passed, and then minutes, Morgana had found where the tissue box is and moved it near Ren, he had found a water bottle nearby too, placing it just beside the tissue box. Minutes passed, and then hours. The empty trash can that Morgana moved near Ren as well now contained tissues, the water bottle that was once full was nearly empty. And the quiet cries that filled the room turned into quiet sobs.

Morgana rubbed Ren's back with his paw, in hopes of comforting him further. Until finally, Ren calmed down. Enough to take deep breaths to compose himself.

“…Thanks…” He whispered, voice hoarse.

“Mn… How are you feeling now?”

“…Tired.” Ren glanced at the letter.

“Why don't you wait until tomorrow to continue reading it?” Worry was evident in Morgana's voice.

He should, he really should just wait a bit before reading again, that fit of crying made him tired enough to want to sleep already but… He wanted to finish reading it tonight.

Ren gazed out the window, he stared at the sky, as dark as it was that faithful night. He stared at the stars flickering on and off, he remembered the split second he saw the stars reflected in the eyes of that magician as he turned to face them. He stared at the moon, peeking through the buildings, it was a full moon, much like that night. The view of the moon behind a mysterious magician donned in a white suit and top hat with a cape flowing behind him. It was a magical sight that Ren will remember no matter how much time has passed.

Ren took a shaky breath. He reached for the letter, the monocle in the other hand.

“I'm sorry…” Ren's eyes stung, “I deserved to be yelled at right now, you can call me unfair, and selfish, and stupid! You can shout it to the sky, I'll be sure to hear it. But Renren…

Ren. I wanted to tell you how I felt, because I doubt I'd have a chance to say it to you if not now. I'm sorry, maybe I should've told you about it before… this. But then I think, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for hurting you way more than how you're hurting now, all because of me. Just know that, I love you, and I want the best for you, even if I'm not around you anymore, even if I'm not there anymore. I'll always love you forever and ever! All the times we spent together were the most precious memories I have… Well, had.

Hey, Renren… Promise me you'll find someone else to make you happy, alright? Someone, something, anything! I want you to be happy. You better be looking up at the night sky with a smile! I'll be sure to see it.

I love you, Ren.”

[moaachi]

DC rkgks

A little bit of kaishin and heiji slender🗿

[kaitoukye]

It's 3am, and Saguru is crawling into his nanny’s bed like he was still a young boy. (An AU where Kaito has been KID since 1987 and it is now the 90s in the middle of Kaito’s major villain arc. The people around him suffer the most)

[roxymadn3ss]

CHAPTER 20 of A Clover's Misfortune IS OUT!

Late, can't believe i forgot to post it since the chapter is out from more than a weeks, ops ;-;

I'm really exicted and i hope you'll be too, next chapters will have a lot of stuff and maybe a little surprise

[hoomannotme]

Back and forth, back and forth... that's how it always was wasn't it. He always loved something and it always got taken away from him in the end. His father who he loved and was so brutally taken away from him. His mother who left shortly after, who he came to accept her absence. His best friend who he saw drift apart from him every agonizing day that he lied to them. Himself, who he draped in masks that he never wore before each one more complex than the next, each one stronger than the rest, each one as fake as the rest.

He remembers a time when he loved fish so much he would eat it every day he could until he got sick of it and had to eat something different. Now all he saw was the reflecting of his father's eyes before he was consumed by death.

Where was she then his lady, The Lady he swore his life to, The Lady he relied so much on to bring him happiness. Where was she when he was laying in an alley at this moment covered in his own blood bleeding out.

The sinner in white always loved to fly... Yet he felt as tho he was a small bird trapped inside an enormous cage for all to see for all too admire yet none of them shed a tear when it died, only looking for new entertainment elsewhere.

He was getting nowhere now stuck in his own abyss of thoughts reflecting on his own misery that had become his life. He couldn't call for help, his phone broke with his fall. He could yell out, he would be questioned by the police on his injury.

As he thought of a way to survive, grasping at any idea to come to him to. To save himself. He heard quiet foot steps enter the alley he was in. Shrinking himself in with the shadows, thanking his foresight of changing into his surveillance clothes before anything else. He listened for any indication of the person: do they limp, do the have a quick pase, does it sound small and clumsy?

As he prepared to gas them just in case it could be those who unjustly shot him out of the sky. He saw him, a devil that was reflected in light. He smiled knowing there was two ways this could go knowing the guy.

As he offered his apologies for his unsightly appearance a hand stretched out in front of him. No words were spoken other than necessary, there wasn't really a need for them. As he took the hand he hoped he never came to love this person too. If lady luck would bless him with something it would be staying away from this man who was impossible for him to hate.

[blenderfulla-aus]

au where the black org does try to kill kaito

(angst incoming, major character death)

they set a bomb under his desk at school

except kaito overslept that day

so he enters the gates just as the bomb explodes and completely takes out some of his deskmates

like burned to a crisp slash vaporized

like not recognizable without dental records vaporized

so kaito decides to use his disguise skills and make himself a witness protection style identity

by switching his dental records with one of his deceased classmates

like, for example,

aoko

does ginzo ever notice his daughter has been replaced by her best friend? who knows! probably not though!

[lisatelramor]

Not 100% sure how this happened. It went from, "oh, they'd only talk for real if they were stuck together" to "ok, but even then they'd have to have a life or death situation" to "uh. this is getting kind of grim" to "wait why are you kissing??" so *shrug*? They kinda took over and it unspooled and I wrote the most in one sitting that I have this year on this thing, so yeah. It's also the last thing I have fully written for the HakuKai week, so no guarantee on anything else. =_=; I'm chronically burned out a bit this year.

Last Confessions

Kaito always thought that if he was going to die, he’d die much like his father had; in a very public manner from an ‘accident’ or shot in front of a crowd as Kid. It would be the same organization of course, and the only collateral would be the pain his death would have on everyone he loved. Maybe the pain of his identity as Kid coming to light in the most horrifying way possible.

It was almost funny; he never expected his death might come from being buried alive. Definitely didn’t expect Hakuba to be there with him. Ironically, his night job as Kid wasn’t even related to how they got in this situation. A case of wrong place, wrong time, sideways collateral for someone else’s life problems.

So.

Stuck buried under a hell of a lot of rubble in a space barely bigger than the average bath-and-shower stall with no idea if the mess would shift and crush them at any moment or if they’d run out of air or if some other terrible thing would kill them.

Lovely.

Their light came from Hakuba’s cellphone, set on its dimmest setting to make the battery last as long as possible. There wasn’t a signal to send a help message. Kaito sat at one end of the space and Hakuba sat at the other, left to contemplate their own mortality and nurse the bruises and cuts they’d gotten from the damn building collapsing around them.

“Is it good luck,” Kaito said into the uncomfortable silence that had stretched since they realized their phones would be no use, “or bad that we lived through a building falling on us?”

“I assume good,” Hakuba said. “It is certainly good luck that there were not many people in the building when it fell.”

Because someone pulled the fire alarm first. Because Kaito had the bad luck to hold back with Hakuba to check people were actually out. Because he had the good luck to pull Hakuba to a sturdy part of the room when he felt the ground lurch and the walls rumble.

“Pretty sure that alarm was intentional,” Kaito said. Another stream of dust sifted down above them as something shifted. Kaito could taste it on his tongue. They probably looked like dust monsters, not that the dim phone light gave enough details to tell exactly how bad their condition was. “You think anyone is going to realize we were in there?”

“The people we helped evacuate should notice,” Hakuba said in a dull tone. Tired. Too close to defeated.

“Hm.” Not much good it would do if they ran out of air. How long would oxygen last in a space this size? With two more-or-less adult bodies? Air typically contained about twenty percent oxygen, give or take a percentage or two. The human body exhaled oxygen with carbon dioxide, but each breath that amount of available oxygen would get less. With the dust, the air quality was poor to begin with. Put all of those factors together, Kaito couldn’t really see lasting more than a day or two if the air was truly sealed. Even if it wasn’t, they had perhaps three days without water before their bodies would start shutting down. And they still could get crushed at any moment if the wall and support beams keeping them safe for the moment gave out after all.

“I’m surprised you aren’t coming up with a plan,” Hakuba said, though he didn’t sound surprised, just resigned.

Kaito shifted to get comfortable—as comfortable as concrete and scree could be really—and huffed. “I know I’m a talented magician, but even I don’t have the means to lift a ton or three of concrete off us.”

“No escape then.”

“I’m not giving up hope just yet,” Kaito said, forcing his voice light. “Like you said, someone should know we were still in there.”

“The odds of us living through this are currently at forty-three percent,” Hakuba said. “And dropping.”

“I love to cheat the odds,” Kaito said. “That said, never thought I’d get a building dropped on me. Or that you’d be stuck with me.”

“I’m sure you’d rather a different companion,” Hakuba drawled, blinking focus back into the moment instead of wherever he’d drifted to. Likely to thinking about death and dying. A bit impossible not to at the moment.

Kaito shrugged. Part of him wished it was Aoko. A greater part of him is glad it wasn’t. That she was far away and safe. “I could be stuck with worse.” He could be stuck with Edogawa. Or a corpse. Edogawa and a corpse. Really, Hakuba wasn’t too bad.

“I’m glad I’m here with you rather than a random civilian,” Hakuba said. “I don’t think I would be able to handle the panicking.”

“Oh, we aren’t panicking? I thought we were doing that very very quietly,” Kaito joked.

Hakuba huffed a laugh. Dust sifted to the ground as he ran a hand through his hair. “I doubt you would let me see it even if you were panicking. You can be a hard man to read.”

“Thanks, that’s intentional.”

Hakuba laughed again, quieter.

Kaito didn’t want to sit in silence, stewing in his own thoughts. He rifled through his pockets, coming up with two pieces of candy and one of his many packs of cards. Add a scarf for a surface that wasn’t completely covered in dust, brush aside some pebbles… Hakuba watched him in the dim light. Kaito flipped a card. Hmm. Not great, too hard to play a card game with this. It was enough to see Hakuba some, but with the light pointing up, then they couldn’t see the cards. He could use his phone or try hanging it so it pointed down, but they needed to conserve battery and hanging anything could move things above them by accident.

“Well, there went that idea,” he muttered. He held out a candy instead. “It’s not much, but here.”

“Do you have more of these?” Saguru asked, taking the lozenge.

“Only a couple.”

“Best make them last, then.”

“Or enjoy it while we can,” Kaito countered.

“Hmm.”

Kaito popped his own candy into his mouth, letting artificial strawberry clear away the taste of concrete dust. After a moment, he heard the crinkle of cellophane as Hakuba did the same. Still too quiet. “Hey.”

“What, Kuroba?”

“Why did you become a detective? I mean, you could just like being nosy.”

“No, I am not a detective to be nosy,” Hakuba said. Kaito could picture him rolling his eyes. “I’m a detective because I want to help people.”

“Right,” Kaito said, not really seeing it. Maybe if it was all murders or stalkers or something. But a lot of criminals, especially the petty crime sort that seemed to be a good deal of Hakuba’s expertise, weren’t crazy or cruel, just trying to get by.

“Truly,” Hakuba insisted. “I want to know why people do them. What makes them desperate enough, or uncaring enough, to commit a crime. If I can understand that, see the whole structure of the system, then I can take steps toward bettering that system.”

“Oh, so the puzzle aspect isn’t the draw.”

“I can’t say I dislike the chance to reason out a conclusion based on the facts at hand,” Hakuba said. “But that wasn’t why I was originally drawn to this.”

“No, you just were a Holmes otaku taking it a step too far,” Kaito joked. If it was brighter, he could see the way Hakuba’s lip curled with irritation. Instead, he had to satisfy himself with the scoff and stiff shift in posture instead.

“I liked Holmes because he helped who the police couldn’t or didn’t care to help. Women. The lower class. People who were at a disadvantage.” A beat of silence. “What drew you to magic?”

“Uh. My dad?” Magic was such a core thing in his childhood that it wasn’t even something he questioned. “I guess I wanted a way to connect with him and he loved showing me how to do tricks.” Kaito ached a little inside, an old, old hurt that had never healed right. “And after he died, it was a way to keep him alive.”

“I see,” Hakuba said.

There was another uncomfortable silence. Kaito hated that sort of silence, and they always happened when he mentioned his father’s death, and it was only one of the reasons he never brought it up.

Hakuba’s phone timed out and it left them in suffocating darkness for the long moment it took to find it and turn the light back on. Their hands brushed, having both reached for it. Hakuba pulled his hand away first. Neither of them scooted back toward the edges of the space though.

Kaito thought about closing his eyes and trying to sleep, but the idea of spending potentially his last moments asleep felt cheap. He was going to crawl out of his skin though. He hated being trapped. Always had hated it. He shifted. Shifted again when it only managed to dig rocks more pointedly into his skin. “Distract me?” he said after an unknown amount of time.

“Distract you how?” Hakuba asked. “We decided cards were out.”

“I don’t know. A story or a game or something.” Kaito fiddled with the edges of the scarf he’d set down earlier.

“A game.” Hakuba hummed, thinking. Slowly, he said, “Kuroba. We are most likely going to die.”

“Loving the optimism.”

“I would like to do so with the least number of regrets.”

Kaito scowled in Hakuba’s direction. Hakuba could have been something from a horror movie in the lighting they had, so it was probably a really good scowl. “Not seeing how this is a game, Hakuba.”

“We could take turns saying things we want to air out. I know I have my fair share of secrets weighing on me,” Hakuba said with a wry smile.

“This sounds a lot like your attempts to get a confession of criminal activity from me.”

“No, that’s not—” Hakuba let out a frustrated sound. “I’m not thinking in lines of incriminating things. Merely things that weigh heavy on us.”

“Not sure we’re at the heavy secret stage of whatever the hell we have going on,” Kaito quipped.

“Entertain yourself then,” Hakuba huffed.

He turned his back on Kaito and Kaito felt a twinge of guilt. If Kaito confessed a secret… what kind of things were they even talking about here? “You go first,” Kaito said after several dozen breaths of tense silence.

“Oh no, you’re clearly not interested.”

Hakuba was such an ass sometimes, Kaito thought. “It’s better than waiting to die I guess.”

“What a ringing endorsement.”

“Shut up or spill, Hakuba.”

Hakuba turned back and frowned. His mouth opened. Closed. Ha, not so easy to spill secrets, was it?

“Scared?” Kaito taunted. “I guess it could be a problem to let me know your deep dark secrets.”

“That’s not it. I don’t know where to start.”

“Start wherever.”

“Maybe you should start,” Hakuba snapped.

Kaito rolled his eyes. “Fine. Whatever. I don’t eat fish.”

“…I highly doubt that this is something that weighs on you, Kuroba,” Saguru said archly. “Although it is strange for someone born and raised in Japan.”

“Well it’s kind of a secret. Only my mom, Jii, and Aoko really know why.”

“And why is that?”

Kaito pursed his lips. He wasn’t going to mention his phobia. That would be giving Hakuba something to hold over his head and use against him. He could tell a bit of truth though. “I fell in a fish pond as a kid and a fish tried to swallow my arm. I’ve hated anything with scales ever since. Just looking at them brings back the awful smell of mucky water and slimy fish and—” Kaito shuddered. “Yeah, don’t want to eat something that is so gross.”

Hakuba hummed, bemused. “Alright then. I suppose that is being honest if nothing else.”

“Well what sort of confession were you thinking of, oh mighty detective?”

Hakuba looked him dead in the eye. “I’m gay,” he said bluntly. “And this is the first I’ve ever said so out loud.”

“E-eh? Really?” Kaito blinked rapidly. He. Couldn’t compute that really? No, it was fine that Hakuba was gay, it just. Didn’t fit? He flirted with women? And girls clearly were interested in him if their class was any indication. “Huh.”

“Well? Is that it?”

Kaito blinked again and realized Hakuba was…tense. Oh. He softened a little inside. “Um, congrats on saying it out loud?” Oh crap, should Kaito share something like that back? “Are you… okay with being gay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Defensive much? “You’ve apparently never said it out loud. Even I’ve—”

“You’ve what?” Hakuba’s eyes are sharp in the dim light.

“Ugh.” Kaito rubbed grit into the back of his neck. “Even I’ve said that I sometimes find men attractive out loud before. To myself and to Aoko.”

“Oh.” The defensiveness bled away into understanding.

“Yeah.”

Awkward.

Kaito cleared his throat. “Uh. So, to follow that. Hm. Well I guess I technically just outed myself as sort of bi? But.” He swallowed. Oh, it was actually a lot harder to say this sort of thing aloud than he thought it would be. “I like Aoko. A lot.”

“I think everyone in class is aware of that,” Hakuba said. His voice was a little scratchy. The dust, of course.

“Whatever. It’s just.” You know what? Kaito hated vulnerability. “I guess I wonder if it’s love or love. Is it because she’s the person who’s closest or…? Anyway, I’ve never told Aoko.”

“…I believe she cares for you as well,” Hakuba said kindly.

“She has awful taste,” Kaito joked.

Hakuba actually laughed a little. The space around them felt a little less oppressive for a moment.

“You really never told anyone?” Kaito asked.

“Who would I tell?” Hakuba asked rhetorically. “I haven’t had a close friend my age since I was twelve. My closest friends are my caretaker and a hawk.”

Ouch. “…Aoko’s my only close friend,” Kaito offered.

“I used to think that the price of genius was intimidating everyone away. Now I suppose it was my lack of social ability.”

“Oh, social ability doesn’t mean much if you don’t let anyone close.” Kaito would know that better than anyone.

“It’s lonely,” Hakuba admitted.

It was too vulnerable and yet Kaito supposed Hakuba was right about this exchange. They might die here. Why not air some of the things buried deep in them to someone else, just this once? It could be the only chance to do so.

“Yeah. It’s lonely,” Kaito agreed. “It’s part of why I was mad at my mom for going to America. She was someone who got it.”

“America?” Hakuba questioned.

“She’s in Las Vegas. There’s a pretty big stage magician scene out there. She works as an assistant and helps magicians develop new tricks.”

Hakuba moved a little closer. “When did she go to America?”

“I was thirteen?” Kaito shrugged. “Old enough to take care of myself.”

“Hm.” That was a sound of disagreement.

“Some of us can cook,” Kaito said, “and don’t need a housekeeper or nanny, or whatever that old lady is to you.”

“Baaya is the most stable presence in my life,” Hakuba said. “My parents shipped me back and forth across the world and are both career-driven people. That doesn’t lend itself well to childrearing. Baaya is more of a parent to me than they are.”

Ah. That was sad. Kaito at least had his parents for some of his life. His father was a big part of his early childhood. His mother had been there helping him gain skill for years after Toichi’s death. “They didn’t spend any time with you?”

Hakuba hesitated and in the silence, something crashed distantly. It made them both flinch though, moving closer to each other and the light for comfort. Kaito could almost make out the gold of Hakuba’s eyes this close, bright even with the rest of his body grayed out by shadows and dust.

“They did,” Hakuba said finally. “Mother encouraged my love of books. Otou-san taught me the very basics of deduction. But they were busy, and I never quite…”

“Quite what?” Kaito’s voice came out hushed, gentle.

“Fit,” Hakuba said. “I’ve never fit. Not in Japan, not in England. A half-blood child of a divorced couple who can’t socialize with children his own age. Up until I began gaining fame for solving cases, I felt like a nuisance at best, a bit like an easily forgotten pet to be paraded at social events at worst.” Hakuba breathed out heavily. Dust stirred with the force of it, swirling eddies. “I felt more at home in the imaginary worlds of my books than reality most of the time.”

“Hakuba…”

“I am not saying it for pity,” Hakuba said, sharp. “I never told them though how it felt to forever fly back and forth, switching between languages and cultures and never feeling quite right with either.”

How many times had Kaito thought of Hakuba as only British? It made a tiny squirm of guilt shift in his gut. “Are you mad at your parents?”

“Are you mad at yours? Parental choices shape us, and as children we have to live with it.”

Kaito drew his knees to his chest. He didn’t. He didn’t want to look at the part of him that had those sort of negative emotions. They weren’t useful emotions. Anger at his father’s killers, anger at corruption in the police that had let those killers slip through the cracks without even a true investigation… That was useful for drive. For purpose. The rest of it was only muddying the black and white of it all.

He sighed. “Maybe,” he admitted. “Maybe I’m mad at my mom a bit for moving half the world away. Maybe I’m a little mad at my dad for dying.” It felt wrong to say that out loud. Like. Like it was disloyal to his dad’s memory. Like Kaito’s efforts as Kid wouldn’t outweigh the bit of him that was still that eight -year-old that felt betrayed that the man he looked up to was as mortal as anyone else.

“Maybe I’m a bit angry that my parents thought raising a child from opposite sides of the world was a good idea,” Saguru said, covering Kaito’s rising guilt and discomfort with his own confession. “For as much as I am glad for my freedom to come and go as I please, it would be nice to know if my presence is ever missed.”

“Everyone here notices when you’re gone,” Kaito offered, nudging Hakuba with his elbow—when had they gotten quite so close? “The girls always talk about how they hope you’ll return soon.” Too late he realized girls missing him wasn’t exactly something Hakuba would care about.

But Hakuba gave him a wan smile for the effort. “I’m sure you don’t miss me at all.”

More guilt at all those moments on heists where he’d heaved a sigh of relief that he didn’t have to deal with Hakuba and Beika’s devil child. Kaito cleared his throat. “I definitely notice when you’re gone.”

Hakuba huffed a laugh and it wasn’t even a real, true laugh, and Kaito wanted to change that, to make Hakuba laugh and mean it all of a sudden because if they died here, it didn’t feel right to die with all this bittersweet feelings in the air. This whole sharing secrets was supposed to clear away regrets, not make them worse.

“…Hakuba.” Kaito leaned closer, reaching out to brush his sleeve. He wasn’t sure what he was doing, just that he felt like he had to do something.

“Yes?”

Hakuba’s face was close.

Kaito swallowed. Maybe it was just because of the situation, but he wanted… Maybe… He leaned a little closer. The right words didn’t appear. Kaito was supposed to be able to adjust to any moment, any situation, fit on any mask at the space of a breath, but there weren’t masks here. It was open and vulnerable as an open wound.

He reached out. Hakuba watched his hand near his cheek and didn’t pull away. The faintest hint of stubble at the edge of Hakuba’s jaw. Grit and dust and sweat against sweaty fingertips. Kaito didn’t know what the hell he was doing. Hakuba leaned in further.

The barest brush of lips and breath, the sense of a mouth beyond that, and Kaito’s heart was beating faster than the time he’d kissed a girl on a dare in junior high.

Something gave a loud crack behind them and they jumped apart. Sudden light stabbed into Kaito’s eyes.

He swore, shielding his eyes so they could adjust after hours in dimness. Squinting, he was at least sure that they weren’t going to die from rubble and that there wasn’t some kind of miracle tunnel from a rescue operation. Instead there was an unnaturally even circle in the wall that was glowing a blinding shade of silver-veined red.

“Akako?!” he yelped when his eyes finally adjusted past the glow to see the person standing in the middle of it.

“Kuroba.” Her teeth were grit and she looked exhausted and furious. “Get the hell through the hole.”

“I. What?”

“Is there a carbon monoxide leak giving us visions or is that Koizumi-san?” Hakuba asked.

“Uh, I think it’s really Koizumi,” Kaito said.

“Through. The portal,” Koizumi said tensely. “Now.”

Kaito didn’t think twice; his survival instinct was strong. He grabbed Hakuba and Hakuba’s phone and dragged them bodily past Koizumi’s body holding the hole open.

The hole closed behind them with another awful crack. He now knew the sound reality made when someone ripped a hole in space. Great. Wonderful. Not brain-bending at all.

“You owe me,” Koizumi said, wiping sweat from her brow. She looked exhausted and the least put together he’d ever seen her. Not to mention the room he was in looked… kind of wrecked. Like Koizumi shoved all the furniture to the walls, ripped up the rug, and painted on the floor and wall with something that looked suspiciously like blood.

Hmm, yeah, Kaito wasn’t going to examine that closer.

Hakuba looked frozen, eyes flicking about to take in the details without really believing what he was seeing.

Wow, they were both a mess. They had so much dust they were literally gray except for the places where they’d bled. Which were red and the particularly discomforting rusty brown-black that dried blood turned. Now that they weren’t trapped under a building and possibly dying, Kaito’s injuries rushed back to the forefront, all aches and uncomfortable lungs and knee-melting relief.

He sat on the ground not even caring that it was smudging one of Koizumi’s creepy symbols. “Oh thank fuck.”

“No,” Koizumi said crossly, “thank me. You have no idea how much trouble this was.”

“Then why did you even bother?” Kaito asked.

“If you think for a minute that I went through all the work of trying to ensnare you just for you to die from a building of all things,” Koizumi said as her eyes narrowed dangerously, “you’re even more of an idiot than I thought you could be.”

“I didn’t think it was even possible to—” Kaito waved a hand, indicating ripping through the fabric of reality.

“Possible, but not easy,” Koizumi said with a sniff. “You owe me a favor and a date. Two favors,” she corrected, glancing at Hakuba. “Because you had baggage.”

“Pardon me?” Hakuba said. Kaito would laugh at how insulted he looked except he was a bit too emotionally drained for that.

“So yes,” Koizumi said, crossing her arms and tossing her sweat-clumped hair. “You owe me favors.”

“Nothing against my morals,” Kaito said. He flopped to the floor. Wasn’t like he could get dirtier than he was already. “Do you have a shower we could borrow?”

“Do you want to owe me more?”

“Do you really want us walking around your house like this?”

Koizumi huffed. “There is a guest bath down the hallway on the right, and another at the end of the hall on the left.” Wow, two baths on one floor. But he kind of figured she had a mansion or something. “My butler will bring you a change of clothes and towels. I am going to lay down. Kuroba, if you try to wiggle out of your debt later, I will curse you and the next three generations of your descendants, should you be so lucky to have any.”

Kaito waited until she stomped out of the room to open his eyes again. “I feel like a bird that flew into a glass window,” he said.

“Kuroba, is there… I am not sure how…” Hakuba started several times, fumbling with words. “How?”

“Koizumi’s a witch. Don’t know how it works, just don’t think too hard about it.”

Hakuba made a pained sound. “There has to be some… logic… to how that. Whatever just occurred.”

“It breaks the laws of physics,” Kaito said. “You get used to it.” He sat up.

Hakuba stood swaying in the middle of the room, hands gripping his own elbows like he was holding onto his sanity. Fair enough. He had blood on one leg though, and more on his arms and the side of his face. The cut on his face sloped toward Hakuba’s mouth, and Kaito realized with a jolt that Hakuba had kissed him.

Fuck.

“Kuroba?” Hakuba raised an eyebrow at him, concerned.

“Nothing,” Kaito choked. He’d thought he was going to die, yeah, so that was. That was normal, right? Hakuba confessed his sexuality the first time and Kaito didn’t react negatively, and it was only natural he’d want to. To experiment or something in the last however long that. Yeah. Uh.

Oh, Kaito wasn’t thinking about this now.

“I’m going to go find a shower. I’ll go left, you can go right, okay? Okay.”

Kaito walked away fast before Hakuba could call him back. Moving hurt but whatever. He’d had worse. Was it weird to be a little upset that they’d been interrupted before Kaito could really register how that kiss felt? Or if he liked it? Did he like it??

Kaito stripped and stepped under the shower water before it was warm. The shock was good to get him out of his head long enough to wash what looked like two and a half pounds of dirt and dust from his body and find a first aid kit to patch where he’d gotten cuts. The clothes that the butler left—while Kaito was showering and in some method he hadn’t heard him do it—fit unnervingly well. Why did Koizumi have clothes that fit him?

Kaito grimaced. Maybe he shouldn’t go down that trail of thought.

Okay. Next. One, make sure Hakuba didn’t drown in the shower. Two, get the hell out of Koizumi’s place before she decided to put a spell on him in addition to him owing her favors. Three… talk to Hakuba? Maybe? Or he could just skip to figuring out an excuse to justify how they ended up out of the pile of rubble that should have killed them in more-or-less one piece?

It took a minute to find the bathroom Hakuba was in. Koizumi definitely had too big of a house and too many random rooms with identical doors with slightly unnerving decorations that left Kaito feeling like he was being stared at by things like an antique painting of an Irish wolfhound. The shower wasn’t running, but Kaito didn’t hear any noise in there either.

He knocked. “Hakuba?”

Nothing.

Kaito waited for a slow count of five before turning the doorknob. It wasn’t locked.

Inside, Hakuba was shirtless, only wearing underwear, and staring at his own first aid kit like it could tell him the secrets of the universe.

“I’ll take it as a ‘maybe’ to if you’re okay,” Kaito said.

Hakuba flinched, turning to stare at him and cover his chest like some kind of Victorian maiden before wincing as it no doubt aggravated the livid-looking start of a bruise on his ribs. Hakuba got the worst of the damage between them from the look of it. Kaito expected Hakuba to settle since it was just him, but instead he seemed even more flustered, face going a splotchy pink.

“Kuroba!”

“I knocked,” Kaito said. Was Hakuba body shy? He didn’t have anything to be ashamed of for the look of it. Hakuba was solidly built and fit. It wasn’t like he had some sort of bad scars or an embarrassing third nipple or something. Or… maybe he was flustered because he’d kissed Kaito and confessed to being gay, and he was half-dressed in front of someone he was attracted to. Kaito blushed a bit himself at that realization.

He scratched the back of his head, looking up at the paneled ceiling. “Do you need help with bandaging?”

“…I could use assistance with my ribs and back,” Hakuba said after a long, uncomfortable moment.

Kaito nodded, moved forward brusquely. Perfectly normal to help bandage someone up. Nothing odd about a bit of partial nudity between boys. But Kaito’s cheeks stayed warm as Hakuba turned his back to him. As Kaito touched his bare skin and Hakuba’s breath caught in his throat, maybe from pain or maybe not.

“I’m sorry,” Hakuba blurted as Kaito finished tying off bandages around a cut on his side.

“For?”

“The…kiss,” Hakuba said, facing conveniently away so Kaito couldn’t see his expression. The mirror had too much condensation to give him a glimpse. “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of—”

“It’s fine,” Kaito said.

Hakuba’s shoulder jumped under his hand. “Are you sure that—”

“I’m sure.”

“Kuroba…” Hakuba turned. He blushed down his chest, Kaito noted. It was weirdly cute?

“Look. Let’s revisit this when we’re not hopped up on a near-death situation,” Kaito said. “But for the record, I kissed you back.”

Hakuba frowned. “You didn’t.”

“Did.”

“Kuroba, that barely lasted long enough to be counted as a kiss, and I initiated it. I would notice if you had kissed back.”

Kaito was going to blame this on dopey, relief-high brain, but okay. He was doing this. He caught Hakuba’s face in one hand like earlier and this time he leaned in, pressing lips together, firm and unmistakable. Hakuba’s mouth opened in shock and it got a little wetter.

Kaito pulled back.

Hakuba stared, face red, mouth open and a bit shiny at his lips.

Kaito licked his own lips as they practically tingled. “There. Even. One surprise kiss each. Next time one of us asks first.”

“Next time?”

Oh, Kaito did not just say that. Crap. Thankfully he had an excellent poker face. “Oh, did you think I just kiss anyone? Ouch, Hakuba.” It was funny to watch him flail a little, words failing. Kaito took his distraction as a chance to get clothing on him. “And now we’re leaving?”

“But? Koizumi-san?” Hakuba protested as Kaito took him by the arm and pulled him down the hall.

“Will get over it. Pretty sure she left to pass out for a few hours anyway. She knows how to find me.”

Hakuba couldn’t argue that; Koizumi had just ripped a hole in space to find Kaito.

Kaito glanced at his phone, a message to Jii having finally gone through, this time with their current location. He’d be there in fifteen minutes. “Okay. Hakuba, while we wait for a ride, you’re helping me come up with a cover story.”

Hakuba must give up on trying to understand or control any of this because Kaito could practically see the switch flip as his shoulder slumped the slightest bit. The whole way out of Koizumi’s hell-home, Hakuba’s hand was warm against Kaito’s own.

[angelicsentinel]

HakuKaiShin with HakuShin trapping VampKaito while trying to find a cure owo

Late, but have some vampires and pain for christmas OwO

-

drowning in dark places

[3]

Day six. Night three since Kaito’s awakening. Saguru still isn’t able to sleep. The shrieks coming from the next room are unholy, and he fears for Shinichi's life.

He cannot sleep. This is useless. He stands, smoothing his long crumpled suit to achieve some modicum of decency. That’s useless, too, so he walks into the next room. Kaito’s shrieks cease. Shinichi slumps in the room’s sole chair, elbow on his knee and chin in his hand.

“Hakuba,” he says. “I told you to get some sleep.”

“You don’t tell me what to do,” Saguru replies, dancing around the swipe of Kaito’s claws to prepare Shinichi a cuppa. While he waits for the kettle’s whistle, he scoops out the tea from the jar, letting out a little sigh. “We’re running low on supplies.”

“I’ll go in the morning,” Shinichi says, straightening up. “He should have tired himself out by then.”

Saguru’s eyebrows raise behind his fringe. “He hasn’t exhausted himself in six days. Are you so sure?”

“What would you have me do, Hakuba? We can’t go on like this,” he says, gesturing to Kaito.

Saguru has been ignoring Kaito, but follows the wave of Shinichi’s hands and really looks for the first time in three or four days. The thick iron band around his neck has dug into his skin, and it is swollen and weeping blood as a result. His irises are scarlet and they glow; Saguru cannot hold his gaze for too long, or he will be lost in it forever. He closes his eyes and looks away, but the memory remains, branded in his mind forever. His teeth, canines long and knife sharp, clamped around the bit that prevents the bite, fingernails more like talons, wrists chained with iron manacles and drenched with blood.

Days without blood haven’t hollowed him out. They’ve left him leaner, meaner. Intelligence remains in those eyes, and so Saguru is wary. “No, we cannot,” he agrees.

The kettle whistles. Saguru pours the hot water into two cups.

“Are you any closer to synthesizing a cure?” Shinichi asks.

Saguru looks back towards a bedroom in disarray with lab equipment, an overclocked laptop, and genetic sequences on a projector. “Can I do in days what people have been trying to do for centuries?” Saguru snaps, and Shinichi jerks back as if his words were physical.

Shinichi recovers quickly. His eyes narrow, and he says. “If anyone can, it’s you.”

Saguru ignores him as the tea steeps, handing him the teacup once he is through. Shinichi inhales the steam, then sips it slowly. "Thank you," he says.

"You are welcome," Saguru replies stiffly. A moment's pause as they both drink in silence. "He's quiet, now." A question.

"He screams when you go," Shinichi says.

And screams until he comes back. Saguru wants to deny it, but he's right. "Then I can take another watch."

"Hakuba. The bags under your eyes have bags," Shinichi says, getting up, passing by Kaito and dodging a swipe, and placing his teacup on the kitchenette's counter. He casts his eyes about the sitting room for things Kaito hasn't destroyed, and finding none, he walks back more carefully, out of Kaito's reach, and sits down again on the floor, avoiding the chair, resting his back against the wall. He pats his thigh, and Saguru takes him at his suggestion, settling down and resting his head there, using his thigh as a pillow.

He falls almost immediately; sleep has been hard to come by these days, especially with the fuss Kaito makes when he leaves.

His sleep is deep and dreamless, and he wakes to find fingers in his hair and soft sobs. Drops hit his face, and he knows then Shinichi’s crying without opening his eyes.

"Shinichi?" he slurs.

"Hakuba?" Shinichi asks, voice rough.

That wakes him. Saguru attempts to sit up, but the grip on his shoulder stops him. "Shinichi?" he asks again.

"Six hours," Shinichi says. "He's still quiet. Still awake. Watching you."

Shinichi's still crying, but he ignores it, so Saguru does, too. He listens to those quiet sobs for a while, staring at the human bit forced into Kaito's mouth. It's obscene, the way he's ravaged the rubber. But his mouth is in better condition than his neck and wrists.

"I hate seeing KID like this," Shinichi says. "How are we supposed to fix this?" he begs Saguru, and Saguru has no more of an answer now than he did when this began. By all means, it is impossible.

He goes into the room for a change of clothes, and when he returns, he brings the laptop with him, doing the work with Kaito watching him. Saguru studiously avoids his gaze while he works, running trial after trial. The ones that seem promising he adjusts further with the blood they’ve taken from Kaito, but none of them are viable.

Days pass in this fashion, and both he and Shinichi are teetering dangerously close to the edge. Kaito, too, is thinning without blood.

Dying.

Again, and for good this time, his red eyes dimming.

Biting his lip, Saguru ignores it, and works even more feverishly on a cure.

[2]

It kills Shinichi to see KID like this. It’s even more damning that it’s Shinichi’s fault. If KID hadn’t pushed him out of the way—

But he can’t think about that right now.

KID’s white suit is stained with his own blood, first from the bite, and again from his struggles against his chains. They should have at least softened them with fabric, but it might have defeated the purpose. It’s hard to know now if it would have even helped.

Hakuba is asleep on his lap again. He's catching snatches where he can, unable to leave the room for KID's sake.

Shinichi wonders what he and KID have going on together. It's not friendship, they're at each other's throats too much for that. He thinks he knows, though, and laughs bitterly. He missed his chance before he even knew he had one. It’s unfair but it is what it is and now the both of them are suffering.

Days swim by without ceasing. Hakuba works feverishly without stopping.

KID's deteriorating fast. Saguru had insisted on a blindfold a week in, and Shinichi can't bear to look at him anymore. He barely moves. His labored breathing is the only thing showing he has the barest hint of life left, and even that is a mere simulacrum.

It is all his fault. All of it.

Shinichi looks at him anyway. He's shredded his suit. It hangs off him in loose tatters, and his emaciated stomach caves in under his array of ribs, each individual one visible. KID has maybe two days at most, judging by his level of starvation. Hakuba has yet to find a cure, and he likely never will. Crying out in his sleep, Hakuba whimpers and shifts off Shinichi's lap, curling into himself on the floor.

Shinichi is free.

Swallowing heavily, he stands up on shaky feet, and walks towards KID. He stills at his approach, tilting his head and sniffing, beastlike.

Taking a deep breath, Shinichi steps into his reach. KID does nothing. As Shinichi thought, he is too weak to move. However, he does not think that is the entire reason. The way KID holds himself reminds Shinichi of a predator crouched in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

Shinichi walks even closer. KID yet does nothing. Swallowing again, Shinichi reaches out, hand trembling. He touches KID’s face. KID leans into it, the way a dog leans into petting.

Maybe…maybe he didn’t need a cure at all? What if KID just needed time to be broken? He bites his lip, torn.

Without blood, he will die. But all the things he ever was, all the things he would ever be…all of them would disappear as his body crumbled to ash and dust.

Firming his resolve, Shinichi removes the rubber bit. KID's emaciated form shakes, but he does not lunge. Shinichi breathes in deeply, girding himself, then presses his wrist to KID's lips.

KID does not savage his wrist, as Shinichi half expects. Instead, his fangs slip in with all the fury of a bee sting, just two tiny pinpricks of pain. He draws in deeply, though, his vampire venom spreading from the point of contact until Shinichi is awash with burning desire. He stamps it down though, burying it with everything else.

Color blooms on KID's face and his breathing eases. He drinks until Shinichi feels lightheaded, then ceases, licking the puncture wounds closed.

"My dear detective," he croaks, his voice hoarse. "Thank you."

Shinichi doesn't dare hope. Maybe they put KID through all this for nothing.

"Come closer," KID says, his voice steadier and sweeter, and Shinichi obeys despite his misgivings.

But he only says, "Thank you," and drops his head against Shinichi's shoulder.

"You're welcome," Shinichi says, and KID nuzzles his shoulder. The blindfold slips off, hanging around his neck.

The scarlet glow of KID's gaze arrests Shinichi as he lifts his head, and he is lost.

"So compassionate," KID murmurs. "Come closer."

Heart pounding in his throat, Shinichi's body takes three steps forward without his consent.

"It's really too bad it will be your undoing," KID muses, and dips his head, kissing him.

It's Shinichi's first, proper kiss. Despite the fear coursing through his body, it feels like coming home. It feels right.

How can it be, though, when how it's happening is so wrong? He rails against the force trapping him inside his own mind, but to no avail. KID has him wholly and utterly.

But Shinichi has wanted this for a long time. He wants to be lost. He cannot pull away, anyway. Would it really be so bad just to give in?

No. He can't. But in the end, it doesn't matter anyway. KID devours his mouth until Shinichi is flushed and panting and most of all, compliant, no matter how hard he fights against that scarlet gaze.

"My dear, dear detective," KID murmurs. “Go on. Go ahead and wake him. Make him part of our family, hmm?”

Shinichi shouldn’t follow that order. But his body moves on its own.

“Yes, that’s it. Be a good boy. Wake him,” KID says.

With trembling hands, Shinichi kneels down and shakes Hakuba awake.

[1]

The instant Saguru opens his eyes, Kaito has him. “Hello, lover,” he purrs.

“You thralled him,” he says, eyes slamming shut as he jerks up straight.

Mmm. Such a pity. “Always so obstinate,” Kaito says with a sigh, rattling his chains. “Shinichi, dear, be a doll and bring Saguru to me.”

With Shinichi’s blood singing in Kaito’s veins, he’s forced to obey. Kaito feels the resistance through their shared blood; it makes it all the sweeter to break him.

Saguru won’t open his eyes; Kaito knows this much. The command he sends is more a feeling, less a thought, but Shinichi obeys him just as well. He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to Saguru’s lips.

The action makes his eyes jerk open in surprise, and then Kaito has him. Not as well as he would if he fed on him, perhaps, but well enough.

Kaito gave up foolish humanity two and a half weeks ago. The things he knows are instinctual, but he knows them all the same. “I missed you, lover,” he says as he bids Shinichi to kiss Saguru deeper with merely a thought. Shinichi’s lips are his own, his heart is Kaito’s own, and Saguru will soon belong to him utterly.

“So nice to see you two getting along,” he purrs with a voice as sweet as sin. He scented the loneliness in both of them, how they craved the company of each other. Kaito always knew they’d get along well with a little push.

They can’t hide from him, no matter how well they hide it from themselves.

“Come here now, Saguru,” Kaito commands. He fights more strongly because Kaito yet doesn’t have the power of the blood, but he steps forward, into the path of the chains, and tilts his neck up so Kaito has access.

He licks the skin, sucking a bruising kiss before sliding his fangs deep inside as Saguru cries out, orgasmic.

His lover's blood tastes as sweet as Shinichi's, and Kaito takes several mouthfuls before letting him go. He’s whet his appetite as much as he dares on his sweet lovers’ blood, but he’s still painfully hungry. Their blood has increased his powers, but not nearly enough for what he needs to do to protect his two human thralls from his sire.

Both Saguru's and Shinichi's eyes have that same dull shine of red reflecting off their irises. Inside, they are restless and struggling, regardless of their placid faces and still forms.

Yes, they will hate him, but they will be alive.

Kaito beckons Saguru forward with a thought, and lunges at him, rattling his chains. He has no arms to hold him, so he makes Saguru the master of their embrace, yanking him into a hard kiss, old and familiar and calming. Once he is done, he then kisses Shinichi, and he’s just as sweet as Kaito once thought he might be.

They get the keys, unlocking his manacles and his collar so that he is free. He rubs at his neck and wrists, healing sluggishly because of the lack of blood. He’s starving; his stomach is digesting itself.

“Now, my dear detectives, your master needs his strength. Fetch me dinner, would you?” he asks. He would go on his own, but starvation makes him weak.

The struggle in their mind increases, Shinichi going so far as to make his steps hesitant, but a little more mental force, and he obeys. They are both so very strong.

Clever, too. Not an hour later, they bring him a ripe young woman, strong and full of blood. Kaito can’t help but ravage her, draining her dry in minutes, hungry as he is, power increased by the taking of her life force, and he discards her used body like rubbish.

His detectives fight even harder, but they do as they are bid. So very clever, they hide her where the police will never find her, dismembered and alone. She will be the first of many. Kaito needs his strength if they are going to survive the coming days. Once he is full, and the leftovers taken care of, they vacate their hideout for something more upscale. Kaito will not hide in the darkness.

A word and a gentle nudge of the concierge’s mind and they have a penthouse apartment. He claims it under the ownership of his humans so other vampires cannot violate the Sacred Law of Invitation.

He lays down in the middle of the bed, curtains drawn on the windows, Shinichi on one side and Saguru on the other. Their bodies are hot against his cool corpse. Here, he feels safe. Protected. Inside, they are conflicted, souls bound by ideals Kaito no longer has.

But he can read them intimately, and feels their love shining through the thrall bond. Oh, they hate it, and they hate him, but both of them are selfishly glad Kaito is alive. It is more than he thought he would have.

One day, they would stay here willingly. Kaito looks forward to breaking them, to tasting their first murder committed on their own.

But for now, he keeps them on a tight leash, resting easy with them beside him.

[vampirecatsw]

kaito pov/centric fic recs

I went digging through my bookmarks haha (all the way back from 2019 when the brainrot started, and no regrets :D) for Kaito pov/centric (or mostly centric at least)

I am very biased towards kaishin big bangs hehe, and kaishin in general

I also asked for some recs in the dcmk fanfic discord server a while back.

All of these are completed unless marked (but recheck the tags, I might have missed a few, whoops)

~

Archive of our own / ao3:

Last Day again: https://archiveofourown.org/series/800091 Kaito time loop series (yes an entire series!!). Kaishin

Dance with the mirror: https://archiveofourown.org/works/39622971 Kaito character analysis, gen

Can't Say Goodbye by Beedok:

Angst, "Shinichi remained confident nothing would ever kill him until it was too late. After 'Conan' 's funeral, Kaito now has to fulfill a promise and give Ran closure in regards to Shinichi. Because breaking her heart a second time seems like such an easy thing to do…"

Cut Scenes: Detective Conan Movies: https://archiveofourown.org/works/7943296/chapters/18159076 I haven’t read this yet, but this was recced in the server

Moonlit Glow: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23545234  Chilling oneshot

Agency: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17663150/chapters/41657681  I bookmarked this one back in 2019, but I don’t remember much of it unfortunately ehe… But I’m trusting my past self’s recommendation. Can be seen as pre-kaishin

Funeral March of a Marionette: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25672018/chapters/62326738  Same for this one but I’m so hyped to reread this one

Safety Net: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19323418/chapters/45964690 Kaishin, switched pov between Kaito and Shinichi/Conan

Aquatic Bouquet: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25650679  Oh yes, this kaishin oneshot has stayed in my brain ever since it released :). Soulmates au with beautiful imagery

The Boughs Unbowed: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25632952 Kaito turns into a bird and he’s forced to rely on Shinichi for help, Kaishin

Give Me a Hug Verse: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1110615 The second fic is kaito’s pov, two cute oneshots total in the series, kaishin

Wiz KID: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11563662 Kaishin oneshot

I see murder victims: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16116212 Title. Crack. I love crack

I don’t get to have you either way: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38364151 Very similar energy to one above, kaishin crack, soulmates au

sew me up again: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17006256  Kaito character study, tw! suicidal ideation and thoughts

Forever: https://archiveofourown.org/works/749957/chapters/1399544#workskin Magic Kaito, Kaito retires. Bittersweet fic

Thrown for a Loop: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31101554/chapters/76843922 Kaishin soulmate au where time loops when you’re in the proximity of your soulmate until you meet them Switching pov

i know we just met but: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41475936 Kaishin, "You go in for a parfait and suddenly Kudou Shinichi is hitting on you. Even Kaito couldn't have predicted this turn of events. Good thing he's not supposed to be Kaito right now." Kaishin

Shedding the Disguise: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21431890 Magic Kaito, Kaiao, Trans Kaito :)

Synchronicity: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31011884/chapters/76603382 Recommended by the server. I haven’t read it yet. Pov switches from Kaito and Shinichi, kaishin

Oh, Icarus: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43897968/chapters/110373315 Long fic, incomplete. I haven’t finished this yet but I’m loving every moment!

Lisa_Telramor: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Lisa_Telramor/pseuds/Lisa_Telramor/works?fandom_id=447712 Recced by server. She writes some Kaito pov but with HakuKai

Reichenbach: https://archiveofourown.org/series/816357 Recced by server, and I have read it before. Super good! Kid's relationship to Aoko, Nakamori-keibu, and the KID task force. Gen. Warning: permanently discontinued

Riddle in Reverse + there is an incomplete sequel with 8 times length: 1) https://archiveofourown.org/works/5888164/chapters/1357108 2) https://archiveofourown.org/works/23367370 Recced by server (claimed to be super good)

Secrets in Indigo: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18531904 Long fic, complete, this has literally been on my to-read list since it was published ;-; (2019)

Kaitou in the Sky with Diamonds: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26737309 Oneshot, this is so Kaito. He would absolutely do this. A fic about Kaito chilling with the gem he stole, gen

Caught: https://archiveofourown.org/works/3547424 Nakamori has a talk with Kaito

Civilian: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23892829 Kaito Kuroba investigates a supposed abandoned building with Shinichi, trying to hide his identity

transparency: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35244136 Kaito gets hit by a truth spell during a heist, kaishin

Livin’ the Dream: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31425584 Plss this kills me its so funny. Kaishin, Kaito goes undercover as customer service, Shinichi makes his life hell through a phone call, not an au, it’s canon compliant(ish)

KID Killer, Son of Kaitou KID?!: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38745036/chapters/96876438#workskin Crack, see the title haha. Kaishin

The skin on my neck is choking me to death: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36138523 “Kaito used to be a shapeshifter.”

Déjà Vous: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19009615/chapters/45143779 Kaishin, dimension travel!! Waa I love this one! Kaito travels to a world where critics are thieves and thieves are critics. Kaishin

Oh Shit! There is two of them!: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36155422 “ While having a heist in Osaka, Kaito accidently runs into Soshi Okita where confusion and panic occurs.”

Choices: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29806803 Aoko and KID have a chat. identity reveal

Snow Blindness: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28265169 “Kaito really should know by now: Never make a wish in the proximity of a supposedly magical jewel. Especially during a blizzard on Christmas Eve.” Kaiao

Be a Better Me: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24021049 AAA I LOVE THIS AU IT’S A SERIES TOO “ Kaito thought that the Robot Incident ended with the destruction of his copycat robot. He couldn't have guessed how wrong that assumption was when he is injured months later.”

i know the future looks blurry: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32892862 ORV / Omniscient Reader AU! <3 <3 <3, kaishin

do not stand at my grave and weep: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27419734 Explores the relationship between Kaito and his father through Kaitou KID

White Dove Love: https://archiveofourown.org/works/37771348 “ It all started when Kaitou KID and Conan were talking about soulmates on a rooftop, neither knowing the other was their soulmate.” Kaishin soulmates au

A Dash of Pain: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23989507 Kaishin soulmate au, where soulmates share pain. Kaito never expected to taser his soulmate!

a knight and a king walk into a museum (but not really): https://archiveofourown.org/works/42411981 crack treated seriously by everyone except KID.  “ This week's exhibit was definitely...strange. (who the heck leaves a boulder in the middle of the room?)”

Le Voleur Blanc: https://archiveofourown.org/works/33572437/chapters/83420680 Lupin iii x Kaito Kid Crossover!!! It's super good >v< "Lupin the Third versus Kaitou KID; the movie that Gosho will never give us. KID goes after a jewel his father failed to steal on a previous heist, but Lupin is out for revenge after KID’s prank in Kansai. A showdown of two famous thieves over the Blue Belle of Asia commences!" And give some love to the creator's tumblr post too: https://digitallyfanged.tumblr.com/post/660922135546642432/hi-guys-i-decided-to-write-a-fanfic-i-will-be

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fanfiction.net / ff.net: ft. Lots of Luna Darkside fics. I def recommend thier fics if you love Kaishin: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4223661/Luna-Darkside 

And also Alaena F. Dragonstar: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/284341/Alaena-F-Dragonstar

It’s just a dream: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11949922/1/It-s-just-a-dream  Magic Kaito, KID gets shot, and Kaito wakes up in the middle of the night, only to meet his father. “KID gets shot after a heist and crashes with his glider. After he wakes up the world is... different. Is it just a dream? Or was everything up until now a nightmare?”

Wana Bet?: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13448276/1/Wanna-bet This isn’t Kaito’s pov, but more Kaito-centric, outsider pov (?) “Several people throughout Tokyo meet a man dressed in white traveling through the city. To be fair there is a heist announced, so it's not really all that surprising to see a cosplayer walking around. Simply said - nothing interesting to see. Or is there?”

Elevator: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7792049/1/Elevator Kaishin, Kaito and Shinichi chat in an elevator during a heist

Kidding Around: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10990762/1/Kidding-Around “Kudō Shinichi turns up on Kuroba Kaito's doorstep to demand answers. It pretty much goes downhill from there.”

The Amethyst Dream: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8680695/1/The-Amethyst-Dream “It was definitely one of the more memorable heists. /oneshot, KaiShin/“

Break the Lock If It Don't Fit: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11164674/1/Break-the-Lock-If-It-Don-t-Fit “The first thing Kaito does upon seeing tantei-kun's adult form is shriek, "Why didn't you tell me?" and kick him in the face. /ShinKai & KaiShin, oneshot, complete/“

Not the Best Hostage: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5301435/1/Not-the-Best-Hostage “Snake tries a new strategy against Kid. It doesn't work. One-shot.”

A New Opponent: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5926017/1/A-New-Opponent “Conan can't make it to the Kaitou Kid heist, so he sends a replacement.”

i know everything about you now: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11565303/1/i-know-everything-about-you-now “Kudo Shinichi is out sick. Kuroba Kaito, of course, decides to take advantage of this fact.”

The Magic Kaito fandom: https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Magic-Kaito-%E3%81%BE%E3%81%98%E3%81%A3%E3%81%8F%E5%BF%AB%E6%96%97/

Unlike ao3, ‘pure’ fandoms and crossovers are more distinct on ff.net, so there’s a higher chance of ‘pure’ Magic Kaito fics here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update, 20 March 2024: (link first, comment under)

Kaishin, kaito centric, watching the show fic. It's been absolutely fantastic so far <3

Danny phantom au!

An absolutely wonderful collection of oneshots. Kaishin

Kaishin with generous helping of chaos and Kaito's insanity. It's hard to explain, but go take a look :))

gen, One piece and Magic Kaito crossover

gen, a very intriguing mysterious fic <3

Trans ayumi fic, with Kai as his adoptive dad :)

Trans nb Kaito fic

A super fun idea!! gen

[meimi-haneoka]

Cosmos - Akiho/Kaito one-shot

Once upon a time, when chapter 48 had definitively broken the cage to my admiration and support for the YunaAki pairing, I couldn't help but start imagining their future together.

And one of the first headcanons that came up to me was this one. Not in depth like you can see developed here, but the setting was definitely this one. An intimacy that didn't require for them to necessarily "jump on eachother". And for personal reasons, I needed to reclaim this headcanon so badly, write it down and release it to the world. Just because of that, I can already feel like this little thing spilled here will be one of my favorite writings.

I'm pretty sure this one, at more than 1600 words, is categorized as a fully fledged fic, right?

Now, this is another quite romantic one, but I managed to sneak in a tiny bit of delicious angst towards the end, just cause it's so much their element and I can't stand over-sugary stuff myself. I can't believe I also made actual research for this one. Get ready for some cosmic magic under the cut ✨

Genre: fluff, romance, a sprinkle of angst. Akiho is 17 years old. They haven't found a cure for Kaito yet, but! She has disclosed her true name to him. Snippet: "Akiho-san...do you know the origin of your name?" "...My name?" "Your true one."

All the curtains were closed tightly. The spacious living room was completely immersed in the darkness, except for a couple of scented candles on the ground, faintly illuminating the floor. Any hindrance out of the way. A generous number of soft cushions of all sizes was arranged on the floor, on top of a large camping mattress, right between the two candles.

Akiho threw herself enthusiastically on the pile of cushions, while Kaito lay down in a slower motion.

"....Ready?" Kaito whispered with a soft smile, while the girl next to him nodded excitedly, azure eyes shining in the dark.

One press on a button of the remote controller, and the whole ceiling turned into a sparkling planetarium.

Akiho gasped. "Oh my god....this is amazing!" She instinctively brought her hands to her face, covering partly her mouth while her voice was choking with emotion, a quirk that even at 17 years old she couldn't drop yet.

The starry vault rotated slowly, while some stars twinkled, giving a quite realistic effect to the scenery. Every now and then, a shooting star would appear randomly, inviting to make a wish.

Kaito looked to the side to check the reaction of the girl, pleased with himself. The star projector had been his present for Akiho's 17th birthday, but between study, book repairs and moving out to another country, they hadn't found a moment of quiet to put it in function. That perfect moment finally came this evening of December.

Of course he bought the most expensive model out there, and this one could even add sound effects to the experience, which he had set on sea waves through the remote control. The idea was "we're lying down on a deserted beach at night, in the early summer", instead of the chilling winter they were actually in.

"Kaito-san..." - Akiho moved her finger up in the air, "what constellation is that one?"

He had vaguely studied astronomy as part of his magic education, but he had forgotten a lot of it...for a moment he was tempted to use a magic spell, but then decided against it, not wanting to irritate the girl beside him. She always reprimanded him whenever he lazily tried to use his magic for the most mundane things. They hadn't found a cure for him yet, so she wanted him to keep the use of magic at the minimum, to avoid affecting his health. Therefore, he pulled himself up and went next to the star projector, changing the little disc with a different one.

The projection changed to a similar starry vault complete with the constellations map, and plopping down next to her, he said with a smile "Akiho-san, that seems to be Virgo!".

"Really?! That's my zodiac sign!!" Her brows furrowed for a moment, then "Indeed, with a bit of imagination that could look like a maiden...without a head". Kaito chuckled. "Wait, where's Pisces?"

Kaito checked the constellation map on his phone (which he had downloaded precisely for this occasion), and after a moment he indicated it, pointing his finger towards the ceiling. "Over there."

"....That one?! Oh....that looks more like a flower with two stems than actually two fishes, doesn't it?" she blurted out, laughing playfully.

"...Akiho-san..." Kaito couldn't help but chuckle again, reveling in the cheerfulness of his beloved. Nothing could send tingles to his heart like the sound of her laughter.

"Akiho-san...do you know the origin of your name?" "...My name?" "Your true one."

Akiho stared at him with curiosity, cheeks tinted slightly with a pink hue. The topic of their true names was usually off-limits. They didn't make a rule for it, but being both very well acquainted with the customs of the magic world, the unspoken agreement was to never bring them up...unless it was something serious.

"I was named after a flower, right?"

"Of course...but do you know why cosmos flowers were named that way?"

The girl stared at him, thinking for a moment about the question. She realized she never actually thought about why cosmos flowers bore that name. So, she shook her head slightly.

"Back in the 17th century, Spanish priests found the flowers in Mexico and cultivated them in their mission gardens."

He looked away from her, turning his gaze towards the starry sky.

"Originally, Kosmos is a Greek word that means 'order' or 'harmonious arrangement'. The priests were fascinated by those flowers' orderly arranged petals, they found them...." He paused.

"...Breathtakingly beautiful. And perfect." His eyes were now twinkling, still fixed on the firmament over their heads. "Just like the universe, the cosmos. So, they named those flowers after it."

Akiho's heartbeat quickened, and if she knew the man next to her well enough, his heart was doing just the same. They had spent enough time together for her to understand all too well what he was trying to say.

Kaito felt Akiho's hand searching for his, and they intertwined them silently.

"Thank you...I didn't know all of that. I've always thought that cosmos flowers were pretty, yes, but not particularly remarkable or unique... It is nice to know that the right people could see the true beauty and worth in them."

As if replying to her, she felt him squeezing her hand.

After a moment of silence, Akiho's right index finger moved up in the air once again. "Wait, what about that one? What is its name? It's big, but the stars don't look particularly bright"

"Hmm...Aquarius, apparently. This one would be basically impossible to see by naked eye, from an urban area."

Akiho made a face once again. "The water-bearer, hmmm... I can see his legs but...these constellations all seem to be missing their heads!", she blurted out, feigning annoyance.

Kaito couldn't hold it in, and burst out laughing, causing her to do the same.

Yes, she was just perfect the way she was.

☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

Kaito groggily opened his eyes in the dim light of the candles, ceiling still covered with stars. The clock of the living room showed it was 2 am.

Clinging onto his right arm, Akiho was soundly asleep next to him. Consciousness rapidly washed over him, remembering what happened.

Akiho's exploration of the starry vault had gone on for more than an hour, but at some point her remarks and answers had become more and more absentminded, till he realized she had actually fallen asleep. Smiling tenderly at her slumbering form, he was ready to pull himself up to go pick up a blanket for her, and eventually arrange some cushions for himself farther away from the camping mattress (he didn't want to wake her up, but didn't want to leave her sleeping alone in the living room either), but he had quickly realized with dismay that she had turned on the side and literally latched onto his right arm.

He had frozen right there and then. He didn't want to wake her up, but he had started to overthink as usual - this is not appropriate, we shouldn't sleep together, what if-- The result was that the stress made him incredibly sleepy, and after a few minutes of ruminations, Morpheus had taken a hold of him too.

Now that he was fully awake, he mentally scolded himself for falling asleep, and proceeded to do what he didn't have the heart to do before: slowly, slowly, he tried to disentangle his arm from Akiho's grip. When he managed to slip away, he rose to go pick that blanket up, because he couldn't risk for Akiho to catch a cold due to his imprudence.

"Where are you going?"

Her tone made him stop in his tracks immediately. Turning around, what he saw made his heart drop.

Akiho was propped on her elbow, staring in his direction but not quite focused on him. She was clearly still half asleep, but what ripped Kaito's heart apart was her expression, halfway between a scowl and wanting to break into tears.

It didn't take him long to understand why she had that expression. Even after 4 years, the trauma he had caused to her resurfaced sometimes in her dreams, upsetting her when she woke up.

"I'm just going to get a blanket.....I'm not going anywhere." he answered, while painfully making sure to emphasize the last part.

Akiho blinked her eyes twice, awareness coming back to her. Her expression slowly turned into one of realization, then she looked briefly to her side, panicking. "Oh my god, I'm sorry...I didn't fall asleep on you, did I? ...I didn't want to bother you-"

"You've never bothered me once, Akiho-san."

The girl stared at him, misty-eyed. His expression was kind, but tinged with guilt. His figure against the starry ceiling reminded her of that fateful night, when he fought his stubborness and the monsters inside his head to go back to her.

The girl casted her eyes down and to the side, pink hue emerging on her cheeks once again. "Then...once you took that blanket...could you...could you get back here next to me?" she said softly, finding the courage to look up once again.

Kaito had already understood long time ago that he was done for. He knew that no matter how much he tried, he would've never been able to refuse anything to those blue eyes of hers. Especially if he wanted it himself, in the first place.

They stared at eachother for a moment, before Kaito breathed out the air he was unwittingly holding and said with a smile "I'd be happy to, Akiho-san."

Akiho beamed at him, sure more than ever that there wasn't any place on this Earth or in the entire cosmos where she could've felt safer, other than next to him.

[cupoftaae]

Forever And A Day (KTH x READER) series ♡ college spirit (chapter 7)

Summary: your lifelong friend is forced to face his true feelings for you once he breaks the number one rule of becoming friends with benefits: dont fall in love. He knows he loves you, but you on the other hand need more convincing of the most important thing: the right decision.

Genre: fwb. Roommates, friends to idiots to lovers, fluff, angst, smut, the whole 9 yards tbh.

Pairing: taehyung x female!reader

rating: 18+ (minors dni!!!)

word count- 5k

Chapter warnings- okay so this is probably the chapter with the most warnings, there is a lot of alchohol, lots of swearing, theres themes of relationship abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, blood mention, we see jungkook btw (bc its party time) Taehyungs heart is in the right place but he does something bad. Kaito is a dickhead say it with me. dont read if youre sensitive to domestic abuse themes, this one was rough yall. also apologies for spelling errors.

A/N- So this is the chapter I would label as story changing, everything kind of takes a giant move in an opposite direction from here on out, Its crazy but hope you enjoy!!

-

Growing up, you thought that life would just magically align the moment you hit your 20's, you would be married with 2 kids living somewhere that provided everything you needed, and anything you wanted. You can laugh at yourself now for thinking, or even considering, that your early 20's would be any different from your teen years.

Because, with that said, here you were laying in bed with Taehyung as he slept, while your boyfriend was out doing God knows what. Granted, he isnt the best boy to use as an example, but just a few hours ago you almost kissed your best friend. You are a lot of things, but despite the shitty situation, you are not a cheater.

You could have yelled at him, you could have made a big deal about what happened outside, but you didnt.

You told yourself that this was taehyungs night to shine, so you dropped it and did what you both always do, forget it even happened. He is stubborn though, and snuck into your bed right before you fell asleep.

Its not unusual for you both to sleep near one another, but you would think he would get the hint that things needed to simmer down for a few.....guess not.

"youre awake?"

you turned your head to the raspy voice beside you, rubbing your eyes as you hummed. "yeah"

He smiled and stretched, burying his face into the pillow before reluctantly sitting up against the headboard.

"You sleep okay?" you ask

"yeah" tae chuckled, "Sort of have a headache..."

"ah" you reached into your nightstand and grabbed some Tylenol, handing the pills over to him along with your not drunk water bottle from last night.

He smiled graciously and took the medicine, sipping the bottle before clearing his throat. "thanks" the boy yawned. "any plans today?" he looked at you

You pulled down the sheet and sat up as well, groaning at the stubborn sunlight peaking through your curtains. "Um...yeah. shit I forgot....some of my friends are throwing a party and I said I would show up. I dont know why I agreed"

"what?" tae whined "just dont go"

"nah they will be pissed at me, they already called me a prude for working and being home all day after school" you shrug

Tae sunk into the bed, upset that you would be out and about while he stayed in the apartment. "I'll just make an appearance, then make my exit, okay? it wont be like an all night thing, swear" you rambled.

"can I go at least?" he pleaded with big eyes

sighing, you look up at the ceiling. "eh, Im not sure thats....I dont know if its a good idea"

"why not?"

"because you dont know anyone over there except from Chae and Dahyun...who youve only met a few times, and-"

"whos throwing the party?"

"...I dont know? Some kid named Jungkook"

"see? you dont even know whos gonna be there so whats the difference if I go?" he insisted

"Because I definitely will recognize people, we all are on the same campus, you wont know a soul"

"Pleaseeee" he jokingly whined and held onto your arm.

"tae"

"Is kaito going?"

"yes"

"then I will too"

you scoff and pull back, "youre going just because he is?"

He looks at you, "no, I just- whatever im going" he stands up and flairs his arms around dramatically before going into the bathroom to wash up, not giving any room to further the conversation.

you fall back against the pillows and sigh. You never wanted to go, but you thought perhaps you had a chance at having fun, now that chance was at like....0.0002%. You loved tae, but certain people in your life dont, certain people who will be at that party, certain people who told you not to bring him.

-

"Yes mom, i-...yes yes, I already said that" you paced around the kitchen with your cellphone pressed to your ear, attempting to clean off the counters while conversing with your mother who was back in Gwangju.

"Well im just saying, your birthday is next month and I would come to Busan myself but my back is still giving issues, doctor said no travel. Would love to see you and kaito come visit me"

You looked around the kitchen as you listened to your mom speak, eyes catching on taehyung who was eating an english muffin in the living room, writing an email to his mom about how he won the art contest.

"I'll talk to him, we both have crazy schedules right now and the semester isnt over until the end of next month, so-"

"its okay if you cant, im just throwing it out there"

"no no, i'll find a way, ok? I only turn 23 once, and Im sure Kaito will love to meet you too."

Tae took a bite of his food and cocked his head to you, raising his eyebrows as you silently shrugged in response.

"Ok....mhm. I love you too mama, text me, okay? ...bye bye" you sigh and put your phone down.

"early birthday festivities?"

"yeah....Im gonna visit mom in a few weeks and she asked me to bring the..boy" you giggle, making him smile.

"she doesnt wanna see me?"

"I think she just wants to meet my current boyfriend, youll see her on easter" you pat his back and walk into your room.

-

"I think Jungkook is cute" Dahyun spoke up, biting into her donut as she scrolled through social media, showing his photos to Chae.

"eh he is oka- woah, yeah hes hot" she leaned closer into her friends phone as Kaito sighed and handed over their coffees. "thanks bean boy" chae chuckled and sipped her drink.

"If you guys are gonna harass me on my shift you can go" he adjusted his apron before wiping off the counter. "do you seriously plan on waiting until I get off of work? you cant drive yourself to the party?"

"what else do we have to do? and....its raining" dahyun drank her coffee, turning to Kaito. "plus you only have another 30 minuets, hurry up"

Chae laughed and walked over to sit in one of the booths as kaito took a new customers order.

"dahyun cmere"

The girl walked over and sat with her friend, looking down at her phone. "whats that?"

"Its Y/N and taehyung" she snickered, scrolling through the collected photos you took last night on your instagram.

Kaito peered over at his friends, curious upon hearing your name brought up. "Oh, yeah, they had this stupid art thing last night, guess he won or whatever" he dried his hands and handed the customer their drink.

"this doesnt look like a art thing" Dahyun smirked

"what?" he came from behind the counter, walking over to see a video of you, drunk, at some bar with taehyung, eating fries.

"she said she was going home after" he pouted and took the girls phone into his hands

"hey!" chae snatched her phone back

"she lied to me" he scoffs and looks again at the videos. "this was last night? youre sure?"

"it says 18 hours ago, yes"

He scratched his head and silently walked back to his position, not speaking a single word until his shift ended. The girls sharing humorous yet worried glances at eachother.

-

"He isnt picking you up"

"what?" you walk around the lobby of your apartment complex as you struggle to comprehend your friend on the other line.

"He said he cant pick you up, but he would see you at the party" Chae spoke louder.

"why cant he pick me up?, where-, what is he doing?"

"I dont know, but thats what he said, ask him" she responded shortly before getting distracted by someone else and hanging up on accident.

You sigh loudly and walk over to taehyung who was resting on the bench. "so hes not picking me up, big surprise"

"what?" he sat up and faced you

You two had gotten ready quickly around 6pm and waited in the lobby for your boyfriend, who you thought would be picking you up.

"I dont know" you shrug and pinch the bridge of your nose,

"hey its okay, i'll go back upstairs and get my keys...ill drive us" he patted your back as you looked at your feet.

"no its not that, I just....he's been acting so off and different. I sent him a cute message last night and he texted me back all lovey dovey this morning, now hes ignoring me, I cant take his fucking moodswings"

"im sorry" he mumbled, looking around at the busy lobby. "maybe...maybe I shouldnt go, like, do you think hes mad that we hung out last night?" he asked

"I dont know anymore, man" you look back at him, "I think we should just go, im not gonna hide from him...maybe I can get him to talk with me" you sigh and stand to your feet. "Im okay with you coming just really...keep your distance"

"from you?"

"from him"

he nods and stands, "okay, just wait here i'll get my keys"

-

The house party was loud, maybe too loud for an on campus event, especially considering it was only 7pm. You practically felt the music blaring inside of you as you timidly stepped into the crowded house. You were immediately met with the mixed aroma of sweat, alcohol, bath and body works perfume, and incense.

"eugh.." you turn to Taehyung and carefully grabbed his arm, leading him out of the busy room. "Just sit, im gonna go look for Kai an-"

"Y/N!"

you turn your head to be met with an already drunk Chae, bringing you into her sweaty arms.

"oh..hey, uh-"

"you need to come with me, we are doing Karaoke upstairs, and Im winning" she yelled, alcohol evident on her breath as it smacked your face.

"you can win Karaoke?" tae mumbled behind you

"yes, yes you can!!" she pointed at him and grabbed your arm, "lets go bitch"

"wait y/n, dont leave me" tae pouted and grasped your other arm.

"I promise ill be right back, okay?" you offered a slight apologetic smile before being whisked away by your friend upstairs, leaving the boy alone in a room full of unfamiliars.

As you made your way into some cleared out room, your eyes were drawn to the huge Karaoke machine set up. "woah..."

"Yeah woah cmon lets go sing a celine dion song"

"chae hold on, wheres Kaito?"

"who?"

you sighed and looked around before grabbing her shoulders, "my boyfriend, Kaito, I need to talk to him, like now. Tall, black hair, you know.....goes by kaito." you dramatically explained as you watched your best friends eyes widen

"Oh yeah.... he is mad at you" she snickered and was quickly distracted by other people, running away before you could question anything she had just said.

"what the fuck" you exhaled, pushing through everyone to try and find kai.

Meanwhile, Taehyung navigated the party downstairs as he awkwardly made his way to the kitchen. There was no order of cleanliness, there was no organization, and the looks of all the mixed red solo cups scattered throughout the entire room kind of disgusted him. He didnt trust any of it, he lifted up a bottle of what looked like tequila and sniffed it, nope, definitely not tequila.

He gave up on finding something to sip on, leaning against the kitchen island as he peered around the large space that seemed too loud for his liking.

Perhaps this was how you felt last night in the art museum.

" 'scuse me" a voice came up beside the boy, making him quickly turn his head and try to figure out who was talking to him, the dim lighting making it difficult.

"what?"

"youre standing in front of the vodka. excuse me" the man repeated, only then did Taehyung understand and scoot over to the side, allowing access to the alcohol. "sorry" he murmured.

"dont think Ive seen you around" the man joked, smiling as he poured and mixed two different bottles into his cup. "whats your name?"

Taehyung looked down to his feet and quickly decided if he should lie or be honest, figuring that these were all college kids, and well, he was not.

"uh, im taehyung. Kim taehyung" he decided, holding out his hand in a gesture of a handshake.

The man looked down and chuckled, ignoring the greeting and looking up at tae. "yeah? you seem unsure"

"yes, thats my name. sorry, i dont usually do parties and shit"

"i can tell man" he took a sip of his drink, audibly wincing before smiling. "Im Jungkook"

Tae raised his brow in acknowledgment

"wanna drink? you look tense" jungkook patted his shoulder and offered him a sip of his own cup, which taehyung reluctantly drank from.

"eugh, jesus christ, that tastes awful"

"I know, but it will get you fucked up" jungkook shrugged,

"hey jungkook wheres Jin at? he said he wou-" a voice came into the kitchen, stopping abruptly when he stood in front of Tae.

"hey" taehyung swallowed harshly

well. he found kaito.

Kaitos eyes drunkingly looked over his figure, a look of disgust and only disgust is what best could be described as his reaction to him being here.

"ah no way, you guys know eachother?" jungkook looked between the two of them happily,

"sort of..." taehyung chuckled, feeling sweat develop on his neck and back.

"wheres y/n?" he asked, looking at him intensly

"Uh, I genuinely dont know...she went away with chae and-"

"wait, y/n is here?" jungkook interrupted, stepping between them both.

"yeah" they both said at the same time before meeting eachothers eyes again.

"dude.....where is she? shes hot as hell" he whisper yelled, peaking into the next room excitedly.

Taehyung glared at the boy, waiting to see kaitos reaction.

"I know, shes my girlfriend"

"no shit dude!" jungkook slapped kaitos back, now ignoring tae completely. "lucky ass"

"nah man" they both stood a few feet away from tae in the doorway, speaking quietly. "she got the worst personality, stuck up as hell. walks and talks as if she doesnt know the only reason boys talk to her is for her tits" he slurs and bursts out laughing

"damn thats harsh man... even for you"

"whatever, i dont care. you can probably have her next...." he sipped his beer quickly

Taehyung felt the anger course through his chest, he wanted to run up and say something, but frankly, he was scared of Kaito, and you had mentioned something about him when he was drunk. If this was it, yeah, its scary.

He immediately stormed out of the room and pushed through the crowd to search for you, the music now blasting louder than before. He quickly walked up to someone familiar by the stairs

"Dahyun, is Y/N around? is she upstairs?"

"taehyung!" she hugged him, "uh...I think? Chae is probably working her. shes ok im sure" she giggled and dragged him over to a lighter area. "look at my manicure! give me an honest opinion. Jimin said it wasnt work $80 bucks and I should just do them myself now, but I think its cute and-"

she went on and on about something that had nothing to do with him for what seemed like forever. Whos jimin? who cares its just a manicure?

he thought to himself as he smiled and nodded.

"they look good, gotta go" he quickly spoke, politely tapping her shoulder before making a dash upstairs. He checked each door, opening up a bathroom to expose two randoms making out.

"oh! uh, im sorry" he covered his eyes and slammed the door shut, walking to the other hall and entering a loud and packed room. "hey chae..." he walked up to the girl, who was in the middle a very intense just dance session with some other poor girl who fell victim.

"heEyy!!" she slurred and danced over to him

He smiled and caught her as she tripped, helping her up. "whats upppp?"

He laughed and made sure she was able to stand on her own before speaking. "do you know where Y/N is?"

"did you see my dancing?" she randomly questioned

"yes, I saw your dancing chae, very nice, now have you seen y/n?"

she looked around curiously before speaking, "oh, yeah, she went to the bathroom!" she yelled into his face

"great, thanks" he gave a thumbs up as he went back into the hall. well he knew which bathroom you werent in.

He trailed down the hall and walked into a bedroom that seemed to be empty, he gently called out your name.

"I'll be out in a second" you shout back, making him exhale in relief. He shut the door to the bedroom and sat on the bed as he waited for you to exit the restroom.

"oh, tae, hi" you mumbled, walking out to him. "you okay?"

"y/n, we need to talk, like...now" he stood up as you made your way over, standing in front of him.

You saw the concern on his face as he spoke, clearing your throat. "wh-whats wrong? what happened?"

"I ran into Kaito and I think-

the door slowly creaked open, a certain someones head peaking in.

"Oh surprise surprise, youre in here with her" Kaito opened the door and walked over, stumbling over his feet.

You stepped closer to tae, feeling fear seep in as you took in your boyfriends very drunk state.

"get out" he looked at taehyung

"no im no-"

"just get the fuck out" he bit

"Taehyung please its okay just go" your voice choked, eyes tearing up as you led him to the door.

"dont let him do anything" he whispered, as you shut the door in his face, making him take a deep breath as he paced through the busy hall outside.

You slowly turned to the boy, waiting for him to speak.

"so, I know that...maybe this is not the best time or whatever to bring this up, but im ready to just..." he began, pausing after words as his thought process was slowed.

"ready to what?" you fidgeted with your bracelets, keeping by the door in case he tried to touch you again.

"move on with my life" he laughed and looked at you.

"wh..what?"

"y/n lets be honest, you dont give two fucking shits about me anymore, so why are we doing this. you dont care, you never have"

you scoffed, "Kaito you are drunk...stop this please, you have no idea what youre saying! How dare you say I dont care about you when all ive done is worry about where you have been and why you are upset!"

"oh please" he stood up and walked around. "you wouldnt care if I died tomorrow, you would find the next boy toy to move on to."

"stop" you mumble, "im not like that, you are being an awful person to me right now"

he walked over and laughed, "why? because im calling you out? calling you out for being a whore?"

you bit the inside of your cheek to avoid breaking out in tears right then and there. you couldnt even speak, you were too afraid and frankly confused on what even caused this sudden outburst.

"you are the one crying? really? I should be upset, I am upset."

he shook his head as he looked at you, " I dont think theres anything left for us right now, so just leave it at that, yeah?" he mumbled into your face as you shoved you aside, allowing him to open the door.

You were shocked, you planned on coming to fix whatever was going on between you both, all of the stressing, just to for him to get drunk and break up with you in some random bedroom. no.

You carefully grasped his arm before he left, "kai, please dont do this" you whispered, his arm forcefully pulling away from you. "dont"

Kaito stormed through the people out in the hall, making his way down the stairs as your eyes met taehyungs. You avoided stopping to talk with him as you decided to run after Kaito.

You were embarrassed. You tried to convince tae that you were in a happy and loving relationship, the little lie was now unraveling as the night ensued right in front of him and your friends.

"wait, please" you called out, following your boyfriend into the living room where the music blared. you tried your best to weave through as best you could, finally catching up to the boy and attempting to reason with him once more.

"baby please can we just talk?" you ask loudly, facing his back as he stood in the crowd.

"No, dont call me that" he mumbled.

"Y/N!!! whats up!" Jungkook ran out of the kitchen to your side, smiling and hugging you. "nice to formally meet you, are you enjoyin- why are you crying?" he pulled away and took in your appearance

"Im sorry Im just dealing with something" you calmly tried to explain, kaito turning around to the both of you. "dont listen to a word this slut says" he bit, making you swallow harshly.

Jungkook looked taken back, his eyes meeting yours sympathetically. "hey, cmon man, dont....dont say that. youre having another beer?" he asked, genuinely concerned for his friends behavior.

Taehyung pushed through and made his way to the living room, eyes wandering for you. He assumed it was best to just leave now, unaware of what had gone down just a few moments prior. He found you standing next to Kaito and Jungkook, watching from afar as he contemplated going over and taking you away.

"dont touch me" kaito shivered away from your touch, making you sigh. "lets go home to my apartment, we need to talk and get you sober, youve drunk too much" you spoke, looking at jungkook for support.

"yeah cmon, listen to her. its probably whats best." he nodded

Kaito looked down with anger at his feet as you stared at him for a moment, you were hesitant to speak any further, but the boy needed help and never listened. He needed to get sober and then probably never drink again. this....wasnt kaito.

"lets just go please? I'll take care of you sweetheart its okay, I-" your hand gently reached out to hold onto his jaw, carefully caressing it as you tried to get him to pick his head up.

You werent sure what exactly had happened, all you knew is that one second you were reasoning with him, the next, the side of your face was burning in pain.

Kaito had pulled back and struck you to the ground.

before you knew it there was a crowd of people surrounding the incident, Jungkook pulling Kaito away as he spit words out at you, none of which you could hear. The music had faded out of your hearing, and the lights were hazed. Your face burned with shame as you struggled to stand up, eyes watching you with concern and shock.

You felt hands immediately pick you up to your feet, turning to see it was Taehyung. You tried to explain but you didnt even comprehend what was coming out of your mouth.

he looked pale, in more pain than you were. His eyes glanced over you and back at kaito as he felt rage fill throughout him, carefully setting you aside as he approached the other boy and suddenly punched him across the face, the room gasping immediately.

"hey- fuck! stop guys!!!" Jungkook tried to seperate them, but there was no use. Taehyung had kaito by his collar, fist repeatedly punching into his face as he fell to the floor, blood on his skin and clothing.

You stood back, unable to fully understand what the fuck was happening. Once it kicked into your mind, your feet were racing over to him, yanking on the back of his shirt. "stop!!! Taehyung stop!!!!" you screamed, other guests joining in to help stop it as well. Your friends stood in the corner, shocked at what they had just witnessed.

"are you okay, miss?" some random man came up, asking you as you realized how many people had been around, asking you questions, none you even heard or noticed.

Someone finally pulled Taehyung away from kaito, who had passed out against the cold tile, nose and mouth bleeding as you watched in horror.

"What the fuck is WRONG WITH YOU?" you screamed at Taehyung, grabbing onto his shirt and shaking him, tears spilling as he looked down at you.

He didnt respond, he let you flip out as people tried to fix up the unconscious boy on the floor.

"you guys gotta go, fuck, the police were called" Jin ran out and spoke loudly, cueing the group of people to run out the door.

"we need to go" Taehyung spoke flatly, gently grasping your arms as he directed you out the door.

He led you to the car and put you into the back seat before getting into the drivers side. He didnt drive right away, instead he looked down at his bruised fist.

"why...why didnt you say anything to me"

You had curled up into the fetal position, tears falling down your cheeks as you tried to look out the window.

"all this time....all this time he was doing this and you never-" he stopped, leaning his head against the headrest and closing his eyes.

"im sorry" you choke out.

He took a deep breath, trying to collect himself so he could speak, let alone drive.

"we will have to talk, about all of this"

"what if you get in trouble?" you whisper

"I didnt do anything wrong, he fucking hit you. He hit a woman, they all saw it" he spoke louder, voice shaky.

you sniffled, the pain in your face and head suddenly becoming really obvious, making you wince.

"are you okay? shit, lets uh, lets get you to a hospital or something" he started his car

"no...I just need Ice"

"what if you have a concussion?"

you groan, "I dont, taehyung, he hit my cheekbone and jaw" you trace your hand over your face, hissing at the sharp sting.

"Im still gonna take you to a walk in clinic, im not risking it. we will go home and sleep right after, I dont want to hear you argue about anything tonight. Tomorrow morning we need to sit and talk." he sternly spoke, making his way down the street.

You didnt have the energy to fight, you were mad, but you didnt have the energy.

You were upset with Taehyung for making the situation worse, but you were even more mad with Kaito. you felt betrayed, he humiliated you in front of everyone you know. He put his hands on you, after saying he would never do it again, over what? nothing.

-

"there is no signs of concussion, but there will be signifigant bruising and damaged nerves." the doctor read over her chart as you sat in a hospital bed, taehyung by your side. it was late, you missed your bed, you missed Yeontan. You didnt think you would be here, especially for this reason.

"thats..good, better than having something serious" he exhaled

"do you wish to file a report against the person who did this to you?"

Tae opened up his mouth to speak, but you cut in

"no, its already being taken care of, thank you though"

She nodded sadly and walked off, giving you too permission to go home.

you felt over your cheek, now covered with bandages.

"Im so sorry" he whispered, looking at you.

"tae.."

"no, im sorry. im so fucking sorry. I know I shouldnt have done that, but I.....I saw him hit you. I saw him hit you, y/n."

"i know" you mumbled, looking down.

"when I saw it happening, I just couldnt control myself. It was wrong of me, I take blame, but jesus y/n...."

"I know..." you repeated, voice cracking slightly. "tae please I just wanna go home, okay? I dont wanna relive it right now"

He nodded softly, standing to get to your side. "yeah, lets go home." he held your ice pack for you, leading you back to the car.

The sounds of the city surrounding you infiltrated your ears. You really couldve been anywhere in the world tonight, but here you were, in this position.

You knew you shouldnt have gone to the party, you regret it with your whole being, because not only did you suffer, but you dragged Taehyung into it too.

You had yourself to blame. you wanted to cry and scream but all you could do is lay in bed that night once you got home as taehyung gently rubbed your back, reassuring you that it would be okay.

Yeah, about that thing you said earlier, about assuming your twenties would be fantastic and amazing......11 year old you needed a reality check.

taglist:

@turnthepageandbeburnt @taebangtanbabe @borahaexoxo @lelefoodlover @tan-veee

[fanfictionadvocate]

There is only one truth: Interdimensional travels are shitty by Kiisaka

Summery: No summery

Fandom: Detective Conan; Magic Kaito

Relationship/-s: Kaito Kuroba/Shinichi Kudo

Characters: Kaito Kuroba; Shinichi Kudo; Koizumi Akako; OC - Character

Tags: Dimension Travel; Magic; Post Conan; Pre Pandora; no BO; Identity Reveal; Identity Shenanigans; Hurt/Comfort; Big on hurt; but it has a happy end; I promise; Angst; Fluff and Angst; No Beta; I am my own beta

Rating: Teen and up

Status: Finished

Words: 6.953